Newspaper Page Text
(BaUahrc'js Jndcpfndrnt.
J. C. GAGGAIIEH, Editor.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1874.
CHARLES SUMNER IB DEAD
and the people would gliwllv forget liiin,
but the journal* of the couutry, (front and
small, still till their columns with the fact
that he did live and is now dead, without
chroniesling a solitary deed in his long
1 *n worthy of imitation or admiration
when his motives wore fully understood,
and his incentives to action fully manifes
ted to the public mind. Ilia over appreci
tion of self, and under estimate of others
earned him inte the extremes of fanati
cism and tho excesses of follies that ren
dered him and his measure* unpopular
with the masses and tho conservative cle
ment of tho couutry. His very nature
was at war with humanity, except upon
questions of policy and expediency, sug
gested and advocated by himself. He was
ready to disorganize his own party at any
time when his opinions were not courted
and respected above all others. His ex
cessive bitterness of feelings and denuncia
tions of Southern people were tho legiti
mate offspring of envy, hatred and polit
ical fanaticism; imd in no wise known
to, or connects! with, the true sentiment
of philanthropy. Tho true philanthropist
labors would have ceased with emancipa
tion of the slaves, and would not have
turned with vengeance, and a spirit of op
pression, upon the former owners. The
wise statesman would have striven to har
monise tho sections npon principles of
honor, and bury every discordant element
outof sight and ouiof memory. The true
statesman would not have attempted to
restore peace, tranquility nud prosperity to
our country through the bitter process of
humiliation and oppression.
If wo are, iu these statements, correct
n principle, Mr. Sumner's record is un
enviable; but wo arc willing to bury his
record now, os it lxis ended, and in
the death of the man forgot his deeds.
If wo could recall oue act of statesmanship
of his, prompted by humanity and genuine
Christian philanthropy, wo would give to
him the glory, nud gladly ascribe to him
an immortality of fame. If in his deeds
thero was any good apparent, it was invar
iably poisoned by the subtlety of his mo
tives. The death of the man doesn’t
change tho character of the deeds which
ho did, nor the motives that, actuated him
while living. Then let ns not by tomb
stone inscription waft his sonl to Heaven,
and by journalistic oologies give him a
famous immortality.
Thediotates of humanity and Christianity
islet him rest and his deeds be forgotten.
A
THE TEMPERANCE
question is now, we think, eliciting the
proper attention, and is, we think, biking
tho proper direction. Tho crusade in the
licginiug, as inangemled by the ladies
of Ohio, was characterised with too muoh
violence. We have no Biblical precedent,
no Christ established theory for overcom
ing evil with violence, lmt T>y gentle sua
sion, forbearance and long suffering. The
evil of intemperance will, in a greater or
less degroo, oxist until tlio religious and
political societies of tho country have n
greater aflinity. While liquor dealers
wield the influences they now do, over the
thouhtlcHH, reckless and vicious portion of
the masses, tho evil cannot he reached,
much lcwi remedied by legislation. The
effort has been made, in one State at least,
which succeeded only in bringing forth
the child prohibition, to die iu its infancy.
The evil is too powerful, its armies too
numerous, its soldiers too well armed and
cqtiiped, even to hope for the success in a
political warfare against it. Before the
friends of temperance can hope for a suc
cessful issue, the enemies linos must be de
pleted, and their own strengthened. This
can never be accomplished by violent as
saults. The perverted votaries of intem
perance arc the victims of appetite, the de
luded followers of Backus, and will with
perverted minds and mortrid desires in
their impregnable fortress, recklessly re
sist every effort of violence. Wo would
suggest that the camp of the enemy lw
entered tinder a flag of truce, and that
treaty stipulations and negotiations be sug
gested in a Christian spirit, without any
demand of a surrender of the garrison. Of- 1
for peaoo, not enmity, sympathy, not
abuse, courtesy not indignity, pity hu
manely expressed, not contempt declared
in disgust. Portray to them the loveliness
of the virtue of temperance, uid let them
contrast it with, the hideousuess of the
evil that opposes it Show them how jtra
have escaped, how successful you have
been,and how liappy you are, and let them
contrast it with their ill success and bitter
remorse. Show them your cheerful wife and
happy cliildreu, as you wend your way to
‘he suuctuary in answer to the morning
bells. Don’t refer to weeping wives
and frightened and miserable little children
it will only ereute a remorse to bo drowned
iu the inabriutoM cup, the panacoujfor all
his sorrows. Let them, if poaible, forget j
the evils, the sorrows, the miseries, j
the bitter remorse, degradation and j
crime, and absorb their minds with the 1
joys of tbo present and prospective liap- j
pinesa in the future. Temperance, like
Christianity, must be loveable for its charity
and benevolence aud as its charms and
loveliness increases, intemperance will
grow hideous and despicable. While we
cannot endorse the women’s violent cru
sade against liquor dealers, wo do not by
any means im,.ugu their motives, or doubt
their sincerity but we do think, that they
crod. not iu their declaration of war, but
in their manner of prosecuting it. Wo
men may accomplish much, not iu the
front, but in their domestic circle, making
homo cheerful aud inviting, their house
holds examples of loveliness and purity.
Let men assume the more weighty respon
sibilities and perform the moro arduous
duties, let him wage a warfare against the
enemy which is so potent and powerful.
| and bnckod by the destroying princip o
of human depravatv. Womens provioi
tion to action is strong, her wrongs have
heen'shnost insurportable and unendurable.
