TISILIEUMAFHo n TT7 YOL. VII-Nu. 78. PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 18G7. DOUBLE SHEET-THREE CENTS. RECON STRUCTIQN. SENATOR WILSON hi PETERSBURG, VA. III! Vim of the Situation-The Results of the Wtr-Uood Advice to Virginian, Tk.tf. Etc. From the Petersburg (Va.) Express of Friday. Ttie Hon. Horry Wilson, of Massachusetts, arrived in tbe city by the 3".!0 train from Rich mond yesterday afternoon, was received at the depot by General Htoneinan, commanding the district, and others, ami wan escorted to Jar ratt'e lloiel, where he tor k apartments for the day and night. Durintr the afternoon he paid a brief visit to the main points ot interest on the lines, accompanied by General Htoneman and friends; ana upon bis return he was solicited by a number- ot citizens to deliver an address before leaving the city. Although he had not anti cipated such a thing, he consented to speak lroin the balcony of Jatratt's at 8 o'clock, where upon bills were circulated to that effect through exit the city. kThe notice was sufficient ' to attract an immense number of colored people, and several hundied whites, including many oi our leading and most tubstsntial citizens. Tbe balcony was thronged exclusively with white c tl.ens. The asembly was illuminated by an improvisation ot railroad lanterns and pine torches. When Mr. Wilson appeared u the balcony he was greeted with prolonged cheers. Upon being introduced to the meeting by Mayor C'ol.ier, he proceeded in a plain, un ludied manner to make an address, and was listened to throughout with respect trotu all patties. He commenced by announcing that lie was what is known as a radical Republican, and that he bad been one lor thirty-one years; that the principles ot his party were the prin ciples of justice, humanity, and liberty; and, reviewing the history of that period, he said that a share of the guilt of the late war was with the Northern people; that it was not ex clusively originated and incited by the people of the South. The cause of the late war was human Blavery. There were two powerful parties, one in the North and one in the South, the first directly and Intensely opposed to human bondage; the second, inspired by erroneous ideas of policy and right, in favor of it. The latter were strengthened in their opinions by the assurance ot a mischievous party in the North, who declared that they would stand by tbem, even, as in the case of Vallandigham, of Ohio, if it came to war, and then the aggressive armies of toe North would have to "pass over their dead bodies." The war came. The Northern counsellors of the South neither saciihed themselves nor did their aid in tiny other respect avail. The Northern army met those of tbe South upon 625 battle-fields, and 325,000 men laid down their lives for human liberty. Nor did they lay down their lives with out hard-fought battles, for the armies of the bouih louchl with a heroism that was worthy of a better cause, The war ended, and tne cause 01 human liberty was triumphant. Sla very was destroyed forever buried beyond the reach ot resurrection. Contrress now proceeded to finish the work by regulating the rights of all; -passed the Constitutional amendment, a measure providing, it was true, certain disabili ties, but he believed that before many months shall have passed, all disabilities would be re moved, and every man in the land would stand equal betore the law and possessed of all tbe rights and immunities enjoyed by his fellows. Tbe same bind ot men that had aided in leading the South astrav oe.'ore had since tbe wsr been engaged in inculcating the belief that radical Republicanism would be overthrown; and the President, acute under tbe malign influence of bad men, had arrayed himself against Congress, and the Southern people embraced his policy and stood with him agalast the party that had rescued the country. The result is, that the President cannot fulfil their hopes, nor can the Democratic party of the Norto; nor eau anything short ot the tree and full adop tion of the policy ol Conuress. That the people of the South would do this in the next two or three months, indicaiions sufficient to convince anv man assured him, and before another year rolled around he believed that the people of the whole Union, black and white, 'would be entirely fi ee. and bound together in the bonds of nnion. After some alluson to Mr. Lincoln he devoted a few remarks especially to the colored people present. He counselled them first of all to beware of contentions, to go forward with a Christian spirit, aud take advan tage of their lreedom, improving their minds and estates however humble, ever upholding the cause ot liberty, humanity, and justice. They were as free citizens to-day as the Pre s'dent, aDd should call no man master. They had the privilege ot the ballot-box, but it was a sacred privileee, and they should never use it but with a prayerful purpose to use it only right. He concluded by cautioning the colored people against the demoralizing influence of intoxicating liquors; and then, atter a tew remarks of advice to the white auditors advice not to be intole rant in their opinion, and to accord to the colored man his rights' as freely as they de mended their own be thanked the as?erubla.i.e lor tbeir kindness and courtesy, promised to carry home with him a better opinion of the community than he expected to have formed, and retired amidst ereat applause. The assem blage then quietly dispersed, and to the great credit of the colored people of Petersburg be it said, they deported themselves admirably; but a crowd of Richmond negroes, who bad come over expecting to hear an incendiary speoch of tbe Uunmcut order, made toemeives very noisy on their return to the depot by singing, sbouune, and hurrahing. Mr. Wilson leaves the city this morning, in prosecution of his tour. He has discovered in Petersburg what he will discover every where else that the romance of the rabid radiculs concerning the danger of travelling in the South is in keeping with a good many of tbe arguments of that party lor political capital. GENERAL SCHOFIELD S DISTRICT. Progress of the Work Movements Senator Wilson. of Richmond, va., April 3. With a view to thoroughly