The Portland daily press., 1867-12-23
WASHINGTON.

CONTRACTS WITH NEGROES AT RICHMOND.
New YORK, Dec. 21.-Specals from Wash
ington contain the following:
The petition from the Richmonl Conven.
ton represents that negroes who are hired are
compelled to sign agreements to vote as theiI
employers dictate.
GOVERNOR OF ST. THOMAS
Postmaster Randall is mentioned for Gov
ernor of st. Thomas.
EMPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS
A resolution has been passed by the Grand
Army of the Republic, urging the retention OF
soldiers in the service of the departments.
TREATY WITH THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
A dspatch of 6,O09 words, from San Fran
cisco, was received last night, urging the rati-
fcation of the treaty with the Sandwich Is
lands. tr,
srANToN's REPLY TO THE PRESIDENT
Mr.. stanton IS writing a reply to the Presi-
uent, IN which he will state that he would long
ago have retired from the Cabinet had he not
received letter signed by most of the Repub-
means IN Congress, asking him to retain his
seat,
FRACTIONAL CURRENCY NATIONAL BANKS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The fractional cur
rency received from the printing bureau of the
treasury Department during the week ending
to-day was S539,500; amount forwarded during
same period was as follows: To the Assistant
Treasurer at New York, 100000; to Assistant
Treasurer at Charleston, $50, 600; to National
Banks and others, S226 604; total $45S Co.,
Small notes to the amount of $4,000 were also
sent to the Assistant Treasurer at Charleston.
The Y s. Treasurer holds in'trust for the Ma
tional Banks of this date. 1913 800 700; of which
$34l ,l02 $50 is in government bonds as security
Tor circulating notes, and $37, 817 $50 for depos-
Its of public monies. The National Bank cur
Tency issued during the week amounted to
$l45,950; total amount to date $305, 430,511
From this is to be deducted the currency re-
turned, including worn out notes, amounting
$o,6O0695, leaving in actual circulation at this
date S299,S29, SIG The fractional currency
deemed and destroyed was S264, 900.
NAVAL.
Commander Geo. A. Stevens, United States
navy, has been ordered to the Pensacola navy
yard.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Gen. Grant has issued orders for the closing
OF the War Department and its various bu-
reaus on Christmas and New Years days. Dur
ing the intervening week the office hours each
day will be from to II O'Clock, and only half
the clerical force will be required to be present
Ihe same rule will also be observed at the
headquarters of the army. fro
RECRUITING OFFICERS RELIEVED
Capt. Seth Waldy, of the I'd Infantry, has
resigned.
The following officers have been relieved
from the recruiting service and ordered to their
regiments; Hrevet Lieut.. Col s. S. Conrad of
the I'd Infantry, Brevet Maj James Thompson
OF the "a Artillery, 1st Lieut.. J. L. Kirkwan of
the 10Th Infantry, Brevet Lieut.. Col. II. G.
Morgan of the 30th Infantry. The latter has
been ordered before the retiring board.
Brevet Maj. Gen. j. H. Wilson, Lieut. Colo
mel of the 35th United States volunteers has
been ordered to report to the General-in-C Chief.
TEST CASE TO BE RAISED.
j. I'll. Sullivan, Esq, arrived yesterday from
Louisiana, and is understood to be preparing
an argument in test case to be heard in the
Supreme Court, which will involve all the
ISSUES raised by reason of the military orders
issued in the South since 1861. Eminent coun-
sci from both the North and South are in COM
munication with him, and the issues will be
thoroughly examined.
FOREIGN POSTAL SERVICE.
Instructions are now being prepared at the
Post Office Department to govern the trans
portation of the mails between this country
and Belgium and the German provinces under
the recent treaty, which goes into effect on the
LIST of January next. BY the terms of the
treaty each country is allowed to regulate its
own charges
r1 RECEIPTS OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
The receipts from internal revenue last week
were not quite $2,OO0,OoO, and for the fiscal
year commencing with June last, to date, $685.
100000. -
MEXICAN LEGATION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The Secretary of
State learns from Mexico that the Mexican
Government has felt itself obliged though with
great reluctance, to grant leave of absence to
Mr.. Moriscal the Charge de Affairs here The
sole cause for this leave of absence which, I'M
der the circumstances produces a temporary
suspension of the Mexican legation. is the do
nestle situation of Mr. Moriscal. The State
Department is assured that full Minister
will soon be sent to the United States.
cRETAN AFFARs-CowARDLY CONDUCT OF
TURKISH SOLDIERS.
Accounts from Crete are of stirring char
acter.
The Turks at Dialiscari fred upon a compa-
ny of 800 women and children who were on
the eve of embarking for Greece. A number
of them were killed, and those who escaped
were picked up by the commander of the Rus
sian man-of-war and safely landed at Peiraens.
All the christian powers excepting the United
States and Great Britain, unite in placing
their ships at the disposal of those who wish to
escape from Crete to Greece.
SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS.
The House committee on Public Lands have
agreed to report bill forbiddng all further
sales of public lands excepting as provided for
by the pre- emption and homestead laws. The
design is to prevent future speculation in the
public domain and secure the actual settle
ment and tillage of every tract of land hereaf-
ter disposed of by the government.