Yet it is not within 1 er province to mir
shnl the host of war, and to prochmi. fro i
tho hustings, hut perform her duties in
her proper sphere.
WASHINGTON WICKEDNESB.
James M. Lotta Will Not tell What He
Knows About It.
Tho of flic MUtrlrt King
FrAiirik Illorkrd The lloue Kt ftmf* to
Vote More Movm-jt—The Moletle*
IJumliK'n*.
Washington, March 21. —The Congres
sional investigation into the district gov
ernment was brought to a stand-still to
duy, iu the face of expected and important
de'velopoments by a recalcitrant witness
named James M. Gotta, of the real estate
firm of Kflbottrn & Gotta. Oue of the
charges under inquiry as the oilegt and for
mation of a reul estate ring, eoii oident
with the new government, and opt rating!
in collusion with it. Gotta admitted one
part of the charge, namely: that at the
time alleged Governor Cooke put 925,000
into the hands of this Arm, lmt for what
purpose he did not state, and positively
refused to testify as to who the parties
were that he (Gotta) acted as tru t o for jn
heading various lots in tho section of the
city referred to, and which was afterward
so handsomely improved by the board of
Public Works. These trustee deeds do
not contain the names of those for whom
the real estate is held in trust, and there
is, of course, no way to ascertain who they
are, unless the trustee gives them. This,
Gotta absolutely refuses to do, in the plea
that it woidil hi a violation of business
confidence, though he testified that to
furnish tho numes would not implicate
any member of the District Government,
or criminate or disgrace himsel". The
committee decided, as his answer would
neither disgrace nor criminate himself,
that he must answer or suffer the conse
quences, and he was given till Monday a
in. to make up his mind. The whole town
is agog as to who the parties in the real
estate pool are, and why there is any
objection to mentioning their mum s. The
rumor is very current that th y include
high officials, even the President, and that
fact prevents disclosure. It is a matter of
record that in wlmt is known us the Rhode
Island avenue circle, real is ate scheme
that followed the one in the Northwestern
part of tho city, President Grant was
active to the extent of 920,000, and a good
many believe that he is interested in the
first one. Before Gotta concluded, Sen
ator Stewart, a member of the committee,
interrupted him to tell the committee that
lie bought ov r 9361,000 worth of lots in
the Northwes n section, but go'ting hard
up sold them ntt an advance if 918,000.
lie denied that he bought thorn with any
knowledge that the Board of Public Works
waajgoiug to improve that vicinity. Mr.
Stewart, however, has just, put up SIOO,-
(XX) on two or three lots which it seems he
retained.
CUItTAIDING THE PI3TBKW’ All IWiSCE.
The bill appropriating $250,000 for a
bridge over the eastern branch of the
Potomso was discussed at tho opi ping of
the House to-day, Mr. Hole, chairman of
the District Committee, favored it strongly
and intimated that if his suggestion iu re
gard te this bill was not agreed to no mem
ber of the District Qommitteo could con
tinue to serve on it with any degree of
Relf-respect. He said that almost one-lialf
the real estate in the District was owned
by tho general Government, which did
not pay one dollar of taxes, and ho asked
if it was just, fair, or honest that the
owers of the other half should pay nil the
taxes. Mr. Randall and Mr. Holman op
posed tho bridge, the latter rofciri ig to
the "luxury and extravagance” iu Wash
ington as fur surpassing anything of the
kind is any other city iu the country. He
udded that the moral sentiment of the
country wns shocked by tho exhibition of
profligate luxury in Washington. If $20,-
000 or $30,000 had been asked for this
purpose, ho presumed that there would
have been do objection to it, bnt he objec
ted to his constituents being taxed in
order to spend such a large sum of money
for promoting the purely local interests of
the 1 favored citizens of the District. Mr.
Treimiin spoke in favor of the bridge, both
ns a matter of courtesy to the District
Committee, and because he thought that
justice demanded a fair consideration of
the measure. The bill wns finally rej cted
by 121 to 84. Then ensued a long dmens
sion over the proposed appropriation of
$97,000 to pay the school teachers of the
District, in which a dozen members joined.
THE MATTER OF MOIETIES.
The Ways and Means Committee held
no meeting to-day. They have concluded
the examination of the subject of moieties,
and will take no further testimony on this
point. A report, is current, however, that
Senator Conkling has asked permission to
appear and make an explanation in regard
to his presence at the Custom-house iu
New York when the case of Phelps, Dodge.
A Cos. was considered by tbo sev. r.l offi
cials there. If this is true the committee
will no doubt grant his request. On Tues
day the committee expect to hear Sanborn,
and will then close the investigation into
this branch of the revenue laws and their
administration. Some members of the
committee propose to ask him to explain
wether any moneys derived from his con
tracts jvero paid to Government officers
other than prosecuting attorneys; but it U
not certain that a majority of the commit
tee will sustain the asking of stieh ques
tions if Sanborn objects to answer them.
Three additional applications for contracts
have turned up. Olio of these was that of
John L. I’endery, who, under date of May
5), 1872, the day after the passage of the
law. applied for a contract to collect mon
eys overcharged to the Government by the
Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western 1{ .ilrond
Company, now a part of the Kansas Pacific
Hoad. llis application was refused, on
the advice of the Solicitor of the Treasury.
The other two applications were for small
amounts, and were never finally passed
upon by the Secretary.
now HINTON GOT ON THK e.VV-K0T.1,.
