Newspaper Page Text
Savannah Weekly fleur^
WATIRDAT. JAKI. AKV gg, 1576.
The Hitch in the Centennial Grab.
There seem* to be • hitch in the Cen
tennial job which, under the spur of the
Philadelphia lobby, Congress was to have
put through with a rush on Monday.
We had it from various sources that th<
thing was all cut and dried, and that the
million and a half of dollars was to be
popperl into the hands of the Commis
sioners so quick that it would make theit
heads swim. That free ride, free feed
and free wine, at an outlay of ten thou
sand dollars, had not been without the
desired effect, and whatever constitutional
scruples some unsophisticated member
of Congress may have felt, had been en
tirely dissipated by the overwhelming
hospitality and gushing patriotism of the
Philadelphians. But after all the job
hangs fire, and the prospect of its final
accomplishment is growing daily less en
couraging.
The centennial patriots made a mis
take when they failed to take a vote on
their appropriation bill before the fumes
of their champagne had got out of the
heads of their Congressional guests. But
they made a still greater mistake when
they allowed Blaine to make his cowardly
and malignant attack on ex-President
Davis nntil after they bad secured their
prize. Blaine’s brutal speech on his am
nesty amendment was not a good argu
ment in favor of either the constitutional
ity nT the decency of the centennial appro-
noEMbgm m.
-y . vile -slanders of the Southern
a nnltlO
people, or in his relentless and bitter
persecution of a disfranchised and de
fenselosH man, to kindle in the bosom of
Southern members a glow of generous
enthusiasm in behalf of a pretended fra
ternal reunion in Philadelphia on the 4th
of July next.
The effect of Blaine’s onslaught has
been to delay action on the Centennial
job, and, in such a case, “delays are dan
gerous.” Like other crimes,
“It 'twi rc done when ’ll* done, then it were well
’Twere done quickly.”
But Congress will now have a little
time to reflect, and with sober reflection
the Democrats in that body are not likely,
with the cry of retrenchment and reform
upon their lips, to vote a million and a
half of the people's money to a private
speculation, in utter disregard of the con
stitution and the reiterated declarations
of a previous Congress. Such an act
would be the most shameless stultifies
tioD, and would be a powerful weapon in
the hands of their enemies in the coming
contest for the control of the govern
ment.
The Amnesty Debate.
Commenting on the amnesty debate in
the Houho on Tuesday, the Nashville
\merican says: “The speech of Hon.
Hen. Hill, of Georgia, was a remarkable
effort -remarkable not less for the pains
taking, convincing way in which ho met
oven ono of Blaine’s statements and ar
guments, than for the <uo3t earnest and
olo<|uent pororation, glowing with patri
otic and fraternal sentiment, which ap
pears to have fairly electrified the House.
If Mr. Hill had the unpleasant
task to perform of going over
the story of the war with its
ueoessary horrors, it wus something
he could not evade, since it was foroed
on him by the sanguinary tirade of ex
Speaker Blaine. That Presidential aspi
rant and able demagogue deliberately
made the issue, and now it remains to be
ween side w'ff* profit most
which th Republicans strenu-
Hnly seek to reopen the bloody chasm.
nVe are unwilling to believe that the
Northern people desire to have the war
fought over agaiu, in Congress or out of
it, but that in common with the peoplo
or su., South, thoy arc anxious for those
things which make rm peace, and which
will properly signalize tho centoimial year
of the republic.
H is claimed, by recent experiments
f made in Brooklyn, that the desideratum
of a suitable steam street car has been
attained. The statement is that the gen
erating of steam is rendered absolutely
free from duuger or annoyance ; that tho
engine and machinery can be applied to
.any oars now in use; that the space oc
< npied by the machiuory is only twelve
•oula* fee t; that a force equal to twenty
horse powr oau be applied, so as to clear
ddie track of **iv if required ; that tho
control of the of tho car is more
complete aurf installb’-ueqyi' than by horse
pow or; aud that by its ,i Raying of
one tlu;usaud five, hundred dqllfuy per
year can be /'fleeted over the expense in j
nident to horse Tho expense of 1
the machinery aud ah attachments is
stated at seven hundred and ty tjr dollars
to iich car. These are pretty btuad
claims to make, but peaeibiy they mflv bo
true.
Me, Hills Speech. — The Washington
.'■'tor (Independent Republican), speak-
U£ of Hoe. }}. H. Hill’s reply to Blaine’s
wanton and wsiignaut attack on ex
rresident Davis, says; -.Mr. Hill speaks
with deliberation, has a pleagjng voice.
Ed at times rises to the highest pitch of
■rtffeettvfl oratory. His speech was not an
apolqgy tor the Andersonville atrocities,
nor an eulogy on Jeff Davis, other than
that he defended him from the charge
■that he was guilty of the acts committed
m Southern prisons. He admitted that
Teff Davis did commission the officers
■ have perpetrated them, but, for !
vhis reason, ko was no more responsible
•for their acts than was President Grant
for General Babcock s, or Joyce Me-
Donald's acts. He, at all events, acquitted
President Grant of any mtcb imputation,
and thought Mr. Blaine should be as
gracious with the ex-Confederate Presi
dent."
The obstinate determination of the
Union Pacific Railroad to get and keep
all it OuU has aroused a feeling of indig
nation that will not be satisfied with less
than an effort to deprive it of its fran
chises, which are well known to have
been forfeited both by the Credit Mobilier
frauds and by the gross violation of the
provision of the charter requiring the
stock to be paid for in money, especially
as Congress reserved the power to alter,
amend, alter or repeal the act creating
the corporation, and as the select com
mittee of the Forty-second Congress on
the Credit Mobilier swindle did at that
time report their opinion that “the facts
would furnish ground for judgment of
forfeiture of all the franchises of the
corporation, including the principal fran
chise to be a corporation on proper pro
cess."
Gas. —The Brooklyn Gas Company that
has just been forced by consumers to
reduce the price of gas from i£3 to -f2 75,
last year declared a dividend of twenty
per cent. If a gas company can make a
twenty per cent, dividend at $3 per thou
sand feet, what dividend ought a com
pany to make at $5 per thousand feet ?
Bishop Haven says : “But if we can’t
have Grant, I’d be willing to accept Sher
man—and he's a Catholic.” Of course
the political prelate is mistaken. General
Sherman himself says : “My orted is
■found in the constitution of the United
[states and the ten commandments."
That’s a very good creed. But the mia-
is, Tecumseh didn’t know one
Hyena Blaine’s Bid for Hie Presidency.
It was the remark of a dwtinguiahed
Senator many years ago, that ambition
for the Presidency had been the ruin of
more eminent public men than all other
causes combined. We need no more
striking exemplification of the truth of
the observation than is afforded by the
present pitiable attitude of ex-Speaker
Blaine.
One month ago Mr. Blaine was Regard
ed as the foremost man in the Republican
party. By the Democracy he was re
spected as a statesman of ability and
experience, and by the people of the
South he was looked upon as
a man from whom, should
he succeed to the Presidency, they
might at least expect a liberal and just
administration of the government. Al
though belonging to the Radical school
of politicians, he had never manifested a
vindictive spirit towards the South, and
if, in the mysterious dispensation of an
overruling Providence, the country was
to be cursed with four years more of
Radical rule, there was reason to
hope that the evil would be
in some degree mitigated by his more
enlightened and liberal statesmanship.
But if these hopes were well founded
then they have been sadly dissipated.
From the consistent Republican states
man, Mr. Blaine has sunk to the p&rtizan
demagogue and trickster. Lured by the
hope of obtaining the nomination of bis
party for President, he hesi
tates at no artifice, however dis
reputable, to advance his political
manhood and
patriotism of his own people by appeal
ing to their prejudices and passions.
Giving the lie to his past professions of
amity and concord, he invokes the spirit
of sectional bitterness and hate, and hye
na like tears open the graves of the dead
and rattles the bones of the victims of
sectional fanaticism to rouse the passions
and intensify the malignity of his parti
zans. Reckless of decency and truth,
he ’“knowingly, wilfully and wick
edly” utters a vile slander upon
the South, only to provoke a retort
which he may use to excite the unreason
ing frenzy of the voters of his section.
With the dexterity of a thimble rigger,
cunning that would do credit to a vender
in wooden whetstones, and shameless
effrontry that would have put Beast But
ler to the blush, he manoeuvres a fire
brand into the halls of Congress, only
that he mav rekindle the expiring flames
of sectional hate.
