Newspaper Page Text
UJffhli) JntcUigtnrrr.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
—
Wadne»d»yi January 30, 1806.
The Frequency of Fires.
The Nashville Union d Dispatch has some ap
propriate aud well-timed remarks in regard to the
frequency of fires iri that and other cities, which
we quote as being peculiarly applicable in this
direction. It says: “The frequency with which
our city has been visited with destructive and
disastrous fires, during the past few months, is a
subject of important and grave consideration.—
In wjveraf localities of the city, and often right in
the heart of business, mouldering rubbish and
charred walls present themselves to the eye of
the passer-by as mournful monuments to the de
structive powers of the sweeping fire-king.
All large cities, especially those which are
densely populated, are subject to fires and de
structive conflagrations, but when such terrible
visitations become scenes of nightly and weekly
repetition, the result, is or should be, to arouse
leelings of apprehension and alarm, and produce
increased vigilance on the part of tenants and
property-holders to prevent so much and such
frequent losses.
As to what has been the cause of the many
fires afflicting us of late, accidental or otherwise,
we shall not pretend to say, but will venture the
assertion that not enough prudence aDd vigilance
to prevent accidents of this character have been
observed. Persons, possibly without intent or
motive, have become more negligent in regard to
fires than they have been in former times. Seve
ral reasons may ojieratc to produce this indiffer
ence. The storms and passions and crisis of the
last fonr years have probably tended to make
men more careless and reckless; then, again, the
immense business done of late years by heavy
and responsible insurance companies, almost all
men, in every sort of business, procuring poli
cies, securing parties against loss, perhaps, in
many instances, superinduces a carelessness and
a neglect for the safety of premises and stocks
which might not exist. Insured against loss by
fire, any way, the same necessity does not exist,
in the minds of many, for faithful supervision
and guardianship over their effects that might
otherwise prevail.
To prevent a recurrence of these fires, let eve
ry citizen, tenant, merchant aud landlord and
man of business, exercise the utmost care, each
over his own premises. Let there be no defec
tive flue3. no dangerous stoves, no loose matches
carelessly scattered around, no combustible ma
terial in close proximity to the fire-place or the
stove, and no wooden ash-boxes. Let every one
be strictly careful over his own premises and he
will not only save his own property, but prevent
the endangering and destruction of other peo
ple’s. This is an important subject, and demands
the attention ol every good citizen who desires
the prosperitypf the city and,tlie success of cur
business men.”
Closing Up (lie Ranks.
The Constitutional Union, Washington, says:
The spring campaigns are being opeued with
great vigor by the Democracy and the friends ol
the Union. In Ohio and in Connecticut the
platforms are laid down in such unmistakable
language that even the wayfaring man, though a
fool aud a Radical, need not err therein. It is
encouraging to know that throughout our entire
ranks there is harmony in action, a unity of plan,
and that our whole force is devoted to the exe
cution of the grand object to save the Union and
to early complete the great work of restoration.
To again perfect the Union of these States is
our paramount idea, and in our efforts to accom
plish it, wc display a singleness of purpose which
is completely paralyzing the hands of' the opposi
tion.
The people, in whom an unwavering trust has
been reposed, are emerging from the clouds of
Radical fanatic ism aud hate in which they have
been enveloped, and sec with the clearness of a
demonstration how wickedly they have been de
ceived. The President is rapidly assuming his
rightful place, with increased favor, in the
thoughts and affections of the people, aud all
are, on every hand, acknowledging that the
Union can only be saved, with all its blessings,
by a rigid adherence to his wise aud constitutional
policy. As the chart and the compass is the
guide to the mariner, aud without which lie
would be lost in unknown seas, so to the Presi
dent is the Constitution and the teachings of the
lathers. To them he adheres, and while so doing
the ship of State is safe.
Defective Education.
The New York Sun well says: Education is
valuable in proportion as it fits men aud women
tor the actual duties of life. It is not aloue what
is actually learned that gives this fitness, but the
mental drill and discipline necessary to the ac
quirement of facts qualify the mind to grapple
with other lacts and other obstacles. Yet this
mental exercise may be made the means of stor
ing the mind with useful knowledge, or it may
lie expended in unprofitable studies. The latter
is too generally the case. It is much to be re
gretted that some attention is not devoted to such
useful branches of education as the elements of
book-keeping and the management of business
affairs. In all public schools and colleges such
things are entirely ignored, though of unques
tionable utility to all, even to those who have no
intention of engaging in commercial transactions.
It fulls to the lot of everybody to need at times
some little acquaintance with the forms of ordi
nary business. But the highest education at
tainable in the country leaves young men with
out this useful knowledge. We have seen men
who liad carried off college honors appear as
helpless as children in the most trivial matters
of the bank or counting-house. This is an in
consistency unworthy of American institutions
of learning. A thorough business education is
not necessary lor all, but some acquaintance with
the rudiments of business should ftflfcn a part of
thg teaching ot all public schools. The extent
to waich private commercial schools are patrou-
ized shows the need young men fee! for this
branch of education. But only a few of those
who have been educated at public schools have
lime or means to avail themselves of private
teachers, and many of them engage at once in
business, trusting to learn the intricacies of it as
best they can. A practical acquaintance with
accounts and book-keeping should be insisted
upon in every public school and college in the
couutrv.
Front the National Capital. | Wendell Phillips on the SifpreMe COWrt.
In the absence of fuller dates from Washing- I The article belcxFldfcpw^ pretty clearly the
ton, we copy from the correspondence of the j lengths to which the leaders of the Radical party
Charleston Courier:
The leaders of the Northern Democratic party
begin to show some signs of life, after the debates
ot the last autumn, which increased the ascend
ancy of the Radicals in every one of the old tree
labor States. An effort has been commenced to
get up a National Democratic Convention, with
a view to resuscitate the parly and reorganize its
broken columns, and proclaim its principles.
The democracy, always accustomed, heretofore,
to victory, Can hardly believe yet that they have
lost that power. The President cannot believe
it. But, until it is strengthened by Southern alli
ance, it must remain a deteated party. It is in
the expectation that the ten excluded States will
be ultimately restored, and that nearly all the
former slave-holding States will unite with the
Democrats of the free-labor States for the over
throw of radicalism, that the convention is to be
called. Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, has issued
an address in favor of the project, and the Dem
ocratic Johnson Association of this city will re
commend it.
It the convention should be held next May or
June, it will be in time to take measures, if ne
cessary or practicable, for the support of the
President and of the executive authority. It is
probable, also, that it will informally, at least,
consider the question of the next Presidency. It
is quite apparent already that the radicals desire
nothing better lor their designs than that the
anti-war Democrats should show front again. If
the radical party should tall to pieces before the
leaders can accomplish their purposes, it will be
from the want of opposition and from a lull in
party excitement.
