Newspaper Page Text
I ESTABLISHED 1826.
MACAON, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1886.-TWELVE PAGES.
VOL. LX, NO. 6.
[US FROM WASHINGTON
It'EEDINGS OF THE TWO HOUSES
OF CONGRESS.
Ky Debate In the Senate t rer the FUh-
l|e« (Jueatlon—Speech of Mr. Euitli
it SHrer—The Commerc Dill
—Dull Day In the Uoum.
hhinoton, January 18.—Mr. Sherman
led the chair of the Senate to-day.
ong the petitions presented and ap-
•istely referred was one by Mr. Coke
the merchants of El Esso,. Texas,
ining of smuggling on the Mexican
_ and urging Congress to take meas-
«-io put a stop to it.
Am .in: the reports submitted from com-
ftfe' g, was one by Mr. Cullom, from the
yKiittee appointed to investigate the sub-
4fof the regulation of freight and passen-
2Kt ( . s on railroad and water routes,
’th the report, Mr. Cullom submitted a
ffli gnlatiog inter-state commerce, which
I®ct(l might l»e referred back to the com-
uitte. and that tho committee be continued.
’heSrefiuest was grunted and a resolution
nisse-1 ordering printed 5,000 copies of the
S:|>minittee report and the testimony taken
• Xfnreit. .... ,
Mr. Harrison offered a »esolution to ad-
Jiit Hon. G. C. Moody, of Dakota, to the
loor of the Senate during this session.
Mr. Cockrell objected, and the resolution
re in over. 4 . ,
Mr Voorhees presented a memorial trom
he Btizcns of Iflontaua praying that that
Territory may be admitted as a Htato into
,he Huion, and also introduced.!! bill pro
IS®;; for such admission.
Mr Hsrrison pave notice that on Fnday
c-sMonld call the Dakota bill.
Ml. Eustis add reseed tho Senate upon the
lilrft question. “tVe were told in 1878,” he
'“••that we could not become a bimeti-
iation without au srrangement with
nations establishing tho relution of
direr to cold, and that tho
tilrsr to gold, ond that the silver coinage
egisl ition then proposed would flood this
jouiiry with silver; thnt gold would bo ex
port! I in large quantities, and that our
lectiritii s would consequently depreciate,
rhef gold men then predicted universal
hs as sure to come. Since
ime actual experience had taken place
"dilution. The law of 1878 had been
years in operation, and none of the
ctions had been realized. Silver and
were still full legal tenders. The
__ ilcnt had told tis that there was not
eno«;;h silver now in circulation to cause
lilnyliDrusincss, and that the whole amount
now coined might after a time be absorbed
^^eople without spprehonsion, but that
is 'the ceaseless stream that threatened
overflow.’ We were to under-
>1, then, that the silver dollar
n honcat dollar when absorbed by
people, but a dishonest one when
m1 to the bondholders. Were we to
a double standafd| of morality?—one
people and the-other for the bond-
i? Would any department of the
rnment arrogate to itself the arbitrary
er of establishing an unjust discrimina-
ugainst tho people and an indefensible
riiisin to the bondholders? If so, how
d the people accept that department aa
guardian of their interests? We had
informed that any unusual expor-
ation of gold had occurred, nor that gold
null silver had parted company. Wo
I new bonds had not deprecated, they
worth more to-day than in 1878.
1878 we had coined $382,000,000 of
and $215,000,000 of silver. Our flnan-
legislation had received the approval of
country, and wo should have the cour-
to maintain our position and to surren-
only to forco of argument. It would
in appalling admission to make to the
(try, if we were to create a
.nn'.il policy every few years,
then destroy it, merely because persons
iu authority had chosen to differ with
"It had never been proposed by the
1 States,” Mr, Eustis continued, “to
rol the vnlue of silver bullion in Lon-
; neither was it in onr power to con-
it there. Rut our legal tender coin
^Hiid not bavo its value varied by the
price of silver bullion in other coun-
ras. It was sufficient for us to
knotv the present silver dollar contained
the same number of grains of silver that
it hnd always coutainod, from 1722 to the
prw nt time. It had proved satisfactory
to the American people, and nothing more
I be said in its favor. Mr. Enatis re
ed at some length the history of our
ago, and also the financial history of
luce, whose example, he said, we could
afford to follow. Franco had a total
r coinage in circulation, includ-
French, Belgian nnd Italian silver,
HO,1100,000, without including snbsidi*
coin. If thnt amount could lie absorb-
ithout uneasiness or disturbance iu
nee, let our executive officers explain to
why the name process of absorption could
safely occur in this country. After
ty years of experience, France is deter-
ed to maintain her policy. At the
>cnt rate of coinage in tho United States
mild hike us fifteen years to make onr
coinage equal in volume to
of the French coinage, and it
iild tako us fifteen years
ach the existing volnme of five franc
os now in circulation in France. Our
illation, resources and enterprise being
iter than that of any European country,
y could we not, with perfect safety, ap-
xiinntc the financial condition of France?
