THE DAUil EVENING TELEGRAPH PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1R6G.
THE HEW YOBK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING
JOURNALS UPON CURRENT TOPICS.
cox rum .thy bat for kveniko tklkorapii.
The Fnilnreol (Sic Morton) Peto & Bctts
Hilroad FrojccU In This Conntiy.
From the Herald.
The developmenMmwte at the met'tinsc ot the
creditors ot Messrs. Iot A Butt, held In Lon
don on the 8th hint., furnish some very Inte
matlnr (nets In regard to that lirm. The recent
Tieit of Mr Morton Peto to this country, the in
terest which he appeared to take in the con
struction of railroads and especially hU efforts
lo extend the Atlantic and Oreat Western to the
Atlantic seaboard, created no little curiosity and
Yiiipathy lor him anion? our people. Many
-ouli-u-d at the time woy he became so active
lust then and mani ete.l such willinsues to en
gage in turtber iailroad enterprises in the
Uuittd Sfates. Sir Morton 1'eto's agents here
were given the credit ot securing the visit of
their capitalist, which was to brim? aoout ereit
rem lis. but irom the lucts brouv'bt to light at
the n.eeting ot the creditors, aud the deba'es in
1'arliameni upon the liabilities ol coinpauies. it
would appear that both Sir Morton Pelo and his
eeents ln.d a lar ailkrent obieet in thpir visit to
tlii.s country than was generally supposed at the
'"Will be remembered that the effort of Peto's
party to make au arraneeuiout with the Erie
fcinli-oad Company thai would secure the opera
tion ot that road lor the interest ol the Atl mtic
nnd Urcat Western laileJ. Thereupon tliey
turned their attention to a route between the
Erie and that of the I'enusj Ivania Central. Ne
pollutions were maiie and a contract entered
into tor the purchase ot what is known as the
Catawixsa Road, in Penusylxauia, which, with
the construction of intersecting links, could,
with an arrangement with one ot the New Jer
sey railroads the Morris aud Essex ecure a
complete line under one inauasement irom New
York to St. Louis. Not only would the route
be under one nianaeement, but it would be con
siderably shorter than any other line Irom the
Atlantic to St. Louis.
The preliminary arrangements were all made
and the contracts entered into. This aceom
plihed, Sir Morton Peto icturned to Europe,
- coutidcnt that be hod perlormed a great teat,
. .and, as the developments now seem, to iudieata,
removed all danger of a financial disaster to bis
Arm, which seems to have been In a precarious
condition even at that dat. This new aud
(shorter line to the seaboard was, as it now ap
pears, to luinish the basis tor another issue of
bonds through which the firm of Puto A Uctts
would be aole to remove all their embarrass
ments aud carry through all their other projects
without being obliged to succumb to the tirpt
strinccncy in monetary all airs. This seems to
have been the great obiect of this movement.
The tmal success of the midd'e route, as con
templated by Sir Morton Peto and those con
nected with th Atlantic aud Ureat Western
Road, would prove a serious blow t ) all the
other trunk lines from this city to the West,
Including both the New York Central and Erie,
also the Pennsylvania Central, which has become
about as great a monopoly in Pennsylvania
as the Camden and Ambiy has In New Jersey.
Ho sooner was the tact known to the managers
of the.-e lines that the Decollations had been
completed, than legal proceedings were insti
tuted to prevent tue tinal consummation of the
aie of the roads in Pennsylvania. By the time
that Sir Morton reached Loudon the whole
thing was brought into the court.", and
the influeuce of the Pennsylvania Central
Company iu the court of that State secured au
Injunction which etlectdally put an end to the
new middle route. Following this a bill was
introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature,
giving to the Central Company a perpetual right
to lay tracts and construct roads in any
portion ot that State which they might deem
expedient, ana proiiiDittng any otner company
irom constructing a road over or across the
route which the Central Company might survey
and tilo hinds o. It was not necessary tor that
company to construct the roads to secure this
exclusive right, but merely to survey aud locate,
This measure was pushed through the Legist
ture, and thus Sir Morton Peto and his party
found themselves checkmated, both in the
courts and Leeislature. AU his eilorts to secure
A new basis lor capital in this country failed.
and the result at last has been the collapse of
tlie hrm ot feto fc Jjetts tne very thing that
the visit to tnis country was made to prevent,
Buch are some of the curious developments in
London finances, as well as the influence which
railroad corporations are exercising upon the
jud cial decisions and legislative euactmeiits in
tins country.
How Will the War in Europe End f
From the Nation.
The outbreak of hostilities in Europe has
probably by this lime taken place. It is gen&
rally bolieved that a contest hus begun which
will probably terminate in a radical change ill
the political arrangements of the European
continent, and give the final blow to the theories
on which the settlement of 1815 was based. The
aim of Prussia Is, doubtless, German unity, but
there is no likelihood that she will achieve such
Complete success as to render it possible for her
to fuse fill the small States under her own sway
To do this she would have not only to beat them,
Which would be no very difficult matter, but to
beat Austria not a little, but very badly. Aus
tran torce lies not so much in strength as in
endurance. She is not capable ol great eilorts,
but the bas an almost unequalled capacity for
iivhat, in the slang ot the prize-ring, is called
'taking punishment." She has in her service n
Biagniuceni; body of officers, who are bound to
the empire by Uaditions and associations ot ex
traordinary force, who are perhaps now the
best representatives extant of a class once very
numerous, that of proleesionul soldiers, devoted
to the country, but very deeply devoted to a
certain government or reiguing house.
To Austrian ollii ers the army is what it is no
xuiger to the otticers of any other country in
the fame decree their only home and taeir
only fatherland, and they are bound toietJier by
an esprit de corps. They have under their orders
a remarkable power troops drawn troia the
net military races of the world, out of which
an iron discipline has made an army which has
neither the French impetuosity, nor It than fire,
nor the Russian solidity, nor the English firm
ness and destructiveness, but which has perhaps
no equal iu cobctiveuess and tenacity. It is
perhaps the only army in Europe which could
witnes the flight ot iu chief aud the apparent
dissolution of his empire without breaking up.