reconstruct district No. 1, General 8chotteld has requested tbe Governor, promi nent members of the Legislature, and leading Union men, to furnish him with lists of all the original Union men, in otderto make his an S ointments from the truly loyal men of tne fate. With this information before him the General can then make appropriate selections. which will, no doubt, meet the wishes of all parties. This action. It is stated, will shortly ue inner, as lieuerai scuonein is overwhelmed with, communications Irani office-holders all over the State abklng Instructions as to their ability to serve under the pre-ent circumstances. It is-now further stated that the recent inter view ot John Minor BotW with Genpral SchnHnld was on this subject, and that that gentleman is now on lernis or inendly intimacy with the jjjlilimj lumiliuuucr. - Senator Wllion. Of MiSftr:hnitr.i la tn Tflf h roond, and was to-duy expected to address the immense assemblage of TlPfrrnoH nn flue an tiara who were cekbratinir their aa Mr. Hunnieutt was the self-constituted orator of the day, Mr. Wilson declined to participate. He could not stomach the idea of nliii,ti ,.th the so-called "loyalists" of the South, partlcu- parties here conversant with public men and nubile affairs assert that the Masaa.hi,:.n Senator and supplementary bill man has no in tention whatever to stump the South for the the neuro vote, notwithstanding his statement to that effect, irjey ciass mm with Charles and Ben butler, both of whom era a aid to be too timid to tlie CBeqeuwi ot ft Southern electioneering tonr at the present time. However that may be, it is certain that none of the gentlemen named need entertain any fears of violence on the part of the Southern people, but they would be completely d-ifeated by orators who are more intimately acquainted with the character and peculiarities ot the negroes. Preparation for nKltratlo-luallft-cat lone of the Registering OfllceM, fete. Richmond, Va., April 5. General SchoQeld has issued an order providing lor registration. There is to be one registering oflicer for each magisterial district In the counties and one for each ward tn the cities, whose qualification are to be: Having been nn oflicer in the United 8lates army, or been a loyal citizen of the county in which he acts, or of some other county in the Slate; he must have a hich char acter, and, as far as possible, have the ronfi d nee ot his fellow-citizens; he shall not be a candidate tor any office, an officer of the army or Freodrocn's B'nrcau. The appointments of all ofEcers are to be made by General Schodeld, on the recommendation made by an examining board ot army oflicer?. GENERAL POPEJDEPARTMENT. General Order from General Pope on Assuming Command of the Third Mill, tary District. 11 KArtltlAIITKllS TlllKD MlI.ITARV DISTRICT, Mokkk.mkky, Ala.. Apill 1, 1867. in compilutioe wuh (tenera,! Orders No. IK, dated Headquarters of the Army, March lh. Kt7. tlio undersigned assumes command nt the Third Military Dinlricl. comprising the htaies of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The d. strict of l.eorgla utid Alabama will remain as nt present constituted, and Willi their present com liuinderH. except that (lie headquarters ot the dis trict ol' (Jcoiglu. will be forthwith romoved to Mil leilvevllle. Tbe District of Key West Is heroby merged Into the District of Florida, which will be commanded hy Colo nel John T. hprugue. 7lh United States Infantry The headquarters of I lie District ol Florida are removed to Tallabassp. to which place the District Commander will transfer bis headquarters without delay. I. The civil oflicers at present In office In Georgia, Florida, and Aluhama will retain their olllces until tbe expiration of their terms of service, unless other wise directed In special cases, so long as justice Is Im paitlally and faithfully administered. It Is hoped that no necessity may arise for tbe Interposition of tbe military authorities in tbe civil administration, and such necessity can only arise from tbe failure of the civil tribunals lo protect tlio people, without distinc tion, in their rights ol persons and property. II. It is lo be clearly understood, however, that the civil officers tbus retained In ofllce shallconflne them selves strictly to tbe performance of their olllcial duties: and whilst holdmg their olllces they shall not use any Inlluence whatever to deter or dissuade tbe people from taking an active part In reconstructing their Stale Governments under tbe act of Congress to provide for the more efllclent government of tbe ltebel Males, and the act supplementary thereto. HI. -o elections will be held la anyof the States comprised In this Military District, except such an are provided for in the act of Congress, ana in the man ner therein eslabllsbed; but all Iho vacancies In civil oflices which now exist, or which may occur by expiration of the terms ot ofllce ol the present In cumbents, before the prescribed registration of voters is completed, will be filled by appointment of tbe general commanding the district. JOHN POPE, Mnjor-Ueneral Commanding. Referring to the above order, the Montgo mery (Ala.) Advertiser ol the 2d instant says: We publish below the order of Ueueral Pope assuming command of the Third Military Dis trict, composed of the States of Georgia, Ala bam a, and Florida. Civil officers are retained and the existing State governments are not in terfered with. We feel that we can safely sav that all our people, both private citizens nd officers, will strive, by a conscientious per formance of all duties devolving upon them, to promote the public peace and to avoid colli sion with tbe military power. The chief aim of tbe Government seems to be to restore the States to the Uuion under the terms of the Sherman law, and we presume steps will toon be taken to that end. THE ARKANSAS STATE CONVENTION. Congress Requested to Remove the Cot ton Tax, Etc.. Little Rock, Ark., April 5. In the State Union Convention to-day a committee was ap pointed to confer with General Ord on the selec tion of localities in the various counties lor reristertnir voters and voting. A resolution was pat-sea bhkihk vjuusreBB kj remove the cotton tax, and a copy ot the same is to be sent to every Congressman. A commit tee was also appointed to visit Washington to further the object. The Convention then ad journed sine dit. Mississippi Before the Supreme Court The Old Southern Twaddle, but a Most Important Movement. iVom tlwJW Y. Herald oj to-day. Before the Supreme Court of the United State yistenlay William L. Sharkey and Robert J. Walker, iu behalf ot the State ot Missi.