tre was but one reason; that reason was
>t in Franco all departments of the gov-
iment wero in hearty sympathy with the
fin 1 policy of the country and ac-
tit ly co-opented with the people to
“tain it, because in France “public office
^Inblic trust,' while it would seem that
in i iis country that patriotic maxim pre-
yw only to a limited extent. The result
<4<he congressional policy of coinage bad
er been fully tested according to its
e import and spirit, because our Exec-
e Department had in its practice mani-
■1 on unfriendliness to that policy and by
lity and discrimination bail retained it.
...t department had not discriminated
vor of the bond-holders as against the
pie it represents, ss to finance, it would
e been entitled to more respect.” In
icluaion Mr. Eustis said: "If the disloyal
ictice of the executive department in de-
war against silver coin, which is a
government, in belittling its useful
ly,. in depreciating its existence, and in
|itingotliara to believe it is the deform-
1offspring of legislative imbecility and
Vt ia to continue, then some of the
Is that have been predicted may coma to
«; but those evils will not be attribute-
1 to any vice in onr financial system but i
“he practice and assertions of theexecn-
c department in dishonoring and diacred*
i E coin which it U their dity to sustain
with all the influence, aid nnd power of
their official authority.”
Mr. Ingalls offered a resolution directing
the Secretary of the Treasury to infotm the
Senate what proportion of the ten millions
of United States bonds called for payment
February 1, 1888, arc held by National
Banks ns a basis for circulation and bow
much by each bank.
Mr. Edmunds inquired whether Mr. In
galls thought the Senate had any right to
coll on the Secretary of the Treasury for
nny information. “I have seen it ques
tioned in the newspapers,” Mr. Edmunds
added.
Mr. Ingalls supposed Mr. Edmunds wns
liardiy serious in asking such a question up
on i'ne resolution offered.
Mr. Edmunds remarked that he was per
fectly serious.
Mr. Ingalls said he understood thnt a
large portion of the bonds to be called in
February were held by national banks, and
that instead of nny money being paid out
of the treasury there was to be a process of
book-keeping by which a large amount of
circulation was to be retired and the cur
rency to that extent contracted. Ho
thought it concern.,-<1 the country to know
if such was the fact. Mr. Ingalls said he
did not know whether tho Senato bad my
right to call on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for any information in his possession,
bnt at least the Senate should know wheth
er it was entitled to ask for information.
Mr. Cockrell asked whether the law did
not require the Secretary of the Treasury
to call in outatandmg bonds in a certain
order, and whether the Secretary of the
Treasury could adopt any different order.
Mr. Ingalls said his resolution involved
no implication against the Secretary of the
Treasury.
Mr. Cockrell repeated bis queation.
Mr. Ingalls said there was no doubt that
Mr. Cockrell's statement was true. He
(Ingalls) merely wished to know what
proportion of money now in the Treasury
was to be paid out for bonds called for
February 1.
Mr. Edmunds thought the resolution a
proper one. In any event, the point mode
by him with what had been regarded, per
haps, os a sense of humor, was made in or
der that the SeDnte might be sensible of the
foot that the public press had largely given
out the idea that Congress had no right
know anything that was being done in any
of the executive departments. He merely
wanted the Senate to vote with its eyes
thus opened on tho snBject.
Mr. Morrill thought the resolution cf suf
ficient importance to have it go over until
to-morrow. It went over accordingly.
Mr. Tyre offered a resolution relating to
fisheries, the preamble to which recites
that:
Whesexk. The President had recommended Con*
are., hi provide for a commlaelon to aetUa and ad-
Juat the fisheries question; and whereas. the flab*
erica question had been settled for tan rears past,
uu««r the treaty of WtthifiEten *t» loss of ft&fioo.-
000 tn money, and the remission of IS,000;000 of
duties In that period; and whereas, that treaty bad
resulted In the Increase of sou vessels and 1,000
seamen to tbs Canadian fishing lleata with s Cor
responding decrease In the flehlng fleets of the
United Staten, therefore, he it Resolved. That In the
opinion of the Henate a commission clothed with
the powers referred to ought not to be provided for
by Congress.