Commissioner of Pensions linker in liis
report to Congress on the charges pre
ferred by Mrs. Helen M. Baruard, accuses
Rielmrd \l. Minton with instigating them,
because he was dismissed from the Pension
office for not performing any duty as a
clerk for a year or two. Hinton now comes
out in an affidavit to show that he was paid
for rendering political services 1 to tiie Re
publican party and was not expected to do
work at the Pension office. The following
is an extract from liis affidavit: “Depon
ent states that ho was placed on the rolls
of the aforesaid office os a temporary clerk
at a salary of $1,200, on account of politi
cal and clerical services he was rendering
as Secretary of the Republican Resident
I Executive Committee during the State
| elections of 1871 and throughout the last
; Presidential campaign; that it was done
with the knowledge and consent of the
| Secretary of the Interior, and through the
' efforts of James Edmunds, Senator Chan
dler, and E. Senator Harlan.”
CONGKKSHiONA I, AND OTHER NOTES.
Oh'rirman Dawes has invited He”*..l
members of Congress to speak on Bumner
|on a lay vet to on selected. Mr. Wood
i ford’s bill to tlx office hours in the depart
ments at Hin summer niul 7in winter has
created a fluttering. The law requites ten
hours in summer and eight in winter, and
the rule is an unlawful regulation of heads
jof i’e lart.ments. Tho House Committee
on Appropriations is still at work on the
Deficiency Bill. Iu the House Foreign
Relations Committee to-dav, a letter was
read from our Minister in Stockholm, say
ing thut Sweden is evidently iu earnest iu
the part she intends to tsko in the Centen
nial Exposition, and, ft is asserted, will
spend 500,(XX) crowns, or 9103,000 in gold,
toward making it a r.uocess.
A letter received here from Vienna says
that Minister Jay states that, he wili return
to the United Ktates in April, and if he
finds that ex-Comroissioner Van Buren,
whom ho had removed from office as
United States Commissioner, has been con
firmed by the Semite to another office, he
will at once resign, as he would consider
such confirmation a reflection on his
(Jay’s) official conduct toward Van Buren,
at Vienna.
His First Client.
Paul Parallel, of literary fame, tells the
Philadelphia National Mail the following
experience relating to his first client. As
nearly as we can remember we will gjve it
in his own words. The first case, von
know, marks an era in tho lawyer's life.
Until the final examination everything fu
ture is rose-colored. Practice, that will
come ns a matter of course. Troops of
clients are waiting anxious to disgorge the
glittering symbols of earthly happiness—
the only thing is admission to the bar.
All! there is the rub. The roll of fame
so nearly full Ims yet a top space left blank
just waiting my name, and yet these old,
dry, crotchety lawyers may, from their
jealously, propound some obsolete legal
conundrum to bar mv way to fame. Bnt
once in the arena and then but once ad
mitted and golden visions vanish. The
clients have become tired of waiting and
gone otherwhere. They are an unuppre
eiative set any w r ny, they should have heard
my last junior oration !
1 was admitted- I purchased a "shingle”
and set out —I ordered 40 pigeons boxes,
then increased the older to fifty; then I
raved to think they were too small to hold
expectant voluminions packages.
Job was sorely ulllicedbut lie never wait
ed for client;',. Day after day, each foot
fall on the stairway raised hopes to be soon
dissipated.
Talk of tho love kick maiden waiting for
her lover who comath, not, she, knows noth
ing of the woes of disappointed
tion.
But at last he came, not a client, but a
limping, cross-eyed forerunner of one in
the shape of a tipstave who understood
‘addition, division, and silence.” He told
me he hail a case for mo. That Butcher
Bluffliad been imprisoned for stabbing, in
a drunken row, a companion, whom he
swore he would pickle and eat. “Can you
clear him ?” he said, iu a crocked voioe.
"Certainly,” said I, “tho man was insane,
evidently insane, and the most they can
make out against him is a qua non. for
which the penalty is six months in the
House of Refuge.” "Go at onoe to the
jaol,” said he, “ami see tho prisoner and,
mark, see to it that yon get your fee in ad
vance.”
I smiled and replied “dear fellow, trust
me for that." So saying I sailed for Moy
mensing, made my business known und was
ushered into tho cell, the turnkey Haying
he would lock me in and come buck hi fif
teen or twenty minutes.
A creaking noise, the turning of a key,
and I wiia alone with my first client. lie
was a large and burly fellow, had shaggy
hni • and whiskers nud a restless eye which
looked mischief. Said I, “I am an attor
ney come to redeem you from the clutches
of the low." “You is, am you?” lie re
plied—“sit down young man, yon seo I
am just taking my grub. But look here,
wlmt does this amount to for a starving
man ? I must eat, I will eat, and now
young man you will please strip and pre
pare yourself, for I intend to dine on you.”
His voice which at first was mild had
merged into a fierce growl and his eyes
had a fiendish glow. "I lmin’t my clever,”
said he, “but this will do”—here lie pulled
out from his side pocket a glittering knife
j such as butchers use.” “You see I come
I prepared, you are young and tender; come,
make ready!” “Heavens!” thought I,
“am to be bqteheiyd l>y this luuatie f" I
■ endured all age of agony in that moment,
j All my dreams of future glory te end iu a
I felon’s cell—the victim of my first and
l.anly client.! Whore Ha#' the turnkey ?
Five minutes had not passed, nail in one
moment I would be hacked in pieces.
What was to bo done ? Resistance was in
vain, and no help near. I bethought me
of one expedient. I pulled off' my coat as
if preparing for the sacrifice, but sudden
!ly said: ‘ ‘Stop, my good fellow; lam too
sinull for a full meal for a man like you,
although very grateful for the honor you
do me. That turnkey out there is twice as
fat as I, and would make an elegant meal,
aud then you can serve me up for dessert.