-t-ippi, appeared with their bill ot com plaints and petition (printed in full yesterday). prajice a perpetual injuucnou bkuiusi, me execution ot the laws ol uongress recently enacted for tbe reconstruction ot tne Keoei States. Whatever the object may be, this me morial embodies all the old preposterous Southern twaddle of Stare sovereignty and reserved State riehts. including the rubt of secession, the rieht of rebellion, and tha riant, after rebellinc. to return untouched to the Hulitsnf the Union. Alter reciting me several pcis uuu cuuipocui whereby Mississippi became a State of the Union tbe petitioners contend that their State thus be came Dosseesed of certain irrevocable State rirbts wnicn tne late iveoeuiou uub nut uus . . . . ,, , 1 . Ill- I i J! turbed. "The taid State admits that by the wrongful nets of Dart of her citizens, and the neglect of the Federal authorities to protect the loyal, her Government became temporarily disorganized in reierence 10 iw reiauuus wuu the Federal Government; but she claims that this evil has been corrected lu the proper manner by tbe people of the Htate, anil that it in tbe premises her proceedings have been somewhat irregular, they are still above the reach of Congress, in being the acts of the sovereign people of Mississippi. She next complains of these acts of an unconstitutional Coneress, whereby she and nine other sovereign States, while denied representation in Congress, are taxed and subjected to a military despotism so utterly regardless of State rights that it "an nihilates the State Governments' concerned. Next, as the complainant (Mississippi) charges, that President Johuson, notwithstanding his vetoes, will enforce these acts of Congress un less restrained by the Court, depriwug tbe States and people concerned of their uioBt sacred rights, and producing "a train of irrepa rable mischief that may tot be corrected tor years," it Is urged upon tbe Court tbat "public policy, the good order of society.tand the salety of the people, call loudly for speedy redress." Reduced to plain Knglish, Messrs. Sharkey aud Wilker's areumont amounts to this: that the war against the Union by Missitsipol aud her confederate Slates, under a foreign govern ment, lor four long years.lnvolving the sacrifice of three hundred and fllty thousand Union sol diers and sailors to disarm this hostile coali tion, was only "a temporary disorganization." or nothing more, conUttionally considered, than aL election riot; that the insurgent league ol States in being disarmed wera restored to he Constiution as it was," and to their rights as they were before the war; and that since the 8n...y,..- i,r hpI.k armies tbe actsot every .Congress from which said States have been ex- eluded are unconsiiiuiiuu. --i that in short, under the Constitution, two States or ten States, or more, may, under a fo?gi government, fight to destroy tne Union for tour vears, or twenty years, and on finding that the Union is too strong tor them tbey may fall back upon their constltuonal riehts, and return tothe Unlou lust as if nothing had hap oened aud with nothing to pay. P This is substantially the argument of W. L. nharke t and R. J. Walker in behalf of an in JubcUo'b from the JJuprewe Court ratraiuing the President and his subordinate officers from the eiecution of thefe Southern reconstruction laws of Congress. They ak tbat the Supreme Court shall declare these laws rmconUitutjonal, and therefore void; that the Thirty-ninth Con gress was, and that the Fortieth is. an llleeal body; that all the acts of these two Congresses at least must bo considered snuriotis, the late Rebel States being excluded Irom any volte therein; that the Constitutional amend ment abolishing slavery is a nullity; that each Ptate, therefore, is free to establish slavery, and that as none of the excluded States had anv voice In the nupstion of the war debt of tbe Union, thev are under no obligations to assist in pay ing it; that what they did under Presi dent Johnson's DOlicv ol rpcnrmtrtmtinn. thev did voluntaiily; but that, recognilne no Con stitutional amendment on the subject of the war debt, they are not bound even by their promises to Mr. Johnsou, inasmuch as both President and Congress are subject to State sovereignty. On aunearintr vesterdav hpfnrA tho Rnnrrme Court to submit this bill of complaint and this prayer for an injunction, Judge Snarkey was piompiiv met oy me Anorney-uenoral oi tne United Slates. Mr. ftauberv. with the remark that the first thine in order was to obtain h-ave to die the bill, and he desired, at the earliest potsible moment (in behalf of the Uniied States) to ooiect to it. Judne Sharkey replied that that was the motion he made to file his bill. He wai aware of the magnitude of the subject, in volving as it did the important and delicate question ot the constitutionality of Congres sional legislation. But he desired an early de cision, as much mischief might result from delay Mr. Stanbtry was ready to resist the granting of the leave. Judge Miarkey filed his application, and the question went over until next motion day, Friday next. The presumption is that the anDlication will be denied by the Court on the eround of no jurisdiction. We cannot imaeine bow any otr oecieion can be reached. The petition, ther.. lore, may result In a great service to the South and the whole country in setting this question of reconstruction beyond any further legal quibbles and obstructions; and this, perhaps, may be the real obiect of the petitioners. The arguments ot the ODnostne counsel, tbe opinions ot the differing Judees, and the ruling opinion, which will probably be delivered by Chief Justice Chase, will, at all events, from the gravity ot the subject, be waited for with tbe deepest interest by all pHrties throughout the length and breadth ot