Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

TliiniS 01’ SUBSCRIPTION. Dailx —oue year $lO oo “ six months 5 00 “ three months 2 50 Tki-Wekkly—one year 5 00 “ six months 2 60 WBEKLt-one year 2 00 ** six months 1 oo Single oopies. 5 cts. To news dealers. 2>£ cts £ufearitions must in all cases be paid in adranse. The paper will be discontinued at th# expiration of the time paid for. JAS. G. BAILIE, ) FRANCIS COGIN, Proprietors GEO. T. JACKSON.) Address all Letters to the Constitu tionalist office, AUGUSTA. GA. TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. BLOWING UP OF A LOCOMOTIVE. The Fireman Killed and Engineer Badly Wounded. [Special Dispatch to the Constilutionlist.] Barnett, Ga., December 17. There was another explosion here at an early hour this morning, our usually quiet town was made the scene of a sad accident. It was caused by the explosion of the passenger engine, “M. P. Stovall,” of the Georgia Rail road, resulting in the instant kill ing of the fireman, Henry Downs, and the wounding mortally of the engin eer, Joe Reaney. The engine wa3pull ing the down night passenger train, which was due at Barnett at 4:32. It arrived on time, and after a detention of three minutes, required to change the mail, it departed, but had only proceeded about one hundred and fifty yards, when the explosion or the boiler of the engine took plaoe with the result as above stated, and literally tearing the machinery all to pieces, and scattering it to the four winds ; many pieces of which were blown hundreds of yards in various directions. One piece wa3 blown entirely through the roof and ceiling of our depot. No in jury was done to the cars. The fire man was found on the tender partially covered with wood, fearfully mangled. The engineer was found about thirty feet from the track on the ground. His skull is fractured, one thigh broken, and several deep and painful incisions on his face. Both men were married and their families reside in Atlanta. Doctors Pilcher and Shields were promptly sent for and arrived in time :;o give much relief to Mr. Reaney, who became conscious aoout ten o’clock, and seemed to have some recollection of the explosion. After a consultation, the doctors decided that his removal to Atlanta would not les sen his chances for recovery, and con sequently he was sent forward by the up day passenger train, accompanied by Dr. Shields. The remains of Mr. Downs were also forwarded by the same train to Atlanta. After procuring an engine from a following freight train, the night passenger train pro ceeded to Augusta, leaving here at half-past seven o’clock. The conduc tor, Mr. T. J. Wood, stated that the engine had been work, ing niceiy all night. The explo sion was distinctly heard several miles distant, and after daylight many persons from the neighborhood came in, in quest of the mysterious rumbling. Many supposed it to have been another earthquake, as you remember we real ized one a short time ago. Exactly four months ago, within three hundred yards of the same place, Mr. E. S. O’Brien’s store was demolished by Are and gunpowder. So we will have to record this as explosion No. 2. The “ M. P, Stovall ” was regarded as one of the best and fastest passen ger engines on the road. She was a Norris engine, and was brought out in February, 1860, and ran regularly un til the Summer of 1870, when she was takeu into the shops of the Georgia Railroad and thoroughly overhauled, the boiler especially; and, from the character of the work done on the boiler, it was regarded, by the Master Machinist, as good for ten years long er. The engine has made regular trips since 1870, and the boiler never gave any signs of weakness, but was re garded as first-class in every particu lar. So violent was the explosion that the engine turned nearly completely around—one of the immense driving wheels beiDg blown off and sent to a considerable distance. The causes of the explosion are a mystery. Mr. Reaney was regarded as a careful and experienced engineer, and was one in whom the management of the road had great confidence. No de lay was caused to other trains, as the engine turned in the opposite direc tion from the sideling, and the trains now pass over it. At a late hour last night it was un derstood Mr. Reaney was still alive. HANGING OF A MURDERER. NICK THOMPSON. A NEGRO, SENT INTO ETERNITY. He Meets His Fate Calmly. iSpecial to the Constitutionalist.] Quitman, Ga., December 17. The Governor having declined to grant a respite, Nick Thompson, the murderer of Capt. J. H. Hunter, was hanged here to-day. The prisoner was visited at ten o’clock by the colored clergy of the town, and a regular class meeting was held. The sheriff, guard, family of the murderer, and a few spectators, were present. The services were opened by singing the hymn, “Hark, Listen to the Trumpet,” by special request of the prisoner, which wa3 followed by prayer by two minis ters present, and also the prisoner. At 11 o’clock the prisoner was brought down to the gallows, which he ascended with a firm step. After the rope had been adjusted Nick was asked if he de sired to say anything. He replied that he had made his peace with God, and felt that his sins were forgiven him, and he was ready and anxious to go. The black cap was put over his head and his hands and feet securely tied, and he was asked by the sheriff, “Are you ready ?” “Yes, sir,” replied Nick, “let it go.” The scaffold fell, and the doomed man met his fate. His neck was broken by the fall, and he died without a struggle. No demonstrations were made by the negroes to rescue Nick, as was feared and guarded against. Everything passed off quietly. C. ffl)£ CAutjusfn Constitutionalist. Established 1799. FROM WASHINGTON. