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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1870)
gfa£ WEJSILY 0058TITUTI0HALI8T WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 23, 1870 F Our New York Correspondence. New Yobk, March 12,1870. i The troubles in the Democratic party of (this State, which have arisen respecting (the “reconstruction" of municipal gov ernments in the several cities, are in a ftiir way of satisfactory adjustment on such a basis as must be satisfactory to all who are disposed towards harmony; and the Radicals begin to admit that this great State has passed permanently from their control. Seldom has there been an in stance in whWh a legislative body has yielded so completely to public opinion in the passage of important laws as in tie present instance; and having consulted the people, the Democratic leaders will be sustained by the people. We have had another “ breezy ” week in gold and cotton. The fluctuations in cot ton on Wednesday were fully 1 cent joer pound, including middling up to 21%, and low middling fbr April \ delivery at 19(319%. At one time, in Pearl I street, on that day, the scenes and sounds were not unlike the Gold Room Babel, such was the excitement in disposing of “fu ture ” cotton. To-day, the receipts of the week having proven unexpectedly large— about 65,000 bales—and gold having lost most of the advance of yesterday, with Liverpool accounts dull, our cotton mar ket is flat. However, I think I detect a steadier feeling. And yet, such are the fluctuations and such the delay of the loyal . Post Office Department in delivering this missive to you, that it were almost useless to attempt to speculate upon the future. I was a “bear” when middling upland was quoted at 28 cents fbr December; but I fear that in “ believing ” in 23 and 24 cents as safe prices, not a few have suffered who would otherwise have escaped after the Hirst squeeze. But speculation is very fmuch as the thimble-rigger set forth his ' “ little game“ I’ll bet you five, ten or fifteen dollars that you can’t tell under which the little joker Is ; you c-a-n-twin unless you bet, and then you’re a-p-t to lose.” Cotton goods have materially declined. Sprague’s prints were offered to-day at 10 cents, which is but a fraction higher in gold than before the war, and the increased cost of cotton and labor, the additional capital required, and the burdens of taxa tion, not taken into the account. This is a grave circumstance. Side wheel sea-going steamships are fast passing away. Two, which have been favorite passenger boats, have been ordered to be broken up. Even upon the Long Island Sound the inevitable “ screw ” or propeller is gaining the ascendency, espe cially for freight boats. The passage of the great “sound” side wheel steamboats through the East river is at all time a magnificent spectacle, but it is probable that in a few years it - will be only a tradi tion. The beauties of the income tax have re ceived anew illustration in Brooklyn. A relative of a Federal assessor was conve niently admitted to a firm of pettifoggers, and this firm was forthwith charged with the prosecution of delinquents. A note was sent to those who had made no returns of their income, or who had returned what was deemed an insufficient amount. They were requested in this note to call and ex plain why no return had been made, or why so small an amount had been return ed, as the case might be. Os course many people come down with a handsome fee to “ save trouble,” and the loyal pettifoggers have put money in their purse. The reduction of wages that has been going on in the past few months has been more marked than any thing which has been published would lead one to suppose. Bricklayers have been reduced from five to four dollars per day, but it is quite pro bable their actual earnings, through want of regular employment, are not more than half as much as one year ago. But in cloth the work of women—there is a still more notable falling off. A friend in the trade showed me last evening suits of boys’ clothing, which were made for eighty-eigli cents per suit, for which cost $2 50 not long ago, and work was procured for $1 20 which but recently commanded $3. There is one of those cases before our courts which recalls to mind practice which grew up during the war. Certain of our public journals, some of them of fair re pute, contained advertisements from offi cers and soldiers in the army, who -“ de sired the acquaintance of young ladies, with a view to correspondence for mutual improvement or entertainment,” hinting, in some instances, at probable or possible matrimony. It is almost inconceivable that large numbers of young ladies of re finement, culture and virtue responded to such appeals—partly from sympathy with the soldier, but mainly from the prompt ings of unhealthy sentiment, or from the desire for adventure which all Yankees, female as well as male, so largely possess. Mischief only was, of course, the result, taking every form that improper sexual re lations suggest. The case now pending is one in which a lady sues a gentleman be cause he has declared that she is his wife. He gives with much detail the time and place of