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Savannah Weekly Heun *'TIIRDAY, DKI KNBKR 11. IBT6. Thi* Good Tima that nas Cuming. A quarter of a century ago, when, under Democratic rul->, the etuntry was peaceful, prosperous and happy, when taxation was so light as not to be felt, when immigrants from the old world were flocking to our shores, when the public debt was scarcely worth the name, when the national treasury was overflow ing and the surplus revenue was divided among the States, when labor found abundant employment and honest enter prise reaped its just reward, when the Constitution was respected as the supreme law of the land, when official integrity and private honor prevailed, when back salary grabs, Credit Mobiliers, whiaky rings and revenue frauds were things not dreamed of; when, in this promising era of our national history, the spirit of fraternity pervaded every heart, and the American people fondly believed that the “stars and stripes" were the symbol of the greatest, the purest, most powerful and best govern ment the world ever saw, a faction bad sprung up in the North who were not con tent with a condition of affairs which did not exactly conform to their philanthropic ideas—who were dissatisfied with a sys tem which, while it secured to them the right of local self-government and the right to shape their domestic institutions to suit themselves, left others free to exer cise the same rights. This fanatical faction set about the work of revo lutionize the government, and their —jWtpbetH' preached of the higher law, God and morality, and the “good time coming.” Greeley, Garrison, Geddings, Seward, Sumner, Stephens, Phillips, and the Beechers, were the leaders of the woukl-bo regenerators of their country, and as they pressed for ward in their crusade against the Consti tution and the Union their cry was still, “There’s a good time coming!” The phrase was stereotyped in the columns of their newspaper organs, was shouted from the rostrum and the pulpit, and sung by the choir. After years of bitter sectional strife, and four years of fratricidal war the revolution was accomplished, the Constitution overthrown, and the Union destroyed, and now we have the fruits of their philanthropic labors—tho “good time” which they prophesied has come. The financial aspect of this good time is strikingly depicted in the following tabulated statement, which we lake from the editorial columns of the New York HulieUn : “obdinaby” expknditubeh of the u. h. OOVEBNMKNT IN 1874 ANI) 1860. 1874 1800 War Department $42,313,027 *16,472,202 Navy Department... 30,932,687 11,514,040 Civil Expense* 17,027,115 0,077,008 Miscellaneous 50,500,414 20,708,233 Indiana 0,002,402 2,991,121 Pensions 20,038,414 1,100,802 Foreign Intercourse 1,508,004 1,140,143 Total $178,618,983 $00,010,188 Interest on Debt... 107,119,815 3,177,314 Population 41,000,000 31,443,321 Increase of “Ordinary" Expenditure*, 200 per cent. Incroaae of population, 40 per cent. If we includo with tho ordinary ex pendituroH of tho government the inter oat on {.he debt of both eras, we have now an annual gross expenditure by tho government of $286,738,798 aguiust $63,187,502 in 1800. To thin may properly bo added the estimated deficiency of $40,000,000 in the rev enue to meet tho increasing oxpendi turea, to supply which it is proposed, to raiao that amount by levying an import duty of fifteen cents per pound on tea and three cents per poaud on ooffee. __/fJ7lndeed, a uatijfc l dill u'inrClThTTn' bleaaing iu ""propT rtion to its amount, and if an iucreaao of government ex penditures from $63,000,000 to $285,- 000,000-—more than 300 per cent. —with the necessary iucrease of taxation to meet these extraordinary expenditure-', and the iucrease of corruption in tho ad ministration of the government—if all these increases aro in tho same ratio to be included in the catalogue of national blessings— theu has the “good time,” whose advent was to be tho culmination of Radicalism, come upon us, and the centeuuiul Auuiversay, which we are soon itfe oolebrato, should be hailed with piuans of praise to tho apostles of that higher law, the legitimate fruits of which the Amorican people aro now enjoyiug, and are likely to onjoy for generations to come. General Johnston anil the Southern Pacific Railroad Scheme. Tho St. Louis correspondent of the •♦lew York Sun furnishes the substance of ~ & conversation held with General Joseph E. Johuatou, in that city, during the session of the recent Pacific liailrond Convention, in which Gen eral Johnston did not hesitate to express his disapprobation of the soheiuo to subsidize the Texas Pacific Railroad. lie said that of course he was in favor of n Southern route to the Pa cific, but that he did not believe in either the expediency or tho propriety of ex tending government aid to the enterprise. He thought that the Southern poople should stnud by their ancient landmarks, and follow the teaohiugs of their illus trious statesmen of the past. The Dem ocratic party was on record over and over again as against all subsidies, aud it oould not afford to stultify itself. The South might be benefited by the oonstructiou of a genuine Southern Pacific Hoad, but her people should not insist on legislation principle they believe to be wrong aud conducive to monstrous steals like the Credit Mobilier. lie did not be lieve that the Texas Pacifio, under its present auspices, was really and truly a Southern read. He had observed a map of tho proposed route in the rear of the stage, aud that plainly said to the con vention that St. Louis, aud not the South, was the eastern terminus of Tom Scott’s trans-continental line. This statement of General Johnston's opinions fully corrokoiates the views which he expressed to the Georgia dele gation, of which he was chairman. Had their been auy opportunity afforded in the convention for arriving at the true - sentiments of the Southern delegations, we have reason to believe that a large majority would have endorsed the views of General Johnston. We feel sure that such would have been the result of a vote of the Georgia delegates. Old-fashioned marriages, binding “until death do us part," arc likely to grow into disfavor. Already some strong-minded females have insisted on the elimination of the word “obey” from the marriage servioe, and it has been done in many instances. We now hear of a marriage in Michigan where the couple ignored the injunction, “What God has joined to gether let no man put asunder,” and put in their marriage contract the saving clause: “If the union and harmony that now exists between us should continue through our natural lives, then this con tract is to remain in force; otherwise to be null and void. ” This is modem pro gress, and with the tendency to innova tion it is impossible to say where it will end—probably in a regularly recognized system of limited matrimonial partner ships for any period stipulated in the contract The Central Railroad—Report of Ihe Investigating Committee. In consequence of numerous com - plaints and divers wild reports concern ing the management of the Central Rail road Company, a committee, on motion of the Board of Directors, communicated by resolution, was appointed at the an nual meeting of the stockholders on the 10th of December last to investigate the affairs and condition of the company in all its departments. The committee ap pointed were Messrs. W. D. Alexander, Octavus Cohen, W. W. Gordon, Robert N. Gourdin and J. J. Gresham, but in a week or two afterwards Mr. Alexander was compelled by sickness to resign and his place was filled by the appointment of Mr. D. G. Purse. The committee as thus consti tuted organized by the election of Mr Gourdin as Chairman, and proceeded to make the investigation with which they were charged. This duty they have per formed most thoroughly and systemati cally, as is evidenced in the able and elaborate report they have just con cluded, and copies of which have been furnished us. In a careful perusal of this document we are impressed with the earnestness of purpose and candor which characterize the labors of the committee. The result of this investigation of the affairs of the company furnishes infor mation of absorbing interest, not only to the stockholders of the company, but to the community at large; and in our synopsis of the report we shall present liberal extracts from such portions of it as we deem of most especial interest to our public. The matter first considered by the com mittee was an inventory and appraise mentof the property and assets of the coni - pany, and a statement of its lia ilities and obligations, absolute and contingent, including all guarantees for other rail roads and lines of steamers. An analysis of these statements, with the figures of each item as given in the report of the direc tors and those of the committee, giving their valuation, with a third statement— a consolidation of the two —in which the results are presented in a condensed tabular form, is submitted as being the mo3t convenient and perspicuous method by which the matter can be placed before the stockholders. In determining tho value of an asset, the committee announce that they have been governed by the price at which the property could be converted into money. Thus: Bonds which will be paid at maturity, but are now below par, are placed at their market value. Stock of a railroad which does not pay the interest on its bonded debt or pays it through aid from without is written off, as not a bona fide asset. In this valuation of assets the prices current the 30th January, 1875, are adopted as accurately as could be ascertained. The deductions in the assets and the assets written off for cause by the com mittee foot up $2,651,929 22, divided as follows : C. R. It. n , .. Report. Deduction. Depot lots and right of way,Macon,Ga. *216,504 43 *106,504 43 Central Railroad and Steamship Line. 600,000 00 300,000 00 STOCKS OF OTHER COMPANIES. 