4
THE BEAVER RADICAL
SMITH CURTIS, Bbitob.
BEAVER. FA*
FrUtr MorqUiK) January S* MW.
I have sole The Radical to
Senator Rutau. As long ago as last
August, the preliminary arrange
ments to this end were made, and
they have recently been consume
mated. All accounts for suhscrip-
tipn ate payable to the new proprie
tor. The accounts for advertising
and job work, up to October 12th,
1872, are due to me, and are in the
hands of Charles A. Griffin for col
lection. Prof. Smith Curtis has
charge of the newspaper at present,
on behalf of Mr. Rutau, as Editor
and Business Manager, with entire
control of its columns. The sever
ance of my connection. with The
Radical is complete; it may or may
not be final.
The Radical will continue to be
conducted as a radically Republican
newspaper, and I commend the new
management to the kind considera
tion of its patrons.
Our friends in Butler county seem
to be very much divided on the ques
tion of Congressional Apportion
ment. The Eagle adopts the views
of our correspondent “New Brigh
ton,” and demands a separation from
Washington county; while the Citi
zen prefers a district that does not
include either Beaver or Washing
ton. As Butler is now one of the
large oil producing counties of the
State, the- editor of the Citizen
thinks they would be better suited
if placed in a district in which the
same interest; predominated, and
suggests Butler, Armstrong and Ve
nango for the Congressional district.
Uncle Jake Zeigler, of the Herald ,
blandly suggests that they take
Clarion in place of Venango; and
as Clarion is oil producing also, the
Citizen , we presume, will not object
to the change; and if the Herald
and Citizen agree in this matter the
thing is done.
While We have just grounds of
complaint against the Republicans
of Washington county, we have no
desire to see our friends there
slaughtered by a connection with
Greene and Fayette, and no appor
tionment will be passed that will not
leave Washington county in a Re- N
publican district. Our member of
Congress elect lives ” in Washington
county, and he is so highly esteemed
here that no bill will be satisfactory
that does not give him a district in
which he can be re-elected accord
ing to the established usage of the
party.
In accommodating themselves the
Republicans of Butler must under
stand that neither Beaver nor Wash
ington will be sacrificed, and any
combination that does this will not
stand.
A Bimoß Is afloat In pb litical circles here and
about Harrisburg, that it is in contemplation, by
those having the power to accomplish their pur
pose. to give Senator Anderson, ol Allegheny,
who has been looked upon all along as the com
ing man for Speaker of the Senate, the.go-by, and
continue Mr. Sutan, of Beaver, in that position,
four correspondent does not wish to be under
stood as vouching for the truth of this story. It
is merely given as a rumor about the hotels, which
may or may not be true. It is alleged as one of
the reasons for this probable change of pro
gramme, that the friends of the Pennsylvania
Hailroad Company in the Senate, have not suffl-
cient confidence in the nerve or backbone of the
amiable little Senator from the Twenty-third ward,
v Pittsburgh, and that they are somewhat loth to tie
to him. However this,is, it is certain that “Bu
tin, 1 ’ as his friends call him, has established a
very enviable:reputation as a presiding officer,
who can wield the gavel with ease,grace and de-
cision. In fact, as a wielder of that innocent ivory
instrument of parliamentary law, the distinguish
ed gentleman from Beaver is a decided success,
and the writer is hugely mistaken if the aforesaid
is not now only commencing a political career
which will ran fir up into the pictures, ere he
reaches his fiftieth year. James S. Bntan has the
stuff in Cor. PMtbvrgh Chronicle.
We are authorized to say that Mr.
Rutan is not a candidate for Speak
/ er of the Senate, and will not be un
der any circumstances. Under a
usage as old almost as the Com
monwealth, he is not again eli
gible for two years to come. There
is nothing whatever in the story, as
so such a proposition was ever made
or entertained; and the first Mr.
