the weekly constitutionalist
Paris and Continental Correspondence.
Paris, September 21, 1566.
To the Editor of the Constitutionalist:
MONSIEUR DE LA VALETTE’S CIRCULAR
has for the last eight days been the object of
the commentaries and derisions of the whole
French press. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
ad interim, until the arrival of Monsieur de
Moustier trom Constantinople, has told thq
world what we are to expect from the policy
of the Emperor for the present and for the fu
ture. Peace is the theme of the diplomatic
letter sent to the representatives of France in
foreign parts. The impression made by the
Imperial manifesto may be said to be a favora
ble one; even the English papers which are
generally very severy upon our sovereign lord
and master are loud in their praises of the
peaceful tenor of Monsieur de la Valette’s let
ter. The Minister of Foreign Affairs ad inte
rim, in allusion to the annexation of Prussia
says that France has nothing to fear from an
aggrandizement of that country. With regard
to the Roman question, the faithful have noth
ing to fear as regards the Holy Father, for
though the French troops will, according to the
convention of September, leave the Eternal
City on the 15th of December next, the Roman
pontiff will still remain under the protection
of France.
THE RE-ORGANIZATION OF FRANCE.
This question, which has of late very much
of late occupied the Emperor, has not yet been
solved. It is evident that the annexation of
Hanover, Nassau, Electoral Hesse and a part
of Bavaria, will very considerably augment the
forces which will be at the disposal of Prussia,
and in case of a war with that country, the
present military force in France would be un*
able to cope with that of Prussia; therefore
some change is absolutely necessary. There Is
a talk of the introduction of Bismark’s very
effective system of the Landweh, but it is very
much a question of the organization which has
worked very well in Germany, is adapted to
the Frenchman, and it is also very much feared
that to distribute arms indiscriminately amongst
the lower orders in this country would be to
expose the Government in a moment of rebel
lion.
REBELLION IN OANDIA.
The Candians seem determined to throw off
the Turkish yoke. Blood has beep
spilled in the island, an engagement having
taken place between the Turko-Egyptians and
the insurgeuts. Telegrams received from Con
stantinople state that the latter were complete
ly defeated. The news, however, must be con
firmed by letters from Candia and from our
fleet in the Mediterranean before we can place
any implicit faith in it.
Advices from the Levant inform us that the
Viceroy of Egypt is about to negotiate with
the Porte for the possession of the Island of
Candia, but it is very much a question whether
this purchase will be agreeable to the Candians.
There is .also a report that the United States
Government has made overtures to the Sultan
for the purchase of an island in the Mediterra
nean.
RETURN OF MAXIMILIAN TO EUROPE.
A deputation of the Chamber of Commerce,
a few days ago, offered an address of congratu
lation to the Empress of Mexico, at Miramar,
and in answer Her Imperial Majesty informed
the deputation that on the return of the Em
peror shs would not fail to pay the city of
Trieste a visit.
RETIREMENT OF CINCINNATUS.
Italian papers inform us that Garibaldi in
tends retiring to the Island of Caprera, and
that he will no longer have anything to do with
the command of the volunteers, as the Govern
ment of Victor Emanuel refuses to adopt the
system of the General for the arming of the
whole Peninsula.
EARTHQUAKE /N PARIS.
“ Nous Various en dormant, echappe belle," as
Moliere has it, for on the 14th Taris was visited
by an earthquake, at 5 o’clock in the morning,
but when I say Paris, I ought to add, Bt. Cloud,
Versailles, Ville d’Avray, Orleans, Blois, Tours,
Samur, Angers, Nantes—for the whole of west
ern France felt the shock, which seemed to
move from East to West.
This remarkable phenomenon, in this coun
try, did not last more than six seconds. Some
houses in the Rue Mobere have, since the
earthquake, been declared by the architects of
the town to be in a dangerous state, and the in
habitants have been advised to 6eek a more
stable home. The earthquake which has visited
us, on the 14th, has fortunately not occasioned
ony loss of life, and the little mistakes which
took place dating the shock were generally of
a ludicrous nature.
Tounarmi papers inform ns that the Bell
ringer of Tours, when about to ring the Ange
las at Saint Anelin, was very much alarmed at
seeing the piles of chairs generally to be seen
at the entrance of the nave of French churches
begin to take a rocking movement. He was so
frightened that he ran out into the street calling
out, “ the world is coming to an end."
