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(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.