4,900 shares 8. W. „U.R. Cos 465,258 00 105,900 00 5,256 shares W. R. It- 'f Ala 119,852 56 119,852 56 408 shares 8a v. & M. It. R 40,800 00 40,800 00 241 shares Eatonton branch It. R 24,100 00 2,410 00 422 shares M. <fc W. —. .. 11 ; U - ' ..•V- 7 12 > G( #-flo 12,660 00 6,715 sha.es Mob. & on o '?*’ l * - 90 47,033 90 20 shares Balt. A ; ’ ffta Vjltr BtojfMEl 1,555 shares Sav., Griffin & North Ala. R. R 155,500 00 155,500 00 770 shares C. R. R. A Rkg. Cos 78,825 00 32,625 00 593 shares A. A U. It. It 27,572 40 26.072 40 100 shares So. At. Tel. Cos 2,500 00 2,000 00 2 shares Ag. A Me chanical Associa tion 1 000 00 1,000 shares Much. A Industrial As sociation 10,000 00 10,000 00 Chattahoochee river steamers 56,064 14 BONDS. *202,000 city of Ma „ 172,000 00 20,000 00 *185,000 Sav., Grif fin A North Ala bama R. It 149,800 00 5,500 00 *275,304 50 Mob. A Girard It. R.bonds and coupons,(past duo) 275,304 50 68,826 12 *7,000 city of Colum bus 7,000 00 2,000 00 *7,000 M. A W. 1\ It. R. income 7,000 00 7,000 00 *21,500 Muscogee Railroad 21,500 00 21,500 00 Rills rec’iv’blo—-bad 46,589 48 46,589 48 Notes disc’u’d— bad 56,284 44 56,284 44 Sav., Griftiu and N. Ala. Railroad— 271,635 54 162,435 54 DUE BY RAILROADS. Southwestern R. It. 769,688 13 589,685 13 Western It. R. of Alabama 232,522 26 232,522 26 Mobilo and Girard Railroad 127,660 86 29,654 87 Sav., Grifiin and N. Ala. Railroad ... 88,485 17 88,485 17 Bank Expenses .... 22,385 92 22,385 92 Cash (less C. R. R. fare bills held as cash) 431,396 56 276,702 00 The committee are very explicit and satisfactory in their reasons for this scal ing of the assets, their arguments being but a plain and logical statement of facts which admit of no controversion. With the exhibit of the absolute and contin gent liabilities, of which latter there are uouo save those arising out of certain suits at law in which the compauy is in volved, and the explanation of the assets aud reported liabilities of every kind, the committee proceed to direct attention to the status of certain rail roads in which the Central is interested. In regard to the aid ex tended by the Central to the Western Railroad of Alabama and the Mobile and Girard Railroad, and to the lease of the Southwestern Railroad, the committee note a conflict of opinion, the allegation being made on one hand that the advan tages to be derived did not justify this action, and in support of this opinion the accounts of these railroads are cited. The advocates of these measures, however, contend that the business acquired through them has not only compensated the Central for the money spent on that account, but that the connection has been absolutely profit able. Upon the merits of this issue the committee express no opinion, leaving the facts as a basis for judgment by the stockholders themselves. The aid extended to the Western Rail road of Alabama, which is a consolidated corporation company—the Montgomery and West Point Railroad, with branch from Opelika to Columbus, and the Western Railroad from Montgomery to Selma—was in accordance with opinions conceived prior to the war. and the policy which dictated it—considered by accepted facts and convictions at the time it was given, the committee think a wise one. This aid was necessary to complete the only link wanting to connect Savannah with Vicksburg by a continuous line of rail; and in view of the contemplated building of the Southern Pacific Railroad—Vicks burg being a point of the most direct route between San Francisco and the South Atlantic ports—in addition to the benefits to accrue immediately to the Cen tral by this connection, there were others of greater magnitude probable in Abe fu ture. Reviewing the condition of the Western Railroad, and noticing its sal* in January last, under a decree of the Court of Chancery of Alabama, when it was purchased jointly by the Central and Geor gia Railroads, for $3,265,257 02, the committee are of the opinion that the Central has been benefited by the change, as the road is now in a better position to pay each year a larger percentage on the interest on its bonded debt, until its income shall be adequate to pay the whole. Whilst the advantages sought to be realized through aid given the Mobile and Girard have not been realized, the com mittee are of the opinion that any improvement in the trade of the country or in the rates of freight, will enable the road to pay more, if not all, of the inter est on the bonded debt, and to the extent that it will be able to pay this interest, will the Central be relieved. In regard to the lease of the South western Railroad the report shows that the income since 1870 has not been suffi cient to pay the interest on its bonds, to redeem them at maturity and provide dividends on its stock guaranteed by the Central, and under the terms of the lease this deficiency has to be supplied by the Central. In fact, it is stated that but for the immense reduction in the operating expenses, the road would scarcely have paid its expenses in 1872 73, and the busi ness of 1874 appears to have been less profitable. This reduction in the business of the Southwestern is attributed to the diversion of some of its trade over the South Georgia and Florida Railroad from Albany to Thomasville, to the derangement of labor and diminished cultivation in Southwest Georgia, and to unfavorable crop seasons for successive years. The interest of the Central in the Sa vannah, Griffin and North Alabama Kail road was acquired through the Macon and Western, the Central at the time the M. and W. was consolidated with it as suming the payment of $150,000 bonds issued by the latter to pay its sub scription for 1,500 shares of the stock of the S. G. and N. A. It. It. The road was unfinished, and if suffered to remain so the stock which was an offset to these bonds would be worthless. The Central was therefore, compelled to either suffer a total loss of the stock or to continue the construction in the endeavor to save it. The latter course was pursued, and the road built. The aid thus given has been a burdensome tax on the resources of the Central without any adequate com pensation from the trade and travel which it has furnished. The road, however, the committee declare, will be no longer a tax on the Central, as it is not propose!! to carry it beyond Carrollton, the point to which it is finished. This review of the affairs of these railroads shows that the Western Railroad of Alabama and the Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama Railroads, are on a more satis factory footing in their relations with the Central than heretofore, and that the fu ture of them all depends chiefly on the restoration of the country to its former prosperity. We here make tho following extract from the report:— Your committee are cliargod with report ing “whether there are, or have been, any abuses in the administration of tho business of the company.” They have seen none. They have seen what they conceive errors in judgment, but no instance of corruption or malpractice whatever. The Central has suffeied, in common with ..other Southern railroads, from the pro tracted poverty of tho South, from compe taion, producing unremunerating freights, and fiom the prostiatign of the entire Country since tbe financial eritfs-pf 1873 , Ad-it ttt a two-fcirn way; in its own business, and through the business of railroads intimately allied with it. You havo seen tho aston ishing decline in the receipts of the South western Railroad, and that the Central, under the obligations of the lease, has been supplying the deficiency in its income; also, that tho Western Railroad of Alabama and the Mobile and Girard Railroad, having been unable to pay the interest on their bonded debts, tbe Central has been paying it on its endorsements for them. But for the untoward times and circumstances which havo befallen us, the Southwestern Railroad would, doubtless, have maintained its pros perity, and these two railroads would not have required pecuniary aid from the Cen tral, certainly not to the extent that has been necessary; and, it may be, that the advantages which the Central sought to secure through them would have been fully attained. It is true, that when the Central contract ed its obligations with these railroads, the competition, which has been so injurious, had manifested itself; but no one foresaw the financial embarrassments of the coun try, and few persons realized that tho im poverished condition of the South would continue to this time. Tbe irrepressible prosperity of the South is a fixed idea with our people, and the conviction was, it may be said, universal, that, as the war and its passions passed gradually away, so would the recuperatiou of the South be accelerated, until it should attain to its former pros perity. Iu this temper, sustained by a firm hope, and a strong resolution, the obstacles to recuperatiou were not appreciated, if they were realized. The overthrow of our sys tem of labor, the destruction of our capital and the exorbitant iuterest on money bor rowed from abroad to replace it, the burden of Federal taxation and of ihe governments imposed on the States of the South, all were overlooked, or, perhaps, not duly consid ered. The disappointment has been gen eral, and the Central Railroad has not been tbe only sufferer. Tbe statement of the road and bank show that tho amount absorbed by the Southwest ern, Western, and Mobile and Girard Rail roads, has beeu $1,721,696 26 ; and if to this is added the payments for tbe Savannah, Grifiin and North Alabama Railroad, these four railroads have had from the Central *2,206,616 97—nearly all in the brief space of four years. Tbe absorption of this large amount by these roads is a prominent cause of the straightened circumstances of the Central, aud of its inability to continue to pay divi dends regularly. Another distinct cause of embarrassment to the Central Railroad, growing out of the financial