Inasmuch as impeachment is now inevitable,
there exists an apprehension that the Govern
ment securities will lie soon returned upon us
from Europe. •So sensible are the Radical jour
nals of this that they now undertake to produce
the impression here aud abroad that the Presi
dent can be removed without producing the
slightest financial commotion or distrust. As
soon as the articles of impeachment shall be sent
to the Senate, a Vice President pro tem. of the
Senate will be chosen, who will be invested with
Executive power, during the trial, which will
not be brought to a conclusion till the end of
Johnson’s term. It is probable that Mr. Wade,
of Ohio, will be the Acting President, though
the Western Senators are divided between him
and Mr. Howe, of Wisconsin, who is so anxious
to retain Mr. Stanton in the War Department.
The first thing the new acting President will
be required to do, will be to remove the United
States Marshal from this District, and appoint a
person suitable for the purpose of executing pro
cesses &C., and the next will be to give orders to
Lieut. Gen. Grant. The new Marshal's duty will
be to correct and keep in custody the President
and others. All this is to occur within two or
three months.
A New Enterprise.
We observe by our exchanges that a number
of gentlemen of Baltimore and Richmond have
formed themselves into an association for the
relief of widows and orphans of the Southern
States. We find the following in the proceed
ings of the Richmond City Council last week :
“ General Rosser being introduced to the
Council, after paying a handsome tribute to the
people of Baltimore—the ladies especially—men
tioned the formation of a Southern Orphan As
sociation there, with the object of establishing
an asylum for the orphans of Southern sojdiers
and sailors. Alter due deliberation on the part
of the members of the Association, it was deter
mined to make Richmond the place for the asy
lum. He had been sent on as a managing direc
tor to make a proposition to' the Council by
which the funds of the Association could be
considerably enhanced. The house formerly oo
pied by Mr. Jefferson Davis was owned by the
city of Richmond, and the proposition in view
was, that the property be turned over to the As
sociation at a stipulated price and upon stated
terms. The Association could, alter getting pos
session of the property raffle it off at a great
profit. He (General Rosser) communicated with
the ladies of the Association in Baltimore, and
they succeeded in securing the efforts of a gen
tleman of influence at Washington. That gen
tleman had written him a note, telling him that
there was a good chance for the release of "the
property in sixteen or eighteen days. During
the discussion, it was shown that the house, lot
and furniture had cost the city, in 1861, $42,200
—$7,200 of which had been paid for the furni
ture. The property had been assessed at $28,796
in 1861. Several propositions were put into the
Council and rejected, and the motion of Mr.
Saunders, making a sale of the property to Gen.
Rosser, as agent for the Orphan Association, for
$40,000, or $35,000 without the furniture, was
carried.”
The plan tor founding this asylum is as follows:
500,000 certificates, of $1 each,.will be sold, and
on the 1st of May next, or before, if all the tick
ets are disposed of sooner, a drawing will be
held in the city of Richmond, under the superin
tendence of the Mayor and a committee of the
Council, at which 2,000 prizes, none less than
$100, will be awarded.
Among the prizes to be awarded is the above-
named mansion, valued at $40,000; the Stret
ford House, with 1,000 acres of land, the home
stead of the Lee family aud the birth-place of
General Lee, valued at $20,000; 1,000 acres of
land, adjoining the same tract, valued at $5,000.
Besides these, there are prizes of 200 pianos, 200
melodeons, 500 gold watches, 100 cotton gins,
and 500 sewing machines. General Rosser has
been chosen manager.
We hope the people of the South will give
this enterprise their cordial support.
The National Banks.
The Philadelphia Ledger evidently has a dam
aging opinion of the banks now furnishing a
large proportion of the national currency qf
“ these United States.” It says:
In the old days of Indiana banking, when “red
dog ” banks were abundant there, and “ wild
cat” banks were quite as abundant in Michigan,
an unfortuuate fellow who had quite a quantity
of that species of paper on hand, presented it,
over the counter with a demand for coin. The
cashier replied that he had the specie on hand,
but said be could not pay it out without violating
the law, as the general banking act of the State
of Iudiaua required him to keep on hand an
arnouut equal to fifteen per cent, of all the notes
issued. “ So you see,” he said to the puzzled
holder of the notes, “ I can’t give you any of it,
for I’ve got just the requisite fifteen per cent, on
hand, and I must keep it, for if I pay you I shall
break the law, aud the State fordids' me to do
that.” This was a queer enough style of bank
ing, but still it is not without its parallel in Wiese
days. There are some national banks, and not a
few of them, who manage to do quite as smart
things as this Indiana banker did. The law re
quires them to keep a larger percentage than that
named above for “greenback” currency on hand
for the redemption of their notes, but they neither
keep that amount of legal tenders in their vaults
nor redeem their notes. It has been demonstra
ted by the collapse of two or three of them that
they had not even two per cent, of legal tenders
on hand, and they so managed, by scattering their
issue over the most distant places in the United
States, as to prevent persons from getting a suf
ficient number of them to make it an object to
send them home for redemption, and it they
could, they would find it very difficult to discover
the banking houses of some of these inaccessi
ble institutions.
Tbe Next Presidency.
The Cincinnati Commercial, Republican, in
troduces. in a leader .of somewhat formidable
pretensions, the name of Gen. Geo. 11. Thomas
for tbe next 1 ‘residency. The article is also j
slightly historical. We copy an extract:
Major General Geo. II. Thomas was ia the city '
yesterday, on his way to Washington, detained
by tbe snow blockade. The people who are
distinctly and always for the National Govern
ment of the United States, have come to regard
General Thomas with peculiar pride, affection
and confidence, llis Washingtonian equipoise
ot character, his steady brilliant good fortune in
war, his unswerving, unquestioned faithfulness
alter the war, are familiar to nil men ; and the
serene light of his great reputation is daily bright
ening over the whole country. Olliers by ad
ventitious aids may have acquired greater tem
porary couspicuity, and have heard more of the
intoxicating applause of the multitudes who
honor high rank aud celebrated achievements,
hat none have accomplished more in proportion
to their trusts, and none stand higher to-day in
the serious estimation of the judicious, than
Gen. Thomas.
Claims.—It is said that the Committees-on
Claims in both Houses ol Congress have been
flooded with such an avalanche of claims ot ev
ery description, that relief is indispensable.—
There are thousands of claims ready to be pre
ferred as soon as the precedents, which have been
submitted to the committees, are favorably con
sidered. A large proportion are those of con
tractors who
BOW askin
A Land Slide—Arkansas.