their marriage, and brings the clergyman who married them, who is clear on all points except the identity of the lady. He was a soldier, home on furlough, and induced the lady to consent to a mar riage to be kept secret until he should leave the army and be in a position to support his wife. The lady admits courtship and correspondence, but denies the marriage, and a jury will decide the' dispute. What ever may be the verdict, the lady is in a position which should be a warning against ill-chosen confidants and secret marriages. An institution has been recently estab lished in this city which forced itself upon the notice of the different religious denom inations by the marked effect which it pro duced in the reduction of fees of the Cor oners. It is a foundling hospital established exclusively by the charitable ladies of the Catholic Church. A building was pro cured and operations commenced. Child murder has diminished greatly in conse • quence. Another notable circumstance is, that of the children left at the gate of this hospital, considerably more than one-half survive, and promise to grow up to lives of usefulness, while of those entrusted to public charities only a small minority— about 15 per cent., I believe—live longer than a month. Careless paid nurses soon pat an end to all bat the most robust, and it may be safely estimated that not more than five per cent, reach the age of ten or eleven years, at which they leave the pub lic institution. This applies, of course, to the new-born Infants which are abandoned by their guilty or unfortunate mothers. It is not at ail creditable to our wealthy Protestant religious societies tbut upon the Catholics alone devolve the labor of mitigating these h« art a< hltig recitals, Thu storks which art often told of |»Hs oiler* In lug left to present themselves for confinement have •men e*t uetM by a real occurrence lit this city during tn* past wi 1 1» \ deputy *hrrfff, Mug entrusted with the conveyance of four prisoners to the sitaic Prison at Ming Ming, took them mm or less intoxicated when they reached Here the condition of the whole party at tracted the attention of the police, and an officer was detailed to watch the party, without interfering except in the case of necessity. On the way to Sing Sing, lathe cars, the whole five drank repeat edly from a bottle, and on arrival there the deputy sheriff was very drunk, but duly handed over his prisoners to the Warden of the prison. Nqt one of them appears to have made the slightest effort to escape, but, with a fellow feeling which “makes us wondrous kind,” forebore to take advantage of the condition of the friend who gave them a “ jolly good spree ” before they, for a season, bade the world farewell. We are having to-day a severe snow storm from the northeast. The snow plows are out, clearing the railroad tracks. Sleighing is good in the by-streets, and in the down-town streets the accumulation of snow and ice is very disagreeable, and im pedes business. Willoughby. Letter From Missouri. Chililcotue, Mo., March 5 1870. Friend Stockton : When leaving Au gusta I promised yon and other friends to j write respecting this country, and would | have done so sooner, but had not gained sufficient intelligence of the State to make a letter interesting; and now, being closely engaged from early morn to late in the evening, I will write to all through you, and trust to be excused for not writing to each of my friends individually. From all I can learn, Missouri lands (mountains excepted) are mainly fine farm ing lands, and this portion (Livingston and contiguous counties) very fine, excel lent for corn, wheat and the grasses. It is emphatically a blue grass region, and sur passes In beauty, in the Summer, any coun try I have ever seen. The vast level fields of green grass (the color of blue grass) dotted over with horses, mules, cattle, and sheep, excel in loveliness the creations of my imagination, whilst the waving fields of wheat or corn, or numerous shocks of grain, gladden the farmer’s heart and speak encouragement to the immigrant. This is a prairie country. North Mis souri would be one vast prairie but for the strips of woods which border the streams and divide it into smaller prairies running north and south, and rarely more than five or six miles wide; the timber strips on each side are very valuable for building purposes, fencing and fuel, and also as a shield against the winds, which, in all prairie countries, are very fierce at times; for, except on the timber strips mentioned, not a tree or as much even as a switch is ever to be seen. Consequently this is one of the easiest countries in the world for the settler; the level earth lies before him ready for his plow or scythe, free from stump or stone, as though nature had bolted it through a No. 2 bolting cloth and rolled It with a polished steel roller.