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ESTABLISHED 1799.{H r £3 FROM WASHINGTON. •Vows and Gossip from the Capital— Dissatisfaction with Mr. Perry—The Oregon Cas^S'o-morrow.. Washington, Deoember 28.—The Sen ate Committee on Privileges and Elec tions commence on the Oregon case to morrow. The Republican electors and Secretary of State of Oregon are here. Speaker Randall, Judge Knott and Oen. Hunton ate in consultation over the difficulties thrown in the way of the production of telegraph dispatches called for by the committees. The whole power of the House will be in voked to secure these dispatches. It is certain that Gen. Anderson did not deposit with Mr. Ferry the Repub lican electoral vote of Louisiana when he was here on Christmas day. Judge Hpofford is coming with theTilden vote of Louisiana. There is dissatisfaction with Feriy for withholding receipts from Republican messengers when there are Democratic contestants, and it is suggested that Anderson was advis ed to withhold the Republican vote of Louisiana until Ferry was buli-dozed into receipting for them. Washington, December 28.—Commis siouer Dueli, of tho Patent Office, has resigned. He ombarks in the patent law business in Now York. Chandler accepts the resignation in flattering terms. Tho Senate Committee are devising a measure for examining and verifying the electoral vote. They had a pro tructed session, all the ‘members being present but Mr. Logan. The commit the entered upon the preliminary work by examining and discussing the course pursued by each House for meeting in joint convention, and their decisions, while in such convention, in declaring the vo e for President aud Vice-Presi dent since tho foundation of the gov ernment. These were taken up and debated in some instances quite elaborately. The members of the committee desiring to get all the information possible out the journals and records of Congress, ami from the contemporaneous politi cal history, uo more propositions were debated, though there was hardly a member of the committee who had not received some contribution on the question from one source or another, and which at the proper time may prove to be of some value. The meet ing indicated very clearly that tho committee will be able to secure an authentic account of each joint con vention, both as to journals and the debate on the same, with the excep tion of one or two of the earlier Con gresses, where the journal of the pro ceedings only can be secured. The record of the debate alone will make a large volume. Tho committee will meet agaiu to-morrow to resume the discussion. They hopo by the middle of next week to have a conference with the House committee, v/hich resumes its session in January. , The sub-committee of the House, consisting of Messrs. Hunton, Springer and Willard, have had a meeting for the purpose of gathering facts for the full committee, which will meet when Mr. Payne, chairman, returns. When the two committees meet in joint ses sion all preliminary woik will have been done, aud conclusive action may be expected early in January. The meeting of the special commit tee of the House, of which Mr. Kuott is chait man, to determine the privileges and powers of tho House in counting and detei mining the electoral vote, is pushing its investigations, aud will probably report before the joint com mittee is ready for action. Several members of tho Senate com mittee are understood to be opposed to the submission of any question growing out of this controveisy to the Supreme Court of the Uuitod States. They hold that this would bo depriving Cougress of a power as the r< presen tatives of the people which the framers of the Constitution evidently designed that Cougress should alone possess and use at its discretion. The excep tional character or the present contro versy is cont-iJeivd no reason why Congress should surrender this power. Experts have identified §7,500 from the American express safe, burned at Erie. A large amount is burned be yond redemption, aud will lie lost by the express company. Mr. Leopold, of the Freedman’s Bank Commissioners, writes: “We have yours of the 10th in9r, but regret our inability to name a time when the next dividend will be ready for pay ment. We are using every effort to get an appropriation from Congress, at its presout session, for the purchase of our bank building property here, and if successful we can pay another divi dend immediately. The existing state of political affairs may defeat our ef forts, ia which case it will be sometime before we can be ready, as collections are now very slow, and sales of our real estate assets are impossible at present.” The Secretary of War reports to Congress a,s to the expediency of re establishing the National Armory at Harper’s Ferry : “I have the honor to remark that it is the policy of the War Department to concentrate ordnance manufactories at three arsenals and lire Spriugiield Armory, as recommend ed in my recent annual report, and that neither the necessities of the public service nor a judicious economy would render such re-eotablishmeut expe dient.” FLORIDA. The Canvass of the Vote—The Su preme Court to Review It. Tallahassee, December 28.—General Cocke, the other members of the Board refusing, canvassed the vote yesterday morning. His canvass gave Drew 497 and TilUen 94 majority. This he filed with the clerk of the court. Subse quently the other members agreed to recanvass, and the full Board assem bled. In this canvass the order of the court was disregarded. Clay county was thrown out, and the contested vote of Baker couuty counted. This gives Drew 195 and Hayes *206 majority. Cocke tiles a protest. Court assembles to-day to review the action of the Board. LATER. Tallahassee, December 28. —The re turn of a majority of the Canvassing Board, in answer to the writ of the Supreme Court, was filed about 2 p. m. to-day. It gives the same figures sent you last night, and arrives at this re sult by throwing out Clay county en tirely and adopting the Couuty Judges’ return in Baker. Gen. Wallace thinks the Democrats ought to accept this canvass, as it gives them the State government, in which Gov. Stearns will acquiesce. He does not think the Democrats ought to make any further contest ou account of the Presidential election. Whether they will agree with him remains to be seen. The Supreme Uourt did not meet to-day. Two of the Justices reside in Jacksonville, aad —• * m ex-Attorney Williams and Gen. Wal lacewent to see Justice Wescott this afternoon to get him to request Ti^® tt^n (laace 01 the absent Justices. key wdl most probably consent, and Court be held in a day or two to act on the return of the Board. Attorney- General Cocke filed his protest to-day against the action of the majority of the Board in Clay and Baker counties. indicates a speedy solution or the difficulties here. The Court will accept the present returns, or require f wo couat * ea to be recanvassed, which will only Squire a few moments. LOUISIANA. 