It can, consequently, bear immense reverses in
the field without demoralization, and draws
Jierhaps at this moment as much inspiration
rom the memory of its defeats as most other
am ies do from the memory of I heir victories.
It has survived so much disaster, that hardly
any disaster would now seom to It irreparable.
A succession of rapid and terrific blows, such
as the elder Napoleon gave it, might perhaps
put it hors ae combat, or bring the war to what
Prussia would consider a satisfactory couolu
Ion j but there Is no probability hardly a possl
l)ility that any such blows will be delivered.
Kapoloons do not appear evn once In a century
And. unless we ar grently mistaken, the world
jieed ntt look lor any remarkable displays of
promptness cr agility irom either Prince Charles
Ar.Marshal Benodek. They will fight desperately
and shed a great deal of blood, devastate a great
deal of couutry, and contribute gQ interesting
but not very novel or instructive chapter to the
history of the military arts.
Consequently, it is not by any mennj certain
that Austria is at present to lose her hold on
Germany, or that the minor Slates are to dis
appear down Bumark'a ravenous maw. Should
Prussia at the outM suffer any severe check
Mich a the loss of a great ba 'Ie or two, It
would be sato to predict a speedy peaci baed
on her humdlatlng retreat irom th oiiflict,
and the ovctthrow and retirement ot Bt imark.
Her population and the raw material of nef
army are far superior to thoe of Austria. There
is probably no nrmy in the world, not even our
or, which can show in its ranks so maay edu
cated and intelligent men; and no army which
has a more rntellieent or better educated people
to draw upon lor recruits. There is no I mit to
the devotln and sncr.ticcs ot which such a
pecle would be capable, it t crisis were to come
which really kindled their enthusiasm. Were
BiMimik a popular leader, he would have a
nation at h's bnck with which he might chal
lenge the whole continent to the Hold.
Kut is not a popular leaicr, and no war
Virnnpht on nn i c inducted bv him is likely to
command the pomilar support, much less excite
the popular enttiudasui. lie is enner pio-
toundly hated -r proioundly distrusted bv an
that portion of the Prussian people in whom
the national pride and national pluck most
abound. Therefore, the present contest meets
with the most decided opposition, the Land-
wrhr has been drageed rather than marched to
the field: the opening ot the sttuifglo seems, as
well boc can judge, to be awaited by the pub
lic either with horror or lorcoodmg. ami we
hear nothing ot any enthusiasm even on the
part ot the regular army, ino urawmR 01
lood, especially should the outbreak ot hostili
ties be marked by any successes, however
trilling, may bring about a gretit change.
Should there do cany successes bo great, as
to hold out a near prospect of what is now only
seen in troubled dreams the destruction of the
whole trine ot prlncelincs, and the consolida
tion of the German people into one great
State there is little question that the Prussians
would nmg themselves into rue strugme wnu an
tu dr which nothing could withstand, berore
w hic'n Austria would surely go don, and we
shoi ld witness the appearance on the political
scene ol a power whoso magnitude and real
htreuLth would certainly alter the whole com
plexion of European politics, arid give a new
tin n to European progress.
"t.einian unity" nas piesentcu itsen to our
miads to long as a mere visiou babbled ot by
oiators, or mused over by protessors, tnat tew
toreigtiers have ever tnneii tue trouoie to mum
what it would really mean. It would mean,
however, the sudden creation of an empire con
taining a population ol over sixty niill.ous that
is, it would be numerically the equal of Russia.
But these sixty millions would be, unntte tue
population ot Russia, of one race; they would
include, perhaps, the most learned, p iueut, in
diihtrioi s, civilized people on the luce ot the
globe, which bas attained the h'gheJt distinction
m nits, in science, in arms in literature, in
vcrj thing, in short, but in polit'cs, occupying
the most fertile ot the lavoied portion ot the
European con;iuent, and which would becapable
of maintaining w it a ease a milli n of men in arms
within a week's easy murcli ot runs, it win D.1
easily seen by anybody who seriously considers
the meaning of these facts that the creation of a
real tiermun State, whether empire or republic,
would revolutionize European pontics.
It would launch an immense population on a
career ol extraordinary progress: it Mould con
sign Fiance and England to the rank of second
rate powers. It would red jce Russia to com
parative iusiyuilicance, and deorive her of most
ot her influence in European all ail 3, aud even in
Turkish affairs, aud force her to find vent tor her
energy more and more in expausion eastward.
Whether in such an event tne House ot naps
burg could settle do n on tne Principalities of
Scrvia and Bulgaria, and protract au enfeeblcl
aud somewhat inglorious existei ce, far removed
hum the scenes of its past Greatness, tuav be
doubted. But it is every day clearer aud cleaier
that a royal bouse which bus no nation at its
back must soon cease to be a reitrning house,
and that the spectacle of kings existiug lor their
own eakes is onev, a.ch Euiope will not much
longer tolerate.
In case the Prussians succeed, It is ol course
possible that Louis Napoleon might seek, in the
resettlement ol the map, lor what Is called the
"lectilicptiou" ol the French frontier, by the
abstraction of the Rhine provinces Irom Pru-sia.
But this is something to which Prussia, victo
rious, would, in our opinion, never submit, and
which Bho would bo sure to reslut successfully,
and which, even if imposed upon ber after a
defeat, could not prove a permanent arranee
meur. Sixty millions ot Germans united would
trcit a demand lor the annexation of a portion
of the true German soil to the French empire as
abmrd; and even if Germany should not be
united, mid this demand were successfully en
forced, the union of Germany is not likely to be
iiiiliciently remote to allow time for absorption.
Then there are changes going on ia France
which it takes close elL-ervers to perceive, but
which are, nevertheless, exercising a marked
inrlutnce on her foreign policy, and which pro
mise, if not checked, to make her. pernaps in
our lifetime, as pacific in spirit as England her
self. The love of material comfort is increasing
amongst the people with extraordinary rapidity,
and as it prows the military sp.rit declines.
