The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-10

numoer Oh enlisted men in the service,
! iuciudlng apprentices, has been reduced
10 elgnt thousand FIVE hundred. An
increase OF navy yard facilities is recon-
, mended rs a measure which will. in
the event of war, be promotiye of econ
ony and security. A more thorough
ana systematic survey of the North
fscihe ocean is advised, in view of our
recent acquisitions, our expanding com.
merce, aud the increasing intercourse
between the Pacific States and Asia,
The Naval Pension Fund, which con-
sists OF molety of the avails of prizes
captured during the war, amounts 70
sli, ,00o, 900.
Exception is taken to the act Of o3d
of July last, which reduces the interest
on the fund loaned to the Government
by the Secretary rs trustee to five per
cent. instead of six per cent, which was
originally stipulated when the invest.
ment was made. Al amendment of the
pension laws is suggested TO remedy
omissions and defects in existing enact
ments. The expenditures of tho De-
partment during the last fiscal year,
were so, ,l20,S ,S9i, and the estimates
for the coming year amount to 500, $685.
3l4.
PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The Postmaster Generals report
furnishes full and clear exhibit of the
operations and condition of the postal
service. The ordinary postal revenue
for the fiscal year, ending Jane Both,
1865, was Sic, ,292, 600, and the total ex-
penditures, embracing all the service
&, for which special appropriations have
been made by Congress, amounted to
! S22, 49, ,592, showing an excess of ex-
penditures of So 1921. Deducting
| from the expenditures the sum OF ST.
! $50 ,525, the amount Of appropriations
for ocean steamship aud other special
service, the excess of expenditures was
! SI,54l ,4G6. BY using IN unexpended
balance in tho Treasury of S3,SOO,-
| 900, the actual sum of which
for special appropriations is re.
quired TO meet the deficiency is Sal AGO.
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 establish
ed by acts Of Congress which amounted,
within the last two years and half, TO
about As 700 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 Neither
land, Switzerland and Italy, respec-
lively, have been carried into effect
under their provisions. Important im.
provements have resulted in reduced
rates of international postage and en-
larged mail facilities with European
countries. The cost of the United
States transatlantic ocean mail Ser
vice since January lst, 1863, has been
largely lessened under the operation of
these new conventions, a reduction OF
one half having been effected under the
new arrangement for ocean mail steam
ship service which went into effect on
that date. The attention Of Congress
is invited to the practical suggestions
and recommendations made in his re.
port By the Postmaster General.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
No important question has occurred
during the last year in our accus-
toned cordial aud friendly inter.
course with Costa Rico, Honduras,
San Salvador, France, Austria, Bel
gium, Switzerland, Portugal, the Meth
erlands. Denmark, Sweden and Norway,
Rome, Greece, Turkey, Persia, Egypt.
Liberia, Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Mus
cat, Siam, Borneo and Madagascar.
Cordia. relations have also been maia-
tanned with the Argentine and the Cen
tral Republic. The expressed wish of
Congress that our national good offices
might be rendered to these Republics,
and also To Brazil and Paraguay, for
bringing TO an end the calamitous war
which has so long been raging in the
valley of the La Plata, has been assidu-
eusly complied with and kindly ne.
knowledged by all the bolligerents.
That important negotiation, however.
has thus far been without result.
Chas. A. Washburne, late u. 5. Minister
TO Paraguay, having resigned, aud be.
ing deslrous 10 return to the United
States the Rear Admiral commanding
the South Atlantic squadron was early
directed to send ship Of war to As
cunsion, the capital of Paraguay, to re-
ceive Mr.. Washburne and his family,
and remove them from a situation
which was represented 10 be endsn-
gered by faction and foreign war. The
Brazilian commander Of the Allied in
yading forces refused permission TO the
Wasp 10 pass through the blockading
forces, and that vessel returned 10 its
accustomed anchorage. Remonstrance
having been made against this
refusal, it was promptly oVerruled.
aud the Wasp therefore resumed
her errand, received Mr. Washburne
and his family, and conveyed them TO 4
safe and convenient seaport. In the
meantime an excited controversy had
arisen between the President Of Para
quay and the late United States Minis
ter, which, il il understood, grew out
Of his proceedings IN giving asylum in
the United States legation 10 tho al
legged enemies Of that republic. The
question OF the right TO give asylum II
one always diiiiCsdt and often produc-
tive of great embarrassment in States
well organized and established. For
eign powers refuse either To cOnceds or
exercise that right, except a. 10 persons
actually belonging TO the diplomatic
service. On the other hand. all such
mowers insist upon exercising the right
Of asylum in States where the law OF
nations is not fully acknowledged,
TespccteN anu ODeyc1. Inc IItsiutub
Of Paraguay is understood to have been
opposed TO Nr. Washburne's proceed
ings on the injurious and very improb-
able charge Of personal completely 10
insurrectiOa and treason. The cor
respondence, however, has not yet
reached the United States. Mr.. Wash
burne, in connection with this coatro-
versy, represents that two United
States citizens, ATTACHED 20 the leg1-
tion, were arbitrarily seized at his side'
when leaving the Capital Of P4rsgnay'
committed to prison, aud there saoyect
ed 10 torture for the purpose OF PtoSnr.
ing confessi sns Of their own criminahty
, and testimony to support the Prest.
dents allegations against the United
, states Minister
Mr. Mcmahon, the newly appointed
Minister 20 Paraguay, says that be has
reached the La Plata. He has beer in.
structed 70 proceed without delay 70
1 Ascension 20 investigate the whole snb-
iject. The Rear Admiral Commanding
the United States South Atlantic Squad
ron has been directed 70 attend the new
A