The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-25
CHARLESTON S. C, APRIL q. 1868

question OF the nnanCeS dLu tuo IeuuCtlOu VI
the taxes by blaming it on the President and
the time lost in his trial, and by promising to
60 to work busiy next winter. With crea-
ture of their own in the White House, and the
control of the entire Federal patronage, North
and South, all these gentry expected to re-
turn to their seats here and obtain unlimited
control of the government for four years more.
RECOVERY OF CONFEDERATE PROPERTY IN EU-
RopE-REpoRT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY.
The Secretary of the Treasury sent COM
munication to the House on Monday, in reply
to a resolution concerning the efforts OF the
Department for the recovery Of Confederate
property in Europe, and contracts with agents
or attorneys in relation thereto. Also infor.
nation concerning settlement made by the
firm Of Fraser, Trenholm & Co. The Secretary
says:
The efforts of the government to recover
Confederate property abroad have not been
confined to Europe but have been extended to
other parts of the world, especially to the West
Indies, in which the exertions have been dill
gently and successfully prosecuted; but as the
resolution of the House applied only to such
the subject of the Secretary's communication.
The Secretary says proceedings were commenc-
ed soon after the cessation Of hostilities in
the Southern States. The result of all these
arrangements has been the actual recovery of
property of the Confederates to large amount,
with much more which it is confidently beliey-
ed will in due time be recovered. To end the
controversy, or suits in England, With Fraser,
Trenholm & Co., an arrangement was made
with them in September, 1857, which was ap-
proved by the President, concerned in the
United States receiving and that from paying
precisely that which the United States may
lawfully claim in court OF chancery, neither
more nor less, in substance as follows: Deliver
ing up the property of the Confederate States,
unless the same be subjected to excepted legal
or equitable undoubted claims Of theirs, valid
in law, on contracts made during their agency
for the Confederates. The agreement secures
all to which the United States are entitled. This
government has recovered, by suit in admiral
ty, four of the cruisers Of the Confederate Gov
ernment, viz: the Sumter, Tallahassee, Shepan-
doah and Rappahannock, together with some
other miscellaneous parcels and property,
amounting in proceeds to s160,4 ,476. In these
cases the government has steadily contended
that it has the right in law to take possession
Of any public property Of the Confederates
wherever it may be found, whether at home or
in any foreign countries, claiming power to do
this summarily and as OF right, and Of course
in the United States or on the high seas, de-
manding of the foreign courts Of law in for
eign countries that they shall cooperate in
enabling the United States to reclaim the prop
erty by suit if brought into the ports of any
such foreign government. Suits are pending
in England against sundry parties, among
which are the BlakenY Ordnance Company, to
recover ordnance contracted for blythe Confede-
rates, as also against two Of the financial agents
of the Confederacy, namely James B. Fergu-
son and Colin McRae. The archives Of the
so-called Confederate Government, now in
possession of the United States, show that
bursed by McRae on Confederate loans in
Europe, and the object Of the suit is to
reach any balance which may have remained
on his hands at the time of the extinction Of
the Confederacy. There is only one suit in
France, but that is of considerable importance
rs to the principle to be decided. It tls against
the wealthy ship-building firm of Ar1nan Fills
s. Co., to recover q large amount placed in
their hands to be employed in the construction
of ship or shlps-of-war for the use Of the
Confederate Government. The case has not
vet come to an issue. The receipts Of the
United States Treasurer, Mr.. Spinner, special
agent on account Of Confederate property re-
covered in Europe, show the following result:
Proceeds from the sale Of the steamer Shenan-
doah, S10S, ,632 18; from the sale Of the Sumter
and Tallahassee, S32, 715 S; from r. 2. Wal
Ter, Confederate agent, 81, ,809 40. Total, S144,-
157 Is. The disbursements on account OF the
above we're 500, ,30S 76 for couDsePs fees, special
agents, &c., Hon. Caleb Cushing received q fee
OF $1,000. The Secretary of the Treasury says,
much exaggeration existed as to the balance
remaining in the hands of the Confederates
abroad.