troubles of the times, is the dis count on its bonds* negotiated in 1873-74. The loss suffered here was about $200,000, nioro than it would have been under more favorable circumstances. Your committee have now placed before you the information in reference to the railroad, called lor by your resolutions, and have pointed out some of the prominent causes of its embarrassments. The ques tion now occurs, can the Central meet its obligations and be pr* Stable to its stock holders? Your committee believe that it can, notwithstanding the large amount stricken from its assets; and for these reasohs: The country must gradually recover from its prostration and the South from its pov erty, and our railroads will experience the benefits from this return to prosperity. The committee state that an effort is being made to establish remunerative rates of freight and distribute them equi tably among the railroad and steamship lines running in connection and compe tition with the Central, and declare that if the authority of “the General Associ ation of Southern Railway and Steamship Companies,” organized to adjust and en force such rates, is sustained, one im portant step has been taken to reinstate the prosperity of the road and its con nections. A statement of the liabilities of the company for rents, interest on its bonded debt and on its endorse ments for the year ending Ist September, 1874, gives the amount as $758,293. The average net earnings for 1872, 1873, 1874, were $1,049,271, which, less $758,293, amount of rents, etc., gives the average absolute net incomp for these years of $290,978, equal to a dividend of three and three-quarters per cent, per annum, notwithstanding the heavy charge in 1873 of $407,000 for extraordinary ex penses. The committee considers this state ment shows that any improvement in the business of the Central Railroad, with relief at the same time from burdens it is bearing for other roads, will enable it to meet its annual liabilities and regular dividends to its stockholders. The bank is said to be economically managed, and the percentage of loss on tbe volume of business done not larger than that of the other city banks since the war. The committee recom mend that as soon as the roads finances will permit a separate rate and fixed amount should be set aside for banking purposes, when it is be lieved that the income from this source will be increased. The salaries paid for conducting the Macon agency are con sidered excessive and an immediate re duction is recommended. The committee have given particular attention to the subject of free passes, and urge that the issue of such should be carefully guarded and restricted as nearly as possible to persons traveling on the business of tbe road; and especially is the practice of tendering free passes to members of the Legisla ture disapproved. The committee regard it as reprehensible and unjust in every point of view, and recommend its discon tinuance. The conclusion of the report treats of matters which are of such general commercial interest that we quote in full as follows: The.six steamships were purchased in May, 1872, for $600,000, and paid for in bonds of the company for $300,000, and the special bonds for a like amount, alreadv de scribed, and known as “ Bonds for Steam ships.” In July, 1874, the Board of D rec tors adopted a resolution submitted by Mr. W. R. Garrison, agent in New York, ap pointing General J. F. Gilmer, then a direc tor, “a commit'ee of one to examine the books and accounts of tbe agent of the Compauy’s Steamships in New’York,” and report upon them. Gen. Gilmer’s very able report was laid before the committee, and a copy was transmitted by them to Mr. Garri son for bis information. In May last Mr. Garrison visited Savannah, and, in’an inter view with the committee, furnished them with an abstract of the accounts of the steamships. These accounts, and General Gilmer’s report, show the operation of the steamships for two years aud four months, and accord very nearly in their figures. The net earnings for these twenty-eight months are, according to Mr. Garrison’s ab stract, $123,262 61; but if from this amount is deducted the interest ou the bonds given in payment for the steamships, say $96,500, it will be reduced to $32,762 61 ; aud if the wear aud tear of the ships he estimated, this profit will much more than disappear. Commissions of theagenc es in New York and Savamiah have been $133,385 71—592,- 033 35 in New York, and $41,352 86 in Savau nab, at tbe rate of $39,442 86 and $17,722 44. respectively, per annum. And if to the commissions of tho Savannah agency be added s2s—allowed each ship every trip for clerk hire and commissions for collecting wharfage, say 25 per cent, at Yale Roval wharf, and 5 per cent, at Empire wharf (rented), the income of this agency is fully $20,000 per annum. Your committee would respectfully re commend : First. That the Savannah agency be abolished and the management ot the steamships be placed under the control of the Forwarding Department, and, if deemed necessary for the accommodation of passengers, and shippers and receivers of freight, an office be established on the Bay. This recommendation your committee be lieve will result in a large saving to the road. Second. That the commissions charged by the agent in New York should be on the following items only, and at not exceeding the rates noted against each, say ou Freights, 24 per cent, on inward and 5 per cent on outward. Passenger tickets sold in New York, 24 per cent. Ail other money earned by the steam ships, 2.j per cent. All purchases made on account of the steamships, 24 per cent., aud only on other disbursements when funds are advanced; in which cases the commission should be 24 per cent. And that the agent in New York be al lowed also $25 clerk hire for each voyage of the steamships. These steamships being now undesirable because Jruu at arnuch greater expense and carrying less than vessels of equal tonnage of modern construction, they should be sold, as advantageous sale* can be made, and replaced by others, adapted, in model and construction, to do the business re quired of them effectively and with econ omy. OCEAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY OF SAVANNAH AND VALE ROYAL PROPERTY. This company was organized as an expe dient, to avoid any legal questions as to the right of the Central Road, uuder its charter, to own steamships. The capital stock of thejgompaiiy is 8.000 -shares fit tlflu eacn. Tho Central liailroai? holds 7,930 shares, which it paid for by transferring to the company its six steam ships, with their accrued profits, at $600,- 000, their cost, and tho Vale Royai property at *200,000, reserving the railroad track and the right to build any other tracks which may be necessary or convenient for the Cen tral Railroad, valuing the track and privi lege at *IOO,OOO. The remaining 50 shares are held by the live directors of the company. Notwithstanding the fact that the President, the 8 licitor and four Directors of the Cen tral Railroad Company constitute the corpo ration of the Ocean bteamsliip Cornpanv of Savannah, your committee regard this transfer of the Vale Royal property, remov ing it from the immediate control of the Central Railroad, as of doubtful policy; and, if it be practicable, they would be glad to see it restored to its former ownership. To this end, your committeo recommend that an application be made to the Legislature for an amendment of tho char ter of tho Central Railroad and Banking Company, authorizing the com pany to own steamships. This being ob tained, the Vale Royal property and the steamships may be restored to their former status with the Central Railroad Compauy, and an indirect and somewhat complicated airangement dispensed with. * A cotton press on Vale Royal wharf is a necessity with the Central Railroad, and there is a question as to its right, under the charter, to own and operate one. The Cen tral had, therefore, either to procure the right from the Legislature aud erect the pi ess itself, or invite proposals from others to do so. The latter alternative was adopt ed and the “Gordon Press" was erected by a company-, uuder au agreement and con tract w-ith tho Central Railroad, “to be in force for the term of five years from the first day of November, 1872, and continue after the expiration of said five years, from year to year; with tbe "right reserved to either party to ter minate the same at any time there after by giving one years’ written notice”— “aud the agreement may be annulled, at any time, after the expiration of the first year of the term of five years, by either party giving one year’s notice of his desire to abandon and be released from his obli gation to it.” The contract stipulates further, that the Gordon Press shall occupy the land on Vale Royal wharf free of rent; that “it shall have the exclusive privi lege of compressing all cotton shipped by or upon tbe Central Railroad, on through bills of lading, to be transported by sea from Savannah iu ships that load from the said railroad wharf, where the ships elect to have said cotton comuressed at all.” That it may receive for compressing “the price of twenty-five cents per bale, provided the cotton shall not exceed two hundred thousand bales during aDy one business year, au excess over two hundred thousand bales to be compressed at the rate and for the price of twenty-two and one-half cents per bale.” Your committee think It is inexpedient that any corporation or private person shall own the press on Vale Royal wharf, for in this case tho Central pays a profit on the com pression of cotton for its own ships, and loses the profit on the compression done for all other ships. The Central Railroad should own the press on its wharf, have the compression for its steamships done at actual cost, aud enjoy, besides the profit on tho compression for ali other vessels taking their cargoes there. Your committee are