— The Winters here are much colder than in Georgia, but I cannot say that that is much of a disadvantage, as we have much less rain in consequence, and 1 would certainly rather have the cold weather than the rain and mud I have so often seen in your State. The temperature of the air here depends almost entirely on the direction of winds. North winds bring cold; south winds the reverse; west winds bring comfortable weather; and the old Scotch adage respect ing east winds holds good here—“ It blaws nabody gude.” But the haziness of the atmosphere, flying clouds and appearances that in other places indicate rain and storm, are here very remarkable to me, yet hardly noticed by old residents. One can only play let rain with any certainty when he seesTi*iftilling. < This Winter has been the loveliest I have ever seen. The weather, with but short exceptions, has been just cold enough to keep the ground frozen and the roads in good order. From the 14th of January to the Ist qf this month, we did not have snow or rain sufficient to lay the dust, and some of the days were quite cokV, while very many were as fine and beautiful as Autumn days in Georgia. We sometimes did not make a fire, except for cooking, during the day or night. I have been in Missouri two Winters and have hardly seen four consecutive days of very hard weather, rarely more than one or two at a time; still the thermometer has been as low as 8 to 10 degrees below zero. Missouri is a fine apple country; peaches do not thrive so well, but the year I came here were plentiful; but the Winter and Spring a year ago were so cold and wet that peaches were generally -killed. The apple crop, however, of last Fall was an abundant one; even now they can be bought on our streets for from 50 to 75 cents per bushel by the wagon load of from 20 to 30 bushels, and retail at $1; very fine fancy lots at $1 25. Irish potatoes are also very plentiful, selling at 30 to 35 cents. Wheat, 60 cents to $1 pey bushel. Pork and beef are both high, because they can be shipped to Chicago, St. Louis, Kanzas City, St. Joseph, Qnmcy and other cities. Fresh pork has sold here all the Winter at 9 to 10 cents net. Farmers can do well here, for although some of their products sell very low, (arti cles which will not pay the expense to ship,) yet pork and beef, which can be fat tened cheaply on the abundant grain,-bring at all times fine prices, paying handsomely for the grain and trouble of the farmers. There are but few negroes In this vicinity and laborers are scarce ; but this difficulty is easily overcome by using the best and most approved farming machinery. Buggy plows, corn planters, seed sowers, reapers and mowers, thrashers, fans and seperators are to be found on almost every farm. The number of farming implements sold in this city would astonish most Georgians. One establishment sold last season 116 2 to 4 horse reapers and mowers; 16 10 horse thrashers; $16,000 worth of plows and 396 wagons, and there are several other similar establishments in the place. lam sorry to say, however, that these machines were not made here, but imported from Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, though there are several shops here that turn out quite a quantify of work. Chillicothc is situated on the Hanibal and St. Joe Railroad, 130 miles west from Hanibal, and the same distance from Quin cy, 111., on elevated ground, 2 miles east from Grand river. The queen of the beau tiful Grand river valley, like other West ern cities, has lofty aspirations; Indeed, she would be dull aud emotionless did she feel otherwise, having in operation, in course of construction and prospectively seven lines of railroad running into her, aud la the largest town between Ham ha 1 and St. Joe, a distance of 200 miles.— All these railroads will tap fine regions of (arming country, with uo town* of any magnitude fbr many miles to rival her.— Realties beautiful location, (.‘hlllieothe can boast of her youth, being but a luee of 14 year*, and all through the war wae stag uant as a pool, The population is estl mated at s.<>oo to fiuOO, 'I he health of tMe country is a* good a* any country, except In bottom land* aud the first year after breaking up raw lands, which Is done from May to August, aud Is gem rally Mbheulllty, caused by Hie dc< eying of lint sod j but OH old upland farm*!! i* «on»ld«r*sl healthy 11 am very well satisfied with this country, 1 but cannot say I prefer It to Georgia; tint for the present I do, as polities here art not so exciting. The negroes are few and are apparently well disposed. The people are not as polished as in Georgia, but have more go-ahead to them ;■ one could not ex pect much from such a mass of adventur ers. We are here from everywhere, as though an earthquake or railroad accident had thrown us together. Safety and food are our first thought, leaving off the study of etiquette for a more convenient season. The people are full ot life, and are pleasant neighbors. Political lines are strongly drawn, but each seems satisfied to fall into his own rank and let his opponent do the. same. Respectfully, your friend, Geo. Blythe. Noble Words from Maryland. The Baltimore Gazette, advocating lawful resistance to the XVth Amendment, .thus concludes: If wrong is ever to benighted someone must lead the vau of the battle against it —some forlorn hope, it may be, must con sent to immolation in the struggle. If these views be regarded as extreme, be it so. But they are the fruit of principles by which many noble men and nations haye been