the land. The Governor of Canada. A St. John (N. B.) paper says that Lord Motick will return to Camilla to nnish his term of office, which expires in September, aud that he will open the first Parliament ot the new Confederation. It also says tbat the elections for the House ot Commons will probably bo held in the end of June or early in July, the se.ion to open at Ottawa in August. A Bogus Insurance Company. Mr. Lenair, Vice-President of the Cumber land Valley insurance Company, has departed lrom Nashville lor parts unknown, for'cltiae the bond of $2500 given by his father. The Com pany proved an extensive swindling concern. Not one dollar of stock had been paid in. Sjme respectable men had been unwittingly in veigled into the concern as officers. Mutations op Fortune. A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, writing from Indi anapolis, says: "While passing through the Union depot, a few days ago, I was accosted by a one-armed man In faded army blue. His apparent fami liarity surprised me at first, but I soon recog nized bim as an old acqualntanue. 1 first saw liitn fourteen years ago, working at a windlass in the eold-dltEKioes of Australia. He and itls three partners hoisted from that windlass from one shaft more than $800,000. A few montus later I bade him iood-by, as he sailed from Melbourne for New York, with $200,000 In bills of exchange In bis poclteU I next saw him a wounded ltebel soldier, lying on the battle field of Antletain. A little more than a year later, I saw him as a Union soldier, lying in the hospital In Tennessee. To-day he is a helpless wanderer, depeudeulon charity for a diuuer." A report that the charges at the Grand Hotels in Paris will be considerably augmented during the approaching Exhibition is entirely without foundation. At the Grand Hotel da Boulevard des Capucines, the Grand Hotel du Louwe, and the Hotel Scribe, they will con tinue to be very moderate, in consideration of the elegance and comfort with which these establishments are fitted up. FINANCE AND COMMERCE. OrtiCB or Thb Evenino Tklkrapr, Saturday, April 6, 1867. There wns very little disposition to operate In Stocks this morning, but prices were without any material change. Government bonds were firmly held; July, 18G5, 5-20s sold at 107. 97 was bid for lu-40s; 109forold 6-20s; 108 for 6s ot 1881; and l05i10B for Juno and August 7-30s. Quotations of Gold 10A A. M., 1333; 11 A. M., 133 ; 12 M., 132 4; 1 P. M., 132J, a decline of j on the closing price lust evening. riilLADELPHIA 8T0CK EXCHANGE SALES TO DAY Keported by Dehaven fc Bro., No. 40 8. Third street FIRM" BOARD, W9 5-2fls'65ep.Jy.... fcluvl'ltytta.New...... t iooo liarrmb'K b.... tHKiO Keucl ml tin loo Hh Kead R ban. sn? .iw,' . 91 . HI .lot , H7 jiij uo....s.iowii. sr, 30 do irl-ltL. 5u', lno do bau. 6u,', lue do c 0i?4 1 10 do 1)3(1. fin". t.:0W Head Sit, 'S6...... jKi(jl'ats.iiottfue.... ).,000MrClBLouo.M.. U0 ion do Bjgwu 50& 11) sh Penna it dun n esittrn uuuk.. vo tiOHb Leb N stk...l8. M, M ui I.eli V K....opg 6H'i .SBIl C&Alll It.U 180 loo do ..rv 6 loo do ban. M Messrs. De Haven & Brother, No. 40 South Third street, report the following rates of es change to-day at 1 P. M.: U. 8. 6s of 1881, 108 Ca09: do. 18C2, lOitirttlOyJ; do.. 1804. 10701071; do., 18G5, 107j(rfiltW; do., 18C5. new, 107Cfil075; do. fs. 10-40S. t7if(08: do. 7-30S. August. lOoi IOC; do., June, 1054105j; oo., July, 10Wb 105A; Compound Interest Notes, June, 1864, 18) Wjl8g: do., July,lHC4, 17fiil7i: do., August, 1804, 1716(1173: do.. October. 18ti4. 16J(ftlGJ: do.. De cember, 1864, 151(3)16; do., May. 1865, 1240121; do., August, 1805, u jc&ug: do., septeinoer, istif., 111U; do.. October, 1865. 10$aiL Gold, l;)31334. Silver halves andquarters, 127&129. Philadelphia Trade Report. Saturday, April 6. There Is a steady home cod sump ttve demand for Flour, and with con tinued light receipts and stock, the tendency of prices is upwards, particularly for the better descriptions of winter wheat flour, which are relatively scarce; sales of 6(u70O barrels, In lots, at J1213"75 for Northwestern extra family; the closing figure for choioe, $12-58: u so for Penn sylvania and Ohio do. do.; 15rail7 for fancy; JlUGvll for extras; and $8-50a!) 25 for superfine, ltye 'lour is firm, aud may be quoted at I7 50. Prices of Corn Meal are nominal. There is but Utile good Wheat left In tha eounlry, and this description Is held at ad vanced figures. Union of Pennsylvania red at 833 22, and California at S3 2o3;80. Hye Is sell ing at J 1-50 for Ohio.and $1-52 for Pennsylvania. There is no falling off lu the demand for Corn, and prices have again advanoed. Sales of 4000 bushels yellow at il Hl-n.oloslng at the latter figure, and 000 bushels on secret terms. Oats have also advanced, and 1000 bushels Pennsyl vania sold at 78o. In Barley and Malt no change; 2000 bushels of the latter sold at 11-40. In Groceries and Provision no change, and but little doing. Whisky l unchanged. Boles of the contra baud artioie at f pa&i w, SECOND EDITION ETJIEOIPJE. Commercial Report of To-Day at Noon. liythe Atlantic Vablt. I.onbon, April 6 Noon. Consols for money, PI; Eiie Railroad. 37$; Illinois Central, 78J; United States rivc-T-ventles, 76j. Frankfort, April 6 Noon. United States bonds opened at Vi. Paris, April ti Noon. United Five-Twenties opened at 78. LivEBrooL, April 6 Noon. The Cotton Market opens dull and inactive, with a further decline of d. in prices. The sales to- lay will be about 7000 bales middling uplands 124. mid dling Orleans, 13d. Breadstufts The market ii firm. Flour, 28s. 9d. for Western canal. Wheat. 13s. Cd. lor Mil waukie red and California white. Corn, 41s. i quarter for mixed We'trrn. Uarley, 4s. 7d. (:H0 1bs. Oats, 3s. 4d. $45 lbs. Peas, 43. for Canadian. Provisions The market U quiet. Pork, 77s. Cd. Beef, 127s. 6d. Bacon, 38. 6d. Lard, 49s. Cheese, Oils. Produce Themarket is generally unchanged. Petroleum, lid. for spirits, and Is. 5d. tor stand ard white: Kosin, 8s. 6d. tor common Wilming ton, and 16s. tor fine; Pot Ashes, 33s.; Tallow, 44. 6d.: Spiiils Turpcutine. 