The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-03
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 1857.
The Secret Expedition.
Tho objects Of the mysterious expedition starting
from Annapolis with the Assistant Secretary Of State
board, still shrouded in mystery 1t IL rumosed TO-
night that Secretary Seward has SAINT his secret
mission to tho Emperor Napoleon to explain the mean
ing OF obscure ambiguous passages in his famous
cable despatch tho Emperor about Mexican afuirs;
but the most reasonable solution Of the mystery ID
ths:-Mr Assistant Secretary Seward has gone south
ward, probably further for the present than the
island of St. Thomas II will be remembered that the
excursion of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary Of
State to Southern atHudes about year ago for health
and recreation followed by reports Of the ad-
mirable adaptation Of the halbor OF ST. Thomas
. naval rendezvous for United States vesseia II
soon afterwards stated that negotiations were
for the purchase Of tho island from Denmark by
the United states 1t we'll known that Denmark has
suffered BY the late European wars and that she needs
money to maintain position or importance in the
ranks Of European naons The Island OF st. Thomas
apparently useless appendage to Denmark and If she
concludes to sell replenish her Golfers how naturat
is TO select customer generous and sometimes
avagan United States particularly ater adret
manager the Secretary oftks United sses has paved
the way to bargain BY personal visit 10 the island,
and warmed the Inhabitants 10 change OF government
by his personal bandshmenta We do not possess the
Island Of st. Thomas BY the close OF the fret session Of
the aext Congress it win b. matter Of surprise those
who have carefully watched the ideas Of the Secretary
Of State respecting the accumulation OF valuable Terri
tory, as enunciated by him on various occasions.
The ReasscnlbIing Of Congress.
Comparatively few members Of Congress have yet
returned TO Washington. II lie not probable that
quorum OF the two Houses viii be present tomorrow.
The Finances.
Secretary McCulloch in conversation with friend to-
day. expressed his confident belief that the action Of
Congress upon the question Of the finances would be Of
O conservative and prudent character and that every
thing tending toward unnecessary expansion would be
avoided. So far the Western members concerned,
however, is certain that they win bring the interests
Of their section prominently forward In opposition to
any conservative action that may look to further with
drawal Of the greenback currency.
II is now stated confidently BY those who sup
posed to be best acquainted with the intentions Of Con-
gress that the Secretary Of the Treasury will be pro-
hibed from making secret sales Of gold in future by
having the sales Of gold made at public auction after due
notice the public Of the time and quantity The pub
lie will thus be enabled to regulate their business
be subject 10 loss therefrom The price OF gold
will At become stable being regulated by the
law Of supply and demand.
Internal Revenue.
The report and bill OF the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue which win be sent in to Congress tomorrow
show great and labor the part Of that oicsr
He shows that the exports Of tho country have fallen Oh
largely consequence Of the increased cost Of produc
ton increased cost is attributed to excess Of
internal taxation and of currency. The
port consists OF hundred and eight pages and the
bill Of seventy-sx pages The subjects classified
and arranged in tabular FORM to show the relative
paid on the article under the present
proposed tariffs.
Survey Of New Mexico and Arizona.
The Commissioner Of the General Land Once ID in re-
osipt Of communication from the Surveyor General OF
New Mexico and Arizona, 81 Santa F6 under date Of
the nth u, reporting that in December he entered
into contract with the Deputy Surveyor Tor the cstab
shmeni Of tho base Of the principal meridian standard
parallel and exterior township lines The establish
Of the aforesaid inatoy lines Of public surveys n
Arizona win furnish the necessary bases for tho extern
sion Of surveys the region Of country north OF the
ella river embracing Fort Mcdowell, situated on the
Rio San Francisco the towns Of wiokenburg on the
Hassayamba river wsaber woosey and Prescott
The Case of the Prize Steamer Gray Jacket.
Much interest attaches TO case Of the steamer Gray
Jacket, the argument Of which commences tomorrow
in the Supreme Court The involves about half
question OF the authority OF the Secretary Of the Tsa
sury under existing laws TO remit sentence Of condsm
nation 10 prize The claimant, citizen OF Ala.
bama represented by General B. r. Butler. aud Caleb
Cushing nervcnes to sustain the legal effect Of the
mission The libellants in the prize court repre-
scented by the Attorney General and the Assistant Ator
ney General and by Charles Eamcs counsel for the cap
tors 1t is considered tes. case, and the decision is
supposed to effect the disposition OF large amount
OF prize money in many other The high reputa
ton Of the counsel engaged both sides invests the
case with additional interest.
The Gases Of Mmdd and NIilliGan.
The friends Of Dr. Mudd find fault with the decision
against their appeal for writ Of habeas corpus the
ground that the decision Of the Supreme Court last week
in the case Of Migan equally applicable to that
Of the prisoner the Dry Toriugas Notwithstanding
the objections alluded TO- however, decision Of Chic
Justice Chase is thought to be nnal
The New French Minister'S Residence.
N. Berthemy, the new French Minister. has taken up
his residence in the house owned by Mr.. W. W. Corco
ram and formerly occupied by Marquis de Montholon,
late French Minister The Secretary Of Legation viii
reside with the Minister
The Fashionable Season.
General Grant has issued cards OF invitation 70 ball
TO be given at his residence the 9th inst and other
persons in public and private life have announced in
like manner their intention TO contribute TO the gayety
Of the winter.
Returning Excursienists.
The Congressional party which left here before Christ
pleasure trip 10 Richmond returned to-day.
They went up the Chesapeake Bay 10 Annapolis, whore
they took the cars for this city.
The Government Clerks.
The Joint committee Of the several departments which
has In charge the petitions OF the government clerks for
extra compensation will have interview with the
House Committee Of Ways and Means tomorrow At
eleven o'clock to present that body additional
sons the passage by Congress OF the bill granting to
the clerks the increase Of pay which they ask for
They uhe Departmental Committed armed with 70.
luminous rolls Of statistics, recommendations and other
matters bearing upon the subject and Will present them
TO the House committee with such explanations and re-
marks as win best tend to secure the desired end