governed—principles which carried our fathers through an almost desperate war with the mother country in 1776 which animated thousands in Frauce who refused to “ accept the situation ” under Robespeirre; whiph instigated generations of Irishmen to resistance to English op pression; nay, principles which upheld John Huss, amid liis fiery trial, aud which sustained Leonidas and his little band when they fell, almost to a man, in front of the Persian hosts. If the capacity of the American people for self-government be not a dream; If their hatred of oppression be not a delusion; if their love of their rights aud liberties be not a sham, the time cannot be far distant when they will call to account the knavish and reckless con spirators who are daily trampling upon the Constitution aud upon the fundamental principles upon which alone it is possible for a republican government to endure.— Let Maryland scornfully refuse to recog nize the detestable provision to which she is soon to be called on to assent, and take the consequences. It might be that her representatives would be temporarily thrust out from the Congressional conclave where they are now powerless for good. It might be the Federal soldiery would instal in the Capitol at Annapolis the men who Were not ashamed once before to accept of place and power from such & source, and who were then staunch defenders of negro slavery, and would have turned livid with rage at the Idea of permitting negro voters to shape the counsels of Maryland. We speak for what we think to be the honor of the State. Others will act more; perhaps, on behalf of what they deem its interests. We have small hope that our views will meet with general acceptance, though we would gladly think otherwise. - But having strenuously advised the Southern States to give no assent to usurpation, to make no compromise with fraud, to refuse to facili tate the work of their own humiliation, the Gazette could not, IF it would, do less than maintain the same principles, now that a menace is at our own door. Railroad Meeting in Gwinnett—lmport ant Proceedings. La.wrencevii.le, March 9,1876. In pursuance of previous notice, a large and respectable portion of' the citizens, of Gwinnett county met in' Convention at the Courthouse this day; fbr the' pttrpdife-'Ak’ takiug into consideration the-tontem plated railroad from the city of Macftn, via Indian Springs, CoVington and Lawr.enceville, to Knpxville, Tennessee. On motiorl7Mtfior R. ITTVTnn was called to the chair, and Marcus Gordon re quested to act as Secretary. Dr. R. M. Parks, iu a few appropriate re marks, explained the object of jhe meeting, demonstrating the importance of the Con templated road to the commercial, world, its practicability and the certainty of.lts ultimate construction. On motion, a committee of flye, consist ing of Col.'Sam. J. Winn, Col. F. F. Juhan and J. C. Carroll, were appointed to pre pare business for action of convention. During absence of committee, the con vention was entertained by a masterly and convincing speech by Col. W. W. Clark, of Covington. Col. C., as one of the prime movers in this enterprise, detailed at some length its history, giving a very encouraging account of the interest taken in building the road by citizens all along the contemplated route from Macon to this place. The committee having appeared, the Chairman reported the following resolu tions, which were unanimously adopted Resolved, The people of Gwinnett hail with pleasure the contemplated railroad from Macon via Indian Springs, Covington, Lawrencevilie, through Northeast Georgia to Knoxville, Tenn., and though greatly impoverished by the war, they hereby guarantee liberal material aid, and the right of way to said railroad through the entire length of the oounty. Resolved, Our members ot the present Legislature be requested to seek a combi nation of the charter of the Lawrencevilie Railroad Company, granted in 1852, with charter of Ocmnlgee River Railroad Com pany; seek an extension of the same to the State line; ask such State aid in the con struction as has been granted to the Macon and Brnnswick Railroad Company, and in sert the names of at least two citizens of this county as incorporators. A Fine Representative in Egypt.— A nice little story is in circulation here In reference to Mr. Hale, the Consul General of the United States at Alexandria, Egypt, who has been “putting on American airs” of a decidedly immoral character. The person in question is a protege of Sir. Sec retary Seward, and a classmate of J. Ban croft Davis. Among other foreign repre sentatives he was Invited to the fetes given by the Khedive, and was so enthused by associating with royalty that at the ball given in honor of the Empress Eogenie, he drank frequentlyand so often “to her eyes” that he became slightly exhlliratad. He continued to follow up the toast until hi# locomotion became somewhat of * the “worm-fence” order. He repeated and re peated this proceeding so often that he soon felt the folleflbcu, and discharged the contents of an ovtr-iosded stomach over one of the ladles of honor, deluging her with its nauseating contents and creating a great scaadtl. It was with difficulty that a duel