The long freedom irom political convulsions,
aud the (ree-trade policy ol the empire, have,
by giving a great stimulus both to foreign and
oonRBtic trade, enlisted a vast body ol the
population on the side of peace. The horror
ot war, which was once the leproacu of the
Paris bourgeoisie, is working lower down
amongst the population every day; and the
population is not ODly not Increasing, but
M.phtly fiiminishine, a ircsh and striking ill us
tratiou of tue thriit ai.d love of comiort of
the whole body ot the people; tor in I hij case
population, far Irom pressing too closely on the
means ot subsisteLce, is kept down by choice.
We may, therefore, fairly count on a longer
period ot repose, of careful abstinence from
interference in loreisn quarrels, aud a more
single handed devotion to the production of
wealth than has ever been before witnessed iu
French history.
The New Johnson Paity.
From the Tribune.
The call of a National Convention by Messrs.
Randall and Doolittle, of Wisconsin; Browning,
of Illinois; and Cowan, of Pennsylvania, with
the indorsement ot Senators Dixon, of Connecti
cut, Hendricks, of Indiuua, Norton, of Min
nesota, andtNesmitb, of Oregon, can be under
stood no otherwise than as a lormal proclama
tion of withdrawal by tVie Johnsonites from the
National Union party. Mr. Hcudricks, and
perhaps we should add Mr. Nesiuith, cannot
withdraw from a paity to w hich they never
professed to belong; but the others have all been
honored and trusted as members of the great
party which they now openly abandon and
conspire to overthrow. We thank them for
their frankness, and shall hope to find tbeiu
more manly as antagonists tb.au they have beeu
laithtul as compatriots.
No one cau possibly be duped by their call.
Its terms are explicit and emphatic. Ex-Governor
Andrew, of Massachusetts, is disqualified by
his convictions for a seat in the contemplated
Convention; not so ex-Goveinors Smith and
Letcher, ol Virsiuia. Generals Butler and How
ard cannot pronounce the Randall Shibboleth;
but Geneials Lee aud Fiu-John Porter can do it
easily. Governors Oglesby, ot Illinois, audStone,
ot Iowa, cannot have seats iu their Sanhedrim;
but Wells, ot Louisiana, und Throckmorton, of
Texas the latter doubtless elected over the vote
ot every hearty Unionist in his State will be
prat at in spirit, and may be in person. Gene
ral lieary, tne chosen leader of the Unionists of
Pcnasylvauia, cannot pass their doorkeepers;
but Ileister Clymer, his opponent, who never
once even pretended to wish the Rebels defeated
and fheir Conlederacy iuppressed, will see those
doors fly open to w elcome his approach.
This call simply proclaims the adhesion of the
Johntonites proper to the party male up of the
Rebels and pro-Rebels which aims to seize the
Government and control the destinlis of our
country. Mest-rs. Randall A Co. will furnish
the new combination with a liberal proportion
of its managers aud office-holders; but ninety
nine hundredths of ita votes must be supplied
by those who voted last lor President either for
Jeilerbon Davis or George B. McClcllun. It may
be that they will vote next tor Andrew Johnson;
but we do not believe it nor do they.
It er Idle to note that the rlirhts of th
blncki" nT, the very facts lhat they c'.aim and
fmte any Hunts are utterly Ignored in this call.
The Rai'idail call aflirms that
f Each Staff hat the undotib'ed right to present)
the quaiitlcatioiis ot ita own elector )
but lails to meet fquarelv aud honestly the prior
and vital questl in Hio constitute tlie btute f
We know, indeed, precisely what Is meant that
the Intensely Rebel minority of the people of
South Carolina, lor instance, s.iall monopolize
nil owcr in that State, and that the invincibly
lojal majority shall have no power at all; but
tb's gnib is concealed by the bait, and the Kebol
miiioiity of the people ol Texas who have Just
coiiSollJated the r powi r by the election of
Throckmorton A Co., are to bo rec ogui.ed by
this Randall Convention as fully entitled to
work their wicked will on tl.e larce maiorltv,
w hereof the whites have voted lor peace and the
Union wherever they durst, while the blacks
are utterly Ignored and suppressed. If the dis
franchised1 majority of devoted Unionists in sev
eral States were to send clelctra4es to the John
son Union Convention, they would be simoly
kicked out or rather, would be kicked at the
door lor presuming to oiler to go in. Right
well do Messrs. Randall A Co. understand this
thc err only in imagining that the people will
not understand it.
Messrs. Randall A Co. tell us that they affirm
and uphold
"Tho richt ot each 8 ate to order and control its
ow ii domes'ic conrerna 'oord nir to its own Judi;
ment exclusively, subject only to tho Constitution,"
Hud that auv "overthrow of that system" would
be "destructive ot libertv." They also assert,
with regard to suifraire, that
"No external power riithtfiilly can- or oujht to
dictate control, or lutluuuce the free aud valuutarr
aciiou of tho Mate in tne exorc so ot tins rnrtit."
So far, tliey are in perfect accord with V.illnn
dieham, VoorliPcs, Jack Rogers, Ciymcr, Ben
Harris ft Co., and we clearlv comprehend them.
Ni t so, when they turn a short corner, and
afecrt that
"Slavery is abolished, and neither can nor ought
to I o rc-es ao ishe 1 in any Mate or territory wittnu
our jurisdiction."
Why not? You know, Messieurs, that the
Rebel States that is to sav, their whites, to
whom j ou restrict political power never did
licel.v ami neiirtily consent to aoonsn slavery
that their action in the premises was dictated,
controlled, commanded by "external power"
at'd is, of course, nccordiug to your proclaimed
principles, riphtlully invalid and null. The
auti slt.vcry amendment is no part of tne Fede
rnl Constitution, if your principles are sound,
but an excrescence t.n imposition a product
of usuipation proving on lielplessness. You
know this as well as we do; and you will yet
be vot ng to pay toe Rebels tor tneir staves in
order to cure what, accordtner to jour pro-
ernnime, is a fatal Haw in the title ot the eman
cipated to their Ireedom.
