The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-16

overy description are in use, armed with SIX
hundred and nihety.six guns. The number
of enlisted men in the service, including APP
prentices, has been reduced to eight thnusantl
five hundred An increase of navy yard ia
cilitics is recommended as measure which
will. in the event of war, DC promotive OF
economy and security.
A more thorough and systematic survey
of the North Pacific ocean is advised in
view of our recent acquisitions and our cx-
panding commerce and the increasing inter
course between the Pacific States and Asia.
The naval pension fund, which consists Of
moiety Of the avails of prizes captured dur.
ing the war. amounts to $14, 100000. Ex-
ception is taken to the act of 23d July last.
which reduces the interest on the fund
loaned to the government by the secretary,
as trust, To three per cent, instead of six
per cent, which was originally stipulated
when the investment was made. An amend
ment to the pension laws is suggested to
remedy omissions and defects in existing en-
actmcnts. The expenditures of the depart
ment during the last fiscal year were $780,
100, 1894, and the estimates for the coming
year amount to $20.993,414
The Post Master Generals report furnish
cs full and clear exhibit of the operations
and condition of the postal service. The
ordinary postal revenue for the fiscal year
ending June S0th, 1868, was SIG, 292 600,
and the total expenditures. embracing all
the service for which special appropriations
have been made by Congress amounted to
$22130,592. showing an excess of expendi-
lures of $6,437 ,991. Detlucting from the
expenditures the sum of $1,S95.525, the
annupt nf cnr ,,o.,, etoa,,,
ship and other special service, the excess of
unexpended balance in the treasury of &c..
10000 the actual sum for which special.
appropriation is required to meet the def
cheney is $741 ,466. The causes which pro-
duced this large excess of expenditure over
the revenue were the restoration of service
in the late insurgent States. and the putting
into operation OF new service established by
the acts Of Congress which amounted, with
in the last two years and half, to about
4S,700 miles. equal to more than onc-third
OF the whole amount of the service at the
close of the war. New postal conventions
with Great Britain. North Germany, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands, Switzerland and
Italy, respectively, have been carried into
effect. Under their provisions important
improvements have resulted in reduced rates
of international postage and enlarged mail
facilities with European countries. The
cost of the United States trans atlantic
ocean mail service since January LIST, 1863,
has been largely lcsscneG under the opera.
ton of these new conventions-a reduction
of over one half having been effected under
tile new arrangement for ocean mail steam
ship service, which went into effect on that
date. The attention of Congress is invited
to the practical suggestions and recommen-
datlons made in his report by the Postmaster
General
No important question has occurred dur.
ing the last year in our accustomed cordial
and friendly intercourse with Costa RIGA,
GUATEMALA. Honduras, San Salvador, France,
Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal,
the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden. and
Norway, Rome, Greece. Turkey, Persia,
Egypt, Siberia, Morocco, TripolI, Tunis,
Muscat, Siam, BorneO and Madagascar.
Cordial relations have also been maintained
with the Argentine and the Oriental Repub-
lies. The expressed wish of Congress that
our national good Offices might be rendered
to those republics, and also to Brazil and
| Paraguay for bringing to an end the calami-
tous war which has so long been raging in
| the valley ofthe La Platte, has been assidu-
ously compliad with, and kindly acknow-
| lodged by all the belligerents. That i'm
| portant negotiation, however, has thus far
been without result.
c. A. Washburn, late United States min
lister to Paraguay. having resigned, and he
| ing desirious to return to the United States,
the Rear Admiral commanding the South
Atlantic squadron, was early directed to
send ship of war to Assumtion, the capt.
tai of Paraguay, to receive Mr.. Wasbburn
and his family, and remove them from a
situation which was represented to he en-
dangered by faction and foreign war.
The Brazilian commander of the allied
invading forces refused permission to the
Wasp" to pass through the blockading
forces, and that vessel returned to its accus-
toned anchorage. Renonstrance having
been made against this refusal, it was
promptly ovcrruled, and the Wasp" there
fore resumed her Grand, received Mr.. Wash
burn and family, and conveyed them to 9
safe and convenient seaport. In the mean
time, an excited controversy had arisen be
tween the President of Paraguay and til,
late United States Minister, which it is I'M
derstood grew out of his proceedings in Civ
Ing asylum in the United States legation t.
alleged enemies of that Repdblic. Thu
question of the right to give asylum is ON
always difficult, and often productive o
great embarrassment. In States well organ
ICED and established, foreign powers refus
either to concede or exercise that right ex
cept as to persons actually belonging to tn
diplomatic service On the other hand al
such insist upon exercising the right of asy
lum in States where the law of nations is M
fully acknowledged, respected and obeyed
The President of Paraguay is understood t
have opposed to Mr.. Washburn's proceed
ings the injurious and very improbabl
charge OF personal completely in insurrectio
and treason. The correspondence, however
has not yet reached the United States. Nj
Washburn, in connection with this contrt
yersy, represents that two United States eli
lzens attached to the legation, were arbitr,
riy seized at his side when leaving the cal
ital of Paraguay, committed to prison, all
. there subjected to torture for the purpose
. procuring confessions of their own crimina
r ity and testimony to support the President
) allegation against the United Stat,
/ Minister. Mr.. Mcmahon, the newly appoin
ed Minister to Paraguay, having reache
. | the La Platte, has been instructed to pr
|. coed without delay to Assumption. there
: investigate the whole subjece The Re
: Admiral commanding the U. s. South A
: lantic squadron has been directed to atten
t the new Minister, with proper naval for
to sustain such Just demands as the occ
: sion may require, and to vindicate the RICH
!. of the United States citizens referred
e and of any others who may be exposed
G danger in the theatre Of war. With the