Newspaper Page Text
omtitntion.
ATLANTA. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6.
Brevities.
John E. Owen*, the comedian, ie recovering.
Mm Sooth worth hsa “done” ea ma-y cove's ai>
there we States in the Union.
Charles Jefferson. old Hip's eon, con template a, itia
stated. «"«fctng a tour of the Booth next year with
Edwin Booth.
It la quite personal in a Washington letter writer to
any that. dtrtBg the session of Congress, some of the
members will receive dally.
A car load of wild animals from the Rocky moun
tains, for the Zoological dens at Pnl adelphia, reached
Omaha on Monday.
The Patrons of Husbandry, according to their latest
reporta, have 8 835 granges, with 003.665 members.
There were 974 of these granges organized daring
November.
Mrs .Davis, postmistress st Columbus, MUalaalppL,
has been arrested by a United States Marshal. She
was affected by “the p re Tailing" to the extent of
*2,800.
Wendell Phillips ran seventy ahead of his ticket In
Boston, he being a candidate for Alderman. He only
lacked eleven thousand votes of beating his rival to
plow*.
The eating Japanese minister. Olio Gins, Is de
scribed os a quiet little almond eyed fellow, who
wonetaahls newly strived Japanese wife go into
society until she can speak English and wears
panier.
The Spanish civil war is affecting the supply of
anges to Europe. Italy, .Bicila and Malta, as will
the Azores, can still b» depended on, but It Is
ught that the supply to the English market wll
Insufficient.
A Missouri paper thinks “what the women or this
entry most need is not suffrage, but symmetry
t rights, but nationality; not a place in our
gis’ative halls, but a place to fasten their stocks
EB.”
me late Professor Agassiz waa never Injured by
he bite of asn«ke or the poison of-any venomous
eptila, herb or flower - a fact attributed to the cour
age and impanly with which the naturalist moved
apriaonment for wild and heterogeneous state.
Imprisonment for crown debts is still adopted In
England. Toere were 1.3(8 persons convicted last
year as to customs duties, of whom 115 were impris
oned, and the Board of Inland Bevenn9 caused 150 to
be locked up. The mtjorltjr of the Utter cases
occurred In Ireland.
A young man who bad come into posses *len of a
urge property by the death of Me brother, was asked
•how be was getting along. “Oh,” said he, "I am
having a dreadrai time; what with getting o at 1 ttters
of administration, auendiog a Probate Court, col-
ccting insa’anoeand settling claims.1 sometime a with
he hadn't dieid/’
It is something to be tbo boo of a President now-a-
daye. A dispatch totbe Cincinnati Commercial states
that Lientcnant Colonel P -ed Dent Grant, eon of the
President, for some time a member of lieutenant
General Sheridan’s staff, where be sav much orduous
service, baa been ordered to Washington for duty as a
mustering and disbursing officer.
Railroad Crains now run without interruption from
8t Lonis clear across the state of arkansa*, to Fu’-
ton. In the southwest corner of that State, on Red
river. The railroad h-id-.e at Male Rick has just
been cotnpletid, and the trains pass without let or
hindrance. At Pulton a railroad bridge is being
built across Red rive-, by iv itch the trains from St.
Loots will soon tia enabled to ke»p on their rapid
flight to the Imerl^r of Texas, mse ing the roads of
.that State.
“Harm, what du ye think Sal told Ned Bobbles last
alight wbeu be was sparking her} ” “Shut up, child i
wnatereyou taking abont?” “No, but I bearq her,
I did. 8he told Ned Bobbies last night she kinder
felt e" "llnsb, you little rascal 1 Hash, or I'll
take your skin off " and poor 8aUie looked as red as a
boiled lobster. “OS. git oat, Sal, I will tell I She
-told Ned Bobbles she kinder felt steered tu deth and
• tickled lu."
Rev' Charles Kingsley, author of “Hypatia,” “Alton
.Locke.” and other w'deiy known works, and Canon of
Westminster, will visit this country in January or
February, in response to invitations scattered from
Boston to San Francisco. Kingsley is considered one
of the beat pu'pit orators or England. Whenever he
.preaches Westmins er Abbey is thronged, and the
London papers report his sermons, which is quite an
unusual thing in English journalism.