The Helena Clarion gives an account of an
extraordinary caving in at that place :
The Mississippi river has made ar other sudden
and destructive inroad upon the foundations ot
the city. At about two o'clock last Sunday
morning, the bank opposite tbe Exchange Hotel
commenced sliding iD, and in a very short time
a very large semi-circular section of the bank
went in. exlending back across Main street, en
dangering the hotel building and the adjoining
residences. This is the largest and most ruinous
caving which has occurred, and is truly a great
calamity to onr citizens whose property is thus
swallowed up by the Father ot Waters. The
Exchange Hotel, property of II. C. Rightor,Esq.,
has just been bandsomely refitted at great ex
pense. The loss falls peculiarly severe upon this
gentleman, as also the owners of houses in the
vicinity of the cave, who are necessitated to tear
down and rebuild farther back. • This continuous
caving is last bringing the main portion of our
town upon the very verge of the bank, and great
apprehensions are feft that many of onr largest
business houses will have to be vacated at au
early d ly. Could property holders be indem
nified tor their losses, we believe it would be
belter for the growth and prosperity of the place
to retire to the hills, where we have a sure foun
dation well adapted for building up the most
beautiful city in the West.
“Death of Hon. T. II. TiurrE.—The Carters-
viile Krpre« announces the death ol Hon. Tur
ner II. Tiuppe. He died suddenly, it is be
lieved of apoplexy, at his residence a few miles
from Cassville, on the 20th instant. He com
plained a short while before his death of wenk-
propqse to go tocoSsuriiate their schemes against
the integrity of the government :
[Fro* the Yati-Slavery Standard, Jan. l!»;j
Thfe decisions of the Supreme Court shew ns
that we must henceforth count two of the three
great co-equal powers of the Government against
us. Henceforth Congress fights alone for the na
tion against the Snpreme Court and the Presi
dent, leagued in the service of rebeldom. Of
course, therefore, the contest grows keener and
more equal, and the South takes courage. The
North is not discouraged, because she knows
her omnipotence, knows that she can crush aU the
mere forms of Government when it is necessary so
to do in order to secure its great purpose—justice
and the preservation of 'national existence.—
Tla* the people mean to do, and wtU do, unless
baulked by timid, selfish, incompetent and cor
rupt leaders.
The action of the Supreme Court—its disloy
alty—will not surprise Abolitionists ; we have
tested that bench tor thirty years. Ever since
Taney—the mere creature of a self-willed Presi
dent—took his seat there, it has ceased to be an in
dependent branch of the Government, and become
the convenient and supple tool of the Executive.
Abolitionists well know that, during the whole
course of its existence, it lias never squared its
decisions on the slave question either with jus
tice, the spirit of the Constitution, or even its
letter when that favored liberty. While its course
on many great issues has been open to grave ob^
jection, its record on tl^ negro question is infa
mous. We use the word deliberately. The use
of it in this connection twenty-five years ago,
won us the unmitigated abuse of tbe whole
American Press. We have maturely considered
their protest, and remaining of the same opinion
still, deliberately repeat tbe statement. Without
limiting the remark to the slave question, we
affirm that, on several important subjects, no in
stinct of freedom has ever led that court to de
viate by accident or for a moment into any de
cision becoming the American people, their his
tory, Constitution, or Declaration of Indepen
dence. An effort would have been made early
in the war to remodel the court, but for a very
general distrust of Mr. Lincoln’s policy in filling
vacancies there. Thaddeus Stevens, when ap
pealed to in 1862 to neutralize the poison of that
bench by adding two or three trustworthy Judges,
replied : “Add Judges for Abraham to nominate!
I had rather risk the court-as it is.” Events have
confirmed his sagacity, two of Lincoln’s nomi
nees having joined the enemy.
If present appearances may be trusted, that
court, like the President, is henceforth to stand
an insurmountable obstacle, as at present consti
tuted, to any efficient and safe reconstruction.
Thanks to the Dred Scott and other decisions,
the bench Las long ago lost the sympathy and
respect of the masses. General Jackson could
not lift Taney to the bench; he could drag the
bench down to Taney. There are men whom
it is impossible to make respectable, since they
have no element to win respect. There is no
human institution so venerable that the touch of
vile men will not defile and degrade it. Ten
years ago, the final cause of suoh a creature as
Taney was inexplicable. To-day the mystery is
solved. No element less repulsive and discredit
able than his character would have sufficed to
utterly bankrupt such a power as that Court,
which, in its pristine vigor—serving tyranny
with decorum—might have overawed and misled
the people in this crisis.
It will need but little effort to show the people
the true course to be taken in this emergency.—
The nation must be saved, no matter what or how
venerable the foe, whose existence goes down be
fore that necessity. The ideal of such a court,
aloof from all political ambition, far above all
party spirit, unimpassioned as justice, was a
grand conception. Such a court would have
been an invaluable element in our system. Until
within some twenty years, the masses have re
garded it as a bench basing its decisions on defi
nite, unvarying aud easily-understood principles.
Of late it is seen to be what it is, a mere append
age to party. Appointed lor life, its judges must,
of course, often find themselves appurtenant, by
their prejudices and associations, to a defeated
party. Such is their present position; and, like
all fragments and elements of the old, disloyal
Democratic party, its fate is certain. The. mo
ment there arises in the Republican rqjiks a man
bold enough to strike, the people will applaud the-
blow. -There will be the same outcry and the
same resistance from the same quarters as there
was when anti-slavery first demanded that the
nation should mould its form or its spirit. The
outcry and resistance will be just as vain in this
case as in that. The instincts of the masses,
the consciences of just men, tbe spirit of the age
and God’s law all demand that the inspiration
and corner-stone of this government shall be
justice. The Constitution, with its time-honored
compromises held up by the strongest parties,
was (just in the balance against such a current.—
This court will prove the same. The dry rot of
its political subservience has made it an empty
form. The wind of the blow that demolished
slavery were enough to scatter this obstacle from
our path. Wendell Phillips.
The Condition In Tennessee.
We copied - into our columns last week, from
tbe Nashville papers, accounts of the killing of
two persons in Obion county, Tennessee—one of
them a member of the State Senate, the other a
deputy sheriff of the county. Outrages ot the
kind seem to be of more frequent occurrence in
Tennessee and Kentucky than in the States
South. Indeed, it is seldom the journals of the
South are called upon to record anything ol the
kind. The Nashville Union dkDispatch, referring
to such outrages and deploring tlieir frequency,
says :
Enough is ascertained to convince us that a
very bad state of things exists in the counties of
Obion, Weakley and Henry, and that much of
the present disturbed condition of society and
many of the atrocities committed 1 in that region
are attributable to the indiscretions, not to say
malicious prqjvidices, of those extremists who
have been, put in power.
Tbq Confederate soldiers, when they surren
dered, did so in good faith, and returned as citi
zens to resume their wonted avocations. Instead
of being received in a spirit ot charity, they have,
jiq. iqany instances, been persecuted and treated
with every indignity that could be conceived of.
