Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-02
F ROM WASHINGTON
New Years Day at the Capital
The President Kept Open zzouse.
Reception Of the Diplomatic Corps.
Discrediting the National Banks
WASHINGTON FENIAN CIRCLE.


sum for refurnishing the White House, but it was
found that the thirty thousand dollars which was ap-
propriated for that purpose barely suced to pay off
debts accumulated during the previous occupancy of
the Executive Mansion, leaving nothing for present
improvements. The east room is particularly de-
faced and was unit for reception but by the efforts
OF Mr.. William Slade, steward of the White House.
it was placed in tolerably presentable condition.
The worn carpet in this apartment as well as those
in the other rooms, was covered with neat spread
for the purpose of protecting it from further injury
by the crowd, and the most soiled furniture re-
moved. The carpets in the ante-rooms were taken
up, leaving the oil cloth, which is always laid down
A platform was built from the wiudowiof the hall
in which the staircase ascends, to the pavement.
to enable the crowd TO out without obstructing
ingress. and the doors of the vesbule were removed
thus giving free access TO the reception room
In the Blue Room where the President receives his
visitors elegant bouquets formed Of white ana vaTie
gated camelias. heliotrope. lilies and mignonette
were placed in gilded flower stands and on the lac
quered tables OF Japanese workmanship.
AT an early hour this morning the United States
Commissioner OF Public Buildings Mr.. French; and
Mr. Richards, Superintendent of Metropolitan Po-
lice, in attendance at the White House. COM
pleting the arrangements for the ceremonies. The
detail of police consisted of sixty-seven men, who
very creditabe appearance. Forty were assigned to
the EXECUTIVE Mansion, under the command of Ser
geants Hurley and Sklppon. Twenty Of them were
stationed in the various apartments through which
the guests were to pass. number of police were
also placed on duty at the residences Of the Secre
taries.
The Marine Band, under Prof Scala, was seated in
the prnePal a. aater2om and dGTing the RECEPTION
and AriaRoberto il Diavolo. overtemWiliiam S VI afn
Tell. Aria-La Favorita. Settimino-Ernani.-
Wait5mDrGam nt- Fam on the Ocean Liberty DuettQ-I
rioso. Aria-Ernani. Cayatna-Harold Grand
March..Tanh9qser., Star Spangled Banner Hail
Columbia. and Yankee Doodle. The gates leading
to the grounds of the Executive Mansion were
closed, and guarded by detachment of Veteran Re-
Sir Frederick Bruce British Minister was the first
of the Diplomatic Corps to arrive, and Secretary
Stanton the first of the Cabinet The Others included
in the II o'clock reception rapidly followed. and con-
sisted of the members of the Cabinet excepting Sec
retary Seward. who sailed for the gulf on Saturday
and who was represented by the Acting Secretary of
siding in the CITY, Chief Justice Chase and the Asso-
eated Judges of the Supreme Court. and Judges
of these digniaries were accompanied by their fami
lies. large number of Senator'S including the Prcsi
dent of the Senate Mr. Foster, and Senators Morgan
Morrill,, Howard and Stockton, and members of Con-
gress with their families were also present.
A few minutes before eleven, the President accom-
panied by. his daughters; Mrs. Patterson and Mrs
Stover and two young ladies from Nashville guests
be present. Tho other attaches of the Executive
Office. Col. Moore. Col. Rives, Maj. Morrow, and
Mai. Long, in attendance, and entertained many
Of the guests who fingered in the reception ROOM
Mrs Patterson dressed in black velvet, elegantly
iaponica in her hair. Mrs. Stover was attired in
black silk and was also without ornaments Each
lady held beautiful bouquet OF mlgQOnette. hpi0-
Marshal Goodng stood on the left of the President
and nearest the entrance to the reception room and
the acting Secretary OF State on the right the latter
presenting the members of the diplomatic corps as
they entered the apartment. The Commissioner Of
Public Buildings, Hon. B. B. French, presented the
guests to Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Stover After the
members OF the Cabinet the foreign Ministers, the
Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States
Senators and representatives in Congress, and the
Judges of the Supreme Court of the District of Column
bia and the Court OF Claims had been presented. q
few moments were occupied in mutual cougratula-
t0ns, the distinguished guests completely filling the
Blue Room. and forming most brilliant assem-
blage;
and marine corps we're received. General Townsend
presented the officers of the army who were preceded
by Lieutenant General Grant and staff and included
Major Generals Augur, Gilmore Meigs, ingalls, Fes-
senden. Mott. Vincent. Hardie, Seth, Williams
Brice, Barnes, Howard and others, and large num-
Der OF Brlgadier Generals and subordinate officers
The officers of the navy were not SO numerous.
These were presented by Captain Fox, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, and consisted principally of
subordinate officers, including those of the marine
corps on duty in Washington.