-New York Herald special: The Corici meets Jan-
ary *. Whan Serrano will be placed at the nead of the
pa Utah Affair*. England. France, Pi us«ta. an t Italy
re pledged to recognize Serrano as President on the
amo basis as they have recognized the present
rcnch republic. Minister Lsgard has th- papers all
eady to seizs so opportune m meat for recognition,
rats news Is kept Buret, but is positive, if the
'Reds” rise to oppose recognition,' the Powers are
-pectcd to intervene in this matter as in the Car.itt
war.
Otd Deputy Sheriff Shie’da wake up Monday'morn,
ng dreaming of the htnd-> rgin to which he listened
n his youth p ay uig that touching little piece of mu
sic beginning:
“Von are going tar away,
Far away from me. Genet ?”
And whon he awoke did be continue the strain :
“Tiier© la no one left bat bondsmen now.
And they, too, may forget t”
Ah. who ehall tell f—Altar York Tribune,
Oeagreadona] inquiry is to bs made into an appro
priation or *200,(00 now being expended, while
*100,000 is asked for to be expended daring the next
fiscal year, in the preservation of army clothing
4pm moth and mildew by a patent process. As the
Quartermaster General reported over a year age that
the clothing on hand was so muen ca-en and useless
that now clothing must be made and issued, there is
somecuriosity expressed to know what this *303,000
is for, especially as it is understood that a percent
age of it goes into other pockets than those of the
patentee.
The aHituda of the highest point in the world
where railways are now in operation is at Apiztco, on
the Vera Crux and Mexico Railway, 7,474 feet above
the level of the sea. The next highest is on the Cen
tral Pacific, in the Nevada range, 7,111 fret above the
level of the sea. The third is at Arequips. an im
portant city In Peru, 7,0 W fset above the level of the
sen, and, under the Peruvian Ballwiy system, the
work is to be continued, and is expected to reach
double that altitude—at the breath-taking height of
14.1X0 feet above the level oi the sea.
Among the past incidents in the official life of
Attorney General Williams, which are not helping his
confirmation as Chief Justice, is the faot that when
appointed a member of the Board of Visitors to West
Point, derieg his Senatorial term, hs charged and
took fall mileage from Oregon to West Point and
back, amounting to nearly S5.C03, although he had
the same year charged and taken the same amount as
mileage due him as Senator. This was doubtless le
gal, bat “should a min who will indulge in tech
.. sharp practice pat ou the ermine of Chief Justice*
“mficantly ask Senators.
Ihe bridge to be constructed over the Frith of
>ih wJl be by 1 r the laigist in the world. Ac
ting to the London Builder, its height will be 150
Land the number of spans nearly 100. The
tiler span will be 15) feet wide, which is beyond
avenge width of the largest spans in the ordinary
Iges; but the crowning marvel in the who’e
tetora la the great span in tte centre, which is to
,5C0 feet, cr nearly one-third cf a mile in width—
x'cut unparalleled in any existing structure of
hcUnd. 7 hi entire cost of the bridge »ill be at
a ut *10.000,000.
The Lucky Farmers. I The Central Railroad.
There will be a good old time in Madison The regular annual meeting of the stock-
county when they get the news A club holders of the Central Railroad was held in
from Paoli received the premium of $1,250 Savannah on Monday. There was no quo
in gold. rum present, only 9,221 shares being repra-
Tbe certified return of the Commissioners sented. while 37,500 make a quorum. The
will appear in our next issue. | meeting changed the day of stockholders’
meeting to the Wednesday after the first
Delivery of Present*. I Monday in January, and allowed stock-
_ , holders’ families to pass free to each meet-
The cash presents are paid on demand, at . ng
The Constitution office. The other pres- The President’s report shows the earnings
ents will be delivered on the publication of I of the road and bank, with those of the
November 30, 1873, and give comparison
with the corresponding period last year:
1971-2 1362-3 Incr'sa Decr’se.
Guano.6i.310.653 94.858.025 3t.t4T.372
Fait... ..0,679,191 7,656,608 3,123.123
Lime... £62.265 679.230 2&3.C35
the Commissioner*’ returns. This is necessary, I
to prevent mistakes. Full directions in our
next issue.