Men of little merit and no discrimination, whom
the convulsion of the past war threw to the sur
face, invested with a little brief authority that they
never could otherwise have obtained, lord it,
or aim to, like petty tyrants, over to those whe
are tlieir equals, not to say their superiors.—
This is the case in many localities. We are in
formed, and have heard it frequently spoken of
and deplored, that the sheriffs of the counties re
ferred to, especially ia the county ot Obion, go
through, the counties with armed posses, subject
ing unoffending citizens to various indignities
and insults, threatening and even indulging in
violence. Union leagues and armed posses or
ganizing and riding through peaceful neighbor
hoods are provocative everywhere of mischief
and disorder. They are to be deprecated as in
judicious in the extreme. It is quite probable
from various reports at hand, that the deplorable
occurrences under consideration were originally
provoked by an indiscreet and bullying applica
tion of authority on the part of extremists and
officials. We do trust that the people in that
section of our State will come to their sober
senses, that tbe private citizens will try-to be
law-abiding, and that officials will remember that
law is to protect and not to persecute the people.
We trust that we will have no more killing and
shooting to report from that region, though if
the vigorous and extreme measures are resorted
to that we hear rumored in certain circles of
sending guards and soldiers there, we fear as to
the resuit.
Value of the Annual Products.
In the House of Representatives during the
debate on tbe productive tariff, the following
official statistics were exhibited:
The value in gold of the annual products of
the people of the United States for 1860 was,
agricultural, $1,609,000,000: manufactures, $917,-
000,000; mining, $100,000,000; fishing, $13,000,-
000; hunting, $20,000,000; wood-cutting, $25,-
000.000; domestic commerce, $1,500,000,000;
foreign commerce, $190,000,000; net annual earn
ings in exchange for products with foreign coun
tries, viz: from ports and exjxirts ; increased
value of lands, $2,400,000,000; total value,
$6.656,000,000; or reduced to currency at 140
per cent, the estimate lor 1866 would be $945,-
800,000. In I860 $6,000,000 in gold value were
consumed during the year, leaving $756,000,000
surplus, or annual gaiu of product of I860 was
about tlie same as of 1S60, when tbe surplus
amounted to $L057,000,000 in currency ; and of
this amount $561,000,000 was paid to the gov
ernment in iorm ol taxes.
The fretMtBt apt <h« ftewpapera. »
We learn through a reli^bl^ source at Wash
ington that the President tiaii,,been grealy an
noyed by some of the city jocffnaJs Which pro
fess to support the Administration, §tft,in reality,
are apparently doing all they can tfi injure its
reputation with the country by suggestions of
violence and anarchy, and by assuming to speak
lor the army and navy, rank and file. Our infor
mant further states that the President’s annoy
ance is greater from the fact that his enemies in
sist upon making those journals organs of the
Administration and inspired by it; when, in fact,
he has no organ at Washington, doe3 not bold
confidential relations with the editor of any pa
per, and has no more knowledge of the senti
ments they mean to express than the humblest
of their subscribers. The writer states that the
President is not intimidated by threats or meas
ures of impeachment. Sincere in his convictions,
actuated by a desire to restore the country to
harmony and to secure representation to all its
sections, be bides bis time, prepared to meet
whatever contingency may present itself with
fortitude and laith in the people’s judgment of
right and wrong. He is able to say that, as far
as he has expressed himself, he deprecates all
appeals to anarchy and revolution, and no one
can be more pained than he is at the rashness of
speech which would advocate another civil war
and the renewal of such scenes as have so re
cently tom and distracted the country.
A New Test for Attorneys.
The following is the bill reported from the Ju
diciary Committee by Mr. Boutwell, ol Massa
chusetts, and which was passed by the House of
Representatives on the 23d instant by a vote of
109 to 42: »
Section I. Be it enacted, etc, That no person
shall be permitted to act as attorney or counsel
or in any court of the United States who has
been guilt}- of treason, bribery, murder, or other
felony, or who has been engaged in any rebellion
against the Government ol the United States, or
who has given aid, comfort or encouragement to
the enemies of the United States in armed hos
tility thereto.
Section 2. And be it further enacted, That the
first section of this act is hereby declared to be a
rule of every court of the United States.
Section 3. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty ol the judge or judges of any
such court, where the suggestion is made in open
court, that any person acting as an attorney or
counselor of said court, or offering or proposing
to so act, is barred by the provision of this act;
or whenever said judge or judges shall believe
that such person is barred, to inquire and ascer
tain whether such person has been guilty of trea
son, bribery, murder, or other felony, or whether
he has been engaged in any rebellion against the
government ot the United States, or whether he
has given aid, comfort or encouragement to the
enemies of the United States in armed hostility
thereto; and if the court shall be of the opinion
that such person has been guilty of treason, bri
bery, murder, or other felony, or that he has been
engaged in any rebellion against the govern
ment of the United States, or that, he has given
aid, corafort, or encouragement to th.e enemies
of the United States, in armed hostility thereto,
to exclude and debar such pers on from the office
of attorney or counselor at said court; and any
person who shall testify falsely in any examina
tion n ade by any court as aforesaid, shall be
guilty of prejury, and shall ’oe liable to the pains
and penalties ot peijury.
Military Arrests at Rome.
We copy the following from the Rome Courier
of Saturday:
On yesterday, the 25th instant, parts of com
pany t) and G, some fifty-nine men, of the 16th
Regualars, under the command of Captain Mills,
escorted by Captain De la Mesa, of the Freed-
men’s Bureau, arrived on the 2 o’clock train, and
immediately .arrested tour young men of this
place, Capt. L. T. Mitchell, Lieut. R. F. Hutch
ings, Matt. Pate and Henry Wells. A squad was
also detailed to arrest Henry A. Stnitli and Dave
Powers, but this has not been done up to this
writing—they not being found.
What is the occasion of these arrests is a mat
ter of conjecture. It is supposed to be because
these gentlemen took part in a charitable enter
tainment, in.which “The Officer’s Funeral” was a
tableaux, wherein the Confederate "flag was ex
hibited. T.'he prisoners were carried to the court
house unrierlieavy guard.
Since the above was in type, we learn that
Powers has been arrested, and that the above con-
jecture as to the cause of arrest is correct. We
are told that Captain De la Mesa, says he has
orders, to arrest all who took part in the exhibi
tion, both ladies and gentlemen, but that he will
only execute it on the gentlemen.
Bail was refused, but a writ of habeas corpus
has been sued out for their release, before Judge
D. M. Hood, of the County Court. The result
is not yet known.
