The Savannah weekly news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1868-187?, October 23, 1875, Image 1
Savannah 3Utvs • w< W V TtmDAV, VOTOBRK *3. 187 ft. luaoG&irutiN*. Wfflilr Nmh, Our Vritr 00 Wffklj Nr, !Si* >lnn:h I OO Weekly Nr*m Tkrff Month* 50 Ohily Nrw, one year, $lO 00; six month*, •5 <**: three month*, $1 50. TH-Woekly New*, one yew, l 00; *ix month*, ** 00; three month*, $1 50. All *nbarrl|>Uon* payable In atlrinre. Paper* by mail an ntopp.il at the expiration of the time paid fur without further notice. Sohncriher* will pleaae observe the dates on fheir wrapper*. ADTBHfIUKWBXT*. A Hqt'AKK ia ten m.:tu , ur.il line* of Nonpareil of Tub Webklv Nrwa. Kar h in*ertion, $1 Off [xr aqnare. 1 .literal rate* marie with contract advertwr*. oonniro*uxNeß. Coi rmpoiulcnnc xolkil.il; bnt to receive atten t ion, letter* mutt be awom|>*nl<il by a rc*pou*i bie name, not for publication, bat a* a guarantee Of good faith. Ali letter* should be vidnuscd to J. 11. RBTILI., Savannah, Oa. The UeiiMK-racj mid the Curreney (jnMtion. We give place in another colnmn to the article of a correspondent who main tain* that the evils afflicting the country do not come from contraction, bnt from the inflation of the unredeemable paper currency by the Radical party, who since the war have had entire control of the financial policy of the government. Ih. support of this view of the question he refers to the figures showing an almet t continuous inflation of the paper medium since 1861. It is not denied by those wi oppose the contraction policy of the Radical Congress, and disapprove the national bank system which H”ha in augurated, that evils have resulted from tbo inordinate inflation r f tbe pspTr eur-" rency. But they do contend that these evils will bh augmented rather than miti gated by an attempt —for it can only be an attempt —to force specie resumption by sudden contraction. It is in opjiosi tion to ruinous contraction, and not in favor of unlimited inflation that the Democracy of Ohio are contending. Ad mitting that the figures of the New York Express, quoted by our correspondent, exhibit the progress of inflation and the true condition of the currency at the commencement of tho present fiscal year, the fact that the paper currency has been increased from $202,000,000 in 18G1 to $770,000,000 in 187f>, while it shows the reckless and unwise financial policy of the Rudicul party, is no evidence tbut a sudden reverse of that policy, a sud den contraction of the greenback curren cy with which the country has been in undated, would remedy the evils flowing from that policy. Whatever may have been tbe evils of inflation, it is tho greater evil of contraction with which the country is now threatened,and against which tho Democracy of Ohio have made their fight. As tho time set by the law of tho last Congress for specie resumption approaches, the process of contraction is being put into operation. According to a Washington special to the Cincinnati Commercial, tho contraction of national bank circulation for two days past exceeds one million dollars ! Of this tho Third National Bank of Ht. Rottis surrendered $400,000; tho State National Bunk of New Orleans $105,000; tho First Na tional Bank of Colorado $150,000; the Central National Bank of Chicago $15,- (HO, and the National Bank of JeffersoD, Texas, $45,000. Think of draining the avenues of commerce of cur rency at tho rate of half a million dollars a day. Still another special to the Cincinnati Enquirer says the books of the Treasury Department show that for the fifteen months ending September 1 jjil r 1 —- T-*-^ — 1 "’ .'iVto United States bonds deposited with tho Treasurer to secure national bank circula tion. In lieu of these bonds ninety per oent., or a total of $18,000,000, in na tional bank currency, has been retired. Tho Treasury officials predict that the carrying into effect of the specie resump tion act will cuuso tho withdrawal of at least $150,000,000 additional bonds, which would cause a further con traction of tho national bank circulation of $135,000,000 beforo January, 1879. The act itself provides for the reduction of tho greenback circulation of three hundred million dollars, so that on or beforo the first of January, 1879, tliero will remain outstanding a total currency circulation of less than five hundred million dollars. Even this amount enuuot be safely cal culated upon, from the fact that tho na tional banks may surrender a much greater proportion of their circu lation than is provided for in this estimate. Again, tho national bank notes will on and after the first of January, 1879, be redeemable only in coin or greenbacks. The natural result will therefore he the hoarding of greenbacks by the bauks for this purpose, until it is not improbable that the whole greenback circulation of three hundred miliums will be locked up in their vaults and the business interests of the country left to accommodate itself to a circulation of less than two hundred million dollars. The total contraction of the currency for the past year exceeds thirty-six million dollars, and it is predicted by those in a position to know, that unless the specie resumption act is modified or repealed, the contraction for the ensuing twelve months will exceed seventy million dol lars. The Inflation which our correspondent justly charges to tho Radical party, has sustained the Radical revolutionary fac tion and enriched the bondholders and stock gamblers of the North and East. To virtually turn their paper dollars into gold, and thus augweut and insure their wealth at the cost of the people, they seek now to contract tho currency to a ruinous limit. It is against this legislative tampering with the financial system of the country, this loose and fast game of the money monopolists and stock gamblers, that the anti-contractionists protest. They de mand, not unrestrioted inflation of irredeemable paper, but a cheap, stable, convertible, and safe currency, adequate to the commercial necessi ties of the people, and based, if not on silver and gold —now impossible —on the pledged faith and ample resources of the country. Mr. George Smith, of Galveston, puts a little conundrum to the man who answers questions in the American Grocer, of New York. Mr. Smith bought two firkins of Goshen butter from a jobber there, the tares of which were eighteen pounds, marked with a brush. These firkins were found to weigh thirty pounds each, and Mr. Smith says: “If this is not swindling, I should like to know what it is ?” The Grocer answers: “So should we. We would be pleased to know where and from whom the jobber bought it. The law of the State requires the tare to be branded in, as well as the initials of the packer.” A workingmen 's mass meeting was held in New York on Sunday, to express sym pathy with the striking operatives at Fall Biver. Resolutions were adopted con demning the action of the capitalists of the latter city, the Mayor of Newport, and the Park Commissioners of New York. The meeting was most largely oomposed of Germans. J. H. ESTILL. PROPRIETOR, Important Cases Before the Supreme Court. A Washington dispatch says the United State#Bupreme Court, at its present term, will have lx fore it for decision several ques tions of great interest and importance. Among these are the cases coming up from Kentucky and Louisiana, involving the construction and constitutionality of the Enforcement act. These cases were argued at the last term of the court, and were laid over to be examined by the Judges during the recess. The case of the United States vs. Cruikshank was ar - gued by Attorney General Williams and Solicitor General Phillips for the United Staten, and by Reverdy Johnson, David Dudley Field and It. N. Marr in opposi tion to the validity of the acts. Briefs were also filed by Judge Campbell and Phillip* against the constitutionality of the law. The case from Kentucky, of the U aited States vs. Iteese <fc Foushee, was argued by Attorney General Wil liams aud Solicitor General Phillips for gmrtfWUent, and a brief filed by B. There are several cases coming up from Wisconsin and Minnesota, involving the power of a State to regulate fares and freights on railroads. In one of these cases the State has reserved in its constitution the power to alter and amend