was prevented, and the ( ousul General only escaped castigation by an apology, which the lady was grsetou* enough to accept to prevent blood*h«d and scandal. This ie not tits only difficulty Mr Jlal» has become Involved In, sod a* there wi re serious charge* preferred and on die #t the Mil* Jtepsrttneut, I con certed movement we* m»d< In «a*iae hi* removal, which ws* • iti - by U»» most ipfimmtlsi member* of the If-publfcsn putty ferk > ; Men. HOW THEY FEEL WITH GOLD AT 111— WIIAT THEY SAY—REDUCTION IN FRITES—SMALL CONCERNS MOST STAND FROM UNDER— FOREIGN FABRICS AT COST PRICES—DO MESTIC GOODS HOLD THEIR OWN—PROB ABILITY OF A PANIC. The New York Star, of Friday last, says: Two great questions agitate the minds of business men, and these are, first, what effect will the (all of gold have upon stocks and goods; and, secondly, how far will the security of firms who are holders of stocks aud goods be iufluenced thereby. The first question is much more easily answer ed than the second. The loss upon or mar ket depreciation of imported goods, owing to THE DECLINE IN THE VALUE OF GOLD, Is easily measured by that decliue, and cor respond exactly to it, inasmuch as import ed goods are paid for in gold, Invoice ac count and duty included. So much for im ported goods, except the contingency of a pauic, produced by the losses incurred, In which case they would be thrown too free ly Into the market, with the object of real izing hard cash, aud would suffer a further decliue. Domestic goods are not likely to be effected to any great extent, except In the eventuality of widespread commercial distress, but the decline of gold and the consequent 3 Cheapening of imported goods must brin" these latter into a severer com petition with those of onr own manufac ture. One thtng is certain, that firms, whether engaged in the wholesale or retail trade, who held large fbrclgn stocks, and whose real capital has hitherto been barely enough to carry them along, must go to the wall. The loss upon goods imported in January amounts, in some instances, to twenty-five per cent.', which will eat the profit out of the season’s trade in all cases where a season’s stock has been laid in.— Every one engaged in the foreign trade must lose something, however cautious or prudent. the dry goods trade forms oue of the-most important features in the import trade as well as In the cus tom returns, and in order to test the feel ings of those most interested in the present crisis, we made inquiry yesterday among the retail dry goods stores. Trade seemed to be brisk, considering the time of year and the unseasonable weather, and the Ma jority of those we called upon took a cheerful view of affairs, but did not conceal the fact that among their poorer brethren there was likely to be a smash. Considerable reflection upon the commercial policy of the Government was expressed, inasmuch as It Is beljeved that the present fall in the precious metal might haVe been made more gradual, and merchants thereby have been enabled to work off their stocks at a reduced value by degrees. Gold at 15 or 20 for tbfi next six months would have been a boon In many instances, although there are some speculators of a hopeful turn of mind who do not despair of seeing gold shortly at something near that margin. TRADE OPINIONS. Lord <fc Taylor, Broadway, say the prices of goods must follow gold; the sooner It comes to par the better for us; we should be glad to see gold at par to-morrow.— With regard to small houses* those of them who have laid in heavy stocks at high prices, and possess only a small capital, must go. Gold at pfir wduld We the very thing which we want and require, It would set trade agoing with a bound. , J. * C. .TOHNBTON, BHOABWAV, ‘WrtHk' that.»me redaction In the prtoeMf gold- sod The consequent, low price of goods .ivlji not quicken trade so much as some merchants expect. The reduction will fall Chiefly upon some kinds of foreign gootH., If Government resume specie payment#, goods will be cheaper ■vtiM. Some kinds of imported goods are sold just now for less than cost price-,. £cyqe descriptions of goods that cost $1 50 are now selling at sl. It would We doubly good for those who hold a light stock when gold comes to par, as they wijl be able. to.takc advantage of ,thej panic. Many Business men think that gold will gO tip to 1 : 8 dr evfen 20 again. AITKEN & MILLER, for themselves, do not care, although gold were at par to-morrow, but think that the Government should have managed so that the price of gold was let down more gradu ally. They think that gold at 15 would have been a proper figure for the present season. It will press hard upon the man of small capita). They have to pay for their goods and the duty upon them in gold, and it has been hard sometimes to know what they shoutd fix them at. The fall Is fully 15 per cent, since stock-taking. ARNOLD, CONSTABLE & CO. say their goods are regulated entirely by the price of gold, and follow it. They tnlnk there ought to have been a more gentle de cline in the fall of gold, and that the Gov ernment might haveayoided t,he suddenness of the fall. The brokers would send the price tip if the Government did not inter fere. Small men must suffer severely, as they have not the same chance to work off their goods; some of them must smash. WALTER LOCKWOOD, FULTON STREET. Imported goods aloDe will be cheaper, and they will be cheapened in proportion to the difference in the price of gold. Do mestics will not be Influenced by It. The supply and demand regulate the price of our domestic goods. Some cottons of a peculiar make in demand, and with a short supply, are actually dearer at present.