Let it be distinctly understood on all ha'ids
that this Johnson-Randall Convention is a bio v
aimed w:th deadly iutent at the Integrity aud
OFCeiidnncv ot the Union pariv. Ic menus do
feat this lull to Governor Kenton, to General
Geary, and to the Union tickets iu Ohio, Indi
ana, and their sistir States. It means the res
roration ol the Jerry Blacks and Howell Cobbs
to the mastery ot our country. As such, it de
mands tlie sternest, most energetic lesistance.
The Call for a National Convention.
trim the World.
We printed on Tuesday a call, issued at
Washington, for a National Convention to be
held at Philadelphia, ou the 14th of August, in
which it is proposed that all the States aud Ter
ritories shall be represented. It is proposed
that the Convention shall consist of delegates
w ho support the policy of President Johnson.
The call is signed by Messrs. Doolittle, Cowan,
Dixon, Hendricks, Nesmith, and five others.
The respectability of these names, and their
known fidelity to the cause of the Union, chal
lenge for this movement the respectful consl
delation of patriotic men.
The 'Jtmrx, a lew days ago, recommended a
National Convention, to consist ot rleloirates
Irom all the States, with the professed object of
"liiitioualiziuir the Republican party." This
call does not quite seem to answer to the Times'
iccominendution, which seemed to be addressed
to the National Executive Committee of the
Republican party, while this call proceeds from
another source. Such a Convention, held under
tho auspices of the Republican Executive Com
mittee, would be very absurd. For the same
party which has excluded the Southern States
liom Congress to invite them to seals in a
National Convention, would be at once an act
ot seli-condemuatiou and an insult. To such a
call, the South would answer with spirit and
dignity, "We disdain to accept a courtesy from
a party which denies us our rights." Such a
mock courtesy is no atonement lor an acknow
ledged and unredressed wrontr.
By "nationalizing the Republican party," it is
meant that Southern citizens shall be induced to
join it; but sell-respect will prevent their uniting
with au organization which confesses, even in
the act of mviting them, that it is persistently
depriving them of their constitutional rights.
When the South seek redress in a National Con
vention, they w ill not go into such a Convention
to consult with their enemies, but with their
friends; in which category they are never litely
to into the Republican party, more particularly
since its action in the present Congress. To in
vite the South to aid in exteudiug me Republi
cau oigunizutiou, is such courtesy as the spider,
in the table, protleied to the fly.
The call just issued, though seeming to have
been heralded by the recommendation ot the
limes, i, both on its lace and ia its source.
ot a different character. It looks like the initial
step towards the formation of a new political
party. To the earlier lormation of a third party
we stiould have had no obectious, especially
as its materials would be drawn irom the Re
publicans. But we deem it our duty to say now,
w hat time will certainly verify, that the Demo
cratic parly will not merge its existence in the
proposed new organization. It is quite within
tho bounos of possibility that the whale should
swallow Jonah, but not that Jonah should
swallow the whale. The consideration ot rela
tive size counts for something in such a matter.
The Democratic party of the Northern States
aie, to a man, in fnvorot immediate lestorafion.
Vt hetherit is more natural lor the South to torm
a political alliance with tbem or with the mode
rate Hiid reasonable portion of its old enemies,
is a question hardly worth asking.
Lav out of view the possible influence of the
Executive patronage, aud nobody would thiuk
ot asking it. The upw party, of course, counts
upon the President's patronage; but this,
though no doubt a valuable adiunct, docs not
sutlice ae the sole basis for a party organiza
tion. The Republican party have deliberately
decided to dispense with and defy it. The
Democratic party most certainly do not feee any
thing in it which should induce them to give
up tneir parti organization. In the recess of
Congress the President may, indeed, if he
choose, make a great many new appointments;
but tney will hold only a lew montns until Con
gress at'aiu meets, when the Republican Senate
will reject every one of tbem which they dislike.
Au otlice which, at longest, can be held only
till the 4th of March next, is an object for which
few men of capacity would care to give up their
present business. A President whose patronage
is thus "butted and bounded," cannot rationally
xpectto form a personal paity powerful enough
to control the approaching elections. The
patronage would be of great service, and might
perhaps be decisive In turning the scalo iu lavor
ol oue or the other of the two existing parlies;
but it is a blender capital on which to set up a
new party.
A third party would have no channels for
reaching the public mind. It nih:ht draw oil'
bonie Republican voters; but hardly a Republi
can press In the whole country. The Republican
press ia all but unanimous in supporting the
policy ot Consress. The patronage which tho
President cau bestow upon the press is a baga
telle, and would not perceptibly influence it
one way or the other. Newspapers depend for
support upon their subscribers and advertisers;
end the President has nothing to offer for which
they could aflord to offend the maortty of their
patrons. Out ol the large cit es, the advertising
ol the county oil cers Is Ot some importune to
tbem; but to obtain this they must stand-well
with iheii party in their several localities.
For a third party to think of estahlishn(r new
party oraans all "over tho country would be
p;ei osterons. Newspapers buve come to require
so much capital that they can no longer be
extemporized. A third panv, therefore, II
created now, would necessarily be a dumb
pnrt.v; and being unable to address the people,
it could mfike no figure in the elections. Both
the Democratic presB and the Republican press
will st pport the caniJnte" ot their respective
parties; and whilo the thud party would be
constnntly derided and misrepresented by the
Republican newspapers, it would have no means
of wauling off ttutr assaults.
II Pi esident Johnon or his friends hid any
idea ol organizing a new paity, tliey should have
ct inmenced of least eight months earlier. Eiarbt
or ten months aso, the President stood well in
the estimation of the Kepublican party, a
majority of whom, at that time, deorecated a
set eiation from him. Then none of their papers
hd opcnlv attacked him, and low had ceased to
sprak ol him with respect. But every day that
has elapsed since the meeting of Congress has
vrnkencdhls bold upon the affections of the
pnity, which bas now settled into hopeless es
trangement a id alienation. While he has slept,
the tnemy has sown tares. Had a National
Convention been called in December, the Iriends
ot the President mmht have bad the co-opera- ,
tion of a large portion ol the Republican party,
and l.avo secured lor biin many Republican
pikers which during the winter gradually yielded
to tbi! influence ol Coneress, and have taken an
ntfitude ol declared hostility. To Witt till nearly
the v hole Republican party bas been detached,
enil i'.iertd and fully committed aeainstthe Pie
fluent, and then attempt to torm a new party, is
like P tiiiiB seed time, mid even summer pas,
nnd then making a great ado ot ploughing and
sowing amid the frosts of autumn.
