New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-06

Arsenas and munitions OF war .......... l093,2G2
GgilI,tiaary academy $35ols
River and Harbor improvements. eS77,5oO
Public Buildings and Grounds. ........... I426,77O
Some doubt has been expressed as to the legality Of
the appointment of Col. Cooper to the position Of
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Gen.
Jeffres as Register of the Treasury The Presi-
dent claims that these appointments made under
the act of 1885, but by Others it is argued that this law
was repealed by the act of February 90 1863. The
question was submitted to the Attorney General and
the Solicitor of the Treasury before those appoint
ments were made and the President claims that the
decision of those law officers the subject 10
the effect that the act of February 1863 did not repeal
the law of 1896 but merely enlarged the powers of the
Executive conferred by the latter act.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs was in
session to-day and had under consideration the sub
ect of protection of American adopted citizens tray
cling abroad The members Of the Committee were
unanimously of the opinion that additional legsla-
ton was necessary; but they not quite clear
to the precise form it should assume and adjourned
with the intention of soliciting the views Of the Ex
| eeutiye Department Of the Government on the sub
! ject.
Secretary Seward was waited on to-day by a largo
delegation of New-YOrk and Philadelphia clerymeD,
who requested him TO his good offices to protect
! orr missionaries, who have been badly treated by
the Egyptian Government, and at present labor un
der great disabilities in that well in other
tries. They represent that these gentlemen put
to very severe hardshps and stated that they found
little or no protection in the fact that they were
American citizens. Mr.. Seward assured them that
he would do all that could be done to protec
ton to our citizens wherever the United States has
accredited agents
To-day a lady, in company with distinguished
Western Governor, called upon friend who was at
the Capital to assist in getting lad appointed page
in the House Of Representatives giving as a ground
of claim to the appointment that the lad was a son
of the lady at whose house President Lincoln died.
The friend gravely replied that he thought he could
get appointments for three pages if wanted, if the
lady could only get President johnson TO 10 tho
same house and die.
Judge Shellabarger was compelled to-day to ask
for an indefinite leave of absence on account of
severe illness He is suffering with chronic dyspepsia
The Bank Examiners from the various States, ap-
pointed under the Currency Act are here in consult
tation with the Controller of the Currency, conf
pairing notes and making suggestions for the moro
efficient working of the Bureau.
Newspaper paragraphs represent the President az
holding that he has the power to reinstate FitzJohn
Porter. This is an error The Executive has not de-
cded anything in the case but, some time ago, re-
ferred the papers to the Attorney General for his
opinion on the points made by Gen. Porter. Mr. stan
berry has the matter under advisement.
Additional applicants for the mission to Ecuador,
since the last report are Nessrs. Hunter aud Mark
9IQit Of Ohio.
During the past year quite numberOf applications
for patents have been received at the Patent OBico
from colored inventors.
Numerous applications have been made TO the
members of the House of Representatives for copies
of the testimony in relation TO the impeachment Of
the President but the demand cannot be met, rs no
extra copies have been ordered TO be printed but
only sufficient number TO supply each member "Hi
one copy only.
report prevailed last night that Gen. Steedman
was stricken with apopexy yesterday, and was
therefore very i'll. This. however, not the ease.
The General had attack of vertigo, but this morn
ing is on the street and in cheerful spirits
Postmaster General Randall today sent a eOmmu-
nicaton to the House asking appropriation of
SO OOO which is required to pay for the mail service
between San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands for
the fiscal year ending with June, 1862
The sale of the interest of the United States IN tho
Dismal Swamp Canal which has been advertised 10
take place at the Treasury Department on the 9Th OF
December has been postponed by the Secretary M
til the I'd of January next The stock to he then sold
consists of 500 shares constituting nearly onehai OF
the whole capital stock of the canal.
Attorney General Stanbery has had under con-
sideration for some time the question whether tho
Government holds possession of Harpers Ferry IN
fee simple or merely in trust for the specific use OF
an armory and no other lie says, in an official com
municaton that the trust or declared in favor of
the United States is not confined to any specific pur
pose or object The Government has held absolute
and undsturbed use and possession Of the property
for 20 years and there is no doubt on examination
of the statute of Virginia that it has perfect title
The question was raised by the descendants OF the
original propretors, that the property reverted Ia
them. owing to the United States abandoning the
property for army purposes and on this question The
opinion of the Attorney General was rendered.
large number of the teachers and scholars of the
Sunday School Convention of Maryland and the
District Of Columbia, now in session here, paid a
visit TO the President to-day. The President IN re
plying TO the presentation speeches, expressed his
satisfaction at meeting such body of philmthropie
ladies and gentlemen, and the smiling little ones, and
assured those present that he felt deeply the welfare
Of the grand and good objects of the Convention,
and wished for it all the prosperity and success II
deserved"
John I. Coustn. a dark muatto, formerly laborer
in fine House of Representatives, and native OF the
CITY. who emigrated to Georgia two years ago, has
been elected TO the Convention in that State. lie ~
represented as gifted with fine oratorieal powers.
Our Vice-Consul at Zanzabar reports the conden'-
nation and sale Of the whaling bark Benz Franklin
of New Bedford, she having run on reef Iro"'
which she was greatly damaged. Twenty-one OF her
| crew were left on the hands of the Viee-Consui.
/ There is authority for stating that there WI be
No contraction of Legal Tenders during the month OK
| December
THE SUPREME COURT
! WAsHINGToN, Dec. Sin the Supreme Court
~ the tinted states d. s. Cooling of Indiana MAS, ON
nation OF Attorney General stanbcry, admitted 10 inc