railroad routes et pleasure ; and in the case coming up from another State no such power was expressly reserved. These cases are set down for argument at an early day. The case of McElrath, com ing up from Minnesota, and involving the same question, was submitted at the last term of the court, but will not be de cided until after the argument in the other cases. The third important case is that of Chy Lung, which’ involves the validity of the California statute exclud ing Chinese women on the ground of alleged lewdness. Application will be made for a hearing of the case at an early day, but much of the interest felt in the decision is taken away by the act of the late Congress on the same subject, which was based on the assumption that the State had no power on the subject. Federal and State Indebtedness. Public debts in America, exclusive of that of the National Government, foot up $1,331,970,517, of which $769,000,000 are municipal, $180,000,000 the debts of counties and $382,970,517 those of States, which is a local indebtedness of S3O per capita for all the people of the Republic, and three times as great as the local in debtedness per capita in England. The interest is said to average 7 per cent., or $93,000,000 a year, while the interest on the British local debts is but $15,000,000, while on tho other hand our National Government pays $20,000,000 less than Great Britain on its national debt. In tho yeir 1870 the entire amount of State, comity and municipal taxes was but it is now estimated at annually. County and municipal governments raise $295,000,- 000 a year by taxation and have besides ■increased. Abts $430,000,000 in five years, ’.’ho cost of government in Great Britain for all purposes is $376,000,000, while our local governments alone an nually cost $380,000,000 in taxes and in creased debt. These statistics, says the Philadelphia American, seem startling and are attracting very general attention. But except in a few States and cities no effort at retrenchment is being made. The American omits, however, to men tion the fact that these enormous debts, Federal and State, have been contracted by the Radical party, and that much the largest portion of them are justly charge able to Radical official corruption and rascality. Until the Radical party ob tained control of the government there was comparatively no such thing as a national debt. That party has revolu tionized the government, deluged the land with blood, bankrupted the Federal Government, plundered the Southern people of hundreds of millions, aud over whelmed the State and municipal gov ernments wfth mountains of fraudulent debt. The Ohio Election. The result of the election in Ohio on Tuesday, as reported by our telegraphic dispatches yesterday, was doubtless as great a surprise to the Radicals as to the Democrats throughout the country; for while the latter were confident of carry ing the State for their candidates by a large majority, it may almost be said that the'latter had conceded in advance the election of Allen. Extraordinary efforts were made by the contraction ists to re duce bis majority, but, if wo may judge by the tone of their press, with little or no hope of defeating him. A result so opposite to the general expectation could only have been brought about by a combination of ex traordinary means. We have good rea son to believe not only that immense sums of money were used to corrupt voters, but that, was reported in ad vance, large numbers of ballot-box stuffers were introduced from other States, who, aided by the secret movements of the Know Nothing organization, ac complished the result that has so disap pointed the hopes of the opponents of Radical misrule and corruption through out the Union. The dispatches received last night are more encouraging and even raise a doubt of the defeat of the Democracy, upon a fair count of the legal vote. Until the vote is properly canvassed and the official count is given we shall not entirely de spair of the election of Gov. Allen. An Immense Coffin. —A Montreal dis patch says: The preparations for the in terment of Guibord are being prosecuted with vigor. The stone sarcophagus in which Guibord's remains are to be en closed is being made by Mr. Robert Reid, of this city, one of the most skilful workers in marble in Canada. The two blocks of Montreal limestone from which the coffin is to be made were cut in the quarry at Cote St. Louis. Each stone is seven feet long, four feet wide, and about two feet thick. In each stone a cavity is to be cut of sufficient width and depth to hold the coffin in which Guibord’s body is now enclosed. The wooden coffin hav ing been placed in one of the cavities, the two stones will be accurately fitted to each other and fastened together with heavy iron bolts driven through each stone and riveted at each end. The whole surface of the sarcophagus will then be covered with a layer of Portland oement, mixed with scrap iron, of a thickness sufficient to resist the most powerful drills. The stone coffin will weigh nearly nine tons. Mr. Reid ex pects to have it completed on Saturday next. The interment will be made within two or three days after the completion of the coffin. 1 A |3| jm ■ * A Grand Scheme of African Colo nization. The Washington correspondent of the Augusta Chronicle says : “A company is organized here to construct a railroad in Africa, commencing in Liberia and run ning a little northeast through Borjoo. Nyfee, Darkuda, Ferritt, Soudan, and Abyssinia, to the mouth of the Red Sea. This is a fine agricultural country, well watered, with a semi-civilized population of forty millions. The projectors also propose to establish a line of steamers running from New York, .touching at Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston, Savan nah, and thence to Liberia, which can be made in fifteen days. Colored men from the South, acquainted with the construc tion of railroads, as weU as emigrants acquainted with the culture of cotton and sugar, will be shipped in large numbers to Liberia. The stimulus of the road, free land, a quick and safe passage, is expected gradually to produce an emigra tion which will increase rapidly until at the end of a few decades a large majority, It nw, the eutu-e I*B*9 raco wf wtirbe t&ffsfwrted to to ianize, colonize, civilize, an a anglaeize the entire African continent. An act of incorporation will be applied for to the next Congress, as also a charter from the Liberian Legislature, with a grant of a large amount of land to aid in the con struction of the road. The projectors of this enterprise are apprehensive lest the Southern carpet-baggers follow the ne groes out there, and thus prove a barrier to their well-laid plans.” If this scheme should be carried out it will afford a fine opportunity for such unhappy malcontents as Rev. H. M. Turner and others to gratify their desire to leave Georgia for some more con genial clime. We apprehend, however, that even if the speculators who are at the head of tne movement should succeed in getting the charters, land grants and subsidies for which they ask, and should get their line of steamships in operation, when they come to open their books for emigrants, the very negroes who are now so clamorous for emigration would be like old London, who was con - tinually praying for the good Lord to come and take him out of his trouble; but who, when his young master rapped at his cabin door in response to his prayer, was not found in readiness to depart to the better country. Old Loudon, so the story goes, was on his knees in the act of praying when he heard a rap at the door. “Who dat?’ he asked. “The angel of the Lord,” replied a voice. “Who ?” “The angel of the Lord come to take poor old London out of all his troubles.” “Whew!” exclaimed London, extinguishing the light by which he was kneeling, “Dar ain’t no sich nigger here. Lonon been done gone dis long time.” ► • I 4 Brandy and Insanity. On the occasion of a recent visit of a party of prominent citizens of Montreal to the new lunatic asylum which has been establish?