It the President has no fa'ih in this tardy and
bclHted movement, it will da no harm. But if
he thinks n new Congress favorable to his policy
cim now be elected except by the Democratic
pnrty, and if, under this illusion, he wastes his
influence in nursing a new and dumb organisa
tion, it will be equally unfortunate lor bun and
for the country. He will have thrown nway a
great opportunity. He will afterwards (iguie
merely as the head or a leeblo personal partv,
liiMi'itd ol being backed by a great aud truly
national organization, powerlul in every Siaie,
and embracing a majority ol the whole people.
Power of a Court Over the Executive.
hrom the Times.
A quejtion of great importance and interest
was recently decided beiore the Circuit Court
in the District of Columbia, oue whoso teult
will be felt very far beyond the particular case
in which it arose. The case was a suit for libel.
It appeared that the plaintiff, Mr. Meisauv, had
dealings with the Government in 18(iliu furnish
' ing supplies to the Quaitermaster's Denaitment.
i The delendant, Mr. Clephaue, as the plnintiif
charged, wrote a libellous lotter,tc the War De-
partment Impugning his loyalty, whereupon the
Quortermaeter o Department was ordered to
cease 1o deal with him, which was done, an 1 ho
brought this suit to recover damages.
On the trial of the cause a subpojnaw as issued
to Sccre,ary Stanton, directing him to appear,
and to bring with him the original letter from
the tiles of the Department. This the Secretnry,
on the advice of the Attorney-General, de
clined to do, and tuereupon the plaintiff ap
plied to the Court to compel tho production of
tlie pater.
This application brought up the question,
viz: Whether a court has the power to compel
the executive officers ot the Government to pro
duce netore it papers iu poasession ot the Gov
ernment because they may have a bearing upon
the results ot a litigation between private par
ties. Judge Olin, before whom the cause was
being tried, alter taking time to consider the
question, held that the Court had not the power;
that it was manifest that the question, whether
it was proper for matter wiibin the private
knowledge ol the Executive to be made known,
must be one for the discretion either of the
Executive or the Court, and therefore it must
clearly be within the discretion of the Execu
tive alone, or eL-e the Judicial Department ot
tho Government would have supreme control
over the Kxecutive Department instead ot being
oi co-uiuiniue auiiioruy wuu n.
Ti e Judge's decision ia sound and well rea
soncd. There must be in the nature of things
many matters communicated to the Executive
w hich ought not to be made public. How many
communications of the fame kind as this one iu
question must have been mude! This one
appears to have been false and libellous, as the
lury rendered a verdict against Mr. Clephaue
lor $30u0 damages. But in all tho mixed-up
state of ailuirs throughout the Border States
during the past years there must have been
many cases where true information as to the
lojalty or disloyalty of this mau or that must
Have been ot vital importance to tho Govern
ment, aud yet could only have been given at tho
risk not ot libel suits only but often ot life. And
if it had been understood that any such informa
tion when given was within the power of any
Court, there would have been many a suit
broueht for the bole purpose iu reality of dis
covering what bad been wiittcn or said by
patriots, ana revenging u upon mem.
It is true that we are in a measure freed from
such difficulties now. but we are not vet en
tirely deed, and moreover if this principle were
established by the Courts as the plaintiff' claimed
it to be before Judge 01m, it would not be such
corre?pondeuce alone which would be thus
brought out. The Government could be com
pelled just as well to produce its own correspon
dence with its own agents, if that was in any
way connected witn any possible litigation.
loreign Governments would like verv well to
have seen a principle established which would
give them the power, by gotting up a litigation.
to search the diplomatic correspondence of ihe
Government. And yet it is difficult to see why
they could not do it, if the rule had been held
differently from tho conclusion to which Judge
Willi came.
It is very well, especially now when the
tendency is abroad to confound tho distinctions
between tne different departments ot the Gov
ernment and to bring all the powers of all into
oue, to have, in oue Instance at least, thoe dis
tinctions nearly marked out aud taithtully pre
served. It is sometimes said that ludges are the
only kings in this land, It the contmry rule ou
this question had been established, that jesting
word iiiitht well be said in earnest.
The European Contestants and their Mill
taiy Stiength.
From the Daily Xiws.
The war which is imminent in Europe bids
lair to become of much vaster proportions than
was at first anticipated. Tho quarrel which
commenced between Austria and Prussia was
not of long duration before Italy assumed a
hostile attitude towards tho former power, and
allied herself to the latter, in the hope that by
taking advantage of the position in which the
Kaiser would be placed, she would be enabled
to wrest Venetia from bis grasp. Now we find
ope German State after another being drawn
into the maelstrom, the majority of them being
more or less actuated by hostility towards
Prussia, u feeling which has been not a little
engendered by Count Bismnik's despotic and
undisguised project of annexing the Elbe
Duchies, which the minor German powers had
loudly hoped to create into an independent
German State.
To the southwest of Prussia, and between her
and part ot Austria, stand Saxony aud Bavaria,
while turtber to the west are Wurtemberg an I
the Grand Duchy of Baden, all of which are
hastening to put themselves upou a fooling of
"armed neutrality." After tho first cannon ball
is fired, with the prevalent feelings ot their
people, it will be difficult for tho Governments
of these States long to maintain that attitude,
and the torch being once applied, they will
speedily be compelled to tBke part In th gene
ral conflagration. ItisdiiiiciiU to dUab ine the
mind Irom the belief that Austria had calculated
upon receiving physical aid Irom several ot tnese
rowers; and that rcstine hcisclf assured of the.r
aFistance, ihe was tn consequence impelled to
dictate the terms on which she was alone willing
to enter In th liitely proposed Cougress.
