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UISAEB HOUR.
O hour of all lioutb, the moßl blessed upon
eirtri,
Blessbd i.oar of our dinners I
'The land of his birth;
Thofac* o' his first lovo ; the bills that be owes;
The twadd e of fr lends, and the venom of foes;
The sermon ho heard when to church he last
went; . .*
The money he borrowed, the money he spf-nt;
All these things a man, I believe, may forget
And notb.f the wono for forgettlDg; bi.tyet
U«-vor, never, oh nevci 1 eurth’s lnckiest sin-
Hath urpunUhcd foTgollen the lu.urofhls
dinner. ,
InOlg stlon-that <onPc!e.>co of cveiy baa
stomach, . .
hhull reientle-s y kna.v and pursuehim with
unmi' ache . ....
Or tome pdn. ucd trcuMe r< morac-less Ills beet
Ah the furies once troubled the sleep of Orestes.
vVo may live without poelry, lnnslo, and art;
Wo nmy live without conscience, und live
without heart;
Wo in-.y live without friend*, wo may live
without b< ok**;
Hut civilized man cannot live without cook*.
Hemav live without hooks —what Is knowl
edge Initgrl-vl-g?
Ho may llvo without hope—what Is hopo but
d'cHvlng? , , .
He rniiy hv- without lov j—what ;s passion but
But where Va (he man that cun llvo without
dining ?
gUiwcUancous.
The Jasper Signet,
|!V It. It . H T ODD AU H
It wan the dusk of a summer even
ing. I «at at my chamber, pufllng ray
cigar, and gazing listlessly into the
street.. I saw the Hitting dgures of the
passers-l>y, ami my neighbors over the
wuy on their sloops, with their chil
dren playing around them. The air
was full of confused sounds— fragments
of conversation, the putter of feet, and
tho rumble of distant wheels. It was
not an unpleasant evening, I owned,
but I was not in the mood to enjoy it.
I took up ray pistol, which lay on the
table before me, und bundling it curi
ously, wondered if anything would
over drive me to shoot myself.
It was a dark time in'my life —the
darkest, I thought, I had ever seen. 1
was out of money, out of friends, out of
hop:.*. And worst of all, my child, my
darling little Ambrose, was sick. He
luy in the next room in a raging fever;
the folding doors between us were
closed, but his low moujns reached me,
and struck a pang lo my heart. Trom
time to time through the day I had sat
by his bedside, holding his burning
hands, but when eveningcurae, 1 could
bear it no longer; 1 was sick with pity.
I took up a book lo forget myself, but 1
could not make House of what I read;
my mind would wander oil'in the mid
dle of a paragraph. How, indeed, could
1 forget the child, when everything in
the room reminded me of him? With
in reach stood his rocking horse ; his
toys were scattered fiver the sofa. Under
the edge of the bookcase I saw the toes
of his little shoes, und on the table lay
a withered posy, which lie had gather
ed a flay or two before. It wasouly a
bunch of wild dowers, and they were
withered and dead, but I could not
throw them away. I would have pre
served even a weed, if his hand had
touched it.
I sat and smoked until it grew too
dark to see distinctly. The neighbors
withdrew into their houses an l lighted
the lamps. The sounds in the streets
died away, but the air was noiser than
ever, for innumerable crickets were
chirping. “Ah ! well!” said I, with a
sigh, “there is no use in ray sitting
here idle any longer; I may as well go
to work. 1 '
I turned oil the gas and drew my ta
ble up to the !i:»bf. 1 liavo not men
turned, I bi• li.-v(_•, that 1 was au author,
butas I said I was poor, the acute reader
may have guessed it. Yes, I was au
author tlieu, a poor author, a miserable
literary back, turning my pen to every
thing 1 was Mju.illy good (or bail) at
prose or poetry. 1 wrote heavy articles
for the review*.-, and light paragraphs
for tiic journals, lo say nothing of sen
sation romances for the weeklies; aud
poetry for everything. I had a poem to
write that night—a comic poem; the
cuts with which it was to be illustrated,
uud which were supposed to be' drawn
for it (of course at a great expense), lay
before me not yet transferred from
Punch, touching the faded dowers of
my sick child. I pressed the posy to
ray lips, and breathing a prayer for his
recovery, took up my peu and began to
write. The contrast between my cir
cumstances and what I was writing—a
panegyric ou wealth —sharpened my
wits. I rioted in a world of fantastic
creations, scattering jokes and puus
broadcast. “There,” said I, after one
of my brilliant coruscations, “ That will
delight tiie editor of the Barbarian.