When lie comes I will invite him iu, and
then you can have ft jolly meal 1” “Bully !
bully 1" said he, ‘ -just the tiling 1” and
here he flourished liis knife and gritted his
teeth. Breathless with suspense, fearing
every moment ho might mistrust my in
tention, to allay my suspicion, 1 descanted
on the delights of the intended carnival.
The jailor returned, the gate was thrown
book, and at one hound I was in the mid
dle of the hall. Bluff sprang fierce <y at the
bars, which had been instantly closed,
and shook his clenched fist tit mo, but I
felt that if ho had lost his dinner, I, at
least, had given him his dessert. The next
day in came the tipstavc, who asked me
how I got along. I told him, circumstan
tially, how 1 had saved my life, which one
moment more iu that infernal oell might
have lost mo. He listened in emotionless
silence to the eldse of my story, aud then
impatiently inquired: “WeU but did you
get your fee ?”
The Andmrsonvi was Prison. —Dr R.
Randolph Stevenson, who was ohiet sur
geon of the Confederate States prison hos
pitals at Andersouville, Ga., has issued
the prospectus of a book to be entitled
“The Southern Side; or, Audersonville
Prism It will contain a largo amount of
official documents, and other testimony,
vindicating the South from the malicious
charge of eruetty ttf the Federal prisoners
confined at Audersonville during the war.
In the complication of this book, Dr.
Stevenson lias received the earnest sym
pathy and, ns far as practicable, the active
cooperation of many- prominent survivors
of the “lost cause.’
Augusta, March 23.—The Exchange
passed resolutions favoring government
aid to tho Texas Pacific railroad, aud re
quest members of Congress from Georgia
to advocate an appropriation. J. Adger
Srnythe, of Charleston, spoke iu favor of a
line of steamships from Charleston to
Liverpool or Bremen. Resolutions were
passed endorsing the project and pledging
support to She same.
Moderation is the silken string rnnuing
through the pearl chain of all virtues.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN GEORGIA.
How tho haw li AUmlnUterrd Among a
Profile.
The New York iieramti e Journal of
March 14 contains the following editorial
relative to the District Atton ey’s office in
Georgia:
BEBIOtI* AKVBFM fit OFF C KIM.
In the internal revenue system, as ad
ministered in Georgia, abuses have come
to light which seem at first sight wholly
impossible in a free country, so suggestive
are they of rilUnnas deeds whereof we
read in history, nn4 which we are too apt
to fondly beheve’btdoiig only to the past.
If turns out that in the Northern District
of Georgia there has for years been an or
ganized conspiracy between the Uuited
States District Attorney’s office, the Uni
ted States Commissioner anil certain Depu
ty United States Marshals, to kidnap, rob
and otherwises outrago peaceable citizens,
under pretense of enforcing the revenue
law.
The tricks are of this nature: The com
missioner would sign warrants by tbe doz
en for tho arrest of persons, leaving the
names blank. This in itself is an outrago,
and the man who commits so wanton an
imperilment of the liberties of any and
every citizen proves himself unfit for office.
Half a dozen of the marshal's deputies
then took the warrants and a file of United
States soldiers, and went to a village in
the mountain country, and, after making
inquiry enough te) ascertain the names anil
residences of the men who were likely to
have money, they inserted these men’s
names in the blanks in the warrants, and
with the aid of the soldiers arrested
them on charges of unlawfully distilling
whisky.
When the men demanded by whoso au
tliority they were arreßted, and asked to
see the warrants for the proceedings. This
right was refused to them, and they were
marched off at the bayonet’s point. One
day, within two years past, in Union
county, about twenty men were arrested
in this way, including ono man who was
seventy-five years old, and another who
was sixty-seven. They were token as pris
oners to a stable, kept there under guard
by the soldiers oil night, and discharged
on the payment of money iu the morning.
One man paid three hundred nud eighty
five dollars; and altogether the parties
paid over live thousand dollars for their
liberty.
Each had also to give bend to appear at
court if indicted, and for this wns unde to
pay a fee of 80 60. These bonds are ac
companied by an oath that, the. giver lias a
homestead worth at lea t ?3,000, which can
be levied on to satisfy the bond if the
giver fails te ■;The deputies, find
ing that most tA tfie&rmen hail not much
property, took a pencil nud stmek ont
iron) the printed onA.h the words “of valuo
three thousand dollars or upward,” and
told the citizens that they c-mld take tho
oath in this modified form, which the par
ties did. Then the deputies took the
warrants and the bonds back to Atlanta.
On the book of some warrants they wrote
a return that the parties were dead, had
left the State, or could not be found;
while the bonds exacted from others they
placed on record iu the Marshal's office,
first removing, witlijludia rubber, the pen
cil erasures therefropi; so that if tho par
ties whom they had blackmailed should
ever come forward to give testimony
against their plunderers, the latter could
produce the records and make it appear
that the witnesses had committed per
jury-.
It is undsrstood that no less tluui one
hundred such arrests have been made in
this one county. Tho money was not
turned into the ctffiueter of internal rove
uue, but was divided equally among all the
deputy marshals, the rule being that every
one who obtained blackmail should divide
it with the whole office in this way. Some
times parties have been arrested on war
rants to which the commissiouer’ssignature
had been forged. One mau was arrested
July 31st on a warrant dated Augnst Ist;
and, refusing to pay blackmail, wus kept in
jail two weeks, at the end of which time
his counsel discovered tho trick, and com
pelled his release.