37s. Loudon, April 6 Noon. The markets are generally unchanged. Cloverseed, 54s.; Lin seod, CGs.; Iron. 62. for Scotch Pisrs; Linseed Cftkes, 10 per ton; Linseed Oil, 39 per ton; Whale Oil, 41 per ton; Spi-rm Oil, 131 per ton. FROM BALTIMORE TO-DAY. The Case of the Goruich Brother Writ of Habeae Corpus Applied! For. f SPECIAL DESPATCH TO TUE EVEN INS TELEGRAPH. Baltimore, April 6. The Gorsnch Brothers, chargod with the murder of Knight Templar Welsh, of Wash ington, on the night of laying the corner-stone of the Masonic Temple in Baltimore, were brought out this morning on a writ of habeas corpus, before Judge Craue, of the Court of Appeals, aud a piellmlnarr heariuii of the case bud at tiie law office of Messrs. Smith ttnd Will's, who, with Wllllnm C. Griffith, are counsel for the prisoners. The State not being ready to hear testimony, claimed the three days allowed lo respond, aud the prisoners were remanded lor final heorlng at the same plaae, be fore same Judge, on Weduesday next. Arrival of the Germania. New York, April 6. Tbe steamer Germania, from Hamburg, has arrived. Her advices have ben anticipated. Tbe hteamer Fah Kee, from St. Jago de Cuba, hae arrived. Non-Arrival of the Great Eastern. New York, Anril 6. The steamer Great Kai-tern, now due here, has not yet been sig nalled below. LEG AX. INTELLIGENCE. THE FAIRMQUNT PARK CASE. The Award of Damages by the Jury Set Aside. 1 1 o v ltoail .Tiii-oi-H "Scale" tleii AHWossiuoiitH. The following opinion was this morning de livered by Judge Allison in the 'Fairmount Park Case." It is well worth readinc: OPINION BY JUDGE ALLISON, In the matter of the renort of the lurv to as Bess damages by reason of tbe appropriation of property oy rue city oi Philadelphia, 10 oe added to the Fairmouut Park. The property for which damaeres are claimed, was taken by the city by ordinance of June 2, 1804, and the report of the jury which beau their sessions January 2,1865, was died December vi, loua. xne jury awarded damages amount ing in the aggregate to nearly Ave hundred thousand dollars; aud to this award tue city filed exceptions on the 8th of February, 186G, assigning as ground tor exception, that each finding upon the separate claims of persons whose property was taken for public use was excessive. And on the 29th of March and 21st of April following other exceptions weie tiled in behalf ot the city, assicning as further objectlou to the report first, that the petition was not filed thirty days before the commencement of the term at which the jury were drawn; and second, mif conduct on the part of the jury. On the 20th March, on motion of the City Solicitor, an Examiner was appointed to take testimony upon the matters raised by the excep tions, for tbe consideration of tbe Court. The Examiner closed l is labors on the 16th of No v. ruber, and on the coming in of his report the exceptions were set down for argument, which was reached after some delay arising lrom the vacancy which for a considerable time existed lu the office of City Solicitor. The question was argued mainly upon the correctness of the amounts given to the claim ants for damages. After a full consideration of the evidence, as it bore upon the amount of damages awarded, tbe official representative of the city telt tbat his objections to the amounts severally awarded to the claimants could not, under the evidence, be sustained, except as to the suuis decided by the Jury at proper to be paid to Charles Wheeler, Henry Fricka, Eli Krupp, and William U. Flack to Wheeler, $'.i3,125; Frick, S88.1919C; Krupp, $36,733 33: und to Flack, $58,377-08 amounting in the acgiegate to more than one-half of the gross gum awarded by the jury. The attention of the Court was, however, directed by the City Solicitor to the exception, alleging misconduct on the part of the jury, and to the testimony taken in support of that exception. We thus encounter considerations of such grave importance that we have been compelled to paufe upon the question of damages upon which we had entered, and to take up the question as to wbe;her this report could or ought to be sustained a to any part of it, even though there are portious to which no suspicion of wrons could attach, from anything which appeared on the face of the report itself, or from the evidence taken to impeach it. It Is ot importance that the administration o f justice should be kept pure; that fraud and wrong should find no seeming refuge even lu our Courts, and, indeed, anything but exposure and marked reprobation at the hands of those whoie duty it is to administer the laws of tbe land. It is of comparatively little account that individual hardships may result from such a course, reluctaat as we are to impose them, if It be necessary lo inflict soch hardship, in reach ing the more important result. And in what have the citizens of any comraunt'y a greater interest than the preservation of the purity of Courts and juries, and tbe maintenance of tbat confidence without which judicial decrees can not have the enlightened judgment of tbe com munity to sustain them. The evidence before us exhibits la the clearest manner Dossible the desire upon tbe part of four ol the jurots corruptly to obtain money lrom the paities Interested. Distinct and un equivocal propositions to that effect were made by them, not once only, but this was repeated on several occasions, and to different persons; and although the evidence as clearly lolls establish that in any instance tne solicitation on the part of these persons was successful, and on the contrary, that in each ease it was declined, and by Mr. Ashhurst repio-enting John V. Fiar.cr and Edward Pep per, and by Charles Wheeler, acting for himself, was not only refused, but by both these gentle men was promptly communicated to the City Solicitor, yet there Is such a taint of corruption, ot the grossest character, attaching to the con duct ot a portion ot the jury, that we feel com pelled to refuse to confirm their action by sus taining any portion of the report. We have come to the conclusion, after rrfatnre consideration, that we cannot adopt aud make our own by ratification, the proceedings or offi cial nets of this jury; that to do so, would be a wrong to the tiublic in the administration of the law. This determination we are well aware will materially retard and interfere with the tuccetblul conclusion ot