1 regress of the Investigations. New Obi.bans, December 28.—The Senate Investigating Committee to-day examined B. R. Shelby, of Ouchita, whose testimony was substantially the same as that of Sam McEnery j'ester day. In regard to the condition of affairs there during the canvass, he contradicted the statement of Esquire Hall in reference to colored men being forced to join clubs, and of Eliza Pinkston as to James and Van Logan being in the party who assaulted her and killed her husband, as they were at his house that night. FROM POUT ItOYAL. Burning of the Ship Harvey Mills. Port Royal, S. G, December 28. The ship Harvey Mills, lying at anchor in the bay, loaded with cotton for Liv erpool, was discovered to be on tire between decks this morning at 1 o’clock. All assistance was promptly rendered from the fleet, steamship Huntsville and water boats. The lire was kept down in the hull, but not extinguished. Ou attempting to get her up to the wharf she grounded, and all efforts of the steamer Huntsville to get her off proved unavailing. At dark the steam er Huntsville left her, and sailed up to her wharf. Two men were suffocated in trytng to locate the fire, which is j still burning under her decks. The ! value of the ship and cargo is about half a million dollars. LATER. New York, December 28.—Tho ship Harvey Mills, burniug at Port Royal, had 6,564 bales of cotton aboard, and was about to sail for Liverpool. NEW YORK ITEMS. Failure of Chipman, Stone and & Co s of Ex-Seuator Nye—Defalca tions, Etc. New York, December 28.—Chipman, Stone & Cos, of 74 Pino street, and Yokohama, Japan, one of the largest firms engaged iu the Japanese trade, has failed, with heavy liabilities, esti mated at from §250,000 to $500,000- the greater part of which is held in this city. Ex-Senator Jos. N. Nye is dead. Miss Any Fawsett, English actress, is dead. Otis D. Swan, broker, of Wall street, has disappeared. Before leaving, it is stated, he misappropriated funds held in trust for his brother and sister. The amount is stated to be $600,000. He is also in default of four or five thousand dollars to the Union League Club, of which he was ono of its founders. Tony Pastor’s theatre was damaged by fire.- Frederick & O’Neill’s photo graph gallery, in the third story, with valuable pictures, was destroyed. Their loss is SBO,OOO. ■ CONGRESSIONAL. Proceedings iu the Two Houses Yes terday. Washington, December 28.—A bill was introduced in tho House by Mr. Douglass, authorizing the Treasurer to purchase the Freedman's Savings Bank building in ttiis city for government uses, at a sum not exceeding $800,000; also authorizing tho commissioners row adjusting the affairs of the bank to buy in Us own real estate when pii ces offered for it at public sale shall be too low. Mr. Douglass is chairman of the select House committee ou Freed man’s Bank. Hooker introduced a bill for the im provement of the Pearl aud Pasca goula rivers, in Mississippi. A resolution of inquiry will be pre sented in the House ou Monday, as to whether gentlemen requested by the President to visit Southern Returning Boards were paid from the United States Treasury. More Trouble from the Indians. New York, December 28.—A Bizman, Montana,dispatch says the agent of the Flathead Indians has applied to Gen. Gibbon for troops to protect himself and the Government property at the agency. The agent states that ever since the breaking out of the Sioux war the Flatheads have been insolent and disposed to make trouble. A plot has been discovered to resort to vio lent measures at an early day to drive out the agent, and seize the agency and property, Gen. Gibbon telegraph ed to the post commander at. Fort El lis to send troeps at once to the aid of the agent, and a force*of cavalry start ed Wednesday morning for the Flat head Agency, - The Missionary Society of the M. E. Church. Washington, December 27.—A series of meetings belli in this city, in the in terest of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, closed this evening with a mass meeting of the Methodists of Washington, at Wes ley Chapel. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. R. L. Dashiel, DD., Secre tary or the Missionary Society; Rev. C. H. Fowler, DD., editor of the Christian Advocate, New York, and Gen. Clinton B. Fish. Great enthusiasm prevailed. Resolutions pledging hearty co-opera tion in increasiug the fends of the Treasury were adopted. Lookout, Ye Adulteraters of Milk. New York, December 28. —The trial of Daniel Schrump, for adulterating milk, which has occupied the Court of General Sessions for the past ten days, was concluded this afternoon. The jury found defendant guilty, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of $250, and be imprisoned ten days. A motion for stay of judgment was denied. His conviction has created intense excite ment among milk dealers, someone hundred of whom have indictments for the same offence pending against them. rnm m Judge Wood not Going to Florida. Montgomery, December 28.—United States Circuit Court Judge Wood is at his home in this city, and has been holding Court until a few days ago. He is not going to Florida. His Court not calling him thero now, he knows no reason for goiDg, and he has no pres ent Intention of going. FOREIGN DISPATCHES. Press Opinions on the Outlook in the East—Russia’s Position. London, December 28. —The Post, in its leading article, says : “The excite ment created by tho first alarming tel egrams from the East, has been much toned down by those which followed, but we have reason to believe that even the latter exaggerate the danger.” New York, December 28.