The Savannah weekly news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1868-187?, December 25, 1875, Image 4

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The Savannah weekly news., December 25, 1875, Image 4

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Newspaper Page TextSmmmh WwMs &tws ItEt’KMBEK li, IB7T^ the IUB w fUVIIS—Ia, 9. Ml**r Hprln* to Orala-A l>rUfatr ß | Old Towa—lmliful Noli, Meaial Climate. **••< Chirrkmi nntl School*, tnd Excel loot Hotel and Nfwnpanrr-Raalnm Kr ▼lvlng aad Popnlatlon I ncrcio*—Or- I.akr aad It* Impirmt Wild Or Me Ortrrt, (Special Correapondcnce of the Morning New*.] Ocala House, Dec. 13,1875. Avery pleasant ride of five mile* from Sil ver Spring brought me to the door of this excellent hotel, which is one of the promi nent features of the good old town of Oca la. No Georgian can stand upon the far reaching piazza* of thia inn and look about the public square without feeling that be must be in his own State. There stands the well-known court house in the centre of the town, and around it are the business houses, shops and offices, that give lifo to the place. Some persons, at first sight, might call it a sleepy old town; but a careful inspection of its business capacity and prospects, and a re view of what it is capable of becoming un der favorable circumstances, should secure lor Ocala a more appropriate name, lie mote from railroads, and five miles distant from river transportation, its present pros perous condition shows that it has a vitality which has carried it sucecssfu ly through the ad results of a long and bloody war, and wade it, even in misfortune, one of the best interior towns in the State. Removed from steamboat and railroad facilities, it 0 annot be expected to grow as rapidly as has PxUtka or Lake City. In ante bellurn days the lands about Ocala were famous for sugar cane and sea island or tong-staple cotton. Riding over from Silver Spring I noticed several extensive plantations of this kind, rich lands and ueaithy locations, yet uncultivated under the present system of free labor. These muttons are to be cut up into small farms, which will be sold to Northern and Western immigrants at low prices and on reasonable terms. New lands can also he entered in this vicinity, under the homestead laws, are purchased from the Htate. Fine cotton land can be found in all this section, as is proved by the in creased amount of long staple cotton pur chased hero this season. The leading mer chants- Benjamin Brothers, E. W. Agnew, and ii. i’. Robinson—have probably paid out in oash nearly fifty thousand dollars for seed cotton, which brings six cents per pound, being equal to about thirty-two cents In the lint. There are three steam ginning establishments in the place, the total number of gins run being twenty-five, which are kept fnsy. The town ia located on rolling land, and some of the suburban residences are most delightfully situated. Col. 8. M. P. Gary, a prominent lawyer, and brother of Gen. Gary, of Augusta, Ga., has ouo of these places, and not far beyond is the splendid banana grove and vineyard of Mr. A. L. Eichelher gr. This gentleman has given a practical illustration ot what can he done here in the culture of bananas, grapes, or anges, and other tropical fruit, as well as early vogotablos. His success has boon wonderful, and will have a tendency to largely increase the tide of immigration which lias recently turned in this direction. The persous who prefer an old town, with everything settled and home like, and surrounded by high and fertile rolling lands, once rich with sugar nnd'cot ton crops, Ocala offers superior inducements. It still remains the county seat of Marion, a section of the State that, befors the war, was unrivalled in its productive soil, healthy climate,refined society and hospitable homes. There are several very handsome resi dences iu tho town, many of which arc sur rounded by orange and banana trees, and have prettily laid out grounds. Ouo sees a good many old, uupaiuicd houses, hut there are also enough new, attractive dwellings to show that the place is improving. There are several churches, good schools and cul tivated and refined society in Ocala, and tho Northern families that have rooently come here t>> settle find a oordiai welcome from all quarters. Thu Ocala House is not only a very large hotel, but it is a most delightful place to spend' even the whole season. The pro prietor, Hon. E. J. Harris, is ouo of tho oldest and most respected citizens of tho county, and in his excellent wife can he dis tinguished the peculiar attractions of a cul tivated Southern lady of the “old school.” Two more agreeable and hospitable people 1 have not met iu uiy journeyings. .Tourists and immigrants will always ho cordially welcomed and well treated at thw. Dcala House, for “old E. J.,” as your , ; ;j; in his Florida items, -“ig always thing of that kind. 1, A railroad lias been graded from hero to Waldo, on the A., G. & W. I. T. Company’s railroad, and tho ties are laid for several miles. . Work has been suspended for some time, however, and its future progress is under a cloud. The completion of this line, through hero to Orange lake, would speedily make Ooala one of the most important inland towns of the Htato. The present nearest railroad station is Gainesville, forty miles away, and the nearest steamboat landing, Silver Spring, is five miles distant. But the town has a telegraph offioo on the lino which runs through here to Cuba, and an oxccllunt local newspaper, the Fast Florida Danner. F. E. Harris, Esq., the editor, is one ot tho noblest hearted young men I have ever met, and is thoroughly imbued with an unselfish public spirit, lty his personal efforts, as well as through his editorial labors, lie has done much to briug this tine section of country into notice, develop its industries, and increase its working population. The people of Florida do not fully appreciate the influence of such papers in bringing set tleis into the State. When I see how rapidly this county is settling lip, especialh about Lake Ware, Orani’e Lake, Orange Spring and other desirable orange grove sections, I trace much or it to the untiring and generous efforts of my young brother editor of the Danner. His neat little paper has Keen widely circulated throughout tho Nornt and West, and people who there road month* ago of the town and county iu which It imprinted, are now here, many of them, to see aud enjoy for themselves the luxuries of a semi-tropical homo. O. Oodringtou, Eaq., the able and expe rienced editor of the Florida Agriculturist, iu replying to the charge of doing injustice to this county, says: “I have not only sent large liumboss of people to Marion and Sum ter couuties, but to show my confidence in that part of the Slate, I have lately taken up a nomcstcad ou Like Dura, near tho line of Osango aud Sumter counties. Dr. Logan, tor Atlanta, includes Marion aud Sumter iu his list of counties that offer tho greatest oLuintic advantages for the winter.” As many immigrants from Maine,Connocti out and other Northeru States have settled in and about Deals, I readily suppose that others from that part of the country will follow their good example. To immigrants looking for orange grove lands the region about Orange lake offers unsurpassed ad vantages, while for gem ral farming purpo ses aud fruit outturn ou old but fruitful lands, Ocala and its suburbs present rare inducements. The cost of reaching Marion county, either by steamer to Silver Spring or by railroad to Gainesville, is not great, and the man who is not hard to please will no doubt find here a place which he can be satisfied to make his future home. ORANGE LAKE AND VICINITY. Many persons, myself among the number, ’ Save supposed that’Orange lake was located in the county which bears that name. Ma rion county,’however, claims this romantic spot as a very valuable part of its northern territory. By numerous enthusiastic ad mirers of its wild orange forests, covering frequently several hundred acres each, it is oidled the “Natural Home of the Orauge.” It is in thi section that Rev. P. F. Bishop, the efficient President of the Flor ida Frtnt Growers’ Association, is now engaged in the cultivation of two or three extensive orange groves. The wild orange trees, by thonsauds, have been “topped” and “budded” with sweet orauge tree "cuttings,” and already there arc many very Hue bearing groves as the result of this speedy process of making sweet orauge tree*. Some persons, it Is true, prefer to make their orchards from “seedling” trees, which do not come into bearing for four or five vears. The “budding” process yields fruit iu two or three yeais, and is extens ivelv adopted iu this part of the State. I am told that over two hundred thousand wild orange trees have been “ budded ” in the Orange Lake region, and Mr. James A. Harris, oue of the most successful practical budders in Florida, expects to have ten thousand such trees bearing next year. It is my candid opinion that his “ great ex pectations ” will be fully realized, as he is thoroughly iu earnest, and has thug far la bored with a fixed purpose to make fruit culture in that section a perfect success. Having from five hundred to a thousand wild orange trees to the acre, it Is a fine place for such a man to gi aft the various species of the citrus family. Mr. Harris is culti vating most successfully, as are aio Messrs. Bishop, Means and others, limes, lemons, grapes, citrons, guavas, bananas, apples, peaches, sugar cane and early vegetables. As an active member of the Fruit Growers’ Association, he proposes to fully demon strate what great things can be done with these fruits on wild orange grove lands. These lands are sold at from five to one hundred dollars per acre, according to loca tion aud number of wild trees to the acre. Just think of nearly a hundred acres of wild orauge trees “budded,” with thousands of the trees bearing sweet oranges this year. Bnch things make men dream golden dreams in regard to the fortunes yet to be made out of orange culture. The natural product of the wild orange tree is not very profitable, although the oranges are sold at one oent each to the marmalade factory at Jackson ville. Messrs. Power A Weightman, the well-known Philadelphia chemists, have parties at Orange Lake who extract the juice of these oranges and ship it io them to use in making citric