While we pity the poverty of soul that
edn be tempted to stoop to such unworthy
devices, all true men must deplore the
standard of intelligence and patriotism
that would invite and reward such shame
less demagogueism. Mr. Blaine should
understand the people of his section, but
the game he is now playing for the Pres
idency is an insult to any people worthy
of self-government. But we believe that
Mr. Blaine underrates the intelligence,
the magnanimity and the patriotism of
the American people, and that he will
find that by his recent course he has in
jured rather than improved his political
prospects.
The Unconstitutional Cotton Tax.
The Chicago Tribune presents the fol
lowing objections to the bill for the re
payment of the cotton tax: “It would take
about $400,000,000 from the naA’Amlr
treasury at a time when is im )
peratively necessary the North pa |
taxes wai, and on account J
tb*-. wA( ly comparison With which tl
tax on cotton was a very small amoun J
while the most of this cotton tax v t
levied the price of cotton was very hif '
and the burden of the tax fell upon t
consumer; no scheme of refunding co '
reach the planters who paid the /
directly nor those who paid it indirect*,
but the money would be added to tb I
debt of the country for the purpose ( I
dividing it among the lobby, corruj I
members of Congress and profession!)
claim agents. ”
The Tribune has nothing to say in con
damnation of tho unconstitutional and
unjust tax by which a hundred million
of dollars was extorted from the impov
ensiled people of the South, a
large portion of which went ink
the pockets of dishonest ager 1
of a corrupt government. That tb
proposition to refund is in the inter
est of “corrupt members,of Congress and
professional claim agents," n,d not for
the benefit of the plundered cotton pro
ducer, is without doubt true. But it
does not follow that Congress has tbi
power, if it had the will, to pass a 'aw
by which the rights of the latter woi and
be sxqjt.ected and the money refunded t
those ,yhom it was unjustly extort
ed. A thief may be able in all case
to return stolen money to pockets o
Vi,? victim; but that fact would be no jui
tificatxuo f the theft. The matter of tt
illegal ootton i**ysts with the sense If
justice of tho?* who andenfortd
the 4a\ If they are ? ot a&liamtfd ojSthe
injustice.** .the tax they should *“'
her that a wvfctf precedent may 'i° me
day return to pia***^.inventors., '
Alluding to the selection of ©i?’ nua *'
as the place for holding the ( Uadlcal
National Convention, the '
Time* says; “The West h/ had no
small share in controlling (/ fc uationai
politics of the last twenty yJff c . and * ts
present victory proves that j?!s P<>Vfl* is
by no means declining. i/w4J B P°Pb e
oome an interesting questV" 1 consider
wTio - are iliT favoritt, < .A*‘Udatea. A)
present, the names whj„F bave stood °ut
prominently in its discus* ions are tbose
of Minister Washburne, 'Secretary Bris
tow, Senator Morton, f^ and Gov - Hayes.
If the West decided tb 6 nomination for
President, one or oti/ r C* ihese gentle
men would appare. be selected, with
au Eastern m#n r r the second place
But it is too early i* 8 1° forecast the
result of the delilt*Upffs the conven
tion. We must leave
to decide how ttf choice now made
will affect that teflribte tbi.rd-term ques
tion.”
The Colonization of Palestine.—A
deputation of persons friendly to the
colonization of Palestine lately waited on
the Turkish minister iu London, who
pointed out to them a number of im
portant concessions and guarantees to
colonists by the Turkish government.
Among them are exemption from taxes
and military service for twelve years, and
the privilege of commuting for military
service thereafter.
The Cincinnati Commercial thinks it
has discovered a deep-laid conspiracy to
secure tA Ohio and Indiana delegations
to the Republican National Convention
for Grant. It suspects that by a bargain
of Gov. Hayes with the Grant people the
Ohio delegates are to be pledged for Hayes
with Grant as second choice, and that a
similar arrangement has been set up in
Indiana, with Morton as first choice.
The Democratic State Committee of
South Carolina have issued an address to
the people them to reorganize
the party “to obtain an hon
est and economical government in South
Carolina, which shall maintain, without
abridgement or change, the public rights
and liberties of the whole people, and
guaranty to all classes of citizens the
blessings of freedom, justice and peace."
What Ktlled the Centennial in Vir
ginia.
It has already been announced that the
Virginia House of Delegates, on Thurs
day, by a close vote, refused to recon
sider the vote by which the bill appro
priating SIO,OOO towards the proper
representation of Virginia at the ap'
preaching centennial was defeated. This
is regarded as settling the question
finally, and therefore Virginia, one of the
original thirteen States, will* be unrepre
sented officially at the celebration of the
nation's centennial. The poverty of the
State was pleaded by a number of the
representatives as a reason for refusing
to vote for the appropriation, but there
was reasan to hope for a favorable result
on the final vote. It seems, however,
that Mr. Blaine’s amendment to the
amnesty bill, excluding Jefferson Davis
from its provisions, and his recent violent
speech of abuse of Mr. Davis were
the “ hairs which broke the camel’s
back,” and the appropriation therefore
went under. On Wednesday, ex-Gover
nor Smith, one of the most powerful de
baters in the State, addressed the House
in a three hours’ speech against the bill,
during which he brought prominently
forward Mr. Blaine’s amendment as evi
dence of the desire of many of the
Northerners to keep up the bad feeling
and keep open the bloody chasm. He
said Blaine’s amendment was intended as
an insult to Jefferson Davis, and an in
sult to Davis, under the circumstances,
he considered an insult to those who were
with him in the late war. The venerable
ex-Governor was loudly cheered from the
flow* atHl it) and t JfeapUeAbe
best efforts of several abielSpeakers who
followed him, the tide had set too strongly
against the bill, and it was defeated.
The debate on the amnesty bill threat
ened to be the beginning of a trouble
some and dangerous state of things. It
has turned out to be only the end of Mr.
Blaine as a political leader. “The tears
live in an onion that should water this
sorrow.” All the bluster that Mr. Blaine
could summon yesterday did not serve
to conceal his consciousness that
he was beaten. A man beat in such
an attempt as his to fan the embers of
civil war to a flame, is in a situation
as odious and contemptible as any party
could wish for its rival, or any party fear
for its leader. In his confusion Mr.
Blaine resorted to a demagogue’s trick
which he has sense enough, when he is
not confused, to know is a very shallow
trick. It was an attempt to wriggle out
of his original proposition to inflict a
peculiar and public disgrace upon Jeffer
son Davis by representing it to be merely
opposition to a proposition to pay him
peculiar honor; as if it were not absurd to
describe as an honor that which everybody
possesses by being born and growing up
to be twenty-one years old in the United
States. If he had succeeded in what he
set out to do, he would have succeeded
by an appeal to sectarian hate and sec
tional hate, which are as low passions as
any low politician ever tried to stir up.
If he had succeeded, therefore, ho would
have become infamous. But he has
failed to do anything but waste four days
of good time, and nobody in his senses
will be likely to pick
Maine, for a policies} - leader again. —New
YorkJ^Sfld.
General Sherman, says a Washington
correspondent, finds himself so pleasant
ly situated at St. Louis that he would be
loath to return to Washington and re-es
tablish his headquarters there. He is
also represented as manifesting consider
able annoyance at the conduct of Secre
tary Belknap, who placed all the records
of the War Department at Boynton’s dis
posal with a view to impeaching the ac
curacy of the “Memoirs.” Whether or
.not the General said quite as much, it is
certain that he thinks it all and a great
deal more. The Secretary, by petty per
secution, made the capital too hot for the
somewhat irritable General, and when the
latter fled to St. Louis, vented his spite
by inspiring Boynton’s review. Inas
much, however, as Mr. Belknap has lost
two years’ time and a great deal of War
Department advertising in the lowa can
vass, General Sherman may console him
self. By way of squaring the account he
might in his next annual report give in
one of his incisive paragraphs some ac
count of the post traderships in the far
West.
South Carolinians must admit that they
are sometimes a little unreasonable in
their expectations. Here is a writer who
complains about one of Governor Cham
berlain’s appointees, a trial justice, who
rendered the following judgment: “Id
obedience to a thorough investigation of
due consideration the court finds In the
case of the State vs a debt claim
of for the amount of 3450 are not
properly due the court further considered
the Testimony of Two Witness against
one which an able the court to find a dif
ference of 550 against the plaintiff but
the judgment in this case is that the
Plaiutiff Pay the cost of this case Decem
ber 21th, 1875.” The Tribune corres
pondent elucidates the judgment (it must
be confessed that it needs elucidation) by
explaining that the plaintiff has property
to pay the costs, and the defendant has
not. But he is unreasonable enough to
maintain on this evidence that even Gov.
Chamberlain’s Judges are a poor lot.