Oue deputy swore to complaints against
fifty persons of whom he knew absolutely
nothing. Ou these complaints another dep
uty got out warrants and made arrests, but
after the blackmail was paid the charges
wore never pressed. Very few of the par
ties were indicted, and when they were
brought to trial no sufficient proof was of
fered against any one. One man wus ar
rested iu Marietta in this way, and released
on paying $1(K). He made complaint af
terward ugainst tho deputy, and Uie latter
produced before the gland jury a written
statement signed hylfltn that he had never
paid tho officer anything. Further inves
tigation showed that the officer had ex
torted his signature to this statement by
threatening to get him indicted for illicit
distilling. A letter was written from At
lanta to the “ordinary,” or magistrate of
Cherokee county, stating that the grand
jury had found indictments of this nature
ugainst twenty-four men whose names
were given, but that the cases could bo
compromised for S4O per man and lawyer’s
fee of $2. The money was forwarded,
and no indictments had been or were
found against any of the parties.
To insure the presence of these parties
before the grand jury to give evidence
against the blackmailers, charges were
preferred against them, and warrants for
their arrest were placed in the marshal’s
hands. Strange te a \y, no alaerity was
shown for their arrest; on the eoutreiy,
word was privately sent to them that the
warrants hud been issued. Some of them,
understanding the object of the new war
rants, voluntarily st-irted for Atlanta to
give testimony; but word of their coming
went before them, and the District At
torney allowed tlie grand jury to bo dis
missed before they arrived.
These are but a portion of file facts that
have transpired.
Bad Showing for the Grangers. —The
Memphis Avalanche says the grange at
Rienzi, Miss., received last week from
Liverpool the sum of $5,000 in gold in re
turn for cotton shipped thereon account of
its members, the result of which experi
ment proves to be a serious loss. Had tho
cotton been shipped to Memphis the real
ization in currency would have purchased
over $5,000 in gold. It is evident the
zeal of the grangers is leading them into
serious errors, besides which there are
many of our country friends who seem
to have no appreciation of the relation of
greenbacks and gold to one another. For
example, one ef the members of the above
grange, w ishing more gold than his pro
portion of the shipment spoken of, paid
another member 930 ia (hirreucy for S4O
in coin. In Memphis lie could have
bought the gold for $44,80.
Siamese Tw , as. *—lh iU idelph i, March
21.—Two sons of the Siamese twins are
Here far the bodies of their fathers. They
disavow any intention to make a specula
tion by exhibition of the remains. The
statement is repeatedi that no money con
siderations induced their consent to tho
autopsy.
General LaFayette McLaws, of Au
gusta, lias been appointed to the position
of Collector of Internal Revenue for the
drat district of Georgia, vioe A. N. Wil
son. ' .
Winked Out at Lait.
At last, after many months of unavail
ing sympathy and tearful watching by its
bedside, it becomes our itielaucholy duty
to announce that the
HAiIONAD LIFE INST'RANCR COMPANY OF
Washington, and. 0.,
has merged its entity and handed in its
checks at the immature age of Biz years
come blackberry time.
We knew it from its natal as the largest
foal of the season and tho most aspiring,
ambitions, and hopeful bantling that was
ever sired by a spread-eagle banking
house or darn'd by disuniting stock
holder*. A fatti r infant never came into
the world, a leaner one never went so re
luctantly out of it. The sturdiest will
evoDtnidly sticcomb te the Sangrado style
of treatment, which combined copious
bleeding with heavy doses of worm water.
To this add bad wet-nursing, ignorant
doctors, reckless quackery and indigestible
food, and the marvel becomes, not that
it at last pegged out, or Hectored oOt, bnt
that it did not die aborning.
We cannot claim to hare been called in
ns its doctors, but we gave some very
timely advice and wholesome counsel, as
well as onr opinion as to the result—which
last has, it appears, been confirmed by
events, as most of our opinions and pre
diction* are. H We had little hopes of final
recovery when ft Was bled to two-thirds
the weight if was born with, less when
THAT MAfiSPoUS AND FETID MIXTURE
of Excelsior and -Etna was forced down
its throat, and none whatever when it*
chief Cooke and wet-nnrse went up the
spout. On each of these occasions we
firedicted just what has really and recently
lappened, and each prediction was based
upon conditions which everybody knows
now te have existed, though met then
with surlv denial. Tile incapable* who
were rapidly running it into the ground
were too advisedly reticent to make ad
missions then, just perhaps as they would
even now deny that the National Life In
surance Company isbursted. They wonhl
like to preserve their feeling* 1/y represent
ing that this is a wedding instead of a
funeral. Several of their habitual apolo
gists have already spoken of the matter ns
if it was doubtful whether the Republic
was te be reinsured by the National or the
Nationnl by tho Repnblic. No one who
knows the fearful condition of the Na
tional, especially since Jay Cooke’s fail
ure, have any doubts as to which of these
companies plays tho part, of Jonah and
which the whale. If the Nationnl should
swallow the Republic, it would have in
its belly ten times as much brains as it
ever had in its hood. The reason* for
ambiguity and a thin c >nt of cal online
are sufficiently apparent. Amalgamation
is anew word, it sounds respectable, and
has s reciprocal ring and resonance in it,
as if both the high contracting parties
were equally sonnd and substantial. The
word reinsurance is not complimentary to
tho management of the concern that is
merged.