Mr. Eilmnnda was glad that the resolu
tion was introduced, but thought a word
necessary in regard to the action the
President had with Her Majesty's govern
ment, after the time had expired when,
according to the provision of law, the
whole fishery matter and customs matter
connected with it had absolutely termi
nated. It seemed to be slated, he said, in
the report juat laid on the desks of the
Senators that the President, without any
advice or consent of tho Senate, had en
tered into arTUDgementa with Her Majesty's
government by which citizens of tbs United
States were accorded certain rights in fish
ing in British waters, which by the existing
treaties and Ibwb of nations they would
not otherwise have, and that British sub
jects were accorded reciprocal rights
in tho United States. If that was
what was meant liy the statements of the
report (nnd he spoke of it with reserve be-
cuuso lie had only just seen the report), it
certainly presented a very grave ques
tion as to the exertions of the executive
power in the matter’ of entering into ar
rangements with foreign powers uffecting
the rights of citizens in the United States
iu face of the constitutional provision that
gives the President power to make treaties
“by and with the advice and consent of the
the Senate.'! It may be, be added, that the
arrangement referred to waa not a treaty,
bnt in respect to the end to be obtained by
it, it was what a treaty would be and what
bad never been aupposed could be done
without a treaty.
Mr. Morgan inquired whether any right
had been given British fishermen by the ar
rangement referred to that they would not
have had without it.
Mr. Edmunds replied that if the state
ments of correspondents meant what they
seemed to mean (and he had re td some of
them), the powers granted could only be
granted, os he understood the constitution,
by a treaty mode by the President in s con
stitutional way. He only called attention
to the matter, and did that in the heat pos
sible spirit, as he desired'to apeak of the
President with every respect.
Mr. Morgan mid that under the resolu
tion that hud passed Congress instructing
the President to terminate the fishery
treaty, we happened to fix a time in the
ddle of the fishing season, and after peo
ple had gone to grett) expense in prepara
tion for the work of fishing. It would
have been a great injury, he said, to stop
the work of the fleets iu the middle of their
cruises, and perhaps the 1 resident in con
ference with the British authorities had
strained a point in order to accommodate
the interests and provide for the welfare of
that large class of people interested.
Mr. lloor thought he represented the con
stituency most largely interested in the
fishing question, and, h far as he under
stood, onr fishermen had not discovered
that the arrangement referred to had been
made in their interests. The fishermen of
the United States do' not agree with the
Senator from Alabama.
Mr. Dawes said that a year's notice in
advance hod been given to everybody that
the privileges alluded t > would terminate
at a given time. Therefore “suddenness” of
emergency has not rendered the arrange
ment necessary.
Mr. Frye called attention to the fact that
the whole arrangement waaclaimed to have
been made in the interest of American
fishermen, yet no American fisherman hod
asked or proposed such an arrangement.
That hod been left for Mr. West, the Brit
ish minister to do. For ten year* Great
Britain bod been protecting the interests
of American fishermen. The people of
New England, Mr. Fr/e continued, desired
no further commission to settle the fisheries
question. The United States had gained
nothing by the work of the former commis
sion, though Canada had gained immensely
by it. The people of tho United States
asked nothing of Great Britain. Mr. Frye
characterized the "arrangement” referred
to oh a most marvelous piece of business in
the way of diplomacy that onr history
could show. Our fishermen, he said, do
not ask the British minister to interfere to
protect them, but they do ask
that the United States shall be self-assert
ive, and that ia all thnt they ask. Onr
fiidiermen ask that this great republic of
fifty-six millions of people sbull protect
her fishermen in their rights. They de-
mnnd that instaad of yielding to Great
Britain, as lias been done every time, we
shall atand by onr rights. The fishermen,
he said, knew as well as he knew that
Great Britain dare not undertake to defend
tbe course of the Canadians in taking
eighty United States vessels into
colonial ports and trying and condemning
them on the evidence of colonial witnesses
who stood on shore and looked ont to sen
nnd guessed that tbe vessels were within
thu three-mile limit Let the United States
bo what they were able to be, and not be
frightened to death by the ghosts of dead
treaties. Our executive officers were
trembling at the ghost of the Clqyton-Bul-
wer treaty which Great Britain had
regarded dead for a quarter i f a century.
Let us assert onr rights, said Mr. Frye, and
there will be no war, hut our people on tho
Canadian coast will have tlieir rights.
Never was a people in the wide world no
under a mortgage to keep peaco with.,the
United States as Great Britain is to day.
Mr. Morgan expressed astonishment
at tbe vigor ana zeal with which
the question was argued. The ac
tion of the government, ho said,-
has not been laid before tbe Senate, except
in an informal way.' No just criticism ot
the President or the Secretary of
ilaced before
ienU hying
increase of
crcafter ap-
arnuigement .spoken
nsurpation of power on tbe'part of the ex
ecutive department and that the American
fisheries were not to bo benefited by it.
