The Portland daily press., 1868-11-19
WASHINGTON.
CHARGES AGAINST THE COMMISSIONERS OF Fr
asrrrNn

OhAhGES AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER OF FI
UCATIoN.
WASHINGTON, Nov 1S.-Charoes of misnar
agement are made against Hon. Francis Barn
ara OF hartford, Conn.,, Commissioner of Edu
cation 1t is alleged that for period of near
ly two years, he has been absent from Wash
ttngton ABOUT tWo-tnlrds OF his time; that h
has used the clerical force of the department
assist him in editing private journal at Hart
lord; that he has been very irregular in th
mode OF drawing money from the Treasury
Inc nrst report of the Commissioner, it is stat
cd, VIII largely be made up of articles thai
nave already appeared in his private journal
Inc President says he will not take action
against gentleman who has hitherto borne
such high reputation, unless he is satisfied
after the most careful examination that the
charges are correct.
OUR RELATIONS WITH PARAGUAY
The President is urged to send naval force
TO Paraguay, to demand the release of the
men bers OF the American Legation taken
prisoners by Lopez. Unfortunately for the
national interests, the President cannot eouip
the vessels or enlist the men necessary to man
them. without violating the instructions OF
Congress and subiecting himself to mpeach-
ment. In obedience to the law passed at the
last session, reducing the number of seamen
to $500 including apprentices and bows, the
Secretary OF the Navy has had to recall vessels
from all the foreign squadrons, and among
t?em two vessels from the South Attain
tic squadron, which is charged with the inter
ests of the United States in Paraguay. One
OF these vessels has already arrived and the
other is daily expected. This leaves only five
vessels. carrying forty guns, under Admiral
DAVIS, as the South Atlantic Squadron.
AFFAIRS AT KITTERY NAVY YARD.
Commodore Lanman reports all quiet at the
kittery navy yard. The High Sheriff of York
County, Me-, has evinced desire to arrange
the disputed questions and to exercise concur
rent, rather than absolute, jurisdiction.
MASSACHUSETTS SUPERVISOR
Secretary McCulloch may decide to-day be-
tween the two candidates for the Massachusetts
Supervisorship of Internal Revenue between
whom the contest has narrowed down.
ADMIRAL RADFoRD TO COMMAND EUROPEAN
SQUADRON.
Preparatory orders have been issued by the
Secretary of the Navy to Rear Admiral VIM
Radtord, now in command of Washington
Navy Yard, to command the European Squad
ron. The Franklin will return to the Squad
ron with Rear Admiral Radford
SUPERVISOR FOR INDIANA
George b. Williams has been appointed
Supervisor of Indiana.
REPORT OF GEN. sToNEMAN
Rrevet Major Gen. Stoneman, commanding
the first military district, has made his report
to the General-in- Chief The system inaugur-
ated and the policy pursued by Gen. Schofied
having by long experience been found COM
plete and satisfactory, the one was adopted
and the other followed with such modification
In detail as circumstances arising from time
TO time seemed to demand. The 14th article
of the Constitution was thought by some to
yacate every office in the State filled by per-
sons who came within its provisions. He saws
hts predecessor had made 532 appointments to
vacancies caused by deaf b. resignation or re-
lNoval, and in doing so had very nearly ex-
haGsted the available material at his disposal
But one vacancy on the bench had occurred
and 10 fill this it had been deemed necessary to
resort to the officers of the army to find per-
fnrt iu1n0 Sih
ton. This instance is cited to show the evil
dent impossibility of carrying on the Govern
ment of the State upon the assumption tina t
the thousands OF officers in the district, en-
bracing State officers, judges, sheriffs, commits
sioners of the Commonwealth, attornies, mag
istrates, &c, not to speak of the large number
of town Or municipal officers, such as mayors,
councilmen aldermen, constables, overseers of
the poor, and others, should suddenly cease in
the performance of their functions with no
possibility of filling their places under the pro-
visions of the reconstruction law. In some in
stances it has been found absolutely impossi-
p Die to hDd any person upon whom an appoint
ment could be conferred, and the difficulty has
been overcome by devolving the performance
OF the duties upon persons who were not op-
posed to reconstruction nor disloyal to the
Government of the United States.