Rutan ever heard of it was when
his attention was called to the above
correspondence on Monday last, on
his return from a visit to Ohio. ‘
M. S. Quay.
THE SOLNBBIP BOinfTy LAND
Section i; Rvery private' soldier, musician
and officer who served In the army of the United
States daring the late war, for ninety days, and
eras honorably discharged. Including the -troops
mustered Into the service of the United States by
virtue of the third section of the act entitled “an
act providing , appropriations for completing the
defense of Washington, apd for other purposes*”
approved Febrniry 18,1863, and every seaman,
marine, officers or other person Who served in the
navy of the United States, or in the marine corps
during the laie war, for ninety days andwho was
honorably discharged, and.the widow of any anch
soldier, musician, seaman, marine'or officer,- or
if there he no snch widow, his orphan children un
der 31 yean of age, shall be entitled to enter
a quantity of the pnhlic lands (not exceeding 160
acres, or one quarter section, which shall be com
posed of continuous tracts according toa legal
subdivision, including the alternate reaerred sec
tioaa ofpnbllc lands along tholiM of anynllroad
or the public work, or other lands subject to entry
nndsrtke homestead law ofthe Unlted States, and
receive a certificate of such land .without the pay
mcntof anyfmoneytherefor.
Section 8. Each entry shall be made in the
name ofthe person entitled asabovo 'to make the
same, either in person or by agent, under each
regulations as the Secretary of the Interior shall
prescribe, and the patent for the lands so entered
shall be issued only to such soldier, musician,
seaman, or officer, or his widow or orphan Chil
dren, as provided for in the first section-of the act-
Bat, any sale of snch land or any interest therein,
or any powe rof attorney authorizing such sale or
other contract or agreement in anywise affecting
or concerning any such land, made, executed or
entered into prior to the issuing of the patent
therefore and the actual delivery of the same to
the person to whom it has been issued, shall be
of no value whatever, bat shall he null and void.
Section 8. The secretary of the interior shall
prescribe roles and -regulations to carry the sever
al provisions of this act into effect.
The above bill has passed the
House by a vote of 105 to 62, after
a long and sharp debate on its mer
its. It how- goes ,to the Senate,
where it will encounter strong oppo
sition, and probably be amended in
some important particulars.
The Homestead law provides for
free homesteads, but requires actual
settlement as a condition to posses
sion of title. The Solders’ Bounty
Land bill gives to the soldier 160
acres without money, and free of all
conditions of settlement or improve
ment, and it is this feature of the
bill that is objectionable, because it
seeips to violate the spirit of the
Homestead law, and provides facili
ties for land speculators to purchase
and hold the public lands to the pre
judice of those seeking homesteads.
We are, however, heartily in favor
of any just measure that is meant
to reward the soldiers for their inval
uable services, and especially this
present bill to grant them 160 acres
of land, provided the person
tended shall receive the full benefit
of the donations, and not the land
speculators. In regard to this mat
ter we cap attention to the follow
ing correspondence, and advise sol
diers and others interested to circu
late the petitions and send them in
at once, as suggested by “Private
Soldier:”
New Bbighton, Pa., Dec. 30, 1872.
Editor Beaver Radical ;
Prior to the adjournment of Congress for the
holidays, a bill was passed by the lower House,
giving 160 acres of government land to “every
private soldier, musician, and officer, who served
in the army of the United States during the late
war for 90 days, and was honorably discharged,' 1
&c.; also every seaman or marine, and the widow
or orphan children of such soldier, seaman, marine,
&c., —if the children are under 31 years of age.
This bill was sent to the Senate, where it is now
awaiting action, and some fears are expressed that
it may there be defeated. To show to our body
of Senators the wish of those to be benefltted,
large meetings of soldiers have been held in dif
ferent parts of the country, and petitions prepared
and sent, urgently requesting the passage of the
bill. There is great danger of the defeat of this
most righteous bill. As is well known, the Senate
of the United States is a very slow body in action
upon bills of this character, and it may there be
defeated. It is very necessary that the soldiers
should move promptly in the matter, as Congress
will re-convene on Monday next.
Beaver county soldiers have an interest in this
bill, and they should see to it that their efforts are
not wanting to aid in the passage of it. Petitions
are now being circulated in New Brighton, Roch
ester and Beaver Falls, and it is desired that every
election precinct shall be thoiongbly canvassed,
and the name of every soldier put on a-petition
addressed to the United States Senate.- \
Here is'a chance for each of us to procure, free
of charge, 160 acres of good land, in part pay for
our services in the camp and field. We cannot
afford to throw it away.' It is unnecessary to say
to men who have suffered the dangers and hard,
ships of a soldier's life, that this is a proper move
on the part of Congress.
