Edward L. Plumb to William H. Seward, April 3, 1868

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.

Sir: In dispatch No. 92, of the 23d ultimo, I referred to the opposition made by the minister of treasury in the name of the government, in congress, to the second article of the provisional appropriation bill, which provided that the excess in the public revenues, after meeting the sums assigned to the different departments of the government, should be applied to the payment of the interest on the national debt; the government desiring that such excess should be applied to the buying in of the debt, and not to the payment of interest upon it.

I have now to transmit herewith translation of the appropriation bill which was finally adopted by congress, and which, as will be seen, was modified in article 2 to conform to the wishes of the executive.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,