THE BOTTI.E-WAHHKBB OF THE NATIONAU
arc adepts in the euphemistic line, though
they never called the thing that was and is
not a society. There never was but one
eheek equal te that brazen enormity.
Thus far, whatever has been agreed upon
lias been the act of the stockholders of the
two companies. Tho policy-holders are
yet to be convinced that nothing to their
prejudice has been done. The entire con
ditions of the bargains have not yet lx en
published in a reliable shaiie. If, when
we are fully conversant with the matter,
wo-discover that tho night-s of the policy
holders of the Republic have been
trenched npon, we will, as usual, espouse
their cause. As for the policy-holders of
tho Nutionr', any change will enhance
their security.
The M'leage Steal-Where were the
Dodgers T
Last Thursday the House of Rep
resentatives at Washington, in Commit
tee of the Whole, refused to strike out the
appropriation for the mileage of member*,
j Mr. Niblack’s motion, who is a Democrat
I from Indiana, ami on which the test vote
was had, was to the effect that only actual
traveling expenses of members from their
homes to Washington and return, onco
for each session, be paid, and that sen
sible and righteous proposition received
but fifty-eight votes, fifty-nine being
cast against it. This result discloses a
peculiar condition of things iu Congress,
j The House contains now two hundred and
■ ninety-two menalmrs, and on the vote
upon a question of such Vital interest, one
j that has ogitued the public mind for more j
j than thirty ye.ira, only one hundred and
\ seventeen members, or tliiity less than a
j quorum, are found present and prepared
'to vote. Where were the remaining one
hundred and seventy-five Representatives ?
Did they purposely shirk the responsjbi'-
ity, hide ?n the cloak-room to guzzle, and
lounge in the halls to smoke? Is it thus
that the American people are served by
the men whom they elect for their spokes
men and legislators ? The names of the
fifty-nine who had the effrontery of voting
down this reform of the mileage steal
should be widely known. The New York
spreadeagle orator, Lyman Tremain, was
among them, we are sure, since he had
the courage to defend what Representa
tive MeDish, of this city, called the great
American swindle. But as the rote was
only taken by tellers, and-not by a call of
names, it is not officially recorded in the
proceedings. Someone on the spot should
enlighten the pnb'ic on this subject, and
give the names of those recreant Repre
sentatives wlio dared to stand up in the
face of the American people as the cham
pions of this public theft.
A Bio Tree in Kentucky. —Mr. George
Riley of this country tells us tliat he cut
a poplar tree on his place a short time
since which measured to the fork 118 feet,
and 65 feet top; the stomp measured 6
feet 8 inches in diameter and 2t> feet in
circumference. There were in a! 1 ten cuts
10} fe;t in length; five of these 7G5 rail,
loading sufficient for 360 more. In a'l,
1,125 rails and seven loads of wood from
one tree. The tree had been struck by
lightning and a seam opened from top to
bottom, but notin tho least shattered or
injured. It was also perfectly tjoh’d and
sound, without spot or blemish. The four
bntt cuts averaged 175 rails each, and it is
estimated that the whole tree would have
made 35,000 shingles Sheiky Courtvil.
The New Ten-Cent Currency Note.—
The new ten-oent cuirency note does not
seem toffiud much favor with tho mercan
tile community. Its close resemblance to
the flfty-oents note has of late occasioned ;
many a small loss to the retail dealer. \
This similarity has been token advantage
of by designing persons, and instances are
given where tho ten-cent has been raised ]
to the fifty note. A case is reported where j
the “fifty-cents” from a revenue cigar j
stamp was pasted over the figure 10 of tho
now note, the size of the 50 exactly cover
ing the figure 10.
There is nothing purer than honesty;
nothing w armer than love; nothing bright
er than virtue; and nothing more steadfast
than faith. These, united in one mind,
form the purest, the sweetest, the richest,
tlje Urighcst and most steadfast happiness.
[From the Augusta Cotwti ntionalilt.]
MR. STEPHEN! AND MR. DAVIS.
Wkatlk>FMm MM biM About
Cuba,
/
The subjoined communication from
Hon. A. H. Stephen*, touching a reported
conversation of ex-I’resideut Jefferson Da
vis, will prove interesting to many of our
readers:
Washington, D. C., Ju. IS, 1874.
Editor of the Oonstjtvtioxaust:
I see in yonr issue of the 14th inst. Quit
received) a short paragraph which I* trust
you ami your readers will pardon me for
not permitting to pass without notice. It
is true no one in my position could la* ex
cused for troubling the public by calling
especial attention to everything that may
be said or written, with a view to his in
jury by misrepresentation; but there are
cases .where duty require* of every one
that no erroneous inference to his preju
dice should be drawn from his silence,
even upon mutters of seemingly small in
terest. This, in my estimation, is the
charodte* of tbe paragraph referred to. It
is in these words:
DAVIS ON STEPHEN*.
The Charlotte (N. G.) Observer says a
gentleman of that city who was iu Mem
phis week before last, called on Sir. Davis,
having known him well previously. In
the course of conversation, forgetting for
the moment the differences which had ex
isted between tbe late President and Vice-
President of the Confederacy, our friend
referred to a recent remark of Mr. Ste
phens, in Augusta, that “We mils* take:
Cuba at once,” when Mr. Davis, with a
look of infinite disgust, said: “Well, I
am glad that Mr. Stephens is getting up
to the fighting point at last.”
Now, I will not do Mr. Davis the injus
tice to suppose that he was any more cor
rectly reported in his remark about me in
the above artiele than I know I was in w hat
is attributed to me in the same paragraph.