A party of gentlemen from New Eng- Baud, including an expert chemist, were fel- Maw passengers with me on the steamer, bound to these wild orange groves, there to establish a citric acid manufactory. Thia, however, will not stop the “budding” pro cess, and in a few years every one of the million of wild orange trees abont the lake will be bearing a rich abundance of sweet oranges. New groves are almost daily marked out, yet John F. Dunn, Esq., Ocala, Marion county, Fla., can pnt parties who desire to purchase lands, or wild orange groves iD this section, in possession of all needed facts and information. The distance from Jacksonville to lola by Steamer ia about one hundred and fifty miles. Orange Lake lies back of lola some ten miles. It can also be reached by stage from Gainesville, on the Atlantic, Golf and West India Transit Bailroad from Fernandina to Cedar Keys. No one who oomes to Florida to engage iu orange culture, or to thoroughly investigate tb ß process of making orange groves, should fall to visit Orange Lake. There he will find tne largest sweet as well as wild orange groves in America, and meet the most successful orange grove men in the Htate. I do not say that it is the best place to locate, for every man has his own peculiar views on this subject, and what would amply supply the desires of one person would in no meas ure meet the requirements of another. The fact that such an eminent fruit grower as Ilev.P. P. Bishop has made Orange Lake the field of his extensive and successful opera tions is, to my mind at least, an indisputa ble argument in favor of that section for orange culture. I Lavs no personal interest in the matter, but desire to impart a correct idea of the co entry to people abroad who desire to come to Florida to engage in fruit , raising. The additional fact that Mr. Bishop has his home at Kan Mateo (.of which I spoke in a previous letter) shows that he i prefers that section of the Htate for a family ; residence. There are others, however, who desire to live entirely at Orange Lake, round the shores of which are many attractive homes. Letters addressed to Rev. P. P. Bishop, Han Mateo, Putnam county, Fla.,will no doubt be satisfactorily replied to, in regard to fruit ooltnre.about Orange Lake. Sidney Herbert. THE OKEFENOKEE—WITHIN AND WITHOUT. Sketches of Incident and Adventures BT M. B. OBANT (PAUL TRANSIT), CIVIL EN GINEER. PART VIII. To recruit from this last tramp we spent one day in camp in comparative idleness; yet we had much to occupy us, writing home and to other friends, as well as, sailor-like, trying to repair the rents in our tattered garments. Rude mending ours, but we could scarce hope to get new ones in these diggings. We again took the Indian mound for our starting point, but in the opposite direction, our line progrossing at the rate of four miles a day. The Colonel found it necessary to pro cure anew chainman, and also the ser vices of someone in our company who was thoroughly cognizant of all the rami fications that border the Swamp. He therefore engaged Mr. Hacket, who knew all these windings, there being large bays about here calculated to mislead a person unacquainted with the region into the belief that they formed part of the main swamp. It was to avoid error in relation to such matters that Mr. Hacket was employed. We found this man, by his originality, oddity and many quaint say ings, quite an addition to our party, his exceeding good humor being one of his best qualities. The Colonel made nn agreement with him to give us his assistance, provided, as he said, “his old ’omau could spare him," and “I should also like you to make one of our number in our next thorough exploration of the Swamp.” “Ah, well that’s according to circum stances. Wait till that ere time comes. I agree to go with you now, runnin’ the line, as you say, to the pocket; and I can show you, for I know them, every turn and twist in the neighborhood, and every man thereabouts; but we’ll see about t’other business when the time comes.” The incidents and adventures of our camp life on this side of the Swamp were tame and inconsiderable, the inhabitants being of a decidedly more elevated stamp and position, from a greater proximity to civilization; and, therefore, there was not much odd and strange about them to attract our attention or cause amuse ment ; still, our acquaintance with one of these families I should like to extend to my gracious reader, as in numbers, aud manners, with the lati- Hde they allowed themselves in the re peal of marvelous tales of prowess or terror, they were quite as original other of our Okefonokeo acquaintances. On the northwest of the Bwamp, just within its entrance, lies the Hiokory Hammock, a small island of a mile in extent, so-called from the stupendous hickory trees on it—being covered with a surprisingly large growth of these su perb trees, interspersed only with equally flue specimens of ash and chinquapin, several of the latter measuring several feet in diameter at the base; but I will not venture to state Low tall were the hickories in their stately beauty—stately and grand their clean barked trunks and branches made them, though, like the ash aud chinquapin, leafless at that sea son—lest my veracity should be ques tioned. The ash trees of this hammock are so noted that a general gathering of the country people occurs on this ham mock at stated seasons for the purpose of burning the wood into ashes for soap. The soap of their make we had occasion to use, and can certify to its excellence Mr. Brentford, the gentleman to whoso knowledge I wish to bring the reader, resided near this side of the Swamp, aud we were encamped near his place, and a very wet spell of weather followed our location here, con tinuous aud pouring rains by night and day, almost preventing work. The whole country was inundated. We were driven from camp and gladly took refuge in his barn, which he kindly offered us, and were therein detained some several days in this deluge. An escape from our ark we occasionally made by repairing in the evenings to Mr. Brentford’s house, where we had the opportunity of listening to his renowned tales of wonder—not world, ouly Swamp-renowned stories. Now, Mr. Brentford was a geutlomau of uncommon pretensions and dignity for this region— in fact, the nabob in that part of the country—aud his recital of his adven tures and encounters with hears aud other monsters abounding around here, was to he received with all faith aud due honor accordingly. Having entered the house on our first evening’s visitation, Stephney, of course, accompanying us, we were very gracious ly received and introduced to his six un married daughters and the old lady, and invited to be seated at a table whereon, for our benefit, was placed an enormous pile of split sugar cane. With very little urging we commenced “chawing cane” as we were expected to do, and during this elegant employment on our part, our host began to tell us his encoun ter with his last hear. The old lady was the most interested and delighted of his auditors; her renewed interest at the recital of his oft told tales no doubt, in part, arising from the additional embel lishments with which he adorned them on every repetition. Be the cause what it might, his wife was undoubtedly one of his best listeners, laughing always in the right place, which we, unfortunately, being strangers and having no prompter, did not do. This recital commenced as follows: “Ole ’oman, poke in a lot o’ knots to make a fresh blaze.” This was done. “Ahem ! Well, strangers, does you see well ? Is lightwood bright enuff ?” “Oh! quite, sir; the fire is brilliant.” “Ahem ! Well, strangers, I’ll tell you jist how it was. Ahem! Well, ole 'omau; well, strangers, some time last winter I seen the tracks of a powerful bear for two or three mornings; thinks I to iuyself, ole chap, sez I, ole boy, I’ll get ye; so one morning I loaded my double-barrel with twenty-four buckshot in e ra barrel, and took my dogs and went arter him. I put the dogs on the trail and kept alongside with my gun. It were’nt long afore they started him; out he come, and sure enuff, a powerful big one he was. Why, strangers, I’se most afraid to tell you bow big he was, fearin’ you'll think I'm stretching. Eh ! ole ’oman ? Arter runnin’ him awhile I hear’n one o’ my dogs fetch a powerful squall; thinks I, that’s nigh on to killin’; so I ran on to help ’em. Thar he was, the powerful critter, a grinding my dogs up like powder, now, sez I, I’ll jist at you ! Strangers, who could stan’ that ? a man of any grit, could you? Well, I reckon I couldn t ?” “And what did yon do, boss?" ex claimed Stepney, too much excited to bear the prolonging of the tale without interruption. “Weil, I tell you as how I was in a powerful fix, kinder all over. Thar was my dogs a gitting tore up, and I darn’t to shoot fear o’ killen’ them, so I leaned the gun up agiu a tree and made at him. He yas a powerful one, now, I tell ye. I went right at him “What!” said Ned, “without anything to kill him with; didn’t he bite you ?” “Why do you s’pose I waa sich a tarnal fool as to take hold ? No, sir! I stood side o’ the tree and kep' a hollerin’ at the dogs, but he soon made away with them. How many was it he killed up that time time, ole 'oman ?” “Well, I recken seven.” “Yes, seven; seven of my best dogs tore up out an’ out, and arter finishin’ them he cum arter me like the very devil. Then was the time the Brentford blood showed. [Shades of Percys and Howards arise! Douglas and De Courci to the rescue ! Brentford blood—birth, blood and pedigree in the swamps of Georgia!] Every hair on my head stannin’ on an end, and, strangers, its few would a done as I done. ” “How?” asked Rover, “what did you do?” “Well, now, I tell you, and no mistake; he jist cum at me all he knew, his teeth a grinnin', and stannin’ on his hind legs, shaking out his forepaws at me like. It was an awful time. You see the gun was t’other side the tree, and thar I was, and thar was the bear a grinnin’ and stannin’ on his hind legs.” “Well, what the devil did you do?” exclaimed several, roused out of all cour tesy by our impatience for the crisis. “Why, I tuk the nearest tree; an’ ef I didn’t clime to the top faster’an ere a coon you ever seed it’s no tellin’; hain't another man could ha’ done it.” “I guess not, nohow!” exclaimed the admiring old dame, her eyes moistening. “And the ole man