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. Adjournment Monday—Morton’s Mis sissippi Resolution Laid Over Till Monday—Resolution to Elect a Vice- President, Pro Tem., Submitted — Various Public and Private Bills— A Resolution Laughed at by Both Sides in the House—The Question of Naturalization of Germans. Washington, December 17. —The Sen ato went into Executive session imme diately. The House agreed to the Senate re solution to adjourn from next Monday to January sth. Senate. —In the Senate to-day Thur man suggested that Morton’s resolu tion for the investigation of the Missis sippi election be laid over until Mon day, as it would be impossible to dis pose of it without an all night session. Morton consented, saying he urged it would be disposed of Monday. Edmunds submitted a resolution to elect a President pro tem. on the 7th of January. He did this because of the great importance of the subject. After a brief discussion the resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Very little doubt exists of the elec tion of Ferry. House. —A large number of bills of a private nature were introduced in the House. Hemons, of Arkansas, introduced bills for the improvement of the Talma river, Arkansas ; also to repeal the tax on leaf tobacco ; also to repeal the law making restrictions in the disposition of the public lands in the States of Ala bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkan sas and Florida. Page, of California, offered the fol lowing resolution: Whereas, The Constitution of the United States, as framed by the fathers of the Re public, imposes no limits on the eligibility of any citizen to the office of President, farther than that he must ne native born, and of a certain age and time of residence, therefore, Resolved, That, in the judgment of this House the right of candidates for the office of President can only be lawfully exerc sed by the people under existing con stitutional restrictions, and has never been delegated by the people to the House of Representatives or to any of the members of the same, and that any attempt by the House of Representatives to limit or fore stall the public will on a question of such importance is an invasion of the power re served to the people at large to be freely exercised by them without any interfer ence from any Legislative body whatever. The reading of the resolution was greeted with laughter on both sides of the House, and the House refused to second the previous question. The following was introduced: Resolved. That the Committee on Foreign Affairs inquire into and report upon the ex pediency and j ustice of giving to the Ger man Empire the notice required by the sth article of the treaty with the North German Empire, signed the 22d of February, 1868, for the termination of said treaty, or so much thereof, and of the protocol of .June 12, 1871, as relates to citizens of the United States, renunciation of naturalization and their political condition in Germany under said treaty and protocol. Off for Philadelphia—Centennial Ex cursion. The Centennial excursion to Phila delphia left here this afternoon. The party numbers about four hundred and fifty, including the President, several members of the Cabinet, members of Congress and newspaper men. Ar rangements are perfected to give them a grand entertainment in Philadelphia. Arrival of the Washington Excursion ists in Philadelphia—General Jolli fication. Philadelphia, December 17.—The Congressional party, with the President and members of tbe Cabinet, arrived to-night. The journalists of the party are being entertained by the Philadel phia Press Club. The President, with his family, are the guests of George W. Childs. Postmaster General Jewell is the guest of Col. Wm. McMichael. Secretary Robeson and Attorney Gen eral Pierrepont are stopping with ex- Sec retary Borie. Justices Waite, Field and Bradley are the guests of Hon. Thos. H. Dudley, of Camden, N. J. Justice Strong and Justice Hunt are guests of Jas. M. Flanagan, Justice Stroug’s sou-iu-law. The whole party, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, the Senators and Representatives, and the newspaper correspondents, number about four hundred. On their arrival, there was a large crowd at the depot, and at the various hotels where the Congressmen were assigned quarters a large number of persons had congregated. Chestnut street, over which the train of carriages passed, was handsomely illuminated, the windows of private dwellings being thrown open and lighted, likewise stores, which were in many instances handsomely decorated. The buildings of the Reform Club, the American Club and the Neptune Club were illuminated and decorated, presenting a striking appearance. The crowd at the Continental wa3 so great that the police were obliged to put up ropes to make a passage way for the guests. A committee of mer chants escorted the part}’ to this city, meeting them at Wilmington. Mr. Mitchell, Chairman of the Committee of Reception, presented to the Presi dent at Wilmington a letter from the Mayor of Philadelphia, extending to him and tbe distinguished delegation the hospitalities of this city. The President replied In a few remarks. Nominations and Continuations. Wra. F. Prosser was confirmed by the Senate as United States Marshal for the Middle Distiict of Tennessee ; F. W. Sawson, Postmaster at Sherman, Texas. The President, to-day, nominated George F. Seward, of California, to be Minister to China, and James Birney, of Michigan, to be Minister to the Netherlands. SOUTH~CAROLINA. The Columbia Races—Gov. Chamber lain Addresses Students at Green ville. Charleston, December 17.—At the Columbia races, third day, in the first race, mile heats, four started. Lottie Moon won in three straight heats; Da mon second, Prussian third—Time, 1:48>2, 1:50, 1:48. In the second race, mile dash, Larry Hart caine in first, but was ruled out for a foul and the purse won by Abdel Koree, Century second. The third race, over hurdles, was won by Vandal, Jr., Charles Cheat ham second. Governor Chamberlain addressed an assemblage of students in Greenville who had come there to participate in a competitive examination in Greek, for prizes given by Prof. Whitsett. There teas an immense audience present. An eating house in New Jersey still reads: “Coffee and eggs fresh laid by Mary Jones.” The hungry man cares but little for punctuation, and Mary Jones is doing well. AUGUSTA. CTA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 187\5. FOREIGN DISPATCHES. The Dynamite Explosion—Total Kill ed and Wounded—Aid for the Sur vivors - Discrimination Against Ves sels. Bremen, December 17.—Thompson’s wife returned to Dresden. She appears to be innocent of any complicity in her husband’s crime. The total number killed and wounded by the explosion is now estimated at 200. The Empress Augusta has started a benevolent association composed of ladies of Bremen in aid of the survivors of the Dynamite explosion. Ottawa, Ont., December 17. — Owing to the refusal of the United States au thorities to allow Canadian vessels to navigate American Canals on the same footing as American vessels, tbe Do minion government has prepared a case and forwarded it to Secretary Fish. Men Still Clamoring for Bread in Montreal. Montreal, December 17.