of the opinion that the contract with the Gordon Press should be abrogated, and they recommend that the notice ntcessary to terminate the same be given. And, if the doubt as to the power of the Central Road to own this property, already referred to, still exists, it may be remedied by the Legislature. In auv event, the Press can be owned and operated by the “Ocean Steam Navigation Compauy of fmvannah,” under its ample charter, in the iuterest of the Central Railroad. Your committee think further that, should the contract with the Gordon Press be ter minated, it will be a waste of profit to con tinue to charge twenty-five cents per baie for compressing. The rates should be uni form with those current in Savannah, gene rally fifty cents for coastwise steamers, aDd sixty cent3 for all other vessels. The ship pays for compressing, and in the case of the company’s steamers, the rate will be imma terial, as it will only transfer money .from one acc uut of the company to ano.her ; but in ihat of ail other vessels it will be mate rial, for to compress at twenty-five cents per bale is to give up, unnecessarily, twenty-five cents to coastwise steamers, and thirty-five cents to other vessels, per bale. Your committee fail to see the policy of this concession ; for not being made to the merchant, it does not operate to attract through cotton over the road, but is an un r necessary benefaction to the ship, not owned by the company. If the charge for com- Eressing cotton at Vale Royal wharf is not igher than in the shipmaster cannot object to take his cargo there, and it needs no gratuity to indnee him to go there. Before dismissing this subject, your com mittee would suggest another r asoD, sub ordinate to those already given, but still im portant when viewed by the light of sound policy, why it is expedient that the Central Railroad should abrogate the agreement with the Gordon Press, and own and operate the press at the rates current in Savannah. Tbe present arrangement and rates, while they do not benefit the Central, are injurious to Savannah. That they do not benefit tbe Central has been already shown, and they are injurious to Savannah because the site of the press and the land necessary to it, have been granted rent free, while the value of the bind occupied by the presses in Savannah is a large item in their cost, and in the expense ef operating them, be cause for the first two years of the con tract tbe press at Vale Royal paid no mu nicipa tax, and for the current year pays only a portion of it, while the presses in Savannah pay always the full amouut im posed. There were obstacles to the taxation of the Gordon Press at the out set. They will probably be removed, and itis to’be presumed that the full amount of taxes v-.ill be levied by the city in the future. Still, when the taxes are equalized, the advantage to the press built ou ground rent free, will remain. Wish these ad vantages the Vale Royal Press can work with profit at twenty-five cents per bale, and must, in a short tim, injure seriously the large capital invested iu the Savannah presses, thus hazarding antagonism between interests which it is important should work iu harmony. And, in to promote economy, your committee recommend that the Central Railroad should require all steamers making through freight arrangements with it, to land and receive their cargoes at the Ocean Steam Navigation Company's wharf, thereby saving the expense of wharfage and drayage of goods received for the interior, as well as on all cotton shipped on through bills of lading. Tbe repot t as a whole is an able, elab orate and carefully prepared document, comprehensive in its scope, methodical in its arrangement, exact and fair in its data, and logical and convincing in its deductions. It presents to the stock holders and the public a complete and reliable view of the present actual condi tion of the affairs of the company, which, in view of the universal shrinkage of values, the sharp competition which the road has encountered, and the general of business, is better than that &f many similar institutions iu the couiatO’. The committee express confidencfjfn the substantial solvency of the and while suggesting some changes economic policy of its management, the adoption of which would be alike beneficial to the corpora tion and to our business public, entertain no doubt of its certain recovery, with the revival of the general prosperity of the country, from the embarrassment which has of late restricted its usual dividends. LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE. Horrible Suicide of a New York Consump tive —Business flislortune aud 111 ileultli tlic Cause—Without Money and without Friends in a Strange ”I.and. [Special Correspondence of the Morning News.] Jacksonville, Dec. 1, 1875. My excuse for troubling you with a hastily penned epistle from this im portant point, where you have other cor respondents, is a good one. I have just witnessed under my window in the rear of the Metropolitan Hotel, what I can truthfully call A MOST SHOCKING SUICIDE. Hearing the alarm I looked out of my room window, and in the rear of the bar ber shop, which is located next to the dining hall, I saw a man lying upon the brick wall with his throat cut wide open and the blood still running out. lat once rushed down to the spot, but life was extinct, as the unfortunate man had made sure work of his attempt to end his weary earthly existence. On the 12th of October a stranger came to the Metropolitan Hotel and registered his name as “Alfred H. Pease, New York.” He was a tall, sandy-com plexioned man, feeble in health and rather despondent in spirits, as is frequently the case with consumptives. Failing of success iu his business pros pects and plans, he was compelled to leave his baggage with the clerk, who now holds it for his hotel bill, and seek a cheaper place to live. Recently he was employed as a drummer for a boarding house in this city, but failing to be of any service to his employer, he was discharg ed on Monday of this week, which left him WITHOUT MONEY, HOME OR FRIENDS. Where or how he lived until this morn ing, I do not know, but it is evident that he must have fared hard, and became thoroughly discouraged in his efforts to secure other* employment. At aboutdleven o’clock this morning he the barber shop of this hotel, and quietly passing through the back room, in the absence of any customers to watch his movements, he ,picked [up a razor and stepped outside the door, held his head over an empty barrel in the corner of the yard, and deliberately cut his throat, en tirely severing the windpipe. Seven dis tinct cuts are to be seen on the side of his neck, which shows that he never fal tered in his purpose to end his life in that manner. The razor dropped into the barrel, and the suicide fell back, dead, upon the walk. Almost immedi ately his body was discovered, and A CORONERS JURY summoned. And such a jury, and such an inquest, would have surprised your readers outside of Florida, where negroes do not rule over white people. Seeing the door open and let in a crowd of dirty, stupid looking negroes, who came forward as though they belonged there, I asked a white policeman who they were. He replied that they were the Coroner’s jury. “And who is the Coroner?” I asked. “That man,” said he, pointing to a negro. “Ah!” exclaimed I, “that accounts for the milk in the cocoanut.” You should have seen this intelligent jury, picked out of the “rough skuff ” of the street, “sit on” this poor unfortunate, and “go through him” to see what proper ty could be found on his person. The whole proceeding was a disgrace to the white people of Jacksonville, and the city authorities deserve . the severest censure for allowing ueh a jury to be sum moned. Of course the deceased had no money, except a small currency bill, on his form, as he killed himself because his funds were exhausted, his health de stroyed, and he AMONG STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND. Truly, your traveling correspondent was right in warning such persons against coming to Florida in the vain hope of securing here some light employment sufficient to pay their expenses through the winter months. Men cannot live here without money, and theie are no charitable institutions or hospitals, as in Northern cities, to which such cases as this to-day can go for temporary relief. I am told that Mr. Pease had a wife at Cedar Keys or Key West, but no one here seems to know anything about her. If such be the case, what a sad blow will his shocking death be to her! Who can understand the feelings of a man situated as he was when he so quietly and coolly walked to the place of his own execution, and with that instrument of death in his hand, desisted not until seven strokes of his own right arm had freed him forever from the poverty, sickness and misfortunes of earth. But, what then ? Oh! judge not, you who have health, friends, home, employment or means with which to provide for you and yours. He had none of these—knew not, per haps, where to get them —and so, right or wrong, madly plunged his soul into the darkness of an eternity where only God shall judge his life and its sad and tragic ending. In justice to the proprietor of this well known hotel, Mr. J. B. Togni, and Captain Harry Parcells, the popular and efficient manager, I should state that they are in no way responsible for this terrible tragedy, although it occurred in the rear of their premises. The deceased was kept by them for a long time after his funds were exhausted, and treated with great kindness; but in a city like this, whore bogus newspaper correspondents and all other kinds of “dead beats” are constantly “doing” the hotels, it would require the wealth of an Astor to help all poor unfortunates for an idefinite period. THE MORNING NEWS. You should have seen the crowd of Northern and Western guests in the read ing-room of this hotel this morning, reading the telegrams in the News, on the arrival of the train, and congratulating themselves that the snow, ice and storms of New England and other cold sections could not reach them here in this favored clime, ft is true that it is damp and rainy, and a little chilly in Jacksonville just now, but no one oomplains and few persons wear overcoats. A rush of visitors is now looked for, as the result of the cold spell at the North, and the St. James and Metropolitan hotels are getting ready for a large number of guests. A much larger number of your Morning News will be needed here, as even now the copies are all sold at the news depot in half an hour after the arrival of the train. It is looked upon here as a Florida paper, and a live one too, Me Judice. LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE. All AboAt a Dog—Chief Justice Jlp—A Steamboat Race on the St. John’s .More Hniiirnl Pilfering— Fatal Accident Bocal .