—A special dispatch from Paris says there is the highest authority for stating that, not withstanding hopeful dispatches re cently received from Constantinople, there is but a single chance of peace in the East. Russia, in spite*of the in tense ardor of her people for war, may be obliged to yield at the last moment, owing to her means of transport being defective. She has been taxing her re sources to the utmost, to get her army into condition to strike with tho great est possible suddenness and vigor, but it seems now that her means of trans port are inadequate to the task of pro-, viding for such a large army as would be necessary to strike a decisive blow against Turkey. London, December 28.—A Moscow dispatch to the Times says tiro Gazette declares the new Turkish Constitutions were a mockery of the Powers. The only way of improving the Constitu tion of the Christiaus in Turkey is effi cacious occupation and the granting to Christiaus of the right to carry arms, or depriving the Mussulman of the right. London, December 28.—The Pall M all Gazette’ leading editorial article says that probably a word may be spoken to-day which which 'will bo followed by instant war, threatening to involve ail Europe sooner or later, if the Powers demand a simple yes or no, or if the Porte, for military and other reasons, thinks it expedient to go straight to the point without delay. The answer will be a refusal, but it is more likely not. A direct or final answer will yet be given, not that the Porte has shown the faintest sign of yielding to the Russian demand. But the Pall Mall Gazette, tracing the Russian policy for the formidable pretension of imme diate Russiau occupation throughout tho various modifications to the latest proposal for the simple introduction of a small number of Belgians, with gens d’aruiß to supply the nucleus for an or ganization of a native police force, after the model common in most Con tinental States, concludes that Russia is ready to accept or indeed to suggest further modifications, because affairs do not look well for Russia at this time. It says tho stories of disagree able discoveries in Russian arsenals, and the unexpected weakness in transport apparatus, are probably true. The country is almost bank iupt, and the utter failure of the internal loan showed how little money could be screwed out of the people. The danger of antagonism with Austria and thereafter with. Ger many, and of being confronted by great Britain at a critical point of success, may well bring Russia to pause, and if Turkey knows her foe would be glad to withdraw from her arrogant posi tion, Midhat Pasha is not unlikely to facilitate that end. Tho question is not so much whether the Porte will yield to the Russian demands for the sake of peace, but whether Russia will abate them for the same object. French Affairs. Versailles, December 28. — lu the Chumber of Deputies to-day, duriDg the debate on the Budget, there was a grand encounter between M. Gambetta and Minister Simons. The former ex horted the Chamber not to surrender its power over the Budget. Ho urged that the Senate hud no right to rein sert items which were rejected by the Deputies, and declared it might be easy now to strangle the right of the Deputies to initiate financial proposals, but it would be regretted when too late. Simons replied that the Constitution was perfectly clear. It made no differ ence as to the power of tho respective houses over financial laws, except that such laws must bo voted by the Depu ties first. He said if tho conflict be tween the Chambers continued it must be solved by dissolution, of which it is impossible to tell the consequences. It would be profitable to take a fresh vote on the contested items of the Budget. The eountry wished to see peace be tween public powers, and to enjoy the benefits of a Republic which it had so long ardently desired. To again sub mit the Republic to a vote would justify the reproach that the Republie was in stable. If the Republic was united it could brave all attacks. M. Gambetta answered that the ac knowledgement of the Senate’s rights to reinsert grants which had been dis allowed by the Deputies, would inevi tably lead to further conflicts. Ho de clared he did not fear a dissolution. Marine Disasters. Washington, December 28. —The Sig nal Service reports from Kitty Hawk, N. C., that the English bark Pinto, from Glasgow, Scotland, to Baltimore, 600 tons, with a crew of seventeen and a cargo of coal, went ashore four miles north of Station No. 5 on tho 25th. The crew were all saved by the crew of the life saving station the next morn ing. The vessel will go to pieces. New York, Dec. 28.— The schooner Froth King, from San Domingo for Boston, was abandoned at sea, and the captain died of exhaustion. Minor Telegrams. Elmira, December 28.—The boot and shoe manufactory of D. Atwater was burned. Loss $75,000. New Haven, December 28.—The steamer King Arthur sailed to-day for Constantinople with munitions of war for the British Government. Her cargo is valued at $1,444,000. Rotndoot, December 28.—Four hun dred and fifty men in the Knicker bocker Ice House struck for wages. They say this is the beginning of the movement along the entire river. About five thousand men employed say no ice shall be housed till the com panies return to old prices. New York, December 28.— Six thou sand smuggled cigars, concealed in India rubber bags, were seized last night from the Havana steamer Co lumbus, by a special agent. Gen. Anderson, of Louisiana. (Special Dispatch to Cincinnati Gazette.) Washington, December 25.—General Anderson, of the New Orleans Return ing Board, arrived here last night, and immediately bad a loDg conference with some of the Cabinet and leading Senators. To-day he has been with the President, and to-night he left for New Orleans by way of Atlanta. He has put the Republicans in possession of all the facts upon which the Returning Board acted, and everything pertain to the present situation. He returned to-night by the shortest route, for the purpose of responding to any call of Morrison’s Committee. AUGUSTA, GA., FRIDAY. DECEMBER 29, 1876.- TILDEN STOCK HIS I NO. THE FORWARD MOVEMENT BE GUN. Republican Discouragement—Morton Holds the Fort— The Solid Soutß—? Democratic Demonstrations, [Special to the Philadelphia Times.] Washington, December 24.