Year: 1868

tain articles Of value and among presents which
had been made by foreign courts to ministers
and consuls Some OF them stolen years
ago from tho Patent once, and after having
been recovered were placed in the vault for
saf-keepng Tbs box not belonging to the Treasury It
necessary for the House give authority TO the
Secretary to open 1t. The resolution was passed.
| appointment by the President.


The President has nominated James r. Roche TO be
Register Of Wills for the Distrlc, OF Columbia TO HI a
vacancy.


| The Tobacco and Whiskey Tax.


majority OF those in this city representing the
tobacco trade OF the leading markets of the country
accept the recent decision OF the Committee Of Ways
and Means to retain the two dollars ON whskey as
elusive OF The determination also adhere to the


ing rate on tobacco while Others who hither to
advocate and secure, II possible, large reduction OF


the forty per cent rate have expressed the intention
return home under the conviction that part Of the
existing tax will be taken of this year at least
strong pressure has been brought to bear
for the adoption OF lower rate II Is said that
majority OF the East and OF the trade itself ask
for retention Of the present II Is the West which
has been most urgent for the reduction but the repre-
senasves Of that section have yet laid before the
| committee sufficient reason for the change asked.
The Telegraph Bill.


The House Committee on Post 0ficss and Post Roads,
at their meeting to-day discussed General Farnsworhs
Telegraph bil introduced few days ago It s proba-
bic the bill will be agreed upon BY the committee. with
some amendments which have been suggested. The
telegraph companies have ntimatsd to the committee
that they desire to bs heard the subject before nnal
action taken. They said 10 be in favor Of making
the penatiesfor dvuging the contents Of message
for using It for any speculative purposes heavier than
than are in the bill.


Tho Abduction of n British Subject from
Canada.


In answer TO the resolution OF February 81 the Presi.
dent transmitted to the Senate day copies Of the
respondence and papers relating to the abduction OF
Allan Mcdonald British subject, who arrested in
Canada on a charge Of smuggling and carried into the
United States by sheriff from Michigan on the 9th Of
October last After long correspondence the SUBJ
ject, Mr. Seward. the l7h Of February addressed
letter to Mr. Thornton. the British Minister in which
he says he authorized to express the dsapprobaon Of
this government Of the proceedings Of the case
OF Mr. Mcdonald, and TO direct that person
to bs set at liberty in Canada Mr.. Thornton
on February 20 says that he has doubt her MAesty
government will be much gratifsd and entirely satisfied
With the contents OF Mr. Stewards nose adding, In
cuson II hope you will believe that We can have
sympathy with the individual in question: who showed
30 great want OF GOOD faith the occasion;
the representation made to you inspired by any wish
to withdraw convicted criminal from punishment; but
was merely for the purpose OF inviting your assistance
for the prevention Of any conflict between the author
iies Of two countrsa therefore take upon myself
the responsibility Of not accepting your offer that Allan
Mcdonald should be set At liberty in Canada confident
as am, that her Naiesys government will approve OF
this step the ms and that they will appreciate
the straightforward manner In which you have treated
the matter.


The Revenue System Of Grent Britain.


The Special Commissioner Of the Revenue has re-
ceived through the State Department. from the British
Chancellor Of the Exchequer documentary collection
which has probably counterpart either side Of the
Atlantic. 1t is complete exemplihcation, BY means
Of documents Of the whole revenue system Of
Great Britain and includes every bill, esti-
mate or paper prepared or used in the British
Treasury Department and In Parliament in the prepara


on Of the financial budget for 1855 and 1885, with the
progress OF the enactment Of the same into law and
the blanks for obtaining the money for the different
departments in accordance with them. The documents
elegantly bound, accompanied by note from the
Chancellor Of the Exchequsr to Special Commissioner
Wells stating that the papers had been collected, ar.
ranged indexed and bound with view OF aYording to
him q complete insight into the detail OF British
financial legislation and that additional series Of
papers illustrating the Of British local taxation
was in process Of collection and preparation and would
soon be forwarded.


The suit of De Groot Against Secretary
NIcCuliOch.


In the Circuit Court Of the District Of Columbia to-day
the case OF william H. De Groot Hugh Mcculloch.
Secretary of the Treasury, was taken up An applca
ton had been made by counsel for plaintiff that man.
damus be issued for the Secretary TO show cause why
the claim Of over sll9 o0o which had hersofore been
awarded TO plaintiff BY John b. Floyd, former Secretary
OF war; an appropriation for which had formerly been
made, should not be paid. with interest thereon
The court said ho was prohibited from making this
rule by subsequent act Of Congress Of August 81 1852
which declares what disposition shall be made OF all
unexpended appropriations in the Treasury to wit that
after the expiration Of two years from the fiscal year IN
which the act shall have been passed that oil such
moneys shall carried TO the surplus fund He there
fore refused the rule without prejudice and said the
court in general term could hear the motion but he
thought Il so plain that the act Of Congress prohibited
| this appropriation that he must overrule It,


Tho counsel for plaintiff argued that they could not
take an appeal, and unless the mandamus issue and
parties brought into court they could not get


Judge wyie said these applications against heads OF
be PLAIN that there can be no doubt


Counsel for plaintiff supposed they must then apply
the Supreme Court OF the United states for mandamus
on this TO grant the writ, as they had right 10
/ their remedy whatever was


| Tho court said they could make q motion regularly
| and he would oyerrule u, which was done.


The Charges Agaipst the American Consul mt
| Rome.


The Secretary OF State to-day sent to tho Senate
communication in reply to q resolution OF tha.
| body on tho subject Of the alleged interior
/ ence OF our Consul In Rome In the late diff.
| culties in Italy. and especially in the attempted


invasion OF the Roman states Among the papers is o
letter from Richard Rothwe addressed to Mr. Seward,
| who says tho American Consul armed with q rife,
| Joined tho party who call themselves the "Modsrn
Crusaders and banded together for the purpose Of
rvet,ng closer the chains which are wound arou nd
| the poor Romans. For two days this American did
goody service with bis friends In mortal combat against
the Italians whose nobility has aroused them to seek
for a nationality. No one here aud least OF all, he
says could suspect that America would be dragged in
| ,he mire by her unworthy representative.


The Consul Mr. Cushman, In private letter to Mr..
Seward dated November 15 says that "nnding il was


mpossble 10 gain any information OF q reliable nature
j fxara both aidea hanx Of