Expedition for Liberia. — A company
of twenty-one freedinen sailed from New
York in the bark Liberia Thursday after
noon. They were chiefly from North
Carolina and Louisiana, and were sent
out at the expense of the American Col
onization Society. The desire to go to
Liberia is steadily increasing, in conse
quence of the letters received from those
who have previously emigrated. The
planting of coffee in I.iberia is likely to
be largely remunerative, for land can be
purchased at fifty cents an acre, and the
taxes do not exceed fifty cents on the
ijsiOQ. The United States steamer Alas
ka has been sept tp the coast of Liberra
to remain at least three months. While
Stanley is pursuing his researches with
such wonderful energy in the Nile region,
it is suggested that an effort be also made
to explore the region between Liberia
and the Nile.
A California inventor has patented a
contrivance for driving sewing machines,
which does away with a treadle A num
ber of springs are moved by clock-work
and governed by a lever so nicely that
the needle may be made to move at any
desired rate oi speed. ihe machine will
run for about an hour and $ quarter with
one winding up.
s* '► • -
There is talk in Connecticut of run
ning Mr. P. T. Barunm as the Radical
candidate for Governor. The Meriden
Republican thinks favorably of the pro
ject. So do we. Bamum is just the
man for Radical Governor of the nutmeg
State, that is if they must have a Radi
cal Governor.
As the bloody shirt has been unfurled,
the New York Tribune wants to know if
it would not be well to reopen the outrage
hnill, and thus start upon the Presidential
Campaign with as much gore as possible ?
(ffhe outrage mill will be set in operation
ai due time.
LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE.
BnlllDg County Fiatun-A Clever Dode
Checkmated Pharisaic Morality A
Ki rat-Class Concert of Aaiatenrn—Pro
posals for Brick Dost—One Mil lion Five
Hundred Thousand—A Protean Criml
nal—Drifting with the Tide—Marine.
[Specia. Correspondence of the Morn in ? News ]
Jacksonville, January 13, 1876.
THE MODERN ELEVATORS.
In the mountainous localities of Ger
many a dialectic apothegm of surpassing
loveliness not infrequently confronts the
inhabitant— Schay'&t du mir mei Jud,
dann uchhiy ich dir dei Jud —[freely trans
lated: “If you injure me I will injure
you ’). It is but another of the endless
ramifications which attach themselves to
the law of retaliation. Thi3 instinctive
impulse to return evil for evil is not
strictly relevant to scriptural teachings
but it is implanted firmly in the bosom of
every descendant of Adam. Some
men manage by an iron will to
control it, others begin to devise
plans of revenge, others in exceeding
trepidation select some innocent body
who has never been guilty of offending
them, as a scape goat, and play pranks in
the sight of heaven that make all Pande
monium smile. To the latter category
belongs the county ring of Duval. In
return for the supreme contempt and
execration with which they are univer
sally regarded by the denizens of this re
gion, the ring reimburse themselves by
maturing schemes for swindling those
very citizens who refuse to recognize them
as respectable. . Several e4-tile nmgti&ieff
were heavily overstocked with deprecia
ting county scrip, and executed a
manoeuvre calculated to enhance the
value of their possessions with the most
strategic secresy imaginable, by instruct
ing tbe pliant Tax Collector to receive no
evidences of county indebtedness, that
had been issued since January Ist, in
satisfaction of taxes. A vigilant member
of the Board of County Commissioners
espied this beautiful intention of the
ring to “bull” county scrip and forthwith
admonished the Collector that he must
accept the issue of January on an equal
footing with the issues prior to that time.
The astute official endeavored to avert
the impending disruption of the ring’s
grab game by a train of illogical reason
ing, but the Commissioner was not to be
diverted from his course by anything of
the sort. Finding that the Collector was
resolved upon adhering to his idols, the
undaunted Commissioner convened the
Board of County Commissioners and sub.
mitted and passed a resolution command
ing the obstinate office-holder to obey
the dictates of common sense hereafter.
Hence scrip created during the pres
ent month is as valuable to the owner
as that of a more resent date. The con
spirators are consequently in an extremely
crestfallen mood and may be expected to
wreak vengeance upon the county in some
other way soon.
AFTER THE OPERA IS OVER.
A brilliant, appreciative and numerous
assemblage attended the concert given
under the auspices of Messrs. Weldon and
Gould last evening. By far the largest
audience I have ever witnessed in Jack
sonville, was congregated in Metropolitan
Hall on this occasion. The beauty of the
fair auditors was heightened by the soft
ness of the scene, the aroma of musk,
and the sunny blazonry of gas jets. The
St. James Hotel kindly furnished its "or
chestra, which arrived here last week,
and contributed greatly- "to the success
°f the enterfafnnient. Ex-Governor
Fenton delivered a short, but pithy ad
dress, paid a glowing tribute to the re
sources of Florida, aud concluded by con
gratulating his hearers upon the con
stantly increasing prosperity of their
State. Miss Lena Hudnall sang “L’Es
tasi” in clear, vigorous tones. Of Miss
Hudnall we thought—here’s our admir
ation, adoration—our heart if you com
mand it. Mrs. Moore, in the duette
“Miserere II Trovatore,” had a dulcet and
fascinatingly plaintive voice, and her ren
dition of the aria was splendid. Mr.
Philip Milford, in two clarionet solos,
was excellent—good. As I anticipate
being brought before Judge Whitney on
a preliminary examination about some
Radical or other, suppose I flat
ter him. The part taken by Mr. Whit
ney in a quartette was well sustained,
and his companions, Messrs. Eley and
Jenkins, were not behind him. Mrs.
Barnett and Mrs. Greely were admirable
in'TlPercatori,” andMrs. Weldon, as the
pianist of the occasion, maintained the
deserved prestige which she had previ
ously acquired. Her execution of “La
Parisienne” defies criticism.
A PALPABLE JOB.
A few days since a resolution was in
troduced into the House of Representa
tives having for its scope the purchase
of the Freedman’s Bank edifice in this
city for governmental purposes. Now,
inasmuch as the government could erect
a suitable and handsome structure for less
than this elephant could be repaired for,
it is to be hoped that they will not invest
in any old brick at a high figure. The
bauk building has been so arranged as to
render it unfit for the uses of officials
without entailing a tremendous expense
for remodeling. If the United States
must buy property in Jacksonville, it will
be vastly more profitable to buy an
empty lot and construct a house accord
ing to their needs. Old brick may be
had at a very reasonable rate at any brick
yard, without paying double price for a
pile of it on the corner of a street, merely
for the benefit of greedy speculators.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
It is now in process of transpiring, to
the no small consternation of disinter
ested parties, that Mr. Swepson’s little
mortgage on the J. P. & M. R. R. is only
fifteen hundred thousand dollars. Use
less questions should always be avoided,
but how do the Radicals propose to sat
isfy this trifling claim ? A few days will
reveal some my.- teries.
DESERTION, DRUNKENNESS AND FORGERY.
A young man, said to belong to
the signal corps of the United
States, and stationed in North
Carolina, reached' the city about ten
days ago, announced himself as Charles
Frye, and invaded the bachelor quietude
of Major Richard McLaughlin, the ac
complished signaj obseryer at Jackson
ville. ‘ Subsequently, Prye got drunk, and
was taken into custody by the police,
who turned him over to the State on a
charge of forgery, it having been discov
ered just then that the enterprising
wretch had drawn about one hundred
and fifty dollars on three checks, to
which he appended Major McLaughlin’6
sign-manual without that gentleman’s
permission. It now turns out that Frye
deserted from his post in North Carolina,
and the United States Marshal will
probably need him.
GRAND LODGE OF FLORIDA.
The Grand Lodge of Florida, A. F. and
A. H., has been in session here since the
beginning of the week, and a number of
delegates of the Masonic confraternity
are in town. Among them we may notice
the two most youthful Democratic mem
bers of the Legislature, viz: W. J. Jones,
of Levy, and Daniel McCalpin, of Suwan
nee. McCalpin has been getting married
lately, and says that his future is brigh.t
ANOTHER UNTAMED STEED.
The lively antics of two young sports
on Pine street yesterday were as tempting
as a rosebud, tempting as a peach, tempt
ing as a dollar within a Radical’s reach!
The tongue of their buggy dropped out
and stuck in the sand with such an un
looked for jerk that it precipitated one of
the drivers over the head of one of the
horses into the dirt. About this time one
of the animals became unmanageable and
started in a gallop, dragging his mate
after him, and passing over the prostrate
form of ogr performer. The other in
nate of the vehicle did nothing but yell.
The man in the dust arose, and, shaking
his fist vindictively at the retreating
horses, muttered: “If you were a man I
would see if I couldn’t whip you.” He
was mad, but has enjoyed a lucid interval
since.