Qreeley vs. Bennett.—The Richmond Time§
says: The attitude of the Herald and the Tribune,
two leading journals of New York, with refer
ence to the impeachment of the President, is
among the curiosities of the age. The New
York Herald favors the measure, while the Tri
bune bitterly opposes it. The antagonism is.
ominous, however, as Bennett invariably goes
with the current, and would advocate a plurality
of wives if he lived in Utah, or would clamor
for cannibalism if he edited a paper where human
flesh was the favorite food ot those who “adver
tised in the New York Herald." Greeley has a
queer, battered and weather-beaten article which
he calls a “conscience,” whereas Bennett sold his
to the devil years ago, and has managed to thrive
wonderfully without it ever since. But when he
strikes a public man it is very certain that he is
“down.” When they were popular he groveled
at the feet of Pierce and Buchanan, bat when
they lost ground he sprang at them like a mad
dog.
*
Rents at Richmond.—The Richmond papers
announce a heavy decline in rents in that city;
for instance, one of them says: The buildings
on Cary street, known as “ Commercial Block,”
which rented last year for $5,000 each, are now
rented for $2,000 each. The building lately oc
cupied by the National Express Company, and
for which they paid $6,500 per annum, rented a
day or two since at auction for $1,650. The
buildings on Fifteenth street, which rented in
I860 for $6,000, are now rented for $1,200, and
so on.
This indicates not distress, dull trade, and
want of confidence, but a gradual return of the
standard of legitimate business.
A Strange Case.—The last Wytheville, Vir
ginia, DUpaich sins:
We are informed that Mr. Peter Butner, a for-
n er resident of our town, who has contended for
i a number of years that he will never die, but will
| remain on this earth alive until Gabriel shall blow
liis trumpet, was thrown into some sort of a trance
The Gold Bill Passed by tbe House of
Representatives.
Tbe House of Representatives a few days ago
passed a gold bill which provides for six days’
notice, by advertisement, in a daily newspaper
in New York and Washington prior to any sale
of coin from the Treasury of the United States,
which notice must designate tbe amount to be
offered. The payments for coin thus disposed
of may be made in compound interest notes
with the interest accrued thereon. It is generally
supposed that some material amendments will
"be made to the bill in tbe Senate, one of which
may fix the minimum reserve of gold to be kept
on hand or within call by the government.
Tragedy in Maine.—A dispatch from Lew-
istown, Maine, says two old ladies named Kins,
ley and Caswell, respectively sixty and seventy
years of age, were found murdered in their own
house, about two miles from town at a place
called Young’s Comer. It is supposed that tbe
deed was committed either on Wednesday or
Thursday, during the night. The two ladies
lived alone in the house, and were employed in
binding, shoes tor the firm of Kieth, Berry & Co.,
of Anbum. The murderer’s motive was rape,
as there were marks of a violet struggle on the
body of Mrs. Kinsley. A sum of money in
Government bunds was found in tbe room un- j
touched. A man by the name of Johnson has ;
been arrested on suspicion, and is now in Auburn
jail.
Remarkable.—The Cuthbert Appeal of yes
terday, says: Our community participated in
rather a remarkable Ceremony on Wednesday
. . . [to* ran!
Nature'and f&n*rtalltT. the ioMI.
Man is a compound being; he is made up of
body and soul, mind and matter. The two na
tures differ widely from each other. By one,
man is allied to earth and worms; by the other
he claims kindred to the skies and to angels!—
Too commonly tbe animal nature prevails oyer
the spiritual, and is the cause of great damage to
the soul. The fact is notorious, that the body is
of short duration; and it is a solemn fact equal
ly certain, though less obvious, that the soul ex
its forever !
Men are in the habit of arguing this momen
tous truism from the nature of the soul itself and
from the character of its Divine author. But, as
might well be expected on a matter of such
overwhelming importance to every individual,
we are not left to the guidance of onr own rea
son. The Bible establishes the fact beyond a
doubt. On almost the first page of the inspired
volume, we read : “ The Lord God formed mart
of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life ; and man became a living
soul.” From hence, we infer, that immortality
was the original destiny of both body and soul;
but by the apostacy of our first parents, the for
mer was sentenced to return to its original ele
ment, but the soul was left possessed of the nev
er dying principle, with which it was originally
endowed, and was rendered absolutely incapa
ble of dissolution 1 Thus, it is evident, every
man is immortal in spite of himself. However
much he may desire, and seek, annihilation, he
will never find it. He has begun to be, and he
can never cease to be. Here, also, we learn tbe
true origin of tbe soul. It does not come of or
dinary generation, but is the peculiar gift of God!
Elibu, one of the ancient patriarchs, says, “ The
Spirit of Cod hath made me, and the breath of the
Almighty hath given me life." And, again: "There
is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Al
mighty giveth him understanding." Aud again, God
says: “ All souls are mine." And when the body
“ returns to the dust, as it teas, the soul returns to
God, who gave it.” Here let us pause for a mo
ment, and reflect on the manner in which men
treat this precious gift of God! It is a painful
consideration, that they not only fail to place on
it a proper estimate, but overlook its interest al
together, and do all they can to ruin and destroy
it! Oh! fatal act of suicide. Can a rational
being be capable of such injury to himself, and
such base ingratitude to God ?
But there are other considerations which abun
dantly enhance the value of this precious gift of
God, and unspeakably augment the fearful guilt
of those who take no pains to inform themselves
ot their origin and destiny. -We refer to the
amazing capacities of the soul, and the abundant
provision the All-wise Creator has made for their
improvement and gratification!
Even in this world, it is delightful to contem
plate the wonderful and beneficial discoveries
the mind has achieved in the arts and sciences,
and in the animal, vegetable and mineral king
doms. It has climbed unlimited space, seen and
described unnumbered worlds, all combined and
planned by uncreated and infinite skill, and sup
ported by. infinite benevolence! And if all this
is possible in a world like this, where there is so
much to oppose its progress, what will its pro
gress be in Eternity, where there is nothing to
impede, but everything to facilitate progression!
O, transporting thought 1 Cherubim and Sera
phim know well that a point will be arrived at
in the heavenly world, when every redeemed
and heaven-born soul will be as perfect as them
selves, and even surpass them in knowledge, ho
liness and bliss! As yet, “ Eye hath not seen
ear hath not heard, nor hath entered into tlie
heart the things which God hath prepared for
those who love him.” O, the infinite worth of
the soul! viewed in this light alone to be capa
ble of endless progression, to be continually and
eternally approximating Divine and Infinite
goodness! The idea, the thought itself is bliss,
beyond all that earth can offer. To know our
selves to be making perpetual approaches to our
Maker, the sublime and glorious standard of
Infinite and Eternal perfection, and at the 3ame
time to know and to rejoice in the thought that
we are only finite, and shall ever remain so
while Jehovah is, and ever will be, forever Infi
nite!
Here I pause again and ask myself: How do
I value this precious jewel, this gloriofis gift of
God, which so distinguishes me in the scale of
being ? Am I conscious of its worth ? Am
chiefly concerned to secure its everlasting im
provement in holiness and in happiness, or for
getful of my exalted destiny; do I yield to my
depraved propensities and passions; or, if not
thus lost to all that is good and excellent, do jl
only inquire “ What shall I eat, what shall
drink, and how shall I be clothed ?” Alas ! this
is only to adorn the casket, while the peerless,
priceless gem is thrown away, or neglected and
lost! W. R.