-! by tbe of Fro”id nee, near that fity, Dr. Howard, the medical superintendent of the institution, made some remarks upon his method of treat ment which will probably excite surprise among a good many of those who have made a special study of mental disease. Dr. Howard said that in his opinion it was impossible to treat lunatics and cure them without liquor. He bad tried it, and found no medicine that could be sub stituted for brandy ; nothing which would add in such a material manner to the brain substance. Dr. Howard’s theory is not new, for tho most ancient writers on insanity believe ia stimulation, and ap plied it in the treatment of the insane ; but the : modern practice runs generally to the use of sedatives. The asylum under Dr. Howard’s charge has been open for the receptior of patients only about six weeks, and he says that thirty-two of his patients have already been dis charged cured, while upon his books he has the names of ninety more for whose ultimate recovery he has strong hopes. There are altogether under treatment four hundred and seventeen patients. While there may be some doubt as to the certain efficacy of brandy as a remedy for insanity, it is very certain that brandy taken in liberal doses continuously for an indefinite period, with or without sugar, will produce a condition of mental hallucination strongly resembling in sanity. Ames’s Way of Resuming. The troubles in Mississippi are not un likely to have an important bearing on the gold question, and the contraction organs at the East are already expressing some uneasiness on that score. As the cotton picking season is at hand, any thing that interferes with the gathering of the crop must materially affect our foreign exchanges. In Mississippi the supply of labor is far short of the de mand, on which account much of the crop will be lost. The Vicksburg Herald refers to the emergency in the following emphatic language: “If Ames and’ his Brigadier Generals were determined to have tbe cotton crop of Mississippi |lost in the fields, they could have hit upon no more certain expedient than that of or ganizing the negro militia. We hear of large numbers of cotton pickers who have abandoned their crops to engage in the noble profession of arms. Pay, rations and clothes, promised to the foolish fel lows, have completely turned their silly heads. We hear of some who expect to : get ‘forty acres and a mule,’ after awhile. There is no punishment too great for the man who has deliberately gone to work to ruin the people of Mississippi, his negro dupes included, and when Ames succeeds in getting ‘Mississippi in a state of rebellion,’ we hope someone will have a spare bullet for the grand conspirator.” A Washington dispatch says: “Lieut. CoL Fred. Grant is expected to be here now in a short time to take an active part in the new banking house in which he is a partner. It is understood that he has concluded not to resign his position in the army, but that he will be granted a year’s leave to see how he likes it. Then, if everything is lovely, he will re sign, but if not he will hold on to his commission.” The Graphics last cartoon admirably symbolizes the situation in Massachu setts. The old lady offers her boys some Rice pudding, but Johnny won’t have it; it’s ’bominable. He wants some Adams doughnuts, while Bobby insists upon some of that Loring cabbage ; and while the dispute goes on that naughty Demo crat, Billy Gaston, runs away with the State House under his arm. SAVANNAH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1875. Affairs in Georgia. Sawyer isstill after Kimball—and Kim ball will soon be sick of Sawyer. That miserable old rip. Havens, has returned to Atlanta. His nigger friends are to be congratulated. Mr. James SteveDx, of Toombsboro, has shipped six hundred bushels of rust proof oats to Savannah. h- V ilkinson county iqan has killed a rattlesnake with fifteen rattles. Lump Gresham, of Forsyth, is going to start a restaurant. He knows exactly what a hungry man needs. In a circle of a few miles the other day, six children were born in Wilkinson county. This beats immigration. A colored well-digger was killed in Monroe county by falling to the bottom of the well. Our dyspeptic friend—“A Subscriber” —will be surprised and perhaps grieved to read the following from Roweßs News &*p*r Reporter: “The Savannah (Ga.) Advertiser has been consolidated witn the enterprising and ably-managed Mobnino News of that city, of which Mr. J. H. Estill is proprietor. The News has been frequently acknowledged one of the best —perhaps the best—daily in the South ern States. Its consistency and ability -jaiar-xi it respect, even among its and no doubt tne amalgama tion referred to will add to the number of its friends and patrons.” Mr. Talbot Davidson, of Barnesville, is dead. The Texas fever prevails in Jackson county. It seems funereal—and funny too —that people should want to go to Texas to die. The robbers are abroad in Jasper county. The farmers of Jasper county, accord ing to the papers, will gather only about a third of a crop. We feel certain, however, that they will not gather ac cording to the papers. There were rumors of a negro insur rection in Jasper county the other day. There have only been six deaths in Hart county during the past two years. Washington, Wilkes county, is never free from lights and rowdyism. Hartwell, Hart county, wants a tin shop and a photograph gallery. Washington, Wilkes county, has anew mineral spring, and there is a vague sus picion among the oldest inhabitants that they are roosting on an iron mine. The Atlanta Herald says that “Colonel A. R. Lamar, formerly editor, now Solici tor of the Savannah Circuit, is on it couple weeks leave from home in the Gate City. ” This is far from the case. Colonel Lamar has never, to our know ledge, edited the Savannah Circuit. Kimball was to have arrived in Atlanta a day or two ago. Will he take the hint of the Herald, and reply to the charge brought against him by Colonel Sawyer? Kimball will give us some fun yet. The young ladies of Thomasville are liberal. They go to church with one set of young men and home with another. The President and Secretary of the Thomasville Fair will attend the Macon Fair. We can most cordially commend them to all who may attend that exposi tion. The Parnell House at Thomasville will please accept the thanks of the Mobning News corps for courtesies. An ear of corn has been raised in Marion county containing fifteen hundred and twenty grains. A Marion county? man who has been troubled with sore eyes is about to go blind. i no iiuonn vista Argus is the name of anew paper published in Marion county, by Mr. A. M. G. Russell. It is neatly printed, and appears to be edited with ability and discretion. Brooks county proposes to be repre sented at the Thomasville Fair. Mrs. Belle Kendrick, of Atlanta, is about to publish anew novel. In Marion county they go so far as to steal whole oxen. Mr. J. D. Harlan, a stranger, died in Atlanta the other day. The Hinesville Gazette says that tho barn, stables and outbuildings of Mr. James Rushing, near Statesboro, Bul loch county, were destroyed by fire one night last week. Only a few bundles of fodder were saved from the flames, the entire crop of corn, which had just been harvested, being consumed. Mr. Rush ing was preparing to retire for the night, when the light attracted his attention. Rushing out he saw the buildings in flames. It was with difficulty that the cat tle could be driven out of the lot, so demoralized were they by the danger. One old cow had to be held to keep tier from jumping into the fire. Several goats were burned up. It was undoubt edly the wicked work of an incendiary, though for what purpose it is hard to imagine, as Mr. Rushing was a peaceable, quiet citizen, without an enemy in the world, as far as tfe know. We are in formed that this is the third case of the kind that has occurred recently in Bul loch. We trust that the citizens will find out the authors of this mischief and bring them before Judge Tompkins. The Augusta Chronicle says that at the meeting of the Georgia Railioad Direct ors recently, “the report of Carlton Hih yer, Esq., auditor of the road, showing the receipts and expenses for the months of August and September, and also for . the six months ending September 30th, was read. It shows a most encouraging state of affairs. In August the earnings were $56,194 24, of which $22,909 11 were from passengers and mail, and $42,- 285 13 from freights and express, and the ordinary