The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-12
WASHINGTON.

RUMoRED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE
OF CUBA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE rumor of the
day is that General Cushing, who has gone
abroad, is clothed with full authority from the
State Department to negotiate TOR the pur-
chase of Cuba. Gentlemen who seem to be
informed on the subject say that Mr.. Seward is
anxious to make this purchase befoIe the close
of the present administration.
GRANTS CABINET.
Gen. Grants cabinet is now the subject of
bets among sporting men. Last night wager
was made by an admirer of the eX- Secretary OF
War that be could name the cabinet OF the
incoming administration. Articles were signed
and the money deposited in the safe OF a lead
ing bank. The betting slate as made up Is as
follows: Secretary of State Edwin NJ. stan
ton: Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Nor
ton; Secretary of War, Gen. j. NJ. Schofeld !;
Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Porter; Secre-
tary of the Interior, Senator Conness Post
master General, Horace Greeley; and Attorney
General, Matt Carpenter.
DEATH OF HELEN WESTERN.
Helen Western, the actress, died this morn
ing after an illness of one week. The remains
of the deceased-yil be taken to Boston to-day.
GEN. MEADE TO REPORT AT WASHINGTON.
Maj. Gen. Meade has been directed to report
in this city ON public business at such time this
month as in his judgment the public interests
will permit.
MOVEMENTS OF GEN. GRANT. ~
Gen. Grant was at the army headquarters
to-day, attending to business. He will leave
Tomorrow afternoon to attend a reunion of So
cetleS OF western armies at Chicago. A large
number of officers of the army will leave at
the same time for that purpose including Maj.
Gems. echofeld, Thomas and Terry; Generals
Baboock, Porter and Dent of Gem Grants
staff; Colonels Schofeld and Campbell, Of Gen.
Schofelds staff, and many Others A very
large crowd of visitors paid their respects to
Gen. Grant this morning, including many sem
ators and representatives, as well as Maj. Gen.
Stoneman, commanding first military district,
who arrived this morning
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS
The receipts Of customs for the week ending
9th inst were $2035,54i.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
After number of unimportant motions had
been submitted to the Supreme Court to. day,
Judge b lack asked leave to be heard on tire
question whether the act of Congress repeating
the act of February 9Th, 1866, giving to the
Court Jurisdiction on an appeal from judg-
ment Of the circuit in habeas case, would
have the effect TO deprive this Court of juris-
dIction in the McArdle case, or whether the
Court should not under the jurisdct on which
had already attached in the ease proceed 10
judgment he said there was of course a DIFF
ference of opinion between himself and Mr..
Carpenter, who appears for the United States
on the subject; lie being of opinion that the
repeal did not affect this case and that judg-
ment should be pronounced, and Mr.. Carpenter
taking the reverse view.
After consultation by the Court the Chief
Justice announced that the Court would hear
the arguments on that point, leaving it to the
counsel to agree upon the time.
1t was subsequently arranged that the argu-
ment should be GU the first Friday in February
next after the hearing of the motion was con-
cluded.
The Louisiana confiscation case was closed.
The Committee on Elections at the meeting
on Monday will consider the Missouri contest
ed case. If they should have another meeting
before the holiday recess they will take up the
Georgia case. That from Louisiana will not
probably be considered until after the recess