The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-12

competent court; any person by reason OF any
former marriage which has been pronounced void by
decree OF ompctent the ground OF nudity
o! Tho marriage contract
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1877.
THE NEW YORK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RE-
PORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MERRITT AND
PnINcE.-PRosPECrs OF CONFIRMATION
The Senate Committee Commerce met this morn.
ing all the members present except Senators Ransom
and Dsnns Tho republican members of tho com.
mittee-Messrs Conking, Patterson, Spencer, Nc.
MILAN, and Jones, OF Nevadu. and Mcssrs.
Gordon and Randolph, tho democratic members,
agreed report iav0raby the nomination
Of Mr. Merritt Surveyor Of the Port OF New York,
whe the nominations Of Mcssrs. Roosevelt and Prince
ordered TO 10 adversely reported tho demo.
cratic members only voting to favorably report their
names TO the Senate Whom tho Senate went into OK.
ccutive session, after the nominations In
day had been referred, further communication from
the President was read announcing the withdrawal OF
the nomination of Alexander Rood postmaster at
Toledo, Ohio Tho confirmation OF Mr.. Reed was
pending when the extra session camo to close. HIS
name again returned by tho President, notwtth-
standing the strong objection known to exist against
his confirmation. II was iutimated that the Presi.
dents action based solely upon informally in
the nomination, though among the democratic Scna-
tho understanding was that Senator Matthews
had requested the withdrawal OF Mr.. Reeds name
Il likely to lead TO much wrangling in execu.
two Moreover, Il stood at tho head Of the
list nominations DO discussed an element
OF discord on both sdes Of the Senate Had 1t been
permitted to take lie course II was calculated to
It'll.
adminissraton Finally tho Withdrawal Of Mr.. Reeds
namc only removed this existing cause for con-
tcntion, but did not prevent the President from
again sending in the nomination n he thought proper
This matter " the way Senator Conkhng an
nounccd that he mad been instructed to report I'M
favorAbly the nomination OF Mr. Roosevelt as Col
lector and Mr. Prince as Naval Ofcer OF tho port OF
New York, and iavorably the nomination OF Mr.. Mcr-
rift to DO Surveyor OF that port Abiding TO
tho fact that the Senate familiar with
the merits OF the several Dornin nations be
thought there ought to bc objection their pres
ont consideration. Objection being raised. nomna.
lions pending but not disputed disposed OF, and
the New York nominations thon came tho head OF
the list for consideration at tho next Executive
sion Then the Senate adjourned, ana . number OF
the democratic Senators me. IN caucus and
talked over the situation, but camo TO
conclusion to what they would d. nor was 1t appa.
rent whether the democratic members OF the Senate
would be united in their support OF tho nominations
for Collector and Naval Ofccr Senators Booth,
Burnside, Matthews and one Two more republican
Senators expected to for their confirmation,
and many democratic Senators counted upon to
vote against their confirmation. Mr.. ConKling's
friends. however, confident that Roosevelt and
Prince will be rejected and Merritt alono confirmed.
CONDUCT OF OUR TROOPS ON THE RIO GRANDE
Nothing is known among tho officials at the head
quarters OF the army herc Of any change In tho
dersfor tho conduct Of our troops the Texas border
II any modification Of thom calculated to prevent the
crossing OF tho border has been decided upon it was
made known privately and verbally to General ord,
who left here yesterday to return San Antonio and
will doubtless DO promulgated upon his arrival there
SENATOR Combines COMMITTEE TO INvEsTI-
GATE THE MEXICAN PROBLEM.
The committee to be appointed by the Vice Pres
dent. under Mr.. Cohkiing's resolution will not be
announced for several days. great care beng ncces
sary the part OF The Chair In making selection
OF the six Senators to be associated with Senator
Conkling IN the investigation Of the Mexican problem
THE MEXICAN AWARD QUESTION CONCLUSION
OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAVING THE MATTER
IN change.
A further consideration OF tho disputed Mexican
Committee Foreign Affairs Tho sub-comnittec
appointed 10 report upon the question has finished
iabors The Chairman, MI Wilson, ofwest Virginia.
and Mr. Grape, OF Massachusetts will report In favor
OF sustaining the award and overrung tho protest or
tho Mexican government, while SIR. Forney, Of
Alabama, tho third member OF tho sub. committee
will dissent from this view. A bill which has tho
approval OF tho State Department win accom- pany tho
majority report
THE CHINESE QUEsrIoN-TExT or THE LITTER
OF THE SIX COMPANIES or SAN FRANCISCO TO
SECRETARY EvARTs.
Tho following is tho tcxt OF tho letter addressed bv
tho six companies OF Chinese In San Francisco to the
Secretary Of state:-
Hon. WILLIAM NJ EvARTs, Secretary OF State Wash.
SIs-Tho letter OF Senator Sargent bearing date YES
tcrday November 29) demands reply from us and
also 10 briefly call your attention TO facts undenabio
why, after long years Of persecution aud
OF tho United States for that protection
accorded US under existing treaties ana nothing
more Wo first desire TO call your attention 10 tho
TACT That the government OF the United States has
since the adoption OF the treaty with the imperial
governments OF CHINA, demanded ana received nearly
$780, QUO indemnity Tor outragcs committed Ameri-
cltizens tsnd thor property residing in China.
In instance OF outrage has that government Jailed
TO pay. For long series OF years our people have
quietly submitted TO robbcries murders. arsons and
assaults, ami not one case IN MY bavo the pcrpc-
traitors been brought 10 punishment
With no one, until quito recently, 10 plead for rs
VIC hsve suffered three months In silence. HunureGs
OF our country have been murdered, ana SEN
Sargent deny that ninety five cent OF the per-
petratofs escaped puDshmcnti Tho recent massacre
Of tour o our countrypcn at Chico mot with prompt
action because good citizens OF this country
forward with money and innucnco aud demanded that
justice should be done Ia vindication Of their good
name. And This Is an exception 10 our long let OF OPP
Preston, not tho least o which arc the unjust aud
discr,n mating laws pissed against us aud dcnyng
that protection We arv taxed Tor.
senator Sargent says tho law officers Of the counties
Of this state have sought diligently 10 punish out