At Blois, (this is more serious) a packet of
iueifer matches, which were thrown down from
a shelf in a grocer’s shop, ignited the floor,
which set fire to the whole house. Many thou-,
sand francs worth of property were destroyed.
It is to be hoped that these unpleasant shocks
in our capital will be few and far between.
It is a strange circumstance that twenty-fonr
hours before the earthquake took place, ani
mals, especially kine, were observed to be very
restless, and birds fluttered about apparently ill
at their ease.
SUDDEN DEATH OF LOUIS OOZLAN.
France has lost one of its best novel writers,
the author of La notaire de Chantilly and Le
Leon Empaitte, (the stuffed lion) who has for so
many years delighted both the reader by the
fireside, and the play goer wa3 on Friday last
taken suddenly off at the age ol 63.
The cholera is still a feature in Europe, and
it is more especially in Belgium that the scourge
seems most unwilling to quit. As aij the means
tried to cure this dreadful malady should be
made known, we think it our duty to give an
account of cures obtained by the infusion of
blood. The Berliner Medizinische Wochen
schrift tells us that last week two aged women
were brought to the hospital of Breslaoh but,
suffering from cholera, and that Dr. Baslan
makes the experiment ou them of the Infhsion
of blood with complete success. Both patients
were considered to be in a hopeless state, one
of them having become almost black.
A NEW SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE.
Baroness de Lenhusen who takes 60 much in
terest and art in general, and who brought us
the charming Neillson who Is at present de
lighting the audiences of the Theatre Syrique
by her delicious warbling, has as the Gazette
Musical informs us discovered another night
ingale in the perjon ol a Frautein Pethrire
Barkmann at Gothenburg, she is still very
young, being only 18. The Baroness has just
returned from Stochhohn accompanied by her
protege, who after having taken lessons of the
celebrated singing master Delsarte will make
her debut at the Theatre Lvrique. Persons at
tracted by curiosity to visit the works going on
in the Champ de Mars may have remarked in
looking through a grated door opeuiug on a
piece of morle land at the corner of the Avenue
de la Bourdounage and the Rue de 1’ Universite
a Colossal Statue in bronze of Louis XI. It
was east in Paris in 1829, by order of Charles
X, and destined for the city of Bourdeaux, but
the muuicipiality of that town declined to ac
cept it on account os the cost of the transport.
THE NEW WAR WALLOON.
Anew aerostatic apparatus consisting of five
balloons fastened together, for observing the
strategical movements of a hostile array during
a campaign, has been invented by an Austrian
engineer, named Llampf—an experiment made
with it a few days ago in the presence of the
Archduke Albert and a staff of general officers,
was declared successful enough to warrant the
adoption of the system.
Our New York Correspondence.
New York, October 4.
The establishment of a system of peonage in
the manufacturing towns of Abolition, Radical
New England begins to attract attention, and
will probably be made next winter the subject
of a Congressional investigation. The Radi
cals will no doubt be desirous of suppressing
the truth, but will hardly dare refuse the de
maud for investigation. lam cognizant, per
sonally, of practices that must put the whole
coterie of mock philanthropists to the blush, if
they have any shame. It will seem almost in
credible that the men who have clamored to
have the Southern negroes, their women and
pieaninnles, torn from their plantations and de
prived of the watchful care of their masters,
have been steadily prosecuting a system of ser
vitude, compared with which the worst features
that its enemies have been in the habit of ascrib
ing to Southern slavery, are kind and charitable.
The principal manufacturers constantly have
agents in the large cities who get possession of
families which, by misfortune, have become re
duced, and send them to their mills, where the
smallest children, say four or five years of age,
are compelled to work many hours daily, and
the parents are required to work twelve or
fourteen hours daily for a mere pittance. As
in the days of the slave trade, the Yankees
were the most active in the prosecution of that
traffic—“bringing benighted heathens where
they cohid learn the blessed teachings of His
Gospel ” —so, now, they prove , the most Inexo
rable task-masters since the days pf Pharaoli
Great Britain has laws prohibiting the employ
ment of young children in the manufactories ;
and employment of minors for more than the
moiety of a day’s work. But New England
philanthropy has thus far succeeded in prevent
ing the enactment of all such proper rules for
the protection of labor. It will become an in
teresting struggle to overthrow this white
slavery that is attempted to he set up.
AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW FORM.
People who have more or less remote busi
ness interests at New York, who may occasion
ally or weekly desire to buy or sell in this
market, au(j yet have no regular business con
nection herfc,'frill be glad to learn that “ Car
rington’s Commissionaire ” has been reorgan
ized as “ Carrington A Co.’s Express and Pur
chasing Agency. This company comprises two
branches of business. As an Express Compa
ny it forwards to and receives from Cuba,
Mexico and Brazil all packages of goods or
other valuables, at the usual express charges.—
Asa Purchasing Agency it fills orders from
all parts of the world for goods, wares and
merchandize of every variety and description,
"from a seal ring to a steam engine,” from a
cameo to a cashmere, buying on the best terras
possible to any dealers, and charging for their
skill and trouble a moderate commission.—
Such an agency is a convenience alike to our
city merchants and to the distant consumer.
Carrington & Co.’s Agency Is a cash customer,
and for its patrons a prompt and skillful pur
chaser and correspondent. Its business, which
is constantly increasing, brings it in communi
cation with the most distant parts of the
world, and facilitates the dealings• between
purchaser and seller by its express arrange
ments.
This purchasing agency has the emphatic en
dorsement of the American Express Cos., United
Stales Express Cos., National Express Cos.,
Southern Express Cos., New Jersey Express
Cos., Hope Express Cos., Harnden’s Express,
Kinsley A Cos. Express, Breeze A Cos. Express,
and Wells, Fargo & Co’s. Express; all of whom
recommend to their agents to facilitate its busi
ness “by the distribution of its cards and cir
culars, and by making known the advantages it
affords.” It affords me pleasure to add, that
you associate Colonel Gardner, has recently be
come connected with this Company as Vice
President, and will make his home in New
York city; no doubt visiting, occasionally,
however bis numerous friends in Georgia and
throughout the Boutb.
BUSINESS MATTERS.
Cotton, having advanced to 43c., bag relapsed
to 41c., and closes dull. The return of fine
weather at the South Is the principal cause,
though the fact that we are above export figures
has no little effect. Liverpool having advanced
to fifteen pence, shows signs of pausing. Be
sides, cotton goods, though selling at loss, do
not move freely. The ease in money has led to
such speculative advance in securities and mer
chandise, that a little stringency begins to be
felt in the money market; yet, with Govern
ment collaterals, the supply is still liberal at 5
per cent, per annum. The speculation for a
rise in breadstuff's seems to be pretty well
broken up for the present; with advanced gold
to-day, the close was uniformly lower. Pro
visions remaiu firm. Groceries are also steady.
Willoughby.
New York, October 8,1866.
There is a subject which Is discussed in pri
vate circles, and which Beast Butler has made
the basis of a harangue called by him an " ar
gument,” but, for some reason, has received
very little atteution from the public press. It
is the probability of an Impeachment of the
President and his ejection from office. At one
time the project seemed to have been abandon
ed, and with i» revival no one pretends that
Mr. Johnson has been guilty of sny sin of com
mission or omission that will justify, to an Im
partial mind, this extreme outrage. But he
defies Radicalism, notwithstanding. Those who
counselled his present position have yielded to
the clamor’, and Radicals are determined to
punish him.
It is not unlikely the House of Representa
tives will proelaira articles ofimpeaehment; in
other words, will indict the President, and pre
sent him to the Senate for trial. But whether
malice will carry the matter farther is very
doubtful. JThere Is wholesome dread of encoun
tering Mr. Johnson’s Irou will and his fertility
of resources at close quarters. There are Re
publicans who object to any such proceedings,
because they will have the effect to make Mr.
Johnson a “martyr” to the cause of constitu
tional liberty. Others are only in favor of the
initiatory proceedings—perhaps his “ trial,” ns
an insult which they eauuot Imagine any other
manner of Inflicting. To put Mr. Johuson in
history as the first President to be impeached,
although he may be triumphantly acquitted,
on trial, will, they think, be a sovereign balm
for their wounds.
Much depends, however, upon the flill flec
tions. The latest Indications front Pennsylva
nia are much more favorable. But from the
West little is to be hoped. That Beast Butler
has become the champion of the “Impeach
ment” party, is an augury of its defeat. To
prosecute this scheme, Chase. Sumner, and
Stevens, will have to become his followers;
and, while tolerating him, they detest him
almost as bitterly as lie Is detested at the South.