PEEP ABED FOB BUSINESS.
The Rich oils Horse threw open its
doors on Monday. The establishment is
furnished in a surpassing manner, and
some of its appointments are actually
gorgeous.
MABIXE IXTELLIOEXOB.
Arrived during the past three days:
Schooners Florence & Lillian, Phila
delphia; Mary E. Simmons, Hattie Card,
and Carrie S. Wenb, New York. De
parted—Schooner Fannie W. Johnston,
New York. Adbuhus.
K i
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
A Presidential Receptian—A Mania for
Rata—The Radical Convention—Wash-
Incton Liberality—G Mote* and
Appolatmeßto—The Lobbyist* Urn-lob
bied—Odd* and Ends.
[Special Correspondence of the Morning News.]
Washington, D. C., Jan. 14,1876.
A Presidential reception has always been
a lively affair, bat under this glorious admin
istration it beats everything. It is a sort of a
combination,anatomical museum and circus.
All the functionaries are present, and all the
func’s friends. Every greenhorn on a wed
ding tear makes it a point to get here at
reception times and goes up in a hack. The
bride generally gets out with her skirt inker
hand, while the groom sports a hat that has
gone through many a racket and which he
cannot call his own. Receptions are great
places for hats. The newspaper men, who
are up to such things, generally blossom
out in new hats immediately after these oc
casions. Iu other cities the reporter ex
plains the phenomena of anew hat by a
seni-idiotic leer and the remark of “fire,”
but here they say “reception.” Last Satur
day the reception was gorgeous. Colonel
Fred Grant performed the duties
of introducing inside, aud carriages, a string
of i mile long, were dumping their freight
in the portico. The police at the White
House damaged their white vests and ties
by ifting out fat proprietresses of centennial
hasa houses. All the foreigners were on
dect, weak eyed Britishers in side whiskers,
sauiage eating Germans in glasses, Aris
tarchi Bey from Turkey, Kod-damme from
Japin, and Sam B’Ard from Ala-bamme.
It is a sad commentary on human nature to
tfiink that Grant, with $50,000 a year and
perk’s, can’t set out a lunch. Third term
ers__e&n towards lunch, and,' refreshments
ih
mannered youth of the “card basket,” the
society journal, is always the big guu on
these occasions. He goes around aud takes
down the dresses and their occupants like a
constable taking an inventory of chattels.
Girls pose for him, matrons interview him
and beaux say “I’d loike to meet vou at Wil
lard’s in ah'f an ’owor,” a possible sugges
tion of fluids. All the other newspaper men
get jealous, and pronounce the “card basket”
a sickly sheet. The jostling, crowding and
hand shaking goes on, and Grant pumps
away stoically for about an hour and a half,
and then the show is over.
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
after a spirited contest between several
rival cities of the North, in which Washing
ton noby tendered the Market House, Cin
cinnati vas chosen as the place of meeting
for the sext Republican National Conven
tion. Ikis is said to settle Blaine’s hash,
and all Hs revival of old issues and “Bloody
Shirt” and “Andersonville” matters have
gone fornaught. Many of the Rads have
grudges against Blame, and Garfield is
fightng him for tbe leadership on their
side. General Phil. Cook gave him a shot
abou; “Elmira Prison,” which woke him up
the other day in the midst of his oration,
and tie “Bull of the Kennebec” also took a
nice setting down from Cox. Gran f ,
Mortm, Bristow and Washburne are the
talket of now, but there is something sus
picion in the ardent fellowship of the first
three They understand each other well,
and oie of them proposes to have the nomi
nation
CCLORED-OM.
A preat change has come over the gal
leriesof the House since this Congress met.
The cowds of negroes who slept and per
fumei the air are gone, and now the gal
leries are filled with persons who have been
heretifore debarred by that dirty * throng
from sujojing the debates of the House.
The biats are also driven from the lobby and
the Hiuse presents a more orderly appear
ance tian it has for years, Fred Douglass
and hs crew have held a convention tc re
organza the JJepyblican ;,auy, claiming
’ people must be recognized
"br thecouutry is lost. A colored Capitol
policeoan named Bryant, a very pompous
Africa), was set back on his haunches a few
days ajo. He went to the west entrance of
the Htnse, where a number of persons were
waiting to have their cards taken in to mem
bers. lie pushed pompously through these
people and Lauding his card towards the
doorkaper commaudiugly said: “Take dat
kyard nto Mister Walls, sah.” The door
keeper gave him a very expressive glance
aud tb4i said: “Stand back there until your
betters are waited on.” The people all
laughertaud the greasy Bryant swelled up
almost t> suffocation and waltzed away.
THE ARMY BILL.
The Texan members are hostile at the
thought of army reduction, and are opposed
to the bid contracting the force to ten
thousand men. They aver that even more
force is ueiessary to protect the frontier
against Meiican cattle thieves and keep the
Indians in subjection. All the members
from tie eitreme West will work against
the msasun, and will be aided by the ter
ritorial delegates. It is not fear of Indian
deprecations, as much as the revenue de
rived from the sale and haultug of supplies,
etc., to distant frontier posts which makes
many of these gentlemen interested.
Furthermore, military posts being selected
in adrantageous localities, always form the
nucleas of a settlement and town. The
Westirn people, especially those of the
miniig regions, are very averse to any re
duction of tho army as the
MEXICAN CESSION
of Clihualiua and Sonora has became with
them a certainty in a short time, and they
gaze with longiDg eyes at the vast deposits
of tieasure in those States. In a lormer
lotto I spoke of a company being organized
here to go to that region as soon as we
obtan possession, but I now hear that
somi of the party will start shortly. Several
of tie most important mines of Chihuahua
are n'w owned in New York aud Philadelphia,
bu„ the unsettled condition of that country
prevints their being worked. The railroad
now ibout being constructed to Guayinas in
Sonera on the Gulf of California, known as
the Joseoranz road, is a part of the scheme
of tlose connected with the
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD,
and ’un through all the mineral region of
Northern Mexico. Grant in his message
refeß only to the settlement of the “neu
tral zone” question, but wishes action on
thatpoint in order that steps can be taken
by Mexico looking to a cession of the cov
eted territory in satisfaction for our claims
agaiast her. The railroad men are here in
forc, and will push their claims for subsidy
to tie extreme during the session. Tom
Scot; is a great tacticiaD, and has already
forcid a combination of the New York rail
roadmen to protect themselves against his
comfinations. He is on the go a great deal
of hs time and appears here occasionally,
valie in hand, to dodge around amongst
his orces and disappear again. Tom is not
using any of the professional lobby to aid
him and Sam Ward has to make “pig’s
ears’ satisfy him, while the other
LOBBYISTS
are -unuing after Throckmorton, of Texas,
for i “sight” as they term it. Don Piatt
being piqued at not having an offer, has
opered big batteries of ridicule on J. T.
Fore, proprietor of Ford’s Opera House here,
and i theatre in Baltimore. Ford comes back
on Eo:i and throws mud on Don’s character
as dplomat, warrior and journalist, but ad
mits him a siiccess on Pacific Mail. The
combat is interesting and the papers are
fillet, with Shakesperian quotations collated
by the stock of the rival theatres. The
lobbyists pronounce this a noor Congress
Fartagjwessu-owiug to there being so many
amoDgst them.
OKLAHOMA.
Tie Rosses, Adairs, Boudinots, etc., are
marshaled here already, backed by the
Arktngas delegation principally, pushing
lor Territorial government in the Indian
Territory with the poetical title of Ockla
homa. Moot of the Noble Jleds are opposed
to the bill, but the aforesaid are able half
breeig, and, if they succeed, will hold the
reins of power. This will stop the annual
rifle contestg at election times in the na
tioni, and the chivalrous Cherokee, courtly
Chickasaw, crusty Creek and corpulent
Choitaw will sigh for the good old times
whet “stiffs” lay thick through the Terri
tory, and the population was kept from
overcrowding by judicious gunning. The
IndiaD Territory has sufficient population
for admission as a State, and should
come in, so that we might have Albert Pike
aod Dick Wintersmith on the floor of the
Senate.
GEORGIANS, ETC.
The Georgia "delegation held a meeting a
few evenings since, and selected Morgan
Rawls and Frank Lamar for the two positions
which Georgia will receive in the Clerk’s
office of the House. They are both happy—
Rawis on account of the dozen little mo ails,
and Lamar because he dislikes the dishonor
of defeat, and has an appreciation of filthv
lucre that generates in a man after gazing
on the Treasury for a few months. The
Doorkeeper hag appointed J. L. Knight, of
Georgia, Folder; A. W. Reese, of Georgia,
Superintendent of Document Room, and N.