had to roast thar all night in the cold, that’s more.” [The combat, if the indulgent reader will re collect, began early in the morning.] “Nair a thing to eat; an next momin’ he cum home mighty pale and fainty like, an’ you may believe it, strangers, he hain't been at no more bears since that ar” “Hurrah for the Brentford blood !” we cried at the conclusion of this powerful story, and, yielding to an irrepressible burst of laughter, Stepney ahead of us, “Tek a tree, tek a tree; "ha-Kha-j, ha!” The old man looked glum, the old lady continuing to laud his astonishing climb ing powers, while one of the daughters interrupted us all with, “Tek some more cane, strangers; don’t be bashful, chaw ahead;” which we did for some time, listening to other tales of wonder and courage, the old man's self-complacency soon being restored, until the “powerful rain” ceased, when we took our departure aud retired to rest in the old man’s barn. When the excessive rains abated we continued running our line, finding little variation in the level of the Swamp at different points. Our days passed in wearying monotony; our evenings were a little enlivened by the simplicity, curi osity, and cleverness of our new em ploye, Mr. Hacket, though I must con fess we were, as I fear you are, reader, beginning to tire of crackerdom—their greenness and coarseness. In three weeks time we had nearly arrived at the pocket, the point determined on for the connection of our line, and were rejoic ingly congratulating ourselves on the speedy termination of our tiresome work. The last day, as we supposed, came, and at its conclusion, in gleeeome mood, merrily singing, we all returned to camp elated. Even Brahma, who hith erto had kept profoundly quiet, and man aged somehow to escape the hardships, thinking himself safe, began quite boldly to brag of his exploits. I suppose he thus intended to make up a hoard for home telling on our return, forgetting the truth of the old adage, “Never halloo till you’re out of the wood.” Dashed were our bright prospects, when, after supper, the Colonel informed us that he did not con sider our work by any means thoroughly or faithfully accomplished until he had made an exploration of the upper part of the Swamp. So we gulped down our dis appointment as best we might, and pre pared to do our duty. In the indulgence of our hopes we had forgotten that the Colonel had before discussed this plan of a third exploring expedition. But Brahma, poor much as we contemued his selfishness and coward ice, we could not but pity his consterna tion and dismay when the Colonel in formed him he was to make one of the party, and he feared there was no way of escape. “ Well, Brahma, all have been in the Swamp except you ; it’s your turn now.” “ Me, sar ! Oh, Mas Colonel, I’d ruder not, sar!” “Is it possible, Brahma? I am ashamed of you. Why, if you return home without going in you’ll be iaugheu at.” ‘SI dar say, sar; but I willin’for dat. I rader work hard a whole year ’an go in!” “Ah, Brahma ! but it’s only fair; I re quire two of the boys this time. Orange shall be one, and you the other.” “Oh, sar, you know Stepney is so clob ber. Can’t he go in my place ?” “By no means; each man must do his duty. When I- go you are to go, so be prepared.” "Well, sar, if I mus’ I mus’; but I doubt if I lib for cum out.” “Oh don’t despond, Brahma, I had a better time the second time than the first, and we all know so much about it now that _we can never have as hard a time again. How shall we arrange it, gentlemen ? I propose entering from the Hickory Hummock and cutting through directly east, a dis tance of seventeen miles.” Several of the party, suffering from in disposition, were unable to join it. Mr. Hacket having heard the discussion and had his pride aroused on the subject, volunteered to accompany us, saying : “If I die for it I’ll go. No man shall ever have it to say I backed out from hard work and danger. Colonel, I’m your man!” “Mr. Hacket, I really thank you. Your strength and good spirits will be of great service to us.” The exploring party was then organ ized ; it consisted of the Colonel, myself and Mr. Hacket, Orange and Brahma, and we took our departure for Hickory Hammock, the Colonel having left orders with the rest of the party to move round to the neighborhood of Mr. Brown’s, from whence he proposed that we should make our exit from Okefenokee. Capture of a Desperate Band of Railroad Robbers. —For the past two years numerous robberies have occurred on the local freight trains on the Wil mington, Columbia and Augusta Rail road, at a point about one hundred miles south of Wilmington, N. C., in many instances the trains being thrown from the track. It was known that a gang of outlaws and desperadoes inhabited a set tlement in the Pjedee swamps, and the conclusion was reached that they were the authors of the outrages. The last rob bery was perpetrated last week, and the goods and robbers were traced to a gang of negro thieves, who were loca ted about a mile and a half from the Peedee. The necessary evidence having been worked up, the manager of the road called into requisition the services of twenty-five well armed men from Wil mington, who successfully surrounded the robbers and captured fourteen of them without firing a gun. Among those captured are said to be several notorious outlaws whose deeds of blood and rapine inspired almost as much terror in the neighborhood as did the famous Lowery gang in Robeson county. Only one of those so badly wanted has escaped, and that was because he couid not be found. He is said to be the most fearful scoun drel in the entire Gibson gang. The peculiar dash and daring of the under taking can well be understood when it is stated that there are fully one hundred desperate men, with their families, resid ing almost within call of those captured last night. The Spanish-Cuban Question. — Washington, December 10. —It is under stood that at the Cabinet meeting to-day the last Spanish note was discussed at some length. Although this note is con ciliatory enough in tone, and in a certain sense satisfactory, yet it leaves the mat ter in such a state that it is not improb able that the President will be unable in the special message which he will shortly send in to announce to Congress a deter mination of any of the important ques tions which have been the subject of correspondence between the two govern ments. The President will, therefore, remit the disposition of the matter to Congress, and from expressions of members it may be expected that there will be some ex ception taken to the policy of the admin istration. A distinguished member of the House, who has served with dis tinction on the foreign affairs committee, and who will, without doubt, be again placed upon it, stated to-night his posi tive dissatisfaction with the intervention idea enunciated in the annual message. He said intervention could mean nothing but war; and there coaid be no excuse for that. Belligerent recognition,! he claimed, was the only proper course— Baltimore Sun, £ LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE. Napping—lnnirie Om or Upside Down— hat d'ye call- em* nnd What I* Its— Total Wreck of Steamer Lizzie Baker— Etchings and Itching*—Objects and Sub jects—.ll arine. [Specia. Correspondence of the Morning News.] Jacksonville, December 13, 1875. THE VEILED PROPHET. There is a party by the name of Long fellow, of whom, perhaps, everybody has heard, who palmed off upon an unsus pecting populace a few hundred lines of Puritanic language, under the title of “Miles Standish,” wherein he filched prodigiously from an insignificant personage known as William Shakspeare. He also wrote a very pretty fable about a maiden called Evangeline, in which he carried his pilfering of the laurels of dead facts to an alarming ex tent, and coached it in such uncouth phrase that the merit of originality would have been decidedly a redeeming feature. But as Longfellow's literary piracy is overbalanced by some genuine sparks of genius, we must, per force, acquiesce in the superior dictum of the literati, and condone his fault on account of his many striking virtues. For the many original things which he is chargeable with we forget his plagiarisms, yet when the Radical sans culottes resort to an observa tion which has been made by thousands before, as they have neither genius nor originality to boast of, it becomes simply ludicrous. They have lately been rioting in the stereotyped bravado, “SVe’il get him,” meaning your correspondent. There are several adventitious bipeds of this way of thinking, and with the simple remark, that the transaction may resemble the getting of Szigeth by the Turks when Yerinyi committed his little subterranean joke, we will add an other to the list of braggarts by the ensu ing truly narrative: About six years since a young man entered the charmed circle of Florida from a foreign clime. The subject of this memoir was, at the date referred to, impecunious and seedy but supposititiously honest; if, as Roche foucald says, no highly intellectual per son ever attained to wealth, his condi tion was such as to indicate an inter minable state of mental activity. He was an excellent chirographi6t, and under the supervision of Radicalism became a transcriber and an ultra Radical. He was created Deputy Clerk of Duval county; he has performed the official functions appertaining to the office of Notary Pub lic ; he has acted as inspector of elec tions, and has been the incumbent, it is believed, of various other positions, in which he has ever obeyed the dictates of his masters. Now, get some deliberately calm friend to hold you down, and then proceed. Will it be credited that, after a residence of six years, as the protege of the thieves iu power here “I, Frank B. Knapp, abjure all allegiance” to any foreign government, and become a naturalized citizen of the United States. It is even the case, and, unless I am terribly astray, a criminal one. Skeptics are requested to examine the records of Duval Circuit Court for November. Here’s another Radical cul prit, fellow-citizens and niggers. Where are your laws ? THERE WAS A LITTLE MAN. The number of tramps, sneak thieves and swindlers is getting to be quite formidable in this locality. Among them I recognize a fellow whom I remem ber vividly as having cheated a poor widow out of three dollars in Pensacola last March..