The Homestead law, thongh|giving every one
the right to settle upon and own 160 acres, does
not meet the case of the soldier. It isan insult to
ask a man who has lost a leg and arm, to go and
settle in a fiur d latent territory, amid the wilds and
the unoccupied plains of the great west, in order
that be may possets a few acres of land, which he
has sacrificed his limbs to secure to the govern
ment. There are no men on the face of the earth
who have as much right to these lands as we have,
and let us do our best, boys, to get a ahare of the
broad acres. Set the petitions going, and have
every soldier's name on them \>y Saturday night
next, if possible.
Iwonld suggest that for the present, all peti.
turns be put in the hands of comrade John C.
Bart, until the whole of the county Is represented
and every precinct has-its petition in, when the
batch may be "sent to our United States Senator
for use in the Senate.
> Hew Brighton and contiguous towns are using
the following petition, which seems to meet the
case:
Tothe Senate tf Uu United States:
Your petitioners respectfully represent that
there is now awaiting action in you body, a bill
known as the Bounty Land Bill, recently passed
by tbe House of Bepresenaatives, providing that
“every private soldier, musician, and officer, who
served in the army of the United Stater daring
the late war, for ninety toys, and was honorably
, discharged,” Ac. v also every seaman or marine and
the widow or orphan children of such soldier, sea
man or marine, etc.—subject to certain conditions
•THE
BILL.
* 'V *
-•h*U
land* (a
'tßaOtOk ,
country la ita hour of greatest need v and Inorder
I that wr may i*ai>
■ bOnoiaOlc Oodyto
' To your post, comrades, and Tet uB
matter as wo used to. -■
dler’a life, toy acting with onemlnd heart.
Gaft. John Hall, ap
pointedMarshal of -the Western -
District of Pennsylvania, bap been
confirmed by tW Senate, and will
take charge of the office bn Monday
next. 1 That he. will make an efficient
and popular officer, there is no doubt
whatever; and while we did not
approve the manner or reason
given for his appointment, we
are well pleased at his promotion.
Mr. Murdoch, the retiring Mar
shal, whs one of the bes t officers that
ever filled that or any other office,
and had he not chosen to resign
there would not, so far as we know,
been any disposition to have a
change, although he had filled the
office for two;and a half terms. He
carries with him to private life, the
respect and esteem of all those do*
ing business with him during his
long term in the office.
John Hagan, Esq., the member
elect to the Legislature from Greene
county, died on the evening of the
24th ult. He was fifty-eight years
old, and was a man of ability, re
spected and s esteemed by all/who
knew him. His death, it is said,
occasions thq first vacancy in the.)
House of Representatives that has
ever occurred from that county.
In Clearfield county, on Friday
last, a vote was taken, as provided
for in the Local Option bill, on tbe
question of license or no license.
The prohibitionists carried the day
by from 800 to 1000 majority. Clear
field is strongly Democratic, and at
the October election gaveßuckalew
1437 majority.
To the Editor qf the Radvcat:
At the Temperance Convention held
in the Presbyterian Church of Bridge*
water, on the 80th of December, a gentle
man whowas endorsed as a law-,
yer,” had much to say about .the utter
worthlessness of the Local Option Law,
to be voted upon by the citizens of Beaver
county next inarch. Reasserted that the
law would be.inoperative pen
alties are attached taa violatiopkof itr and
that in excepting, the special laws now ex
isting in the several boroughs or town
ships of a county, the act repealed all
gewfal laws. Will you enlighten your
readers a little on these points ? W.
Answer. —The lawyer referred to
by our correspondent is mistaken in
his opinion. The Local Option law
does not repeal, either directly or in
directly, the law prescribing penal
ties for selling liquor without li
cense; and if prohibition carries in
this county the Courts will not grant
license, and will punish under the old
law for illegal selling.—-Ep. Rad.
FROM BARRIBBURO .
A Deserted City—A “Caucus”—Har
tranft’a Cabinet—Tbe V.. 8. Senator
ship.
Correspondence of 'the Radical.
has been deserted for a
week, and your correspondent has not
been able to set eyes on a single politician
from whom he could gain information
worth communicating. Before this Week
closes, however, Harrisburg will be alive
with politicians from every part of the
State.