—This morn ing. between 1,000 and 1,500 des perate laborers again surrounded the City Hall clamoring for bread. Alderman Grenier, Chairman of the Police Committee, addressed the peo ple and quieted them, advising them to wait till to-morrow. If immediate aid is not given, it is feared that a riot will be the result. The Ministerial Crisis in France. Versailles, December 17.—The min isterial crisis cause! by the intended withdrawal of M. Leon Say, the Minis ter of Finance, continues, inasmuch as M. Say persists in his determination to resign. In the Assembly to-day, Gen. Cissey, Minister of War, was elected to the Senate. Egypt’s Zanzibar Expodition—Tele graphs Out of Order —Movements of Royalty. London, December 17. —A telegram from Cairo, dated to-day, in the Times, confirms the recall of Egypt’s Zanzibar expedition. The telegraplm between London and Liverpool have been somewhat dis arranged to-day, and there has been a consequent delay in the transmission dispatches. The Queen of Denmark and Princess Thyria have returned to Cepeuhagen. They'were accompanied by the Prin cess of Wales, and her children, who will spend the holidays in Denmark. Going After a Mutinous Crew. London, December 17.—English de tectives and police are about to start for France, to bring back the crew of the British ship Leunie, who mutinied in October last, while on a voyage from Antwerp for New York, and killed the master, mate and the boatswain. The probability is that the Government will dispatch a gunboat for the pur pose. Eleven of the crew of the Leunie will be charged with murder. A large number of witnesses will also be brought here. SOUTH AMERICA. A Bad State of Affairs in Peru—A San guinary Election -Battle-A Boat Race—Woman Suffrage in Chili. Panama, December 17.—News from Peru to the 28th iust. is quite disheart ening. Business is absolutely stagnant, gold and silver are on a rise, and mer chants refuse to sell goods, as no ex change can be procured on Europe for remittances. Election disputes have not yet ceased. At Huanta, a town in the district of Agacacho, a serious conflict took place on the 16th ulb, between the rival parties. For twelve hours a battle raged among the polling booths, to obtain possession of them, and when night fell in, and the ammunition became short, twenty dead bodies lay in the plaza with the adjoin ing houses filled with wounded. From an absurd interpretation of the consti tution the police were not allowed to interfere le3t the government might be accused of trying to intimidate. A bdat race came off at Callao on the 11th ult., between one of those of the United States Flagship Richmond and another of the Peruvian man-of-war Huascar. The Richmond’s crew com menced and ended with the extraordi nary pull of fifty-two strokes per minute, but toward the end of the second mile the better qualities of the Huascar’s cutter be came evident. She forged steadily ahead, leaving her opponent some two hundred yards behind. When the stake boat was reached, the time made by the victor was seventeen minutes thirty eight seconds. In Chili, the electoral registration is going on. In Valparaiso one woman, and in Santiago and in Capiapo several friars have been registered as voters. These occurrences have caused the bringing before the Senate of a project of law declaring that neither friars nor women bo allowed to vote. This pro ject of law passed into commission after receiving general approbation. CALIFORNIA. Vigilance Committee Formed—Trouble Apprehended from the Mexicans. San Francisco, December 17. — The citizens of San Diego have organized a volunteer force to preserve order on the frontier. Antonio Saorso, who has been prominent in maintaining order and punishing brigands was found dead, shot through the head. The vigilants are searching for the mur derers. There is a great gathering of Mexicans and a large camp in Treate Valley. Either a raid across the border or a revolution in Lower California is intended. AT SEA. Collision—Vessel Ashore. London, December 17.—The Chittoer, from New Orleans for Hull, 'put into Yarmouth, damaged by a collision. Antwerp, December 17.—The steamer Vaderland, from Philadelphia, is ashore in Sceldt Belt. She is expected to come off. CHICAGO. The National Transportation Conven tion. Chicago, December 17. — The National Association of Transportation and Com merce reassembled this morning.— Resolutions were presented asking Congress to make appropriations for the improvement of navigable rivers, and for the opening of two water routes, oae from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and the other via Mississippi to the Gulf. The eyesight of a Massachusetts man has been restored by the falling, of a heavy weight on his head. FROM NEW YORK. Three Negroes Hu’ig—Stay of Fro ceedings Ordered in. Dolan’s Case. New York, December 17.—Wm. Ellis, Charles Weston and William Thomp son, the three negroes who followed a peddler named Abraham Weissberg into Lydig’s woods,! in Westchester county, and beat his! brains out with stones, in order to roij him of fourteen dollars, were hung a|: half past nine o’clock this morning. One of them clung to the rope with" both hands and, screamed in terrible a;gony. A writ of error and stay of proceed ings ia the case of John Dolan, who was also to have been hung to-day, was ordered last evening by Judge Donohue. The writ and stay caiis for an argument before the general term of the Supreme Court in January. Improved Condition of Charles O’Conor. Charles O’Conor is considered out of danger. He ate heartily yesterday, and his stomach has recovered its tone aud functions. His physician states that lie has conquered the disease, and if no relapse takes place his patient will soon be well again. A Supposed Murderer. New York, December 17. The Brooklyn detectives have succeeded in weaving out a strong .chain of evidence around P. N. RubeoWtein, accused of murdering the youn{'| Jewess in East New York. admitted to day to his fellow-prisoners that an in timacy exised between him and the un fortunate girl. GEORGIA GENERAL