Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-09
itnres of Sc. 437. 991. Deduct.

m
ip JOY The amount of appropriations Tor ocean
go, sI and other special service. the excess
s[esrrnenditures was "a, al, 466. BY using an
OF eAppended balance iu the Treasury of $780,
u de he actual sum for which special appro.
wv ION Is REQUIRED to meet the deficiency is
p pIn IS6 The causes which produced this
excess of expenditure over revenue were
alsr restoration of service In the late insurgent
t Hletes and the putting into operation of new
o. ~r;ce established by act of Congress, which
ssaaomnted. within the last two years and a half,
slobont As, 700 miles-equal to more than one
~ Of the whole amount OF the service at the
t in,s of the war New postal conventions with
Gssst Britain, North Germany, Belgium, the
Netherlands. Switzerland. aud Italy, respect
WI, have been carried into effect Under
~ W. provisions important improvements have
suited in reduced rates OF international post
~, ond enlarged mail facilities with European
s'ss,ntries. The cost of the United States trans
s.Iontic ocean mail service since January L,
PCS has been largely lessened under the oper-
Ian of these new conyentions, reduction OF
a a"sr one half having been effected under the
U Nv arrangements tor ocean mail steamship
naroice which went into effect on that date. The
s,,ention Of Congress is invited to the practical
a,rressons and recommendations made in his
snort snort by the Postmaster General,
No important question has occurred during
ia last wear in our accustomed cordial and
t .;sodly Intercourse with Costa RIGA, Qua
,"u,aIa, Honduras, San Salvador, France, Aus
VIA Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, the
Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden ana Norway,
Rome, Greece, Turkey, Persia, Egypt, Liberia,
Worocco. Tripol, TuniS. Muscat, Siam, Borneo.
and Madagascar.
Cordial relations have also been maintained
With the Argentine ard the Oriental Repub
la. The expressed wish oi Congress that our
nstonal good offices might be rendered TO those
REPUBLICS, and also To Brazil and Paraguay,
lor bringing to an end the calamitous war which
has so long been raging In the valley ct the LA
para. has been aSslduOuSly complied with, and
kind acknowledged 10y all the betlleercntS.
That important negotiation, however, has thus
far been without result.
Charles A. Washburn, late United States
Minister to Paraguay, having resigned, aud
being desirOuS to return to the United States,
The Rear Admiral commanding the South
Atlantic Squadron was early directed to send
4 ship-ot war to Asuncion, the capital OF Para
quay, to receive MIR. Washburn and ms family,
and remove them from situation which was
represented To be endangered toy faction and
hresu war The Brazilian commander OF the
allied invading forces refused PERMISSION to
the Wasp to pass through the blockadlng
forces, and that vessel returned to its accustomed
anchorage Remonstrance having been made
against this refusal, it was promptly overruled,
aud the Wasp" therefore resumed her errand,
received Mr.. Washburn and his family, and
e,nvcyed them to safe and convenient sea
port la the meantime an excited controversy
had arisen between the President OF Paraguay
and the late United States Minister, which 1t
is understood grew ont OF his proceedings In
giving asylum in the United States legation to
alleged enemies of that Republic. The ques-
ton of the right to give asylum Is one always
difficult, and often productive OF great embar-
nssment. La States well organized aud estab-
6shed, foreign Powers refuse either to coneede
or exercise that right, except as to persons
actually belonging to the diplomatic service.
Ga the other hand, all such Powers insist upon
exercising the rigb of asylum IN States where
the law of nations is not fully acknowledged,
respected and obeyed.
The President of Paraguay is understood to
have opposed to Washburn's proceedings the
Injurious and very improbable charge OF per-
sOnal completely In insurrectiOn and treason
The correspondence, however, has not yet
reached the United States
MIR. WashbuTn, IN connection with this con-
tOversy, represents that two United States cit
izans attached to the legation were arbitrarily
seized at his side, when leaving the capital OF
Paraguay, committed to prison, and there sub
iected to torture for the purpose OF procuring
cOntessioas of their own crlminallty, and testl-
mOuy TO support the Presidents allegations
against The United States Minister. Mr..
hcMahon, the newly appointed Minister to
Paraguay, having reached the La Plata, has
been instructed to proceed, without delay, to
Asuncion, there to investigate the whole sub
Jet. The Rear Admiral commanding the
UOited States South Atlantic Squadron has
been directed to attend the new Minister with
sprOper naval force 70 sustain such just de-
mands as the occasion may require, and to VIM
drate the rights OF the United States citizens
referred to- and of any others who may be ex-
posed to danger In the theatre OF war. With
these exceptions, friendly relations have been
maintained tetweea the United States and
Brazil aud Paraguay.
Our relations during the past year with Be
NVlar Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, have become
specially friendly and cordial. Spain and the
Republics OF Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador have
expressed their willingness to accept the me-
dlatlOn of the United States for terminating
The war upon the South Pacific coast. Chile
aaS not finally declared upon the question. In
te meantime the conflict has practically eX
auSted itself, since no belligerent or hostile
movement has been made by either party dur
4 1glhe last two years, and there are no indlea-
EoaS OF a present purpose to resume hostilltles
Do either side Great Britain aud France have
9nially seconded our proposition OF media
Ion, and do not lOrego the hope that it may
A0n be accepted by all the belIigerens, and
ss!ad TO secure establishment of peace and
llendly relations between the Spanish Amerl
an Republics OF the Pacific and Spain-a re-
Nt which would be attended with common
foehtS to the belligerents and much adVan-
Age TO all commercial nations. | cOmmunl-
ae Tor the consideration Of Congress, a cores
po9dence which shows that the Bolivian Re-
public has established tho extremely liberal
nOelple of receiving into its citizenship any
Gulen OF the United States, or OF any other OF
% ". American Republics, upon the simple con-
'lOn OF voluntary registry.
The correspondence herewith submitted will
Slound painfully replete with accounts of the
Jun and wretchedEess produced by recent
ealln0uQk Of oil in tho Ra-