Horace Greeley asm Lecturer.
Mr. Greeley delivered a lecture in Alexan
dria, Va., on Friday night last. The subject
chosen was “Self-made Men,” to which the lec
turer strictly confined hiffiself. The Gazette of
Saturday says:
About one hundred and fifty people, probably
attended the lecture of the Hon. Horace Greely
at the Methodist Episcopal Church, last night
they were mostly Radicals, advanced and moder
ate, including Judge Underwood, Parson Hun-
nicut and others, well known to fame, but we
observed a Confederate Brigadier Genera 1, and
quite a number of other prominent|Sontliern men
among the audience.
Mr. Greeley is a large, rather fine-looking old
gentleman, with very while hair, and but that
liis face is shorter and wider, would bear a strik
ing likeness to Bishop McGill, of Richmond
whom, as it is, he somewhat resembles. We got
in after lie did, andlso can’t say whether he wore
the renowned white hat, but a white overcoat be
certainly had, and a pretty old one too; it looked
as though it might have served twenty years
beneatli was a very nice suit ot black, much
more fashionable and neater than we bad sup
posed tlie philosopher ever wore.
We were prepared lor a singular delivery on
Mr. Greeley’s part, and in this we were not dis
appointed, for he reads and speaks in a disagreea
ble, drawling manner, which would rum almost
any other lecturer at once, but we certainly did
not expect the style of composition which we
heard. We had supposed from what we liad seen
of Mr. Greeley’s editorial writings, that liis die
tion would be ^plain and practical; but on the
contrary, as soon as lie commenced reading the
lecture proper, his style became constrained, and
liis language what might be called high flown, if
we might not even apply to it tlie slung phrase
“hifaluvn,” the originality of his ideas, alone
redeemed the discourse.
The lecture was a very good one of its kind
but everybody was disappointed, for everybody
expected to hear something else.
What is Progressive Agriculture ?—The
New York Observer answers this question in a
few words, but very comprehensively, as fol
lows:
“Under its influence spring tastty and conve
nient dwellings, adorned with shrubs and flowers,
and beautiful within with the smiles of happy
wives, tidy children in the lap of thoughtful age
—broad hearts and acts, as well as words of wel
come. Progressive agriculture builds bams and
puts gutters on them, builds stables for cattle and
raises roots to feed them. It grafts wild apple
trees by the meadow with pippins or greening;
it sets out new orchards and takes care of the old
ones. It drains low lands, cuts down bushes,
bays a mower, house tools and wagons, keeps
good fences and practices soiling. It makes hens
lay, chickens live, and prevents swine from root
ing up meadows. Progressive agriculture keeps
on hand plenty of dry fuel, and brings in the
oven wood for the women. It plows deeply,
sows plentifully, harrows evenly, and prays for
the blessings of Heaven.”
Fatal Affray in South Carolina.—The
Edgefield Advertiser says:
An aflray took place in the upper part of our
District on Friday last, which resulted in the
deaths of two individuals, Mr. Stan Chappell, a
veiy well known citizen, and a negro man, whose
name we have not heard. It appears that Mr,
Chappell, accompanied by the said negro, went
a few days since, by which life was, to all appear- evening—the burial of a man and his wife in the to the house ol Mr. Frank Payne, another well
same grave. Our fellow citizen Mr. John Lan-; known citizen, with the intention ol seeking a
aucc3, entirely extinct. His belief led him often
to warn his lrieiids'not to put him under terra
\Jirnia too soon, but to keep his body many days,
so as to convince tliemselves ot tbe fact that he
would never die. His warning was taken, and
on the fifth day of his transitory s leep, unmis
takable signs of life appeared in Peter’s body;
drum and his wife died on the dry previously
within five hours of each other. Such things
may and do take place in case of epidemics, but •
are very rare in tlieir absence, as in this instance.
personal rencontre with the latter. Chappell
shot Payne, who, after he tell, and while still
down, drew' his pistol and fired at Chappell kill
ing him instantly. By this time Mr. Jeff Payne,
a brother of Mr. Frank Payne, appeared on the
scene, was fired upon by the negro, and slightly
and in a icw hours he was himself again! £ * f one .*? ? e ^ of desth hurye*ted j wounded ; he, in turn, shot the negro and killed
) took contracts at low price, and are i ness an d taintness but never spoke after he was has been a close reader of the good book and we | 1116 Qmtea heads OT a . leaTlr
Congress for indemnity. j seized by the fatal shock-expired immediately, i have heard him preach some good sermons. j “the lone scion of his father’s house
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE
[sraeux io TII IMTSIAJaXSCXK.1
Paris. January 4, im7-
the hew year.
We have just quitted a year which brought us
disaster of every kind, rain, bloodshed and
inundations. If the Government of Europe
were wise they would abandon all ideas of great
armies, and of war, and would only think of the
works of peace. European governments would
be under a singular illusion if they thought that
the order which reigns in Europe, as they are
pleased to call it, was as real as it is apparent;
that tranquility maintained by a million of bay
onets is only the postponement of all questions.
The alternative is this: Either the governments
must do the work of tlie revolutions or the latter
will do that of the former. The rulers must take
steps to solve all the questions at present in sus
pense, or they must maintain indefinitely a mil
lion of men under arms. To pay those troops
is already, for more than one State, an embarrass
ment, but it is not the most serious difficulty.—
There are no soldiers without officers; no satis
faction without promotion—which cannot take
place without war—are there no doubts whether
that scourge, which introduces disorder into all
interests before carrying death into families, is
a means of avoiding revolution ? In any case,
would there not be an advantage in solving the
questions and dismissing soldiers, rather than
maintaining the bayonets and rendering the sub
jects of dispute eternal ? Would that not be a
saving to the population? Would it not be
an advantage tor the governments, which are
bound up together by a material depen
dence, of which they appear to be terrified,
but which they will vainly attempt to destroy ?
They will not escape from it by accusing them
selves and condemning each other; by putting
an end to their intestine divisions, or to their con
sistent wars; to their fruitless expenses; their an-
arclial taxes, and their ruinous loans, by raising
themselves to the height of their mission; by
assuming immediately the initiative in all eco
nomical reforms; by converting the febrile and
barren agitation of the populations into a heal
thy and productive activity of the mind and
body; in fine, by acting henceforth as if they no
longer represented anything more than one great
civilizing nation called Europe. Everything
protests against war, which for want of motives
and pretexts cannot fail to shortly die away of
itself; yes, everything exclaims against such in
human quarrels. Look up and see that gigantic
exhibition of the works of industry of the two
hemispheres, which is in a few weeks to open to
a million ot visitors; that universal conquest of
things; that new battle field on which all nations
are about to shine together; no longer man
against man, but product against product, that
transformation of conquest into competition, and
of sanguinary glory into beneficent wealth. But
no, there is an obstinate persistence in bringing
up the rising generation to the use of arms.
