New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-29
WASHINGTON.


,py TFtf6RAPH TO THE TRIBUEEl
WASHINGTON, Friday, May %, 1862
10 oscertained at the Treasury Department that
t,tement of the public debt for the present month
III show reduction in the debt of about S12OOOOOO
This Mr. Boutwell, thinks is a very healthy sign, and
ia an evidence of the success of the new Admnstra-
ton in its ideas Of economy and the selection of Its
revenue officers. 1t is the first statement TO show
the effect of the change of Administration. The
steady increase in the amount Of Internal Revenue
receipts the receipts from Customs and the great oe
crease in the expenditures of the Government caused
by the action of last Congress in cutting down the
appropriations for the various Departments aTS De-
ginning to have effect, and Mr.. Boutwell, anticipates
greater reduction next month, and every following
month.
Secretary Boutwell, Proposes to have the returns of
the sales Of the confscated property IN the Rebel
States oyCrhauled il is rumored that some of the
United States officials have neglected to pay the
ceipts from sales into the Treasury. The officials in
Virginia have been especially forgetful about set
Ting their accounts and IT may appear that of
them have purchased confscated properly sold under
their authority at low prices and then pOckeCd the
scanty proceeds.
In June, 1865 there were received at the Treasury
Department three largo wooden boxes, said to con-
tain valuablos, turned over by the War Department
for safe keeping. These boxes have been lying ever
since in the vaults Of the Treasury but were to-day
opened through the efforts Of United States Sena-
tor some of whose constituents were supposed to be
interested. A Committee composed OF officers OF
the War and Treasury Departments witnessed the
carrying ont Of the joint order OF the two depart
ments The boxes were found to contain exceed
ingly valuable invoices of diamonds, pearls, neck
Iaccs. watches, earrings, breaches, rings, chains
o,I oil Of
jewelry to the value Of many thousands of
dollars The most valuable property, however, which
the boxes contained was very large amount of gold
and silver plate, consisting of pitchers, salvors,
spoons knives urns sc, some Of which W6s thought
to have been more than hundred yeas old One
of the boxes contained some very rich wearing APP
parel for lades-silks vclvetS aces &c. besides an
incredible amount Of Confederate notes and bonds,
and notes Of State banks. There was also a small
amount of specie, both gold and silver. The
boxes were about the size Of ordinary dry
goods boxes and the value Of their
contents is yariOusly estimated at from
$4,000 to $4,000 Many of INC articles were stamped
with the family crests initials or monographs Of the
owners and all were of the finest and most costly
description. The boxes 'wero sent by the Provost
Marshal General Of the Army of the Tennessee to the
War Department in this city, and Secretary Stanton
turned them over to Treasurer Spinner subject to
future action, The valuables are supposed to have
been taken possession OF by Shermans men in GeoT-
gia and Otker States, where they had beeE aban-
doned by the Geeing inhabitants. In
some eases they were takea from
banks. which had ceased 10 do business
upon te approach Of the Federal army. The officers
o. both departments are uncertaa Of their duty ia
abe1ratter of tle disposition OF this property. Some
holg that it should be returned, under proper re
stfrtions and proof, to the Owaers, they can be
.fosnd. Others believe the Gytcles belong to the
Government, urler the laws of Congress- and Shat
ahey should b1 sold, and thu proceeds placed IL the
Treasury Wilde still Others aifp that netbsT the
War nor the Treasury Departments has any apthority
in the premises, and that special act of C0agre's
should be crlicd for. Nothing has yet beoa done,
and the vauables have been II turned to ito vaults
of the Treasury.
The President has sustained the decision Of Gen
Shenandoah an army officer n active service cGunot
hold command of the Soldiers Home IN tfis di stTidf
and thatit must be under the charge of O. officer e7
the retired list. This decision incapactstes Gen,
H. Emory, who is now in command q the Homo.
The position is one much sought after ty ar ny ell
GERS ard there many Applications tor the POSITION
1t wlbc given 10 some officer who Il lnCap ac1te ed
from active service bywOunds
ThePresident was busily engaged this meTr ing
md received but few visitors, although ETge mum
Der Of persons called Curing the forenoon Senators
of California had interviews previous TO theFleet
irq a. the Cabinet The regular Cabir let meeting
was gcld in the afternoon. All TIE me mbogs were
preseEG
The following Is list Of the efly SSataF'wh
ratification Of the XVIII Constitutional Anaal iment
has bsen certified t0the Secretaryof 81 ate, ara is
transcript from theDepartment records:
Missouri March -oss9 DETECTIVES Insas, lTeb. %
1880 f3cfcctiye; ECsh Carolina, MARCH, s. ia3; West
Virginia. March ls MassAe ln'ey.s. ~ ASh -, looS
Miapl lsC9; Minli2aE. March g. 1e9: sona Carolina
Merck C, 1862 Pcas svauia March 90 ie6'; fsiIansas
Bglyb 80, 1863
To s,orrow wiz be observed ~ a Renerf3Holiday
here. The ExecutYs Mansion tie Government De-
partu.nts the LEGAL offices, thsAanks and Ies lead
inr Business horses viii be closo3 1t is raining to-
Rjght and the Indications are 'Aat 1t wiA-ain to-
uUgrov. The thcHhOmeter gOt mp to - aheTe on
we'd. eslay. Tc-dGr il got down 50 50.
The special Goa. sonaI C0uaI. ittce on tkCcensus
rset S-au to-davscsIc caItoI- The Comastt.ee adj
iae,rIe4 till MouAay without das sDeOi,N busi-
nsss CapTon, Comm issiouer Of grculture Alison.
Commission OF Land Olice. aaL others, VAC have
fBrsl ID the Committee with plans for getairg sta
tistissv in appear ore tie C0RAitteo at the next
meeliri and cSplain The same.
Gen.I. o. Howsrtt1his evening delivered a aG5ture
beS0Ie4 student Of the HowaEt University o. the
FintBa. tie of Bul Ran and the Campaign t1H DIRK
ioWn. SIle General commanded he I'd MaHsl'eg-
mentat Bull Run, aRG gave in hss lecture grs phlc
accoantCr that hsssbl and the movements on the
army az srNard TO Tlts seige Of Yorktown. Al the
close az t= Lecture lie General was unanimously in
vied sOGdhes Of lectures.on the battle of
the wa al .ouse8-eu to do so. B5 next suA50ct
will be lie Batzle of Ee5- Oaks
United eiztes Marshal Barlow was in the city1o-
I'll H. Il,