The Portland daily press., 1868-08-18
WASHINGTON.
ILLNESS OF GEN. RAWLINs.

ILLNESS OF GEN. RAwLINs.
WASHINGTON Aug. 17.-General John A
Rawlns, Chief of Staff to General Grant, is
confined to his bed, having had two hemorrha
ges OF the lungs yesterday, but he is somewhat
better this morning, and it is hoped he will be
out in day or two.
BUSINESS AT THE PATENT OFFICE.
For the week ending Tuesday, August %
two-hundred and eighty-tve patents will be IS
sued iron the Patent Office. During the past
week three-hundred and eighty applications
have been filed.
THE INCENDIARY FIRES AT AUGUSTA.
The Secretary of War has directed Brevet
Brig Gen James Totten Assistant Inspector
General TO proceed to Augusta, Me-, and
make full investigation OF the cause of the
recent fires at the Kennebec Arsenal.
THE TREATY WITH CHINA
The treaty between the United States and
China, recently ratified by the Senate, has
been transmitted to the Chinese government
for approval. Therefore the ratification Of the
treaty cannot be Immediately exchanged.
INSTRUCTIONS OF GEN. RosECRANs.
Gen. Rosecrans spen. part of Saturday at
the State Department with Secretary Seward,
and received a portion of his instructions. His
ether instructions will be prepared previous to
his departure for Mexico, which will not take
place till the latter part of next month. The
recently ratified convention for the settlement
Of the Claims has been sent to Mexico. No
Commits sioners will be appointed under it as
Stipulated until the final action upon the treaty
by the Mexican government and the exchange
OF Publications.
COLLECTOR OF ALAsKA-oPINIoN OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL EVARTS.
Attorney General Eyarts, in his opinion re-
lative to the appointment of collector of
Alaska saws: "frhe office she uld be set in
at nplpsS lapa1 iupa1i-
ment to filling it exists. do not find the case
enforced with the operation of the tenure of
civil Office act, and under the accepted con-
struetion of the constitutional authority of
the President | have no doubt Of his power
to grant a commission to collector of GUS
tons for Alaska, which shall expire at the end
of t1e next session of the Senate.
OHNIoN OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE
CoLLECToRSHIP OF NEW ORLEANS.
Attorney General Evarts has given his opin-
ion that the office of Collector of New Orleans
is how vacant, becoming so by his resignation
AMI complete institution member of the
Senate. The Constitution says the President
shall have power tc fill up all vacancies that
nay happen during the recess of the Senate
By granting commissions that shall expire at
tie end of their next session. The only doubt
ever suggested upon the construction of this
cause of the Constitution, has been in relation to
the true Interpretation of the phrase that may
Happen during the recess recess of the Senate"
The subject was fully discussed by Mr.. Writ
n the year 1923, and no view or argument
that could shed light upon correct decis-
on was omitted from his consideration OF it,
md hearrived at the conclusion that the vacan-
~ in the office which might be filled
~ this President under the clause of
the Constitution, was not confined to it by
vacancies originating or beg inning to exist dur
ing the recess of the Senate, but embraces all
vacancies that from any casualty happen to
exist at the time when the Senate cannot CON
suit as to filling them.
Mr.. Evarts then proceeds to examine the
tenure of office act, the third section of
which alone bears on the subjects and concludes
that upon the well considered and long con-
tinued Interpretation of this clause of the Con- |
stitution, the President has power to fill the |
vacancy in the Office of Collector at New Or |
leans by granting commission that SHALL eX- |
pire at the end of the next session of the Sen
ate, and that the tenure civil Office act does not
in terms nor in intent, Lor in legislative con-
strueton of this clause of the Constitution,
affect this power of the President in the case
submitted for my opinion.
THE MEXICAN POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE Times Washing
ton despatch says no doubt now exists but that
the future policy of this Government toward
Mexico will be establishing at no distant day,
of a protectorate over that Republic. 1t il
probable that the Mexican government will
very soon take initiative steps in this matter by
ter Rosecrans is to be delayed until further in
formation is received ON the subject. 1t is not
improbable as remuneration for the protec
torate of several of the Northern Mexican
States, the real estate Of which is now owned
by citizens of the United States that they will
be ceded to the United States, including the
peninsula of Lower California.
1t is aScertained that agents of the French
government have been actively engaged in diff
terent parts of this country during the past
hran rNlnn ,op,,,o
the French army Horses suitable for cavalry
and artillery purposes have also been purch as
ed by them. A considerable amount Of forage
has already been shipped to New York for tran
shipment across the Atlantic.
RETURN OF COMMISSIONER ROLLINS.
Commissioner Rollins returned to his duties
this morning. Being engaged for some time
in conversation with the SECRETARY of the
Treasury at the latters office, it was definitely
settled that Mr. Rollins will not retire from
Office, at least until after the re-assembling of
Congress. The appointments of Supervisors
under the new tax law will now receive prompt
attention from the Secretary.
Nineteen nominations have been made by Mr..
Rollins and probable conference in relation
to these as well as others, will take place to-
morrow, between the Secretary and the Com
missioner. The disposition is to make the APP
pointments as early as practicable, as the bust
ness of the department demands the attention
of such officers.
A COMPLAINT.
The Trbune's Washington's despatch says
complaint was made at the delay of Secretary
McCulloch in executing the new tax law. The
law was approved July Goth, nearly month
ago, yet, beyond the appointment of a few
gaugers, scarcely any thing has been done to-
ward putting it into efficient operation. Not
a supervisor has been appointed, and govern
ment is losing thousands of dollars daily by
the non-appointmen mt of officers provided under
that law. Nominations for more than half of
these officers were made two weeks ago by
Commissioner Rollins, but no action has been
taken upon them by the Secretary The Pres
ident is engaging his attention with petty ap-
pointments of gaugers, and requested McCul-
loch few days ago to appoint one in Rich
mond which was done.
THE MISSISSIPPI ELECTION,
A special despatch TO the Post says: Letters
have been received here from the committee of
five appointed by the Constitutional Couven-
ton OF Mississippi to receive and count the
votes at the late election in that State, to an
nounce the result and if necessary to call an
other meeting of the Convention. They do
not contemplate calling the Convention to-
gether again, but are about to issue procla-
nation declaring the election in six counties
illegal and void Oh account of frauds and yiO
lence. As Gen. Giiem refuses to recognize
this committee, they intend TO call upon Con-
gress to sustain their action, and to complete
the work of reconstruction in Mississippi in
appropriate legislation.