The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-12-17

! intercourse between the Pacific States and
Asia. The Naval Pension Fund, which
consists of moiety of the avails of prizes
captured during the war, amounts to $14,-
| 000,0
THE PosTOFFTCE DEPARTMENT..
The Postmaster Generals report furnishes
full and clear exhibit of the operations and
condition of the postal service The ordna-
ry postal revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1868, was SIS 2O2 400, and the
total expenditures embracing all the service
for which special appropriations have been
made by Congress, amounted to $22, ,730,-
! 592, showing an excess Of expenditures of
| $6,437, III showing an excess of exp xpendi-
lures of Sc ,437, III 6eductng from the ex-
| penditures the sum of S1,S96525, the
amount of appropriations for ocean, steam
| ship and other special services, the excess of
expenditures was 81 ,54l .466. By using an
unexpenGed balance in the Treasury Of S.
| 100000. the actual sum for which specia,
| appropriation is required to meet the def
| cheney. is S., ALP &c. The causes which
| produced this large excess of expenditure
| over revenue, were the restoration of serv-
ices In the late insurgent States, and the
| putting into operation of the new service es-
| tabiished by acts of Congress, which amount
| Ell within the last two years and half to
| about forty-eght thousand seven hundred
miles, equal to more than ope-third the
| Whole amount of the service at the close of
| the war. New postal conventions with
| Great Britain. North Germany, Belgium
| the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy, re-
! spectively, have been carried into effect ;
under their provisions important improve
ments have resulted in the reduced rates of
international postage, and the enlarged mail
| facilities with European countries. The
cost of the United States transatlantic
| Ocean mail service, since January l, 1868,
| has been largely lessened under the opera
| ton of these new conventions reduc-
| ton of over one-half having been effected
under the new arrangement for Ocean
mail steamship service, which went into
! effect on that date. The attention of Con-
| gress is invited to the practical suggestions
and recommendations made in his report.
by the Postmaster General.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
No important question has occurred dur
ing the last year in our accustomed cordial
and friendly intercourse with Costa Rica,
Guatemala, Honduras. San Salvador, France,
Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, the
Netherlands. Denmark, Sweden and Nor
way, Rome, Greece, Turkey. Persia, Egypt,
Liberia. Morocco, Tripol, Tunis, Muscat,
Siam, Borneo and Madagascar. Cordial
Argentine and the Oriental Republics The
expressed wish of Congress that our national
good offices might be rendered to those Re-
publics, and also to Brazil and Paraguay,
for bringing to an end the continuous war
which has so long been raging in the Valley
Of the La Plata, has been assiduously COM
piled with, and fully acknowledged by all
the belligerents. That important negotia-
ton, however, has thus far been without re-
suit. Charles A. Washburn, late United
States Minister 10 Paraguay. having resign
cd, and being desirous to return to the
United States, the Rear Admiral command
ing the South Atlantic Squadron was early
directed to send ship of war to Ascencion.
the capital of Paraguay, TO receive Mr..
Washburn and his family, and remove them
from a situation which was represented to
be endangered by faction and foreign war.
The Brazilian commander of the allied inva-
ding forces refused permission to the Wasp
to pass through the blockading forces, and
that vessel returned to its accustomed an
chorage, remonstrance having been made
against the refusal. 1t was promptly over
ruled, and the Wasp therefore resumed her
erraud, received Mr. Washburue and family.
and conveyed them to a safe and convenient
seaport. InSSthe meantime an excited con
troversy had arisen between the President
of Paraguay and the late United States
Minister, which it is understood grew out of
his proceedings in giving asylum in the
United States legation to alleged enemies of
that Republic. The question of the right to
give asylum is one al Aays difficult and often
productive of great embarrassment in States
well organized and established. Foreign
powers refuse either to concede or exercise
that right except as to persons actually be-
Longing to the Diplomatic service. On the
other hand all such powers insist upon exer-
cising the right Of asylum in States where
the law of nations is not fully acknowledged,
/ respected and obeyed. The President of Par
aguay is understood to have been opposed to
Mr. Washburne's proceedings, owing to the
Injurious and very improbable charge of
| personal completely in insurEection and trea-
| son, The correspondence however. has not
reached tie United States. Mr.. Washburne,
| in connection with this controversy, repre-
| scnrs that two United States citizens at
tached to the legation we're arbitrarily seized
/ at his side when leaving the capital of Par
| aguav, committed to prison, and there sub
! jected to torture for the purpose of procuring
! confessions of their own crimiuality, and
! testimony to support the Presidents allega-
| tions against the Unite d States Minister.
A dispatch has been received from Mr.
McMahon, the newly appointed Minister to
Paraguay, saying that he had reached the
La Plate. He has been instructed to proceed
without delay TO Asunscion, there to investi-
gate the whole subject. The Rear admiral.
commanding the United States South Allan
tic Squadron, has been directed to attend the
new Minister with proper naval force, and
to sustain such just demands as the occasion
may require, and to vindicate the rights OF
the United States citizens referred to, and o.
any others who may be exposed to danger in
the theater of war
With these exceptions, friendly relations
| have been maintained between the United
States and Brazil and Paraguay. Our reia
tions during the past year with Bolivia
Ecuador Peru. aud Chile have become espec
tally frieudly and cordial. Spain and the
Republics of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador have
expressed their willingness to accept th'
meditations of the United States for termina
ting the war upon the South Pacific coast
Chile has not finally declared upon the ques
ton. In the meantime the conflict hai
practically exhausted ttssif, since no befTiger