To etiabio them to preserve a stafo of armed
neutrality, tie Baden chambers and the Parlia
ments ol Saxony and Wuilumtmrg hiive voted
the necessary supples; and the liVe has been
riemn nried trom, and will no doubt be voted by,
the Bavarian Chambers. A (iermnn correspon
dent of the Loudou limes remarks that ' similar
as their conduct appears, the different Chamber
are actuated by different motives in tru-ting
their Governments with the power ot doing evil
in so enous a conjuncture " He adds:
"The Wnrleirberg rarllanent bcinur In tho hnnds
ol a Republican majority, arc desirous ot ousin
llicir Government to toko up arms against Prussia.
1 Ley hope that i'tussia onco beafon and dismem
beied, ronstitut onal monarchy will b' coine im
pos ib ia all In rnuin y, and republican! 'm. now
rampant in aomo ot tho nvnor Stale', will spr n up
in the shattered fragment of what lormorly was tho
nioiuiro' v ol tho Hohenzollerns, 1'erharis thny
nmu this irrnd object ot tlioir patriotic en
deavors will not bo attained in the longed-for
cMi pa'nu; but thn tlie war will a'ways havo
this (jTauiae, that while tho VVurtemborg troops
ore in iho Held, tho v u, tonibcrg ueo' lo will
have it atl their own way at homo. In Havana,
KrpuI'Mcan, Roman Catholic and an l-l'russian
t' Lilitciea combino to mtvi-o the like course;
in baiiee, liberal and anti-Austrian tooling orires
the (HHimp.ion of such an attitude as will provont
i ne ceiiirirv irom uoine oragou into tne war ny
Wtirtcinberjr, its noifhhori while In Saxony, situate
as flie ia between An-trm and I'russin, tlie
t html er ihnk it incumoeut upon thain to do what
they ecu which la uttlo enouvh to prevent .their
ui'i-uuii'K iKii in uiu iiaiiun ui inn inivniy. as 10
i he iioterunu nta ot the MU'Ci unnmerated, those of
W uitin tirp and Saxony incline to sid wild the
Kuifir. ll ough tho I rcsilon t ahiuet is repo-tfd to
have become ximi w iti waverinn ot inte. Bavaria
is txiccNa to up ort tistria o the ex toot of
p rtm ii'K the cltraii.oniano id oryncraoiei ol a por
tion ot Ler people, takin? (iood cam, hoivovor. not
ton jure I rus.ia and streni;tncn the Kaiser, ho,
ali(r immrclint neiehbor, is and has always been
tnoie (Inner rous to hi r indopenr ence than the Ber
lin Cabinet. A tiumlro l jem io Bivarlawas
s vf d bv Frederick tho Great Irom beinir annexed
by Austria. I lie P.aaYn MiuisicMand Court airrco
witn ti.cir Cliemtera on tho poiioy to be pursued "
However reluctoiil the Bavarian Government
may be to lake an active pirt in the war, it is
evident lhat th" Bavarian people are spoiling
tor a tiphi with Prussia, for the manifest reluc
lni.ee ot the King to join Austria uncondition
ally, cruplcd with the high price of beer, has
been reseutcd by u jisy tumults in tho streets of
Munich and Ratisbon.
Ot nil tie other German States, Nassau and
Durmsiadt alone are preparing to lake a promi
nent part in the coming conflict, an j this against
Pru.-sia. Their Representative Assemblies are,
however, of a different mind, that of Nassau
having refused all extraordinary suppling lor
militoiy purposes, and that of Darmstadt boiug
about to do the same. Hanover, which lies on
the northwest ol Germany, and is separated from
Holsteiu by tho Elbe, is al o known to have no
friendly disposition towards Prussia; and snoul I
tho war spread throughout the latherlaud, it is
not improbable that she will be counted on the
side ot Austria.
Such is the position in which the States at
present stand. The military force that will
most probably be called Into action is farctreater
than is generally credited. The number of men
of all arms. in tho Prusslau service, including
about 32,000 of the military train, when placed
on a war looting, stands, on paper, at 653,000;
and this immense number, by the addirion
of 8'),500 of the tecond levy ot the
landwehr, is increoned to 74S.500. To add to
this amount there still remain about 320,000
drilled men who can be called into service, who
are on leave ol absence, but whose term of mili
tary duty has not expired, that term being, both
in tbe liiie and landwehr, nineteen years. The
opcreeaie is thus somewhat over a million.
But as many ot these would be required for
the auxiliary departments of tbe service, the
number of those who would actually be called
upon to bear sabres and bayonets would be far
short of tnis number. The' number of men in
the field at the present moment is represented
to bo 280,000, in addition to which there is a re
serve ot 60,000. When bos tilittes actually com
mence, tbe losses in the ranks will bo made up,
if the torce is not increased, by lariro drafts from
those in the landwehr whose term of service is
unexpired, and alter these exhatistel, then
the landstrura can be called out, when every
man between sixteen and fifty years of ago is
liable for service. The Prussian artillery in
time of war comprises 150 batteries with 804
puns.
" The effective strength of the Italian army,
when placed on a war looting, is, on paper,
360,000 men, to which bas to be added 115,000
in reserve (the second category of tne contin
gent), making the total 4M.U00. Of these about
200,000 are believed to hmuow in the field, so
disposed as to be immcdittely available at the
frontier when host lities commence. It has
been said that the army of operations agaiut
the Austrians numbers 2ft0,000, but this is con
sidered an over-es'tiniate. The Italian artillery
is variously stated at from 250 to 400 guns.
Probably the former is the correct number, but
it may be increased when necessury, or when
hoises can be obtained.
Turning now lo the probable antagonists to
these two powers, we find taut the Austrian army,
when placed on a war looting, amounts, ou
paper, to about the same as that ol Prussia. The
figures given art 032,500; I ut then there are
euMtd into service in addition, in time of war,
numerous regiments of militia.volunteer cavalry,
sharpshooters, et cetera, which would consider
ably swell the number, and doubtless to as high
as that of Prussia. Tho number ol fiebting men
at present in the held is said to be not far short
Of 350,000.
