About The Savannah weekly news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1868-187? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1876)
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. Pianos at Panic Prices. Only $225 cash for elegant new 1 Octave Pi anos, Rosewood cases, carved legs and all im provements, good stool and cover included. Guaranteed for five years. Maker’s price S4OO. ' Luddbn & Bates, Southern Music House dec2B-2t&wlm Savannah, (3
