The Portland daily press., 1866-05-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
COngratulatOry Resolutions to the
Emperor of Russia.
IN ID IAN AFFAIRS.
CIRCULAR TO COLLECTOR OF
pe CUSTOMS.

w WASHINGTON may 10.
Capt. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Ma
Wy, will cross the ocean in the monitor Mian-
t0nomah, now awaiting him at Halifax, to
personally present the Emperor of Russia with
the resolutions of Congress congratulating
him in his escape from assassination. Capt.
Fox viii also examine and report upon the
condition OF the principal navies of Europe.
Gov. Cummings OF Colorado, eX-OfficiO Su
perintendent of Indian Affairs, has arrived,
and reports, to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs that perfect quiet is restored on the
plains along the old emigrant route. Com
missioners on the part OF the United States
are about entering negotiations with the up
per tribes Of Cheyennes about Fort Laramie.
The U. S. Consul at Santiago, Cape Verde
Islands, writes the State Department, under
date OF April 13, that in consequence of con-
tinued famine in those islands, the Portuguese
Government has decreed the entrance in that
archipelago, free of duty, corn, meals, rice,
beans, dried and salted meats, and lard, until
the end of the present year.
Assistant Paymaster j. j. Philbrick, of U.
S. Navy, arrived in New York on the u. S.
steamer Massachusetts April oath, since
which time nothing has been heard of him at
the Navy Department, and fears are entertain
ed for his safety.
The Department of State has received ad-
u
to Rico, under date March 26, relative to the
order dated March goth, from the Capt. Gen
eral of the Island of Porto Rico, wherein it is
stated that vessels shall be permitted as here
totOre to come in at any hour during the night
but not to leave the harbor at Ponce, or any
other port OF Porto Rico where there exists
mounted batteries. No vessel, either national
or foreign, excepting steamers, mail or coast
wise vessels will be allowed to come in during
the night. Spanish men-of-war only will be
permitted to enter the harbOr after being duly
recognized by means of private signals.
The following circular to Collectors of Gus
toms on the Northern, North Western and
North Eastern frontiers of the United States,
has been issued from the Treasury Depart
ment:
"Much annoyance seems to attend the en-
forcement of regulations concerning invoices
OF impOrtationS from Canada and New Bruns-
wick by railroad and otherwise, particularly in
cases of importations of articles of small value,
which are very numerous and frequently un-
accompanied by proper invoices and Consular
certificates, and where the time and expense
to obtain the latter are so disproportioned to
the value of the goods has an effect to render
the production Of invoices and certificates inn
practicable, and whereas, the second proviso
of the first section of the act of March 3, 1868,
chap. 76, stat. 73S, in cases where the produc-
ton of invoices is impracticable, empowers
the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the
entry upon suca terms and in accordance with
such general or special regulations as he may
prescribe, you are, therefore, instructed to adj
init to entry by appraisement of goods, from
the above named Proviences, that are unac-
companied by invoices or Consular certifi-
Gates, if their value does not exceed 5000, when
you are satisfied the absence of invoices
or consular certificates is not the result OF
fraud, and needless or disproportionate ex-
pensa and annoyance would be increased in
obtaining them. As this is very important
duty, and involves the security of the public
revenue and freedom of trade from useless and
vexatious restrictions, the special attention of
Collectors is called to the necessity of the ut
most care in carrying this regulation into eff
feet so as not to extend its operations beyond
the precise limitations and conditions pre-
scribed." 80
tSigned) Fl. McCULLocK,
Sec'y of Treasury.