The caucus of Republican members of
the House will beheld on Saturday, in
all probability, and the Senate on "Mon
day. Qen. Lane, of Huntingdon, who
labors under the hallucination that he is
a candidate for Speaker of the House, has
requested all the members friendly to him
to meet in caucus at the State Capitol
Hotel, in this- city, on Thursday evening,
January 2d, at half,past eight, ?. u.‘That
caucus will be like McClure’s Liberal
caucus, have but one present, the mem
ber from Huntingdon himself, and will,
therefore, in all probability, be very har
monious.
There is no change in the programme
about the organization, and it will result
as predicted in my last letter.
It has been generally understood here
since the October election that . CoL M.
8. Quay was to be Qen. Hartranft’s Sec
retary of State. His relations with the
Governor elect were such that it was be
lieved he could have the appointment If
he desired, and the leading politicians of
both parties desired that this appoint
ment be made.#
As Col. Quay has not been seen at Har
risburg or Philadelphia for some time,
some begin to doubt whether, after all,
this is the programme ; but these doubts
will soon be solved by the official an
nouncement..
The Attorney Generalship will fall op
Hon. W. H. Armstrong, of Lycoming, op
Hon. Samuel E. Dimmick, of Waynei
Habbibbubo, Dec. 80,1872.
: .,it.- ■ i^s7rv_, ■■ ■■'
>tbare to '' •Jad ■ wot*
jji that cabinet mtkew swunableto de
termine which will be choßen.lnthis
dllemmathatmatter Is respectfully re«
ferred to sfen* Hartranft, and be most de
ddewhichhe wtii appoint. ■. ~r::X : :<
Tower harlDK withdrawn Gen. Cameron
baa no competitor and from present ap*
pearances will have a walk over. M.
. Cot. M. 8. Hvxt—lkar Slr; It tats jnstoccur
ed to in ay mind that another yew bad potted since
1 lost paid my anbadriptiodto The Rauical, due
yesterday,the XBtb,and while I sendyouthe in
close dtopay for the paper in my name and that
ofC.W, Patterson, 1 cannot refrain from express
tog to you the high appreciation in whlchlhave
held The BiDicii during the past year, and the
aide manner it tats snpportedand ad
vocated the Republican party, its candldates,and
the great interests of manufacturers and of labor
generally. I teas deeply impressed with the opin
ion that the great measure of the old Whig and
Republican parties—l moan protection toAmeri
can labor—was In the greatest danger of repeal
from the election of the candidates of the “Dib-
Rep-Dem.” party, and I am now. yet more deeply
impressed withi that since the death of Hr. Gree
ley. Suppose that ticket had been elected, and
Ur. Greeley had died after the 4th of March, thee
the Vice President - Brown—tbe Free Trader—
• would have been President, and then, under his
infloence, ohr labor interests would have been ru
ined, as 'bad been done before by Vice Presidents,
lam afraid of yice Presidents, and I hope an
amendment Constitution abolishing that
office wiUbe made, and that soon. That office has
been nsedas merely a “bob tail to tbe kite," a
mere makeweight. On more than one occasion it
was made to mar the great measures of the party
electing them; and 1 well remember the cam
paign when “J. K. Folk and Dallas”were elect
ed, that the cry of the Democratic party was
“Polk, Dallas, and tbe Tariff Of 1842," and carried
Pennsylvania under its influence, and pben in
power that tariff was repealed by the casting vote
in the Senate of that same Dallas—a citizen of
Philadelphia.
I feel that our manufacturers, and all persons in
terested in Pennsylvania’s great labor interests
in Beaver county, owe it to their own interests to
subscribe for and support Tan Beaver Radical,
With my best wishes for its success and widest
circulation among our people I remain
Tour and its friend,
Jakes Patterson.
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
Crystal X?alace Company of New York.
—New York Jealousy—Centennial
Municipal Reformers—The Radical
—Edwin Forrest’s Home.
i >»
[Correspondence of tbe Radical.]
Philadelphia, Dec. 30,1872.
The Board of Directors of the Crystal
Palace Company, of New York, are
watching with jealous eyes the action of
the Centennial Commissioners in this
city; they hope something Will yet turn
.up that will result in heaving the Cen
tennial Celebration held iii New York.
