The New York herald., 1869-03-15

1t is understood that Major General ). NJ. Schohed
WIN be ordered to Fort Leavenworth to assume COM
mand OF the Department OF the Missouri, recently
conAuandcd by General Sheridan This department.
embraces the States OF Missouri and Kansas, the
Indian Territory, New Mexico and Colorado
Breve. nrisadier General j. w. Forsyth'
OF the sta1 OF General sheridan, has arrived ID
Washington
The ,Commander OF Nississfppi.
General Ames who has been assigned 70 duty In
command OF the Foursh Military District, VIII also
retain the Provixional Governorship Of MISSISSIPPI
until Congress acts on the matter.
The New Postage stamps-Nationai Designs
OF n Pogrs,mnfic Character.
Preparations are noN being made for the intro
duction OF the new series OF postage stamps fur
nished to the Post once Department according 10
the contract made with the National Bank Note
Company OF New York. The new issues are cacu-
lated to excite no common attention as In design
they are novel application OF the national symbol
Ism generally adopted for the artistic establishment
OF postage stamps. The similarity Of monarchical
institutions-tne one form OF government common
to the European postal systcms-has con-
fined the symbolism OF stamps TO the heads
Of the reigniug sovereigns. national shields
or the heralic escutchions OF dynasties; but
owing to their modern origin and the re-
publican form OF government, the United States
have originated for themselves national symbol-
ism that Is independent OF the laws or heraldry and
In keeping with the new era or human progress, Of
which they are the acknowledged exponents. The
new issue OF stamps Is based upon this distinction.
1t u q system OF symbolism confined for the most
part TO the distinctive mission OF American ins
tuti0ns. II bears wherever 1t goes throughout our
own continent, as over the sea, our national
eagle our national nag and our national
Un.c
cent stamp H headed with the vignette
Of Franklin the first Postmaster General under the
colonial system, as well as the first under the con-
federation preparatory to the federal Union. In the
two, three and twelve cent stamps there Is an Illus
trati0n OF the improvements in mail transportation
from the primitive rider horseback to the railroad
train for the land service and the steamship for the
ocean rervice The remaining SIX stamps Of the set
are distinctly national, and, as such, form series
Of their own. beginning in the six cent stamps
with an accurate copy OF the face OF Washington
as shown In Stewards picture Of the Execu-
tive Mansion, and ending in ninety cent
stamps, with the head OF Lincoln, as slg
nincant OF o new era OF uniyeral freedom. Two
others OF this national series, fifteen and twenty
four cents respectively have miniature copies Of the
Landing Of Columbusn and the DECLARATION or In.
dependence in the rotunda OF the Capitol-the first
recalling the opening OF this continent the advance
ment OF modern civilization, the second implying
the conservation OF its vast area to the protection
and enforcement OF the nalienable rights OF man. In
the cent stamps the American eagle appears rest
ing upon the American shield and IN the thirty cent
stamps are comprised, IN one group, all the national
emblems OF the eagle, the shield and the nag. and
presenting also the national c0l0rs-red, white and
blue In little while these worldwide travellers
will begin their journeyings.
Monthly Report or the Agricultural Depart
mcnt-vitaI Statistics Of the Domestic AMI
mails. y. rest
The monthly report Of the Department OF Agricul-
ture for February gives the following facts-Horses
have increased slightly In most OF the western and
Southern States, but very little in the Middle and
Eastern-not enough to keep pace with the increase
OF population In the Atlantic Seab0ard States. Ne
braska. Kansas Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, wscon-
sin and Pacific Coast States exhibit the largest
increase That the numbers are not eiua to the de-
mand ts shown by the general though small advance
| in prices. The increase Of mules also slow
in comparison with the rapid aggregation Of popu-
aton and the range Of prices appears to be higher
| than last year. The returns Of oxen and other
cattle point to positive decrease In New Jersey.
Maryland, North Carolina Florida Texas, Kentucky,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, the diminution amount
Ing to ave per cent In the latter State. In mich
COWS reduction is reported In Texas, Ohio and
Illinois, and some OF the Southern States. gen.
era increase In the prices OF cattle Is reported The
reduction in the number OF sheep appears TO be
general, the only exceptions being Rhode Island
Tennessee, Missouri. MinnesSsss, Kansas ana the
Pacific states; the loss Cannot be much less than
ten PEI &hf ID Efad s.=:sss Il il placed sf Gtsenf
or more. The prices Of sheep have declined slightly In
certain sections and advanced In Others In Connec-
ticut ana New jersey, where unusual attention has
been given to mutton breeds, prices have been fully
maintained In districts where merino stock monopo-
lizes sheepwaks the decline is general and in some
sections heavy. The returns Of swine corroborafe
those Of last fall showing the comparative numbers
OF fattenng hogs, and mark very decided reduc-
tion in numbers. amounting to fifteen per cent In
large portion Of che Ohio Valley. The prices arc
largely increased in many states-twenty-nve or
thirty per cent, and not unfrequently fifty sixty
per cent. An inspection Of The tables will show
marked advance, the result not only OF reduction.
In numbers, but OF speculation naturally caused BY
such state OF facts. ft
h speculations Regarding the Presence Of Gene
oral sheridan af the Capisal-His AssiGn-
mcnt 10 Duty In Louisiana Probably only
Teuaporary-Thc Case Of General Emery.
WASHINGTON, March 13 1869.
The presence OF Lieutenant General sheridan In
this city gives rise to variety Of speculstons to
the real import Of his summons to the national
capital The foreshadowing OF his future sphere Of
duty seems also to be subject Of equal discussion.
Although the rank OF Lieutenant General does not
carry with It any special military command, the Mill
tary Division ofthe Missouri embracing docs
eral departments and large area OF country within
the limits Of civilization, but by far the larger por
ton. consisting OF the vast plains Of the West
traversed by wild and reckless Indians, would seem
,.cf fhop dutv for md NM NJ M
army. The satisfactory result OF the late Indian
campaign restoring peace with 1--WE OF the most
hostile tribes OF the plains would certainly indicate
the propriety OF General Sheridan continuing In
command OF the Western Departments. The pros
poets OF outbreak In the North during the ensuing
summer demana not only experience but prompt
action.
There IL no doubt now that he is in the city. that
the wishes OF General sheridan win be consulted. ~
great measure, In regard TO the command ne VIII
fil The cfIlciency OF Shcridans administration OF
law to refractory and unreconstructcd rebels : wen