The Bouth has seen what It was to have Butler
as its champion ; how little actual harm he has
been able to inflict a? an enemy ; and may hope
that his excess of bile may continue to paralyze
all his efforts.
There is another obstacle to the Impeachment
scheme—the difficulty of agreeing upon a
President ad interim. Mr. Chase is understood
to be not dissatisfied with the drift of affairs,
looking to 1868 as sure to elevate him to the
Presidency. He is a little nervous about elevat
ing any senator to a position where lie can
become a rival, and who, obtaining the confi
dence of the Republicans, will lead them away
from him. Mr. 'Johnson Is understood to
believe tlint his impeachment will be attempted;
and he has ordered Barracks for 30,000 troops
to be erected at Washington. Perhaps this in
dicates the reception he Intends to give his ene
mies ; but unless he can have the Governors of
New York and Pennsylvania on his side, his
lriends will not advise forcible resistance to the
Radical schemes.
THE SOUTHERN EXPRESS COMPANY.
We hear that this company are about to
establish a permanent office In this city. It
will be in charge of Captain J. O’Brien, so
well known to the citizens of Augusta and the
South, as a gallant man, a courteous gentleman
and an Express man of untiring energy and
first class business capacity.
Until the permanent office is located, the
friends of Captain O’Brien will find him at the
office of the Southern Express Company, 59
Broadway.
THB CITIES OF THE DEAD.
Perhaps nothing so overwhelm* a man who
passes several years of his life In this city, pur
suing the even tenor of his way, as a necessary
persona) acquaintance wfth the great eemeterics
which are found in the surburbs of our city.
They are, Greenwood, the Evergreens, Cypress
Hills, Calvary and Woodlawn, besides the
Sunday Union burying grounds, of the Luther
ans, Jews, and so forth. No burying is now
allowed in the city of New York, and in Brook
lyn, no where but in Greenwood, and Ever
greens Cemeteries, which is entirely within the
limits of that city. With the exception of
Greenwood, all the great cemeteries have been
laid out fifteen or twenty years. Greenwood
contains nearly 200,000 dead—Evergreens, 600,-
000; Cypress Hills, 57,000; Calvary, 120,000 ;
Woodlawn, 25,000. There are streets In
Brooklyn In which many people will not reside,
because of the funeral corteges that are passing
hourly—sometimes three or four together—the
horses generally at a brisk trot.
Greenwood is the grandest of all these great
cities of the dead. Its monuments are most
imposing. One of our millionaries has a se
pulchre built of massive granite, entirely above
ground. Unless disturbed by vandalhand.it
will stand a thousand years. But Greenwood
is now less resorted to for burial, than Cypress
Hills, which is partly In Queens Country, and
abont eight miles from the New York City
Hall. There is already clamor to have streets
cut through Greenwood, and people dread
such sacrilege. Probably at the Constitution
al Convention for this State which meets next
year, an effort will be made to place our ceme
teries beyond the reach of those who would
invade them, by protecting them with a Con
stitutional provision.
The price of burial plots range from one
hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars.—
Many purchase space for a single grave, and it
Is not uncommon to put two or three bodies lu
one grave. In Calvary Cemetery (the Catholic)
large pits are opened, and tfce poor are buried
much as the solljers who fail In battle, except
that decent coffins enclose their mortal re
mains.
BUSINESS MATTER*.
Trade is in a very unsatisfactory state. The
great complaint is that It doe* not “pay.”—
There is the usual amount of buying anjf sell
ing, but little remunerative trade. Our mer
chants are becoming discontented under this
state of affairs. The extraordinary exhibit made
by the Treasury Department, of a decrease of
the Federul debt, amounting to §97,000,000 In
four months —at which rate the debt of Great
Britain would be paid off in fourteen years—
lias had little influence iu improving the public
credit. The bonds are no higher and gold no
lower. Cotton is down to-day to 37>< cents for
middling uplands, and leading goods declined
cent per yard. Willoughby.
(From the New York News, October 3.
A Oar jo of Courtesans Embarked for the
Oresoent Oity.