— The de cision of the Supreme Court of Florida, that the Returning Board must count the vote of the counties it threw out, has had the effect of a bombshell in the camp of the conspirators. Their followers were already faltering, and this last shot, coining as it does, right on the top of General Barlow’s letteis, is likely to precipitate the impending break in the Senate aud throw the whole Ilaves following into a panic. Morion is still whistling up his cour age, talks confidently aud outwardly maintains a firm front. In conversa tion this afternoon ho said ho did not see how tho decision of the court could affect the electoral vote of Florida. The Electoral Colleges were required to meet on a certain specified day and cast their votes for President and Vice-President. The Electoral College of Florida, legally authorized to act, and with legal certificates of the Re- turning Board to show their authority, had met on the day prescribed, had voted according to law, and the return of that vote duly certified to was now in the hands of the Presided of the Senate. Obviously anew electoral col lege could not now be formed, and it was clearly too late for the Supreme Court of the State to reach the record of the doings of the legal action. As to the actuai result of the court’s de cision he could not, of course, say. He was informed that even such a recount as the Supreme Court had ordered would show that the Hayes electors were clearly elected, but he supposed it would give the Democrats control of the State government. As usual, he was very reticent as to any plans which he aud his co-laborers might have for the future. WILL THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAME BE TRIED AGAIN ? The Slarot last evening foroshadows a plan in the following editorial para graph, which may be “inspired,” but probably is not. It says: “The farce lately played in South Carolina has been re-enacted in Florida, where the State Supreme Court has or dered the Board of Canvassers to count the vote of certain counties which the Board threw out. Tho Board, it is said, will refuse to obey the order of the Court, ou the ground that it has no jurisdiction over their action and can not compel them to count certain re turns which a law of the State author izes them to throw out. It is probable tho Court will follow Judge Moses* ex ample iu South Carolina and commit them to jail for contempt. The Board will then appeal to the United States Courts for release, as did the South Carolina Canvassers.” All the signs, however, indicute that the Hayes leaelers are getting demor alized as well as the rank and file. Donn Piatt, in this morning’s Capital, asserts squarely that Morton himself is weakening, and declares that on his recent trip to Indiana he found public sentiment so unani mous against him that he has come back frightened aud will act very con servatively. In answer to a question whether the Senate committee of seven were likely to recommend the passage of his bill to provide for the counting of the electoral vote, Morton said this afternoon that he did not know ; the committee had held only one very short meeting, and none of the members had alluded to his bill. The Senate com mittee will meet again Wednesday. the democrats jubilant. Most of the Congressmen had left the city for the holidays before the news from Florida came, but the few Democrats who were here were jubi lant. Senator Jones, of Florida, who has predicted such a decision as the court has made, now reiterates his as sertion that such a recount as is de manded will give the Tilden electors a very repectable majority, and show that the Democrats have elected their two Congressmen and the whole State ticket. Conover admits the Congress men and the State ticket, but still holds with Morton that the Hayes electors have carried the State. Private advices from the Congres sional Committeo now in Florida are very encouraging for the Democrats. It is said that the Republican members of that committee are so fully con vinced that frauds were committed that they will not countenance them and that the committee will unani mously report that Tilden has carried the State. Congressman Hoar, who is a member of the House Committee of seven, says of Louisiana that the com mittee will present two diametrically opposite reports, accompanied with such a mass of testimony that Con gress will not have time to digest it, and a proposition will be made to refer the question to some outside tribunal. That proposition, he thinks, will fail, first, because there is no provision in the Constitution or precedent in his tory for it; and,second, because in the struggle of both parties for advautago in the composition of the tribunal an agreement would be almost impossi ble. He further says that the Presi dent of the Senate will count the vote, will announce Governor Hayes elected, the Administration will see him inaug urated, and thero will be no conflict, first, because nobody wants to fight; and, second, because the Democrats are sure of victory four years hence, and would rather wait for it than fight now. tilden’s improving prospects. Spite of all the utterances, the prob ability that Tilden will be peacoably inaugurated grows greater from day to day. Confidence has taken the place of irresolution in the Democratic ranks, while the bluster and bravado of the Hayes men is giving way to frequent secret consultations and outward signs of fear. The Southern Hayes movement ap pears to be pretty effectually squelched. Senator Gordon is authority for the assertion, in the strongest possible way, that no such movement exists any where amoDg the people of the South, and if any Southern member holds such views he is wholly without sup port at home. Alexander Stephens, in a letter published in the Augusta Con stitutionalist, says, over his own sig niture: “The statement going the rounds of the papers that I am advis ing a friendly acceptance by the people of the South of the inauguration of Mr. Hayes is. utterly unrounded. I never have, and never shall, advise them, or any other people, to give a friendly acceptance of any administration inaugurated by tho grossest, fraud*, and tin st palpable usurpations.” Mr. Lamar is equally positive and explicit, iu his repudiation of any aud every charge of complicity ia such a movement After a thor ough canvass of the Southern mem bers, the whole head and front of such a movement appears to be Ben Hill, of Georgia, and the other Georgia mem bers assert