He thought tbe debate hnd bronght the
matter of private greed into the Senate
and placed the United States in an undigni
fied position before the world. Bnt it did
not follow, he said, that because commis
sions appointed under former administra
tions bad mode a bad treaty that the com
missioners appointed under the present
administration would make a bad one. He
did not think it necessary for ns, when we
wnntod to speak of Great Britain about any
thing, to man our ships and load our gnna.
There was much in war, he said, thnt was
not to be approved, os this country
was prepared to testify. He was
for the sway of reason,
for tbe influence of justice and truth in
f inference to war or nnything that looked
iko war. The Benae of self-respect, on the
port of the United States government, did
not require it to buckle on its armor when
ever it went oat to meet Great Eriluiu or
any other government
After further debate, the resolntion went
over, Conger giving notice that he would
be heard on it to-morrow.
Tho judicial salary hill wns
the Henate, the reading atnai
thnt of Mr. Morgan limitini
salary to cuses of 1 (judges
pointed.” Tito amendment was rojocted.
Mr. Call offered an amendment providing
for the removal of judges for drunkenness.
Mr. Edmnnda thought drnnkennssa on
the bench a high misdemeanor which
wonid enmo under a provision of the law,
and that Mr. Call's amendmont was nanec-
esaary. The amendment was rejected. The
hill cams to a vote and was passed. It
gives all United States district court judges
$5,080 n year nnd prohibits them from ap
pointing their relatives to office in , their
conns.
The bill providing for the Presidential
conrt was then placed before tbe Senate.
At 4:45 p. m. the Senate went into ex
ecutive aesaiou; at 5812 the door* were re
opened and tho Senate adjourned.
Yesterday In the House.
WlsnisoTox, January 18.—In the absence
of the Speaker, the House was called to or
der by the clerk, und a note from Mr. Car-
liale was rend, designating Mr. Springer, of
Illinois, ns Speaker pro tern, for tlxe day.
A resolntion was adopted granting to the
committee on elections authority to have
printed in the papers in the varioi
tested election cases nnd to sit during the'
sessions of the House.
Under the call of States, a nnmber of
bills and resolutions were introduced and
referred.
By Norwood, of Georgia, for the erection
of public bnihlings st Brunswick and Sa
vannah.
By Mr. Candler, of Georgia, repealing
statutes which impose taxes on note* of
Bute banks. State banking association* and
municipal corporations.
By Mr. Murphy, of Iowa, for tlie relief of
William McGsrrahan, of California, tbe
New Iberia mine claimant.
By Mr. Weaver, of Louisiana, resolntion
calling on tbe Secretary of the Treasury for
information os to the total amount applied
to the sinking fund between Jnoe 30, 1884,
and June 30. 1885, and under what date
and in wbnt amount the samo was applied.
By Mr. Strable, of Iowa (by reqntst), to
provide for a uniform ballot box.
By Mr. Hepburn, of lows, to create a
board of commissioners of inter-Stale com
merce.
By Mr. Wolford, of Kentucky, granting a
pension to kin. Moeklelial, tbe only sur
viving granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson.
By Mr. Willis, of Kentucky, granting
pensions to the survivors of tiro Mexican
and Indian wars, and by Ur. Wadsworth,
of Kentucky, tbe following, preamble and
resolntion;
Wmaxis. By the fourteenth section of tho set of
Cufifircaa of February 11, lata, (now section 351 re*
vised statutes), the sold dollar of the United States of
25 HdO Krai a* standard fineness Is muds tbs wait of
value, and wbaraea the President on bis arceeeioo
to office found each and all of full legal tender,
Id Oliver and paper dollars of U.e United States,
a nal In vml os to 35 Sdo grains of standard gold In
transactions within the United States, therefore,
Resolved, That tt becomes the duty of tbs Presi
dent to use all lawful nt-ina In bia power to main
tain thla equality cm the raluo of aocli dollars, and
that. In tho optnlon of this bones he baa hitherto
feltbfnUy and proparly endeavored to discharge
that duty.f
The Speaker pro fern thought that the
resolntion prbperly belonged to the com
mittee on coinage, weights and mens area.
Wsrls worth remarked that it did not refer at
ail to coinage, bnt involved the question as
to whether ornot the President bod violated
the law. He therefore moved that it be re
ferred to the committee on judiciary.
Mr. Weaver, of Iowa, moved it* reference
to the committee on coinage, weights uui
measure*. Agreed to by ye** 12U to u*ys
By Mr. Col*, of Maryland, constituting
ght hoot* * day’s work for g
borent. Also prohibiting emp!
convict labor.