AT IL o'clock the gates of the Presidents grounds
were thrown open. and the citizens reception com
menced. Carriages approached by the east gate and
departed by the west gate the order being reversed
for pedestrians The knowledge that the gates would
not be opened to the public until u o'clock pre-
vented the assembling of large crowd until after
dignitaries had taken their departure, but by one
o'clock the approaches to the White House were
densely thronged by visitors, who continued to ar
the public reception terminated
After two o'clock such of the colored people as were
IN waiting outside were admitted
6eps OF the IN fb Dem ere 9how to Of the
nerr prepared under the supervision of the " hite
House steward MIR. Slade, awaited them.
The receptions of the ladies of the Cabinet Min
isters were only second in importance to that at the
Presidents mansion, being attended by the Judges of
the Supreme Court, the members of the Diplomatic
Corps, the high officers of the army and navy and
throng of distinguished officials and other citizens.
That, of Mrs. Harlan: who was attended by her
daughter and Miss Simpson, daughter of Bishop
Simpson was particularly elegant, though simple
no liquors being off-red The reception at Secretary
were also admirably conducted. The Judges of the
supreme Court gave receptions except Judge Davis,
cousin, Henry Winter Davis
PEoHAGE IN MEXICO.
In answer to resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the llth of December requesting nor
nation relative to so-caed decree concerning the
re-establishment of slavery or peonage in the repub
lie of Mexico. the President has transmitted to Con-
ion of the Attorney General and other documents on
the subject. The papers include correspondence be-
tween Secretary Seward and Mr.. Corwin. Senior Ro-
nero. the Mexican Minister, and Mr.. Bigelow, at
Paris. Mr.. Corwin, the American Minister at Mexico,
under date of September 10TH 1865, first notifies the
State Department of the FORMULATION of Maximl-
ian's Immigration" or peonage decree
This subject was az once referred to the Attorney
General tor ms OPINION a and I who IN his reply after
constituted law (which deprives workingmen of
rights which we in this country regard and which in
every well organized community should be regarded
estimable, inalienable. and indestructible. and
certainly makes them slaves Senior Romero. the
State Department; and the decrees with the opinion
of the Attorney General, was sent to the French
Government the Secretary of State informing the
Mexican Minister that the DEGREES had received the
consideration of the Department and that measures
had been adopted which was deemed proper to meet
the exigencies which they present.
DIsCREDITING NATIONAL BANKS.
Information has been received the State Depart
ment that attempts have been made by Southern
journals to discredit certain national banks recently
organized in the cities of the South by asserting that
the institutions are In precarious condition and
likely to fall and therefore their currency should be
rejected altogether or taken with caution. These
tempts to discredt national banks would fail of their
object if the Southern people would bear in mind
that the circulation of the sOcalled shaky banks is
but 80 per cent. of the securities deposited by them
with the Governments; that there is on deposit
with Mr. Spinner. United States Treasurer. 1895 COO
and the notes of the only bank that has faiedthe
bank of Attica, n. I-are held by private.citi-
March. and up to this time but 81 500 of its crcuia
ton has been presented the United States Treasurer
for redemption.
LEE HAS NOT ASKED PARDON.
1t has been generally supposed that an application
for pardon by the rebel General Lee was made some
months ago. but an examination ofthe records of At
ton has vet been fled All the manifestations Of CON
triton that Gen. Lee has exhibited has been the sign
ing OF amnesty oath prior to entering upon the
duties ofPresdent of the Washington College.
THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE OF THE GREAT
ARMIES.
The Surgeon General has just published Circular
No. for the information of the medical officers
the army. The circular comprzes reports from Bre-
vet Lieut. Col. George A. OTIs, United States Vol
unteers, having the charge of the surgical and Bre
vet Major j. j. Woodward, United States Army hav.
ing charge of the medical history of the rebellion
From the surgical report, it appears that complete
registers of the number of wounded are in course o.
preparation, in which overS 900 of wounds and
1900 surgical operations have been recorded up to
September, 1865, the work of registration being still
very far from complete.
The number of wounds received cannot PRACTICAL,
/ be now determined with accuracy, though data fol
/ new approximate estimate are accessible In thu
| British army in the Crimea during the entire wa
there we're 1884 wounded and 2755 killed or tota
of 1a;849. In the French army in the Crimea of ,
total effective force of 3 6 according to the re-
/ port recently made by NJ. Chenn there were 39,
| wounded and $3.50 killed, total of 49, 118 al
though in his report of injuries of different region
| NJ. Chem records but 26,6Sl cases.
| In our late war the monthly reports from a littl
more than half the regiments in the field give for tn
year ending June 30 1862 an aggregate of n 49 gun
| shot wounds. The reports from rather more thai
| three-fourths of the regiments for the year endn
June 90 1863 give total of 55 974 gunshot wounds
The battlefield lists of wounded for theyears 1854
| include over 900 names.
The surgical specimens of the army medical muse
um number $780, The medical staff that served il
| the late was composed of surgeon general on
general. 16 medical inspectors, 10 surgeons ant
| assistant surgeons OF the regular army 362 volun
| teer staff surgeons and assistant surgeons, 800
| regimental surgeons and assistant surgeons of vol