a subject of great public interest that it will bear with much nardshtp on some of claimants for damages, who stand in pressing need of tbe money due them for property which the city has appro priated to public nse, by which appropriation the bands of these owners were effectually tied, and all improvement prevented, to their most serious injury and loss. Yet these considerations, weighty and im portant as they are. ought not, we think, to prevent us from discharging the more import ant duty which we owe to the public, to endeavor to keep pure the channels through which flow the very liie-blood of the nation. The evidence before us is so full and decided that no one, we think, can fail, after a perusal of it, to agree with us that this entire report ought to be set aside upon the testimony taken b' fore the examiner. From the testimony thus taken we extract the following: Mr. Charlci Wheeler testllled that he was tha ownr ol the Khirnionnl Kolllne Mill, and thai Alexander Krvln.Jr.. was bin superintendent; says be bad no li terview Willi tlie Jury during tbeir sessions, except lb at I daw two r them at the Central .Na tional Bank, of which 1 am a director, sittlne al tbe window as 1 went in; 1 aluiply passed on without apeaklng, and asKed Mr. Krwln what tboae men wanted there. He said be didn't know, unless tbey were after money. Uu another oc einliin, one or tne Jury came to me, wben I was In tbe bi ilk. and held a paper In bis band showing a list ot in nies aud awards, whlcli he said were for tbe Falr n.oiint property, and pointed to my name and tbe lii-urcn, andsaid tins n wlmt we intend to do for yon. I u. id lilm I supposed 1 would bear olllcially. and tbat I lnd nutbliiK to tny lo bim, and I turned away. Mr J.rvln banded me a note, 1 think in tbe early pari of lucember, lsiiS. wblcb be Bald be fouud on bis desk, wlncb be said bad been pat tbere during bis absence. M r. Krvin also told me tbat several of tbe Jury bad hi plied to bliu for money, stilting tbat If be gave Uicm a certain amount I do not recollect the amount u lew thousand dollars or so. they would make au awurd to meof f l to.oou or f Mn,nuo. As soon as I saw Il ls note I speak of, and beard tneso reports. I ii.iormed my counsel, aud we bulb decided to Inform ll. o City Solicitor at once. COPY OF THR NOT It REFKRRIn TO. I'll n.A uu, I'll I a, December a, lwi5. Mr. Irvin Dear Sir: Al a cnulerence of a few or the Jury, It was tl.ougbl ibatyour case would be a hard one to put IbrouKh. Now, as an outsider, not wishing to say a real deal on tbe subject, 1 would state lhat, If Mr. V heeler expects to get bis damages, be ought to do u- 1 bave done, come down. 1 wish inerbliio. lam a property owner. Tbey and your brm are Getter able lo stand tbe prtss than I am. You can deposit the n. tne in bank In some other man's name and tbeu bi nd tbem checks, and all will be right. Yours, respectfully, P. O. I bave no knowledge or tbe bandwrltlngof this note, m r of the source from which It came. I was never approached by any of the Jury In person, except on the one occusion, when I saw the memorandum of tbe amount of lh? award. I am sure that tbe person who showed me tbe memorandum was one ot tbe Jurymen. On this occasion tbe juryman did not say be wanted money, but be stood waiting, and 1 Inferred from bis manner that be wauted money. I drew this inference Jioui bis silence, his wailing, and his manner. Before tbe Examiner it was admitted these matters were communicated bv Mr. Morris. who was of counsel for Mr. Wheeler, to the City Solicitor on tbe bin ot uecemoer, 1865. Air. Krvin testified as follows: J UII1 U1B Jierauu Itricnru vvj m i . uonn ill uisud position Just ttikeu ; l am tbe superintendent of bis I mill ins general uiiBiurss Hituiih 1 11 u unb time i buw any oi tbe Jurors outsido ol tbe Jury room was one allernoou pending the case. Mr. Elliott, one of the Jury, came to the mill at Fuirmount iu company w uh a strange gentleman whom 1 did not know, aud I look 1 1 1 in lh routs h the mill, explaining as best 1 could, tl.e different parts and their relative value, as Mibmilied by the witnesses who were called on behalf ot Mr. V heeler; and ss we walked out of ihe mill, he tulked about tbe duties of road Jurors lo cases of this kind, and cited an Instance where, I lbink.be bad been on a Jury, where the Jury had beeu liberally trebled, and ibe party that treated the Jury liberally got t;ood damages, whereas tbe others were small. I am not pofeilive he said be was on that Jury; my opinion i.s lie suld he was. .Next time 1 m t tneni was, three or 10 jrof them came out together to view the place after the argument wits closed. Tbey came out to view the iiiopei ty, and I spent tbe aflei uooti with them, shovv- 11 g them the ground. After we got througli, near li.gul, 1 took the Jury out lo the Kails and gave them tl elr supper; nothing was suM about money during 11. at Interview. About a week after, all the Jury, ex it pt Mr. Marks, cume out to look at our pioperly; it m.is an allernoou appropriated for that purpose, ot which they gave me notice in the mum li k. Borne ol ihe Jury, I don't recollect uiio, suggested tbat Inasmuch as all the J n rd not get the good supper, tbut I ought to lake l.iem oi.t again, and I as-euled to the proposition, tsimrtu H' er. 1 suppose a week ufter Ibis, 1 saw all the Jury at i Icke's, another claimant; us I passed I stopped to u lk with the Jury, aud tbey insisted on my going up hi i,lrs, where they had a supper at this time. Wneti 1 was leaving I was approached by Mr. Boyd, one of U.e Jury, who said he would like to see me by myself h the bank, aud asked me wbere it wan: I idd bim tbe location, and tbat I was there pretty ii' uch all the time during business hours; be answered l e would come down tbe next morning, and then I leitbim. lie came the uext morning, aud I asked liim what he wanted with me: he told me our iuiu, meaning Mr. W heeler's, was a very large one, aud some ol the Jury would be hard to get big damages out of. lie m III theiury bad bad consultation, and they thought I could do more with Mr. Wheeler than they could; 1 loid lilm I would say to Mr. Wheeler exactly what h told me, aud he said be would come back the uext OKy, not, however, at my solicitation. The next day there came to tbe bank Mr. tslottu, Mr. Boyd, and Mr, l ohan, three ol the Jurors. 