By Ur. Lovering, of Massachusetts,
prohibit by constitutional amendment tho
contracting of eonvict labor.
By Mr. Hiscock, of New York, to repeal
all InUroul revenue taxes on domestic
tobacco.
By Mr. Henderaon, of North Carolina, to
prescribe the tenure of office for persons
employed in the civil survioe and for the
apportionment of appointments to public
servio# among the Congressional districts or.
a bssi* of population.
By Mr Pettibone, of Tennessee, to pro
mote peace among tli* nations by theestab-
lishmei-i of an international tribunal
some fixed principle of arbitration.
Thera wero five hundred and ninety bills
introduced coder the cull.
An or.lor was made designating the 28th
inst. oh the day for the delivery of eulogies
upon the late Reuben Ellwood, ’ of Illinois,
and the Honse then adjourned.
Kyanpsia of tlm Commerce Dill
WasmNoTox, January 18. The following
is a brief synopsis of the bill to regulate
commerce, reported from the Senate select
committee upon inter-State railroad trans
portation to-day by Senator Cullum: After
sn l ift log the Blasses of catriera or rather
kiiids ot traffic to which the regulations pre-
scribod are to apply, and declaring thnt oil
changes made by aueb carriers shall be
reuKonablo, the preliminary sections aim to
prohibit every vnrioty of nnjast discrimina
tion, to prescribe Adequate penalties there
for, nnd tovrovide for enforcement thereof
in the courts of the United States.
These flections include the requirement
that all carriers stall afford reasonable fa
cilities for the interchange of traffic with
connecting lines and a prohibition of greater
charge* for shorter than for longer distanoe,
except When it can be affirmatively estab
lished by the carrion that
such chorgo does not constitute
A DISGUSTED COLONY.
State
^t4&tiom Anotherseetion
hear that the arrangement JpokX of was ^Tpffimblonaot t^W^
tlieir Urifffl anu elassilleationH with tho
inter-Steto commerce commiasion, and pro
vides that they ahall be posted or otherwise
published, bnt leaves to be termined by tho
commiiwion the manner of publication and
tho places at and between which rateu
ahall be published. Provision ia made for
inforcing the requirementH of tlio commis
sion in these respects through the courts,and
for the maintenance of ratee that may be
thus published. Provision is also made for
the appointment by the Prenident of three
commissioners, to be confirmed by tho
Senate, nnd several sections are devoted to
prescribing tho duties of tbe commissioners
and the manner in which complaints arc to
bo investigated and prosecutions institnted
under its direction when found necessary.
Under these sections it provides to give
the commissioners full power to obtain nil
information necessary to the performance of
its duties; to constitute it a board of arbi
tration for adjudication of such difference
between shipper and carriers as can be am
icably settled through its intervention; to
make ftrfindings of 'fact prima fade evi-
deuce in all legal proceedings, and to pro
vide for the prompt enforcement of its re
commendations through the courts, if re
sort to them should become necessary. The
report of the commission accompanying
the bill forms a printed volume of 216
^Ttd'escrihes the varion* methods pro-
nosed for railroad rcgnlation nnd di als at
length with tho courao of railroad legisla
tion in England and tho workings of the
English Commissioners. It summarizes
tho provisions of tho statutes of several
States of the union relating to railroad reg
ulation and seta forth at considerable
length tbe result of the workings of State
Commissioners. Returns of leading lines are
tabulated to show the division of business
among them, nnd tho comparative volume
of State nnd inter-State traffic. Thesnbjcct
of competition between waterways and rail
roads is discussed briefly nnd tho conclu
sion is reached that waterways arc most ef
fective regulators of railway charges, and
tlmt the emancipation of water is n national
necef sity. Tbe improvement of the Missis
sippi anil its tributaries is briefly nllmled
to and warmly indorsed. Of the Hennepin
canal, the commission says that the com
merce of tho nation would derive fresh nnd
continued advantages trom the construction
of this canal Cheap transportation between
Chicago and tho seaboards, report says, is
assured by a line of free water communica
tion open through tho great lakes, the Erie
canal and tiro Hudson. No method has
been suggested by which tho controlling in
fluence of that water competition would
extend over so wido a population nnd so
productive a territory at so moderate an
expense as by constructing this short canal
of 74 miles, which would give the people
of the Upper Mississippi States a direct
water transit connection with all the States
of tho Atlantic seaboard, and with Enropc.