On Saturday the steamship Evening Btar sail
ed from thia port for New Orleans, bearing
hence eighty-seven prostitutes. It is a custom
among the matrons of the large assignation
houses of Havana, New Orleaus, and other
Southern cities, at the opening of ths fkll sea
son, to visit the Northern States and spend a
month or six weeks in seeking and selecting the
most fasciuatiug beauty that may be lound In
the houses ol prostitution In New York, Bos
ton, and Philadelphia, and these they consign
to their baguois iu the South.
Last month Bianca Robbins, Jennie King,
Flora Bedell, Susan Kingsley, and several other
well known keeper* of fashionable mansions of
polntlon in in New Orleans, arrived in thia city,
and at onoe commenced their search for a sup
ply of fresh victims to till the places of those of
whom they had been relieved by removal or
death. After weeks they succeeded In pro-
Burlng the number requisite to till their utmost
deserted harems; and, on the occasion, the
number who embarked on board the ETeniug
Star was, as we have already said, eighty-seven,
some of them the most accomplished, hand
somest and unscrupulous lorettes to be found
in the gilded brothels ol this city.
Every available state-room on the Evening
Star which conl.l be procured had been engaged
iu advance of the hour of sniling, and into those
were paekud two or three girls to each room.
So sudden had been this arrangement Hint pas
sengers who were bound to the Creseent City
on business found them solves deprived of the
ordinary accommodation* by this remarkable
cargo of the lost.
Blanca Robbins, weti known thronghont the
South ns the mistress of one of the most ele
gant and costly houses in New Orleans, secured
accommodations for and shipped twenty. Jen
nie King, of almost equally extensive reputa
tion, managed lor the transportation of twenty;
whiloFlora Bedell and Susan Kingsley provided
lor fifteen and ten girls respectively, and the
remainder were secured by other mistresses,
who provided for groups of from three to five,
making an aggregate of eighty-seven.
The steamer was advertised to sail at three
o’clock precisely, and long before tlmt hour a
succession of hacks had discharged their in
mates on the pier, mid immense trunks, bearing
iu emblazoned letters the romantic names of
Ella Livingston, Rose Standish, Julia Mortimer,
Nell Muvnurd, Georglnna De Verc. Pauline
Sinclair, Hortensu Do Lannay, Clara Wlnterton,
Madiillne Walters, lay piled in utter confusion
by the gangway ol the ship, while the anxious
Mcsduines and gay daughters of the devil,
flitted hither and thither among t,he motley con
course which lmd gathered to witness their de
parture. Leave takings were indulged In, and
many a girl wiped the tears from the corners of
her eyes with her embroidered kerchief ns she
took u fond farewell of the pampered pimp who
had ciccroned her and taken care of her lug
gage. And luxuriously dressed swells strutted
pompously about whiffing their cigars and com
menting on the scenes before them, while the
stalwart seamen of tho steamer visibly grinned.
The scene was one of excitement and confus
ion, which was Lightened by the appearance of
a body of civil marshals, bearing in their hands
a number of writs of detainer, which lmd lieen
granted for the detention of the luggage of
absconding debtors, and wlio immediately com
menced an active search among the trunks lor
the property of various females who had for
gotten to pay their landladies or their shoe
makers. Protests uud entreaties were of no
avail ; the officers of the law were Inexorable,
until the Southern matrons came to the rescue,
and by the payment of the claims released the
trunks mid bandboxes from seizure and restored
them to their owners.
POLITICAL CALENDER.
Elections have transpired ft* follows:
Vermont, on September 4th, having elected a
Governor, three members of Congress, and n
member of the Legislature; two United States
Senators to elect In place of Messrs. Solomon
Foote and Jacob Colhnner. And Maine, on
September lOtli, having chosen a Governor, live
mem hers of Congress und members of the Legis
lature.
The elections in the other State* are a* fol
low* :
Pennsylvania— October 9.—Governor, twen
ty-four members of C’ongre**, and im-mbets of
Legislature; a United States Senator elect.
Ohio— October o.—'Nineteen members of Con
gress.
Indiana —October 9.—-State oilluurs, eleven
members ol Congress und nu mbers of Legisla
ture ; a United States Sene tor to elect In pluco
of Her.ry S. Lane.
/otea—October 9.—State officer*, six members
I of Congress and members of Legislature.
The States named below hare yet to make
decisions:
West Virginia— October 25.—Governor, three
members of Congress and Legislature.