1 was Inside or the rail ings of the bank, busy at tbe time they came lu; and u nlle tbey were waiting for me, Mr. Wheeler came in: Mr. Wheeler noticing them, asked me what tbese men were wailing for, and I told bim I expected tbey wanted money, as tbey had been la to stems tbe day before, requesting me to solicit some 1 1. lug lrom bim on account of bis properly at Fair lLount. He replied lo me tbat he had never given a c. nt in his lite as a bribe, and be considered any money coming to any oue from such a source would do tbem more barm than good. I iheu passed liom him to tbe jurors, and asked I hem if they wanled loseeme; they said ibul they bad culled lo see what Mr. Wheeler did say, aud tbey passed ouU Mr. Rohan remarking as be weulout that he was very sorry that they got him to call. Kext morning, however, Mr. Sloan called again himself, ami staled that the Jary had had a conference, and tbe majority of them thought that if Mr. Wueeler would give ibem .iuo tbeyoould get bim i;io,00o damages, and lor every uddiliouul luon be might give bim cash, they would fcivehim tlu.oou more damages, lie slated that Mr. Mllolt requested him to ask that if we would not tlve 11 before the award was made, whether he would not wrile a note to ihe Jury, binding Mr. Wheeler to give it after the award was made; 1 told bim that Mr. Wheeler bad given all the answer yesterday tbat be desired lo give. ISoneot the Jury called upon ue alter that time. A few days atter this conversation, pi oliuhly two or three, 1 lound a noie oo my desk at the bank, directed tome, which 1 opened and found nn anonvmotis comuiumcMloii In relation to ibis matter, The letter already produced by Mr. Wheeler, I asked the boys about the bank If they knew who lelt K, or saw any una leave It; the clerk In my room said young man or boy put it on my desk, alter I had gone away in the allernoou. without making aiiy letnora; he got up to see what It was; seeing that it was nirecierl properly, betook no further trouble about It. ana did uot see the lace ol the man who lelt Ii; 1 went to tear H up.tbinklng it of no account, being anonymous, lis I generally do with such papers, when ihe thought struck me 1 hud belter keep It aud show ll to Mr. Wheeler when he came lu. I loided II up, lorn as it was, and handed H to Mr. Wheeler when be came In, with the explanation, as I have before slated; be read It. and said: "I will Imme diately take this to Mr. Morris, my counsel, an J I will show it 10 Mm." He, Mr. Wheeler. went out of the bank, came back In a snort time, aud told me lhat he and Mr. Morris had concluded loiuy the whole matter beiore Ibe City Hollcitor. About three weeks alter, wards. Mr, Wheeler and I were standing in the door way of my room at the bank, when Mr. Sloan, one of thejury. came In and 1 stepped to theoueslde, when Mr. Hloao pulled a paper out of bis pocket and said to Mr. Wheeler, "Tbe Jury bave given you good dam ages," and pointed on tbe paper to some amouut, I did not see what It was; Mr. Wheeler looked at It and rt)))td iu lubetMice as he has (velihU here, aud then Mr. Wheeler and I walked back Into the President s room, which communicates with mine. I turned around, saw Mr. Hloan still standing wbere we left him. as thotnth be was waiting for something; he stoed prohably a momeut. and then went out. Hichard 1 Aflinurat sworn, says: i am couutoi ow ner of properly Mo. 27; after the award was made, hut belore it was announced, twoof the Jurors, I ttilnk Mr. llohau and nova, nut i am uncertain as to """I names, stopped me at Fourth and Walnut streets, and asked me if I had beard the award; I said It wns not yet announced: tney suiu iney couiu mi me. I then said lhat was uunecf stary; the Solici tor told me what it was. They asked me If I was utisfled: I said not entirely, hut 1 did not think I should accept. One ol these Jurors then saiu. tney had had a long vear s wont oTer ii auu nau ikhi"" no pay, and wouid not lor some time. They thought Ihe property owners should give i hem something. I told them It would not do. I attributed their propo sition lo Ignorance, rather than lo corruption, at the time, but a few days afterwards. I think, the same two men met me again, and repeated the same proposition. I declined, of course, and mentioned their conversation U Mr. Kellers. They then asked me, If something could he done towards advancing their compensation, or cashing their warrants, i told them 1 would speak to the City Solicitor about U. I mentioned it to Mr, fellers, and he told me that there was suspicion as to tbe conduct or the Jury, and 1 think I never couverscd With tbese two Jurors anerwarua. . . Peter Kern says: I was a claimant for damages before the Park Kxtwislon Jury, owning property there. I Raw the Jurors mere; I never had much ci nversatlon with tbem. 1 did not know tbem betore tbey sat on the Jury. I saw this Klliott, one ol the Jurors out here in Walnut and Fourtrt street, near the corner, on Ihe siieet. lie asked me II I wouldn't give bliu anything. 1 'bins: he put the question to me that way, I told tuna no. Well, then It was talked about 3n0 that I should give him right oil'. I tbink heasked tne for lhat amount. I told him no, right oil. I wouldn't give bliu anything: 1 wouldn't give him a cent. He did not say am body had sent bim to me: he did nol speak or tne other Jurors. We were a very short time together not more than five minutes. This was, 1 think, beiore the last meeting ot the Jury. I do not know whether the award was made up. Afterward I walked down Cliesnut street. Well, aud 1 met this what you call Mr. lloyd. 1 guess, the big Irtih inaii, oue ot the Jurors, aud then went Into Miller's tavern, between Third and Fourth streets, and I treated lloyd, and then tbere was a younir man, one of the Jurors, I don't know Ills name, lu tbere, and I treated bim too. I paid for the drinks, and we three sal down. Then this juryman said the report Is now made, and I said 1 had not seen It yet. Tbeu beaskedme, tb isyoung man, II 1 wouldn't give tbem somelhlug;tbat tbey bail worked hard all summer, and had got nothing Thnv did nut niAiiiInn anv mm of munev I was to give to tbem. Well, they said they would come to my house on Saturday evening. I told tbem mevsnouiu. l ney uiun t come, auu x nun uui.Beu them since. At the lime of tbe conversation at Mil ler's tavern 1 did not know what tbe amount was; thev did not tell me then, but I beard It afterwards. 