G. Henderson, of Florida, Folder. A young
man named Pinder, of Savannah, has just
arrived, and is desirous of entering the army
as a Second Lieutenant and slaying uomads
at the rate of $125 a month. Messrs. J. At
kins, of Savannah, and Fannin, of Angosta,
are reg'itered at the hotels.
CODS AND ENDS.
Gen-.al Maxwell, the United States Mar
shal of Utah,iß here in suspense,and the Mor
mons are determined to make things lively
for b;,n. A petition of twenty-three thousand
Mormon women, asking the repeal of the
anti-polygamy laws, etc., was presented in
the Senate by Sargent, of California, and
referred to the Judiciary Committee. It is
said that pr. Mary Walker, who is now at
Salt Lake, is manipulating with a view of
being elected pn thp sorosis-breeches ticket
upon the admission of {Jtab.
Belknap fell heavily in lowa, With all his
working up the federal offices, gathering
the cUds and giving tomb-stone contracts
and salierships to his lowa friends, he gath
ered on'y 13 ont of 110 votes for the Sena
torship.* Thus one of the clique has fallen,
and, kc the virtuous Zack Bays, “ knows how
it is itiaaelfi"
Hoc. Dan Yoorhee* id here on crooked
whisky business.
The floor's oi the Congressional library are
filled with books for which there is no room,
and Congress is asked for a separate building
to accommodate this mass of literature.
Ben Butler kindly suggests that his house
near the Capitol is for sale, while Castle
Stewart, the mausoleum of the “Little
Emma Mine,” is also in the market.
A delegation of a thousand Pennsylvani
ans, excurting at two dollars a head, took
in the city on Wednesday. They marched
from one point of interest to another, pre
ceded by a brass band, and, after shaking
hands with the administration and gather
ing np “trophies,” left the same evening.
The report of the Secretary of War con
tains an interesting account of the recon
noisance of the Black Hills, but while giv
ing a good description of the country the
engineer officers found but little gold.
The District ring are hard at work after
appropriations, bnt the committee proposes
to see that they get only what they are en
titled to, and no more. Shepherd’s plan of
"capturing” has rather failed him, at least
he has made no sign as yet.
The order of the “ Stars and Stripes,” the
remnant of the “Union League” and
“Grand Army of the Republic,” is trying
to extend its circle farther than among* the
clerks at Washington. The “Grand Army”
only performed two acts during its exist
ence—one was to make John A. Logan Sen
ator from Illinois, and the other to make
Timothy Luby Water Registrar of Wash
ington.’ They then demised to slow music.
Senator Jones, of Florida, delivered a few
appropriate remarks on the death of Andrew
Johnson after the eulogy by Senator Mc-
Creery.
Five of the Georgia delegation are quar
tered adjacent to each Thirteenth
street, near “ F.” They can thus hold little
conventions very easily when necessary.
Cyclops.
The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad and
the South Georgia and Florida Truck
Business.
Editor Morning News :
The active -effort' of the above com
panjL. to eqcourage^tka-rfmifeiv^tigim^
vegetables in Southern Georgia and
Florida are likely, I think, to promote
alike the interests of the railroad and the
farmers in these sections. But one very
important—not to say essential —step on
the part of the railroad authorities, in
furtherance of this enterprise, they have
failed to take ; that is a reduction in the
rate of freight on fertilizers coming from
Savannah. They have, on the contrary,
as lam informed, actually increased it.
A few years since the charge for trans
porting a ton of manure from Savannah
to Tallahassee was four dollars ; now it is
five dollars, the advance being on the Sa
vannah end of the line. It is well known
by all who know anything on the subject
that vegetable culture can only be made
profitable by the use of fertilizers in im
mense quantities. Near New York the
rule is from one thousand to twelve hun
dred pounds of Peruvian guano per acre,
or an equivalent in other manures.
Inasmuch as it would be safe for the
railroad to anticipate return freight on a
thousand tons of vegetables for every
ton of fertilizers which it should send
out to the truck growers, might it not
wisely and well Transport the latter,
without charge, to the vegetable growers,
looking for profits on the crops to be
grown. At all events, let the matter be
considered. Tallahassee.
January 15, 1876.
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Nummary of the Week’s Dispatches
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
[Special Tclegrm to the Morning News.]
Atlanta, January 13.
The House and Senate met at 12 o’clock.
Renfroe was the enly nomination. Ail the
Senators voted for him. Bree was absent.
All the Representatives voted for Renfroe
but Crymes, of Franklin, who voted for
Lowe. Six members were absent. The
whole vote was twenty-one for Renfroe and
one for Lowe.
Colonel J. L. Warren is made Chairman
of the Finance Committee.
Atlanta, January 14.
The Senate adjourns to Monday and the
House till to-morrow.
Judge Pate is reappointed and confirmed.
Judge Hopkins resigns to-morrow. Ru
mors say that S. B. Spencer will be the City
Judge, and that Judge R. H. Clarke will
succeed Hopkins.
The Judiciary Committee of the House,
Gen. Lawton chairman, is hard at work
preparing business for to-morrow.
The weather is very cold.
Mr. Stephens is improving.
The convention bill was read a second
time and referred to a special committee,
Gen. Lawton chairman. They will probably
report favorably, as the question is being
strongly discussed by the people for a con
vention.
Colonel Warren has the appropriation
bills ready and will report to-morrow. Ow
ing to the State debt, there will be but a
small reduction.
Atlanta, January 16.
HOPKINS.
Judge Hopkins has not resigned, and re
port says he will not. This changes the
prospects of candidates for the City Judge
ship, and accounts for Governor Smith’s in
decision in the matter.
ME. STEPHENS.
General Lawton came from Liberty Hall
this afternoon. Mr. Stephens is comfortable,
and there is no change from the last report in
the Morning News by letter of your special
correspondent.
THE LEGISLATURE
will commence work in earnest to-morrow,
and a few days will pretty fully determine
the policy of the session in order to secure
economy in public affairs.
GAINING STRENGTH.
The convention movement gains strength
daily.
Atlanta, January 17, 1876.
IN THE SENATE.
Bills for first reading : By Mr. Black—A
bill to define the liabilities of parties farm
ing on shares; also to encourage sheep hus
bandry in Georgia, and to declare sheep
killing dogs a nuisance.
Mr. Blance—To amend sections 4,402 and
3,647 of the Code.
Mr. Gilmore—to provide for the sale of
homesteads, to be sold as provided in cases
of trust property.
Mr. Harris—To amend section 383 of the
Code.
Mr. Hester—To punish those concerned
in the execution of lynch law.
Mr. Kibbie—-To issue bonds to exchange
for the valid bonds of the Macon and Bruns
wick and North and South Railroads.
Mr. Reese—To provide for the summary
establishment of lost papers; also, i i allow
Peterson Thweatt to have his claim deter
mined by the courts of this State ; also, to
amend section 2,279 of the code; also, to
provide for publication of laws of this State;
also, to amend the homestead laws of the
State; also, to regulate the law of larceny.
Mr. Winn—To consolidate the offices of
Tax Collector and Receiver in the State.
IN THE HOUSE.
Bills for first reading: By Mr. Duggan—A
bill to prescribe the mode of collecting costs
in civil cases. It requires the payment of
costs in advance.
Mr. Hutchins—To declare dogs not to be
property.
Mr. Williams—To regulate issuing of at
tachment, when plaintiff and defendant are
non-residents. It requires plaintiff to swear
that defendant has not sufficient property
at his place of residence to satisfy the debt.
Mr. Revill—To amend section 1640 of the
Code reducing salaries therein mentioned.
Mr. McAfee —To prescribe the punishment
of persons fraudulently mortgaging prop
erty already mortgaged, and selling prop
erty to which they have no title.
Mr. Chappell—To regulate the sale of
opium in the State.
Mr. Brown—To amend section 610 of the
Code.
Mr. Duggar—To encourage sheep raising
in the State. It puts a premium on the
scalps of wolves, foxes and wild-cats.
Mr. Smith, of Dawson—To reorganize the
Georgia penitentiary.
Mr. Warren, chairman of the Committee
on Finance—The tax bill for 1876, also the
appropriation bill lor 1876. There is no ma
terial change from last year’s bills. The
general tax is to be four-tenths of one per
cent., exclusive of the tax for meeting
bonds. /
Mr. Jones, of Bnrke—To requ.re owners
of dogs to purchase collars of Ordinaries.
Mr. Hamilton, of Floyd—To make it a
misdemeanor not to register dogs.
Mr. Black—To establish a State House of
Reform out of the penitentiary buildings.