THE ARMY REFORM COMMISSION.
At one of the late sittings of the portion of the
Council of State, Marshal Randou, Minister of
War, again brought forward his plan for the
French army. He proposes a duration of active
service extending over nine years, of which three
in the reserved; and the calling oat of a larger an
nual contingent than at present. The advantages
of this system would be, acording to its author, to
maintain a greater force under arms, and not to
overcharge the country wtih expenditures. M.
Router, Minister of State, replying to his col
league at the War Office, is said to have justly
observed that the population would have good
reason for proclaiming against'a measure which
disturbs the order of families, by imposing upon
the young men the obligation ol not marrying
before attaining twenty-nine years of age. The
Council of State, called upon for its opinion, re
peated the Marshal’s proposals.
THE FOPE LEFT TO HIMSELF.
Accounts from the Holy City have just been
received. General Kangler, Minister of Arms,
in congratualating the Pope in the name of the
officers of the Pontificial army, expressed his
confidence in the continuation of public tranquil
ity, and remarked on the good leeling with which
the Roman population was animated. He de
clared himself ready to fight the agitators who
might come from abroad. His Holiness declared
that he counted on the union of the army with
the inhabitants. He added that an emissary,
arrested by the police, liad been found to be the
bearer of papers inviting the people to postpone
any movement, as deliverance was near. In re
ply to the Minister of Finance, the Pope spoke
of the difficulties resulting from the increase of
the military.
AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.
Our attention in Paris is now much taken up
with tbe doings of Narvaez in Spain. Not con
tent with shooting and banishing the mili
tary, he has now turned his fury against all those
belonging to no matter what class, who have in
any way opposed liis stringent meusures.
HOLIDAY MAKING IN PARIS.
The capital is, at this time of the year, full of
strangers, and notwithstanding the inclemency
of the weather, the Boulevards are daily crowd
ed with buyers and lookers at the temporary
stalls which have been built on the Boulevards.
These stalls which stretch in long lines along
the Boulevards, were first erected there in 1789.
They disappeared for a time in 1793, when new
years’ gifts were abolished, as useless; in 1797
they again appeared, but were a second time sup
pressed in the first empire. Under the restora
tion, in 1828, they were again authorized to last
until 1829. From 1836 to 1862, they were laid
aside, but since the last named year they were
again revived, and seem to be increasing in num
ber each season.
TtlE BELLICOSE JOURNALIST AGAIN.
A duel took place this week between two wri
ters of tbe Paris press, Mr. Henrie Rochefort and
Monsieur Paul de Cassaguie, tlie latter being the
offending party; the parties with their seconds
had repaired to Belgium, but the meetiug was
delayed by the intervention of the police. At
last the affair came off with pistols yesterday
morning, Mr. Rochefort receiving a slight wound
in the side.
The Horrors of Slavery.—The Richmond
Whig relates the following incident as illustra
tive of the horrors of slavery :
We were never so forcibly struck with the hor
rors of this barbarous institution as on yesterday.
We saw a white-eyed, black-skinned damsel of
tender years, whom we had often seen before
when she was in high glee and had enough of
this world’s goods to fill her stomach and clothe
her back, all at “ole massa’s” expense. She was
trudging along through the snow, with scanty
raiment and nary a shoe, looking for one of her
blue liberators who would put his band into his
pocket and relieve her necessities. But, alas, it
was pitiful; for though there was a whole city
full of Yankees and friends, she found none un
til she met-with an ex-Confederate soldier yfao
had lost an arm in battling for his country. He
put his only hand in his pocket, drew forth liis
only half dollar, and cheerfully gave it to the
dusky waif who had been set adrift on
ciless sea of misery and starvation. ‘
de Buro ? ”
A Genuine GJteet Story.
[From tho Press.) *
The 1 following singular story Comes to us tvith
every assurance of its truth,- so far as the belief
of the writer is concerned. In other words, it is
told in good faith, we are satisfied, and with no
hoaxing intent. We presume there are many
who will credit it entirely as a supernatural in
cident, while other people will readily explain it
as one of the many recorded phenomena illusions
caused by some physical disorder. We leave
each reader to apply Ins own theory to the story,
giving it exactly as it comes to us:
I have reasons for not signing my real name to
the following statement, aud for withholding it
from every person living, although I can pledge
the word of an honest man that every word I
am now about to relate is, in as far as 1 am cap
able of judging, as trne as truth itself.
On the night of Christmas eve, then, as I was
returning home after attending divine service in
a certain church in this city, on nearing my re
sidence I became suddenly aware that a stranger
was walking close behind me aud keeping step
with me in a manner which I considered to be
somewhat familiar and offensive. Influenced by
tbe sacredness of tbe place I had jus 1 ; left, and
feeling that I should soon be relieved of such un
desirable company, I said nothing, but hurried
my pace until I reached the steps leadiug to my
own door. At this point I baited for a moment
with tlie intention of scrutinizing the stranger
more closely as he passed, when 1 became sen
sible, at once, that, although it was snowing
rather fast, from the time I became cognizant of
the stranger’s proximity up fo the moment that
I reached my residence, none of the snow fell
upon either of us, but seemed to have been re
pelled about two feet all around from each of us,
we both, as it were, walking in a sort of vacuum.
Although I saw this palpably at tlie time of its
occurrence, and was quite aware that not a par
ticle of snow touched either of us while we were
together, yet, strange to say, it never struck me
as being singular until I had mounted the steps
and found the flakes falling on me once more.—
At this juncture I became very much alarmed,
and the more so from the fact that when I turned
round, on the upper step of the flight, lo endea
vor to get a peep at the stranger’s face, lie was
gone ? He had disappeared with the velocity of
light, and under circumstances the most incom
prehensible, leaving a strange impression that I
had seen him before, but as to when or where I
was totally unable to determine. Completely
astounded at an adventure so strange, I entered
my residence, where, to my surprise and pleasure,
I found an old friend seated in my study beside
a cheerful coal fire that burned in the grate, and
whom I had not seen for years, although I was
in the habit of constantly corresponding with
him. We were mutually delighted at meeting,
and I was happy In making liim at home in my
bachelor’s quarters—I having passed into “the.
sear and yellow leal” without being fortunate or
unfortunate enough to make a favorable impres
sion upon any of the fair sex. In the novelty
of my position, and the gratification it afforded
me, all remembrance of my adventure in the-
street was completely lost sight of, and I ad
dressed myself to conversation and the meager
hospitalities that I could offer him at so late am
hour of the night—my housekeeper having gone
to bed.
