New-York tribune., 1869-05-20
WASHINGTON.


PORTO RICo-THE CHINESE. MIssION--OPE-
RATION OF THE HOMESTEAD LAW IN ALA
BAMA-IMPoRTANT PATENT DECISION.
lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEBl
WAsHINGToN, Wednesday, May 10. 1862
Secretary Boutwell, to-day began the revision of
the list of National Banks, with a view of reducing
their number. 1t appears the Secretary has the au-
thorty to create or abolish them, as necessity may
seem to demand. In the matter of the Government
repositories, Mr.. Boutwell, has decided to reduce the
number to in each Congressional district except
in the city districts, and those bordering on the
large cities. 1t is the Secretarys intention to
duce the number onohalf. He has considered the
propriety of discontnuing all repositories in cities
where subtreasuries located, but has abandoned
the idea for the present He will, therefore, desig
nate one OF two National Banks as repositories in
each of the large cities and will make changes
discontinuing some and designating others.
The Democracy of Virginia sorely disappointed
at the refusal of the President to order separate
vote on the county and city organization clause of
the State Constitution Another effort was made to-
day TO have him change his previous decision, but
without avail. He assigns as his reason for his
action that the Republicans of the State say that to
defeat this particular clause Of the Constitution
would break up the present school system of the
State, and leave room for imposition the blacks
if the whites felt so disposed The Virginians pro-
claimed good intentions. but the action of their
brethren IN Georgia when power came into their
hands, has not been forgotten, and the President
told the committee who called on him that he would
be governed by the old prOyerb, "A bird III the
hand" &c.
The campaign for Congressman in the seventh dis
ct of Virginia comprising that part of the State ad
acent to this city, is being carried on with great ac
tvity by the competing candidates The regular
Radical Republican nominee is Major Whittlesey,
the editor of the Republican newspaper organ in
Richmond Opposed to him are w. d. Wallach
formerly proprietor of The UashiRgOn EUeRiRg Star
and Lewis Mackenzie, President of the Loudon and
Hampshire Railway. Both were good Union men
from the beginning till the end of the Rebellion and
both are running as Independent Conservative Re
publicans. The candidates have taken the stump
and have arranged for public debates in every county
in the district
Information has been received here, by way of St.
Thomas announcing the successful landing in Porto
Rico Of Cuban leader, who has been at st. Thomas
for some time past No details have been received.
Porto Rico has hitherto been undistuTbed by insur-
rectionary movements.
The Hon. William A. Howard, the new Minister to
China had another iateryiew with the President and
Secretary of State to-day, and has received his in
struetlons He will leave for New-York tomorrow,
whence he will sail for his post of duty as soon as
possible going by way Of Europe for the purpose Of
question of increasing the rank of the American Mis-
SION to China to a level with the English Mission to
that nation, placing it among the missions of the
6St class has been brought to the attention of the
President and Secretary Fish, and they are under
stood to favor the idea. member of one of the
Foreign Affairs Committees of Congress will bring
the subject up at the next session No law at present
exists for the increase Of the Mission, but effort
will be made TO have at least two additional secre
taries and anecessary increase of rank Mr. Howard
will meet the Presbyterian General Assembly in !
NewYork this week, TO consult with its members III
reference to the best for protecting American
missionaries in China.
The Commissioner Of the Land Office has received |
returns from the local Office at Huntsville, Ala,
showing that during the past month A farms. en- |
braeng 4419 acres, were added TO the productive |
of that State under the operation Of the Home
stead Law, which requires actual residence upon, /
and cultivation Of the tracts for period ofve years.
The Commissioner Of Patents has just decided an |
important interference for letters patent for
sefcanccling stamp the parties being S. NJ Clark,
late Chief Of the Printing Bureau at the Treasury
Department, and A. C.. Fletcher Of NewYork City, |
both parties claiming priority in their Inventions
which are similar. The Commissioner Of Patents |
after examining all the evidence adduced, decides in
favor of Mr. Clark and letters patent will be granted
10 HIM.
The crowd at the White House to-day was not 50
great as usual. Secretaries Cresswell and Borie |
called during the day. and Senators Cole, Bucking-
ham, Thayer and FentOn, also had interviews.
The House Committee of Ways and Means 90 to |
Philadelphia on Monday next. The Committee will
spend week in Pennsylvania, and then go TO San
Francisco. returning East IN August
Henry I. Blow, our new Minister to Brazil, ar
rived here last night. lie had long conference
with the President this afternoon, and said that he
could not sail on the 23d Of june as the President
desired but would 20 in the steamer sailing for RIO
Janero on the 23J Of July.
Gen. Terrill. the new Third Assistant Postmaster
General will enter upon the discharge Of his duties
on Monday next, and 1t is thought large number
Of removals aud appointments VIII be made IN his
Office durng the ensuing week, as It is the desire Of
Postmaster-Gen Cresswel that all changes shall be
made in the Department by the lst Of June.
Tie President of the Union Pacific Railroad Com
panv having fled in the Department OF the Interior
an affidavit showing the completion and equipment
as required by law. Of the last eighty-siX miles OF
their railroad and telegraphlne which commencesa at
the O0Oth nile post on that COmpanys road west OF
Omaha and terminates at the l0SGth mile post, the
Secretary Of the Interior has instructed the Govern
ment Commissioners-M -Messrs. Warren Norris and
Wilson-to examine and report upon the same The
l.OSGth mile post is at Promontory Summit
Messrs Bingham Loughridge, and Eldridge OF the
judiciary Committee Of the House, have decided to
20 to Alabama. to finish the Busted investigation
They will meet Mr. Kerr. also a member OF the Com
mittee in New-Oreans. where he is at present en-
gagged on the Elections Committee.
Commissioner Deano has returned and resumed
work. Congressman Churchill and Ketchum, OF New