Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-11

the coming year amount to $40, 993,414
The Post Master Generals report furnishes a
full and clear exhibit of the operations and condi
ton of the postal service. The ordinary postal
revenue for the fiscal year ending June Both, 1868.
was SIC, 1891, 600, and the total expenditures,
bracing all the, service for which special
Congress amounted to s22, $780, 500, showing an
excess CT expenditures OF Sc. 437.99l. Deducting
from the expenditures the sum of 1886. 525, the
amount Of appropriations for ocean steamship
and other special service, the excess of expendi-
lures 81, 54l, 466. By using unexpended
balance in the treasury of $500, 600 the actual
to meet the deficiency is s741, 466. The causes
which produced this large excess Of expenditure
over the revenue were the restoration of service
in the late insurgent States, and the putting into
operation OF new service established by the acts
OF Congress, which amounted, within the
last two years and half, to about
IS, 200 miles, equal to more than one-third of the
whole amount OF the service at the close Of the
war. New postal conventions with Great Britain
North Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands Swift
zerland and Italy respectively, have been Carried
into effect. Under their provisions important
improvements have resulted in reduced rates Of
international postage and enlarged mail facilities
with Europe an countries. The cost OF the United
States trans atlantic ocean mail service since Jan
uary 1st, 1868, has been largely lessened under
she operation of these new conventions reduc-
ton Of over one-half having teen effected under
the new arrangement for ocean mail steamship
service, which went into effect on that date. The
attention of Congress is invited to the practical
suggestions and recommendations made in his
report by the Postmaster General.
No important question has occurred during the
last year in accustomed cordial and friendly
intercourse with Costa Rca. Guararala, Hon
duras, San Salvador, France, Austria, Belgium,
Switzerland. Portugal, the Netherlands, Der
mark, Sweden and Norway, Rome. Greece, Tur-
key. Persia, Egypt, Siberia, Morocco, 1ripoli.
Tunis, Muscat. Siam, Borreo and Madagasca~.
Cordial relations have also been maintained with
the Argentine and the Oriental Republics. The
expressed wish of Congress that cur national
good Offices might be rendered to those republics,
aud also to Brazil aud Paraguay for bringing
to Gil end the caiamlt0u8 war which has go long
been raging in the valley of the La Pl&'c, has
been essiduousy complied with, and kindly &C
knOWledged by all the beligerenis. That impOr-
tant negotiation, however, has thus far been with
cut result
c, A. Washbnrn, late United States minister to
Para quay, having resigned, and being desiroue
to return to The United States, the Rear Admiral
commanding the South Atlantic squadron was
early directed TO send ship of war to Assumption
the capital of Paraguay, to receive Mr.. Wash
burn and bis family, and remove them from Il
eltuatlOU which was represented e. be
dangered b. faction and foreign war.-
The Brazilian comm ander Of the allied in vad
ing forces refused permission to the Wasp :"
TO pass through the blockading forces and that
vessel returned to its accustomed anchorage. Re-
monstrance having been made against this refu-
cal, 1t was promptly Ogerruled and the s. Wasp
therefore resume her Grand received Mr. Wash
burn aud family and conveyed them TO safe ard
Convenient sea port. la the meantime, excl
ted controversy had arisen betW the President
Of Paraguay and the late United States Minister,
which II is understood grew ont of his proc 3ed
ngs in giving &sy lum in he United States lega-
ton to alleged enemies Of that Republic
The question of the right to give ssy-
um is ono always difficult and often
productive of great emoarrass ment. In States
well organic ed and established foreign powers re-
fuse either to couceao Or exercise that1ght except
as to persons actually belonging to the diplomatic
service On the other hand, all sEch powers in
slst upon exercising the right of asy lum states
where the law of nations is not fully acknowledge
ed, respected and Obeyed. The President Of Pa
raguay is understood to have opposed to Mr.