Southwestern and Upson county railroad, for
the past year to have been $3,439,393 03, as
follows:
Central Railroad, Savannah Division, *1,780,116 06
Central Railroad, Atlanta Division .... 748,995 60
Central Railroad Btnk. 61,978 07
Southwestern Railroad 895.967 95
Upson County Railroad..... 12 340 36
Hr, Stephens,
In another column will be found the last I Total for Roads and Bank,
from Mr. Stephens. It does not call for I T chSgeabie' for the
reply. * A - —*-— —
We have discussed and condemned only i invutoa ....'.. *L097,7C9 34
the back pay feature of the Congressional Atlanta ej74Z! 5l
salary matter. We agree entirely with Mr. central BaUroadBink.".”"... 22*9« 30
Stephens on the general principle of adequate *
compensation for all public servants. As to 1
what is just compensation is another ques
tion.
*3.439,393 03
6*4.548 27
12,426 60
8,3'5,101 55
Leaving *1,184,298 48
Bat In addition to the above expenses
there have been payments made that
belonged, fairly, to the previous year,
with extraordinary payments that
have fallen into this year’s business,
as follows:
The Currency—Specie Payment.
While all the great interests of the country
are suffering, Congress discusses the ** Salary I *194,030 00
Grab," and theorizes npon party questions. | Central railroad," Atlanta Di-
When the present limit was placed upon | s^ffiwestem'iriiroad".'.*.'.* ^ooo So
the issue of currency, Secretary McCulloch
induced Congress to allow him to contract
the circulation at so many millions peri Le » y:n s net $777.296 48
month. | fhe President says that the complete re-
407.000 to
He exercised the power thus unwisely con- construction of all the tracks at Atlanta, with
ferred, until the country was on the very 1 additional grading in elder to obtain more
verge of bankruptcy, and Congress was I room for new tracks, has been attended with
forced to stop him. considerable expense at that point, but all
In the meantime the country has outgrown I tjj e improvements that have been made were
its money supply, the practical result of which I absolutely necessary to enable us to conduct
is a contraction carrying destruction to every I business with economy and dispatch
interest in this broad land. • I an( j u i3 yet necessary to erect a shelter over
We say, outgrown its money supply, be- a portion of the transfer platform for the
cause the production of new values has in-1 protection of men and goods in inclement
creased enormously since the war. Indeed I weather. It will also he necessary to erect
so rapid has been this increase that it is J a house at Atlanta for the protection of en
simply impossiple to transact the present I gioes at as early a day as possible, the old
business of the country, with the small I house having been blown down by a severe
amount as at present fixed by law. ga j e on the night of November 16th. The
We are now slowly emerging from the late i og8 by its destruction was but little, as the
panic caused by a scarcity of currency, an roof waB very temporary, and the walls had
insufficiency of money to cover the values I been so much damaged by fire when Atlan-
that have been so rapidly produced. Our full I t a was destroyed that they were hardly
recovery will be reached when we have again sa fe.
attained the same degree of production, and I Some very interesting statistics are given
not until then. Granting that the lack of of the assets and liabilities of the corn-
currency has brought our present unfortunate paD y :
condition upon us, it can only be relieved by
an increase of currency commensurate with I bealestate, oihesTiMtnAti.iioaD and appbrtek-
our wants, the imperative demands of our Vale Royal property, cost *82,000, im-
rapid production of new values, and increase STpercmt on 30 ' 0C0, . Pa * 8 more than
of population. | Macon city property, valued at
Jur Washington Letter.
National Hotel, )
Washington, D. C., Dec 26th, 1873. f
Messrs. Editors of the Constitution:
You greatly mistake me if you suppose I
had any intention in what I have written on
the salary question to treat you with “gloves
off” in the ordinary sense in which those
words are used. My:object was in the
mildest and most respectful manner to pre
sent the fact&und truth of the case on prin
ciple. In this view, I did not think that the
Georgia Democrats in the last Congress had
brought dishonor upon the State, or conld
be justly classed either with “thieves” or
“practical robbers” for having received the
increased pay allowed by the last Congress.
That was the main issue between us; and
having established, as I think, the correctness
of my position, in a most respectful manner,
quite to the satisfaction of an intelligent pub
lic^ have no intention of pursuing the sub
ject •
On the question of the necessity]* of the
increased pay by the act of last Congress, or
the expediency of the vote of Members or
Senators on that question, I have not said a
word; nor do I intend to engage in any dis
cussion of that soil" I only intended to show
the utter groundlessness of the clamor raised
against the morality and honesty of the act
of receiving “back pay,” so-called, when
ever the salary has been increased by any Con-
i; and to defend those who did it from
the opprobrious epithets, so unjustly, in my
opinion, heaped upon them. My object was
te draw the true line of distinction between
perfect honesty and real roguery in the ac
tions of public servants in such cases.
