The Portland daily press., 1875-07-14
WASHINGTON.
More Illicit Dis.tlleries Cap,u,ed.


WASHINGTON, July 13.-Collector Carpenter
of the third South Carolina district, reports the
capture of five Illicit distilleries the seizure of
four distilleries and the destruction of one still
He says that within the last forty days he has
seized fifteen distilleries captured ten men and
destroyed large quantity of illicit whlskey.
Treasury balances.
The following are the Treasury balances of
to-day Currency, S. 1872 541. 90; special deposit
of legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit $50, 1876, 600; coin $68, 1885, 719, including
coin certificates, So, $3.50 800; outstanding legal
tenders, $375,771 $780,
Our Relations with Venezuela.
An extraordinary council of the Cabinet
members having been called by Secretary Fish,
they met to-day at the Department of State,
continuing in session about three hours. All
were present excepting Secretary Belknap,
who is absent in the West. The subject of our
relations with Venezuela was before the coun-
sci by Secretary Fish, who read the latest COM
muncatons from our Minister to that country,
and stated the general facts in the case. It
may be recollected that in December, 1872, the
President announced that the government of
Venezuela ha tmade no further payments on
account of awards under the convention of
1866, and expressed the hope that it would lose
no time in providing for the unpaid balance of
its debt TO the United States, which having
originated in injuries to our citizens by We
nezuelan authorities, and having been
acknowledged pursuant to treaty in the most
solemn form among nations, would, the Presi-
dent said, seem to deserve the preference over
another debt of a different origin and con-
tracted in different manner, and he recon-
mended the subject to the attention of Congress
for such action as might be deemed proper.
In pursuance of this recommendation, Com
gress in joint resolution expressed its sense
in regard to the awards of the joint commits
sion under the convention. The Venezuelan
government was furnished with copy of the
resolution, which excluded all doubt of the
earnestness of our government in Its demand
for the payment of the amount due, but there
was no satisfactory response on the part of
Venezuela. In 1873 President Grant, in his
message to Congress, said, ut is apprehended
that that government does not realize the char
acter of its obligation under that convention,
as there is reason to believe, however, that
its hesitancy in recognizing them springs
in part, at least, from the real diff
Guilty iq dscharging them in connection
with its obligations to other governments.
The expediency of further forbearance on
our part is believed to be worthy Of your con-
Since then our minister at Venezuela has
been repeatedly instructed to urge the payment
of the deferred installments until at last the
Venezuelan government has expressed dispo
sition to do SO, but claims the privilege of des-
ignating parties to whom the money shall be
paid. To this our government will not con-
sent, the proposition, apart from other consider
atoms, beng contrary to the terms of the con-
vention. The Venezuelan government viii be
informed of the rejection OF its proposition and
unless the money shall be paid as the stlpula-
ton requires our minister to Venezuela Will
probably be withdrawn