—He is a regular bird of prey r aud is able' to v 'k>ok exactly seve.vp-fteys without wincing. This.incorrigible dead beat is back again with “another devil, scarcely better looking than hims-flf, and is moving heaven and earth for authority to establish a ring contrivance during the day, in order, peradventure, to devote his nights to another mode of making money. The monetary stringency which afflicts him on his arrival is generally transferred to his victims upon his departure. You wgjdd know him by the habit he has of 'looking in a different direction when he desires to inspect you. The police have not been slow in their efforts to check mate the villain, and it is feared that he will soon he reduced to the necessity of accepting office from the Stearns faction. When he concludes to sacrifice himself in that manner the fact will be duly com mented upon. WRECK OF THE STEAMER LIZZIE BAKER. The loss of this popular vessel at the mouth of the St. John’s cn Saturday will be heard of with the most unfeigned and universal regret. The Lizzie Baker has been plying on the inside route from Sa vannah to Florida for a number of years and departed according to schedule from Jacksonville on the morning of the 11th. She remained at Pilot Town until about three o’clock p. m., and started on her journey ouly to be metamorphosed into a total wreck on the bar. Her port bow came in contact with some hidden and unknown obstruc tion and she sank within three minutes in three fathoms of water. There were twelve passengers aboard, and some little confusion resulted from the accident, but, owing to the cool intrepidity of Captain Laßose, the passengers and their baggage were placed safely upon terra firma, and no lives were lost. The cargo consisted of fifty-two bales of cotton, five hundred sacks of cotton seed and about one hundred packages of miscel laneous merchandise. About eight hundred dollars in currency and the books and papers of the steamer were deposited in the iron safe, which was submerged with the ill-fated vessel. The vandalism which prevailed around the wreck cannot be too severely reprehended; wretches who would not have dared to lend a helping hand to the passengers or crew of the unfortu nate boat, were but too eager to strip her of every movable article that came within their rapacious reach. The Lizzie Baker was valued at about sixty-eight thousand dollars, seven eights of which was the property of Captain P. Laßose. As no insurance was had on the steamer, the Captain loses all. Captain Laßose is at this writing upon the scene of the disaster endeavoring to rescue a portion, at least, of the cargo. The Lizzie Baker is rapidly breaking up. It is rumored that a Boston firm contem plate putting on a steamer to take the Baker’s place immediately. EXTREMELY COOL. The following story is based upon an incident which occurred forty-five years ago. The occasion was the advent of a new steamer. Three newspaper men in considerately went aboard to admire her charms. They were presented to the of ficers, and acknowledging the introduc tion with the inimitable suavity of jour nalists, sought a seat on one side to await information. All at once the marines started down to the saloon, and one in descending addressed himself to the edi tors with “Well, Doctor, I’m going down to eat a bite; I'll see you after awhile.” “It is about dinner time,” said the venerable member of our party. “It’s cool,” said the Doctor. “Very,” rejoined your correspondent. “Oh, I don’t want anything to eat,” grimly remarked the Doctor. “Neither do I,” ejaculated our venerable companion. “I hvie dined already twice,” mildly put in your corres pondent. “Let’s go,” chimed in the three, and we went. A MARINE DISASTER. The schooner A. L. Fitch, which reached this place from Boston on Satur day, reports having fallen in with por tions of a wreck about one degree north east of St. John’s bar, where she took aboard an empty sailor's chest. The master of the Fitch judged the lost craft to have been about one hundred tons burthen, and it is conjectured to be the schooner Amelia Ann, bound from Nassau hither. SWEET LEMONS. An energetic firm of this city has on exhibition a vegetable curiosity in the shape of a quantity of sweet lemons, grown near Starke. They are utterly worthless, being tasteless, insipid and devoid of flavor. A man might pass his time more agreeably in chewing old boots than by eating this indescribable fruit. It is the acme of nothingness. CHANGE IN PROPRIETORSHIP. Mr. John B. Togni on Saturday con cluded the lease of the Metropolitan Hotel to Mr. A. C. Barnett, of Logans port, Ind., who will hereafter be known as proprietor. The accomolished Harry Parcells remains as chief clerk. The numerous friends of Mr. Togni will miss his ready repartee and sparkling wit from the Metropolitan. the test oath. Judge Frazer decided adversely to the applicability of the iron-clad oath in civil cases, and while he is not entitled to praise for simply performing a clear duty, it is cheering to contrast the spirit of independence which marked this opinion with the truckling subserviency of Randall, who would have consulted Steams about it. DEATH OF WM. STBEIBER. Mr. William Streiber, aged forty-nine years, died of abscess of the liver Sun day night. Deceased was a .member of the firm of Eppinger, Russel A Cos., and one ef the live men of Florida. PERSONAL. Mayor J. E. Hale, of Cedar Keys, was in the city on Friday, and reports his municipality as in a flourishing way. Professor H. G. Eastman and daughter, of Poughkeepsie, New York, are expected to arrive here during the week. THE NEW POST OFFICE threw open its doors yesterday and pre sents a much improved appearance. Adeianus. A SEW POLITICAL SOCIETY. The Foster-Blaine Letter—The Mystery Explained. [From the New York Times of Monday.] A Times reporter visited Mr. John Y. Foster, editor of the Newark Evening Courier, at his house in Newark yesterday, to make inquiries relative to the above letter. “I suppose,” said Mr. Foster, “that you wish to talk about that Blaine fiasco.” “Yes, sir,” replied the reporter. “Did you write the letter originally printed in the Maine Standard f ” “Yes, sir, I wrote that letter; or, rather, a letter substantially the same. There were some unimportant omissions in the published letter, bat all matters of public interest appeared just as I wrote them.” Mr. Foster then explained that the omissions of which he spoke were refer ences to conversations with Mr. Blaine. “The conversations,” said he, “occurred about a year and a half ago. I was talk ing with Mr. Blaine about his possible candidacy for the Presidential chair. He asked me what I thought of his chances in New Jersey. I told him that he could carry the State by a good majority, pro vided Mr. Frelinghuysen was not a can didate, and when in the letter I said, ‘Our danger is that the West will demand the nomination,’ I meant to have him under stand that he was in no danger from Mr. Frelinghuysen. But that is not the por tion of the letter that interests the public the most. The chief interest centres in the remarks about the ‘secret anti-Catho lic order,’ and I will try to explain my self touching that point. My attention was first called to this matter during the controversy that prevailed in this State during 1874 and 1875 relative to the con stitutional amendment that was in con sideration forbidding the granting of pub lic money for sectarian purposes. The amendment as finally accepted by the people was: “ ‘No donation of land or appropriation of money shall be made by the State or any municipal corporation to or for the use of any society, association or corpo ration. ’ “The most effective support of this amendment, as I soon discovered, came from the secret order of United American Mechanics, aud as the warfare progressed I became convinced that the order was growing more numerous and powerful every week. And when finally the special election for the question of approval (by the people) of this amendment came off last September, and this city, which had always been a Democratic city, gave a majority of 4,400 in favor of the amend ment, I was confident that this order of ‘United American Mechanics,’ whose foundation stone is hostility to sectarian legislation, was at the bottom of the whole matter. And this was the common talk with all intelligent people all over New Jersey. That was my starting point. About two weeks later a prominent Washiugton official, a member of) the National Republican Com mittee, called upon me in Newark and gave me further information. He told me that the Order of United American Mechanics was growing with amazing rapiditv all over the country; that in every Slate of tho Union divisions of the order had been established, and that when the next Presidential convention and election came off, I should be able to see for myself that the order would be, per haps, the great directing power. He told me that there were at least a score of Con gressmen at Washington, and a great many public officials, who were members of this order, and assured me that Gen. Grant himself was a deeply interested and active member. You notice that in my letter to Mr. Blaine I said, advising him. to ‘go in :’ ‘.ft can be arranged so that you can be initiated anywhere by one person.’ “I did not say this from my own knowl edge of the order, for I am not a mem ber pf it, but from the information of the official who said that he was then on his way by appointment to initiate Gen. Merritt, of New York, the recent Repub lican candidate for State Treasurer in New York. But it was not till some time later that l wrote to Mr. Blaine. Meanwhile the Baltimore city election had taken place, in which the Reform party coalesced with the Republicans. The ‘Potato-Bugs,’ as these reformers were called, were no other than members of a secret anti Catholic order. At any rate, that was my belief. There was another thing. By invitation Gen. Grant was present at the New Jersey State Fair held at Waverly, and was then the guest of the Hon. Amos Clark, President of the State Agricultural Society. He rode about the grounds with Mr. Clark considerably, and I was informed that he continually conversed on the subject of sectarian leg islation, expressing himself with consider able warmth in opposition to public grants of all kinds to sectarian institu tions. And it was only a little later that the President delivered his strong anti sectarian speech before the Army of Ten nessee at Des Moines. I was fully per suaded then that the views I had held were well grounded, and one daj 7 early in November, I sat down in my business office and rapidly penned the letter to Mr. Blaine. I sealed it and tossed it over to to the office boy, telling him to take it to the Post Office. But Mr. Blaine never received it. I was almost sure of this myself, because I received no reply, whereas generally Mr. Blaine is very prompt in answering my letters. It was perhaps three weeks before I heard from him, and then there was no reference in his letter to the matters treated of in my letter. His letter was dated November 29. Here it is Mr. Foster showed Mr. Blaine’s letter, which was a request that he have printed in several papers copies of a to prohibit sectarian legis? pSn] which had been drafted by Mr. Blaine and sent in an open letter “to a gentleman in Ohio.” “I thought it very strange that Mf. Blaine should take no notice of my letter; doubly strange because it was evident from the contents of his letter that he was deeply interested in all matters per taining to anti-sectarian legislation. But the most surprising thing of all came when I read ir. print my private letter to Mr. Blaine. It was the last thing that I expected to see published in a newspaper. I saw at once that Mr. Blaine had never received it, and that it must have come into the hands of that Augusta editor in an irregular and dishonorable way.” ME. BLAINE ASTONISED. Then came Mr. Blaine’s telegram Fri day afternoon. It said: “ ‘Come to Washington to-night. Whole thing incomprehensible.’ “I left home for Washington Friday night, and found Mr. Blaine at his break fast the next morning. His first excla mation was; ‘What in the devil does this mean ?’ In the conversation that followed he told me that he did not re ceive my letter, and that he saw it for the first at about 1:30 o’clock Friday af ternoon, on the arrival of the New York papers by the limited express. The man ner in which the letter was stolen was as inexplicable to him as it had been to me. But ho said that he should, if possible, find out something about the matter, and for that purpose he at once wrote letters to his Augusta friends. He denied having any previous knowledge of a secret anti-sectarian order in the Uni ted States, and I am sure that his first intimation of such e thing came from me. I have just one more word to say to you. It relates to a purported interview with me on Friday afternoon by a Tri bune reporter. From what appeared in the Tribune Saturday morniDg it would be inferred that I either denied writing the letter or desired to equivocate. No thing could be farther from the truth. The fact is that when the Tribune says that one of itp reporters called upon me Friday aftetigion it says what is not true. No YV&u7UM||porter saw me in reference to this matftfjmtil to <lay.” LETTER FROM LITE OAK. A Few ScatterlDK Paragraphs About Things in General in and Around the Town—How the Place Looks, and How it Could be Improved in its Appear ance—ilicks and His Libel Suit. [Special Correspondence of the MorniDg News.] Mead House. December 13, 1575. Finding myself here to-day, with the Circuit Court, Judge Bryson presiding, in session, it occurred to me that a few lines from the pen of your occasional correspondent might prove acceptable to your numerous readers. At this {joint, which is one hundred and seventy-nine miles trom Savannah, the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad forms a junction with the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad—one train going to Jacksonville and the other to Tallahassee. There is but little about the place that is really attractive, as it is widely scattered and presents much unimproved city prop erty to the eye of the visitor. There is here a very neat and commo dious court house, some fine stores and several attractive dwellings. But num berless unpainted and shaky looking buildings make the place look like the tree it was named after. That tree was once a Live Oak, but it is now a dead and decayed looking tree. The same is true of some portions of the town. There is, however, a prospect of new life being in fused into the people here. This hotel has just been opened in fine style, and in a few weeks the hotel at the depot will pass into new hands and be greatly im proved. Live Oak is not without profitable in dustries. Within the city limits I have noticed a carriage manufactory, a turpen tine distillery and an extensive steam cotton gin, with grist mill attached. There are also large steam saw mills in this vicinity. Although we had a heavy frost here last night, I am told that vegetable gardening or ‘‘truck farming,” as it is called, is also carried on about Live Oak with considerable success. From the large number of stores in the central part of the town I should judge that it was a very good business point. One thing, however, would help the ap pearance of the place very much indeed. I refer to the painting of the rusty and neglected looking stores and dwellings. The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad buildings have been greatly improved in this way, and the good work should be extended. Although court is in session, and the town lull of law and lawyers, I find that the irrepressible W. W. Keep, Jr., of the Live Oak Times, keeps his spirits up and holds his own against the Rev. W. Wat kin Hicks, whose suit for libel has been postponed to a future term. W. W. H. is now in New York, on a visit of consul tation, it is probable, to H. W. B. The town is full of people, and I have met here quite a number of prominent gen tlemen, including Judge E. J. Yann, of Madison. The traveling agent of the Morning News, Colonel Gentry, is skip ping about among the crowd, presenting the claims cf your excellent paper quite successfully, and you may expect a long list of new subscribers from here. The people up this way read your paper when they get it. Mrs. Judge Lightsey, a most excellent lady, who resides at Du pont, said to me to-day, in speaking of Georgia matters, “Oh, I'm thoroughly posted about such things, as I read the Morning News carefully every day.” And in my conversation with her I found that she had not only read carefully, but had remembered accurately what she had read. Almost the entire Florida travel passes through this place, as all the connections with other roads are made between here and Savannah. Passengers coming via the Chattahoochee river and Tallahassee con nect at this point with the trains on the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, which go through direct from your city to Jackson ville. The new schedule makes things lively on this route, and keeps the con ductors busy. And just here I can re mark that no railroad has a more effi cient and gentlemanly corps of of ficials, as the traveling public can testify. My thanks are due Con ductor Lovick P. DuPont for many courtesies during my trips over this line. Nor should I forget to acknowledge the untiring attentions of Mr. W. W. Keep, Jr., of the Times, who with his excellent lady, have spared no effort to make my visit to this town pleasant and profitable. May he ever keep his present shadow at its full dimensions, and finally cast it over a fine orange grove in Gads den county. Chatham. SOU ill GEORGIA CONFERENCE. First Day’s Proceedings. [Special Correspondence of the Morning New?.] Americus, December 15. The Conference met in annual session in the Methodist Church in Americus, December 15, 1875, Bishop David 8. Dogget presiding. Religious service was conducted by the Bishop in reading the second chapter of the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy, and singing and prayer. The Bishop, in his opening address, gave expression to his pleasure in being privileged to preside over this body of Christian men. He has been in the epis copal office for over ten years, holding over fifty Conferences, but this is the first opportunity he has had to visit this part of Georgia. The Secretary of the last Conference called the roll, and seventy-one clerical members present and ten laymSn. Revs. S. D. Clements, R. J. Corley, R. M. Lockwood and R. L. Honiker, were elected Secretaries. On motion of Rev. A. Wright, Rev. S. S. Sweet was elected editor of Confer ence minutes. The presiding elders retired and made the following nominations for standing committees: On Public Workship—Revs. J. S. Key and T. T. Christian. Sunday Schools—Revs. G. C. Clarke, G. S. Johnson, I. Hardeman, S. R. Wes ton and Robt. L. Wiggins. The hours for meeting and adjourning were fixed at 9 a. m. and 1 p. m. The usual report from the Nashville Publishing House was read, but as it has been presented to every Conference, and published as many times, I gomit it. It was referred to the Committee on Books and Periodicals. Rev. A. J. Dean was elected to fill a vacancy in the Examining Committee, occasioned by the transfer of Rev. J. O. Branch to California. The report of the Trustees of Wesleyan Female was submitted. It was referred. Rev. Mr. Mcßryde, of the Presbyte rian church, was introduced. The regular Conference business was taken up and the names of the following elders were called, characters examined and passed: J. 0. A. Clarke, E. H. Myers, A. M. Wynn, J. S. Jordan, J. D. Mauldin, N. D. Morehouse, F. A. Branch, S. D. Clements, E. J. Burcb, J. W. Hin ton, A. Wright, S. S. Sweet, G. G. N. Macdonnel, T. A. Griffiths, J. W. Sim mons, C. J. Toole, R. B. Lester, W. W, Tidwell, W. F. Robinson, W. M. D. Bond, W. M. Hayes, J. W. Burke, 0. L. Smith, W. C. Bass, C. W. Smith, J. B. McGhee, R. J. Corley, J. O. Branch, B. F. Breedlove, L. B. Payne, George S. JohnsoD, W. W. Stewart, Walter Knox, J. P. Wardlaw, E. J. Rentz, J. B. Ward law, Lovick Pierce. The reports from all parts of the Con ference are more encouraging than could have been expected considering the stringency of the times. The preachers have been better supported and the be nevolent collections are larger than any one would have supposed. The weather is very fine and the attendance very good. The people are generous in their hospi tality and entertainment. The application for admission into the Conference is less than usual. Few young men within the bounds of the Conference are looking in that direction. A few transfers have been received, among them Dr. Josephus Anderson, of Florida. Simon. Captain Peter Steelman, of the schooner Isle of P.nes, was struck on the head by Arthur Randall, a colored sailor, at Hampton Roads, on Saturday, while getting the vessel under way, and died at 4 p. m. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. Summary of the Week’s Dispatches CONGRESSIONAL XOTES. Washington, December 14.—Confirma tions : Riley, Consul to Zauzibar ; Daniel S. Richardson, of California, Secretarv or the Legation to Mexico ; Volney V. Smith, of Arkansas, Consul to St. Thomas ; Chas. P. Lincoln, of Mississippi, Consul to Canton: Brady and Chamberlain, Supervisors of In ternal Reveuue ; A. Clark, Collector of the Second Georgia District ; Win. F. Grem, of the Sixth Tennessee District; Parker, Post master at New Orleans; Rixinger, at Clarks ville, Tenn.; Wilson, at Murfreesboro,Tenn.; Bidwell, at Yazoo Citv, and Cox, at Farm ville, Ya. In the House, the following bills were offered: By Blaine—-Proposing an amendment to the constitution, providing that po State shall make any laws respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and teat no nuuev raised by taxation in any State for the sup'- porl of the public schools, or derived from any public fund therefor, or auy public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect, and that no money or lands so devoted shall be divided among religious sects or denomina tions; also making the President’s term six years, and afterwards ineligible. By Darrall, of Louisiana—To amend the act of the 3d of March, 1871, incorporating the Texas Pacific Railroad Company bill— similar to West’s, which was introduced in the Senate. By Morey, of Louisiana—To remove the political disabilities from all citizens of the United States, and to prescribe an oath of office. By Davis, of North Carolina—To repeal the law forbidding the payment of accounts, claims and demands of Southern citizens for quartermaster’s stores, etc., and appro priating $500,000 to pay for the same. Fort, of Illinois, offered the following resolution, and demanded the previous question on its adoption: Resolved, by the House of Representa tives, That in all subordinate appointments under any officers of the House, it is the judgment of the House that wounded Union soldiers, who are not disabled from the per formance of duty, should be preferred. A standing vote, on two seconding the previous question, showed 97 Republicans voting in its favor, and 104 Democrats against it. The vote was taken by tellers with a like general result—the report of the tellers being ayes 97, noes 126—50 the pre vious question was not seconded. Cox, of New York, then offered the fol lowing as an amendment to the resolution, and moved the reference of both resolutions to the Committee on Accounts, and demand ed the previous question : Resolved, That inasmuch as the union of the States had been restored, all the citizens thereof are entitled to consideration iu ap pointment to office under this government. Hale, of Maine, inquired whether Cox’s resolution was offered as a substitute for Fort’s. The Speaker replied that ho understood it to be offered as an amendment. Starkweather, of Connecticut, made ob jection that, as the State of New York had been already called, the gentleman (Cox) would not put in a resolution now. The Speaker ruled that it was too late to make objection. Fort said he had tried to make the ob jection as Boon as the resolution was offered. Hale, of Maine, iuquired whether the House had acted on the amendment. The Speaker—lt has not. That would be acting on the subject matter of the resolu tion now, which is not the purpose of the gentleman from New York. His purpose is to'refer both resolutions to a committee. Cox—The original resolution was an ad captandum affair. My resolution is in the nature ot an amnesty. (Laughter.) Reagan, of Texas, made a point of order that neither the original resolution nor the amendment was in order ; that neither pro posed anything which the House was au thorized or required by law to do. The Speaker overruled the point of order,stating that if it was teuablo it came too late. The vote was taken by yeas and nays and re sulted in yeas 168, nays 102, a strict party vote, so both resolutions were referred to the Committee on Accounts. The Speaker appointed as Regents of the Smithsonian Institute Clymer, of Pennsyl vania, and McCrary, of lowa. In the Senate, Patterson presented a peti tion of the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor of Charleston for au appropriation for the improvement of the harbor at that place. The resolution calling for the report of unsettled accounts and defalcations, was referred to the Committee on Finance. The resolution to allow McMillan 10 with draw his credential was taken up. The mo tion to refer to the Committee on Elections and Privileges was lost, and the permission to withdraw passed by a strict party vote, except Dawes incidentally. Louisiana affairs were ventilated, except as they bore upon Pinchback, to whose case no allusion was made. During the dis cussion Howe said he did not believe in the country or Senator on the floor who did not believe the KcE'ueiy Government a sham. Bayard said he believed in his soul that McEnery was the legal Governor of Lousi ana, and had been kept from his place by usurpation and Federal power. There was slight applause iu the galleries, but it was promptly checked. The programme now is to announce the committees on Tuesday next and adjourn the House on Wednesday to the 6th of Januarv. The Cabinet considered several appoint ments. The President, with the Secretary of the Navy, Postmaster General and Attorney General, will visit the centennial grounds on Friday, the 17th. Washington, December 15. — 1n the House, Robbins, of North Carolina, introduced a resolution reciting that the tobacco trade is liable to derangement by reason of the un certainty in regard to legislation concerning the tax on tobacco, and it is desirable to quiet apprehensions on .that subject, and de claring it to be the purpose of the House to allow a modification of the present tax on tobacco, to go iu effect before the Ist of July, 1876. He moved the previous question on its adoption. Reagan, of Texas, remarked that there was nothing in the resolution that the House was called upon to deal with. It might be a very appropriate resolution for a town meeting, but not for Congress. Robbins remarked that the only purpose of the resolution was to assure tobacco dealers and growers that the tax would not be interfered with before next July, so that they might know what to calculate upon. Cox said he would not tie his hands by voting for such a resolution. It should be referred to a committee. The House re fused to second the previous question, and the resolution was referred to the Commit tee on Ways and Means. L. H. Fitzhugh, Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, has completed his ap pointments : J. W. Jennings, of Texas, is his Assistant; A. W. Fletcher, of Pennsyl vania, Superintendent of the Folding Room ; A. R. Reese, of Georgia, Superintendent of the Document Room; C. C. Aleshire, of Ohio, Assistant Superintendent of the Docu ment Room ; L. Fitzhugh, of Texas, Docu ment File Clerk. The Assistant Doorkeepers are divided among the States as follows: New York, 3; Arkansas, 2; and one each to Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and one from the National Soldiers Home. The Clerks in the folding room are divided as follows : Ten nessee, 2; Texas, 2; Georgia, 2; Pennsyl vania, 2, and one each to Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, West Virginia and Illinois. Washington, December 15.—1n the Senate, Cooper gave notice that ho would on Tuesday next ask the consideration of resolutions commemorative of the life and services of his late colleague, Andrew Johnson. Morton submitted the following resolu tion: Whereas, It is alleged that the late elec tion in Mississippi for members of Con gress, State officers aDd members ot the Legislature was characterized by great frauds, violence and intimidation, wherebv the freedom of the ballot was in a great measure destroyed, a reign of terror established, ballot-boxes stuffed, and spurious tickets imposed upon voters, so that a popular majority of more than 25,000 was overcome, and in its place was given an apparent bnt fraudulent maj rity of more than 25,000; and, whereas, the Legislature thus chosen will have the election of a Senator to repre sent that State in this body; and, whereas, if these allegations are true, a great num ber of citizens of the United States have had their rights under the Constitution and laws of the United States wickedly vio lated ; therefore. Resolved , That a committee of five Sena tors be appointed by the chair to investi gate the truth of the said allegations, and the circumstances attending said election, with power to visit said State in their inves tigations, to send for persons and papers, and to use all necessary process in tne per formance of their duties, and to make re port to the Senate before the end of this session of their investigation and findings. At the request of Bayard, of Delaware, the resolution was laid over until to-morrow. Morton also submitted the following ; Resolved by the Senate, the House of Rep resentatives concurring, That the people of the United States constitute a nation and are one people in the sense of national unity. Resolved, That the Government of the United States is not a compact between the States in their municipal and corporate char acters, but was formed by the people ot the United States in their primary capacity; but the rights of the Btatss are defined and guaranteed by the Constitution, and not by any outside theory of State sovereignty ; that the rights of the States cannot be en larged or diminished except by an amend ment to the Constitution. Resolved, That the rights of the States have the same sanction and security in the Constitution' as the rights and powers of thp national government, and that local and do mestic governments by States within the Unfits qf tfie Constitution is an ttieuii/' part of our free republican system hRSS ££3* that ‘a state consiJ- the Union m the idea of nationality, is m conflict with the spirit and structure of the Constitution, ana should be regarded as j - - having been forever extinguished by the suppression of the