The New York herald., 1872-12-08
WASHINGTON.
Attorney General Williams Settles an
Important Naval Case.
POwell's Painting COnundrum in
the Capitol.
Farragut's Naval Exploits Not
Yet on Canvas.

WASHINGTON, Dec. z, 1877.
An Important Naval a"cstion Wen De-
eidch by the Attorney GeneraI-The
WilKcs-Wyman Prize Dispute.
In answer to a communication from the Secre-
tary OF the Navy the Attorney General yesterday
delivered an opinion in favor OF Commodore wy
man, who claimed share IN q prize captured by
the United States steamer Vanderbilt IN 1863 The
circumstances were follows Commodore Wy
man, then commander, was ordered TO take COM
mand of the steamer st. Jago de Cuba which ves-
sci belonged TO what known as the flying
squadron which had been placed under the CON-
mand oi Acting Rear Admiral Wilkes with sort
OF reving commission to cruise where
ne Gt, with the especial obJect OF
huntiDg up the Alabama, or any other rebel
cruisers that he might hear OF having been
fitted out 10 depredate on our commerce.
Commander Wyman proceeded to one OF the West
India Islands the point most likely TO find the
command assigned. His ship, however, was not
nj tue port al which he landed, but he there met
Admiral Wilkes, who had taken the steamer
Vanderbilt for his nag ship He ordered Wyman,
who had been directed TO report to him, to duty
on BOARD the Vanderbilt az his feet captain or in
other words. his chief OF stan. The Vanderbilt,
shortly after leaving port captured a valuable
blockade runner-the steamer Gertrude The
Secretary OF the Navy mr. Welles) declared that
Admiral wilkes had authority TO take the
Hhe was assigned TO special service, was an inde-
pendent command, and that he was a
usurper on board. Under this ruling the
Treasury Accounting Oncer attached to the
Navy Department lthe Fourth Auditory declined
TO pay Commander Wyman his share OF the prize.
The matter was referred to Attorney General
Speed who very absurdly decided that Commander
Wyman was not lawfully on board the Vanderbilt
because he was there by orders Of Admiral Wilkes.
fha NJ iTppp atiya
obedience OF JUNIOR officer to his superior this de-
Gison the. cause OF mingled amusement and
aerIsion IN the navy. Ii has since become TO be
generally believed that IL was written In the Navy
Department by o clerk, at the dictation OF Welles
himself 10 crafty his spite against Wilkes, and
signed by Speed simply to please that old
Baruacle. There was neither law nor common
in IT, and OF course it could not be allowed TO
stand, so the was referred to the present At
torney General, who, Nfter examination of the
1 circumstances. decided that, whether Admiral
Wilkes was properly on board the Vanderbilt had
q bearing In the settlement OF the question; that
n ommander Wyman reported to Admiral Wilkes IN
- mpljance with orders from the department, who
IN dered him board the Vanderbilt for duty; he
wa therefore lawfully on board and borne on the
as~ ,ks OF that vessel and entitled to share in all
the prizes captured by the vessel while he thus
one OF her officers. The decision gives much salts
met in naval circles, because 1t establishes the
fact; that an officer Is not TO be punished by being
depr. we'd OF his rights and emouments for doing
what haVai dlsclpine requires OF hm-that oi
8bedh nee 10 orders.
Po~vA ~ and the Congressional Com mt
ane n LogSerheads Over the Great Far
raxa anu O'her Navai E1Piois iof the
Capi toi.
The lystery OF the Capiioi just now is hnge
ron Of What might be taken for oncloth down in
she base, nent, but which is probably an unfinished
work cf rt. Some eight years ago Congress- in q
81 of nat, lotism stimulated by Farragut's bravery
rommisat ned william Powell to paint historical
n,ctnre n the Capitol which should record the
gallant OF, ,loits OF navy The price stipulated
vas A. 600, signing the contract, $1,000 per
mum for lou successive years. and $1,000 when the
p,cture was finished making ST., 900 in all. Powell
began 10 q raw the money, but was slow about
drawing his picture, and when, in 1870, he had
rocketed 81, 600, the Congressional committee
An charge began TO inquire whether they
had yalue received the canvas
SINCE then there has been animated
correspondenc, between the artist and the Con
cressmen ne " anting more money and they want
,ny Tho p,cture Finally last Summer, in con-
zideranon OF ant 'ther $500, which made the total
rnm RECEIVED W Powell so. 600, he sent his work
here aIh agreed to come on and finish 1t. But he
did not arr.lye az now wants TO come while Con-
gross "a in svss,on II he obtain $500 per month
20 efray hl scxpe nses Or course his object is to
no.tonhole and natter congressman into an
appropriatio u Ar additional compensation,
x.hcb ,bc rompr ttec do not feel disposed to
sanct,on :, ue picture IL is belongs
"a oovernm cnt, and II remains TO be
seen whetb, u .tie committee viii set 1t
mn In its up6 Aishei state, TO snow how much the
artist has don IN eight years in return for the
large ann maid Min, or whether they viii commls
sion some resne, cable artist TO give II the finishing
sonebe. Meanw klIe the roll OF painted canvas is
. nernetnai comm drup az the Capitol
a,s,le phil converted 10 the Indian
po,tcv vahe Government.
cenoral pm sh, Nidan has solved an Indian
ppyy,e IN are mort to General Sherman He says
81 fuuv endorse the efforts now being made TO
civnize and christian uze the wild Indians, and
,nrr mat rho roservat p system and the policy OF
a.. coyerpment ,ovard. ,she wild tribes Is the
n,era, and humane tha Z has ever been adopted
:. any oavernments toward savage people,
ana On far az the Military Is concerned
every effort win be ma o. 70 carry out lts
,ntentons. The principal e. uof thatI a'scoVer ~
that while efforts being II. 1ue 70 teacn the IN
dian what is right sufficient Importance has not
been gwen to teaching him VIII vi ls wrong very
much fear that the course pun @ueo to"alos the
wild Indian does not cause him I, N1py realiIe from
his own standpoint that he is dol Wy wrong Shen
ne commits murders and other de Ssadat,ons, and
II some wise system OF punishment eouiu pe Ar
ranged and carried out which would NiaEe the ei-
feet OF controlling him 10 this resp est - Woad
much sooner terminate the Indian troubles on oof
treDtier.n
Senatorial Winning and DIN tng.
Senator EdmuEds, OF Vermont gave "a large
dinner party last evening, al which secrsiaries
Fish and Belknap, Postmaster General Crfsweh
and number OF Senator's were guests. Pleasant
dinner parties have also been gwen dnring the
week By Senator Frelnghuysen, Representative
Hooper and other COngressmen who occuPy thelr