NEWS. There is snow on the Cohutto Moun tains. The Sehuetzen Society of Savannah are preparing for the coming carnival season. Thirty-two gin houses have been re ported burned in this State since Sep tember Ist. Columbus office holders are a good deal depressed by the low salaries which Council has voted. Dr. C, P. Bernau, of Mt. Zion, a dis tinguished Presbyterian divine, died very suddenly, while seated in his chair, last Sunday. Samuel Hillhouae has struck a rich gold mine, near Etowah mines, in Cherokee county. Tins mine is said to yield five hundred dollars to the ton. Mr. Albert L. Richardson, formerly agent for the steamer Lizzie Baker, left Savannah for New York on Thursday, to bring out another steamer to be placed on the inside route from Savan nah to Florida. An old and respectable citizen of Sa vannah attempted suicide Thursday by taking morphine, but the prompt use of a stomach pump saved him. Finan cial troubles are said to be the cause of the attempt. On Monday night the gin house of Messrs. B. W. Davis and Joseph Willi ford, in Stewart county, was burned. Loss, two bales of cotton aud six or seveu hundred bushels of cotton seed. Incendiary. No insurance. At the regular communication of Waynesboro Lodge, No. 274, F. and A. M., held recently, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Amos P. Lambeth, W. M.i Edward A. Carter, S. W.; John A. Barnes. J. W; Thos. J. McElmurray, Treasurer; Jas. E. Frost, SecretaM'; Robert A. Lawson, S. D.; Thos. S. Blanchard, J. D.; Robt. J. Skinner, Tyler. At a communication of Mt. Herman Lodge, No. 304, F. A. M., the following officers were elected : F. M Brooks, W. M.; John A. Urquhart, S. W.; G. W. Gafford, J. W.; D. H. Burts, Treasurer; T. A. Cantrell, Secretary ; Rev. R. J. Corley, Chaplain ; J. H. Conway, S. D.; M. Joseph, J. D.; C. B. Teasdale and J. L. Jordon, Stewards ; Jas. M. Hughes, Tyler. J. C. Porter, Marshal. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. About the first of January, the Rev. Mr. Broaddus will leave us and set up his rest in the flourishing railroad town of Ninety-Six. The Baptist Church is about to call a Rev. Mr. Al exander. , Last Sunday, the Coroner of Chester county held an inquest on the body o' a negro who was found dead in a screw press. The evidence showed that the deceased was standing near the screw box, and, when the others left, lay down upon the cotton and fell asleep. The rest of the cotton might then have been put in without rousing him, and when it was pressed down he was smothered. Julia Randolph, a woman of bad re pute, was mysteriously murdered near her house in Darlington county on Fri day night last. A negro named Dave Williams, with whom the murdered woman was supposed to have had some questionable relations, is sus pected of the deed, and has fled the country. At the recent meeting of the County commissioners of Marion, they raised the price of license to sell whiskey to $250. In Horry, th<| commissioners have given notice thai after the Ist of January they will refuse to grant a li cense at any price. \ Robert Gadsden, a qegro, stole a bot tle of whiskey in Charleston from a store, and was pursued by a colored porter aud shot in the thigh. Death of a Hero of Two Battles.— James Robinson, colored, the owner of the “Robinson House,” on the Bull Ruu battle field, near Manassas, Va., died a few days since. He witnessed both of the memorable battles, remain ing on his place with his family during those terrible scenes of blood. His house received hundreds of bullets and one solid twenty-four pounder, which went through a bed-room, carrying away one post of a bed upon which lay a sick Confederate soldier. He wit nessed the death of the Confederate Generals Bee and Bartow, which took place within a hundrid yards of his door. He saw the marble monument erected to their memory, and saw the Federal soldiers destroy the same at the second battle. He gathered up the fragments and preserved them, and up to the time of his death would give visitors to the battle field who desired it a small piece of the marble as a me mento. At a prayer meeting the other eve ning, a brother, who was relating his experience, bore testimony to tbe fact that religion had a great deal to do in strengthening a man’s courage, and added: “I never had to run for my life but once, and that! was the second year after I was marr-ed. If she hadn’t stumbled and broken her ueck, I don’t believe I’d be here now.” THE POWER OF SILENCE. [London Saturday Beview.J It is a familiar observation that the great processes of nature are mostly conduced in silence, and noise is the sign not so much of growth as of de struction. It is not in the disturbing forces of the earthquake, the tempest, and the fire, but rather in the silent ad vance of long geological periods, the gradual development of animal life, and the slow cooling of the igneous globe, that her still small voice speaks to the ear of science. It is, however, of human conduct rather than of nat ural laws that we are thinking when we speak of the power of silence. The power of speech in its various forms, whether of conversation, of argument, of oratory, or. in a wider sense of the word, of written communication, is in deed obvious enough—so obvious, that without it, human iife would come to a standstill altogether. Language, as it is constantly ob served, distinguishes the rational from the brute creation. But, on the other hand, the ingenious sarcasm of a great master of diplomacy, who suggested that the principal use of language is to conceal our thoughts, has a basis of fact to rest upon. At all events it is very often used for that purpose, and in such cases the language of silence, wherever it is available, is the simplest aud most effective that *;an be em ployed. We say wherever it is avail able, for a tell-tale silence, according to the familiar proverb, may be the s.urest means of revealing, not conceal ing thought. It is not every one who knows how “to be silent in seven lan guages ;” to speak seven languages with ease, if not a common, is perhaps a less rare accomplishment. But the capacity, where it exists, is a real source of strength, and Solomon inti mates that to be wholly destitute of it is the mark of a fool, who “utteretli all his mind.” Avery simple illustration may serve to bring out our meaning here. One of the commonest