The Crystal Palace Company of New
York have already purchased a lot of
ground, for which they are to pay $1,700,-
000, and they are now endeavoring lo
raise $1,500,000 in cash, byi selling stock
at 80 cents bn the dollar. for the purpose
of paying lor the ground. Only s2oo>ooo
has yet been paid in cash; when this is 1
accomplished about five millions more ate
to be raised, to be used ini erecting the
building, which is designed to be built
entirely around the large area and to jbe
125 feet deep and five stories high. This
construction would give a space 125 feet
wide and 3,700 feet long for each floor.
The court in the centre would be twice
the size of Madison square, and would be
covered so as to be converted'into a con
servatory of the rarest kind. It is claim
ed that an iron building; having the lar
gest dome in the world could be construct
ed for $9,000,000. An iron structure more
magnificent than any at present in exist
ence, can be built for $7,000,000, while a
granite building will cost even less, and
a brick one about $4,000,000.
ThelWfrwnsin discussing the subject
in a recent article said : 4 The business
men of New York are awakening to a re
alization of the fact that Philadelphia will
appear to the world as the commercial
metropolis of this country,: if she succeeds
iirbuilding for herself the massive struc
ture which she hopes to possess by the
time the Centennial arrive!.” ;
If our citizens would succeed in making
it appear to the world that Philadelphia
is the commercial metropolis of this
country, they must see to jit that in se
lecting officers to run the Centennial, em
ployees are selected who are possessedof
other qualifications than simply knowing
how to realize the largest possible
“diyvy,” or purchases of stationary,
printing, binding, and t»ther supplies.
Clerks who are utterly incapacitated fby
nature, or art, from-reading a resolution,
or inditing a circular, and whose knowl
edge regarding what is requisite to make
the Centennial a success,; is no gretUer
than the average boot black’s around the
corridors of the Continental Hotel is con
cerning astronomy; are hot the proper
gentlemen to be made, at this early stdge,
the figure beads of the concern. If they
continue to persist in pushing themselves
forward to the annoyance |>f the Centen
nial Commissioners and t|e discredit of
the city, they should he dealt with as ion
ceremoniously as some of them havebeen
kicked tpnfc and their
places Ailed by better meni
The belief is growing very strong |hat
if the Centennial is to he a success, it
must be taken hold of in earnest by | the
State; if the falls to coine* to the rescue,
then indeed will New York rejoice at; the
disgrace in store for us as wen as richly
profit by our shortsightedness.
Now that the feeling is growing In fa
vor of the Democracy in thtscity endors
ing the nominations that; the municipal
Reformers will make; the half dozen gen
ttefnen who manage the political affairs
of the Reformers areengagedid making
.up their slate for aext year. Pot sheriff
tWy talk of making Hod. Chas. Gibbons,
Republican, fteir candidate; for Register
ofWills, General William McCandless
vrtil be made their choice; for Prothono
tiuy of the Court of Common Pleas*
WmiarnSellerawmbe chosen; for Clerk
of lOrphans’Court, Joseph Megary will
bejset up, and for City Commissioner,
William D. Porten will be invited to ac
cept the nomination. Three of these
candidates are Republicans and two Dem
ocrats. , s .‘
Qnr municipal Reformers will never
forgive Mayor Stokley for the drubbing he
gave their pet candidate for the Mayor*
ally, when he beat him by ten thousand
majority, and are now at work, endeavor
ing to create a public sentiment that a
gentleman of commanding social status
must be mayor during the Centennial,
and in order to gratify their revenge they
intend to ran Henry president of
the Health Board, for mayor in opposi
tion to Mr. Stohley, believing that he
(Davis) is the man who can most easi
ly defeat Mayor Stohley; but there is just
where they will miss it, for Mr. Stohley
would “get away with” Henry Davis as
easily as Henry would ; get away with
“Brockie George.”
The very able editorial in Thb Radical
of the 13th lust., was pretty generally
diScnssed here in political circles. In
criticising it at the Union League, your
correspondent heard one very prominent
member put this question to the hnot of
gentlemen who surrounded him: “Was
it lor the purpose of concentrating ail
power in the hands of the Nation’s Exec
utive that the great Republican party was
created?” The gentleman gave it as his
opinion that if the centralization now go
ing on step by step is not arrested by the
Republican party, its- days will soon be
numbered, and he rejoiced to see so prom
inent a party journal giving such wise
counsel, and if followed by the party
press generally the wrong would be
remedied, and the Republican party
would continue to exist as the party of
power for a score or more of years.