most positively that if he favors such a movement he does not represent anybody Id his own State. It is ascertained that Hill, himself, has already sent a private letter to a trusted friend in Georgia, to be used, if needed, in bis Senatorial struggle, in which he declares, under date of some days ago, that he is not and has not been in sympathy with any such move ment. Mr. Stephens, in conversation this evening, expressed it as his belief that the action of the Supreme Court of Florida will result in throwing out the electoral vote of Florida. He consid ers that the decision of the Supreme Court is virtually that no legal Electo ral College met in Florida on the day appointed by law, and so no electoral vote was legally cast, there being an Informality in tho action of the Tildeu electors, but ho does not think thut Congress can now either count the vote of tho TiiJen or Ilayes electors or form a now college. BEN HILL. Another Review of His Letter. (Atlanta Telegram.] We reprint elsewhere the recent ex planatory letter from Hon. B. 11. Hill, sent to Col. A. B. Culberson, of this city. We publish it in ihese columns not simply because Mr. Hill requests it, but because it ia a complete justifi cation of all that we have written con- him and his late utterances. We hardly know either how to set about a review of the document, since it so fully suggests its own weakness and barrenness of satisfactory points Since it has come to be a most cruel thing to twit Mr. Hill upon his vauity ! and egotism, we pass by the half of his letter devoted to tho exhibition of those weaknesses. Mr. Hill has made one motion in cau cus and it was adopted unanimously. So far, so good, but we are left iu doubt as to the nature, subject, matter i and importance that one motion threw upon tho opinions of Mr. Hill with reference to the great question which now agitates the public and deeply concerns tho American Con gress. In private conferences to which he has been invited, Mr. Hill has made several motions and suggestions, all of which wore adopted, some of them unanimously, etc. Still the same lack of information as to what those mo tions and suggestions were, and how important a bearing they may have had, or are to have, upon the questions at issue. It may not be politic or wise for these things to be made public, but at least Mr. Hiil might have been cau did enough to say that they were things in harmony with tho Democratic programme aud Southern sentiment. lie denies that he has expressod dis trust of Northern Democrats, or is ready to make a bat gain, trade or ar rangement with Hayes. That will bo some relief to ills friends, but It does not traverse ho said iu those ratal interviews, no one of which ho denies. Upon the contrary, in his let ter, he admits all the material matters of those publications, but specially pleads against their plain and fair con struction. Ho bases his position in the Presidential matter upon tho chances of a fair count of the votes of the people, and says that without this Mr. Tildeu cannot be President. When Mr. Hill kuows, as he must, that an unfair count has failed to elect Hayes, why can he not take such a square stand as the National Democratic Com mittee, by its example, has commended to all true Democrats of the Union ? It is useless to follow Mr. lli.l fur ther. He has failed to meet the charges held against him ; he has failed to sat isfy lilb friends; lie has f died to show himself in accord with the party and, above ail, has failed to restore him self in the confidence of the Democracy of Georgia. The Telegraph Question in a Nutshell. (Washington Oor. of tho N. Y. Suu.) If Mr. Orton had shown tie least sign of resistance when Ben Butler threw his drag net into the telegraph offices and captured all correspondence, public and private, or had remonstra ted with Mr. Boutwell not many months ago, when he required the dispatches of the Democratic Committeo iu Mis sissippi to be produced, there would be a good justification for his refusal to obey the call of the Investigating Com mitteo iu New Orleans, acting under tho fullest authority of the House of Representatives to send for persons and papers. While he bad previously complied with the demands of the Republican committees, he suddenly objected to similar demands by a Democratic com mittee. A telegraphic dispatch cannot be considered more sacred than the private accounts and books of an indi vidual or corporation, which are con stantly produced before committees and courts. Nobody proposes to go outside of the ranks of proper inquiry iu the pres ent case. If Zach Chandler and his associates have not used the telegraph to instruct their confederates in Louis iana, Florida and South Carolina iu ways that are dark, why not come for ward, as Mr. Hewitt has done on the other side, and authorize their dis patches to be delivered to the commit tee? If everything has been fair and square, there is, of course, nothing to conceal. If this was a proposition to expose the secrets and business of private persons, and to range through the tele grath offices indiscriminately, as Ben Butler did, without objection from his political friends, or any impediment from Jhe oompany, then it might be viewed differently. Glaring and out rageous frauds have been perpetrated in three States. There is an audacious attempt to steel them, and to elect a President over the votes of the people by Returning Boards. The question before the country is, were these frauds prompted, aided or sanctioned by Zach. Chandler and the public men who had charge of, or who largely co-operated in, the campaign for Hayes ? That information belongs to the people, in order that they may decide for themselves whether the elec tion has been carried fraudulently or fairly. Great interests are dependent upon the truth or falsity of these charges; and if there ever was an occa sion when the doors should be thrown wide open and both parties should be willing to let the sunshine into the re cesses of strategy, it is now, when the public peace is threatened and uncer tainty is little less than a calamity. HERODIAN CRUELTY. PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS MUTI LATING HELPLESS CHILDREN. Eyes Stamped Out—Sightless Waifs in the Arms of Italian Mendicants— Unnatural Deception. (New York Mercury.) Attention having been called to the unusually