The New York herald., 1871-12-25

to pay said clerk during the time Congress is in
sion. but not during the recesses between the ses
sions. This resolution appearing on its face as Ia
the interests OF reform and coming from the leader
Of the House. passed without objection The facts Of
the case are that the committee has no use for a
clerk, and under the recent professions OF the domi'
nant party IN the House was not to employ one, the
whole thing being, as II Is supposed, trick on the
part OF MIR. Dawes TO provide for the payment Of .
salary to man VINO Is someames useful and had to
be provided for.
Leaal Tender Cases in the Sspreme Court.
The full opinion OF the United states Supreme
Court In the legal tender cases Will be delivered on
tho 18TH OF January. Those who VIII unite In the
majority are Justices Davis Strong, Miller, Swayne
and Bradley, and those In the minority Chief JUS
tice Chase and Associate Justices Chf0rd Field and
Nelson. In addition to the majority ana minority
reports proper 1t Is expected several OF the Judges
Will express their opinions on different branches OF
the question. a.
Cnba and tho Spanish yoImnfosrs-D Pmins
the Latter Not Practicable nc Present.
In the letter Of Vice Consul General Hall to the
Department OF State, recently published, II was
stated, In regard TO the arrest ana Of the
students at Havana. that "thronghout the whole
affair the government displayed Its utter helpless
ness In dealing with such emergencies, and that the
while that OF the volunteers was large, readily con-
centratcd, and. as In tnis instance when nearly
it was recently SAID here III diplomatic circles that
spain cOntempiateu the SUI preston oil the volnn-
teers In order we'll 10 pat an emf TO their enorml
ties as TO insure administration solely BY the Span
thar tho volunteers were comparatively few in
numbers and must yield to superior authority. But
s M ssy a as % ssc1
tary Davis addressed q confidential letter tn Mr..
Plumb at that time Consul General ut Havana, say
rid that measures had already been taken there
To dtsarm the volunteers in Cuba simultaneously
severe and positive orders had been given to stop
rhe scandal0us execution OF Captves and ike cruel
ties. Il being OF great importance that the Depart
ment OF State should know at an early date how far
the news from Madrid could bo depended on Mr..
Plumb was instructed to ascertain, Ia cautious
out In Oct Ober OF that year Mr.. Plumb, after care
ful inquiry, had no hesitation In saying tnat what
naturally @ ally be Entertained by the existing govern @
ment Of Spain in that regard the execution OF such
was St aas s Sy rae ana
tves there OF Spanish authority. That organization
appeared 70 be permanent power In the island
political calculations regarding 1t. That organiza-
ton numbered, probably, iorty thousand men, well
accustomed to the exercise OF arms. Tney held all
the ports and all the towns, and they had stake
ana interest crest 70 aor tnsy % were ere
and industry OF the island. anu they expected aud
desired TO remain there. They were not govern.
ment employes. Their Officers were generally men
many IN the ranks. They had no idea OF submitting
to being ruled by the Cuban portion OF the popu
lation. IL might be dOubUed whether all the Cubans
in arms WITHIN the island number half as many,
nor had they the means, the organization or the
arms Of the volunteers. Mr.. Plumb added
"The entire government force that will be here,
should all the promised reintorcements arrive, Will
not be equal IN numbers to the volunteers. and the
former will soon frat0rnize with the latter. Tho
attempt 10 disarm them, therefore. might naugu-
rate another civil war. The government In Spain
must rely either upon the Cubans or upon the span.
ish residents IL ia hardly probable II would now
leave the latter to unite with the i0rmer.' Under
more liberal institutions after the rebellion shall
have been put down. Ia believed that both may be
united. Under these circumstances do not well
see how the design referred 10 can be cntertatned
by the government Of Madrid, except as a desired
and remote possibility, and that to the Captain
General here u must be rks0m0 TO feel tnat no has
constantly TO defer or hold In account the preuces
and the power Of the volunteers, especially as
aeots mis- acu0n rem0ter points ana the interior
NnviGaiion ON tho Potomne.
The Potomac River - now open to navigation to
Acquta. Creek Thus there Is no interruption TO
travel between New York and the South. N