Mr. Revill—To amend section 1,045 of the
Code, redacing salaries thereiu mentioned.
A CONVENTION.
On motion, a bill to submit to the people
the calling of a convention was read a sec
ond time, and referred to a special commit
tee of nine—one from each Congressional
district—appointed to consider a former
bill of the same character.
Miller, of Marion, represents the Fourth
District. They arc understood to stand
six to three in favor of a convention.
Mr. Baker introduced-a resolution to ap
point a joint committee to inquire whether
the Western and Atlantic Railroad lessees
have not violated the terms of the lease.
The Speaker presented a communication
from the State Grange, endorsing the State
Board of Agriculture; also au invitation
from the President of the Western and At
lantic Railroad to the Governor aud General
Assembly to take an excursion on said road
to Chattanooga.
The house adjourned to 10 a. m to-mor
row.
[From another Correspondent ]
The Senate transacted a large amount of
business. Colonel Lester, although still
feeble, was present, and as Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee reported a bill to
amend the act to prohibit the sale of liquors
in Pmuam county outside of Eatontou; a
bill to punish persons furnishing minors
witt deadly weapons, and a bill amending
the law of cruelty to animals—all of which
parsed.
The Finance Committee reported a bill to
declare invalid and void certain six per
cent, bonds of 1854, and tho bill consoli
dating the offices ot Tax Collector aud Re
ceiver of Macon county. Both passed.
Arnow introduced a bill amending certain
Mr. Black—A bill to define liabilities of
parties farming on shares, and a bill declar
ing sheep-killing dogs a public nuisance,
regarding their destruction and holding
owners lesponsible for damages.
Mr. Carter—To prevent trespass by limi
ters on the lands of other parties in Camden
county.
Mr. Gilmore—To prevent tho sale of prop
erty set apart for homestead or trust for
minors.
Mr. Ho^ips— To change the line between
Appling and Wayne and for other purposes.
Also,to require the Tax Receivers of Appling
and Wayne to return to tax payers certifi
cates of payment of taxes, naming tho lot
or lots.
Mr. Reese introduced about a dozen bills,
one to allow tho Georgia Railroad to run
freight trains on Sunday; another defining
the time within which proceedings to set
aside judgment or decrees shall be insti
tuted; and another regulating the law of
larceny in Georgia; and still another amend
ing the homestead laws.
A LIVELY TIME.
The proceedings were lively.to the hour
of adjournment, and numerous bills were
entertained in various stages of progress.
Hon. J. G. Thomas appeared in his seat,
and was cordially welcomed.
Colonel Warren’s bill for a convention was
referred to a special committee, of which
General Lawton is chairman.
The Tybee Improvement Company’s bill
was passed.
General Lawton introduced anew rule,
which was adopted, that no section of the
Code shall be amended or repealed by a
mere reference to its numbers, but the
amending or repealing act shall refer also
distinctly to the subject-matter in the title,
and shall fully and distinctly describe the
law to be amended or repealed, as well as
the alterations to be made.
Mr. from the Finance Committee,
reported the appropriation bills for 1870,
and a bill to levy a tax of four-tenths of one
per cent, being given as a maximum; bill
to change and define the limits of Camilla,
passed; also a bill to change lines between
Irwin and Wayne counties.
The bill to proctect owners of stock in
Wayne county was referred to the Commit
tee on Agriculture.
Mr. Carter introduced a bill to change
the lines between Appling and Wayne coun
ties; also, to amend the act creating a
Board of Commissioners iu Appling county.
Mr. Wilcox introduced a bill to change
the lines between Ware and Coffee counties.
Mr. Tuttle introduced a bill to create a
Board of Commissioners in Tatnall county.
Atlanta has given the City Hall square
to the State for anew Capitol. Iloge to
day moved the acceptance of the gift.
HOPKINS
resigned to-day, and will not return to pub
lio life. Gov. Smith takes his own time and
keeps his own counsel, and nothing definite
can be predicted. He is pressed hard on all
sides, but remains unmoved.
BANKS VERSUS BLAINE.
Washington, January 13.— The following
are extracts from Banks’s speech: There
fore, sir, I do not hold either that the Presi
dent of the United States is responsible for al i
or for any acts of his subordinates, no matter
how near he may have been in connection
with them, nor how closely they may be
allied to him by friendship or political rela
tionship; nor do I hold Mr. Davis responsible
for everything that occurred under the gov
ernment of which he assumed to be the
head. In regard to the atrocities at Ander
sonville and elsewhere, I dismiss from all
consideration the declarations, arguments,
aspersions, criminations and recriminations
which for a week past I have heard so con
stantly in this chamber. I do not doubt
that the soldiers of the Confederacy may
h ave suffered in the North, nor do I doubt
that the soldiers of the North may have
suffered terribly in the South. It was incident
to the condition of things. For the guilty,
whoever they may be, I pray forgiveness;
for the suffering, whoever they may have
been, I invoke the blessing of God; for the
crimes themselves, I say let the earth hide
them. Let us shut them out of sight.
(Applause on the Democratic side.) There
is one thing, Mr. Speaker, which is espe
cially designed by all the peoDlo, and that
is peace, general peace—peace in all sec
tions, with all parties, classes and races.
This declaration of amnesty is the first step
that has to be taken to that end—the very
first step. Nothing ehe will answer in place
of it. Credit has been claimed for what has
been done already in the way of amnesty,
but every step in that direction has been
compelled by the people of the country. I
speak in part for New England; 1 speak in
part for Massachusetts, and I hope tlrot
Massachusetts will give a vote approaching
unanimity upon this question. There is no
act of any government since the creation of
the world that will compare in sublim
ity with this act, if it shall
be passed, and to take this sacred docu
ment, this majestic declaration of the peo
ple and plaster it over with the crimes that
may be charged against an individual, is to
blurr the grace and glow of clemency; to
take the rose from the fair forehead of a
Godlike act and stick a blister there. (Ap
plause.) Mr. Speaker, when the people
of other States shall come here during
the present year to witness the achievements
of our republican government after the ex
piration of a century, remembering, as they
do, even better than ourselves, the events
of our great war, our highest triumph will
be to let them hear the shouts of the whole
people in joyous congratulation upon this
grave act of peace and oblivion to all classes
aud persons for all crimes connected with
the late war. (Applause on the Democratic
side.)
THE BEECHER BUSINESS.
New York, January 14.— The mutual
council, called for the purpose of deciding
the right of Plymouth Church to drop from
its list of membership the name of Mrs.
Moulton was finally upset. Rev. Dr. Scud
der’s church refused to have anything to do
with it. In arranging the list for the coun
cil, the names of Dr. Storrs and Dr. Bud
dington were included among other clergy
men. After they had announced that they
would probably accept the invitation the
committee of Plymouth Church entered
a protest against their serving, on the
ground that they were partial, and bad
enmity against the church. When some
of the other churches heard that Dr. Storrs’
and Dr. Buddington’s churches would be
left out, they also declined to serve, and
the council was therefore upset. Mrs. Moul
ton was apprised of the withdrawal of the
list, and consulted with' her counsel, Mr.
Van Cott. He then sent a long letter to the
Plymouth Church committee, refusing to
treat with them any further in relation to
a mutual council, and sharply rebuked
them for the course they had
pursued in rejecting the churches
selected. He did not think they had acted
fairly, and said Mrs. Moulton expected to
submit testimony before the council that
would show good reasons for charging Rev.
H. W. Beecher with adultery. Now, he
thought, the action of the church would be
considered by all just men to be a deliberate
attempt to avoid investigation as to the
guilt of the Plymouth pastor. The letters
of Drs. Storrs and Buddington were en
closed with Mr. Van Cott’s communication
to the committee.
HORRIBLE DEATH.
Richmond, January 17.—John H, Shields,
a son of Col. J. C. Shields, for many years
proprietor of the Richmond Whig,' was
killed to-day near Prospect depot, on the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad,
while attempting to jump from the west
ward bound train. The body was horribly
mangled. The deceased was twenty-nine
years of age, and had been married but
two months.
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS AND NOTES.
Washington, January 14 In the House,
a bill was introduced by White to reduce
salaries over $1,500 twenty per cent. He
moved the previous quesiion, which was not
seconded, and the bill was referred to the
Committee on Appropriations.
Morrison reported from the Committee on
Ways aud Means a resolution directing
several comuiittoes to inquire into any er
rors, abuses or frauds in the Administra
tion or execution of existing laws, the in
vestigation to.cover such periods as the
committees deem necessary. Adopted.