Washburn's proceedings the injurious and very
improbable charge Of personal completely in i'll
surrectlOn and treason. The correspondence
however, has not vet reached The Uni ed States
~, represents that two United States
citizens attached 10 the legation were
arbitrarily seized at bis side when leaving the
capital Of Paraguay, committed to prison and
there subjected to torture for the purpose of pro-
| curing confessions of their own cIininality and
testimony to support the Presidents allegation
ganet the United States Minister. Mr. Nc
| Nsh0n, the Gewiy appointed Minister TO Para
quay. having resc he'd the La Platte, has been
instructed 80 pro oed without delay to Assumption
there 10 investigate the whole subject. The Bear
Admiral commanding the U. S. SOU II Atlantic
squadron has been dire ted to attend the new
munster, with q proper naval force to sustain
such Just demands as the occasion may require,
and to vi dcate the rights Of the United States
cltIzens re etIed to, and of any others who may
be eXpnEed to QanGer III the theatre of war. With
these excAptious friendly relations have been
ma;nta!nG between the United States and Brazil
aud Paraguay. Our relations during the past
year vi / Bolivia, Equador, Peru and Chill have
eecC1o spcc tdlly friendly and cordi L. srain and
the republics of Peru. Bolivia and Ecuador have
expressed their Willingness to accept the
mediation Of the United States for terminating
lie VA with the South Pacific coast. Chilli has
not hnally declared upon the question In the
mcantime the conflict has practically exhausted
Itself. Since no bellgereEt or hostile movement
has cen made by either party during the last
two Years, and there are no indications Of a
present purpose to resume hOstiitles on either
side, Great Britain and France have cordially
secoc ded our opposition of mediation, and do
not forego the hope that It may be soon accepted
by all the beugereCts, and lead 20 secure
establishment of peace AID friendly relations
between the Spanish American republics of the
Pacific and Spain, IL ~esut which would be at
tended with common benefit to the bei9erents
8 I'd much advantage to ali commercial nations
communicate Tor the consideration OF Congress
a correspondence which shows that the Bolivian
republic has established the extremely liberal
principle Of receiving into its citizenship any cit
iZen of the United st ttes or OF any other of the
American republics, upon the simple condition Of
voluntary registry. The correspondence here
with submitted will tie found painfully re-
pete with accounts of the rum and
Indebtedness produced by recent earthquakes of
unparalleled severity in the republics u Peru,
Ecuador and Bolivia. The diplomats agents and
naval officers Of the United States who pre-
| sent in those countries at the time Of those dis
asters. furnished all the relief in their power to
the sufferers, ana were promptly rewarded with
grateful and touching acknowledgements by the
Congress Of Peru An appeal to the charity of
our fellow citizens has been answered by much
liberality. In this connection submit az appeal
which has been made by the Swiss republic,
whose government and institutions are rendered
to our own, in behalf of it's inhabitants who are
| suffering extreme restitution produced by recent
devastating inundation.
Our relations with Mexico during tho year have
been marked by an increasing growth of mutual
confidence. The Mexican government has no.
yet acted upon the tn treaties celebrated here
last summer for establishing the rights of natu-
rallied citizens upon liberal and just basis for
regulating consular powers, and for the adjust
ment OF mutual claims.
All commercial na'~Ls, as we'll as all friends Of
republican lDstttlt-oIs, have occasion to regret
the frequent local disturbances which occur in
some of the constituent States Of Columbia.
Nothing has occurred, however, to affect the
harmony and cordial friendship which havo for
several years existed between that youthful and
vigorous republic and our own. Negotiations are
| pending with view to the survey and constru :
ton CT ship canal arcoss the Isthmus of Dareo
! under the auspices of the United States [ hope
| to be able to submit the results of that negotia-
ton to tho Senate during it's present session.
| The very liberal treaty which was entered into
| last year by the United states and Nicaragua has
| been ratified by the latter republic.
Costa Rica, with the earnesness of a sincerely
friendly neighbor, soliclts reciproci OF trade