Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-23
BY TELE g R A PHI
LATEST TO NOON TO-DAY.
Dispatches to the Southwestern Press
Association.
NEW YORK.

New YORK, November % The United
States District Attorney, Judge Pierre.
pont, received instructions yesterday to
proceed against the Spanish gunboats,
now almost ready to sail and lying in the
East river, for breach of the neutrality
laws. The libel will be filed to-day and
the order of the District Attorney OBJ
tanned for their seizure. One of the
grounds for the seizure preferred by the
| Government is that these vessels are to
be used by a foreign State SPAIN to
canse and commit hostilities against the
citizens and property Of colony or
people of Cuba with the United States
are ct peace. This, being urged by the
legal representative of the Government
and under the direction of the Cabinet, is
fifty called a quasi recognition of the
Cnbans as belligerents, for in it lies em-
bodied the idea that it is for the purpose
of protecting our neutrality laws. Spain
and the people Of Cuba are two distinct
communities, and that neither must
trample on the rights of the other while
enjoying the Inequalities of the United
States. The main ground of their
seizure is, however, that they are intended
to be used against foreign State, with
whom the United States are at peace, to
wit the Republic of Peru. A recent de.
mand by the Spanish Minister for their
release was refused by the Government.
A special dispatch from Washington as
serts that the American squadron in the
West India waters has been augmented,
specially in view of the contingencies
that may arise in consequence of the &C.
ton of the United States in the matter of
the Spanish gunbosts.
1t is stated that Secretary Boutwell,
denies having taken any steps or even
harboring the idea of the resumption of
specie payments at present. He consid-
ers it useless to be troubling about specie
payment until the time comes when such
q thing will be feasible.
The steamer Nipsic has been detained
to 90 to Panama for the purpose of assist.
ing in the survey of the Darien ship ca.
nal, the Government having secured the
treaty giving it the sole control over the
canal. tits determined to push the work,
and this vessel will make rapid progress
during the coming winter in surveying
the route.
The Times states that the Spanish war
steamer Pizarro, which arrived here Sat
urday, came for the purpose of acting
convoy to the Spanish gunboats in case
the Government did not interfere, and
stop them from going to goa,
The first convoy was to consist of fif |
teen boats, whose officers and crew were
to be obtained from among the surplus |
number on board of the war steamer.
Fifteen Of the thirty are complete, and |
could be got ready for sea in day and
half Nothing remains to be done but to |
furnish coal and provisions The remain |
ing fifteen are rapidly approaching COM
pletion, and it is expected the whole feet |
will be finished within seventeen days.
The frauds and defalcations in the |
Methodist Book Concern have been
thoroughly inquired into by committee,
and their report is printed. In the bind |
ing department ofthe establishment there |
have been serious losses, but in the gene
r.l management of the institution there |
is nothing to complain of, The agent, it |
is acknowledged, has bought paper and |
other msterials for the printing depart
ment through middle-men, but it does not |
appear that any serious loss has been &C.
casioned by that arrangement.
District Attorney Pierrepont has rem
dered an opinion in regard to the Span.
ish tax concerning bankers, in which be
recommends the latter to settle accounts
with the Government.
Yesterday morning, Deputy Collector
Blatchford, who is charged with gross
frauds in tie Drawback Department of
the New York Customt ouse, presented
verbal resignation through friend to Mr..
Grinnell, who accepted the same. The
whereabouts Of Blatchford is not known
but be is supposed to be concealed in the
city. The officers are still searching for
him.
There is q rumor that three OF the
Spanish gunboats escaped to sea yes
terdsy.