By Ward filial the hailing place of ves
sels shall be ilie town or city where vessels
are built, or where tho owners, or principal
owners, reside; tho town to bo painted on
the stern. Passed.
Morey reported a bill repealing section
two thousand three hundred and three of
Revised Statutes, which confines the dispo
sition of the public lands in Alabama, Mis
sissippi, Louisiana. Arkansas aud Florida.
He explained that in 1566 au act passed re
stricting the disposal of public lauds or the
United States in those five States. The ob
ject of the bill was to remove that distinc
tion. fihere was considerable debate. Sailor
said the law of 1806 seemed passed upon the
principle of forty acres and a mule. The
bill was recommitted, with a view of ex
tending its provisions, modified to all public
lands, in the interest of homesteads.
Knott reported back the amnesty bill. It
reads:
That all the disabilities imposed and re
maining on any person by virtue of the
third section of the fourteenth article of the
amendments to the constitution of the
United States, be aud are hereby removed,
and each and every person is and shall be
forevor relieved therefrom on his ap
pearing before a Judge of any court
of the United States or auy court of rec
ord in the State of which
he is a resident, and taking and subscribing
to the following oath to be duly attested and
recorded : “I, A 13, do solemnly swear or
allirm that I will support ana defend the
Constitution of the United States against
all enemies, foreign aud domestic; that I
will bear true faith aud allegiance to the
same, and obey all laws made in pursuance
thereof, aud that I take tins obligation
freely aud without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion whatover.”
.—IiMAL.VAOvod the
tho passage of the bill.
Mr. Crarv, of lowa, a member of the Ju
diciary Committee, asked Knott to yield him
tiie floor for a moment.
Knott replied that it would afford him
pleasure to yield to his colleague and to
other gentlemen on each side of the House,
but that he felt that ueither the peace of
the country nor the harmony of the House
required auy further discussion of the
proposition.
Frye, of Maine, also a member of the Ju
diciary Committee, asked Knott to permit
him to ask a single question. Several Demo
cratic members objected, and
Cox, of New York, said : We have had
enough of talk.
Blaine, of Maine—Will the gentleman
(Ivuott) allow me, without one word of de
bate, to have a letter read ?
Cox, Randall aud several other Democratic
members objected.
Knott—l cannot consent to open debate
at all. I insist on the previous question.
Frye—l simply desire to ask whether the
Republican minority on the Judiciary Com
mittee concurred iu the renort.
Cox, vociferously—l call the gentleman
to order. Maine is always out of order.
(Laughter.)
Blaine—l understand that the gentleman
from Kentucky declines either to admit an
amendment or to allow debate. (Loud calls
of order on the Democratic side.)
Randall, in a tone of remonstrance—You
know better than to do this.
Cox, somewhat more angrily—You have
been in the chair yourself aud ought to
know better. (Laughter.)
Blaine—l want a distinct understanding.
(More shouts of “order” from the Demo
crats.)
The previous question was seconded and
the main question ordered—yeas 183, uays
92.
Seclye, ot Mass., called attention to the
faulty grammar iu the construction of the
bill—the phrase “each and every person”
being treated as in the plural instead of the
singular case. The error was ordered to be
corrected. The House then proceeded to
vote on the passage of the bill. The vote
resulted ; Yeas, 182 ; nays, 97; so the requi
site two-thirds not voting in favor of it, the
bill was rejected. There was in
tense interest manifested as the
call of the yeas and nays pro
ceeded. Some of the prominent Repub
licans brought their influence to bear ou
some of the members of their party who
had voted ayo on the preceding vote, either
to vote in the negative or to rofrain from
voting. Rainey, of South Carolina, was
conspicuously the objoct of such attentions.
He did not answer when his name was
called. Haralson, of Alabama, who was in
the same position, also withheld his vote
at first, but finally rose and an
swered “aye,” amid the plaudits of
the Democrats. George A. Bagley, ef
Now York, who had voted in the affirmative,
changed his vote to the negative, at which
(lie Republicans rejoiced. Wells, of Missis
sippi, tried to explain whv, although he was
in favor of general amnesty, including
Jefferson Davis, ho voted no, but the Demo
crats shouted him down. Lynch, of Missis
sippi, however, managed to get the chance
of saying that though he was in favor of
the bill, lie voted no with a view of lettiug
Blaiuo offer his amendment, although he
(Lynch) would vote against the amend
ment.
Furman, of Florida, who had also with
held liis vote whon his name was first
called, afterwards rose and voted no. The
following is the negative vote in detail:
Nays—George A. Bagley, Baker, of Indiana;
Baker, of New York; Bolton, Blaine, Blair,
Bradley, Brown, of Kansas, Burchard, of
Illinois; Burleig!', Cannon, Cason, Caswell,
Conger, Crapo, Crounee, Danford, Darrall,
Daney, Dennison, Dobbins, Duuuell, Earns,
Evans, Forr, Foster, Freeman, Frost, Fi\e,
Garfield, Hale, Harris, of Massachusetts;
Hathoru, Haymond, Hendee, Henderson,
Hoar, Hogc, Hoskins, Hubbell, Hunter,
Hurlbut, Hayman, Joyce, Kasson, Ketchum,
King, Lapliam, Lawrence, Lavenworth,
Lynch, Magoon, MacDougall, McCrary, Mc-
Dill, Miller, Monroe, Nash, Norton, Olwar,
O’Neill, Packer, Page, Phillips, of Kansas;
Plaisted, Platt, Pratt, Purman, Robinson,
Ross, of Pennsylvania; Rusk, Sampson, Sin
nickson, Smalls, Smith, of Pa; Starkweather,
Strait, Stowed, Thornburg, Townsend,
of New York; Townsend, of Pennsylvania;
Trifts, VanVorhees, Waldron, Wallace, of
South Carolina; Wallace, of Pennsylvania;
Walls, Wells, Wheeler, White, Whiting,
Williard, Williams, of Wisconsin; Williams,
of Michigan; Wilson, of Louisiana; Wood,
of Pennsylvania, and Woodworth. The Re
publicans voting aye wore: Anderson,
Banks, Egbert, Farwell, Harolson, Kelly,
Landers, of Indiana; Lattrell, Mackey, of
South Carolina; Morey, Pierce, Seelye—l2.
On the result being announced Blaine, of
Maine, took the floor, and by a motion to
reconsider obtained the right to speak. A
long personal debate followed, when Blaine
offered his bill.
Banks said he was out of order, and Ran
dall and Hill objected.
He then said that if the gentleman de
clined his proposition and wanted no further
debate, he would give the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Randall) the opportunity to
bring up the Centenuial bill, which had
been postponed an entire week by this
amnesty bill occupying the attention of the
House.
Randall—The time consumed by the
House consequent upon the postponement
of the Centenuial bill, are wholly chargeable
to your side of the House.
Blaine—l will now end this matter, and I
have it ill my power to do so. I with
draw the motion to reconsider. (Triumph
ant laughter on the Republican side and ap
parent astonishment on the Democratic
side.) At this time all the members on the
Democratic side were on their feet, while
the Republican members were in their seats,
and the latter setup general cries of “Or
der ! order ! order !”
Randall asked Blaine to give him an op
portunity ot saying a word. The request
was met by still louder cries of “Order!”
from tho Republican side of the House, in
which calls Blaine himself joined.
Randali again renewed his request and
Blaine refused it, and there the amnesty
matter ended for the day.
The pensions appropriation bill passed.
Adjourned to Monday.
Washington, January 17.—1n the Senate
Gordon presented the petition of G. T.
Beauregard, for the removal of his disabili
ties. Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The Committee of Investigation of the
Freed men’s Bank had their first meeting
this morning, and agreed that the investi
gations should be private. The Commis
sioners of the bank, with the books, were
beiore them.
The Texas Border Committee appointed a
sub-committee to investigate information is
the War Department. When that is ex
hausted it will probably send for persons
from Texas, but will not visit the State.
In the House, Banks introduced his bill
again. It has gone to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
Washington, January 17. — 1n the House,
on the call of the States, Joyce introduced a
bill to prevent the sale of intoxicating
liquors in the Centennial buildings and
grounds during the exhibition.
Banks—A bill for the removal of all polit
ical disabilities.
Vance—To open navigation in the French
Broad river.
Seals—Granting pensions to soldiers in
the Mexican war.
O’Brien—An amendment to the constitu
tion, prohibiting, among other things,
preachers from holding office under the
general or State governments.
Sailor—To amend the steamboat act.
White moved to suspend the rule** and
vote on tho amnesty bill, excluding Jeffer
son Davis. After voting on the amendment
striking out the excluding clause, the vote
was, yeas, 165; nays, 110—not two-thirds—
and the rules were not suspended.
