The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-18
Secretary Seward Denies Reports
Relative to the Alabama
Claims-His MatrimO'
nial Engagements
Broken Off.
Minister Washburne's Con-
duct in Paraguay-No Off,
cial Information Re-
ceived by the Gov
ment of Lopez
Cruelty.
The San Juan Canard.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-Secretary SewarPs
attention having been called to the recent des-
patch from this city to the New York Posi-,
stating that the British Government had con-
ceded point at issue with the United States
relative to the island OF San Juan, by agreeing
to withdraw her joint occupancy thereof, he
pronounces the entire despatch q fabricA-
ton. The telegram appearing in that paper
from the same source relative to Reverdy John
son and the settlement of the Alabama claims
is also pronounced by the Secretary 10 be devoid
Of truth.
Hon. e. ID. washburne
called upon Secretary Seward to-day, to ascer-
tain the truth of the statements which have
recently appeared in public prints relative to
the conduct of his brother G. A. Washburn
Minister TO Paraguay. The State Department.
up 10 this time, has no official information on
the subject, and is not advised of the torturiug
or i'm prisonment by General Lopez of any Ame-
ricans. The attention of Secretary Seward has
been directed to what has appeared in certain
papers concerning Minister Washburn's conduct,
but he does not credit it.
1t is understood that that much talked of
Matrimonial Match
between Secretary Seward and certain young
lady of this city has been broken of at the
urgent request Of the secretarys friends. Pos
siby it might have come to something had the
young ladys friends kept quiet about it.
General Thomas Reports to General
Grant-HistOry of the IA. *. N.
WASHINGTON, Nov. ls.-General George H.
Thomas has made his annual report to General
Grant regarding affairs in the Department of
the Cumberland. 1t opens with the disposition
OF the troops, and an account OF assistance rem
deTed 10 Governor Boremsn of West Virginia in
o pbIilnDi. The
OF the troops in the Department has greatly i'm
proved in all respects. The General thinks that
suffers should oe allowed at all military posts.
The duties of the troops arc about the same as
last year, and the necessity tor them is
the same. The state Of society in those regions
where the law mas been held in contempt. aud
where life has been insecure, has not at all i'm
proved, and in some sections 1t is much worse.
Good crops and increased prosperity seem to
have encouraged more active exhibition of
the spirit OF la awlessness. The report Contains
very exhaustive history ot the operations OF the
Ku-Klux Klan from their first appearance in
Giles county, Tenn. Il details first the reports
which were sent to Washington, and allowed
by the President to be published "a publication
which had q damaging effect upon Union men
in the South. The General severely censures
those Northern men IN Nashville who joined
with the Rebels in denying the existence of the
Klan. He styles them few amiable persons of
Northern birth, who were living in Nash Vile
under the protection OF a well-orgauizsd police
force. The various &C 8 Of the force in helping
Governor Brownlow 10 preserve the peace are
gwen in very interesting form. These
movements and their cause help to complete
the history of the Ku.K Klux Kan. The diff
culties arising from resistance to revenue
officers have given considerable employment to
the troops. Formidable difficulty exists
throughout the Department in obtain
ing justice for Unionists even in the
United States Courts. The number of troops in
the Department has at no time been so great as
was required TO preserve the peace In one
case the General ordered the arress of an ex-
Rebel soldier tor violating his parole by assault
ing Union man. His trial by military COM
mission was ordered but the case was referred
to the Attorney General. of the United States
and that official held that the prisoner had vio-
lated no military law. After that, the report
continues, no further attempt was made to
afford protection to Union citizens by enforcing
obligations of paroles, as the latter seemed of
little value except to the paToled. The Geue-
Ial does rot mince his language in speak.
ing of the delay Of several OF the railroads in his
department. in paying their debt. re think.
that they do this IN hope that their claims tor
use during the war may yet be allowed. He
recommends that they be compelled to pay up
promptly. 1t is mortifyIng, he says, TO acknow.
ledge that the State and local ws, aud the
more powerful force of public opinion, do rot
protect citizens of the Department from vio-
1ence. Indeed, crime Is committed because
public opinion tavors it, A criminal who Is
popular with the mob can set law at defiance;
but IL man is only suspected of crime who
Is inimical to the community, be is likely to be
hanged to the nearest tree or snot down at his
own door.