— Irish poplins (Pirn’s) that we were selling in December at $8 per yard, and in January at $1 75, we sell now at $1 per yard. Every holder of stocks imported must lose. UNANIMITY OF OPINION IN THE TRADE. The statements given above represent pretty nearly the general feeling In the dry goods trade upon the present emergency. Ready-made clothing will be the medium of a smaller loss than piece goods, except in the case of those importers who have bought foreign clothing in the ready-made state, inasmuch as the price of labor In making np the goods in this country re mains the same. The trade generally seem to be alive to the advantage of impressing upon their customers’ minds the reality of the reductions that are taking place by ad vertising. THE PROSPECT. The next two mouths are likely to be a trying time, but those firms who weather the storm arc likely to be permanent. For the benefit of the public, we append a list of the dry good* which have suffered the largest reduction: French silks, Matins, velvets, lace*, gloves, ribbons, buttons, trimming*, etc. ; English broadcloths, Scotch tweeds, dress good*, car|<ete, mil linery, hosiery, fee. i frish poplins, linens, imie tv, luces, fee, | Brussels carpets, Ger man ares* good* and varieties, fee, p BM—. fiprlngfhdd, < »hlo, has a lync-retter (Wall* by name) wliom friends claim can set 9,W10 eins per hour IJ< bss rmtsehm lions scruple, eooni receiving more than 1 i.n cent* |*r thousands eiusfof aowyoel hbe Tbrk T!m«.**ret,-S "j On Friday last Mr. John McHarg, Col lector of Internal Revenue for the Fifth District, applied to Assistant District At torney Purdy for a warrant against John K. Phillips, his first Deputy Collector. He subsequently went before Commissioner Betts and made an affidavit charging Phillips with defrauding the Government of a large amount of money under cover of his official position. A Deputy Marshal was detailed to arrest the accused, but dis covered, after two days’ vain searching, that the latter had taken passage for Europe on the previous Wednesday on board of a sailing ship named the Idaho. His frauds, It Is alleged, consisted of converting to his own use checks which were received by him from tobacconists In payment for stamped tin foil tobacco wrappers, the sale of which was transacted by him. He was In the habit of receiving orders in large quantities for the stamped wrap pers, which he would sond to the printer’s to be executed. The checks which accom panied the orders, however, he Is alleged to have embezzled In many instances, instead of transferring them to Mr. Hunt, the stamp agent; or the cashier, who were authorized to Receive them. His fraudulent practices are supposed to have commenced about May last. During the interval since that time he adopted measures for ooncealing them by inserting Incorrect figures in what is known as “ Report No. 51,” a monthly statement, and by suppressing altogether another report, known as “No. 76,” con taining the cigar and stamp account. It was the suppression of this last report which led to his detection. The Commis sioner of Internal Revenue, Mr. Delano, suspecting something wrong, sent for Col lector McHarg, aud the result was the dis covery of Phillips’ alleged dishonest trans actions. It Is thought the amout of his frauds will exceed $30,000. A short time before his flight lie drew $1,250 from a bank at the corner of the Bowery aud Broome street. He was appointed as a revenue officer about four years ago, and was mar ried daring last Summer. A young wife, very near confinement, is loft to suffer by his desertion. It is not known whether any attempt will be made to apprehend the fugitive oft his arrival tn Europe. Swindling Revenue Officers.— About these days a large part of our law and police reports Is devoted to the misdeeds of blackmailing, thieving, and absconding revenue officers. The per centage of rascals among them is frightful. There seems to be no class of public officials In lyhlch so many irresponsible vagabonds have found berths. They fill all positions from the humblest to almost the highest. There Is a widespread impression that the greater part of the blackmailing and swindling perpetrated by these petty tyrants will never come to light They are expert In' covering their tracks, and the citizens who have been their victims or accomplices have the strongest mottves for never ap pearing against them. The many cases l that are accidentally brought to public notice are probably but a few compared to to the vast mass of others buried in the deepest recesses of human breasts. In perusing these reports, mm cannot help smiling as he thinks of the airs of virtuous superiority that these men put on in deal ing, with the unfortunate tax-payer. He ts catechised, cross-exaiftlhted, bullied, and treated as if he was a swindler. The atti tude of, the revenue officer toward,him is JfofUGf.some upright, implacable, but stern and harsh judge, towards some habit ft al and notorious criminal; whereas, the chances are ten to-sne*Un>t the only rascal* desigh to defraud the Treasury. After all* these ertp&snrt* of revenue swindling by revenue officers, a little more modesty: would be highly becoming ip thplr deport menttovyarifethe. citizens whom they are legally iuithorized to wbrfy and annoy.’ The income tax and other burdens fire bad enough,; and only endured- because they are imposed by the jaws under which we live; but it is too much for human patience to put u(> with the offensive impertinence and bullying of some of the men who ace ap pointed to execute them, and we think that many a tax-paycr will indulge in a con solatory chuckle as he reads how one by one the fellows that have been Insulting and tormenting him are brought up with a round torn before the courts and have their crimes exfjosed, or are obliged to make swift remo’vals to foreign parts to avoid arrest. —Journal of Commerce. 1 No. lncome Tax Law.— The fact that the income tax is now being collected for 1869 has led to a misapprehension among the public generally on the subject. In stead of sending petitions to Congress for Its repeal, the form given to popular ex pression on the subject should be respect ful protests against the re-enactment of the law, either at the present or a reduced rate, as it Is a fact that the Income tax law stood repealed on the 31st of January, 1869, by limitation. After its assessment for 1869 is paid, no other Income tax can be collected or assessed without the enact ment of an entirely new law. A bill passed the House under the previous gag rale some days ago, providing for the assess ment and collection of an income tax for one year only (1870), but it met with disas trous defeat in the Senate, There is rea son to hope, therefore, that Congress will not put each a needless bnrden upon the people again in face of the unanimous pro test 'of the entire press of thy country. The occasion that called for it has entirely passed away. Therefore, let us have no more income tax laws. —Baltimore Sun. A Life and Death Bet in Arkansas —On Saturday, February 19, a bloody af fray occurred in Hamburg, Ashley county, Arkansas, between a Mr. Herron, son of a flanter in the neighborhood, and a Mr. ohnson, a school-teacher from Texas.— The parties were on friendly terms, and on the day In question had been drinking freely together, when Johnson remarked, lu a Jocular manner, “ I’ll bet you a thousand dollars you cannot kill me at the first shot.” “I do not wish to kill you,” Her ron replied, drawing Ills revolver, “hut I'll take the bet.” Johnson also began to draw ids pistol, hut before he could get It out Herron fired, the ball striking John son’s forehead lust above the left eye.— Herron then mounted his horse and rode off. Just below the town he met two ne gro men and a negro woman, at wltom lie fired, killing the men and severely wound ing the woman. Herron has been arrest ed, and is now tn jail, awaiting trial. At last accounts Johnson was not dead, but It was thought b* could not live. IIOMNSTRAIM FOR PwJtgUHHg,—A bill I* 1 lending before the Hriiits Committee os 'tlblie Lands providing that the pit bib { Ismls In the South *ball b<> divid'd Into | homesteads of forty acres each, snd given to Ihe frets I wen, Th" MM provides for re storing the obi land districts ot rin «owlb , end i •iwhllshliig such Miter met him tys* Is mcissvry to fulfill the purport. | Stonewall Jackson in Rome*--Interest* '’><l • f ' tag tnoMent. 11":: j v Mis* Sallle A. Brock, of Virginia, who is now on a visit to Rftme, is furnishing a series of interesting letters from the Eter nal City to the New York Metropolitan Record. From her last letter, dated Feb. 15th, we make the following interesting extract, which will be read with pleasure by every admirer of that great and good man, Stonewall Jackson. After describing her visit to the church ot St. Maria di Ava Coeli, Miss Brock writes as follows: From the church I continued my walk towards the palace of Caesar, and as I stood, attempting to read an inscription on the arch of Septimus Severns, an incident occurred which I think well worth relat ing—at least that sent me onward with a feeling of pride in my heart which must have been akin to that which many a Ro man woman has experienced at mention of certain names that gave a brighter glory to Rome. Wishing some Information, I ventured a question to a friendly priest who passed me. At that moment a French soldier, In the uniform of the Pontifical Zouaves, approached, and politely lifted his hat. When the priest had given me an answer, he said: “Are you not an American lady ?” “I am,” I replied. “Are you not from the States of the South ?” I proudly confessed ray nativity In Vir ginia, and a gratified smile lighted up his sunburnt visage. “ I thought so! I thought so !’’ lie ex claimed. “ I cannot mistake the accent. I was a soldier tn the Confederate army i I fought for the South under Stonewall Jackson." You may rest assured 1 was not slow In extending to him my hand, and expressing gratitude in all the language I could at the moment command. The priest stood by in astonishment, not understanding the remarkable demonstra tion. “ A great man!—a great man Stonewall Jackson was!” continued the soldier, while a shade of the deepest sadness settled over his countenance, and he touched his hat and passed on. As I looked forward to the Arch of Sep timus Severus, and further on to that of Titus, and still further on to that of Con stantine, I could not help thinking that in generations yet to come one might stand, as 1 did then, and ponder over an inscrip tion engraven upon some monument some where on the soli of my own dear mother State recording the name and deeds of Stonewall Jackson—not less great, and far more good, than those which won for Rome’s mighty men crowns and arches, and Immortality for all future ages. This episode of the morning almost an- il tted me for research. I found myself, as I walked on, seeing and yet scarcely seeing. In Imagination I was back again In the capital of the Southern Confederacy, and from every lip 1 listened to the praises of him whose praises so gladly leaped from the heart of the French soldier, and anon I beheld a long military and civic proces sion, a noble hearse with nodding plumes; I hear# the dull, dead notes of the muffled drum and the low wall of martial music as It pierced the agonizing air, and I saw the star which had given us promise of a na tion begin to fade, and darker and darker grew, until it went out, and it was night with us—mtdnlgbt to every hope that had enkindled the flames on, the crimson, drip ping altar of patriotism. Naturalize. —lt may not be generally known-to those of foreign birth, who have not become naturalized) that a bill Is non pending in congress, imn everj probaGHHj Os soon becoming a Irw, that will render a further residence of five years in tMs country absolutely necessary. Foreigners, therefore, should naturalize at once, while the matter rests with the State Courts.— For all necessary papers apply to the clerks of the courts of the county "in which yon reside. The naturalization obstruction bill ip being pushed through Congress with all possible speed, and as soon as it becomes a Fa# etery foreigner noit then a citizen Wfll be placed by its provisions In the position of one who has Just immigrated to the country. He may have resided hcrea score of years, or he may have declared his In tentions, but the law of "Congress will re quire him to renew his declarations In a United States court, and live here five years longer before he can become a citizen. f Montgomery Advertiser. Grant's Adventure.— President Grant accompanied by his son, while walking down Pennsylvania avenue Thursterday, was followed by a suspicious-looking man, named Terrence Cassidy, who at divers times attempted to draw tbs President Into conversation. As this was refused, he threatened President Grant with assassina tion, and showered abuse upon him. The President at first did not heed him, but as the man kept on following him he called fin officer,’ requesting him to take Cassidy into custody, as he was evidently crazy.— The officer arrested him. and the man was taken to the Central Guard-house. Ter rence Cassidy was to-day pronounced In sane by the police surgeons and sent to the Government Insane Asylum. The man had repeatedly been refused admittance to the Executive Mansion on account of his sin gular conduct.—2F. Y. Herald. Production and Consumption of Cof fee.—Brazil is the greatest producer of coffee, furnishing the article known in the market as the Rio coffee to the amount of 400,000,000 pounds yearly, or more than one-half of what codec Is supplied by the whole world, viz: 718,000,000. Java gives 140,000,000; Ceylon 40,000,000; St. Domin go, 40,000,000; Cuba and Porto Rico, 25,000,000; Venezuela, commonly known as Caraccas coffee, 25,000,000; Sumatra, 25,000,000; all others, including Mocha, 18,000,000. The people of the Unfted States are the greatest consumers, to the extent of nearly one-third of the world's production, and nearly seven times as much as the inhabitants of Great Britain. The Germans come next as coffee drinkers. A nice little game bos been stopped at the New York Custom House. Some of the men have been accustomed to wear “stom ach canteens,” fitting about the body under the coat, Into which they would ayphon off liquor from casks unloading, carry it away, empty It safely and return. Union Ban*.—At the annual election held at the Banking Ilonse Wednesday, 9th Instant, the following named rontte nieu were elected Directors of the Union Bank of South Carolina: W. B. Smith. O. N. Hubert. Jw ob Barrett, Williams Mid dleton, L. I), Mowery, Thsddeus Street, A. 11. Jones, G. E. Gibbon, F. li. Wlckenberg, G. W. Witte, A. O, Andrews, W. Parker Itaveiiel, Fred Tupper At It subsequent meeting of the Board, Mr. W. B Smith w»* unanimously re-elect «>i I'resldwnt,- UhitrUiUiH Courier. t wmmmm Tits fipirta Journal r«|F»rt« knowledge of four < •««« of insatitgiUs In that eretlou •••two proving fatal within forty-sight home after tun firet symptom* it hue i„dt ftwibittl nbhfiy to tbs negro piqrat#-