Having accomplished this in as respectful
and in as mild terms as I could, I have, there
fore, as just stated, nothing more to say npon
that matter.
THE VIRGINIUS—BEAST BUTLER ON
THE PRESS—MR. STEPHENS
AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS
DARKIES—GRANT
EGG-NOGGED.
malicious gossipers say be had too much
esre-nog or some other spirituous compound
or food, The report finds credence.
READY TO PAY UP.
Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
the amount required to meet the interest due
upon the District securities January interest,
has been deposited in the New York Third
National Bank, as though the Washington
Tammany is bankrupt, as alleged.
J Thomas Hauck.
to . , „ - • I HanlrlnpHQMfl
Jiu r . says the advocate of specie payments, Wes Broad street property, not in use
$300,000
122,000
50,000
17,200
47,000
the country will be ruined by an increase of % w oi’i^d
currency. In reply to this we have to say, I (city valuation) ..
that if the country is to be ruined by an in- 6,000
crease of its money, and by cheapening it, I not ?.??.!?. ff®* 1
the country will stand such ruin with much I Received from MacVn & Western Rail-
better grace than that ruin which comes by | S* ££ y ta At,anta ’ Macon and PulM
panics and shrinkage of values.
The immediate resumption of
8,000
47.500
*597,700
specie Stocks.
payments under exjtfDg^cigqgMtfances
is a fallacy, unwise and impracti- J 770 shares Macon and Western, now Cen-
CSble. No matter how much its ad-16,W5 , Bhares > MobUe and Girard RaUroad t
vocates may theorise upon the subject,the I at Me 167.876 00
. . ... ... ! , 11,555 shares Savannah, Griffin and North
facts are against them, and the nse and I Alabama Riiir ad, at 2fio 88,875 00
fall of gold is in direet opposition to their 1 5 ’^
predict ions. 120 chares Baltimore and Savannah steam-
With the commencement of the panic, gold Bhl P — 2,000 03
declined from day to day, until it reached I S 9*8,250 00
the lowest figure in twelve years. As busi- $202,or.o 00
ness was depressed, and as money was in $
the greatest demand, geld fell in price. Savamian, Griffin and North Alabama
To-day it closed at 11C*, and yet the coun- j wetil'm jtM of Xl'shami.'
try is slowly improving and money becoming
easier. And yet these gold dreamers cling I stbaheb3
to their exploded theories as though these | ? |6 i6,ooo 00
135,000 00
161,600 00
$313,500 00
$795,30$ 99
$300,000 00
112.951 43
318,570 12
236,709 93
facts did not exist. Practically speaking I Net prjflta of ahlpa and boats 120,303 99
gold is simply an article of commerce, and is
affected in value by the same law that 1 gfiSSy 0 *”"
governs Other property! I Mobile and Gir»rd Railroad
When the panic was at its height, import-1 Railroad
era were compelled to realize upon their stocks Western Railroad or Alabama
in order to meet their engagements, hence $967,231 59
the rapid decline in prices. Importing I nacAWTULArroH
ceased, because there was no demand for Real Ea 1 ate $ 597,70000
goods, and gold declined because there was ‘ sumo 00
no demand for it to pay duties, In the I '..'ItosIsos 93
meantime, business slowly revives, importing KalUoild8 987,281
revives, and gold goes up from 106 to 1101-8 SV04.930 49
in a few days Is not this fact easily under- Against these securities and investments
stood? the road has liabilities, direct and conting-
During the panic, gold fell seven cents,and I en ^» as f°H° W3:
currency rose five cents, a commercial com- liabilities.