tfen. Stoneman recommends the repeal of
the Sth section OF the act of Congress of July
10, 1867. While seeking for some remedy for
the evils which it was feared with reason
stantially settled ITSELF and very possibly this
result as promoted by his oppertune absence
from the State Immediately subsequent to the
adjournment OF Congress, and things moved
as before under the provisions and require
ments of the reconstruction laws then and
now in full operation. Since August the
forces in that district have been reduced by
sending a squadron of cavalry to the Plains,
the battery of artillery to Washington and the
29th infantry to Tennessee, and the companies
which remain have been greatly depleted by
reason OF the number of men discharged on
account of the expiration of their terms OF
s>sryice A large number will be discharged
dn, Sug the next three months, and consequent
ly by ,.be first of January next the whole
number in The district will be much below one
thousand in the aggregate.
Among the more important questions that
have presented themselves for consideration is
the Methodist Church contest. After care
full investigation and an able opinion thereon
by the Judge Advocate, Col ID. j. Burnhan,
it has been deemed advisable not as-yet to
make an order thereon. The investigation
shows that it embraces many delicate ques
tions of law, both statute and ecclesiastical,
and it is one, Gen. Stoneman says, that can
= Only be settled by the decision OF the highest
civil tribunal, or by legislative enactment.
Special cases, as they have arisen, have been
settled on the principle of recognizing the
claims of both contestants and giving each the
right of occupying ON alternate weeks.
Arrangements have been made with most OF
the railroad companies, advantageous to them
as well as to the State, by which it is hoped
they will be able to pay up in reasonable time
their dues to the treasury. This arrangement
contemplates that third be paid in curren-
cy, the other two thirds in State bonds The
appointment of officers and directors for the
State, the apportionment of taxes and extern
si>n OF the stay law are not yet determined,
and are questions for further consideration.
The report contains correspondence between
Messrs. r. o. Ou.d, Marmaduke, johnson and
Thos. J. Evans. A committee ofthe State Cen
trail Conservative Committee, was appointed
to confer with Gen. Stoneman in reference to
holding an election for Presidential Electors
Gen. Stoneman asked, in reply, as to whether
they can cite him any law authorizing him as
military commander to order or authorize such
election, and says if the district commander
cannot according to law, they cannot permit
in the sense of the order, or authorize or give
official sanction. Without in any manner
pressing an opinion upon the propriety, right
or duty of the people of Virginia, or any por-
ton of them, at this time to peaceably form
and ballot for any persons as Electors for Pres
ident and Vice President, he suggested the
inquiry whether not the invitation of any
such course of procedure was calculated to eX-
cite or disturb the public mind would be wise
or prudent My duties he sad are plain and
n,arked out by the law placing me here, and
are confined to protecting all persons in their
riohts OF person and property, to suppress in
surrect. .'on disorder and violence, and punish
or cause 10 be punished all disturbers of the
nublic peace and criminals, and obey the law
full orders of my constituted superlors.
A writ of hNbeas corpus has been applied
for, and is understood to be assented to, test
the legality of tine action of the district aom-
mander In regard to the fourteenth article of
the constitutional amendment what the result
will be remains to be determined. The officers
connected with the bureau of refugees, freed
men and abandoned lands in Virginia, have
been managed with ability and discretion, and
rejecting great credit on the able and upright
assistant Commissioner Gen. o. Brown. lis
subordinates have, as far as Gen.sStoneman IS
informed performed their thankless duties to
the general satisfaction of those conceln ned,
and have sought as far as in their power to see
that justice done, and the rights of the ne
groes prot cted. In doing this they had on
one hand ignorance, and on the other preju-
dice to contend against and overcome.
The officers, both civil and military, have in
general, performed their duties with willing
ness worthy of commeudation, and to this, to-
gether with the respect for law and jus ice
manifested by the people, white and black, is
due the quiet and good order that reignE
throughout the Commonwealth.
The cAsE5o OF MINISTER wAsHBURE.
The State Department has received onl,
partial official information on the subject o
trouble between Minister Washburn and tn
Paraguayan Government previous to his de
parture from that country. No in telgenc
has come to hand which would subject him t
Sepsure On the contrary the Standard, til
10, ,>dipg English paper Of Buenos Ayres, warm
~ do Ssnds bis conduct as governed by the hgf