It is, therefore, sodely with a view te cor
rect that statement in regard te myself I
address you these lines for publication, I
never said in Augusta, or anywhere else,
recently not at any time, that “We must
take Cuba at once”—thereby implying a
resort to arms on onr part of it. I did say
recently, in Augusta, that I was “for Cuba
immediately, if not sooner;” bnt im the
same occasion, and in the same connec
tion, I said How I was for it. I was not
iu favor of any seizure or “taking” of the
island by force of arms on the part of the
United States. What I was in favor of
was that the United States Government
shou'il ceaSe to use its powers, judicial and
military, against those patriots in Cula
who are struggling for the independence
of the island. In other words, the idea
was clearly expressed iu the conversation,
that the United States should cease “to
hold while Spain skins.”
Tli is I stated in substance wns just what
the Uuited States had been doing in their
conduct towards t'nbn and Spain, for the
last twenty years. I was decidedly against
this policy of continuing thus te “hold.” I
was simply for the acknowledgment of the j
independence of the Republic oS Cuba, on
the part of the United State*. After that
was achieved, os it would be at an early
day (if the United States would no longer
act as a police force in hunting out, run
ning down, prosecuting and punishing as
felons our own citizens, who, of their own
accord, feel disposed to aid in the deliver
ance of this misgoverned and long afflicted
Island), I was in favor of her controlling
her own destiny iu her own way; but was
equally emphatic in expressing my desire j
as well as my opinion, as to the result;
that as au independent Republic, she
would soon be incorporated as a State
into our Federal Union.
I was distinct in the expression of my
opposition to a war with Sjwiu on tho
part of the United States, even for the de
liverance of Cuba, as well as my opposition
to this Govern me wt’s doing anything that
would justify Spain in going to war against
the United States for what they might do
in the premise*.
The views expressed by me in Augusta
and everywhere, and at all times, upon
tikis question looked to no action on the
part of the United States except such as is
eminently just, as weU os perfectly peace
ful.
As lieforo stated, I wil 1 no* do Mr Da
vis the injustice to assume that he could
find anything iu these sentiments, so ut
tered by me in Augusta and elsewhere,
which eotild excite iu him a “look of in
finite disgust,” or even displeasure, jior
can I permit myself to do him the stiff
greater injustice to take it as true that he
used any such language towards me as that
attributed to him in the last sentence in
the above article. Hence I have nothing
te sny on thut point iu this communication.
Yours respectfully,
Alexander H, Stephens.
Interesting Decisions by the United
States Supreme Court-Liability of
Parties to a Ra' and Check-
Washinoton, March 23.—The case of
the late Judge Underwood against Mc-
Veigh from the Virginia Court of Appeals,
having been submitted to this count on
motion to dismiss for want of jurisdiction,
the motion was to-day granted and the
ease dismissed, because the writ of error
should have been directed to the Court
of Appeals instead of Judge of the Cor
poration Court of Alexandria. Mr. Jus
tice Clifford dissented—the court below
gave judgment in favor of McVeigh on
the verdict, which found that there was
fraud in the procurement of sale and con
firmation under the proceedings in con
fiscation.
The case of Espy, Heidlebaek & Cos.
against the First National Bank of Cincin
nati, was to-ilay decided in the Supreme
Court: A check drawn by 8. & M. on the
1 innk for twenty-six dollars and fifty cents
iu favor of H., was raised to $3,920 and
the payees’ name changed to Espy, Heid- \
leback & Cos., and offered to the latter
firm by a stranger in payment for bonds j
and gold piirchasedby him. Espy, Heid
lebnck A Cos. sent the check for mforma- :
tion to the bank, where the teller replied:
“It is good,” or “it is all right.” Suit
being brought by tho bank against E. H.
A- Cos., judgement was for plaintiffs. And j
on error to tbs court. It is held:
1. That where money is paid on araised |
check by mistake, neither party being j
in fault, the general rule is that it may be
recovered back as paid without consider*- j
tion.
2. But that if either party has been ;
guilty of- negligence or carelessness, by j
winch the other lias been injured, the next.
party must bear the loss.
3. That where a party to whom such;
check is offered sends it to the bank on
which it is drawn for information, the j
law presumes that the bank has knowledge
of the drawer's signature and the state of
his account, and it is responsible for what
may be replied on these points.
4. That unless there is something in the
terms on which information is asked that
points die attention of the bank officer be
yond these two matters, his response that
the check is good will be limited to them
and will not extend to tho genuineness j
of the filling in of the check, as to payee I
or amount.
5. As to whether the endorsement of tlie
words, goods of the officer's initials undi r
such circumstances, would make the bank
liable beyond the genuineness of signature
and possesion of funds to meet the check
certified ?
6. Where the check is certified for f o
purpose known te the bank, of giving I
credit for negotiation or circulation, to e
used as money, and it is so passed into
the hands of third persona, tlie bank
would be bound, though the case might
be otherwise when it was only certified to
give tlie party presenting it the assurance
that it wus good for his own satisfaction in
taking.
7. 'But it is clear that a verbal reply thut
a check is good, given fur the information
of the party about te receive it, extends
only to matters of which the bank had
knowledge, oris presumed to have by the
law, unless he is told that more extended
information is expected or asked for, as te
the validity of the check.