rebellion. Stevenson, of Kentucky, submitted the following : Resolved, That the Secretary of the Trea sury be and he is hereby requested to trans mit to the Senate the copies of all letters, telegrams, orders and instructions relating to the organization and prosecution of the alleged infractions of the internal reveuue laws at St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee, if not deemed incompatible with the public in terest. After a long argument and much objection from the Republican side, Steven son withdrew it. A large number of private bills were intro duced : After the executive session the Senate ad journed. Nominations—J. B. Stickney, District Attorney of Northeru Florida; D." B. Corbin, of South Carolina; H. B. Whitfield, of Northern Mississiupi; R. W. Kealey. United States Marshal of Southern Alabama; W. F. Prosser, of Middle Teunessee. Confirmations—Ringgold, Appraiser of Merchandize at New Orleans; Clarke, Post master at Eufaula. In the House several financial and postal bills were introduced and referred. Randall introduced a bill removing all disabilities imposed by the third section of the fourteenth article of the amendments to the Constitution. The bill was -et for Tues day of next week immediately after the reading of tho journal. Rainey, of South Carolina, introduced a bill to abolish the Committee of Freed man’s Affairs of the House. Holman, of Indiana, offered the fol lowing resolution : Resolved, that, in the judgment of this House, iu tho present condition of financial affairs of the government no subsidies iu money, bouds, public lands, indorsement or pledge of the public credit, should be grained by Congress to associations or cor porations engaging or proposing to engage in public or private enterprises, and that all appropriations from tho public treasury ought to be limited, at this time, to such amounts only as shall be imperatively de manded by public services. Adopted—yeas, 223; nays, 30. Springer, of Illinois, offered a resolution doclanng that, in the opinion of the House, the precedent established by Washington and other Presidents of the United States, in retiring from the Presidential office after their second term, has become, by universal concurrence, a part of our republican sys tem of government, and that any departure from that time-honored custom would bo un wise, unpatriotic, and fraught with evil to our free institutions. Adopted—yeas 232,nays 18. Among the nays were Haralson, of Alabama, Hoge, of South Carolina; Hyman, of North Carolina; Nash, of Louisiana; Smalls, of South Carolina; Walls, of Florida; Walls, of Mississippi, and White, of Kentucky. Ou motion of Blaine, Rainey’s resolution abolishing the House Committee on Freed men’s Affairs was agreed to. The House passed a concurrent resolution to adjourn over from next Monday till Tues day, tho 4th of January. Adjourned till Friday. Washington, December 16. —1n the Sen ate, Morton, calling up his Mississippi reso lutions, said he had a large number of doc uments written by a number of persons in Mississippi, detailing the circumstances attending the recent election. The state ment ho proposed to lay before the Senate was not of Ins knowledge, but was received from others. 110 reviewed the elections in Mississippi as far back as 1869. The last election was 34,000 higher than any vote polled. The Democratic vote iu 1875 was 96,806, against 44,286 iu 1873. The Republi can vote fell off somewhat, but not in a cor respondiug ratio. He read letters showing intimidation in several counties. Bayard said this resolution, so far as lie knew, was without a precedent iu the Sen ate, and he would like to inquire of the Senator from Indiaua (Morton) under what clause of the constitution of the United States he found authority to make inquiry in a case of this kind. Morton said he did not propose now to go into a constitutional argument upon this quostion. He had only to say that it had been decided heretofore, as in the Louisiana case. Besides, the Enforcement Act had been violated in Mississippi, and the blow had fallen upon the colored people, as it was intended to. Bayard denied that the Louisiana case was similar to this. That investigation was un der a clause of the constitution which made the Senate the sole judge of the claims for seats in that body. If the law had been violated in Mississippi, tho courts wero open, and this was a government of law. Those courts wero open for the indictment of offen ders, and for damages against those who wronged others. Iu those courts the remedy was to be found. It could not be said that the political or party friends of the Senator from Indiaua in Mississippi had not a full equal chance before the law, either in the United States or State courts. The officers all over the State, from the Governor down to the constable, wero of the Senator’s party, and if they could not pun ish violators of law, it was a sad confession for the Senator to make. When the new Senator from Mississippi came here with his credentials, if tlgap were grounds that he was not qualified, then the Senate could sit as judges, but until that time no action could be taken. When before in the history of this country did the Senate of the United States propose to take action in regard to the election of members of the other house of Congress, as this resolution proposed to do ? The Constitution provides that each bouse shall be tho judge of tho qualifications of its own monlbers. The Governor of Missis sippi asked for Federal troops before the late election to keep the people of that State in awe. The correspondence between him and the head of the Department of Justice wai known to all. Governor Ames failed to show that any cause existed for Federal in terference. Mr. Bayard then referred to the late message of the President, and said there was not one word in it about Southern atlairs. The Department of Justice had its agents down there gathering information for the guidance of that Department, yet from that Department there was not one word or suggestion as to these alleged wrongs. If these things ex isted then it was remarkable that the Presi dent of the United States maintained a dead silence on the subject. All this matter comes front the Senator from Indiana, who always seemed to have in his possession statements hostile towards the peace of the Southern States. This was a revolutionary proposition. It was but ano'her step iu the march towards the consolidation of power, which the people of this country must see. This was tho first time that tho Senate of the United States had sought to take testimony concerning the election of members in oth ir house of Congress. At the time these Southern people were found helpless and bleeding at the foot of the Senator from In diana and his party, the Senators of his (Bayard’s] side asked when the time was to come that the Southern States could be rehabilitated. The Senator from Indiana (Morton) was asked then what warrant he found in tho Constitution for his action, but ho could give no answer. When asked why he would interfere with Lou isiana or Mississippi any more than he would with New Jersey or New York, he answi red, “ We claim the right to deal with the South ern States.” In the Senator’s own State of Indiana there had been a great change in the popular vote recently. Morton—Yes, and there might be a change in the popular vote in the Senator’s State (Delaware) soon. Bayard—Yes, sir; but if my people ex- Eress their ballot against me at the ballot ox, I will not come here and ask the Senate to revolutionize my country. There was applause in the galleries. The Vice President announced that if it was re peated he would direct the Sergeant-at- Arms to clear the galleries. Bayard, resuming, said the Sen'e bv giving assent to the proposition 0 f the Sen ator from Indiana would declare that elec tions in the States Were to be judged by the Senate of thfe United States. Thurman said the resolution of the Sena tor from Indiana had not been referred to a,ny committee, it was brought in by the Senator yesterday, and contained a pre amble, which says : “Whereas, it is al leged that these disorders existed.” He (Thurman) asked, by whom it was alleged. Not by the President of the United States or any department of the govern ment, or by any paper before the Senate. It was alleged by papers, the address of which was in the private pocket of the Sen ator from Indiana. Did that Senator want to forestall the judgment of the Senate by going into an inquiry which should not come to the Senate before 1877, when it came to decide upon the credentials of the person whd might come there claim ing a seat from the State of Mississippi ? Other Senators would be in the chamber then to decide that question, and this Senate had no right to forestall their judgment. He referred at some length to the Lou isiana case, and argued that it was no precedent for the action now proposed. In the Louisiana case the investiga tion was not ordered until after the credential? of the persons claiming seats from that State were presented. It would not do for him (Thurman) to say that this was an attempt on the part of the Sen ator from Indiana to get up an electioneer ing document at the public expense, but when the Senator (Morton) asked himself what right the Senate had to pass such a resolution, he would find it impossible to give himself a satisfactory answer. He (Thurman) agreed with the Senator from Delaware that the courts were open in Mississippi and if the enforcement act had been violated the offenders could be pun ished. Morton said that, in his opinion, this de bate on the part of his Democratic friends was simplv extraordinary. It was in con .,ict with the whole of their course in the Louisiana ease. He argued that the Louis iana investigation was ordered by the Sen ate before the credentials of the applicants for seats were presented, and he be lieved the investigation was ordered with “}® approbation of his friends from Ohio (Thurman) and Delaware (Bayard). Now they had discovered there was no power t / ‘ make an investigation. He |V argued that the power to mak* “ - -- orto . n l gafion was derived fron> - - j- 01 ? lnve st ! - the constitution. r B ? veral clauses in the Unit'*'’ That instrument, said & V- .