objections to tbe whole class of alleged phenomena, which are vulgarly lumped together under the comprehensive head of ghost stories, is that they are almost always reported second-hand. The fact is admitted and accounted for iu several eases in a work on alleged supernatural appearances, reviewed iu our columns not long ago. Now the objection of course has its weight, valeat quantum-, but it is not conclusive, for the simple reason that “a man of understanding,” to use Solo mon’s phrase, if he believes himself to have witnessed any such preternatural occurrence, is not likely to be commu nicative on the subject. However strong may be his own conviction on its reality, he will have a keen sense of tbe ridicule to which an open avowal may expose himself and perhaps his family also; while he will be so far from sharing the fat boy’s eagerness “to make yer flesh creep,” that iu propor tion to the depth of his own conviction will be his unwillingness to expose to vulgar criticism, what to himself has a character of sacredness. Everyone has heard of Col. Gardi ner’s visions, and there can be no sort of doubt as to his own belief in them. But when a rough military friend of his, on first seeing the account in print, after his death, remarked that it must be a pure invention, because Col. Gar diner had never told him a word about the matter, oue feels at once that the objection is absurd, whatever may be thought about the visions. Thus again it is related of Hallam and the poet Rogers, that,, iu early life, they were greatly impressed with some mesmeric experiments they had witnessed iu Paris, and on their first return to Lon don began talking freely on the sub ject; but when they found their revela tions were received with a chorus of indiscriminate ridicule, they agreed never again to speak of the subject in general society. In such instances, and many more that might be mentioned, silence is chiefly used as a protective power, and that is no doubt its most obvious, though by no means its only use. Our readers may be aware that in former days the Fellows of Trinity College. Dublin, were forbidden by statute to marry; but the violation of the rule, which in fact they seldom observed, was connived at so long as they main tained a discreet reticence on their con nubial arrangements, and their wives bore their maiden name in public. One of these wedded celibates was asked by a friend, who had been much perplexed on discovering the state of the case, how he managed to hold his fellowship? “My dear, sir,” was the reply, “a man can hold anythiug who can hold his tongue.” It follows, of course, that a man who wears his heart on his sleeve will let everything slip through his fingers. The gift of silence is characteristic of the “canny” Scot. A Scotchman will never “tell a lee,” but he will make it next to impossible for you to discover what he wishes to conceal. The sur gical operatiou which is said to be requisite for getting a joke into him is equally required for getting out of him when he prefers, as he very frequently does prefer, to keep his own counsel. He is an adept at beating about the bush, which is another way of saying that he knows how to hold his tongue. But silence is not merely a protec tive power. If it often serves tc con ceal what there might be an indiscre tion in betraying, it may also prove a positive means of influence. The Greeks thought it so difficult to “speak good omened words” that they used the phrase as equivalent to what the Romans more directly termed a “sacred silence.” And, great as the repute which their philosophers, orators and poets have won by their writings, it is difficult to determine how much of the still grander reputation of Socrates is due to his having written nothing. In one sense certainly he was the re verse of silent, but he did not commit his thoughts to paper, aud he has been credited—wo do not say undeservedly —with more than the highest wisdom of those who undertook to report his utterance, while their weaknesses are attributed to themselves. How much, again, of influence and reputation iu ordinary life is due to a judicious silence. We have all heard of Lord Thurlow’s awful nod, but there are other professions than the law where a sententious silence has proved the secret of success. How many med ical reputations have been built on a capacity for looking wise and saying nothing 1 A doctor who knows how to insinuate by tone and face and ges ture his perfect oommand of the situa tion, without committing himself to speciflo assertions, may make & little skill go a long way, and may even make serious mistakes with impunity. It does not seem so easy for a preach er to trade upon his capacity of re serve, yet even in the clerical profes sion many have gained the reputation of profound divines and able guides in the spiritual life by a judicious man- agement of platitudes. Nor would it be hard to show on the other hand, how lofty reputations and brilliant prospects have been blighted by too open mouthed frankness. It matters little what opinions an aspirant for political or clerical promotion may hold, so long as he understands when to hold his tongue about them; but a single slip may mar a whole career. It is not un common, again, to hear people say that they had rather not meet some famous personage for whose character they have conceived a high admiration or reverence, for fear the spell should be broken. This means that they are afraid of his saying something that would jar on their prec- meeived notions about him; and, considering the im mense diversity of tastes and methods of judgment, such a tesult is certainly likely enough. But no previously formed estimate, though it may not be raised, can well be endangered by silence. The policy of reserve has been stigmatized, and sometimes justly, as cowardly, but it is usually safe. As dead men tell no talec, silent men com mit no blunders. ANYTHING TO SATE BABCOCK. The Rem oval of Henderson the Salva tion of the Whiskey Ring:. [New York World, 10th.] The intelligence given in our Wash ington special this morning shows that the prosecution of the St. Louis Whis key Ring has broken down at last. Henderson had pushed on with terrible persistency, convicting Joyce, McDon ald and Avery in succession, and de claring on the last trial that he would establish the guilt of Babcock. With