New York— November 6.—Governor, thirty
one member* of Congress, and one hundred sud
twenty-five members of the Assembly—Senate
holding over. United States Senator to elect
in place of Ira Harris.
Massachusetts— November 6.—Governor, ten
members of Congress and State Legislature.
New Jersey —November 6.—Flv* member* of
Congress and members of the State Legisla
tes. (
Michigan —November 6.—Governor, six mem
bers of Congress, and members of Legislature.
Illinois —November 6.—State officers, four
teen members of Congress and members of Le
gislature. United Btates Senator to elect in
place of Lyman Trumbull.
Wisconsin— November 6.—Slat* officers, six
members of Congress and members of Legisla
ture. United States Senator to elect In place
of Timothy O. Howe.
Minnesota —November 6.—Governor, two
members of Congress and members of Legisla
ture.
Missouri— November G.—Superintendent of
Public Instruction, nine in cm Iters of Congress',
and member* of Legislature. United States
Senator to elect lit place of B. Grets Brown.
Kansas— November 6.—Governor, members
of Congress and members of Legislature. Two
United States Senators to elect in place of Jae.
H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy.
Nevada— November 6.—Governor, member*
of Congress and Legislature. United. States
Senator to elect In pioee of Jamas W. Nye,
Maryland— November 6.—State Comptroller,
five members of Congress and members of the
Legislature. United States Senator to elect In
place of John A. J. Creswell.
belaicare —November 6.—Governor, mem
bers of Congress and Legislature.
English newspapers do not consider the
American news worth l»aylng the cable rates
lor. They Wait for the steamers as before.
The only living descendant of Christopher
Columbus lives at Rome, and is to visit America
next year. He is described as a genial man ol
CO.
An old colored preacher named Edmund, 116
years old, has just married an Interesting young
lady of his own color and persuasion, whose
age is only 89 years.
[For the Constttuttsnalist.
Tide-Bound.
Only this bare foot-hohl of rock
btanding between our souls and God!
Do you not fear the coming shock f
Thus, with mo, will It he so hard f
It was not thus meihonght to die—
Bo lull of Ufa and so full of love,
With never a cloud in our fair young sky,
And hope as bright as the stars above.
Come cloee, love I I can fe-1 the spray
Dashing with cruel glee at) fhce.
God tto thlak of ths coming day, *
And we found dead In a last embrsoe!
That was but a touch of the cUmblng ws- e,
Kiss me, love, ere we both go down.
Has your trembling heait grown strong and brevet
They soy tie e pleasant death, to drown!
Are you afraid, that you tremble so I
My soul has calmed every thrill of pain.
It Is only a momeul’s pang, you know,
And life will begin for us again I
Whisper a word of prayer for us.
Ere our lives an the eom'ng wave flow out -
Wo’ll enter anternlty on trust—
Hark, oa my soul, I heard a shout I
Life leaps hack to my tremhliag frame—
Was 1 dead that I wake to such tropio glow,
To feel the Moo t like* liquid flame
Through shivering pulses come sad gat
Look up, love I ’Twos a fearful dream,
But dying with you is a pleasant pain.
They’re coming I I see the torches gleam—
Saved I Dear God, our thanks— Amen I
L’lxconkcs.
4 Valuable Sorap of History.
Although the following letter was written
two months ago, It bus only come to light late
ly. It is important in so much as it expresses
the views of President Lincoln’s Cabinet ou the
admission ol West Vlrginlu as a State:
St. Louis, Aug. 8,1866.
To Col. Jas. O. Broadhead, St. Louis:
Dear Siu : You were rightly Informed that
President Lincoln did require of the heads of
tho different departments their opinions In
writing ns to both the constitutionality and ex
pleucy of the bill “ for thu admission of the
State ot West Virginia Into the Union," and
such oplulous were given by all of them, ex
cept only Caleb Smith (who hud then vacated,
or was about to vacate his offico ol Sccretury of
the Interior.)
That transaction took place in the few last
days of tho year 1802. My own official opinion
bears date on the 27th of' December, 18(12, and
the President approved and signed the bill ou
the last day of that year.
I have occasion to remember those transac
tions very distinctly, for I took a lively Inter
est iu the question ; and, Indeed, It was upon
■ny own suggestion that President Lincoln de
manded our written opinion*. 1 urged upon
him thu advantages of written over oral com
munication* ou a subject so important, and
chiefly upou these two grounds: First, They
constitute valuable muniments of the passing
history of the Government; and second, they
operate as a reasonable and wholesome check
upou us, the advisers of the President.