The pestilence which stalked broad
cast throughout our city last winter and
spring and which sent 5,000 small-pox
victims to the grave, is chargable to dere
liction of duty on the part of the Board
oMlealtb; to prevent a recurrence of so
dire a calamity the Legislature will be
asked to take from this irresponsible
Board the cleaning of the streets, remov
al iof ashes, and garbage. A bill to effect
this humane purpose : and reformatory
measure has already been prepared and
will be submitted to tbe Legislature early
in the session. It meets the cordial con
currence of his Honor the Mayor of the
city, as well as all who fear a return of
thb fearful epidemic which so recently
left us, and all the city members of tbe
Legislature.
Last February the community was
shocked by news of the dreadful murder
of Mrs. Oskins, at the residence of her
brother-in-law, Mr. Prank Register, in
this city, by her husband, WmH. Oskins,
a prominent politician of a local charac
ter. Oskins was acquitted because he
murdered his wife “during a kind of sud
den and instantaneous paroxysm of in-
The murderer has been in pris
oh during the three months since his ac
quittal, and on Saturday last his counsel
appealed before the Court to argne his
sanity and secure his release. On the
trial for murder a score or more of reput*
able persons swore that Oskins was in
sane. At the hearing on Saturday an
equal number testified to his sanity, be-- -
Moving him to be a safe person to be at
large. District Attorney Mann wisely
took the ground that until evidence was
presented that would satisfy the Court
that there would be nu return of “instan
taneous paroxysm of insanity,” the pris
oner should be kept in confinement, and
until that is done the Judge remanded
him to prison.
“The Edwin Forrest Home for the sup
port and maintenance of actors and ac
tresses decayed by age or disabled by in
firmity,” is to be built at his late country
place, called Spring Brook, near this city.
The great tragedian leaves about two mil
lion dollars to maintain the institution-
His very valuable library and picture gal
lery are to be taken to the Home,This,
excellent provision to promote the health
of the inmates of the Home is contained
in Mr. Forrest’s will: “Also as a means
of preserving health, and,- consequently,
the happiness of the inmates, as well as
to aid in sustaining the home, there shall
be lectures and readings therein, upon
oratory And the histrionic art, to which
pupils shall be admitted upon snob terms
and under such regulations al the mana
gers may prescribe. The garden and
grounds are to be made productive of
profit, as well as of health and pleasure,
and, so far as capable, the inmates, not
otherwise profitably occupied, shall assist
in farming, horticulture, and the cultiva
tion pf flowers in the garden and conserv
atory.”
The great heart of Edwin Forrest
shows itself inthese words, also contain
ed In his will: “Should I leave no later
will or codicil, my friends who sympa
thize in my purposes will execute them'
in the best and fullest manner possible
understanding that they have been long
meditated by me, and ,are very dear to my
heart. They will also remember that, iny
professional brothers and sisters are of
ten unfortunate, and that little has 1 been
done for them, either to elevate them in
their profession or to provide for their
necessities undeßsickness or other misfor
tunes. God has favored my, efforts and
given me great success, and I would make
my fortune the means tQ elevate the edu
cation of others and promote their sue*
cess, and to alleviate their sufferings and
smooth the pillows of the unfortunate in
sicknessor other 1 disability, or the decay
of declining years.” V *
The mayor 6( onr city, Mr. Stokiey
and District Attorney Mann, are deter
mined tp punish crime in this ciiy, an d so
fer as they are able, intend to on
the evil practices that exist here. “Brock
ie George” a professional burglar was
competed and sentenced last week to an
imprisonment of thirteen years and gy Q
months.. Philip Mason; an associate of
professional thieves, was convicted of lar
ceny and sentenced to three years fo.
prisonment. Neil Warrington,for keeping
a disorderly house, got one year and a
fine of $lOO and costs, and on Saturday
the police made a raid on a gambling
house at No. 281 Dock street, and cap.
tured thirty persons, each of whom were
fined |3OO and costs, and Nat Marks, the
faro dealer, and Jack O’Brien, the propri
etor of the concern, were held in $1,500
each for criminal prosecution in the Ses
sions Conrt. Both the Mayor and Dis
trict Attorney are recipients of the high
est commendation for the official zeal dis
played by them, and the public trust it
may continue, which hope is shared by
[From the Philadelphia Press.]