expenses $44,592 79, leaving the net earnings $20,601 45. In Sep tember the gross earnings were $lO3, 479 68 —$21,629 58 from passengers and mail, and $81,850 10 from freights and express, and the expenses were $41,409 81, leaving the net earnings $62,069 87. For the six months ending September 30th, 1875, the gross earnings were $437,- 688 78—5125,544 40 from passengers and mail, and $312,148 78 from freights and express, and the ordinary expenses $266,023 10, leaving net above ordinary expenses $171,665 08. A high wind near Cainak blew several cars on the Georgia Railroad from the traak the other day. The Hinesville Gazette is calling for more turpentine farms. The Buena Vista Argus, published in Marion county, says that Mr J. J. Me Dowell, residing at Thorntonvilie, has in his possession the skin of probably the largest rattlesnake ever killed in this county. The snake was discovered near his residence, and was first attacked by a dog. One strike injected its deadly virus, and the dog died in great agony ten minutes after. Mr. McDowell shot the snake twice before it received its death wound. Its skin required a bushel and a half of cotton seed or bran to fill it, being in length six feet and two inches. Thirteen rattles adorned its tail. The Macon Telegraph will print an eight-page paper during Fair week, and has already begun. The Atlanta Constitution says the Thomaston Herald thinks the farmers have no just cause for complaining of the low prices of cotton. It speaks a plain and unpalatable truth when it says that prices of cotton will be low and the farmer will never become independent of the capitalists until he grows his own supplies, which will lessen the supply of cotton. The Herald puts the whole matter in a nutshell when it says that our farmers should put themselves in a po sition to bring money here and to keep it here after it comes. Stewart county has raised a stalk of cotton bearing one hundred and sixty eight bolls. An exchange says: “The capitol still bears upon its towering front, in raised white marble letters, the very insignifi cant inscription, ‘Kimball’s Opera House.’ Does the State expect to resell the build ing to H. L K., or is it too poor to have these letters cut off?” A South Carolinian was severely robbed iD Augusta the other day. Howe's circus cleared $6,000 on its first day's performance in Atlanta. They are still making preparations to put the Thomasville Fair ahead of any exhibition (with the single exception of the State Fair) held in'the State. \*ou would enjoy a trip down there. Atlanta has a trunk factory, the end man of which is a Mr. Huzza. Could anything be neater? It is to be hoped that Colonel Grady, of the Herald, is now fully engaged upon his history of Atlanta and things of that kind. The railroad agents are eternally in session in Atlanta. However, they don’t mean any anything by that. It seems funny, though. Atlanta is harboring a Prussian Count. We can’t see, though, why he should be ridiculed on that account. Have these talented foreigners no rights that a ’ pos sum-eating public can be compelled to respect ? In the name of the whatyoumaycallem, what has become of the belles who used to visit Atlanta ? Plfinly, Col. Whidby is not doing his dut;. He is probably suffering from rheum,Tiam. Mr. Janies U. Vincent, who was re cently married to*Miss Louise Gabrielle Styles, will probamtle connected here after with the Albany Hews. Mr. Vincent is a pleasing and vig< rous writer, and will add (if that is possible) to the merit of that journal. Columbus is excited over the fact that a negro woman drowned her two-year old child. Mr. Thomas E. Moore will not begin the publication of the Fort Valley Times, as was proposed. Howe’s Circus paid the State Road one thousand dollars for the use of locomo tives to haul its trains. The prisoners in Harris county jail made an attempt to escape the other day, but one was knocked on the head for his pains. John Thomas, of the Brown House, is "xing up to put guests through during me State Fair. John Thomas is a trump. The Atlanta Constitution understands that the Bishop of Louisiana has asked Rev. Mr. Foute, of that city, whether or not he would entertain a call to New Orleans, to take charge of Trinity Church, the pastorate of which was in the hands of Bishop Beckwith before he was raised to the care of this see. The State Board of Health met in At lanta on Tuesday, Dr. J. G. Thomas, of this city, presiding. We always depend on the New York papers for statistics. Witness this from the Herald: “Rev. Joshua Knowles, ed itor of the Greenesboro (N. C.) Home Journal, was a printer as long ago as 1828.” Why can’t the Herald publish a map of “N. 0.,” or something of that sort? Sawyer doesn’t knew how to use sar casm, but the following from his paper, tne Evening Commonwealth, is just as good—probably better : “ The Herald this morning wastes nearly a column of virtuous and patriotic indignation upon Henry Clews & Cos., of New York, for swindling the UnitediStat.es Government. The Herald could hate found as grand a rascal and as huge a swindle nearer home than these in Mr. Hannibal I. Kim ball, the fides actetes of Henry Clews and his partner in the defrauding of the city of Atlanta and tho State of Georgia out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Herald should clear Mr. Kimball’s char acter before it assaiivjthe reputation of nis partner. Suen it thgnatum is ratner far-fetched.” Thus the Washington Chronicle —a pa per that is supposed to have a Republi can tendency: “The Savannah Mokning News, since its consolidation with the A dvertser, has become more of a news paper than ever, and is one of the kind whose columns we begin to linger over. It has the whole field now, and the field is a fine one. We are rot so sure that the Atlanta He raid, at the time of the new form, promising to be the pat tern newspaper of the South Atlantic States, has had a tendency to spur up the News, and put it upon its mettle. We rather expect to see the Charleston Cdurier spread-out, now that it has succeeded so handsomely in elec tion matters. Then, between the News of Savannah, and the Courier of Charles ton, and the two able journals of Atlanta, the Herald and the Constitution, we an ticipate some lively times, bringing the old saying into play which has reference to a nameless one seizing the hindmost. Savannah is a beautiful city, and deserves the good daily newspaper she now brings cut so handsomely.” Columbus Enquirer : Captain Jim D., during the war, had a horse that was what would be called skin and bones. He was a lively critter, could keep up with the best conditioned horse in the com mand, but he would never get fat. Be sides being very thin, he was wooly. All the rubbing and currying he got appeared to make him more wooly. One night about a dozen soidiers were sitting around the camp fire discussing Cap tain Jim’s horse. One advised copperas, another a poplar log for him to eat on. Various other remedies were suggested, but Captain Jim said he had tried them all. The remedies were about exhausted, when a long legged, angular, wire-grass fellow, who was known as “Split Dick,” on account of his legs being so very long, and not proportioned to his body, rose up and in an earnest manner said, “Cap tain Jeems, did you ever try corn ?” The query was too much for Captain Jeems and his companions, and a yell went forth that was enough to wake the camp, and “Split Dick,” finding the reception of his query so boisterous, disappeared. Thomasville Enterprise: The Fair pros pects continue to grow and brighten as the time draws near. A grand exhibition and rousing attendance are certainties. The Association is active in preparing the grounds, enlarging the space for ex hibitors. and perfecting everything that will tend to meet the demands and re quirements of the occasion. The carpen ters have finished the work of doubling the space allotted to horses, and are now rushing forward the buildings to be occu pied by various granges. In due time every arrangement will be complete, and the grounds, buildings, Ac., put in trim by the 20th. Let no one be deterred from making entries be cause of a doubt on the score of accommodations. These will be sufficient, and the Secretary is now ready to receive any and all entries. The