The minor German States, which are not
unlikely to join Austria, can coujoiutly bring
an army into the field ti at will bo anything but
inconsiderable. Takine merely Bavaria, Saxony,
and Wuitemberg, the tirf t named has a regular
aimy, includinu reserve, of 210,000, with M5.500
ot the landwehr on activ.i service; the Saxon
army numbers 25.500, with an army ot reserve
iu addition; and that of Wurteuiberg, when
placed on a war footing, is 28.800. It is, theie
fore, very likely that wbeu the forces which
these Stntes can put into the field are a ided to
those ol Austria, the aggregate will outnumber
the armies ol Prussia and Italy umted.
The naval power ot Austria consists of 61
steam vessels and gunboats, armed with 716
suns, and 51 sailine vessels, armed with 318
curs. That of Italy comprises 04 steamers,
firmed w ith 12!'8 guns, and 12 sailing ve-sels,
Willi 170 guns; and the Prussian navy consists
ot 37 steamers, with 252 guns, and (1 suiliug ves
sels, with 140 guns.
It W'il thus be seen that already a million of
men are" prepared to take part in the Iray as
soon as nosi.'Iies commence upon the land,
and that on the water- 2 respectable fleet will be
brought into action. How far rbee number
will be extended, and what other CUons will
be enibroiled iu the conflict, it is imposs.Iie at
present to loretell. .
DYEING, SCOURING, ETC.
PEMH STEAM SCOUBUG
ESTABLISHMENT,
No. 510 RACE Street.
We beg leave to draw jour particular attention to onr
new French Sttmi Scouiing Kutabltthueut the Unit aud
only one ol ita k uu in turn city We do not dve, but uj
tb( n.lcal pruteMB r ore Ladles', Uentieiueu'a, aa
C'hiltlren'a Garments to (heir original aiattw wtiuou
injurlnii item Iu tl.e leut, ntiile gieat experience end
Hie Lett u atblnery iroiu France enable ua to waxfttut
ueriect aatialactiun lo ad wuo uiv lavor Ui wltb tlieli
patrunaiio. LAUltB' DRKhSKM.oi every denci ption
wiibor without lnujuilu.3, are cleaned and flDUhed
w It bout being taken apart, nbetber tbe color la geualu
or not.
( per a Cloaks and Mantilla. Curtalni. Tab'e Covers
Carpn Velvet Klbboua, Kid Glove, eto. cleaned and
reoulxbed in tbe beat niaoner Hen leuien'i summer
and W inter Clotblng e eaned to perfects a without In
Jurv lo tbestufl. A o Vlutm and Bannera AUklndaot
a alna r moved without e tailing the whole All order
are executed under our Immediate auoerriaion and
ratUlaoUon gnarHuterd in every iuatance. A call and
i xaiuluatUD ot our prooeaa I iopecttully aoliclted.
ALBhDYLL & MAUX,
12tui No 810 RACK Btieot
SPECIAL NOTICES.
r:7 8 Oi Dl E R S' ORPHAN 8.
-'- There wl I be cloven tiiimlreil Chllilinn of thu
J'cccned Holdle' o' remmv vania. irom their achoo a.
In dia ant countlca In thin citr on the Jr'Ot'R , II OF
Jt l.Y urxntlie ocenilon ot rentortnir to theHtatethe
Flnjia In delenae of which their hrnve lathet re I. Ther
a e Hem nine to aix pen tear of axe. of tbealx
tuibdreil and tltlv are hoy, who wl I he rn ertaind at
ti e oldlcra l.on e, corner ot Mxiecnih and Fl.beri
alreeta.
Ihe lonr hundred and flftf iilrl beln yet iinprovIJod
for. l'ie l.op.tHlltlca ot InnuUei In he rlelniir of the
.oiriirra' Horn are akeil lor. In their helm f from 'ho
aiteuu.on ol tie .Id till the morning of 'he Shof Ju'y.
A in. n ber ol the ladv nianaer 1 1 the Hume have kindly
eons nled to rwelv ilie Invitation, which will state
Ihe nmiilr each can take
1 lime Klrla nrn neatly clad and we t behaved) and It
Is tielievi d lhat the" III prove plenum Client.. If a
lane number any 8 to I'i, go to the Mine lamtly, a
tent her or elder pupil will accompany thetn.
The i ommlttee, viz i
lira. Tenle Haddock. Jr.. Vn SOS Tine street i
IV ra Juries V. Hand. No S (l Pine mieet
Mm.,li hn ( arrow o. 1MVJ Npruce atre,t ;
jure. Henry V Town-end No Sll A icl. street;
Jlrs. Ca eb L. Hnliovro I, 'Iwoutleth, he o t henat(
Mr. Henry C B air, S. W. con e' of t Itrhth auo Walnut;
Mr It. 1' King, No ,V2 "pmcc srteot j
Diss IN . Harille o. 6IS Market street;
Will attend at tre SOLI It- UV IIOM. on FRIO IT,
they'll und ( A I UKI) T. the 3 Ith o Jun.v iroin 10
A. M till 6 I'. M ,10 receive p leatlons. or ther mar
he addressed In wrltlnit earlier, either at the Home or
then respective resident es.
Ti'OMtS H. nurtROWK.
6 28 St Superintendent Soldiers' Orphan.
r- I'ARDKK SCIKNTIKIC COUR3B
IN
LAKAYETTK COLLEGE.
In r.ddltlon to the g neral Coutse of Infraction In
this I rpnrtn'ent. aealgned to lny a substantial bisls of
kr.owln'iie a' d cholnrly culture, studen s can minus
(lt.se branches which are essentially practie.U auJ
teci nl al. yr. :
ENlilNKl I. ING Civil, Topogrnphleat and Mocha
n it-all MINIMI and AIETA I.U'KUY AHt'rtiri-U-'i
l HE, and the applli ailou oi Chemistry to AOKICUL
1 1 It k t nd tho A UTS.
T reie is a so r.llorded an opportunity tnrsp.'Otal study
of TI.A1IK and O V.M 1- Hi F. I oi 'it OI) i R N I, AN
(.t'.K.I anil 1 lilLOHHI Y , and of .tie UlSTOltY and
IN SI 11 UI K Ns ol our etuuitiy.
