The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-22

exceeding S3.000,000 In connection with MISS MUIR
PHYS II IL proper TO state that the individual
named Humphrey, who wrote a letter to Senator
Sumner stating that that lady's stepfather was the
real owner OF the property which rs the subject Of
the claim, and that the lady only put forward to
screen the dsloyaity OF her relative, has since tod
different story. 1t is said he met the lady the other
day, told her he had been msled to her case and
that he would do all in his power to make reparar
ton. He offered the lady his hand, but she refused
to take IT.
The Alabama Clnims Treaty.
The Alabama claims treaty turns out after all, TO
be substantially the same az that telegraphed by
your correspondent from here last November. The
abstract sent at that time was generally denounced
as bogus, but is now shown to be almost exactly
true, except as TO the number OF commissioners,
which corrected a few days afterwards. The text
is almost literal transcript OF the convention OF
1862 with the necessary alterations of dates, names
&c.
The Situation In Paraguay.
Ex-Minister Washburn says that the reports In re-
gard to events IN Paraguay published previous to the
arrival Of the last packet from Brazil were, to him,
transparency false and manufactured In Paris to
serve the interests OF lopez that the despatch OF the
It'll inst, by Atlantic cable, that General Mcmahon
had gone through and had an interview with Lopez
could not possibly be true and was evidently made
up to influence public opinion In the United States
and prevent our government from taking any action
against Lopez. At the time Mr.. washburn left Mon
tevideo-on the 18TH OF Northumberland Mcmahon
was still there, and 30 was Admiral Davis and the
South Atlantic squadron. It was then their nten
ton to proceed to Buenos Ayres, and thence to
some point on the river below the Brazilian squad
ron, with the four gunboats Pawnee Quinnebaug.
Kansas and Wasp, and thence send one vessel for
ward with letter from the Admiral to Lopez to
make q peremptory demand on the latter
for the delivery OF Porter G. Bliss and
George F. Masterman. General Mcmahon did
not intend to go near Lopez until these
men had been surrendered, and II he had he could
not have reached the Paraguayan camp before the
2sth OF December. and report OF his interview
could have reached Buenos Ayres till about the ! st
Of January; nor can there. in his opinion, be any
reliable information in regard to the OF the
mission OF General Mcmahon till near the 1st OF
February. The later telegram from Europe to the
effect that Lopez met with disastrous defeat at
vieta is probably tfom the same source and manu-
featured for the purpose OF creating the impression
that Lopez his last legs and preventing this gov
eminent from doing anything to avenge the insult
to its flag. These dispatches from Europe Mr.. WASH
burn believes were all got up by the same person
who has put forth the pamphlet, an Washburn,
ex-Nnistcr DIES Etats Uns, a Assumption ct la Con-
splratiOn Paraguayum," lately published In Paris.
the object OF which is to convince the world from
the correspondence between Minister Washburn and
Lopez that there was a conspiracy In Paraguay and
that the American Minister was q party to It.
Whether there was not Mr.. Washburn
says that Lopez will never permit any OF the parties
accused to leave Paraguay and that II any OF them
ever escape from his clutches they will all deny
that there ever was any conspiracy attempted or
little hope that any OF the prisoners in Paraguay
will escape alive TO tell the story OF his enorm-
ties and believes that Lopezs greatest regret is that
he had not sooner perfected his plans and made an
end Of him and his family, and thus prevented him
from sandering him and his benign government.
Sir Edward Thornton; the English Minister, has
been instructed by Lord Stanley to present the
thanks Of her Majesty's government TO Mr.. Wash
burn for protection to English subjects and his efforts
to save them from the grasp Of Lopez. This he has
done through Mr.. Seward In letter date December
Is, 1868, saying that he has "much pleasure in
complying with instructions given me by his lord
ship that should convey to the United States govern
ment the thanks Of her Majesty's government for
the projection afforded by Mr.. Washburn to her
Maestys subjects"
National Bank Securities
II has been reported that the Comptroller Of the
Currency has given orders that no more Pacific
Railroad bonds wiz be received security for the
circulation OF national banks as substitutes for
gold bearing bonds. This statement is not exactly
correct. The Comptroller has given notice to the
national banks that no more exchanges OF the kind
referred to viii be made until the action OF Congress
In the matter shall be determined The applications
for permission to make such exchange that have
been received up to the goth inst, which amount to
about half million OF dollars will be complied with.
but other applications viii be considered until
the action OF Congress is known.
Restriction Of the Franlxins Privilege.
The proposition recently made In Congress to re-
strict the franking privilege, and the provision con-
tanned in the bin requiring the abandonment Of
stamps for ranking purposes, thereby obligng
those entitled to the privilege to sign their own
names, is making something OF q stir in the govern
ment departments. The rapid increase OF public
correspondence in the last four or i've years has oc
casioned very large addition to the mail matter
contributed by many Of the bureaus. During certain
parts OF the year, for example, the Internal
Revenue Bureau sends to its officers all
over the country q supply Of blanks for the
assessment and collection OF the revenue At such
times the amount OF mail matter sent from this
bureau has reached as high as two tons per day.
The quantity OF packages and letters mailed from
this ONCE every day Ia almost sufrcient to employ
the pen OF one person III signing the commissioners
name. To frank all these documents himself would
leave the Commissioner but little time to do any
thing else and at certain periods he would be una
BILE to post the mail matter produced in the
bureau. In the case OF the department II Is
not easy to see where the abuse OF the free
postage system can be avoided, supposing
that abuses do really exist. Heads OF bureaus
claim that every check that can be employed ID
adopted to guard against the unauthorized use Of
franks. It Is contended that n the ranking priv
ege was abolished altogether the facilities for
the unlawful use Of the mails would sill; exist, as
persons capable Of 10 defrauding the government
could - easily appropriate postage stamps then
they can ranked envelopes now.
The Greenback Lean Bill.
The House Committee on Banking and Currency
have agreed to report the bill heretofore introduced
by Representative Barnes:-
BE II enacted &c, that from and after the passage