The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-01
WASHINGTON.


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WASHINGTON. 5sa. 81. 1859.
Geuerai Grase 90 Whit New Ysrk Again.
On next Thursday General GRAFT VIII once more
abandon the host OF once hunters that sufest this
city and seek another brief respite from such trials
In q visit TO Mr.. Hamilton Fish In New York This
visit to have been made some days earlier. but
was postponed in order ~ attend the wedding q
General Conlstock, Of his stan, on Wednesday
next. General Comf0ck and his bride, it u I'M
dersto0d. will accompany the Geaersis party
a. far - New York on their wedding tour The
President elect will spend INIT few days In New
YORK, having promised TO honor with his presence
the nuptiaIs u . friend residing In Philadelphia,
which ceremony u to he performed some day next
week. Aiter the wedding " over the General pro-
poses to return to Washington again for y season.
Senate Secret scssions-Traaties Not Vet
Acted On.
Tho business or the Senate IN executive session, 80
lar ~ relates TO confirmation OF Presidential appoint
ments. Is ended until tho 4th OF March, The several
committees have ''called the calendar" OF nomina-
tons, and reported that there are none which
ton IL necessary.
nut there rs u large amount OF business for secret
session already pending and OF great Importance.
First comes tho treaty relating to the Alabama
claims This. however, has not yet passed the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs. Several animated discus
a0ns have taken place and 1t IL not yet certain that
the committee win report tavoraby Tho probability
il that there will be majority report in favor and
minority against It 10 certain to cause pr0tracted
and lively discussion IN the Senate.
Then there Ia the naturalization treaty, to which
there IL no objection, unless it be to some minute
points. 1t will be- readily and soon ratified. The
proposed treaty with st. Domingo now That the
House has so contamptuously refused to treat for
the purchase or the island will doubtless fall to the
ground.
or commercial treaties there are several with the
Netherlands and other European States, some modify
ing to greater or less degree present relations,
some confirming and continuing present arrange
ments. The treaty with Peru is OF greater imp0r-
lance. 1t proposes Joint commission for the set
Element OF claims Of citizens OF the United States
against that government and prescribing rules for
the guidance OF the commission. Another treaty
proposes to submit the question Of possession Of the
island OF San Juan and the boundary near the coast
between the United states and Great Britain to the
republic OF Switzerland rs an arbitrator. This Is
srenuously opposed By residents OF Oregon and
washington Territory Then comes the Sandwich
Islands treaty. in which reciprocity il all side.
The islands want free trade with tho United States.
they raise considerable sugar and various other
products. The sugar plantations are nearly all in
the hands OF two or three wealthy men, former resi-
dents OF the United States This treaty u in their
interest chiefly. The Pacific Senators and Represen-
tatives support It because their constituents viii
thus be able to get sugar couple Of cents pound
cheaper The argument Is to secure the whole trade
Of the Pacific. We can control that now. The treaty
has been on hand for more than year and Is not
likely to be ratified.
Last and worst arc tho indian treaties. or these
the most prominent and shameful Ia the Usage.
Some Senators are ready TO sacrifice any business,
any treaty. any appointment to secure its ratinca
tion Tins proves It to be o. great personal interest,"
to somebody. This Is equally clear from the fact
that simply TO pronounce the words "0sage treaty"
raises Wild Gutter In the lobby. Tho fact Is that
all Indian treaties like Indian wars, purely mat
tiers or private speculation. war Is robbery and
the treaty Is robbery. to be followed by new war
and new treaty Of the same sort. The condition OF
Indian affairs Is painful to every honest and every
sympathetic heart. The remedy the clearest mind
mas not yet been able to devise. Something must be
DONE and doubtless therefore. some Of these Indian
treaties will he worked through, Tic fewer the
better.
The Senate cannot. Of course, conclude all this
business during the present session. but they intend
to despatch It at the special session. held imme-
diaely ster the Inauguration. to consider the nomi
nations made by the new President.
Exchange Of Pacific, Railroad Bonds foe
United States Securities.
In reply TO resolution OF the House Of Repre-.
sentativcs tnquirlnr whether any land WHAT 'banks
have been allowed to exchange gold interest secu-
rites OF the United States for the six per cent cur
rency bonds issued to the Pacific Railroad, and
when and what amount" the Comptroller OF the
Currency has written letter giving the desired
Information. He reports that 1.-THE total amount
Of such bonds SO received In exchange IL
SASS ,000, /" and sthe amount in fve-twenty and
teu-forty bonds surrendered for them Ii t11 27 oOo
showing an aggregate increase in the amount OF bonds
held OF ST. $685. 0o, The Comptroller states that the
exchange was made and acted upon first In 1885,
after the decision had been given that this class OF
bonds tPacnc Railroadl swas legally receivable as
security for the circulation Of national banksp lie
further says:--
Since the date OF the passage oy the House OF the
resolution calling for Information on the subject
the highest quotation Of nve,tweInty registered os
Circulation ~ issued upon these bonds at the
rate Of ninety per cent 0f their par value; c0ns
them the security heidi at the quotation noted, Is
equal TO 81 II. The highest quotation for tenf0rty
IS os Circulation Is issued upon these bonds at the
rate OF eghtyive per cent Of their par value; con-
sequently for every dollar Of currency issued
upuu tntuk VIC scNusuy uSfus ~ VIC vuoto-
ton noted IL equal to 81 o. Registered
bondss ISSUED to the Pacific Railroad
bearing six per cent currency interest," were selling
the 18th inst ut fraction over 100. Circulation
s issued upon these bonds at the rate OF eighty per
cent Of their par vane: consequently for every dol
lar OF currency Issued upon them the security held
at the quotation noted, IL equal TO- 81 26. SO
that at the present time the bonds last named,
at the rates prescribed, are the best security
held by the Treasurer Of the United states for the
REDEMPTION OF national bank notes; while the fact
that they have thirty years TO run at six per cent
interest," with probability that the existing distinc
ton between currency and g0ld interest Will not be
permanent one, renders II likely that their value
investment or ~ security VIII gradually but
surely enhance.
Government Account with Pacific Railroads.
The entire amount OF bonds issued to the Pacific
railroads TO January 1. 1862 was tso,oo7, 900, on
which the annual interest ct six per cent s g. $50
The whole amount reimbursed 10 the United States
by the several roads freghts, &c., up to Janu-
AIRY 1859, has been ST. ,52s, divided as foows
UNION
Union paCl0C paQteru division