Tho necessity of this improvement is mode
rnoro urgent by the high and oppressive
rates of freight prevailing between the
grain-producing States of tho northwest
and Chicugo, os compared will the charges
made between that point and tho Atlantic
coast by the construction of this canal, nnd
the grain-producing States would ho given
that cheap transit which has now become
necessary to enable them to successfully
place their surplus products in foreign
markets.
Tho salary of each commissioner is fixed
at $7,51)0 per annum, nnd tho commission
ers first appointed are to continue in office
for the term of two, three, four, five and
six years respectively, beginning on tbe
first day of July next, not more than three
of whom shall bo appointed from the same
political party,
Dills Introduced In th. Senate,
Waohixotox, Jantiaty 18.—Bills were in
troduced in tho Senate to-day: By Mr.
Hampton, authorizing the payment of any
money found due the Hiate-s of New York,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, South
Caroline nnd the city of Baltimore for
expenditures mode for military pur
poses in the war of 1812. By Mr.
Cutler, authorizing the Secretary of
the treasury to deliver to the proper owners
any silverware, jowelery, portraits or other
nrticles in the Treasury, deposited in Jane,
18tt», in tho Treasury us property captured
liy the United States during the into war.
It further provides that this act shall be
advertised for one year, and that all arti
cles remaining in the Treasury after two
jears shall bo sold at public auction.
THE SCOTCH SETTLERS AT SARA
SOTA BAY IN FLORIDA.
The Promises Held Out br a Land. Com
pany Turn Ont to lio Alluring but
Dose—A Letter From One of
tile Wronged Colonists.
Letter In New York Tribune.
Tho emigration of Scotch settiera to Flor
ida, which excited so much attention a few
weeks since, was originated in Scotland by
J. 8. Talt, ot Edinburgh. Six or eight
montbB ago Mr. Tolt wrote lettera to several
Scottish papers, in some of which he had a
controversy, and published n pamphlet en
titled, “Emigration byColony of the Middle
l” Florida was the State selected
orange growing was the
to be
Hurled Alive.
Woonnocg, Ont., January 18.—Recently
a girl named Cullens died, ns ft was sup-
rlwo
re
place. when the
horrible discovery waa made that the girl
had been buried alive. Her shroud had
been torn into shreds; her knee* were
drawn np to her chin; one of her arms was
twisted trader bar head, and her features
bora evidence of dreadful torture.
Classes.
from the first, ando^^P^^^^^H
industry specially to lie conducted. MrH
Ta'.t had made it a special point, in hi*
I pamphlet, that for this industry a knowl
edge of agriculture was unnecessary, and if
auch knowledge had been acquired if wunldi
have to be unlearned. He also represented
that the region in which bo proposed to
I locate the colony, was admirably adapted
to track farming, and hod excellent
and convenient markets; that the colonists,
while their orange trees wove coming to
the bearing age, which. with budded trees
would occnpy four or fiyo years, could
more than supper? themselves and families
by track farming. Mr. Talt also distrib
uted freely copies of the Florida nnmber of
Descriptive America, a magazine published
I in New York in January, 1885, in which
[ Sarasota Bay, the place for his proposed
colony, was mapped and highly spoken of
as a paradise for sportsmen: carefully con-
Icoaling tbe fact, whioh afterward trans-
[pired, bet too late for the first oolonista,
that the map and description was only an
advertisement inserted nnd paid for by a
l’hilodelphia company who were interested
in these lands, nnd thnt the text of the mag
azine said nothing about Sarasota Bay, the
lands of whioh were not then on the mar
ket.
By these repreeentations and the posi
tive assurance that he (Mr. Talt) had no
connection with any land company or emi
gration movement, and that his only mo
tive was one of the purest philanthropy and
s desire to help those who nad a moderate
property from losing ail in the depressed
[condition of trade in Scotland, he anceeed-
nttmbcr
Leeds
^loolony. These per
sons, who wore intelligent and in comfort
able circumstances, put the most implicit
faith in Mr. Tait's statements and allowed
themselves to be guidod absolutely by him.