large number of blind chil dren either carried in the arms or led by the professional begging women frcqupntiDg populous thoroughfares, a. Mercury reporter yesterday sought a solution of the pioblem as to whence they came and thecauseof their blind ness. Visits were made to various pri vate charitable societies about town in search of information, but beyond an acknowledged increase in tho num ber of bliud children that had been ie ported this season, the officers of these institutions were unable to give any satisfactory replies to the reportei’s inquiries. “If you could by any means get at the bottom of the business,” said ono of these officers, Mr. Mcln tosh, to the reporter, “you would doubtless find several places iu the slums of the city where gangs of de praved Italians live who have a most EFFECTUAL WAY OF BLINDING CHILDREN, and even grown persons, without in any way impairing tho appearance of the eye.” He further said he had heard of its being done abroad, and he had seen children in this city whose eyes had evidently been tampered with. A ease that came more immediately to his notico was that of a pretty looking child that was being carried about by an Italian beggar woman. The child’s eyes were perfectly bright, but it could not Boe a particle, and the sun shone in them without causing the little one the slightest inconvenience. After ques tioning the woman considerably she finally admitted that the child was blind and that the babe did not belong to her. She said the mother was poor aud got her to take care of tho child, and so she took it about with her when she went begging. The woman told him that there were a good many blind children in the city, but she didn’t know how they came so. She said they were always Very GOOD BABIES AND NEVER CRIED, and that’s what they liked, as crying children attracted too much attention. The doctor said that he endeavored to obtain some further information from the woman, but she suddenly became reticent. In several of the rooms visit ed by tiie reporter a number of infants used for begging purposes were found. Noticing that the eyes of some of the children had a curious look and that they groped about the floor in a blind sort of way, the reporter asked what was the matter with them, but was told that they had weak eyes from getting cold. Iu t lie course of his per ambulations in the Dalian quarter, the reporter found one fellow who was in clined to be communicative. When asked if it was true that any of his people put out the eyes of the babies aud young children, lie said there were some who did it, but they were very sly and kept themselves quiet, and it would be almost impossible for any one to put a finger on them. “Have you any idea how the children are made blind ?” “Only from what I’ve heard. I never saw it done. They have a kind of STAMP WITH A BRASS PLATE, which is heated to a certain degree, and then held upon the closed eyelids. It entirely destroys tho sight, but you would uot kuow from looking the chil dren iu the eyes that anything was the matter with them.” “Do you kuow what their object is in blinding the children as you tie scribe ?” •‘Gao tiling is, they can’t tell any talcs, I suppose; but I’ve heard that THESE CHILDREN NEVER CRY. Ti c burning seems to destroy tho tear sac. Another, children if beaten about in the same way would set up a dreadful howl, but those blind chil dren don’t open their mouths. I’ve been oil the lookout a long time to catch those men who make baoies blind, and I’ll have them arrested the moment I do. There are very few Italian children about, and nearly all the babies you may see in Italian houses are American or Irish chil dren.” CONFRONTING A BEGGAR. In conversation with Mrs. Mirmont, a German woman doing business on the Bowery, as to her experience with beggar men and women applying at her store for alms, she said: “One bitter cold day, an Italian woman, car rying in her arms a twelve or fifteen mouths’ old baby, and leading a little girl, entered the store, and with a piti able look on her face, held out her hand for charity, mumbling meanwhile some unintelligible words. BOTH THE CHILDREN WERE BARE-FOOTED. The little girl was somewhat warmly dressed, but her feet were sopping wet. I noticed that the woman didn’t let go of her hand for a second, but kept her close by her side. The baby had on a bit of a woolen dress, and the woman, as she held the little thing on her oth er arm, wrapped her skimpy old cotton shawl about it, pressing it occasionally close to her bosom. From the contortions of the woman’s face you’d have thought she was suffering the most intense pain, but l I’d dealt with so many of them that I knew her look was all put on, and that her A>nly thought was how many pen nies she would receive, or whether she would bo driven away without any thing. The sun was shining brightly Into the store windows, and there was a blazing fire in the stove. The mo ment I caught sight of that barehead ed baby, which was being carried about in the pinchiDg cold, my blood fairly boiled, and 1 said, “You wretched old woman, how dare yoh carry about that child bareheaded ?” At first she pre tended not to understand me, but I loosened her tongue by threatening to send for a policeman and have her ar rested as a vagrant. Then she excused herself, and said that the baby had so j often torn off its hood that she finally J put it in her pocket to save it from be i ing lost. She poured out a pitiful tale about her husband being sick and out of work, and that she was OBLIGED TO TAKE HER CHILDREN AND BEG so as to get bread for the family. She had never before these hard times beer, obliged to beg, as her husband bad always had work in sweeping the streets. In reply to a question, she told me she lived in a garret room in Baxter street, but couldn’ttell the num ber of the house or precisely where it was located. The children were of rather light complexion, one having blue and the other hazel eyes, and I got a plump lie to my question as to wheth er they were her own, for they didn’t look any more like her than they did like me. I handed a cake to the littln girl and one to the baby. And although both were seemingly looking straight into my face, neither extended a hand to take the proffered cake, as children generally would. I asked the woman if anything was the matter with the children’s