New-York tribune., 1867-01-03

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w y" WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 100 |
-. ,otb;np unusual in the New Years |
-, ne, Of the White House. There was the same
@oo,p,f .Int Of c,d lace and gold embroidery, royal
t.iou" nt;ons cooked hats, and white kids on the
rs Of fbe Diplomatic Corps the usual quan-
-. &c Ia Velets ribbons, laces feathers, flowers
IA towels Haunted by the ladies'; the same sprlhk
~ % pepartment clerks among the CaDhico
.,i.ta-0 and tho Justices of the Supreme Court
~ o.,o+oraso that. while Gems. Grant, Melgs
'Conbv Ricketts,, Brice, Rucker, Ekln' mics
on1 others were Obliged 10 W"| 'ne
rros;Son4 nevertheless had the pleasure u
.hol;nc 1oany of the Department clerks py
the hand and wishing them, no DOUBT a haPPS NC"
Year. Admirals Davis, kadlold' Sihi.i, h'i WV
- ,.hsrs were also not introduced until several OF
a. o1orl,o had been presented, or had presented
.ho,,solyes There was also the same want OF az
aro,pent regarding carriages, and there seemed TO
hanothng properly DONE except the systematic pull
linz and hauling which the President, Minister'S
Jpdees. Senator's horses carriages and drivers were
,,1iected 10 from the time the reception commenced
Dntil il ceased In all the above particulars the re-
cantion Yesterday was not distinctive from any OF
those for few years past. The members OF the
Foreign Legation were received at eleven CLOCK
Then followed the Cabinet officers justices OF lhe
Srpreme Court, Senators aud Members, ana tle
aovor of Washington. The Naval officers were next
received and then the officers OF the Army headed by
Cen Grant. The attendance of the army and navy
officers was less than at any previous year for several
Winters There were also fewer Senators and Con-
sressmen present than at previous receptions Al II
O'clock the gates were thrown open to the pubc ana
tho reception ceased at about haltpast one Ah lhe
cabinet officers, excepting Secretaries Seward ana
-ees received their friends at tEer residences, and
receptions were also held ly Gen Grant, Chlet-uS-
fice Chase Thaddcus Stevens. Mrs. Senator HaIlan'
Secretary Chandler, Senators Han1s, Sher
man and Morgan II. D. Cooke, esq, Montgomery
Blair, VIM. S. Huntington esq, Mayor Nallach ana
other distinguished persons
The Ways and Means Committee was IN session
again to-day and has completed the Internal Revenue
matters upon which it has been engaged dunng the
recess of Congress. Although the Committee has not
decided formally on the Boutwell, Geld BILL yet 1t
has decided upon two important questions-frs that
gold hereafter must be sold in the open market and
second that there is too much gold IN the treasury
and that the amount ought 10 be reduced. Inc pre-
else mode of disposing of the smpus, and about the
minimum amount which the Government shall keep
on hand has not yet been determined. These points
will be decided shortly after Congress meets.
The proposition Offered by Senator PomeToy to
make the National Bank notes legal tender and to
prevent a reduction Of the legal tender notes beyond
million per month and not four millions as provided
by law is before the Senate Finance Committee. 1t
IA understood that the Committee do not Hook with
favor upon either proposition Their idea Is not 10
interfere with the present contraction policy being
carried out by the Secretary of the Treasury and
resolution TO that effect will probably be Offered by
one OF the members OF the Committee soon after
Congress assemblies.
There is considerable speculation in diplomatic cir
ces here regarding the secret mission of Assistant
Secretary of State Frederick Seward The fact that
the steamer Gettysburg upon which he embarked
at Annapolis, took in fortnight's supply Of coal,
together with other known facts Of significance lead
TO the inference that his mission is to convey to the
French Court dispatches explanatory OF the Secretary
of States cable message to Napoleon, when, IL Is
asserted, was conveyed to the Emperor by Minister
Beelow in language at once so Objectionable and in
sulting that Napoleon refused TO receive It, The
abatement that the Assistant Secrearys orders relate
IN some respect to the failure Of the Campbell
sherman mission is improbable, and consequently
the deductions above made have semblance OF
tTuthfulness
The New-York State Agent in this city in his yearly
report 10 the Governor gives the amount OF business
transacted at bis office during the year as follows
Free Transportation and relief $S6 O.; collected and
paid TO claimants account of military services,
e240SO3 20; claims unsettled at the beginning OF the
year 200; claims received during the year, 1851
Total claims hand and received, 1OoO; claims un-
settled 72i; letters written, 23 9OS letters received
22.650; visits to the Departments 1924. The above
facts viii give some idea of the amount of business
done by this Agency, aud when it is remembered
that no fees are charged for services the soldiers OF
New-YOrk should be advised to employ them in col
4ectng their claims. Claims are now being received
by the Agency at the rate of about % per day.
In view of repeated thefs Of United States Securi
ties. the Treasury Department desires attention
called TO the fct that although all the coupon bonds
Of the Government are issued payable to bearer, so
that they viii pass by delivery, and are good,
although lost stolen, when in the hands OF bona
fide holder, the ease is different with the 7.3Os,
which are issued in blank, but with the words " or
order7 instead of To bearer" imprinted on the face
SO long As 730 note remains thus in blank it passes
by delivery like a coupon bond, and a bona fide
purchaser for value collect the sum, n0twith-
standing it has been lost stolen But in case the
holder OF the 40 fills the blank space with his name,
the note then becomes his property, payable to
him OF order, and he cannot thereafter be deprived
Of his title by any loss or larceny Of the
note any more than the holder Of a check
or draft payable 10 his order and this is
the Raw, notwithstanding bis naIQe may have been so
skifully extracted by acid Otherwise as to leave
no trace Of IL. Ii the original holder of the
note can prove clearly that his name was written on
the face of the 10 his title is good Notwithstanding
the erasure, and even against bona fde holder for
value, and viii be recognized by the Treasury De-
partmen aud upon proof Of the facts viii be paid to
hiU. All persons dealing in Government Securities
ought carefully to bear in mind the foregoing peeg-
larity Of 7.5O notes. which may, as stated, become
converted into negotiable securities payable only TO
order, which cannot be the with any Of the