For I lieu ara apply to I i esident CaTTfir,, or to
1 lo'. K 1. v Ol'MliM AN,
( rrk ol tbe Facuitr.
Fastos, rennsvlvenfa April 4. 1R6. 5l0
IJT0 DKI'ARTMF.N rTuMJC HIOII
WAYH nttlce of the ( hlef C ommisjloner.
iiiiu Diiwei, ncn biuh, nviurr i nt-!nill.
I IIILMlKLl'IIIA June 2.1 186.
SOTK K TO OrilNyrE.'-T HEWKB KKNT4.
1 xtract oi an ordinance approved May 3 A I . IxM:
feet lim 4. The annual nut sha I be payable In advance
at i be oillce o' tbe Depuriiueut of HisLwavs, and upou
all rent-, paid he-ore tho 1st of Aprl: In any year a de
duction ol five per cent, rba l he mnde; nnd If any such
rent i-l h 11 rem ii in unpaid on the hrst day ot Julv In anr
year, ibo License (' erk shall notltr the Con-ini-sloner of
Highway :r the district, who bati cause, ihe dr.iin to
be disconnected (rom the culvert, ami suit be Institute J
jor the recovery ol such rt ntt and alter such dreln shall
nave Icen detached, it shul, not he atroin connecte I
until pavnient ba made ot nl arrears, and the sum of
three dollar, lor expense Incmred
THOMAS M. TRIOL.
6 23 stnthat License Clerk.
fr?P PHILADELPHIA AND II KADI NO
7nJ KTUAH TUt 1 rASY-OFKiCE.o. T 8.
1 bo Transfer ltooksiot this Company will he c'osed
on Saltiitluy, Juiieuotu, and reopened on Friduy,Ju:y
A Mvnlend ot FIVE FEB CENT hr-a been declared
on ihe rreieired and Common Stock, clear of Natlon it
and Mote taxis payable in i-ash, on and a for July litli,
to ihe holders thereof its tbe mill ainud registered on
the boots ot thet ompary on the tfOih Instant.
All Dfivahle nt thU ntm.o.
622 1m 3. BRADFOB0. Treasurer, f
DIVIDEND. -THE DIiVkctOR OF
r.. the l'H'LAIJE. 1'IIIA AND BOSTON PETRO-
1.1 ul COMFAM have this ilnv declared a dividends
v. . . . . t... pet fume, ucir UI tate IHX.
tavabie alter July 1, atihc oMice of the Company. No
ii l-oulh KOUHTII htrcot. Fhllsdelohia.
jn,,t.Ha? HAISKH,s:eereuiry ana Treasurer.
1'hlladelpliU. June 20, 1866. u II I
tKKT NOTICE. ON AND AFTER THE
l-'-th lnsti.nt 'he I'MTED STATES HOTEL,
IONO Ith ASCII, ..).. wl 1 he open lor the reception
oi v'sitors. l'.E! JiMIN A. SIIoI.MaKLK.
6 8 lui Proprietor.
Xj&T BATCH KLOR'S HAIR DYE
l THF BEST IN THE WORLD.
HaimleFs reliable in tunianeous. '1 be only perfeo
dye. No disappointment no ridiculous tinta, but tria
to nature, b ack or Lrown
UfcMJINE IS SIGNED WILLIAM A. BATCHELOItl
AL.so, '
.Regenerating Fx trnct oi Hi Ihlfleurs restores, preserves
ardbeuutil.es the hair, prevents badness. Hod bi al
Drunglsts. Factory iio.tl BARCLAY tt.K. Y. 3ii
J IT S T V IT Tt T. T c n n
Ttv lh. I'h.kfi-I.n.nl .1. n
M-.W oKK MUSEUM,
tbe Ninetieth Edition ot their
101 11 LECTURES,
entitled
,.., rniLOsoniY of marriage.
To be had tree, tor :our stumps, b addiesslng Secre
tary cw Ycrk Mcum of Anatomv.
7 15 Ki). U8 BROADWAY. New Yotk.
fr? DINING-ROOM F. LAKEMETEB
mY. CAR'i 1 R'S Al ey, would respect ul y iniorro tbe
rubllc geneially ihnt be l as leit nothing undone to make
this place comfortable iu every respect lor the aocoin-
n cdbilon oi guests. He has orenedalarge and com
nxdious Dinlii(-Koom In tlie second a ory His SIDE-
BOARD is uinilshed with l.RANDiF.3. WINES
WHDSKY, Etc.. Etc.. ol SUPERIOR BRANDS. U
I Gr II T
TOR THE COUNTRY.
rERIlIS & CO.'S AUTOMATIC GAS
MACHINES
FOB PRIVATE BEUDENCE8, MILLS, HOTELS,
CHURCHES, ETC
FUHNISHIJiG FROJI TEJf TO SIX HUNDRED
LIGHTS, AS MAY BE BEQUI RED.
This machine Is guaranteed; does not get out of order,
and the time to manage it is about five minutes a week.
1 he simplicity ot this apparatus, its entire freedom
fitm dunger, the cheapness and quality of the tight over
a l otbeis, bas gained for it the favorable opinion of
those acquainted w Illi Its merits. Tbe names ot those
having used thorn for ibe last three years will be given
by calling at our OFFICE,
No. 105 S01TH F01UTII STREET,
Where tlie mach nes can ba seeu in operation.
FERRIS 4 CO., Box 1491 P.O.
Send for a Pamphlet. 6 19
ESTABLISHED 179 5.
A. S. ROBINSON,
Freuc?! Plate Looklng-Glasses,
ESGBAYIXGS rAISliSGS, DRAWINGS ETC
Manufacturer of all kinds of
Loolcing-GlasH, Portrait, and Pio
ture frames to Order.
No. 910 CHESNUT STREET,
TBIBD DOOB ABOVE THE CONTIN EBIAI
rnn.iDar.PoiA. 8 1SJ
Q. K E E K PEAS,
GREEN CORX,
FBEJSH PEACHES,
FBESII TOMATOES, PLCMJJ,
AIiBKRT O. ROBERTS
DEALER JN FINE OB0CEBIES,
J3 4p Coi. ELEVENTH and VINE Street.