>craps and au Intermixture of Stems—Marine. [Special Correspondence of the Morning News.] J acksonyille, December 2. CHIEF JUSTICE JIP. We may remark the return of Judge Phillip Frazer of the United States Court, looking healthy and hearty, much to the disappointment of a long standing aspirant for Lis position. This impatient character is E M. Randall, yclept Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida —of course including his canine, Jip. Sometimes Jip howls and Randall follows, at other times Randall yells and Jip fol lows. Sagacious animal and worthy of his master ! It is said that Jip hath been taught to smell around Judge Frazer’s domicile ever}- morning when in town, and in the event of a certain contingency he is to return to Randall’s house, with head and tail erect, at a live!} trot; otherwise this in telligent dog, who is supposed to be able to scent a coming event, is expected to jog disconsolately along with a dejected appearance and depressed caudal appen dage. As the latter is invariably the case, and bids fair to be for some time to come, Randall’s discomfiture is being aggravated day by day, and those who have been so fortunate as to witness the scene pronounce the dog’s return to his master one of the richest affairs ever heard of. Randall was a pettifogger in Wisconsin formerly, and probably be longed to that class of attorneys who swindle their clients by acting as'counsel for both sides of a case. He was im ported by Harrison Reed, of bless ed memory, and is one of the many barnacles which that obsolete patriot contrived to fasten upon the peniusula. His legal acquirements rank with those of Archibald, but his ir reproachable honesty is a subject of special wonder. Bisbee, in his fore the Supreme Court at Washington, lately, recited Randall’s decision concern ing the issue of the four million railroad bonds, and it may delight the studious to inquire how that decision might possibly have been obtained. It is a striking co incidence that while the question as to the constitutionality of those much abuse i bonds was pending before Ran dall a most extraordinary transfer of real estate occurred, whereby Randall was paid seventy-five hundred dollars for a property notoriously valued at no more than twenty-five hundred dollars. It is another singular fact that the action of the Chief Justice in declaring the bonds legal was directly in conso nance with the wishes of the purchaser. Randall is one of the most conceited pigmies in the State, and Stearns] so Jwell understands his tool that he leads him by tickling his inordinate vanity. STEAMBOAT RACE ON THE ST. JOHN’S. The steamer General Sedgwick arrived here on Tuesday, and at once announced her intention of trying her speed with the Hampton. Accordingly, about three hundred guests assembled on board yes terday morning, and much enthusiasm prevailed. The Sedgwick was formerly the General Hunter, and was sunk by a torpedo during the war, near Mandarin, while acting as a transport on the St. John’s river. She has a forty-inch cylin der, with a twelve-foot stroke, and has lately been plying between Glen Cove and Wilmington, Del. I desire here to return my grateful acknowledgments to her gentlemanly agent, Mr. P. McQuaid, for courtesies on the upward trip. The Hampton belongs to the Old Dominion Steamship Company, registered 624 tons and a fraction, and has a thirty-eight inch cylinder, with a nine foot stroke. She is admirably offi cered by Capt. A. W. Stark and Purser James Gallagher, to whom your correspondent is indebted for valued favors on the downward journey. The Hampton steamed off from her wharf about ten minutes ahead of the Sedg wick, made four landings and reached Palatka just four minutes ahead, the Put the upward trip was not a fair crite rion, as the officers of the Sedgwick claimed that their wood would not make steam, which was remedied at Palatka by a better sort of fuel. At the start from the Palatka wharf the Hampton was slightly in the lead, an exciting race followed, and the Sedgwick reached Tocoi about a length behind Hampton. Distance, 24 miles; time, 92 minutes. An even start was made from Tocoi, and the most interesting part of the affair occurred in the race for Green Cove. The Sedgwick led off about a length, and the journey progressed with varying re sults, wing and wing at times, stern and stern at others, Hampton in rear. The Hampton brushed up when near Green Cove, and touched the wharf just inside of the Sedgwick, amidst loud cheers. This run was 19 miles; Hampton’s time 67 minutes. Thence to Jacksonville the vessels were pretty evenly matched, but the Hampton struck her dock about three lengths ahead of her rival, thus winning the victory. The Sedgwick averaged twenty-five pounds of steam; the Hamp ton thirty-five. WALKING OFF OF A WHARF. Three passengers landed at Palatka last Tuesday night and inquired the way to the up-river boat. They were directed to the upper end of the wharf, and im mediately proceeded in that direction with rapid strides,-in single file. Number one stepped into the river through a slip in the dock, and his companions came close at his heels, or head. They fortu nately fished themselves out without sus taining any injury other than the loss of an umbrella. SCALDED TO DEATH. A little child of Mr. Chas. Cooper, of this city, yesterday jerked a pot of boil ing tea over on the back of its neck, and was so badly scalded that it expiied in great agony in a very few moments. STEALING INDICTMENTS. The grand jury of Alachua county labored assiduously duiing the first week of their recent sittings, brought in twenty seven true bills and were dismissed. The documents disappeared in such a mysterious and unaccountable manner after discharging the jury that it necessi tated their being recalled at a great addi tional expense to the eounty, but they promptly renewed their findings. Several Radical blisters are suspected of this piece of knavery, and it is in strict ac cordance with their proclivities to steal. CASE OF SHOALS. The case of the State against Shoals, for the murder of Branch, resulted in a mistrial at Gainesville last Monday. ANOTHER SUICIDE. The third case of a man’s death by his own hand in our midst within a very short while furnishes food for reflection. It is a question for casuists to wrangle over —why a human being who has not courage to battle against the ills of life possesses a sufficiency of misguided fortitude to end his own existence. The latest instance of felo de &t , a full telegraphic acoount of which has already been published in the Morning News, was Alfred H. Pease on yesterday. The weapon of self-destruction which he made use of, a razor, has hitherto been abandoned to the butchering uses of negroes in this locality. This unfortu nate victim of his own act was aged about thirty years, was an Englishman by birth, and boasted some little educational advantages. He had been an invalid from consumption for some time, and two or three weeks since was in an ex tremely despondent condition on account of his sufferings and helplessness, and declared to a friend: ‘Tt’s almost enough to make me step into the river or cut my throat.” His mind probably dwelt on such an avenue of escape from life until it became deranged. His remains were interred Wednesday by the city sexton. marine intelligence. Arrivals during the past three days— Steamer General Sedgwick ; schooners John Colby. Wilmington, jif! C.; Nellie Carr, New York. Departures—schooners Matilda Brooks and liosa Eppinger, New York. PERSONAL. Mr. J. W. Jordan, of Amerieus, Ga., arrived in the city a few days since with his fine lot of horses. They are splendid animals all. Adrianes. Religious intelligence from Tennessee: “Her matchless and perfect figure was a model, and never showed to s3 much ad vantage as when she knelt for baptism.” TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. .■Summary of the Week's Disputi-lica ADDRESS OF HON. L. q C. LAMAR. Washington, December I.