wonderful zeal the grand jury handed over to him, one after another, the va rious victims, and had just committed the President’s military secretary to his tender mercies when the order came from Washington that Hen derson’s connection with the prose cution should cease. Thus the Presi dent counter-checks the indictment of Babcock by a movement to destroy the force of the prosecution. Hender son had the courage, the ability and the knowledge of the facts requisite to push the case of the Government against the conspirators to the bitter end. Had a conviction been required he would have been retained. His suc cessor will understand that an acquit tal is what is required, and wiy act accordingly. Tho President’s repre sentative, in the President’s court, can so shape the case as to let the “guilty man escape.” The pretense that, Henderson is removed from the prosecution because some of his remarks before the jury reflected upon Mr. Grant, is a hollow one. His earnest denial of this charge should be taken as conclusive, for he ought to know 7 best what he said, and what he meant by his utterances. We repeal, that the prosecution of the St. Louis “Whiskey ring” has broken down. Mr. Grant, acting either through conscious ness of his own guilt or through un worthy affection for a subordinate, is primarily responsible for the failure ; and Mr. Bristow, who should have re fused to turn back from the furrow, is not altogether blameless. The tragedy at St. Louis is over, gentlemen; let down the curtain; we have no desire to look upon a farce. Why it Didn’t (Dome Off. — A few days ago a Detroit widower, who was engaged to a Detroit widow, each hav ing two or three children, and both being well off, determined to test her love for him and at the same time dis cover if she was actuated by mercenary motives as some of his friends had as serted. He called upon her at tho usual evening hour, and after a while remarked : “My dear, you know I have two children, and to-day I had my life in surance policy for $25,000 changed to their sole benefit in case of my death.” “You did quite right, my darling,” she promptly replied. “I have three children, as you are aware. As soon as we were engaged I had every dollar’s worth of my property so secured that they alone can have tho benefit of it.” He looked. She looked. The marriage didn’t come off at the time set last week, and it may never occur.— Detroit Free Press. The Wives of the Prison Birds. —A correspondent of the Milwaukee News, writing from Ripon, Wls., says: “Mrs. Gen, McDonald, wife of the St. Louis Revenue Superintendent, who was so recently tried, convicted and sentenced for frauds in the collection of revenues, mingles as freely and unconcernedly as ever in society; but Mrs. Col. Joyce, the wife of McDonald’s partner in the same business, is not now with her in society (it may not be known that she lives at the home of the McDonald’s, near Green Lake) as she has lately be come a mother. She, as well as Mrs. McDonald, bears her trials, if suoh they can be called, with admirable grace. The McDonald mansion is the largest, costliest, and contains more elements of wealth and refinement than any other in this vicinity.” Death of One of the Astor Heir 3. Mrs John Winthrop Chanler died in New York Monday morning. She was a daughter of Samuel Ward and Emily Astor, the daughter of William B. Astor. The will of Mr. Astor gave to Mrs. Chanler a life estate in a house on Madison avenue, in his country seat in Dutchess county, in a large amount of real estate out of John Jacob Astor’s residuary estate, and $375,000. She also received absolutely a large quan tity of real estate. She was in the thirty-eighth year of her age. Behind the bars of Auburn prisoo there pines a veritable genius. His name is Mitchel, and during his term of imprisonment he has busied himself in cutting out of wood various fancy articles. His entire collection is said to be veiy beautiful, and the work manship Is such as to excite the won der and admiration of all who see it. Skillful mechanios have placed the value of the collection at SI,OOO. Mit chell’s sentence was for ten years ; but for good behavior it has been short ened, and he will be free in the spring of 1877. A New Yorker has patented a ma chine to freeze murderers to death in four minutes, and he hopes that all re spectable Sheriffs will adopt the idea and the machine.—[. Detroit Free Press. That will enable the weakest-kneed murderer to meet his death with the greatest cooluess. A Sunday school soholar who went along thinking of the kind Providence that watches over goocHittle boys, and oheerfully singing, “Oh, I am on the road to glory, so I am,” had a store sign fall on him and knock out a whole set of lower-jaw teeth, New Series—Vol. 28. No. 116 GRANTHENDERSON. PRO AND CON OP THE MATTER. Grant Transcends the Law. [N. Y. Herald. | In the interview with our correspon dent, Mr. Henderson makes a strong point in vindication of his address to the jury, which has not been presented before. He calls attention to the fact that the President had not a shadow of legal right to interfere with the assign ment of internnl revenue officers to dif ferent districts, although he did inter fere to prevent the transfer of McDon ald to an Eastern district. Mr. Hen derson says the President had no more right to obstruct and cancel that order “than the Emperor of Japan.” It seems that Commissioner Douglass did not understand the law, and that he refer red the matter to the President in ig norance of its provisions, “ihe law provides expressly,” says Mr. Hender son, “that the Secretary of the Treas ury shall, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, make these transfers, and Douglass himself did not know what the law was when lie testified that the President’s sanction was necessary.” President Grant went beyond the law and tran scended his authority when he coun termanded the order for the transfer of internal revenue officers. This illegal action of the President was a full jus tification of Mr. Henderson’s comments in addressing tho court and jury. A LETTER FROM EX-GOVERNOR PALMER. The following very characteristic let ter was received by Mr. Henderson, this morning, from John M. Palmer, ex-Governor of Illinois : Springfield, Dec. 13th, 1875. Hon. John li. Henderson : Dear Sir—As a member of the legal pro fession