The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-24
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1868

A letter was received yesterday by gentleman in
this city from star oficer OF General Grant, who Is
with the General in Illinois. The ofcer says that the
General Is in the enjoyment OF good health as are
also the other members OF the family He further
states that all the reports to the contrary notwith
standing, the General has not yet selected the men,
bers Of his future Cabinet and all the arrangements
to that end that have yet been made were made by
other individuals without consulting General Grant.
General John A. Rawlins, he says is visiting for
short time in Iowa. His health has not improved
since he left Washington.
Remarkable Change Of Sentiment In the
State Department..
II was stated to-day on good authority that one
short month ago scarcely word was spoken about
| the State Department that could be construed by
any process Of reasoning into sympathy with Grant
| and Colfay, ana now, with very few exceptions,
the whole FORCE from the Secretary the messenger
his door, are earnest and enthusiastic republicans,
but more especially is this the with those vete
| ran oficehoders who have enjoyed good fat posi-
| lions from time out Of mind.
| Payment OF Interest the Five.Twenfy
Bonds.
On the 1st Of November about $23 700 900 In coin
| will be taken from the vaults of the Treasury De.
| partment to pay the semiannual interest on the
| fve-twenty bonds which fall due on that date There
about $780, 000 900 In coin held by the govern
No further interest win be due until the 1st OF jan
uary 1862 when about $2s ooo 900 in coin will be
quired to pay the semtannua interest bonds for
1881.
Tho Oimstead Case-SingnlRr Proceedings.
The Omstead case possesses some rather curious
features about II, which to have escaped gene
raj observation. Mr.. Olmstead was discussing agent
OF the Post ONCE Department and disappeared from
here some six weeks ago in a very suspicious man.
ner. 1t was Immediately noised about that the ac-
counts OF the absconded ofical were in such I'M
satisfactory condition that 900 could not be.ac-
counted for, and as a consequence he was regarded
as a defauter Notwithstanding this. however very
little effort appears have been made to apprehend
Mr.. Olmstead, and he wandered about for weeks I'M
moested, not having been touched, in fact, by the
authorities until he voluntarily surrendered himself
to the custody OF government agent. Finally he
was brought back to this city, comfortably lodged at
hotel here, and to-day discharged giving bail to
the extent OF $4,000, although his alleged
deficiency exceeds four times that amount. Yester.
day $4,000 bail demanded, but to-day half that
sum was deemed SUFFICIENT. This Is a very curious
feature Of the case say the least of 1t but there
are stories anoat which seem to afford clue to the
extraordinary proceedings. Olmstead claims, 1t Is
said, that he has committed no crime except such
as was authorized by persons higher In authority
tnan himself: that the alleged deficiencies are
deficiencies at ALL but simply expenditures OF funds
out OF wrong appropriations for government pur-
poses by direction OF his superors In authority that
investigation will show he has not converted
a dollar wrongfuy to his own use, but, on the con-
trary that every cent has been laid out for the ex
penses of government, though out Of the wrong ap-
preparations. II Omstead's statement be true then
he is only minor offender, and those who
directed him are the real criminals, II,
in point OF fact. there be any crimnality at all at
taching to the Under the circumstances, there
FORE other parties should be arrested, and Mr.. Ohm.
stead should be relieved OF the serious charges hang
ing over him. His arrest and the wide publicity
given to the matter have well nigh driven him crazy
and If he really gulltess 1t IL cruelty 10 brand him
defaulter, and the holding OF him TO bail IL some
thing worse than mockery.
Internal Revenue Appointments.
The following appointments were made to-day
Sgoyekeepers-Henry T.. Strckler, Herman Moss,
w. Il. Beck, John NJ Erril, Thomas J. Hendrix VI.
A. GlessneT, y ). Hamilton, John Cooling, Henry
r. Drawbrough II. L. Collier, r. q. McC'leary, James
]. sponeperger, H. g. Buzzy, William ). Relsenben
Ian, John Lawrence, Cornelius Showalter and Milton
Crone for the Fifteenth district Pennsylvania COM
prising York and Cumberland counties; BENJAMIN
McGregory, Eighth Indiana; Jesse r. Nelson, Ninth
Kentucky; William M Nelson, Twelfth Illinois; VIM.
Lctford, Fourth Pennsylvania: Joseph McMurray,
q. Clark First Iowa Robert HOLSTER and Levi Val.
liar, Thirteenth New York: James Womelsdorf,
EIGHTH Pennsylvania Joseph 7. Raside, Fourth Penn
sylvanla; Y. G. Mclean, Seventh Ohio; VIM. w.
Edge, Fourth Ohio James II. Watson, Seventh ken-
lucky; Ernest Brennan Seventh Kentucky.
Guaorss-Charles H. Bostwick First district OF
Alabama; Isaac Featherly, Twelfth Illinois, Charles
II. Fee, Fourth Illinois.
statement BY Mrs. Ann :. stephens.
Mrs. Ann ;. stephens pronounces untrue the
statement in George A. Fltchs affdayit, published
to-day that she urged him to make charges
agans, District Attorney Courtney for the purpose
OF having him removed &C. she also cmphatcaly
denies any such conversation az that alleged by him
to have taken place between Fitch ana herself.
Naval Intelligence.
Dispatches 10 the Navy Department from Rear
Admiral Davis, commanding the South Atlantic
squadron dated Rio Janeiro. september g. says
The American bark Costarelli got asi<.e on the
north side Of Flores Island on the 7th OF August,
and was subsequently got OF with but little injury.
He also informs the Department. under date OF the
10th OF September that the f5th the Italian bark
Regina, in going out OF the harbor OF Rio, ran into
the French nagship Gree carrying away portion
OF her foretopmast and yard and killing six OF the
crew, the rigging being manned at the time. The
calamity excited the deepest sympathy throughout
the foreign neet which was greeting the station
frigae on her return home. The Department IL also
Informed that the United states steamship Quinn
baug had returned to Rio on the 18th OF
September from Q cruise on the coast OF Africa.
having visited large number OF places on that
coast. The ofrcers and crew OF the Quinnebaug had
enjoyed excellent health during the cruise. Pay
master u. Locker has been detached from duty as
Meet paymaster OF the South Pacific squadron.
Commodore Alden ofncially confirms TO the Navy
Department the murder Of Lieutenant Commander
Mitchell at san Francisco. Lieutenant Commander
Mitchell would In few days have left for New York.
Commodore Alden informs the Department that the
sare island Navy Yard sustained no damage by the
earthquake.
The United States steamship shamokIn was TO
leave Rio for The United states on the Goth OF sep.
TENDER
Naval Orders.
The Navy Department has ordered Lieutenant |
Commander NJ L. Johnson to the receivlno sbip