FRENCH SPOLIATION CLAIDIS.
. Perhaps no jast case has been so abun
dantly abused as that of the claims of
American citizens for spoliations commit
ted by the French prior to the 31st day of
July, 1801. Never was the old adage,
that “Procrastination is the thief of time,”
better illustrated than in the history of
this claim. Originally twenty million
dollars, upon which interest has been ac
cumulating for seventy years,it is now pro
posed to pay the claimants in full by giv
ing them five millions—one-fourth of the
original demand—w ithout interest. Forty,
three Congressional reports in their favor
have been presented. Senator John M.
Clayton, of Delaware, spoke two days, on
the 23d and 24th of March, 1846, in sup
port of them. Senator Sumner, in his
report of April 4, 1864, sustained the
great Senator from Delaware in an able
and eloquent argument. Madison, while
Secretary of State in 1804, Webster in
1835, Everett in thesameyear; Clay, while
Secretary of State under Adams, in 1825,
and Edward Livingston—all sustained the
claims. Statesmen like Qusbing, Choate,
William Wilkins of Pennsylvania, Tru
man Smith of Connecticut, Pennington
of New Jersey, Crittenden of Kentucky,
and Clingman of North Carolina, all sup
ported them. New York in 1840. Ohio in
1847, Louisiana in 1848, Massachusetts In
1841, ’44, ’53, and ’56, Maine in 1840, ’44,
’56, and ’57, Connecticut in 1838, '43, and
’44, Delaware in 1843, Rhode Island u
1832, ’43, ’46, and ’56, Maryland in 1845,
Alabama In lB4l,New Hampshire In 1839,
’4l, and Virginia in 1851, solemnly and
repeatedly invoked and urged'the Gov
ernment to deal justly with these claim
ants. And as showing the deep personal
and financial interest Philadelphia and
Pennsylvania hsve in this subject, it is
only necessary to state that in 1838
eighty-six of the most substantial citizens
of Pennsylvania followed the most univer
sal prayer of other states in demanding
the passage of some act of reparation to
the American claimants against the
French. Among the signers, were Wil
liam Heister of Lancaster, Thomas P.
Cope, Charles Jared Ingersoll, Joseph R.
Chandler, William M. Meredith, and M.
W. Baldwin of Philadelphia, George M.
Kiem of Berks, John Dickey of Beaver,
George W. Woodward of Luzerne, and
James Pollock of Northumberland. We
gather these facts by a glance at the
record, and as practically and tersely sus
taining them we would direct attention to
the speech of Hon. Simon Cameron, Sena
tor in Congress from Pennsylvania, on
Monday last, printed at length in The
Press of to-day. As the subject ilselt is
one of deep interest to the whole country,
and inclusively to Pennsylvania, we are
quite sure the remarks of General Came
ron in support of the bill so cordially ad
vocated by the distinguished statesmen
“we have named will' be carefully and
profitably read.
From the Pittsburgh Commercial.
New Brighton, Pa., December 21, 1872.
One of the most pleasant events of the
season occurred at Siemon’s dining hall,
in this city, yesterday evening—the cele
bration of the battle of Drainesville,
which was fought December 20th, 1861,
and resulted in a complete victory to the
'fitfonsylvahia Reserves.
The meeting was organized by calling
Colonel David Crltchlow to the chair, and
Lieutenant Colonel 6. L. Eberhart to act
as secretary.
The chair stated, in his usually happy
manner, the objects of the meeting, after
which, upon motion ofMajorC. K. Cham
berlin, a committee of five on tdasts and
sentiments was appointed-’
At this point in the proceedings, our
host, Siemon, announced that supper was
ready, to which all present repaired with
hut little urging. It is wholly unneces
sary to state thatample justice was done
to the plentiful supply of good things
with which our comrade,, George, had
ladened the table. The paucity of frag
ments after we had closed the feast must
have given George the most satisfactory
evidence that the quality of his viands
was fully appreciated, and that all present
were In the full enjoyment of vigorous
appetite*
!The irst course finished, Major Cham
berlin announced the toasts prepared by
Trefoil.