eyes, and her failure to reply excited my curiosity. I made the woman come near the fire, into which both the little ones apparently stared, though there was not the slightest wink or movement of the eyes in either. Then they turned and the sun shone full in their eyes, but there was no movement whatever as if the light af fected them. I PATTED THE BABY OX THE CHEEK and waved my hand in front or its face, but the little thing took no notice of it whatever. Thero seemed a nat ural lustre about the eyes of both, but the pupils were motionless, and they only had a kind of vacant stare. It then occurred to me that the children were totally blind, and I asked the woman what had been done to them. She said they were all right, only their eyes were weak. There were several other persons in the store at the time, but they could not see any signs of weak ness in the children’s eye. I bitterly upbraided the creature for her cruelty to the children in carrying them about in this condition, but she only said ‘me poor’, and slunk out of the store, and was out of sight before I could call a policeman, as I determined to have the matter investigated. I spoke to the iittle girl in the store, but she did not seem to know what I said. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind but that both these children had been made blind, though how it was done 1 have uo idea, as their eyes looked souud and healthy.” I the course of further investigation the reporter spoke to several women with childreu who were begging along the streets, and was surprised at dis covering some impairment of the vis ual organs of the little ones. Several of the children took no notice of what was said to them, and did not move when a hand was suddenly placed be fore their eyes. A gentleman, who has extensively traveled abroad, in answer to the re porter’s question as to whether he had ever heard of cripples being manufac tured for begging purposes, and wheth er the eyes of children were tampered with, said: “At Rihan, Hungary, there was discovered, not long ago, a place where they regularly manufactured cripples, and put them in shape for begging purposes. Men had their arms aud legs cut off, women were blinded, and corrosive sublimate was need to disfigure the face, and render them as great objeots of pity as could be. It was also found that they de prived children and babes of their eye sight, as in such condition they never cried or made any noise. Although the sightjwas gone the,eyes So operated upon retained their natural lustre, but there was a vacant stare about them.” The gentleman hadn’t the slightest doubt but that this operation was prac ticed upon the scores of babies carried by beggars about the streets. He bad noticed that they never efied, which showed that the tear sac had been dried up and the vision gone. This subject Is a good one for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chil dren to investigate. BT. PAUL AND TIIE PETTICOATS. Rev. Mr. See's Trial for Allowing Wo men to Preach—His Defense. [From the New York Herald, December 22.) The lecture room of the Second Presbyterian Church, Newark, N. J., was filled with ladies and clergymen, yesterday afternoon, in attendance upon the trial of the Rev. Mr. See for alleged violations of the church rule, in that he disobeyed St. Paul’s injunc tion and allowed women to preach in his Wickliffestreet pulpit. Tues*ession was taken up by the reverend respond ent in a very able, interesting and ex haustive defense of his conduct. He was, he began, a Presbyterian by birth, had always been connected with the church, and knew of none other to which he could belong. He took the broad ground that St. Paul preached for his own and not for all time in all matters. The Apostle was not in fallible. Like other great meu in God’s Church, he was liable to err. Christ himself had told the Jews of a coming glory. That glory had been rising for centuries aud illuminating dark places. This it was doing now. The light of truth was irradiating the caverns of darkness. Conscience was being given more and more liberties. Customs, which had kept woman circumscribed and restricted from exercising her gifts —the gifts of the Holy Spirit—were being put aside, and God’s best and loveliest gift to man was being given opportunity to prove that she, as well as man, might preach God’s Word when guided by the Holy Ghost. The Scrip tures were quoted in various places to prove that even in the times of Christ and the Apostles women had preached. Mary, when she proclaimed the resur rection of the world, preached; Priscil la preached; so did other women. Mr. See went on to argue at great length that wherever aud whenever the great est liberty was given to women, then and there was she purest and noblest. On the contrary, wherever and when ever women are restrained and sub ordinated to mao, there and then were they little removed from slaves. He cited the great public good that had at various times been accomplished by women in public spheres—iu the Fulton Btreet Church, in the Methodist Church, which the speaker praised highly for its wisdom In allowing women to exercise the gifts of public teaching wheu possessed of it—in the West, where a noble band of women had heroically led a crusade against the beastly vices of intemper ance. The more woman’s sphere in the Church was enlarged, the purer and more virtuous she was. Give her the right to exhort, and her sex would be elevated, not debased. Her morals would be heightened so that, like the good Mrs. Crane (a revered brother’s wife), she might say modestly, but with pride, and*not shame, that she was the mother of ten children. [Sensation and applause.] Toward bis close he said that the voice of God was marching on with the spirit of the times, and was in unison with liberty of conscience as re gards consecration of scriptural texts. There was nothing in the law of the ! Church specifically prohibiting women from preaching. The General Assem- , bly had declared that it was a matter to be left to the discretion of elders and pastors. All he had done was simply to exercise his discretion. At the close or Mr. See’s argument, the Presbytery adjourned till next. Wednesday. It was plain to be seen that the audience and a considerable portion of the Presbytery, if not a large majority, were in sympathy with the defendant. SIX DOLLARS A YEAR SOI'TH CAROLINA NEWS. The total number of deaths ia Columbia for the week ending Decem ber 23,1876, were four—all colored. News and Courier: The return of deaths in this city for the week ending' on the 23d * instant, show a total cl 23 —6 were whites and 17 colored. A young lady in Charleston, Christ mas evening, while playing with a pis tol, accidentally shot one of her com panions in the neck, inflicting a painful though not. dangerous wound. Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Thaddeus Williams, the brother of Mr. A. M. Wil liams, the proprietor of the job print ing establishment on East Bay street. Charleston, accidentally shot himself in the head with a Colt’s revolver, in flicting a dangerous and, perhaps, fatal wound. The annual communication of Friend ship Lodge, No. 9, was held in Charles ton Monday .evening last, and the fol lowing officers were elected to servo for the ensuing year: J. H, Loeb, W. M.; J. W\ Hirsch, 8. W.; J. J. Loeb, J. W.; L. H. Cohen, Secretary; A. Moroso, Treasurer; T. M. Mordeoal. 8. D.; E. Struss, J. D.; D. Loeb, J. Piukussohn, Stewards; L. F. Meyer, Tiler; T. P. O’Neale, Organist. Death of Make Etheredge, Esq.— This old and widely known citizen of our county died at his home, near Pino House depot, on Thursday morning last, aged, if we mistake not, about seventy years. Mr. Etheredge, who, throughout a long life, was noted for practical energy, business tact, many very marked and original peculiarities, aud many very good traitb, had long been in a wretched state of healih, so much so that his death had been ex pected for vmeks.—Edgqietd Adver tiser. Edgefield Advertiser : The tax bill passed by the Rump House, with the help of the Radical Senators, and signed by the impostor Chamberlain, calls for 17 mills on the dollar. This includes the regular county tax of 3 mills, but not *he special county tax of 3 mills. Add this special tax of 3 mills t* the 17 and we have 20 mills for Edgefield more than we have over yet paid. Of course we will not pay one mill of it....We are requested to an nounce that the liev. George W. Bus sey will preach at Mt. Tabor on the first Sunday in January, nextjSunday week. ....The Methodist clergyman for EJgefleld circuit during the coming year is the Rev. S. Leard. Mr. Laard, we understand, is a married man with two children.... As we go to press wa hear or the death of Wm. B. Dorn, Esq., owner of the once rich and fa mous “Dorn Gold Mine.” Mr. Dorn died at his home, on the Edgefield and Abbeville border, on Tuesday, the 26th instant. He was a man of the utmost kindness of heart—one whose gener osity and unselfishness caused him to die in comparative poverty. A correspondent of the News ami Courier writing from Branchville, S. 0., December 26th, says: “Quite a serious shooting and stabbing affray occurred here yesterday evening, about lialf-past 6 o’clock, in which a colored man named Stephen liigsby was shot and killed, Warren Wilson, colored, shot in the leg, and Mr. J. W. Fairey stabbed in the thigh near the groin. It appears that there was a considerable row brewing, and Mr. Fairey was trying to quell the disturbance, as one of Lis employes was complicated, when somo unknown person stabbed him from the rear. After this, the shooting occur red, in which Rigsby was killed and Wilson wounded. About hair-past 8 o’clock a second shooting affair occur red in another portion of the town, In which Stephen Williams, colored, was shot aud wounded In the shoulder slightly. The excitement ran high for some time, but Mr. W. H. Ileedisn, In tendant, summoned a guard of twenty four citizens, half white and half col ored, and placed them under the charge of Capt. Benj. P. Izlar, who had the streets cleared and quiet restored. Up to this time, 12 m., everything is quiet and the best citizens of the place will endeavor to keep it so. Edgefield Advertiser: It will be re membered that Peter Keeuau, Esq., tbo popular shoe merchant of Augueta, offered a priza of twenty-live dollars to the first Edgefield man who should cross the bridge with the tidings of the election of Hampton. No ono hav ing appeared to claim this prize, Mr. Keenan applies it in the f* Mowing uublu and timely manner: Augusta, Ga , Pec. 2J, 1870. Mrs. Gilmer : Dear Madam—Having heard of the sad death or your husband bv the bands of baibarous negroes, while quietly going to his homo from the Hampton meeting on the 18th of October last, 1 hereby tender you my sincere sympathy. with a Christmas gift of twen y-five dollats and beg you will accept it from one who perhaps you have never seen, but ono who from his infancy has learned to hate tyranny and oppression, come in what form they may. You have been the innocent victim of that hated sys tem of society, which the arch enemy of mankind is now trying to fasten on the grand old commonwealth of South Carolina ; but the Knightly Hamptou like Moses of old, has broken up the chariots of the alien ruler, and light soon will come the perfect deliverance of the Palmetto State. You will 10 , ceive this small sum from the hands of my friend, Capt. John T. Cheatham Yours in respect and sympathy, Peter Keenan. On the Exposure of Young Cmr - DREN TO THE CoLD.-We should ary that no child too young to walk or run should bo taken out when the external temperature is below DO degrees- that the rooms in which they live and’sleep should never be below 58 degrees -.nl the day room should be thrfe tout degrees warmer. The practice of wheeling children about in perambula tois, sitting or reclining in one position without exercise, is harm ful. We would earnestly appeal to mothers to put aside all feelings of vanity, or what is sometimes called natural pride, and cover the arms, neck and legs of their children as a simnie sanitary precaution. High frock-? long sleeves and warm stockings should be worn cut of doors; hats which cover the head, had boots whioh keep the feet dry and warm as Uu comiDg in from our streets, nearly al ways damp both boots and stockings should be chanced; and if the feet be cold, a warm foot bath should be used Tor a few minutes. The exquisite min ; children by this use or Lot water Vr hands and feet. We see that flannel has yielded to merino, chiefly on ac count of the greater convenhmce of readj-made underclothing; but there is nothing equal to flannel in the prop erty of preserving warmth.