mon sense fact that should teach Congress I Direct Liabilities—
which is the essential medium of exchange. I central Railroad bonds, flue 1875™ $ 993,00009
mL. „ . . ' 0 I Macon and Western Railroad boedr,
The people, the business of the country isso 150,000 00
demand more of the money that went np soo.ooo 00
a? gold went down, Muscbaee Railroad bond9,*dno"i876'. ... 172^590 00
If anything could prove the solvency of “i RSSffi’SSStotSs 8 !? J.672.000 co
our currency, it is such a panic as that of Bonds for eteamthipa 3io ooo ou
September, for we find boasted gold falling $3,656^600 ^3
in pride, and decried currency increasing in I Liability as Endorser—
value. But, says the advocate of resumption S^£ou!«&i£«°°
of specie payments, it is merely the process ^ 212,500 10
of approximation. Not so, for the truth is ond mortgage, due 1893 3to,oo9 00
the intrinsic article never approximates to w SSS^'Sd d
I did state in the House what I thought
should be the standard, on principle, in fix
ing the pay of members of Congress,
think that a right standard; and if it should
ever be adopted, my opinion is that it would
be found to be the best step ever taken, not
only in reform, but in retrenchment. .That
opinion was expressed entirely*with a view
to the public interest. So far as I am indi
vidually concerned, I care very little; about
the figure at which the pay may be fixed.
While I am here, lean live npon aslittle.as any
other Member or Senator. All that I received
as a member of Congress during my j sixteen
years’ service was spent in Washington, or
in the discharge of my public duties at home,
so far as related to procuring and sending
useful information to the people generally,
as well as responding to special demands on
my attention by individuals from all parts of
the country. My private estate was not in
creased a dime, during that whole period,
from government pay; nor did I ever make
or receive, directly or indirectly, a dime
for any services rendered my con
stituents, or others iu securing
pensions, bounty-lands, or the payment of
of claims of any sort from any of the public de
partments, or for any other thing said or done
by me in (Washington during that jjsixteen
years of service.
While I am here, in the future as in the
past, I consider myself the public servant of
the people, and shall be content with what
ever pay may be legally allowed me, and
shall not consider it either dishonorable or
dishonest to receive whatever amount, high
or low, that may be so allowed.
In the money view, however, on the fig
ures fixed by the last Congress, after expen
ses here, I could not possibly realize, from
the Government pay, half what I made
annually, for the last four years, from the
use of my pen alone, diseased and crippled,
and confined, as I was, at my home. So all
will doubtless readily perceive that I have
not been governed by any mercenary motives
in accepting my present position, even on
the idea of my having assumed its duties for
a “stipulated” consideration.
In dismissing this subject, so far as I am
concerned, for the present, I will barely add
that some typographical errors occurred in
the publication of my last communication
which somewhat impaired the meaning; bnt
I have not time to make special mention of
them. I suppose intelligent readers will suffi
ciently understand what was meant without
particular corrections.
Very respectfully,
Alexander H. Stephens.
Washington, December 23,1873.
To be a first-class Washington correspond
ent it is necessary one should be well-read
and well- ersed in many things. Mind, I
urn not arguing that I am a first-class corres
pondent, and doubtless ther e are a good many
newspaper men in Washington who do not
come up to that standard.
Here is the Virginias question, which has
occupied public attention*for some weeks
past. To write intelligently upon it, it is
necessary tc know something of international
l&w^panish law, and Spanish character.
You must have a vein of diplomacy too f for
in calling upon Secretary Fish and* Admiral
Polo for information, it is necessary to be
guarded; to talk as little as possible and to
remember all that you hear. Now comes
up the financial problem for solution.
The correspondent must not only keep in
formed as to the actual condition of affairs in
the Treasury as shown by the daily balances,
but be able to analyze the bills presented to
Congress and indicate their Intended affect.
He must furthermore be familiar with par
liamentary rules and usages and competent
to arrive at the sense of the Senate or House
on a question submitted to either without
resorting to tedious enquiry. He must read
ail the leadihg papers of the country care
fully, be able to locate a public man without
hesitation, and, in short, he must be a walk
ing encyclopedia and political manual com
bined. In proof of this, read the Washing
ton dispatches to the New York Tribune, by
far the beat ever sent from the Capitol to any
newspaper.
THE VIRGINIUS CASE.
The opinion of the Attorney General on
the status of the Virginius is very sharply
criticised. As a legal document it does not
come up to the standard, and, in brief, it may
be characterized as a snap judgment ou in
sufficient evidence. But why render an
opinion at all at this time? There was no
necessity for referring the matter to the De
partment of Justice. The Virginius is en
titled to fly the American flag and to carry
American papers until the courts decide oth
erwise, On her arrival at New York pro
ceedings wilt be instituted against her, and
if her papers are shown to be illegal or
fraudulent, she will be condemned and
sold at public auction, and neither
this government nor Spain will have any
thing more to do with her. The opinion of
the Attorney General is, therefore, not only
unnecessary and uncalled for, but is calcu
lated to create ill-feeling between the two
countries and to embarass pending negotia
tions. It is like stntencing a nun to be
hanged and then trying him fur murder.