day for the baby exhibition has not been fixed, but will be made known during the progress of the Fair, and entries may be made up to the previous evening. The judges will be selected, as far as possible, from sections from whence no entries have been made, and especially from those entirely disinterested in any baby entered. We would again remind all ex hibitors that no entry fees, for anything whatsover, will be charged. We also learn that an opportunity will be afforded exhibitors on the last day to dispose of their goods at auction free of charge, 3ave auctioneer’s fees. Geneva Lamp: To-day was repeated what to every patriot must be a painful sight. A countryman, miscalled a farmer, brought his cotton to towu, sold it for 11 j cents, and expended part of its pro ceeds in the purchase of a middling of meat, for which he paid nearly eight dol lars. For our own edification let us make a small calculation, and see how much land planted in cotton this year will raise a hog. Firstly, we will allow that, if the season continues propitious, an average of one bale of cotton to six acres of land may be made. This bale will sell for Isfty dollars, and deduct the cost of bag ging and ties, say two dollars, we have for our crop eight dollars an acre. Sec on Ry, if a middling of meat is worth eight dollars, two middlings are worth a: _teen dollars, and a whole hogsay, for the sake of round numbers and to keep us from feeling too blue about it, is worth, no, sells for thirty-two dollars. Thus you see, if we have luck, we can, by planting cotton, raise one hog to four acres, and we’ll have no hog stealing in our midst. By the way, here’s a conundrum for some of our legislators : Wby is it only a petty offense to steal bacon raised the ante hel ium way, while it is a penitentiary crime to purloin that raised according to the mode now prevailing. In conclusion, let us promise to do better in future, and that we may faithfully carry out this promise, let us sow this month a large quantity of rust proof oats, and in Janu ary a few more. Atlanta Constitution : Y’esterday a rep resentative of ths Constitution called at the Comptroller General’s office and was furnished with the aggregate tax returns of the State. These returns we publish below. Tney have just been completed, and show a decrease in taxable property of the State of $11,337,408. That a por tion of this decrease is due to the bad crops and low prices which prevailed last season, is true, but this is only a portion. The balance is easily accounted for on other grounds. Our last Legislature saw proper to pass an act exempting from taxation fifty dollars worth of household and kitchen furniture, and twenty-five dollars worth of agri cultural and mechanical tools. Prior to this, iq 1874, there was no exemption. This $75 exemption was strongly urged by many members from counties wherein there were very few negroes, and they perhaps did not clearly forsee its effects. The result has been to exempt entirely from taxation nearly every negro in the State of Georgia, except the very few who own real estate. It has also seriously affected the tax re turns in this. \Y here everything is taxed very few men can school their con sciences to make no returns at all ; but a large number will do and do make a $75 exemption shelter SSOO of personal pro perty. The State tax on this $75 is only about 37 cents, which the sale of two dozen eggs would pay, and were the law repealed aud every darkey in the State who is worth anything would be com pelled to contribute his share towards our expenses. No. of white pel’s 121 Sl9 No. of colored polls 87,569 Total No. of polls ■ 209,388 No. of professions 2,781 No. of dentists 137 No. of auctioneers 22 No. of dauguerrean artists.. 69 No. of billiard tables 121 No. of children between six and eighteen years .400,591 Value of stocks and bonds $3,381,869 Capital invested in shipping and ton nage $269,550 Capital invested in cotton manufacto ries $3,500,000 Capital in iron works, foundries, etc $670 471 Capital in mining $49,279 Number of shares in any bank in this State $54,747# Value ol bank shares $12,961,002 Number of acres of improved laud 28,202,795 Value of improved land $95,421,177 Number of acres of wild land 7,068,663 Value of wild land $2,096,507 Number of acres of improved and wild land 35,271,457 Aggregate value of improved and wild lands $97,517,654 Value of household and kitchen furni ture $6,215,572 Last year $11,012,688 Decrease $4,797,126 Value of plantation and mechanical tools $1,337,232 Last year $2,925,796 Decrease $1,588,564 No. of hands employed 121,641 Last year 114,086 Increase 7,555 Value of city and town property $57,930,353 Last year $57,218,248 Increase $712,1t 5 Amount of money aud solvent debts. .$37,138,943 Last year $38,507,465 Decreise $1,368,522 Value of merchandise $13,908,964 Last year $13,766,587 Increase $142,377 Value of all other personal property not before mentioned $31,623,608 Last year $32,948,158 Decrease $1,354,550 Aggregate value of whole property. ~5261,755,884 Last year $273,093,292 Decrease $11,337,408 Florida Affairs. We are now regularly exchanging with Judge Magbee’s paper. The Academy at Cedar Key is presided over by Colonel E. W. Perry, the well known editor of the Cedar Key Journal. Gainesville is reaching out for a brick yard. The Tampa Guardian has been en larged and improved. Tampa is to have-a new saw mill. The. Jacksonville correspondent of tho Floridian mentions a rumor that the Union is about to have anew editor. The story goes that Dr. Hicks is the “coming man.” It is said that the paper in its present hands has not been suffi ciently devoted to the nomination of Governor Stearns next year, and above and beyond all the “bloody-shirt” has been too much excluded from its columns. The position the Union took but the other day, to wit: That the testi mony in the Richard case clearly estab lished the man’s innocence was the last straw that broke Brother Sawyer’s back. Mr. Edgar, of Key West, is dead. The patriotic Cubans of Key West, in stead of fighting the Spaniards, are cut ting and slashing each other. The Jacksonville Union says that Capt. W. B. Woodhouse, of the schooner Flora Woodhouse, now at that port, while off Cape Cod on his last trip from Boston, had the misfortune to lose his son, Mr. Wm. Woodhouse, a young man about twenty-six years of age. He had gone out on the bowsprit to arrange some of the rigging, when his foot slipped from the ropes and he was precipitated into the sea. The schooner was sailing at the rate of about eight knots per hour, but was immediately brought to, boats low ered and search made for nearly two hours without avail. There were only five deaths in Jack sonville during the month of September. The Union says that Mr. Arthur W. Felton, of Boston, Massachusetts, has contracted with several expert budders to bud one hundred thousand orange trees at Honeymoon. Mr. George W. Tyler, of the Congress nurseries of Kansas, buds himself, on an average, five hundred orange trees per day. All the hands em ployed by Mr. Felton are experts, and persons desirous of seeing this kind of work done “according to Hoyle” will do well to visit Honeymoon. The same paper says that during the last few days Col. Hardee, of Honeymoon notoriety, has sold two thousand and three hundred sweet orange trees for Co lumbia county in this State. It is under stood that Mr. C. R. King and Col. Mc- Leod are in correspondence with the Colonel for a large quantity of his trees. Messrs. C. L. Robinson & Cos. have pur chased from Honeymoon seven thousand, and Dr. J. D. Mitchell tw r o thousand, and Mrs. M. T. McQueen, on the Suwanee, has also ordered a quantity. Col. Hardee says he expects to sell before the season is through, a half million of trees, and believes Columbia county is the centre of the great orange belt, and that in the course of a few years, that the route along the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, from Savannah to Thomasville, will be an orange grove. Jacksonville Press: It appears to be the case, as the Floridian and Sentinel appear to think, that under the amended Constitution no provision has been made for a meeting of the Legislature for the year 1876. The amendment referred to is as follows: ‘‘Sec. 2. From and