—On taking the. chair in the caucus to-day, Col. Lamar de livered the following address : Gentlemen— lu calling me to this posi tion of responsibility and distinction you have conferred an honor which I appreciate most highly, and for which I tliauk you most cordially. We here are confronted with a crisis in the history of file Demo cratic party aud of the country which brings to our party grand opportunities, but is at tho same time freighted for us with solemu responsibilities, and if we do not improve these opportunities and rise to the mea sure of these responsibilities the fruits of the great political revolution which brought us here to-day will be for ns like the fruit that grows upon the shores of the accursed sea. The people of this country, by overwhelming majorities of States and majorities in States, have placed the Democratic party, after a long period of exclusion from power, in possession of the most important department of the Federal Government. When I say important, I do not mean that the individual members are invested with imposing prerogatives or great personal distinction. The departments of patronage—those which hold and command the glittering prizes of governmental emoluments and honors—are the co-ordinate branches of the government which are still under the control o‘f our po litical oppon nts. Tho members of the House of Representatives have no patronage whatever beyond that of the appointment of a military or naval cadet, and their compensa tion is barely adequate to a life of republican simplicity and prudential economy. There are many offices in the gift of the 'Executive far more profitable, and iu the public esteem far more distinguished, than that of a seat iu the House of Representatives; but this branch is, nevertheless, under our match less system of government—the corner stone of our fabric of liberty—because it is the only department of the Federal Govern ment directly responsible to the people of the country and receiving its powers di rectly from their hands. All the other branches of the government are two or three degrees removed from the people in the mode of their selection, or in tho nature of their buk while the House of Representatives is thus immediately responsible to the people, all the other branches of tho government are responsible to this body. The people of thq country have charged us, have charged the Democratic party in the House of Representatives, with the important duty of bringing those co-ordi nate branches of government to their just responsibility, and thus, by an unerring in stinct or by a keen intelligence, have blended together our duty, our interests and our inclinations. There has been for some time in tho pub lio mind a conviction, profound and all pervading, that the civil service of this country has not been directed from "considerations of public good, but from those of party profit, and for cor rupt, selfish and unpatriotic designs. The people demand at our hands a sweeping and thorough reform, which shall be conducted in a spirit that will secure the appointment to places of trust and responsibility the honest, experienced aud capable. There is also an imperative demand that a vigilant examination be made into the administra tion of the public revenue of the country, both in its collection and its disbursement; that all tho public accounts shall be scruti nized by us, as it is the solemn privilege and duty of the House to do; that corruption be ferreted out, aud wrong doers, no matter how high or low, shall be fearlessly arraign ed and fully exposed and punished. There is a growing aud irresistible sentiment in the country that, under the specious theory of protecting and fostering particular industries and interests, a system, miscalled revenue laws, lias been iu operation, which is detrimental and blastiug to all other great interests of the country, and maintained at thS expense of tho general revenue and to tho injury of the great majority of the people, and of those classes, the farmers and labor ers, who are least able to bear tho burden of oppressive laws. One of tho high est aud most pressing demands upon us, will be not only to insist on bringing down the expenses of the government to the needs only of economical administration, but to perfect and adopt such a system of taxation as will bring in the required revenue with the fewest restrictions upon commerce and with the least burden to the people, and that burden equitably distributed anil skil- fully adjusted. Owing to the existence of one of those great internieine conflicts—incident to the life of almost every country, and also to a pernicious system of legislation—our peo ple, our busiuess investments, our com merce, and all the diversified interests of the country, aro suffering from the evils of an irredeemable cur rency. In meeting and grappling with the difficulties of this vital and perplexing question, it will be our duty to take care that nothing is done which would im pair the good faith of the country or tar nish the public honor or lower or disturb the credit of our government ; but we arc t-td remoye obstructions which fijir t,fio progress and cbeclT tho -pvCtSjifcrriy of the- American Republic. It is the duty, and is to be the glory, of the Democratic party, while it controls the House, to see that the national debt is paid in full, and that the currency of this dem ocratic republic is made equal with that of any nation on earth. Upon the part of those who have been invested with the political power and destiny of our country during the past ten or fifteen years, it has been a frequent remark that the era of constitu tional politics had closed; that questions of constitutional limitations and restrictions were no longer to hinder or delay the legis lation of the government in its dealings with financial, economical or social subjects which were, it was assumed now, tho only matters worthy of public attention. And yet, amidst their grand boastings, the Forty-third Congress found themselves faced with the gravest questions if constitutional law, reaching down to tho fundamental sys tem and involving not only the relations of the State to the Federal Government, but that of the people aud their own house government. The grandest aspiration of the Democratic party is, and its crowning glory will bo, to restore the constitution to its pristine strength aud authority', and to make it the protector of every section and of every State in the Union, and of every human being of every race, color and condition in the land. Ap prehension and distrust of one part of the nation that that portion of the Southern people who were arrayed against the author ity of the Federal Government in the late war would be an element of disturbance to the American Union has mainly disappeared, and is evidenced by your election. In its stead has grown a more fraternal feeling, which regards us of the Southern States as fellow-citizens of the same great nation; and on the other hand, the people of whom I speak, of whom I am one. are here to-day by their chosen representation ready to honor any draft which the American people may draw upon tlieir patriotism or their faith, in the glory and the beneficent destiny of American institutions. (Ap plause.) The experiment which has been introduced amongst us, based upon confi dence in the workings of local self-government, aud intended to solve the difficulties connected with recent social aud political transformations, shall have an open field and fair play. No hin drance shall be placed in the way of its vigorous development and its amplest suc cess. (Applause). It has been said that the day of sentimental politics has passed away, but, gentlemen, there is one part of the Union—that part which I know best—which asks for the great moral nutri ment to a spirited and noble people. We want a government that we can love aud re vere and serve from the motive of rever ence and love. We hunger for a patriot ism which shall knit all the people together in a generous and loving brother hood, and which shall be as broad as the territory over which the national flag floats. Let me say here that no government, no nation, can prosper without this vital fire. It is the sentiment which, acting upon free institutions and reacting through them up on a people, constitutes their public spirit and political genius. Gentlemen, wo are here as Democrats— members of a political party which has a long and glorious history. Let us in our duties this winter recall and revive those principles the faithful maintenance of which, by the fathers of our country, secured it for so long a period the confidence and support of the people. Let us seek to renew the pros perity, to advance the greatness and glory of our country. Let us resolve to win the confi dence, the affection of the whole American people for our party by showing them that we, its present representatives, have states manship, patriotism, strength of purpose enough to deserve that confidence and af fection. Let us not forget that the great victory of last fall, whieh brought us here and which gives us ihese opoortunities aud great responsibilities was achieved not alone by Democratic votes, but with the co-operat ing efforts of patriotic and unselfish men of all parties who, wearied.and alarmed bv the unceasing evils resulting from corruption and maladministration, choose to call ns to the duty of checking these evils and clearing away these corruptions. If we are wise we shall so rule our selves, and so serve our country as to retain the confidence of these voters. Re forms are urgently needed. Let us wisely make them. A renewed prosperity is every where earnestly desired. Let us, by remov ing unjust discrimination, by imposing a rigid economy, by restoring a sound cur rency, by securing the equal rights of all States and all the people, make the Demo cratic party the author of anew prosperity, so that we may begin for our party anew and glorious career, in which its history should be onpe more, as formerly, the story of the Union’s greatest grandeur and the people’s universal happiness and content ment. (Great applause.) A COLORED MAIL ROBBER. Rochester, N. Y„ December 3 Nathan Sprague, colored, for two years employed in the post office, has been arrested for steal ing letters. Fourteen were found in his possession. DESTRUCTIVE Flsfc, Cincinnati, December 3.