of more than thirty years service, for mvself anU many others whom I have consulted, I desire to thank you for stand ing by your speech in the Avery trial with out explanation or apology. It is not neces sary for me to express an opinion upon the merits of the argument, as a whole, or of that portion of it which, it is reported, gave offense to the President. It is enough that you made it on your responsibility as counsel in the discharge of your duties, and that you refused to explain the lan guage used or to apologize to any one for its use. For this you deserve the thanks of the profession and of the country, arid you will receive the honors you deserve. I think I may truthfully say that no one cherishes feelings of higher personal respect and re gard for the reputation of the President than I do, or that any would more readily resent improper imputations upon him than I would. I did not favor his election in 1872, but my opposition to him was polit ical, and there are matters of higher mo ment than mere friendships, and one of these is that the legal profsssion, to be use ful, must be independent, and must not sub mit to bo challenged even by the President and his Cabinet for honest words spoken in the courts in the line of duty. I trust that you will find, in the increased respect of the Bar and the people, ample compensa tion for any mortification you may have for a moment felt at the reported unfavor able judgment of the President and his advisers upon your professional conduct. Respectfully, John M. Palmer. AN OLD CONFEDERATE’S OPINION. At the instance of General Grant, an old family friend of the Grants, ex- Governor Reynolds, who will be re membered as the Confederate Gov ernor of Missouri, was asked to-day to accept the position of special assistant prosecuting counsel for the whiskey fraud cases, but he declined this after noon without stating reasons. It was immediately surmised that Governor Reynolds was too strongly in sympathy with Henderson to accept such a posi tion, but tho old gentleman especially requested me to sav that this was not true, and said violently: “I not only am not in with Henderson, but I think lie lias acted like a perfect blackguard, and if old Jackson had been President, I know he would have come down and thrashed him.” A JUSTIFIABLE REMOVAL. [Chicago Tribune.] The removal of Mr. Henderson from the prosecution of the whiskey cases at Bt. Louis, while it will be received with regret, in so far as it removes an apparently able and vigorous prosecu tor from tho case, was nevertheless an act which the President was compelled to perform to preserve his self-respect; and the unanimous indorsement of his action by the Cabinet at Washington, and indirectly by the Grand Jury at St. Louis, will be favorably regarded by all but the most narrow and bitter partisans. When President Grant appointed Mr. Henderson to the office of chief prose cutor he did it with the full knowledge that their relations were unfriendly.— In selecting him, therefore, and in over coming any personal dislike or ill feel ing toward him, he in reality paid Mr. Henderson an unusual and very high compliment. He met him more than half way. He offered him more than reconciliation. With the frank ness of the soldier-element in his composition, lie went to one whom he knew to be his enemy and virtually said to him 7 ?“I have faith in you that, notwithstanding your inimi cal relations to me, you will do the du ty entrusted to you. I am willing to forget all enmities and place the inte rests of the Government in your hands for protection.” If Mr. Henderson were not disposed to meet the Presi dent in like spirit, and act with corres ponding magnanimity, he never should have accepted the appointment; but, having acoepted, it should at once have disarmed him, so long, at least, as he was engaged by the President as a Government prosecutor. He could not have selected a more unfortunate or ungracious time to exhibit his spleen. It will he the very general impression that no honorable man would stoop to deliberately betray a trust oonflded in him, and improve an opportunity, given him by the President in good faith, to assail the man who had placed him in the position he held. To take advqq-, tage of this position and strike a foul blow at tbe President was, to put the act in its mildest form, ungenerous, in-, hospitable, and ungentlemanly. It was a deed in shockingly bad taste, which is all the more inconceivable, since hon - or and chivalry are subject to hair splitting conditions in the South. The aotion of Mr. Henderson was not alone ungraolous so far as the President is concerned. It was a tres pass upon the confidence which Secre tary Bristow and Attorney-General Pierrepont reposed jq him, and it placed both these gentlemen in a very embarrassing attitude towards the President. They fixed upon Mr. Hen derson as the proper person for prose cutor, and as such recommended his appointment to the President. He aoted upon their wishes, and, regard less of his own feelings, seeking only the best interests of the Government, anxious only that “no guilty man should escape,” made the appointment. Mr. Henderson therefore not only was guilty of inhospitable and unprofes sional ccmdqct towards the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney Gen eral, pud brought them into unpleasant relations to tho President. They both To Advertisers and Subscribers. AJ TiS? date (April 21. 