after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, A. D. one thousand eight hun dred and seventy-seven, the regular ses sions of the Legislature shall be held biennially, commencing on said day, and on the corresponding day of every year thereafter; but the Governor may con vene the same in extra session by his proclamation. As this section has been adopted, and declared to be a part of the Constitution, it seems to be clear that we are to have no meeting of the Legislature until 1877, unless convened by proclama tion. This is another blunder, intentional or otherwise, on the part of those in au thority. The Floridian: The disclosure made by us of an acquaintance with the guilty designs of those who propose engaging in the hazardous experiment of inaugu rating “a reign of terror” in our midst seems to have disturbed the conspirators, and loud tails are made for “names.” Perhaps the Floridian went too far in sayisg that “ the scheme was hatched at an Executive caucus," but it seems a moral impossibility for the Executive not to know what is meditated. But, patience, patience. At the proper time we hope to be au thorized to give the public the full benefit of the facts in our possession. Meanwhile, certain of the plotters knots that they are known, and are dreading lest their names be divulged. Spies and pimps rarely escape detection, plot they never so cunningly, while the lunatics who are sowing to the storm have little else to expect but a whirlwind of general detestation. The same paper says: The last Fer nandina Observer parades the bloody shirt with a zeal which cannot fail to commend it to outrage shriekers of the most straightest sect. Under the heading, “Blood, More Blood,” the public is treat ed to an effusion which indicates how frail is the partition between sanity aud raving madness. If what the writer says is true, we are on the eve of a carnival of crime, and it is impossible to escape the conviction that he, and such as he, are not only laboring to create such impres sion wherever the Observer is read, but actually to bring about a state of affairs the end whereof no one can foresee. The arti cle is incendiary in the highest degree, and we are not sure but that it is part and par cel of a conspiracy to inaugurate a reign of terror in the “back belt.” When con sidered in the light of the general good feeling existing m all sections of the State, the peace and quiet universally prevailing, the comnon desire for the community to forward immigration and advancement, it is impossible not to feel that the Observer is lending its columns to a despicable purpose. There is no portion of the people of this State who have a greater interest in the preserva tion of order than this class so falsely assailed by that paper. Murder and law lessness they abhor, and black must be the heart and phrenzied the brain that can suppose and deliberately charge the contrary. Letter front Florida. Jacksonville, Fla., October 11. Editor Morning News: To compare the policy pursued by the bond ring of Florida—those gentlemen who want the people of Florida to give them a few millions for the purpose of perfecting the “system”—to that pursued by Billy Bowlegs and his tribe of Semi noles, may appear harsh and to some ex tent uncharitable. But, let us look into this comparison and see if there is not a pretty considerable resemblance between them. Now, Bowlegs wanted Florida all to himself and his tribe; the loved Florida for its hunting-grounds, fish ponds and -swamps. These things all combined to make Billy hap py, and he was, until there rose up another set of claimants in the shape of “stockmen,” “cow drivers” or “crack ers,” just as it suits to call them, who were a determined set of cusses that in tended to have a showing at the “range.” They came in with their cattle, and it was not long ere they and Billy were at sixes and sevens, fighting. Billy’s plan or “system” was to shoot, tomahawk and scalp the last one of them, and keep the country for his own and the use of his tribe. If Billy Bowlegs could have cleaned out the cow drivers and (heir helps, he would have made a good thing of it,and would have held undisputed sway in Florida to-day, but Billy Bowlegs was not strong enough, and was forced to yield to greater numbers, and to give way to the advancing tide of civilization and another “system.” You see by this that Billy’s “system” was based upon greed and force, the greed to enjoy it and the force to hold it. He was a disappointed Indian, and naci to give up and go away; not, however, until he set Florida back twenty years, and was paid twenty thousand dol lars to give up. Now, about that twenty thousand dollars, allow me to tell you and your readers a little joke. There was before that time a General Hernan dez, who was of the pure Castilian blood, and the owner of a large number of negroes. Billy stole a lot of Hernan dez's negroes and carried them away to the swamps, and when it came time to pay Billy the subsidy of twenty thousand dollars to go away and fight no more, a very honorable United States Senator, who was well posted in the matter of the claim of the heirs of Hernandez, stepped into the War Department, and with much force and eloquence, demanded payment from the agent of Bowlegs for the stolen negroes, and said, with a great flourish, “Sir, if this claim of Hernan dez’s is not paid Billy shall not have the money.” The claim was paid, and of course the heirs of Hernandez got it all— of course they got it, their poverty from that to this day proves they got every cent, and the honorable Senator worked for nothing. Pardon the digression. The bond ling is greedy, and it is powerless to do good. What this ring can do, and all it can do, with all the ingenuity of the successor of Bowlegs, is to keep Florida back twenty or more years. Powerless beyond doubt to build and equip, on its own account, ten miles of railway, it can accomplish nothing but interpose obsta cles in the way to prevent others from improving the State by bringing capital into it and supplying the people with ac cessible, practicable and less expensive routes to and from the great com mercial marts of the country. It is convicted —self convicted of pau perism and bankruptcy, because it was begging the people last winter to give it five millions of State bonds to galvanize the dead “ system,” of which 1 shall speak hereafter more at length. Where is the difference, pray, between Bowlegs’ “system” and that of the bond ring ? Both are alike as two peas, be cause both tend to the same thing, whe ther the champion of each had the same motive in view or not. That is an open question, and must be decided by oth ers—such as take the matter under ad visement. Yours truly, X. Paddy to the Feont Again. —An Irish man had sold his farm, and moved all his personal property to one adjoining, which he had purchased. He claimed that stable manure was personal property and not real estate, and commenced moving the same. A law suit ensued, and the court declared against him. His final remarks to the Jud:-e, after the jury had found a verdict agaist him, were as follows:. “Mr. Judge, a horse and cow are per sonal property ?” “Yes,” answered the Judge. “Mr. Judge, corn, oats, hay, etc., are personal property ?” “Yes,” responded the Judge. “Then,” said Pat, “how in the devil can personal property eat personal prop erty and produce real estate ?” Women and Devils. —Old Winston was a negro preacher in Virginia, and his ideas of theology and human nature were often very original. A gentleman thus accosted the old gen tleman on Sunday: “Winston, I under stand you believe every woman has seven devils. How can you prove it ?” “Well, sah, did you never read in de Bible how seven debbles were oast out’er Mary Magalin ?” “Oh, yes! I’ve read that.” “Did you’ebber hear of ’em bein’ cast out of any oder woman, sah ?” “No, I never did.” “Well, den, all de odders got ’em yet. President Grant has been accepting the hospitalities of Brigham Young, just as though he was not living in open defiance of the laws of the United States. But since he made that speech at Des Moines he can hardly be considered responsible for what he does.