1 did not give them a cent, but 1 treated them turee limes to lager beer, and I did not promise tbem ' anytbing. The treating was once at Popp's, once at Frlrke's, and once at Miner's. Two of the Jurors were together once, aud one of tbem asked me for a barrel of flour, but I guess that was fun; be laughed about it, and it was after the award. I do not know the name of tbe Juror. 1 do not know where 1 met tnem It seems to me somewhere nere on aiuui. sireeb, uBiweoufiuu and Klxlli streets. Very little was said. What wa said was this. He laughed and I laughed, and I said I don't make flour, or I might give him a barrel. JosPDh B. Hancock was examined as to state ments sworn to by Boyd and Rohan when testi fying before a committee of the Select and Com mou Council of the city, which seriously impli cate Mr. Brvin as consenting to the payment of money to the jurors, at their request; Dut as Mr. Ervin does not appear to have been present to cross-examine these witnesses, or put in a defense, I omit Mr. Hancock's statements, which, ll true, near neavuy agaum mm. Is comment at all necessary on this testimony, which stands betore us unimpeached by any other portion ot t be evidence, and not questioned or denied by tbe lurors implicated by it? Nor do we deem it necessary to do more than to add, that upon these facts as they are in proof before us, we rest our decision to set aside this report, that the question ol damages may be referred to other and better hands. It is but inst t o two of the jurors, Mr. James N. Marks and David Johnson, to say for them, that no wrong is in any degree Imputed to them; they appear to have bad no part or lot in the corrupt practices of their associates, and that it is a misfortune that they should have been associated wtth their fellows, all ot whom were drawn from the wheel, under the old sys tem, now, we think, happily abolished. There la one other matter to which we think: it but right to refer in conclusion, and that is the practice so long in use of giving entertain ments to road jurors. Some months since we expressed our reprehension of the custom, which has nothing but its antiquity to sustain it, and which we think has not even the plea of necessity to uphold it in Philadel phia. The custom no doubt grew up under a very different state of affairs from those which exist In this day. When the population of Pennsylvania was sparse, when counties were treble the extent they now are, wben houses of entertainment in many portions of the Htate were lew and far between, it may have been right and proper to furnish refreshment to road jurors, who were compelled to travel many miles in the performance ot duties which the lnw imposed on them. But that necessity has lung since passed away, and certainly in the c'.ty of Philadelphia no shadow ot reason exists lor the continuation of this practice. On the contrary, every reason ures its discontinuance. It is an event ot nol uulrequent occurrence, tlat jurors are feasted at great expense. Not only is food furnished them, but ex pensive wines and other liquors are given to them in profusion. Can such a practice be explained on any other theory than that the motive la an improper one; that the purpose to he accomplished is to obtain large awards of damages, which would not otherwise be given, to claimants for compensation lor property taken lor streets, or roadsof the city. It is nothing more nor less than a bribe, In tended to influence the action of the jury, and from which, we doubt not, the city is a sufferer at this day to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wo are aware that the Supreme Court, many years since, said tbat they could seo no impropriety in furnishing refreshment to road lurors, and this opinion has been quoted against the order which we some lime since made to correct this evil; but we do pot tbink it is applicable to a state of facts as they exist with us. At all events, we are inclined to stand by our order, to set aside a report in any case in which it appears that a jury has in this way been tampered with, so long as the question stands open, as we think it does, in its application to the city of Philadelphia. The conduct ot tbe jurors in this case, who solicited good suppers, and the remaik of one of them that those fared best in damages who treated the iurv best, is the strongest evidence aeainst a longer toleration of this custom. No verdict of a jury would for a n oment be sustained by any court if it appeared tbat the furors had been approached or tam pered with in this way. Why should a different rule bold as to road jurors? It has the further objection of putting the poor, or the rigidly scrupulous man. who will not yield to this cus tom, to great di-advantage before thejury. In conclusion, we have only to say that we think this is a case to which we should publicly call tbe attention of the District Attorney, as claiming his official investigation. It'men acting as road jurors will wrongfully combine to pro cure, by improper means, or to extort money from parties who are eompelled to appear before tbem to claim damatres, they have no right to expeet that they shall go free from that punish ment which their conduct so richly merits. Report set aside. Court of Quarter eesloma Judge Brew ster. Miscellaneous business was before the Court to-day. The habeas oorpua list was ; called, but from ibe absence of counsel and other causes, it was louud OlllAcnlt to have the cases disposed of John Primer, convicted; of a charge ol assault ana battery w as ordered lo pay a hue ot (10 aud the cool of ibe prosecution. A Cu'B Item. The members of the Claren don Club in London have resolved to abandon the idea of making it a political club, nd to carry it on vigorous! as a private and sociw club, without reference to the political opinions of its members,
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