-** States, must guarantee —pnblican form of government to every State. If the ballot-boxes were to be stuffed, as in Mississippi, the whole republic would be overthrown. His friend from Dele ware (Bayard) had said this was a revolution ary measure. It was not a revolutionary measure, bnt was to guard against revolu tion. The Senator (Bayard) said if the Re publicans should carry his State he wnnU not come here for relief. He (MortonT wa. quite sure that if the Republicans were to carry that State by the means wbich ths Democrats carried Mississippi, the last of it would never bo heard. The Democrat* would let these outrages go on, and if the Republicans made a fuss about i then thev were t°id that they were lighting the fires of discord. Gordon, of Georgia, said he arose to cor rect to some extent some of the impressions about Mississippi which the Senator from Indiana had received from the newspanera but as he could not catch all tho Seuatoi said, he would like the debate to go over until he could read his remarks. The Sen ate meets to-morrow. THE VIRGINIA SENATOR. Richmond, December 15.—The exeitine contest tor United States Senator, which b ig occupied the time and attention of the Con servative Legislature of Virginia for four days, was brought to a close this afternoon in the re-nomioation of Hon. John \V. John ston, the pres nt incumbent. Under the new rule, adopted at the morning session caucus, seven candidates were placed in nomination, and the balloting was resumed Four ballots resulted in the dropping 0 r Judge Christian, Hon. John T. Harris, Hon. A. H. H. Stuart and ex-Governor Smith successively iu the order named, leaving t m field to Senator Johnston and Hon John Goode, Jr., Representative of the Second Congressional District, and State Senator Juo. W. Daniel. The roll was called for the next ballot, the forty-fourth, auiid the most profound silence. This ballot resulted- Johnston 55, Daniel 45, Goode 39. Upon the announcement of this vote, and the name of Mr. Goode would be dropped the excitement became go great that some minutes elapsed before the roll of the forty-fifth ballot could be called Quiet being restored, the roll was called with the following result: Johnston 75, Daniel 64. Johnston received only three votes more than the number required to make the nomination. The chairman an nounced the result of the ballot, and amid great applauso the caucus adjourned sine die. The second ballot was taken to-day in both houses for United States Sonator, re sulting the same as vesterday, but to morrow tho ballot will result in the re-elec tion of Senator Johnston. VIRGINIA POLITICS. Richmond, Va., December 14.—The Con servative caucus to nominate a United States Senator met at 10 a. m., and pro ceeded to ballot. Seven ballots (thirty-three iu all) were taken with no result. Flonrney has been finally dropped. Tucker, Smith and Stuart were dropped twice each, aud Johnston, Goode and Letcher once each. Ihe last ballot. Goode having been dropped on! the previous one, resulted as fol lows: John W. Daniel 60, ex-Governor oumh tbo Goode men merely votinor for Smith or not at all. Adjourned till after tho session of the General Assemblv, at which the formal ballot will bo taken 'for Senator as required by law. Previous to adjourning the caucus adoped a rosolation that in vot ing for Senator in joint Assembly tho Con servatives so -catter their votes as to prevent au election until the nomination is made bv caucus. At noon a vote was taken in both Houses for Senator, with no result, the members scattering their votes so that tho highost number for one person didn’t exceed fifteen. Tho caucus again met, aud resulted in tho following balloting: For the 34th ballot Daniel 69, Letcher 59. The latter was finally dropded, when Goode was renominated. On the 35th, Daniel was 61 and Goode 63. Daniel was dropped and Johnston renominated. On the 36th Goode was 63 and Johnston 65. Goode was dropped aud Judge Christian renominated. THE BREMEUHAVEN EXPLOSION. Dresden, December 16.—Win. K. Thomae sen, since his attempt at suicide, has made a full confession at Bremeu. He was born in New York, and married a New Orleans lady. He has four children, the youngest a baby. Ho lived iu Virginia during the war and engaged iu blockade running, whereby he grew rich. Since 1866 he has resided here and at Leipsic, and last at Sthrelon, near Drosden. He appears to have lost his money and become embarrassed. He was twice iu America during the past summer. The last time he went ithout the knowl edge of his family, and when be returned he wrote his banker here that he had made arrangements enabling him to pay his debts in December. Ho was highly esteemed by the people about here. Bremen, December 16. —Thomasson died to-day trom the effects of iujuries indicted by himself. Ho stated that his true name was Wm. King Thompson, and that he was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. His age is be lieved to be about thirty five years. He confessed that he was onoo the Captain of the vessel Old Dominion, and that he ch .nged his name to avoid being proseented for running the blockade during the civil war in America; that he bought the explo sive material iu the United States, and had it forwarded to his address; that tbe clock work attached was manufactured in Ger many, aud was set to explode the charge in eight days. SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES. Washington, December 14.—The present distinctive point at issue between the United States and Spain is stated in non-official, but usually well-informed circles, as fel lows ; The United States ask—First. That in future all American citizens in Cuba, ac cused of violation of the law, shall be tried by the civil courts, and not hy military tri bunals, with all tho rights in such cases as are secured by the seventh article of the treaty of 1795. Second. That all sentences, where American citizens have heretofore been tried by military tribunals,, shall be annulled. Spain iu some degree concedes tho claim of the United States to the first proposition, agreeing that in future American citizens accused of violation of law shall bo tried by the ordinary tribunals, with the right io be heard by coun sel, to summon witnesses and to employ all other necessary safe guards to the accused, but with tho reser vation that all such trials shall bo according to the law of 1821, which provides for mo'g expeditious proceedings than those r ' L the civil courts for common crimes ; u t j^ e 0 f peace. She also affirms to rq vi8 e all sen tences passed by courts-ma' lial on American citizens when it shall be Batißfactorily „ hown that sucli sentence' were in violation of established law .. POOR OLD “BAB.” Washington, December 15.—The Presi j,eD received the following from General _>abcock, dated Chicago, Hi., December 12: To the President: Sir —Since my request for a court of in quiry, as the only apparent means open to me at the time of refuting tho charges made against mo at St. Louis, a bill of indictment has been found in tho United States Court, and I should consequently bo afforded a means of vindication before that tribunal. I, therefore, respectfully suggest that the order convening ihe court of inquiry be re voked, as I trust my case mav be reached at an early day in the United States Court. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. E. Babcock, Colo Del of Engineers, U. S. A. Tho President acceded to tho request, andC the following order was issued from th<> War Department: The eourt of inquiry appointed in Special Order No. 246, of December 4tb, 1875, from this office, to assemble at Chicago, is hereby dissolved, and the members and judge Ad vocate will return to their stations. By order of the President of the United States. E. D. Townsend, Adjutant General. FROM CONGOLINA. Columbia, S. C., December 16— A caucus of the Radical members of the State Legis lature was held last night, arid the first business to-day was to adopt resolutions for a joint session of both houses aDd to pro ceed at once to the election of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court aud eight Cir cuit Judges for the State, which resultod as follows: Associate Justice, Wright, negro. Circuit Judges: Ist Circuit, Whipper, negro; 2d, Wiggin, carpet-bagger; 3d, F. J. Moses, Jr., ex-Governor; 4tb, Townsend; sth, Mackey; 6th, Carpenter; 7th, Northrop; Btb, Cook— all Republicans. The election of Whipper, IViggin and Moses, tbe firs- for the Charles ton Circuit, the most important in the State, creates regret and indignation among the best class of Republicans and the people generally. SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICS. Columbia, December 15. — Th e Tax- Payers’ Convention met last nigh* w itH full delegations from twenty counties’ Resolu tions wero adopted recounting the extravagance and corruption of the admin istration of the State and county govern ments since 1868, recognizing some ame lioration under Q'ovbrnor Chamberlain, and recommends the continuance ot Tax Unions throughout the State to turning sources for the reforma tion and redemption of the State; also calling attention to the disregard of the pro visions of the Constitution as to registra tion and recommending the registration of all qualified voters through the tax unions to protect the purity of elections. The Con vention adjourned this evening to meet at the call of the President and Executive Committee. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. Lancaster, Pa., December 14. — The State Grange of Patrons of Husbandry com menced its semi-annual session here this, afternoon. About eight hundred represen tatives from all parts of the State are pre sent, including many ladies. The greater part of the day was occupied in addresser, reports, and the usual preliminary busioe'g. The report of the Secretary shows a wealthy condition of the local granges, numbering in all about six hundred *7,a thirty. Mr. Cannon, of Lancaster county, delivered a brief address of we'. C ome. The number of representative w jq \ je considerably in creased 'l' Qr ing the night and morning. AUGUSTA NOTES. Augusta, Ga., December 16. — ley and George E. Ratcliffe three o’clock this atternoon Ferry, S. C. Tilley was shot groin at the lir.-t lire, and traded from the ietl side. serious, but is not necessarily demanded a m-c ■ 1 nr "> fused on account of hiaH - challenged Rate!. he for his character. Mr. Pel.fi.. toll left and wi;i epend Friday in t.i^H a nee on the Lc..suture ' '