His opinion is not liuely to enhance the At
torney General’s chances for obtaining the
Chief Justiceship; and indeed, his friends
here now well nght abandoned all hopes of
bis confirmation. His snap j udgment on the
the inferior, for that process always comes by
a nse in value of the deteriorated article.
Such an argument is lame, has no founda
tion in fuel, for it begs the whole question.
We should have an abundance of currency
for the business of the country, money should
be cheap, as accessible to one man as another
with the same security, and gold should take
its chances as an article to be bought and
sold like cotten, tobacco, or flour.
Whenever our financial system is based
npon this law, so clearly proven and demon
strated by the panic, it will be free from
similar revulsions, and not nntil then.
Without a very considerable increase of
currency our industries must continue to
languish, values to diminish, until the
shrinkage will have reached a point that
may result in a second panic that in com
parison with the one of September will be
that of a tornado to a Jane zephyr.
And in face of these facts Congress dal
lies over the question, fiddles while Rome
boras, or spends its time in discussing the
means of elevating the negro over the heads
of their own race.
first mortgage, $6'M).( 00. our half 300,COO 00
Second mortgage, 41,203,900, our half... 600,909 0u
1,492.6 .0 00
To‘al liability $5,179.00) 00
The showing seems to be satisfactory to
the st«ckholdei s. The road i3 certainly man
aged with ability and enterprise.
The following summary shows the number
of bales transported over the Central and
branches to Savannah from December 1,
1872, to November 30, 1873:
Months.
Through.
War.
Gracd
Xotil.
Dec, 1872.
63300
11041
7 i404
J,n.. 1873.
£6579
7285
02505
Feb.. 1673.
3*471
£6931
March, 1873.
1784
22892
1163
14848
Mar. 1873
£02
14859
Jane, 18?3.
233
9194
July, 1873.
AURUSt, l8<3
6942
127
6169
.... 3399
80
.'979
Sept,. 1873.
.. 16088
3393
1PS33
Oct.. 1873
63891
9973
73-64
Nor.. 1873.
12773
973 (5
Total. ’73-3
887032
54744
439326
Tota’. ’71-2
849S»4
43159
39*804
Increase, 47022 bales
We condense the table showing the amount
of guano, lime and salt transported over the
road and branches for the fiscal year ending
The Western Railroad strike.
The Louisville Ledger gives some inter
esting particulars of the great railroad strike
in the West and North. The strike is by
the engineers and firemen employed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The
number of engineers is abont four thousand
and the strike i3 in consequence of a reduc
tion of ten per cent in wages. It is stated
however, that the matter has been brewing
for months. The strike only extends to the
lines of the company west of Pittsburg.
The Pennsylvania Central runs by pur
chase and lease nearly fifty lines of railroad,
including over six thousane miles of railway
and some of the mo3t important roads West
and North.
Both sides seem determined to hold
out. The Association of Engineers has
a- large fund on hand to support its
members. The company 13 very wealthy
and powerful. The Brotherhood of
engineeis ha3 repudiated the violent con
duct of those engineers who have obstrncted
trains and soaped the tank water so as to
render it unfit for engine use. This is wise.
Every act of illegality and violence injures
the cause of the strikers and arrays public
support and sympathy against them.
SIMON
WigWags G-rant
LEIF FBDH THE BIST08Y OF i SGOQIBBEL
whT Be is Coddled by tbe Admin
istration.
LEI HONEST HEN PONDER OVER IT.
In his exceedingly quaint and instructive
“Life of Abraham Lincoln,” Mr. Ward La-
Aon has given the public several hitinrto
unedited ebaptera of potitical_ history. Here
is one of them:
Before the Chicago Cohventionof 1860 as
sembled it became evident to Mr, Lincoln’s
friends that the only chance of beating Mr.
Seward lay in arranging a combination of in
terests against him. Accordingly they went
to work and arranged it. It was a delicate
niece of business, but the average Illinois
politician of those days was not very heavily
burdened with scruples nor squeamish abont
the means which he took to achieve his ends.
How delightful to note the change which has
since passed upon his character 1
These friends of Mr. Lincoln, assuming to
gpeak in his name, approached Mr. Caleb B.
