The New York herald., 1869-05-02
WASHINGTON
oO~oo1>~>>~><.>N~>oo~~
The Rival Leaders Of the Civil
War in Conference.
GENERAL LEES VISIT TO PRESIDENT GRANT.
Wild Rumors Concerning the Tenor of
Their Interview.
->~~~~~~~~N~~~~~~>~>~~oo
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
A Decrease of Six Million Dol
lars During April.
TxzE HGIssIoN TO BRAZIL.
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
TyzE THISSI0N TO DRAZIL.
Henry T. Blow, Of Missouri, Appointed to
Succeed Chevalier Webb.

WASHINGTON, May l. 1869.
Interesting Scene Mt the White House
Interview of General Lee with the Presi-
dent-Cordial Meeting of the Great COM
mnnders.-IndignatiOn Of Once Seekers.
General Robert E. Lee late commander OF the Con-
federate army, arrived here at an early hour this
morning from Baltimore accompanied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Daggart, old Baltimore friends or the General.
They proceeded at once to the residence OF friend
In Georgetown. About eleven O'Clock General Lee
drove to the Executive Mansion and, sending in
his card, was admitted to the President without
delay. When he entered the ante-room at
the White House there were many persons
present waiting to see the President, among them
several members Of Congress. Lee was recognized
by some of them and general buzz ran around the
ROOM "There's General Lee-wonder what he wants
herer General Dent was assiduous In his atten-
uons and lost no time in getting Lees card before
the President. There some half dozen persons,
mostly Congressman, in the Presidents DOM at the
time various sorts OF business Nearly all Of them
were after office and wanted TO press their claims
upon the President AS soon as he got Lees card,
however, he said the Congressional office hunters
"Gentlemen, you will have to excuse me. have an
engagement with General Lee, who is now waiting
outside to keep it, and wish our interview to be
privaten This was broad hint for the Congress.
men to retire. They picked up their hats and beat
o hasty and somewhat demoraliZed retreat towards
the door, uttering not loud but deep at the
intrusion Of the big rebel guest when they were
fixing up their little business
'The President said one Senator, "sees US in q
crowd, and thereby exposes our private business;
but when rebel comes along he is given private
audience"
"Yes," said another "and we are driven out'as If
we had no business here, when are looking after
the interests OF the country"
"That's the way" said member OF the House,
resgnedy.
"Being rebel is a good card Of admission here,
it appears,n observed indignant citizen who had
been waiting patiently for some time to see the
President.
The feeling in the crowd was one OF undisguised
Indignation that Lee should go in ahead Of all the
rest, but this unquestionably arose from the fact
that many OF them had been disappointed in getting
an interview. General Lee remained closeted with
the Executive nearly half an hour. What the object
OF the meeting really was no one seems to know
Some declare it was merely mark Of respect which
the late rebel chieftain desired to pay to the
President. others profess to have information that
leads them to the conclusion that Grant con-
suited Lee concerning the bothersome reconstruc
ton enigma in Virginia, and that Lee very fully
unolded his views as TO what should be the course
of the government on that question, and what the
people OF the Old Dominion really required. The
people who pretended to be thus posted hint that
Lee made some rich disclosures as to the chief
difficulty to reconstruction IN that State, and
that he spoke OF some Of the lpoittians there
as being utterly corrupt and incompetent There
is still another story as to the object OF the
interview, which looks entirely improbable, but
which, is nevertheless, credited By some people here
ic IN hat has pp IN rt
as a special commissioner OF our government to
Cuba, to ascertain the reacondIon OF affairs in that
island. This seems entirely improbable as TO be
hardly worth repeating, but as 1t may possibly be
true pat IL on record.
Large Decrease Of the Public Deb:.
When The books OF the Treasury Department
were balanced to-day, and the result showed
that the public debt was more than six
millions less than 1t was on the 1st Of
April last, all the officials of the Depart.
ment, including the Secretary, manifested a
good deal OF surprise. They expected a reduction,
but not more than three or four Millions The GUS
toms receipts and the receipts from internal
have been unusually large the past month, while the
outays OF the government have been comparatively
small. This accounts for the large decrease in the
principal Mr.. Boutwell, hopes to be able to make a
decrease each month, though the present favorable
exhibit cannot be expected TO be repeated every
month.
Appointments of u Minister TO Brazil.
Henry 7. Blow, OF Missouri, has been appointed
Minister to Brazil.
Payment of Soldiers Claims and Bounties.
The Second Comptroller has given instruction
under the late Bounty law that hereafter in paying
soldiers claims two checks shall be given; one to
the agent or attorney the fee allowed by law and
the other sent direct to the soldier the remainder
due. The fees allowed in claims OF white soldiers
are ten per cent when the amount due is under $780,
and I've per cent on any additional amount
less than $500. and $50 on claims IN
excess OF $780, IN colored cases the fees are
So, 81 90 and s1O. according as the amount
due IL less than $50, between $50 and $780, or over
800. In the coored cases. but not IN white ones,
advances and notarlal expenses are included In the
amount paid to the agent
Fractional Currency Statement.
The following is the statement OF fractional cur.
rency received and shipped during the past week.
Receipts, none. Shpments-To the Assistant Treas.
urer at Boston, 500 900; to the depository at Chi
cago, s25,0Oo; to the national banks and Others,
$195,1s3. Fractional currency redeemed during the
week, S43i30o.
The Treasurer holds in trust security for circu.
latng bank notes, s942, 73d,soo; public deposits,
$780, 255, $50; national bank notes issued during the
week, s244545; total TO date s3l4 ,5Oi, 72l; mutt.
lated bills returned, sl3 573 $685. nsolvent ban
redeemed, s1,05s,Sos. Total circulation at date,
sos, $3.50, 7eo
Resignation Of General Parker.
The resignation OF Lieutenant Ely =. Parker,
Brevet Brigader General has been accepted IN con-
sequence Of his entrance upon the duties of Com
missioner Of Indian Afairs
THE DEATH WARRANT or GEORGE TRuMAN.-Gov.