New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-09
WASHINGTON.

The President Will Attend General
Meade's Fnneral-Diplomats COngrntu-
late Grant - The Canada Abduction
CRse-TrOOps at the South.
WASHINGTON, November 8.--The Presi-
dent will attend the funeral of General
Meade on Monday.
1t is stated Howard will succeed Meade.
Diplomats congratulated Grant to- day by
personal visits
The British minister has called the atten-
tiOn of the Secretary of State to the case of
DIR. Rufus Bratton, a citizen of South Caro-
lima, who was fOrcibly abducted from
Canada last spring by an American detee
tive named Hester, assisted by a Canadian
official named Cromwell
Cromwell, it will be remembered was re-
Gently sentenced to three years imprison-
ment for this act, the principal witness be-
ing DR.. Bratton.
1t was not supposed that any further
mention would be made of the case. Bat
it appears that BrattOn was released by the
United States authorities on bail. and not
returning to South Carolina the sureties
were informed that the bail bond would be
forfeited it Bratton did not return. He
theTeupOn appealed to the British govern
ment for protection. The British minister
under instructions from the home govern
ment, reminds the Secretary of State that
her majesty's government does not tolerate
interference with her laws, and that the
proceedings against Brattnn having fol-
lowed his abduction from British territory
they must be Cancelled
The Attorney General has, therefore, in
structed United States District Attorney
tarrow, at Charleston, to dismiss the bail
bond, discharge the sureties of Bratton and
place the proceedings against him, as far as
practicable, in the same position as before
his foscible abduction from Canada.
The annual report of the Secretary of
War commences by cOmplimenting Con-
gres8 for such completeness of last years
legislation that little room is left for legis-
lative recommendation. The Secretary re-
commends the establishment of military
prisons in place of the present system of
sending army cOnviCts to the State peni-
tentiary. DesertiOn III the army mas fallen
Off greatly in the past year.
He reneWs recommendations that the exc
Era lieutenant to each regiment be dis-'
pensed with as vacancies occur. and thus
save 100000 per annum. He recommends
raising the intellectual standard of admis-
sion to West Point; also the sale of several
arsenal5 di5used at the South and elsewhere,
and urges the establishment of general
arsenals on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes
Progress in experiments with improved
heavy ordinance and with 6reeah-l0ading
small arms Is slow.
L1C SOuSltlCIS CHdLHtl pDSNLACL1OuS ANA
tOrpedoes protected by heavy batteries as
valuable tor harbOr defenses, and expert
ments with torpedoes have been successful
in determining the kind to be used and the
Secretary recommends the storage of tor
pedoeA for che defense OF New York and
other harb0rs.
The new system of inspecting lisbursing
officers accounts is in tuIl operation. He
concludes by regrettiEg that one-sixth Of
the army still detained in Che
States east of the Mississippi river. and
hopes that the improving social condition
will sooB Selieve that Sorce fer frontier
seUyice.