Smith, of Indiana, ana Mr. Simon Cameron,
of Pennsylvania, with a proposition of aveiy
practical and business-like nature. If these
gentlemen wonld contract to transfer the
vote of their friends In the convention to
Mr. Lincoln, the Illinoisans would in turn
guarantee them seats in Mr. Lincoln’s cabinet,
supposing him to be elected. Mr. Cameron’s
representatives were at first disposed to hag
gle and stand out for better terms. They de
manded for him the position of Secretary of
the Treasury. But this demand was pro
nounced inadmissible, and finally theoiiginal
bargain was ratified. The delivery of the
votes followed in due time. •
After the election it became nccessaiyto
inform Mr. Lincoln of what had been done,
and what he was expected to do. He was
both annoyed and distressed, but his friends
insisted upon his performance of the bond.
They told him that his honor, as well as
theirs, was iuvolved, and their arguments
finally prevailed upon him to tender Mr.
Smith the promised portfolio. But at Mr.
Cameron he stuck for a long time -so Ion;
the latter suppo-ed, for a season, that tlu
bargain was “off,” and actually wrote u
another Pennsylvanian, Mr. Stevens, pro
posing to withdraw in his favor. Mr. Lin
coin was thoroughly informed of Mr. Cam
eron’s antecedents and character. He w^
assured, both by letter and word of moutl)
that the man was notoriously corrupt,
shameless and unscrupulous intriguer, pa
sessed with mean ambition to occupy exalte
tiusis for which he was hopelessly incon
potent.
He was told that Mr. Cameron never dan
to ofier himself a candidate for the sufiraj
of the people; that such offices as he had he
A new year dawns. To all our readers
we wish a happier twelve months than have
ever yet fallen to their lot. And may
Heaven bless our noble old State from the
most exalted to the humblest citizen.
prevents him from decorating the eupr.me
. 3ench with his presence.
THE PRESS AND THE SALARY GRABBERS.
There is no love lost between Congress
men and correspondents this winter. The
salary-grabbers attribute all their woes to the
press, and will not admit that on this ques
tion the press simply reflects public opinion,
in debate the newspapers have been more or
less directly attached, bat by no one so di
rectly as by Ben Butler, who called on his
brother members to combine against the
slanderous press, or rather the “venal and
corrupt press,” which had sent a howl
through the land “against us because we
would not give free postage through tbe mails
to all the dirty sheets that their conductors
might print; so vile that the Fo>ty-Second
Congress passed a law to punish the
sending of these obscene publications through
the postoffice to save the youth of the land
from pollution. Having passed that wise
and salutary law, that Congress has been as
saulted through their mud machines, worked
with forty jackass power, to howl down
every member who stood up in the image of
his Maker and remanded him to his convic
lions of duty.” And so on. It has been
claimed that Bailer has the hide of a rhi-
nocoios, and that he is impervious to the at
tacks of the press. His speech on tbe salary
grab would indicate, however, that he has
been touched on the raw. Other members
feel a9 Butler does, but do not say so as pub
licly, though few attempt to disguise their
hostility to the press. The press can stand it
however, if they can.
MR. STEPHENS A N'D THE COLORED MEN.
The Associated Press has informed you of
the visit of a del - gation of colored men to
Hon. A H. Siephc-us on Tuesday last, and of
the interchange of opinions which took
place. The colored men here are doing all
in their power to secure the passage by Con
gress of Sumner’s supplemental civil rights
bill, and hearing that Mr. Stephens intended
to address the House on the subject after ihe
holidays they asked for an interview for the
purpose < f prosecuting their side of their
case They were courteously received, as a
matter of course. Mr. Stephens is too true
a gentleman to treat his visitors with
disri apect, let them be who they
may; and it ;may be further said
that the colored men never had
a better friend than this distinguished Geor-
S 'an. Some papers are finding tault with
r. Stephens because in the conversation on
civil rights he asserted the doctrine of State
sovereignty. That the States have, or at
least had some rights, will hardly be dis
puted. Is it pretended that they have no
rights at this time, which this administration
is bound to respect That is the natural in
ference to be drawn from the criticisms of the
Radical press on Mr. Stephens’ remark that
it was the duty of the respective States and
not that of the Federal Government to ac
cord full protecuoN to colored men in their
civil rights.
CHRISTMAS.
Has been observed in much tbe usual wav
The cnurches were well attended, and this
afternoon Pennsylvania Avenue was thronged
with people. There will be little or no busi
ness done in the Departments until after the
New Year.
THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW.
Is the title of a new bi-monthly, of which
the first number ha9 been issued by A S
Barnes & Co., New York. Hon. Alex H
Stephens is announced as one of the contri
butors.
GEN. SPINNER,
Tbe veteran Treasurer of the United
States, having regained his health somewhat
has gone to work as usual, and will abandon
his proposed visit to Florida. n
JAY COOKE & co.
A list of the creditors of Jay Cooke & Co
has been published, and makes an uglvshow"
ing. Claims against the concern are selling
at twenty cents on the dollar in
phis.
THE PRESIDENT.
promenaded on the avenue yesterday, and
Virginias will have had one good effect if it (had been bought of venal legislature-; th
> ■ j -- his appointment would be a scandal and al ■
front to the party and country. Mr. Lin
coln felt the full force of these objection*
He said, “All lhat I am in the world—tie
Presidency and all else—I owe to that opin
ion of me which the people express wbda
they call me ’honest old Abe.’ Now, wb>U
what will they think of their honest
when he appoints Simon Cameron to be
familiar adviser ?”
He told Colonel McClure that if he
make his charges against Mr. Cameron
cific and produce the pro >f, the appoinii
should not be made. But the pressure
too strong for him. Mr. Cameron io
upon his bond, going on to tipringfii
look after its acquittal. The friends to wh]
the new President was indebted for his oft
were equally strenuous. Mr. Lincotn give
way, and Mr. Cameron went into the War
Department.
The American people have surely not for-
f otten the history of his brief stay in tbit
epartment They have not forgotten tbe
stench of corruption which presently issued
from its doors and windows,and which final'
ly grew so offensive that the represeDtatira
of the peoplo—under the lead, among olben,
of Mr. Dawes—undertook to investigate ant
discover the source. They have not forgot
ten, either, that Mr. Cameron suddenly ** re
signed and took himself off to Russia. Bit
few of them know the whole history of tint
“resignation,” and the account of theafitk
which Colonel McClure has furnished fit.
Lamon will have all the interest of adiaclc-
sure:
“1 saw Cameron the night of the day that
Lincoln removed'him. We met in tbe rooc
of a mutual friend, and he was very violent
against Lincoln for removing him without
consultation or notice. Hii denunriatka
against tbe President was extremely bitter,
for attempting, as ne said, bi3 personal*
well as his political dest: action. He «•
hibited the letter, which was all in Mr. Lia-
coin’s handwriting, aud was literally as fol
lows. I quote Irom carefully treasured col
lections :
lion. Stmon Cameron, Secretary of Far;
Dear Sir—I have this day nominate!
Hon. Ad win M. Stanton to be Secretary®*
War, and you to be Minister Plenipotentiary
to RusEia. Very truly,
A. Lincoln.
“I am sure there is no material error in oy
quotation of the letter. Cameron’s dud
complaint was that he had no knowledge cr
intimation of the charge until Chase dehrff*
ed the letter. We were then, as ever heft**
and since as we ever shall be, not in political
sympathy, but our personal relations ***
ever Rind. Had he been entirely collected
he wonld probably not have said and dote
what I heard and witnessed; but he
like a child, and appealed to me to aid inf*®'
tecling him against the President’s attempt
at personal degradation, assuring me thatoa*
der like circumstances he would df!® 1 '
me. In my presence the proposition.*m*
made and determined npon t > ask jjtcslo
to allow a letter of resignation to bo •***
dated, and to write a kind acceptance if tite
same in reply. The effort was i *
which Mr. Chase joined, although
ignorant of all the circumstances of
and it succeeded. The record shows
Cameron voluntarily resigned, while
of fact, he was summarily removed
notice. Iu many subsequent con
with Mr. Lincoln he did not attempt i
ceal the great misfortune of Came.
pointm»-m and the painful nccessi
removal.”
And this man, foisted into a
which he was totally unfit by a:
bargain, branded by the censure of
of Representatives, kicked in dis
the Cabinet by Mr. Lincoln—this
same Sitnon Cameron whom the i
ministration delights to honor; wi
it takes sweet counsel; whom it h
at the head of the most dignified ai
sible committee of the Senate,
aside Charles Bnmner to make 1
upon whose proficiency in the
cal intrigue and corruption it
for a new lease of power. Here
honest Republicans may well
concerns them intimately.
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