—By a fire in the rear of the ’ Methodist Book Concern, M. Fletcher loses $25,000, Donaldson & Cos,, lithographers, SIB,OOO, and other occupants smaller amounts. THE SUNKEN STEAMER. New \ork, December 2. —The mate of the Sunuyside had not got over tifteen or twenty feet trom the steamer with his life boat full of people before it capsized. A terrible scene ensued. There must havo been eighteen persons in tho ooat. Tho mate swam ashore, but tho others that were saved swam back to tho steamer. In all probability all that were lost were drowned by tho capsizing of the life boat. Their shoots and cries for aid must havo been heard for a long distance. As quickly as possible I took a boat from tho star board side and with our head-waiter and deck-boy tried to get around to the people in the water, but heavy ice prevented. The cries for help continued about ten minutes, when all was still. Wo launched tho big boat from the upper dock which was even with the water, the vessel at that time being two hundred feot from shore. I took the boat with tho secoud engineer and finally reached the capsized boat. Sue was bottom upwards aud a man lay on her on his back with his feet iu tho water and ice, nearly dead. We took him on board the steamer, put him iu the pilot's room aud covered him with blankets. Then I heard a noise on tne outside of our port wheel house, which was only two feet out of water. We worked the boat through the ice to the spot where the cries came from, aud louud an elderly lady. She was lying on tho ice about five feet from the wheel house. Her body was partly in tho water, her arms hold ing her up. She was still alive. With great difficulty, we got her iu tho boat, took her to tho steamer, put ner iu the wheel-man’s room and covered her with blankets, hut she died about two hours after. We theu went to work to construct a rope ferry from the steamer to the shore. At this time at least sixty persous were together on the hurricane deck aft. The wind was blowing hard and the air was bitter cold. W’e got the line ashore and succeeded in getting all off in safety, after they had been on the deck for two hours. To do so wo placed them in the boat aud pulled the boat along by tho rope. On reaching tho shore they clambered up the rocks aud made their way to farm houses iu the vi cinity, where every attention was given them. GOVERNOR SMITH ON INTERNAL NAVIGATION. ’at”Atlanta, Ga., Decernlx-if'-tL- Govt Smith has just addressed a letter to the people of Georgia urging them to sefid delegates to the convention which meets in Chicago on the 15th. He says that there is nothing so essential to prosperity as this'matter of transportation, aud the true cause of our present commercial depression may be traced in a great measure to its inadequacy. To this cause may be attributed the want of development of the vast resources of this State. To return to a gold circulation we must first restore our commercial prosperity. We must sell moro than wo buy, aud to do this we must adopt every proper means to lessen the cost of production. High trans portation is a serious obstacle to develop ment. The most powerful aud wealthiest nations of the Old World are those who have paid the most attention to their highways. The same is true to-day. Eugland, Russia, France and Germany are great aud prosper ous; while Spain, who has done nothing for the improvement of her internal naviga tion, is a proverb of political and finan cial insignificancy, and so of Mexico aud Peru. The Governor says : “ Lot us profit by the lesson. Gold is tho result of commercial prosperity and not tho cause of that prosperity. To restore our prosperity wo must look to our great national highways of trade to tho rivers and water lines first, while other means of transportation should not be ne noglected.” He" says the- government of the United States is the only compe tent power to improve and control these, and they should bo maintained as free public highways for the use of everybody. We must look to tlio United States Government for those improvements. The opening of these lines will go far to ward solving the question of transportation by a legitimate competition, which will ben efit the railroads, with other interests; hence there should bo no false antagonism between them. He strongly deprecates the fight which is constantly going on botween the great industries of the country. These industries are not nationally antagonistic. He says we of the Cotton States have no warfare to make on any other industry; but, on the contrary, we should labor for the advancement of all. Georgia has no war to make on the manufacturer or miner of other sections, but on the contrary her true interest is to be found iu aiding the advancement of all those. To this end we should labor. Ho urges all the different interests of the country to send representa tions to Chicago to consult upon tho ques tion, and says if the same sound, good sense which characterize ordinary business transactions of our people bo brought to bear upon these questions it will do more towards a solution than all the fine-spun theories of the present generation. THE SrEAKERSHir. Washington, December 4.—The tradi tional two-thirds rule of tho Democratic conventions does not enter into the cau cuses of the party. A majority nominates. -XilSESj£.,Ua Chauge in the situation this morning, beyond increased anxiety and less positive assertion. Washington, December 4.—The caucus was called to order hv Mr. Fernando Wood, ou whoso moiion Mr. L. Q. C. Lamar, of Mississippi, was chosen presiding officer. On motion of Mr. Holman, of Indiana, Mr. Benmng, of Ohio, was made Secretary. The balloting did not commence until four o’clock, and at half-past five adjourned to seven. Washington, December 4.—Mr. Kerr was nominated lor Speaker by the caucus. First ballot—Kerr 71, Randall 59, Cox 31. Second ballot—Kerr 77, Randall 03, Cox 21, Saylor l. Third ballot—Kerr 90, Randall G3, Cox 7, Saylor 1. During the morning Mr. Wood announced himself in favor of Kerr, and ou the third ballot Mr. Cox asked his friends to support the succefssul candidate. During the caucus, Mr. Randall said : “ Mr. Chairman—Let the wish of the ma jority bo the voice of all. From this mo ment differences among ourselves must be at an end, and thus present a united front to our adversaries. Our mission on this floor must be, as far as we are able, to re store the government to its constitutional purposes, and expose the corruptions of tho administration, a work more of a personal character to those around us, who have so steadily supported me. They have lost their choice, but have gained a long life friend. I now move that the nomination of Michael C. Kerr bo made unanimous.” A PITIFUL PETITION. New York, December 3.—At a meeting of the Board of Aldermen yesterday, a petition was received from tho United American Bricklayers Association, asking for the pas sage of an ordinance authorizing their em ployment on the public works. It recited that the association consisted of upward of five thousand members ; that not moro than one-fifth of their number were work ing ; that they had passed through two seasons ot idleness; that the present condition of business was such that capitalists could not or would not employ them; that they seek labor and not charity; that they' will not be able to sustain their families during the present winter, and that the city must therefore choose between furnishing them with charity or labor. The petition closed with the follow ing sentence: “We know that by becoming convicts we can bo assured of labor by the State or city, and we hope we will not he driven to that extremity.” THE VIRGINIUS AFFAIR. New York, December 2 The following editorial article appeared in the .Spanish newspaper, El Cronista, published in this city on the 30th ult.: “We see by the latest newspapers from Madrid that the Council of State has given its decision in regard to the capture of the Virgmius, declaring that it was a good prize, and that the govern ment had a right to exact the return of that vessel by the Government of the United States, and as that could not be clone on account ot tho vessel having sunk af ter it went into the hands of American authorities, the Spanish Govern ment bad a right to claim her value. We believe, in view of this decision, that our government will at once claim from the government at Washington the value of the vessel, and that that government will hasten to hand it over with the same alacrity as was shown by us in respect to 480,000 which was given for the survivors of the crew of the pirate vessel,” “babby.” Washington, December 2.—Gen. Bab cock had a lengthy interview to-day with Attorney General Pierrepont with reference to the association of his (Gen. Babcock’s) name with the pending trials in St. Louis. His object is to endeavor to have an oppor tunity given him to be heard before the grand jury or iu some way confront the charges that have been made, and he there fore appealed to Judge Pierrepont, as the representative of prosecution in these eases, to consummate such a plan. The Attorney General has referred the subject ot Gen. Babcock’s request by telegraph to the United States Attorney at St. Louis. A letter from Gen. Babcock to the Presi dent, after a statement of the circumstances already telegraphed, concludes: “I re spectfully demand a court of.inquiry, and re quest that an immediate investigation be ordert d.” MUMEBis BONDS. Memphis, December 3.— ln the case of the bondholders vs. the city of Memphis the Supreme Court of Tennessee decided that a million dollars of bonds, issued by Mayor Leftwitch in 1868, was legal, but the excess of one hundred and thirty five thousand dollars was illegal, as he was only au thorised to issue a million. Secondly, that though the bonds has been sold at a greater discount than six per cent., the transaction was neither illegal nor usurious, and the city can neither plead usury nor scale the bonds. Thirdly, that the city \g compelled to levy taxes necessary to pay interest on bonds used prior to notwithstanding the new charter limits th§ amount to be levied. THE CHICAGO CRIME. Chicago, December 3.— The body in the barrel was indentified as that of Mrs. Emma P. Adams, the wife of a prominent hard- city. She was buried on the 20th of November, and exhumed under the direction of Dr. Wilder, for whom war rants axe oat. the boss at large. es*ped T ° BK ’ JJCoen “ ber Tweed has New York, December 5.