By bis advice they bought a tract of 8,000
acres of land on Sarasota Bay, which
was represented aa a compact pieco
four and a half miles in length ami
varying in width. To this tract
the name of Ormiston was given. For this
land they wero chargod £i 10s.— $12.50 per
acre. The company ooTenanted, in consid
eration of other payments to lie mode by
them, to have them carefully cored for on
th- ir tom. to pnraida sbi w i uid iMglag
for them in New York, should they havo to
pssa the night there; to give them first-
class passage to Fernandino, nnd thence by
rail and steamer to Sarasota bay, and there
to have honaea erected for them and fur
nished for their accommodation on their ar
rival, and to have a large store and ware
house supplied with everything they conld
possibly need in the way of furnitare and
provisions, dress goods, etc., etc.—oil of
[which was to be famished thorn at
S Mrimo cost for six months af-
-r their arrival. They nlso prom-
ished that the Hon. Hugh Corley, a former
land commissioner, and represented as the
best judge of lands in Florida, wonid per
sonally select for each colonist forty seres
of land from this tract which should be of
the best quality ot orange and market-gar
den lands; and that suitable person* should
be provided to instruct them in the proper
cultivation of these lands. The colonist*
were told that they conld grow sufficient
vegetables and small fruits to support them
selves and families in from three to four
months; thnt they wonid be able to pay ex
penses at tbe end of tbe first year, and that
| they would have orange-grove* in fall bear-
in five yean from their arrival.
^K'he party, consisting of 160 persons,
men, women and children, some ffilO more
expecting soon to follow, went on board
the Fnrneasia in high glee, expecting to
find everything to be according to 3lr.
Toll's assurances on their arrival at the
promised land.
When they arrived in New York, instead
of being taken at once to the Mallory
steamer, they were driven ashore on the
Anchor Line's pier at nearly 5 o'clock on a
December evening in the midst of one of
the severest and most drenching storms ot
tbs season, to find their way as beet they
might to hotels or other shelter. This cost
the colonists £100. On board the Mallory
steamer they fend better, were landed at
Fernandina, and then e taken by rail to
Cedar Keys, where they wen detained for
Ifonr or five days, while Mr. Tail, who had
joined them at Fernandina, went on to
| Sarasota Bay to see that all was ready for
them. Several of the company wished to
nccompany him, bnt be seemed reluctant
to have them, saying that the Florida peo
ple were not prompt, and might not have
completed the wont they were to do. A few
volunteers insisted upon going, bnt mad*
no report, or if they did, it did not reach
Cedar Keys, and three or fonr days later
the w hole company went forward.
It was daring this delay that a few things
came to light which shook their confidence
in Mr. Tait He had d*cl*rud that he bad
no intereat in or any connection with any
land or emigration company ; that in this
whole matter he had been entirely disinter
ested and philanthropic and had no more
interest in these lends than they had. They
now learned that he and hia family were
large shareholders in some of these great
land companies, that he had bought the
50,000 acre* which the company now held
from another Und company and sold it to
them, and then bought the 6,000 acres
which had been sold to the coloniaU at a
price not exceeding $1 per acre, and had
■old to them at $12.60 por acre; and that
the deeds which came professedly from the
Florida Mortgage and Investment Com
pany ware receipted for a* from him. They
made the further startling discovery that he
had never visited Sarasota Bay himself
when he commended it to them so strongly
and that the whole thing had been simply a
land specnUtion.
Tbe colonists finally set sail from the lit
tle village of i ed.tr Koys for Sarasota Bay,
where they landed after some difficulty,
there being bat 5j feet of mm on the bar
which closes Sarasota Bay, though they bad
been assured there was nine. On their ar
rival at the fatare town of Ormuton, they
fonnd no village, not a honse or any signs
of the erections of uny. A warehouse and
storKu bouse for the company was build
ing. but had as yot no roof. There wero
scattered over a wide temtoiy three or four
miserable hovels, occupied by the natives,
where the decencies of life could not be ob
served, nnd into which delicately reared
women with tender children were packed
like herrings in n box. A few bad bronght
tents with them, and these were put in nso
at once. Home made a rode shelter with tho
loaves of the saw palmetto. The yonng men
were huddled together in the roofleat store
house. There was noappur nt attention of
building houses. Tho provisions for sup
plying them with food wero if possible still
worse: there wa* one stove which had pipes
extending to the roof of n hovel, nnd fre
quently set it on fire, bnt eooking was al
most impossible. There was flour in the
■tore and soda or boxing powder, bnt tho
raw and sodden dough could not bo baked,
and the children could not eat it, though
pinched with hanger. Onoe a butcher rnmo
along bringing a few pieces of the stringy,
the goat-like Florida now;
those were eagerly purchased, but konovor
came again. No men were there to teach
them how to work tho sail, tbe population
was very email, and every man who ha 1
any land there was anxious to sell end get
nway. The colonists had to hire such men
os they conld meet to help them to look for
their land. They had been assured that it
was all within a distance of four nnd n half
miles apart from each other, extending in
radii from the storehouse of seven
nnd n half miles each way. When
fonnd they were good for noth
ing. A considerable party walked from six
to ten hoars in search of vegetables, or of
any evidence of their having been grown,
and conld not find as many ns would keep
a Scotch family for a week. A Scotch gen
tleman who has now returned to Edinburgh
to expose the whole matter, had obtained
one of the plots of forty acres selected by
the Hon. Ilugh Corley as suitable for or-
ango culture. He baa his land examined
by an expert, and it was pronounced utterly
worthless.