1875.) all editions of the Constitutionalist will be sent tree of postage. Advertisements must be paid for when ban aea in, unless otherwise stipulated. au feßtine Candidates lot office, 20 cents per line each insertion. M jfpoaUi y Onier mitt ® and ** our rißk by Expreea Correspondence invited from all sources. And valuable special news paid for if used. Rejected Communications will not be re turned. and no notice taken of anonymous letters, or articles written on both siaes. felt the trespass upon them; and were indignant and resented it. He was re moved at their request, as he had been appointed at their request. The re moval received their hearty endorse ment, as it did of the rest of the Cabi net, and as it will of all respectable members of the Bar, and of all fair minded people in general. AN ELEPHANT FIGHT AT BARODA Writing of the Prince of Wales’ re ception at Baroda, the correspondent off the London Daily Telegraph says: The chief feature of the entertainment prepared at this return call was an ele phant fight, for which sort of exhibition the Court of Baroda has always, been famous. Native Indian Princes hav© indeed a remarkable passion for such displays, but Khuuderao and his suc cessor, the late Guicowar, were partic ularly devoted to the dubious amuse ment of watching the contests of ani mals, so that at Baroda there has always been kept up a large supply of elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, tigers, rams, and camels trained to fight for the pleasure of the Court. Combats still more cruel, such as the shockiug nukhi matches, wherein naked atheletes tore eaeh other to pieces with irom claws fitted upon tho palm. used to dis grace the leisure of the Gui cowars ; but we may trust that such sightsare now abolished there. The savage struggles of beasts, starved or excited into ferocity, are bad enough, iu all conscience, to witness ; but these are so very common at Indian enter tainments that, like a bull fight in Spain, one sees them once or twice as part of the fashion of the country. Nor, to tell the truth, is there wanting an element of excitement in watching the tiger and the buffalo bull manoeu vre against each other, sabre-like horn against dagger-like tooth ; or two well fed rams come thundering brow against brow with a shock that rattles far and near. The Prince was introduced to certain of these combats, and saw be sides, the curious duel of rhinoceroses where, despite their unwieldy bulk and a.v\ kward weapons, there is really almost as much science displayed as Capt. Bur ton lias elaborated in his recent won derful treatise on sword-play, with all its deadly mysteries of moulinet and the like. These cunning behemoths fence and foiu to get the advantage of the telling thrust under the jaw with their hoi n, and over and over again they will close, and press, and butt one another baokward and forward in clouds of dust, snorting and grunting and champing foam, while the attend ants refresh them with copious chat ties of water, neither obtaining the fatal opportunity. By-and-by one of the two combatants grows weary, allow ing his monstrous jowls to be’thrust sideways or upward; and immediately with marvelous celerity the successful beast drives his armed snout under the jaw of his adversary, producing a wound which is acknowledged with a frightful squeal and an inglorious re treat on the part of the vanquished monster. For the elephant fight proper the contending pairs are earefully trained and prepared beforehand with stimu lating food and drugs, and advantage is also taken of that periodical frenzy displayed in the male elephant which is known as must. At suoh a time of natural excitement the elephant be comes fierce and formidable even to his keeper, and only to lead two suoh beasts forth into the arena and show them for a moment the waving trunk of the distant .female, produces a de gree of pugnacity which wants little additional encouragement. It was one of the favorite pleasures of the unfeel ing Roman populace to watch elephant fights iu the amphitheatre. Augustus, who gave the people four hundred and thirty panthers, and Potnpey, who let loose six hundred lions into the arena were thought to be outdone by Trajan when he produced twenty elephants iu a state of must, and pitted them iu deadly combat against six hundred Ge tuhau captives. That was one elephant to thirty men, nor would the odds seem disproportionate to those who have witnessed the Indian hutti in his wrath, trumpeting out blasts of rage and de fiance from his uplifted trunk, straight ening his tail, dropping his great un der-hung pointed lip to give fair play to his ivory bayonets, and his little eyes glaring all the while like flre-bailu from the shadow of the huge ears. Yet there are mahouts who will sit on their necks and push in the thickest of the fight brutes as mad even as this—dig ging at their nape, this side and that, with the a?ikus, or hook, though hardly more secure than would be the captains of two iron-olads coming into collision, with thoir eighty-ton cannon discharg ing, if they perched themselves upon the bowsprit ends. But only the beßt trained animals w 7 ould be trusted thus to respect man amid their wildest rage; ordinary fighting elephants cannot be ridden to the combat; the mahouts ex cite and cheer them, and then slip off before the encounter begins. When it does begin such as can look with pleasure on these things behold a colossol duello. The enormous crea tures like mountains rolling together their tusks clash and clatter, their feet delve chasms in the dust and scatter it iu clouds; and they rear up on their hind legs and wrestle for mas tery with aq agility as astonishing as is their senseless fury. The trunk, ear and flank are the weak places, as the wise beast well knows; and what with each keeping his own clear and seek ing to seize that of his opponent, so that he may force him aside and drive an ivory sword-tip under the elbow or hook, or wring off his leathern ear, one and the other probosces fly about to gether in the air like arms of an infu riated wind-mill. Shrill signals of fear or rage, of victory or defeat, accompany the, rounds, for the wrathful elephant blows his own battle music continually, and screams with tremendous anxiety when he is getting the worst of it. Presently some advantage is attained, and a blow or dig which would annihilate anvthing but Leviathan, is dealt, whereupon, ordi narily, the sagacious brute who has fought in vain knows that he is de feated, and quite declines to stand up to any needless punishment. He turns tail and trots off, ungainly and discom fltted, covered with dust and blood, and pursued a little while by the victor who, soon, however, is content to trum pet out an insulting blast aqd range the arena for another foo. It wants considerable skill at such a moment to slip the foot-ropes on tho triumphant monster and get him out of the way ; but this is managed by the adroit ma liouta, either by cunning approaches or by bringing iu a couple of females. Sometimes a weak elephant is forced to the earth and gored or stamped so that he dies, but generally they “live to. fight another day,” provided that the tusks have not been fitted with steel points, which is occasionally prac ticed, *