— Portland Argus. When an Indiana girl gets tired of a lover and determines to dismiss him, she doesn’t throw much fresco work into her speech: “I guess you can pull off now, Sam, ’is her icy remark; “thisegg won’t hatch.” A Frence scientist has invented anew fish bait. A bottle is lowered into the water and lighted by electricity and the fish are to follow it into the net. ESTABLISHED 1850. LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE. Ilirka and the Bloody Uhlrt—An Incen diary Plot—Tnllahnssee to be Turned Over to the Neuroeo—The Fellow Archi bald Drawing Two Holnrie*— -The “I'nloa”—Uncle Thnd —A Wurntna. [From an Occasional Correspondent of the Morning News.] Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 11, 1875. The age in which we live deserves con gratulation. It should be congratulated upon having produced a monstrosity; upon being the era in which William W'atkin Hicks “moves, livos and has his being.” For truly the depth of the degra dation to which this man has descended can only be contemplated with the utmost horror and repugnance. The zeal which he has manifested in endeavoring to inflame the minds of the negroes against the whites entitles him to the in effable scorn and contempt of every good citizen in the country. And in this let ter I desire to unfold to your readers a part of this man’s record and let all judge for themselves. AN INCENDIABY PLOT. Sorno time ago Mr. Dyke, of Tallahas see, having come into the possession of information which induced him to be lieve that some of the officials of the State contemplated making a sale of a large lot of government lands, in order that the ring might gobble most of them up, he wrote a short editorial exposiug'the design and purpose of these officials. In this editorial ho advised the Southern people to buy lands, and to buy quickly, meaning nothing more nor less than that a good opportunity for speculation would be afforded, and that money could be made by purchasing lands and holding them. When this editorial appeared, Hicks was in Tallahassee and John Tyler was in Fernandina editing the Observer. When Hicks read this editorial, he smacked his lips, rolled up his eyes, rushed to the telegraph office, seized a pen and telegraphed, substantially, the following dispatch to John Tyler at Fernandina: “Correct the effect of the editorial in Dyke’s paper in the next issue of Obser ver. Buy lands! means buy life, buy arms! Buy quickly ! means kill at once !” Accordingly the next issue of the Fernandina Observer contained a blood and thunder editorial of the most incendiary and malignant type. In this editorial were the following ominous words of advice to the negroes and Re publicans : “Sell lands ! sell dearly! Sell two for one !” which Hicks intended should be interpreted: “Kill Democrats! Kill two to one!” A short time after this Johnson was killed, and now Hicks and the whole crowd pretend to fear as sassination, and swear that the editorial in Mr. Dyke’s paper advising the Southern people to buy lands was the signal for the murder of the Republicans of the State. Was there ever any thing more absurd! It is so assininely stupid that I must think that Dr. Hicks never did believe anything of the kind, and does not believe so now'. It was simply on his part a sensational lie, conceived and concocted by himself, and wjhen he put the interpretation upon the editorial expressed in his telegram, he knew that he was giving it a construc tion that never was intended, and one that can only be had 'by a contortion of the English language, and a construction that would only be placed upon it by a mind and heart that was depravity in its last analysis. This imagination furnishes the only foundation that he lias for his bloody shirt articles. What an unreal and sandy foundation upon which to rear such a superstructure ! 'j*. on* note. M And I do charge Dr. Hicks, in this letter, with endeavoring to incite the negroes in that por tion of the State known as the Black Belt, to riot and insurrection. He is trying to inculcate, through the Fernandina Observer, the doctrine that the murder of Johnson was the work of the Democratic party and the initiatory step to the murder of all the Republican leaders,* and that they (the negroes) must be pre pared to murder and destroy the Demo crats. And I am informed, upon the most undoubted veracity, that so thoroughly has Hicks performed his work in and about Tallahassee, that to day should any prominent Republican of Tallahassee mysteriously die or disappear, that the probabilities are that Tallahassee would not be a town twenty-four hours afterwards, and that murder, rapine, and fire would hold high carnival in that now peaceful and law abiding town. And this because such a demon as Hicks has been schooling the blacks, that such a step would probably be necessary for their own protection. And yet’some people|think the papers are hard on brother Hicks ! My God ! such a sentiment. Can one be too hard on a viper ? For assuredly he is one. A viper like the one in the fable. He was taken to the bosoms of the best families in the State and nursed and nourished into re spectability, but now he turns in his un gratefulness and stings the very hands that befriended him. THE GENIUS OF ARCHIBALD. Aside from the ability exhibited by Archibald in the examination of the Richard case, he is now giving another evidence of his genius by showing the people of this State how one cin hold two offices without violating the law. The Constitution of the State of Florida provides that no person shall hold two offices, they being in different depart ments of the State Government. Now, Archibald being Judge of the Fourth Ju dicial Circuit is an officer of the Judicial Department of the government. But the pay of Judgeship is not sufficient for a man of his fine personal appearance, so some additional provision must be made for him. Therefore, one John F. Rollins is appointed Superintendent of the Pub lic Schools of this county, with the pay of one thousand dollars per year, which salary little r big B Archibald draws with a religious regularity. And this is the way one man can have the pay of two offices and stay inside the law. George Eliot in her “Mill on the Floss” has a character whose greatest ambition is to have his son educated to that degree that he could “wrap up abuse in a letter so carefully that while it would be biting it would not be actionable.” It is needless to say that if he had lived in this age that the son would have been the pupil of little r. big B. Archibald. For certainly a man that can hold two offices without violating the law could teach a boy how to write sarcasm that would not be ac tionable. It is unnecessary for me to write anything concerning his genius as a Judge, for the Supreme Court Record, with its numerous reversals of his opin ions, will hand him down to posterity as a Dogberry who does not require a clerk to write him down an ass. THE UNION. As an on dit, I would mention a probable change in the management of the Union of this city, This paper has been en tirely too honest under its present management to suit the views of Sellers and Walton, who are its owners. So it is currently reported and be lieved that Walton’s recent visit to this city, was for the .purpose of adjusting the books and giving the Messrs. Sawyer notice to travel—that is, unless they would consent to swallow Steams for Gov ernor—a terribly nauseating dose. In case the change is made, it is supposed that Hicks will take charge of the Union , and that John Tyler will be sent to wave the bloody shirt at Fernaudina. UNCLE THAD. Publius is informed that Uncle Thad is very much disgruntled at an allusion that was made to him some time since, and, that like Pansy Sniffles, in Georgia Scenes, he is jist spiling for a fight. Now, this is to inform Uncle Thad that the least he says the better for him, as, should the occasion demand, Publius will give publicity to a portion of his record, made since he turned Radical, which, although he might deem it politic to swallow, he might not find of easy di gestion. Verbum sat sapienti. Publius. The Clews Exposures. We are permitted by the favor of a gem tleman who was in close rapport with the transactions of the period to print copi ous extracts from a record or diary which ho then kept relating to the withdrawal of our financial agency abroad from the Barings, who had held it