Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-20
property, and the remnants Of former up
posroFrIcE pEPARfMENr.

SHOWS the ourtut5a OF atut o1tVmec' bS--
partment and the condition Of the postal
service ia very favorable light, and the
attention of Congress is called to it's prac-
tical recommendations. ,...,..g
The receipts of the Department for the
year ending June 80, 1867, including all
special appropriations for sea aud land
service, and for free mail matter. were
$40 97s,G03.. The expenditures for all
purposes, were s19,235, ,4S3, leaving an
unexpended balance in favor OF tho Dc.
pariment Of s743,2l0. which can be ap-
piled toward the expenses OF the Depart
ment for the current year. The increase
oftho postal revenue. independent Of spe
eiiic appropriations. for the year 1857,
over that Of 1866, was $3.50, 0iO. The in.
crease Of revenue from the sale Of stamps
and stamped, envelopes was S7S3404.
The increase Of expenditures for 1867
over those Of the previous year was owing
chiefly to the extension Of land aud ocean
mail service. During the past year new
postal conventions have been ratified aud
exchanged with the United Kingdom Of
Great Britain aud Ireland, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Switzerland, North German
Union, Italy aud the Colonial Govern
ment ut Hong Kong, reducing very large
ly the rates Of ocean aud land postages to
and from aud within those countries.
AoRIcuLrukAL DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Acting Commissioner
Of Agriculture concisely presents the con-
dition, wants and progress Of an interest
eminently worthy the, fostering care Of
Congress, aud exhibits o large measure OF
useful results achieved during the year,
to which il refers il-is lLy f0ill
FOREIGN AFFAIRS. p. 'iat
The re. establishment of peace. at home
and the resamptionj of extended trade,
travel and commerce abroad have served
to increase the number aud variety OF
questions in the Department for Foreign
Affairs. None of these questions, howev-
er. have seriously disturbed our relations
with other States. The Republic of Mex.
leo having been relieved from foreign in
tervention. is earnestly engaged in efforts
to re establish her constitutional system Of
government Agood understanding con-
tinues to exist between our Government
aud the republics of Hsyti aud San Do
mingo and our cordial relations with the
Central aud South American States remain
unchanged. The teuder made in con :
formlfy with the resolution of Congress
OF the good Offices of our Government,
with view to an amicable adjustment of
peace between Brazil and her allies on
one side, and Paraguay on the other, and
between Chill aud her allies one side,
aud Spain on the other, though kindly
received, has in neither case been fully
accepted by the sbellgerents. The war in
the Valley Of The Parana is still vigorously
maintained. On the other hand, actual
hostiIiiies between the Pacific States and
Spain have been more. than a year sus-
pended. / shall on any proper OCCASION
that may occur renew the cCnciliaiory
recommendation which have already been
made. -
Brazil, with enlightened sagscity aud
omprehensive statesmanship,. has opened
the great channels OF the Ampzon aud its
tributaries. TO universal commerce. One
thing more seems needful to assure rapid
and cheering progress in South America.
refer TO those peaceful habits, without
which States aud Nations cannot in this
age well expect material prosperity or
social advaDcemeut.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION
The Exposition of universal industry at
Paris has passed and seems to have fully
realized the high expectations Of the
French Government IF due allowance
be made for the recent political derange-
ment Of Industry here, the part which the
United States has borne ia this exhibition
Of invention aud art may be regarded with
very high satisfaction. During the Expo
sition Conference was held Of delegates
from several nations, the United State be-
ing one, in which the inconvenience 10
commerce aud social intercourse, resulting
from divers standards of money value, we're
very fully discussed, and plans were de-
veoped for establishing by universal con-
sent, a common principle for coinage OF
gold, these conferences are expected to be
renewed, with the attendance OF many
foreign States not hitherto represented
A report of these interesting proceedings
will be submitted to Congress, which will,
no doubt. justly appreciate the great OBJ
ject, and be ready 20 adopt any measure
which may tend to facilitate its ultimate
accomplishment. ~. .r.tss.
A QUESTION WITH SPANISH CLAIMANTS.
On the 25th of February, 1862. Con
gress declared. by law. that the Treasury
notes, without Interest, authorized BY that
act should be a legal tender in payment OF
all debts, public and private, within the
United States. An annual remittance OF
$50, 600, less stipulated expenses, accrues
to the claimants under the convention
made in Spain. These reiniitances, since
the passage ofthat act, have been paid 10
such notes. The claimants insist that the
Government ought to require payment in
coin. The subject may bp deemed worthy
Of your attention. 3, .ss.a s4. ..i
f THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
No arrangement has, as yet, been
reached for the settlement Of our claims
for British .derredatious on commerce Of
the United States Ihaye felt il my duty
to decline the proposition of arbitration
made by Her Majesty's Government, be
cause il has hitherto been accompanied by
reservations and limitations incompatible
with the rights, Interests, and honor ol
our country, 1t is not to be spprehended
that Great Britain will persist in her refd-
sal to satisfy these just aud reasonable
claims. which involve the sacred principle
Of on-interyention-a principle hence
forth not more important TO the United
States than to'all other commercial ma