—A dilicent search was made for Tweed last night *§? in charge of officers, went to his home to visit his wife. He wished to see her a “onel and was seen no more. Different cities ha& nut^tthis 015 0,,t for W ty minutes alter his escape was known word reached every police Nation in The city. There is not the slightest clue Ten thousand dollars reward is offered New York, December s._Tw<wi’„ i was searched from top to bottom 8 . bouse trace of the fugitive l was found!’ aTiho back of the house there are other houses aud to havo escaped Tweed mn„i i passed through them Mr. Tweed’s son wls in a very excited condition when he learned ol his father s escape. He pullod big h*ir and exclaimed that he was ruined as did also Mr. Douglass, son-in-law Jf ' Wr Tweed. The statement of Deputy Ho.’an corroborates tho forogoing. Warden Dun-, ham admits having taken Tweed out to ,!iL some three or four times while he was in hta custody, as Twee 1 was complaining of s terrible headache. Tho bond given bv the Sheriff for the proper and faithful" dot? iormance of Ins duties is for Ssn ium and that of Warden Duuliam $20,000 Thn general impression seems to bo that some ol 1 weed’s friends havo placed him on board a steam tug, which will place him on some vessel bound for a foromn country. It is not positive whether an m diet incut for forgery has boon found against him, and his extradition is therefore an open question. The trial iu the *6 000 000, suit was to have commenced to-morrow. ’ new York, Decomber 6.—lnspector Dilka believes that Tweed is on tho ocean. There is good reason to believe that ho made his escape many hours before it was reported It is generally bolieved that Warden Dunl ham and Keeper llogau are privy to tho escape, and that Tweed embarked on some private craft in East river, iu which he is now sailing fur a foreign port. Tweed’s cases which were up to-dav, wero post poned. F An afternoon paper has tho following re garding Tweed’s fiight : The most probablo theory is that Tweed escaped in tho bark Lord Clarendon which clearol November Htb lor Queenstown. The story is that a relative of Tweed, not residing here and known to but few in this city, reached’hero some three weeks sinefc aud bark Lord Clarendon, she is a tiiiiF vessoM of excellent sailing (pwlities. The theorWi is that the Lord Clarendon was chartered for Tweed by his relatives, who sailed on her. It, is said a vessel looking like her has been seen off the east end of Long Island. It is supposed that Tweed was conveyed on board by a steam tug lying in East River on Saturday evening, and was taken on board tho Lord Clarendon. The name of the firm which cleared tho Lord Claren don is not iii the directory. CONGRESSIONAL. Washington, December o.—Tho following is Mr. Kerr’s speech : “ Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : I am truly gratified for tho honor vou have conferred in calling mo to this exalted sta tion. 1 profoundly appreciate tho import ance and delicacy of its duties. I shall doubtless, many times need your patient indulgence. I pray that you will grant it, ami with nothing but kindly feeling toward every member ot tho House, I promise that m all official acts I will divest myself, to the utmost of my ability, of all personal bias, and observe complete fairness and impartiality towards all, and towards all tho great and diversified interests of our country repre sented iu this House. Two hundred and eighty members worn., present. In swearing in tho members Messrs. Morey, of Louisiana, and Goodo, of Virginia, were asked to stand aside, as they were contested. A motion to refer Mr. Mu rey’s credentials, alter a warm discussion la-iled, and he was sworn iu. Mr. Goode’ at er a short discussion,.was also sworn in. * Mr. Lamar offored a resolution declaring the following officers of the House : Clerk George M. Adams, of Kentucky ; Sorgeant at-Arms, John G. Thompson, of Ohio • Doorkeeper, Lafayette A. Fitzhugh, of lexas ; Postmaster, Jamos M. Stewart, of \ll ginia ; and Chaplain, Rev. J. L. Towns end, of the District of Columbia. TERRIBLY FATAL EXPLOSION. London, December 6.— The Pall Mall Gazelle tins afternoon contains the following brief but startling news item: All awful - explosion occurred to-day at the Swaithe main colliery, near Barsley, in tho West Riding or Yorkshire. It is feared that more than two hundred lives are lost The colliery at which the dreadful’ explo sion occurred to-day, belongs to Mitchell ,fc °V e , of the largest iu the southern part 01 101 ksliire. It is joined by underground workings with Edmund’s main colliery where twelvo years ago yesterday over three hundred persons perished. The works ex tend lor many miles, entirely worked with safety lamps, under very rigid discipline aud were considered safo. At 0 o’clock a m. about three hundred men aud boys de scended and commenced work as usual. At half-past nine a terrific explosion occurred Ihe exact position of tho explosion is not known, but tho miners in all parts of the pit were startled by the loud report, followed by largo volumes of smoke and a/ter-damp. Those who were able rushed to tho pit bottom, but the drawing cage was displaced. As soon as possibio volunteers organized to search for tho dead and dying and those who had escaped. After being down for some time the volunteers reported about noon that they met with great difficulty. THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION. < London, December 6—The volunteers saw many who were alive, but unconscious. It is impossible to give the number lost. It is feared tho first report (200) will bo con firmed, though the managers of the col licry hope that many will be saved. Tho operatives in all the collieries of the district are on the spot ready and anxious to do all * possible for the relief of tho sufferers. All tho local surgeons have arrived. All res cued thus tar are seriously burned aud in jured. Hundreds of men, women aud children are congregated at the mouth of tho pit, aud as the disfigured bodies are drawn to tho surface, the scene is of the most heartrending character. THE DEMOCRATS. Washington, December G.-There was air informal interchange of opinions of the members of the National Executive Demo cratic Committee at Arlington to-day Pro soot, Messrs. Schell, President, of New York, Ihompson O. Itandolf, of Now Jer sey, McDonald, of Indiana, McHenry, ot Kil*ucky, Barnum, of Connecticut, Mooro ot Michigan, Eaton, of Kansas, with A d’ Bank of IVHssissippi, as their Secretary. Mr. belied, who is Chairman of tho National Democratic Committee, wa.s authorized to use Ins discretion in calling the latter com mittee together, with a view of designating the time and place of holding tlio next Na - tional Democratic Convention. COBAN MATTERS. New York, December G —Coionol Rosada, who was in command of tho last expedition to Cuba in the Uruguay, last night made a icpoi tto the Cuban Association. Ho stated that the vessel was wholly unfit for the service, her Machinery was old aud in poor fi° iiu OU > aiK * ttie propeller worked so badly that the utmost speed the steamer could attain was a little over five miles an hour. When the vessel bad set out on tho voyage it was discovered that the supply of coal was and later provisions began to fall short. I lie people on board suffered greatly from those causes, and also from the excessive heat. THE BOLT OF THE BOSS. New York, December G.—lt has been as certained that Tweed’s private secretary was last seen at his stopping-place, a few minutes before tho departure of the 10 o clock train for Boston on Saturday morning. He took that train, and said ho was going to Boston arid would return on Tuesday. Hj, however, carried a large trunk. It was rumored at the Fifty niqth Street Police Station last evening that on Saturday from 4 to 12 p. m., a tug wtts noticed cruising in a mysterious manner in East River off the Fifty-ninth Station. No ,t“lnfi was noticed by whieh it could he identified. BABCOCK’S COURT OF INQUIRY. Washington, December 4 The Pre sident ordered the following detail for the Court of Inquiry in the case of Gen. Babcock : Lieut. Gen. Sheridan, Maj. Gen. Hancock, and Brig. Gen. Terry The Court will convene in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, Deoember 9th. Pierrepont telegraphed the Attorney Gen eral al St. Louis, instructing him that the appointment of the Military Court is in no manner to stay any proceeding that the Court authorities may determine upon as being proper in the case. BURNED TO DEATH. Montreal, December s.—On Saturdays liev. Father Murphy, editor of the TV** Witness , gave his famous lecture on “papal Infallibility,” and with Rev. Father Lynch,, a talented young priest, lately from Ireland* drove out to Back river, seven miles from* Montreal, and stopped at Jeanesse Ho tel. At night after retiring a fire broke oof in the hotel and Fathers Murphy and Lynch: and Madame Champagne, a lady sleeping oi the third flat, were burned to death. A BOY KAVISHF.B. Wateetown, N. Y., December 5. —Sant Cockl ng, aged fourteen, was. found deadr a a piece of woods which vgas on her w home from school. It was first thea- ,fit she was killed by % fa)i, but there is aw £ ng evidence that sixtQen-year-old boy ii' ime( j ltd tar, failing in an attempt at ravr jhi ng killed her with a hammer. He was t racked from the spot, and a hammer fbu which fits the indentations. Rutav was *r rested. BOLTED, Boston, Decrtnber L— F ort 1 y 0 f the strongest men, headed by I.Test Jent Shep hard, bolted. The Republican Mayoralty Convention organized separate!' / and nomi nated Mayor Cobb. The Democrat* also held a meeting, but made no nomination. A WIFE DECAPITATED. Cleveland, December 4.--An enraged Englishman named Win. Aiden cut off his wife’s head with an axe, and mortally wounded his stepdaughter anda woman who came to her assistance, with a hammer. The death of Vice President WilaM last Monday, at the capitol, lost to >]B party a shrewd leader, but does not ctH prive the country of a statesman M Washington Capital. M