since the founds tion of the government, and its transfer to the mush -room house of Henry Clews <fc Cos. These recollections are of great interest in connection with the recent testimony before the Register in Bank ruptcy, which proves that the transfer was a corrupt transaction. Had the change been a fit thing in itself, the services of a paid lobby and a corrupt division of the profits would not have been needec to secure it. The remarkable report' of conversations and extracts from cor respondence, which we are permitted to publish, show that every distinguished man whose judgment was entitled to weight strongly reprobated that scanda lous antic of President Grant’s adminis tration. The two persons best qualified to judge of it were Mr. Seward, then in London, who gave his views with great emphasis, and Secretary Fish, whose disapproval was strongly expressed. The then recently retired Secretary of State and the Secretary of State in office wero the two most competent judges of the expediency of such a change. It ap pears from these revelations that even Mr. Boutwell thought it a great mistake, and . that his opinion was overruled by the only officer who hud authority to control him. Oue of the writers of the letters from which extracts are given, called on Mr. Seward in London when the news of tha change was fresh, and the veteran statesman, “ with much warmth and vigor, denounced the change and said it would be a great misfortune to tha United States,” and he proceeded tostata his reasons, which readers will find in the excerpts which we print. He went on to recount instances which had oc curred during his administration of the State Department where the Barings had gono beyond the rules of business and taken voluntary risks in (idvftuc iug money to the United States >•; critical emergencies. On a subse.jirttedi occasion, at a dinner given in Paris by Minister Washburne, at which Mr. Sew ard and other notabilities were present, Mr. Seward asked Mr. Washburno through what agency he drew his salary, and when it was replied, “Through Messrs. Clews, Habicht & Cos., of Lon don, agents of the State Department, - ' Mr. Seward asked, “Who is Habicht ?’’ and on Mr. Washburno telling him thau Habicht had been the Swedish consul at New York, Mr. Seward replied, “Why, when I was Secretary of State I with - his exequatur, because we caught him in blockade running.” A precious successor to the old, solid, responsible and honored house of the Barings! When the writer of one of these let ters expressed his opinion of this change in Washington the Secretary of the Treasury spoke in praiso of the Barings, and said “he was not responsible for the change.” The inevitable inference is that it was the President’s own act, as nobody but tho President could have co erced Secretary Boutwell to act against his judgment. The same correspondent explained to Secretary Fish the embar rassments that had resulted to the public credit from the withdrawal of tho agency from the Barings, and “Mr. Fish deprecated the change, but said it was not of his makiug.” All who take an in terest in the subject will, of course, read this correspondence. The strong disap proval of Messrs. Seward, Fish and Bout well proves that the change wns absurd, and the fact, recently come to light, that it was procured by corrupt means, puts the high officer who enforced it in a most unenviable light. This is, perhaps, the most humiliating exposure that has ever, been made in the history of our govern- 1 ment. — New York Herald. Systematic Robbery of the Govern ment. , Some time last month it was mention ed in this correspondence that the Treas ury Department had paid Julius Witow ski, of Nashville, Tennessee, $20,000 upon a claim for logs furnished to build forts .around Nashville during the war. Iv was also stated at tho time that the claim was a fraudulent one. The Sucre, tary of the Treasury learned of the fraud too late, after the money had been paid, to prevent its loss ; but he at once took steps to investigate tho claim, and that lSvesNgatlOii nas exposed something more than the comparatively small fraud of Witowski. It has given the cluo to show up one of the greatest combina tions to plunder the Treasury of the United States that has ever been origina ted. A Treasury Agent of rare fidelity, a gentleman well versed in the claim busi ness, was sent to Nashville some two weeks ago by Solicitor Wilson to work up the case, and he returned to-day and submitted his report. This report and accompanying history recites the career of one of the most successful swindles of tho ‘-government that has ever been re ported. The history of the man Witowski, as developed in this recent in vestigation, shows that he has in times past defrauded the Government out of vast sums of money, and that wi f h a_ system of perjury and forgery, cord ue'd with a mass of stolen documents, In- nas now in contemplation a series of ] sun dering which might have proved ex haustible had it not been for the exposure made in the investigation at Nash die. Some years ago this man secured tho payment of $90,000 for cotton that he claimed was taken from his plant ion in Carroll Parish, Louisiana. l’ho Treasury Agent who went In Na ille discovered that the principal vie one Louis Pick, who swore to the fact of his having seen the cotton destroyed in. Carroll Parish, was in Nashville at the time it was alleged that the cotton wa ' destroyed; and his evidence, theprinci* pal evidence upon which the claim \vi ! paid, therefore was a perjury, and Ilia, the amount paid was a clear steal fro -i the Treasury. This, however, was ft i ! mere incidental of the investigation into the fraudulent $20,000 claim lor logs, regard to which the Treasury mr jj ports that the papers submitted in . A port of their claims are all forgeries I Witowski, in view of his past suets--, s in this line, has prepared other fraudu lent claims against the government amounting to over SIOO,OOO, which ho 4 proposes to submit for adjudication. It is probable, however,“hy’the time Solici tor Wilson finishes with him he will not be in a position to prosecute any more claims against the government for some time. — Washington Cor. Cincinnati /v u quirer. Tightening the Screws on tin IV<tpl i Washington, D. C., October - -“rti * books of the Treasury Departn that for the fifteen months end Si temb'er 30, there has been w mdr twenty million United States bcnir,, posited with the Treasurer to .itcure national bank circulation. In lieu of these bond-, ninety per cent., or a total of eighteen million in national bank currency, has been retired. Treasury officials predict that the carrying into effect of the specie resumption act will cause the withdrawal of at least pve hun dred and fifty mi!J ; on additional bonds,' which would cause a further contraction, of the national bank circulation of ond hundred and thirty-five million dollar ! before January, 1879. Thd act itselr provides for the reduction of the greenback circulation to three hundred million, so that on or before the Ist of January, 1879, will remain outstanding a total currency eirculatfm of less than five hundred million Even this amount cannot be safely lated upon, from the fact thaMEe jjfl tional banks may surrender an greater proportion of their circuiaM than is provided for in this estimaW Again, the national bank notes will, <fl and after the Ist day of January, 187 M be redeemable only in coin or greeny backs. The natural result "will therefore be the hoarding of greenbacks by the banks for this purpose until, it is not im probable, the whole greenback circula tion of $300,000,000 is locked up in their vaults, and interests of the country left to accommodate themselves to a circulation of less than $200,000,000. The total contraction of the currency for the past year exceeds $30,000,000, and it is predicted by those in a position to know that, unless the specie resumption act is modified or repealed, the conttfe tion for the ensuing twelve month* will exceed $70,000,000. 1 A dispatch from ports a daring robbery by three nifjfed burglars, who entered the store of K sUogg <fc Bates last Friday morning and hand cuffed Kellogg; then they stole ffeoO in cash and decamped. The Sultan Abdul Assiz, of Turke* gets a yearly salary of slo,oo<>,ooo