Heilman moved to suspend the rules to
instruct tho Currency Committee to report
a bill to repeal the resumption bill, but it
failed—yeas, 112; nays, 158.
Carr, from the Committee on Rules, re
ported back the proposition introduced
some weeks since, by Hollman, of Indiana,
to amend the rule governing the offering oj
amendments to general appropriation blUe,
so as to make the rule read: “No appropria
tion bill shall be reported in each general
appropriation bill or he in order as an
amendment thereto for any expenditure not
previously authorized by law, except in con
tinuation of appropriations for such public
works and objects as are already in progress
nor shall any provision in auy such bill or
amendment thereto changing existing laws
be in order, except such as, being germane
to the subject-matter of the bill, shall re
trench expenditure. Adopted—yeas 156*
nays 102, nearly a party vote. ’
The House wont iuto Committee of the
Whole on the Centennial bill for a million
and-a-half, bnt there was no action.
Morrison offered a resolution, calling on
tho President for correspondence with Spain
about Cuba. Adopted.
Knott offerod a resolution instructing the
Committee on the Judiciary to consider the
law now in force in the District of Columbia
relative to libel. Adopted.
In the Senate, Morton will call up the
Mississippi resolution on Wednesday.
Sherman's amendment to tho charter tf
the Freedman's Bank comes up to-morrow.
The Judiciary Committee reported ad
versely on allowing accused persons to tes
tify in Federal courts.
\Vest introduced two bills affecting the
Northern Pacific Railroads, and looking to
the protection of the government.
Morrill said he was in favor of tho bill in
troduced by the Senator (West), but he did
not desire to be committed to the idea which
he had heard of to the effect that auy
amotuit received from these roads should bo
given to aid the Southern Pacific Rosd. The
bills were roforred to the Judiciary Commit
tee.
Boutwell stated that the Treasury officials
were preparing a statement answering the
questions of Senator Davis, which would be
ready to-morrow. He hoped Davis would
not repress investigation.
The Centennial bill is said to be gaining
ground rapidly. Several prominent South
ern men take a decided stand for it, among
them Senator Gordon, of Georgia. He
agrees with Senator Bayard that it is
both constitutional and* sanctioned by
numberless precedents. Ho lias been
heard to express himself very freely, and
is earnestly for the bill, on the following
grounds: First, that no section is so
deeply interested in the proper celebration
and re-establishmont of the principles of
1776 and in the restoration of good will in
in the country as the South
I Second. Th^J-Akp-jjfimposed appropriation
would cost only about nfecee aud one-half
cents per capita in tho' lsniteVi L -’' Ht
Third. That l’ennsylvania has paid lon
and a half millions of the fivo millions
already expended; that it woulo be
uujust to make that State pay more, wliero
as the appropriation by Congress would per
fect the national character of the celebra
tion. Fourttj, That foreign nations having
accepted an invitation to come, the reputa
tion of the government is involved in per
fecting the arrangements. On this aecount,
he would regret to seo the South vote
against it.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Mobile, January 14.—This morning be
tween 12 and 1 o’clock a fire broke out on
St. Francis street, and tho entire block
bounded by St. Michael stroet on tho north
and St. Francis on tho Bouth, ltoyal on the
east and St. Joseph on tho west, with tho
exception of the Bank of Mobile, the Regis
ter office, the old Western Union Telegraph
office and the old express office, was de
stroyed. Tho fire originated in tho rear of
Lemoin Bros.’ saloon, and having reached
Davis’s stables, whoro a large lot of hay and
grain was stored, spread with great rapidity.
The loss is supposed to reach nearly SIOO,-
000, a largo portion of which is ooverod by
insurance.
New York, January 14.—This morning
the planing mill and lumber vard of
Keeney & Snow in Jersey City, was’entiroly
burned. The following named persons aro
losers : Keeney A Suow, $20,000; Sullivan A
Cos., sash and blind makers, $18,000; Geo.
W.Snow, mouldings, $8,000; Barnes A Evans,
sash and bliud makors, $1,500; J. Keary.
carpenter, $7,000; Michael Malone, scroll
sawing, $1,500; Pennsylvania Railroad
stables, $2,000; Vanderbeck A Cos., lumber
$2,000. The fire was undoubtedly the
of an inoendiary.
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES. "
WakuiNUTOn, January 17- Secretary Fish
was to-day before the House Committee ou
Foreign Affairs by invitation, and informed
the Committee of the present condition of
the cuban question. He did not specifically
state the terms of the circular rocontly ad
dressed to foreign nations ou that subject,
but intimatod that it merely asked their
moral support in the event of media
tion or intervention by the United
States. Alluding to the recent Madrid
telegram giving an outline of Spain’s
reply to the American circular, he
said he did not regard its touo as uni
friendly. As to the negotiations now in
progress they were conducted in a concilia
tory spirit on both sides, and certainly with*
out threats on the part of the United States,
and he hoped that the negotiations would
terminate satisfactorily. He was willing
that tho correspondence should ho laid be
fore the House, and this would be dono
should that body call for it. Subsequently,
a resolution was passed calling for the cor
respondence, which will soon bo communi
cated by the President to the House.
BEAUREGARD.
Washington, January 17.—The following
is a copy of General Beauregard’s letter
applying for the removal of his political
disabilities, which was presented in tho
Senate to-day;
Office N. O. and Carrolton, R. It. Cos., )
New Orleans, January 9,1870. J
Dear General: My friends here, believ
ing that I can be of service to the State of
Louisiana by beoomiug a member of a pro
posed|Levee Board of Commissioners, have
expressed a desiro that 1 should apply to
have my disabilities removed so that there
should he no doubt of my ability to hold a
State appointment. I bog you, there
fore, to have tho kindness to present
to Congress this, my application for
the removal of my disabilities.
Yours very truly,
_ „ G. T. Beuakegard.
Io General J. B. Gordon, United States
Senate.
HELMBOLD.
Philadelphia, January 17.—Dr. H. TANARUS,
Helmbold, confined in the Pennsylvania
Hospital for insane, yesterday effected his
escape, and has not since been heard from.
JUSTICE IN FLORIDA.
A Georgia Newspaper Correspondent
Pays Ills Respects to Judge E. M.
Randall. V
*
1
To the Editor of the New York Sun %
Sir—My attention has been called to
the subjoined extract from the Hun of
December 28 : *
E. M. ltandall, Chief Justice of Florida;,
writes that the account published
Sun respecting a case which was recently
tried before him is utterly untrue; that
he did not sell a tract of land to a suitor
in bis court for an amount of money
largely in excess of its real value; and
that he has “never sold any preperty to
any one interested in any bonds or in any
litigation or question before any court.”
The Sun's article was condensed from
the Jacksonville correspondence of tho
Savannah News, a newspaper which is
generally correct in its statements.
*lt were worse than folly to measure
lances with a Chief Justice, or to advance
such charges as I did without being well
fortified in my position by facts. I de
nounced E. M. Randall over the nom de
plume of “Adrianus,” in the Morning
News, because the salvation of those free
institutions that have been so much
talked about, and so little respected
lately, lies in the incorruptibility of tl
judiciary, and because I estimate E. M.
Randall as a venal Judge and a political
charlatan. Suppressing further comment
for the purpose of economizing space,
submit my sworn statement below in cor
roboration of my asservation:
First—On the 10th day of February
1871, E. M. Raudall conveyed unto M
H. Alberger the lot known as lot i
block 43, in the city of Jacksonville, tb
consideration, according to the deet
being $5,000.
Second— M. H. Alberger, the pu
chaser, was universally regarded as tht
accredited agent of Littlefield, Dibble and
associates, who were engaged or ex
pected to engage in litigation in the
Supreme Court of Florida.
Third—£. M. Raudall subsequently
stated to a gentleman, whose affidavit
can be produced whenever demanded,
that the price which he had received
was $7,500, and such was the general im
pression.
Fourth—The assessed valuation of lot
6, block 43, for 1875, is exactly twenty
five hundred dollars.
Fifth—The transaction between Alber
ger and Randall was looked upon as a
direct bribe by the people.
Sixth—An examination of Florida re
ports will convince any unbiased person
of the suspicious partiality of the Chief
Justice toward the parties whose agent
Alberger was.
Seventh —lt is commonly believed
among the respectable people of the State
of Florida that E. M. Randall prostituted
the ermine of his court for the sake of
gain.
To all of which I swear, to the best of
my information, knowledge and belief.
Thos. A. Bbitt.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, in
the oity of Jacksonville, Duval oounty,
State of Florida, this 4th day of January,
A. D. 1876. C. P. Cooper,
Notary Public.
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