Tiie questions put by the President were In
tho most brief uud compendious form, thus:
“1. Is thu s.dd act constitutional ! I. Is thu
said net expedient!” To these two questions
we nil gave to thu President our wrlltcu an
swers ; and I can only express my surprise
tlmt they should have been so long withheld
Iroiu publication, seeing that they touch upou a
principle ol' tho greatest magnitude, and lainr
directly upon u question which hns produced
great excitement in Congress and in thu nation.
I have tlie only copy of those documents that
I know of in private hands, but no doubt they
may be found lu the proper depositories at
Washington. And In regard to your sugges
tion as to whnt those opinions may contain con
cerning the legal and political status ot States
In rebellion (as I have no time now either to
analyze the opinions or to aopy IhcnQ, I cau
only say that not one of them contains a single
paragraph lending to tho conclusion that a State
ordinance of secession, or the fact ol open re
bellion within a Stale, did or could take a Statu
out of the Union. Tho very coutrary was ussura
ad as undisputed doctrine, and urged upon as a
postulate. In fact, 1 did uot know a Republi
can o! that day, In Congress or lu the Executive
Department, who preteuded to believe that n
State could withdraw Useli from the Union by
secession, or rebellion, or both together.
Wc all considered an ordinance of secession a
mere nullity iu law and politics, and rebellion
a personal crime, punishable by law. It never
was the doctrine us the Republican party lu Mr.
Lincoln’s lifetime, und, I believe, Is not now,
that a Elate can get out of the Union by seces
sion mid rebellion. That is a lute Invention of
a few enterprising, extreme Radicals, who have
labored In vain to fasten it upon thu Republi
can* us one of their tenets. President Lincoln
and both Houses of Congress, by their repeat
ed, solemn‘acts, are pledged to the contrary.
They passed the West Virginia bill, which,
according to the plain provisions ol the Con
stitution, eould not have been passed unless
Virginia were a Statu in the Union, with a Leg
islature capable oi consenting to the dUiuem
berment. The President, with the advice amt
conscut ot the Senate, did all he eould lo extend
the Judiciary system of the United Stales Into
States which had passed ordinance* of seces
sion, and whose people stood iu open rebellion,
by appointing District Judges hi Virginia, Ten
nessee, Alabama, Florida sud Louisiana, und
both bouses of Congress admitted members
from Virginia, Tennessee and Louisiana.
I remain, dear sir, with cordial regards, your
friend. Edward Bate*.
The New England Radical* on An
other Hobby.—New Englund Is inhabilcdby
a set of people who arc never happy except
when Interfering In other people* affair*. Di
rectly or indirectly they nave caused all the
troubles In which this country has been Invol
ved. »••»**
In another column our Boston correspondent
describe* the proceedings at the New England
Temperance Convention recently held at that
city. The old abolitionists, men and women,
were on hand, ready for a fresh tussle with
everybody who doe* not agree with them. One
might have imagined that with the abolition of
slavery their occupation was goue; but they
take quite a different view of the subject.
They are now about to begin a crusade against
intemperance In all Its forms. .They are going
to abolish liquors ; they are going id abolish to
bacco ; they are going to abolish wine at the
communion table ; they advise all liquor dealers
to commit suicide, and they declare themselvea
to be the only good and virtuous people in the
world and wish all who differ from them to
leave it.
It is amusing to hear all the old argument*
and sophisms once used against slavery uow
revived and applied with equal earnestness to
rum and tobacco. The cbnrch is called upon
to sustain the temperance cause as it was to
sustain the anti-slavery cause. Tcmperauce is
announced a* the great political Issue, Just a*
slaveholders. Rum Is defined us the sum of all
rottenness, *s slavery was the sum of all villa
nles. The Bible Is appealed to with great en
thusiasm, although the Bible recognizes sla
very, and Christ himself performed a miracle
rather than permit bis friend* to do without
wine at a wedding feast. Evidently prepara
tions are being made for another great agitation
In the well known style of Wendell Phillips A
Co.—New York Herald.
Mr. Wilkie Collins, who is reported to be
threatened with consumption, is traveling in
the South of Europe for his health.