Mr. Justice Miller delivered the opinion
iu the ease of Burke rs. Greg et at., from
the Supreme Court of Louisiana, in which
the question was, whethfer a sale of real
estate made in pursuance of au order of
the provisional court of Louisiana was o’ -
erative to pass the title, after the surren
der of the rebel forces in that distrii t,
when the terms of the order er< ati ig tl a
court limited its existence to the restora
tion of civil authority iu the State ?
The court answered in the affirmative,
holding that notwithstanding the cessa
tl .ii of actual hositihties, military rulo
prevailed in the city of New Orleans and in
the State, long after that event, and after
the sale in controversy. This fact is con
clusive proof that the civil authority was
not restored when the sale was ordered,
and that the provisional court was iu tho
rightful exercise of its authority. Mr.
J ustice Davis delivered the opinion.
A Bolt Always in Order.
Squills declares liis wife is always taking
some kind of mean advantage of him.
“Tlie best woman in the world, sir,” says
| Squills, “but now and then she Will act
: mean aud she can’t help it.”
‘‘Last Saturday at breakfast,” says
[ Squills, ‘ ‘she was as smiling as a bundle
j of chips.”
I “Are your chops done to your liking,
| Squills, dear i”
! “Deliciotrdy, wy love.”
f “I knew it was going to be hot,” said
; Squills, “ud when I got into the hall to
leave, Mrs, Squills was there with my hat
in one hand aud 'my overcoat in tho
other.”
“Squills, dear,” she began.
“I thought it time to pitch in here,”
said Squills, so t said quietly:
“How numb, Mrs. Squibs ? Out with it,
t my love. ”
“Mr. Squills, don’t be unmanly, sir, I
| beg not to say ridiculous. Gussy wants s
. silk die** to go to church in; the poor
child really isn’t decent --’Yon are very
1 sorry,’ well, so you ought to be. ‘Let her
say her prayers at home.’ No, Mr.
Squills, slu 1 shan’t stay at home, and she
sluui t suy her prayers; and, Mr. Squills,
■you’re enough to aggravate a saint, and
your conduct is disgusting, and it’s
enough to drive a woman to bolt right off
to Chicago and get a divorce.”
“I thought this was a good time to firo
off my pet joke;” said Squills; so I said,
“Mrs. Squills, a bolt is always in order.”
Then I bolted myself, for Mrs. Squill*
comes of a fighting family.
“When I went home that night, Gussy,
dear child, played all my pet Offenbach
music, aud i knew I was in for tbe dress,
only I wanted to hold out till morning,
just for the look of the thing. ”
“For five years after wo Were married
Mrs. Squills w ould persist in lookifag un
der the bed for a man. It's the Same mau
every w oman looks for, I suppose, because
they all do it. Well, failing to find the
mau, Mrs. Squills’ gave up in disgust,
and took to something else. I suppose
they’d all take to something else after they
can’t find the mau under the bed. Mrs,
Squills' weakness is bolting the door. Mr,
Squills have you bolted the door ? is always
the last thing at night.
This particular night Mrs. Squills was
very dignified and distant. “No familiar
ities, Mr. Squills, if you please; you
wounded my feeling* iu their tenderesfc
point this morning, and I cannot forget,
though you did, that I am your wife, sir
and the mother of your children, Mr-
Sqiull;.”
“This was pitching in uncommonly
! strong, you know,” said Squills, “and I
i was about to surrender, ’ when Mrs.
Squills turned off somewhere on the out
side bedraiU Not even ‘Good night
; Squills.’ ” ,
I felt pretty bad about it, Wt I went to
. sletepVbut after a while I experienced u
(kick i the back, us if some playful mule
i had been funning me. Perhaps it was
j necessary as I.always sleep hard.
“Mr. Squills,” at last I heard Mrs.
Squills say, “Mr. Squills, have you bolted
the door 7”
“Now, I leave it to any man, whether
[ that is the correct thing for the mother of
1 a family to do ? Of course I got up and
bolted tbs door, aud I said, Mrs. Squills,
why didn’t you think of bolting the door
before I went to sleep, and not wake up a
Ulan in the middle of a cold night te do
it,” aud what do you suppose her answer
was ?
“Why, Mr. Squills,” said she, “I
thought a bolt was always in order.”
“Wfiai did I siy 2 What could I say ?
And the worst of all,” said Squills, “I’ll
| be hanged if she wasn’t laughing at me;
j I could feel the bed shaking.”
GEORGIA NEWS.
Mrs. Martha J. Bailey a well known
teacher in Tliomasville is dead.
Blakely boasts of having eight Cases of
measles in one family.
Com is selling at seventy-five cents per
bushels in Thomasville.
Elbert county is out of debt and has
over three hundred dollars in her treasury.
Three penitentiary convicts escaped in
Atlanta the other day. Two of them were
chained together.
The Central Railroad Company has dis
charged sixteen men from the work-shop
in Columbus.
Jno. R. Christian, Senior editor of the
Thomaeville Times has severed his connec
tion with that journal.
A Burnsville doctor swam a creek three
times before he had oonsumated a pro
fessional call. We have no doubt the
patient was good for the fee.
Walter G. Cole, a prominent young mer
chant of Blacksbear, was bmtailv mur'
jiered on Monday night last. A Sir. Car
penter, an uncle by marriage of the de
ceased, has been accused and airested and
is now in jail in Savannah.
Day of Pbaybb.—The Board of Foreign
Missions of the Southern BaptiCl Conven
tion has recommended that the first Sab
bath in April be observed by all tne
Baptist churches of the South as a day for
player and special effort to discharge their
pecuniary obligations to their missionaries
iu heathen lauds.