After supper and a single glass of ale each,
we retired to our respective sleeping apartments,
to renew our conversation at breakfast and
spend a liappy Christmas day together. Some
how or other I did not sleep very well; but, as
I am rather abstemious and quite unused to late
suppers, I fancied that my restlessness was oc
casioned by even the single glass of ale and t he
few mouthfuls I had taken to eat. As the day
began to dawn, however, I became drowsy, amtl
sank into a deep and refreshing slumber, fro in
which I was aroused about eight o’clock by the
well known voice of my aged domestic announc
ing that breakfast was ready I was soon up
and dressed, and, as was always my habit, passed
into my study for a few moments before going
down stairs.
Here, to my utter surprise, I preceived stand
ing on tlie table at which my friend and I had
supped, two glasses—one empty, and tlie other
filled with ale, beside a plate, the coutents of
which appeared not to have been touched. I
was astonished and confused beyond measure
at this ; for, before retiring to rest, I bad locked
a door leading out into the ball at tlie head ot
the stairs, which effectually cut off both my
study and my bed room from all inf usion. Un
able to account for this strange condition of tlie
table, I instantly hastened to the apartment of
my friend, aud knocked at the door. Receiving
no reply, I entered tlie room, whenlo! and be
hold ! it was empty, whilst liis bed bore all the evi
dence of its not having been slept in the night
previously. I ran down stairs in great conster
nation, and learned from my housekeeper that
she liad not made up any beds that morning,
and that not a soul had left or entered the house
that morning. Uitcrly bewildered, 1 was about
to make some inquiries, when my attention was.
arrested by a knock at the ball door. It was
the postman. He handed me a letter. I opened
it and sank into a chair: It contained the an
nouncement of my friend's death, which had
occurred at Washington a few days previous.
After having perused the sad conten s, the re
collection of my strange adventure iu the.street
rushed in with great force and distinctness upon
my memory, while my subsequent experience
in my study absolutely lor the time being para
lyzed all my reasoning faculties, although I am
far from being a strauger to mysterious sights
and sounds in the reality of which I have never
believed, nor do I fully yet. But what con
clusion can I arrive at iu this instance ? As
may be presumed, the subject has been present
with me ever since ; I now give it to the public-,
in the hope that some explanation my be offered
in connection with it, rather than fr om any de
sire to make it notorious.
mer-
fhar is
the united heads of a family, leariDg one son, ( j,i m . Mr. Frank Payne, we are”told, ia very
severely, if not dangerously wounded.
Chicago.—Thanks to tbe advantages of her
position, Chicago has been able to draw from
abroad nearly all tbe money needed for her great
enterprises. The Times, of that city, thus states
the case:
If anybody ever raised so much as five dollars
in Chicago to build a railroad or a canal, the fact
has not transpired; and the individual who con
tributed the amount is keeping it quiet, lest he
excites the derision of his acquaintances. There
are churches in this city which never cost a dol
lar of Chicago money. The same is true of
railroadk We are so many, and so important,
that we think outside missionaries can afford to
build their own churches, and still hare a margin
for profit in the honor of having a church in the
city. So of railroads; if people want our tfade,
or want to convert us, let them furnish the facili
ties themselves.
Cotton at Montgomery.—The Mail of Sat
urday says: Factors are stiff at former quota
tions, and some few lots have changed hands.
We quote the market firm at 26 to 27 cents,
buyers paying tax,
New York—Tlie Social and moral Condi
tion.
The New York Tribune lias some statistics
in regard to the “great social evil” of that city,
which will be found below :
“The Police Commissioners in their new cen
sus of the fashionable and unfashionable broth
els in this city, find' of the former, which are
known as “parlor houses,” where costly wines
are dispensed, about 300 sheltering about 3,000
abandoned women. The number of less pre
tentious brothels, where a concoction of New
Jersey cider and muriatic acid is sold as cham
pagne, and dealt out over a bar, is about 500,
and these keep from two to ten prostitutes each.
Of basements, containing from two to five
inmates, the number, is 600, and of dance, wait
ing, and assignation bouses, the number is 600.
Curiously enough, tlie Tenth Ward, which sup
ports the greatest number ol dram-shops, is also
the dwelling place of the greatest number of
women who are lost to shame: but, as in fash
ionable neighborhoods up town, many of tlie
novices in this peculiar crime are unsuspected,
except by the police. Not a few ot the costliest
palaces of pollution up town are so quietly kept
tbdt only the initiated are aware of their exist
ence. For example, two magnificent brown-
stone mansions on Filth avenue, one in 20th
street, several in 22d street, two in Fourth avenue,
one in Broadway, and one in Madison avenue,—
all superbly famished, and maintained at an
enormous cost—pass as fashionable boarding
houses, and until recpntly two of ihese institu
tions deceived even the detective police. In one
block in the Eighth Ward every house is a den
of iniquity. The Police Commissioners esti
mate of totals in this shameful business is far
under that which has been commonly received.
Their figures are as follows ; Houses of ill-fame,
2,100: inmates thereof, 11,000: women who
ply their vocation on the streets and dwell in
furnished houses and hotels, 14,000. The bill
in relation to this subject, which has been intro
duced by Assemblyman Jacobs, proposes to in
vest the Metropolitan. Police with power to
demand that every girl whom they may see
entering a known house of ill-fame shall exliibt
a paper showing that she has been duly record
ed as a public prostitute, and in the event of her
inability to produce such paper, it is proposed
that the officer shall at once escort her to the
Police Central Office, and there give her the
option of registering her name on the record
book of public prostitutes, or of seeking an
honest livelihood in the respectable walks of
life. It is believed that such girls as are imper
ceptibly drawn into the vortex of crime may
thus be saved. A girl not already fallen would
hesitate long before publicly proclaiming lierselt
a prostitute. The legislators and others who.
are pressing for the passage of an act to regulate
prostitution in this city, start with the theory of
the utter incorrigibility of experienced sireet-
walkere, and quote the police authorities, tlie
Commissioners of Charities and Correction, and
the medical faculty, in proof of the correctness
of their views.”
A Latter Day Preacher.
The Madison Journal gives the following por
trait of Elder SpooDer, the Chaplain of the Wis
consin Assembly:
The elder is widely known as an able and
efficient lobby member for some years past,
writes gossipy legislative correspondency to vari
ous newspapers, is a regular Boanerges in tin#
pulpit, and a tough customer on the slump. He
is a good specimen of the “muscular Christian”
—stands over 9ix feet in hight—has a Plutonian
breadth of back—the burly features of the an
tique Hercules—the limbs and thews of Anakim.
He will make vigorous and pointed prayers, liu
is also the legislative agent lor one of our ieiuUu-'-
rallroad companies, and will not only ulteud to
the spiritual welfare of the members, providing
them tickets for the car ot Zion, but will also
supply them with tree passes over the Milwaukee
and Prairie du Chien Railway,