In regard to track farming, the case was
still worse, for it in said tlmt tho
otange will grow, after a fashions
where nothing else can; but if there ia
an aero of the whole fi.CMO whicli
could be profitably cultivate d with
garden vegetables and small trait*, the
writer has yet to see it. And oven if there
were a few each ceres, the statement that
any families could snpport themselves by
their cultivation and sale is utterly false;
for there is no market and no facilities for
transportation. In northern Florida, with
its numerous railroads and navigabio rivers,
and a soil well adapted to these crops, the
negroes are doing well in sending their
track to Northern dtiee; bnt that is from
300 to 400 miles away from Sarr.soto Bay,
and there eon never be any competition.
Th« climate was not so delightful, even
in midwinter, as has been represented. At
New Y’esr it was 80° in tho shade at noon.
On January 8 or 7 it was 20 ° above zero,
and what orange trees there wero wero
blighted nnd killed. Abaut threi nr fonr
days after their arrival at Sarasota Bay Mr.
Tut sent a cablegram to Tho Olasgow Her
ald stating thnt the oolonista bod arrived
and wero much pleased with the country
and delighted with the arrangements which
bad been made for tbeir reception. Ho
signed this “Members of the Council," and
appended tbe names of each, although bnt
one hnd seen tho dispatch, and it ia not cer
Other
tain that he had.
members of the
colony heard of this, anil protested against
such it falsehood being sent home, bnt they
were sweetly told, “Oht it was n mistake;
another cablegram has keen sent striking
ont your names." That cablegram never
reached its destination.
Looking for sport, and remembering that
this bay had been called the “sportcHumu's
paradise,” some of tho best shots in tho
party sallied ont in soarcb of game. They
oonla fine no doer, no wild docks, and no
other game except a few qnnil. Thera may
bav* been some fish in the bay, and proba
bly turtle on the distant keys, bnt they
wen not equipped for these.
They found they hud been grossly over
charged in tbe price they bad pUd for the
land. Near Tampa, fifty miles away, in n
much better soil, with railways and steam
ers to transport them and their produce to
excellent market*, they conld tiny nil tho
Und they wanted and mueh of it with im
provements on it for $4.50 per acre. Bnt
Mr. TUt was not satisfied with this exorbi
tant price for hU land, bat bad oooptDad
each oolonist to pay $5 or $25 for what
were termed “general expenses,” though lio
has never yet made a statement of what
these “general expense*” were, though
often requested to do so.
Disheartened by this sUte of things the
colonUts have determined to nbundon
“Ormiston" as soon aa they can get away.
It is not easy to do this, for the avenues of
transportation are few and they are open at
long intervals. The coming railroad which
was to run to SarasoU Bay this spring U
K t in the far-off fntare. No survey ha*
en made for it, no company has projected
it, and the tri-weekly line of steamers, or
indeed any regular line, is equally in the
dim distance. Yet twenty heads of familleH
have already left the colony, and the reek
will do ao as soon ss they can get away.
Ur. TUt's course in tins matter has been,
an outrage and crime against humanity
and dessrvss severe punishment. He 1ms
not only by his misrepresentations token
from s Urge nnmber of families their bard
earned money, but he baa imperilled their
health, and if hU schemes had not been so
soon ducovered, ho would in all probabil
ity have caused their death. Tbe writer has
no excuse to offer for himself or friends for
allowing themselves to bo thus deceived by
thu man; but be hopes by the simple state
ment of these facU to deter others from be
ing deceived in the same manner, and be
would fain hope also that those eminent
merchanU and bankers who have suffer. .1
their names to be need to prop up enter
prises with whose reel character they were
unacquainted may tako warning, lest they
also bo held responiibla for deeds which
they could not sanction. Jon* Lstnux,
One of the Council.
New You, January 15, 1886.
Husband (to mother-in-Uw)— “I want to
ahow yon what Agnes has bought me for
Christmas. She has left the drawer un
locked. She knows bow fond I am of
Japanese work, and see! sho intended to
•nrprise me with a dozen unique dinner
plates.” Mother-in-Uw (sarcastically)—
“Dinner pUtaal Those an button* for her
new dress. I was with her when she
bought them.”
Little boy—Tha end of pa'a nose looks
like it was afire, doesn’t it ms: Mother
(with a sigh)-Yes. Litth boj Mh.it
caused it, ma? Mother It visn the work of
an incendiary.