The poor man lliinks me fuuny.” I
remembered the last poem that I had
oil'ered him, and smiled bitterly. It was
a stately and noble piece of thought, yet
he declined it, ami ordered the trash
which I was then writing. I would not
have touched it but for my little Am
brose, but u si'-k child must huvenphy
sdcian and nurse. “ And happy shall 1
lie,” 1 thought, “if it ends there!”
Walking out that day I had seen a littlo
coiliu iu the window of an undertaker
hard by, and now it came back to ray
memory, and tilled me with solemn
forebodings. I imagined Liiat I saw ou
the table, with my child in it, holding
t he withered dowers iu his folded hands!
1 laid down my pen and listened, but 1
could uot hear him. “ Perhaps he Is
dead,” I whispered. The thought gave
me a shock, ami the tears rushed to my
eyes. I was certainly in die* trim for
writing a comic poem !
At that moment there was a tap at the
door.'
“ Come in,” s aid T, drying ray eyes
hastily. The door opened, and in walk
ed Arthur Gurney. I did not recognize
him at first, for I lmd seen him but once
before, and that was at a large party;
beside?, my eyes were dim with writ
ing. But when he c line to tho light, I
remembered his lace, and shook him by
the hand.
“ I see you ure at work,” ho said. “
I am dc trap, say so frankly, ami I’ll be
oil' at once.*’
“ Don't,” I replied ; “ I cun spare an
hour or two us well as not."
He seated himself in my arm chair,
and cast his eyes around the chamber,
I could nut l« if whether he was taking
a mental inventory of my worldly goods
and possessions, or whether he was
collecting hn thoughts before commenc
ing conversation. 1 looked at him in
tently for a few minutes, 1 know not
why, but I felt a strange fascination
drawing me toward him. There was a
subtle communication, a mesmeric tele
graph. as it were, between us. Hissoul
dashed messages to mine—mysterious \
messages in cypher, which I received !
and read, but could not understand.
Had ho been a woman instead of aman,
I should have un.lerstood his power
over me. His face was pale aud deli
cately cut; his eyes were large and
black. There was something Spuuish
in his appearance, but no Spaniard
could have been so fair. A sentimental
young lady would have called him ro
mantic looking; but he would have
scorned that cheap distinction. He was
a gentleman, a nolle gentleman in
grief. „ . , ,
“ Well," s.iid he, “ have you finished
staring at me?” I was not aware that
he had noticed me, he appeared so
oblivious of my presence.
“ I beg your pardon, but I could not
help it. But pray, Mr. Gurney—l am
sure that you will not think me rude —
to what am I indebted for the honor of
this visit?” , .
“Likeyou I could nut help it. last
alone in my room thinking of many
things, when suddenly you came into
mymind.and I thoughtloughttocome
and see you. It seemed to me you could
do Boraethiug for me, or I for you, I
know not which. Can you help me?
“But what is the matter with you?
You anpear well, and well to do—one
of the* aleck darlings of the world, as
Evelyn says in ‘Money.' I will give
you advice, if you insistupon it, which
I take to be a pretty good proof of
friendship. I will even write you an
acrostic, if you think your lady-love can
be won by poetry. In short, I will do
almost anything but lend you money ;
that I cannot do. But that, I fancy, is
the last thing that you would expect
from me.”
He shook hi» head. ‘-Have you any
thing to drink?” The suddenness of
the question made me smile in spite of
m “What will you have, Monsieur Gur
ney? Chateau Margeau or Verzeney ?
But perhaps you would like some Hun-
~ VOLUME 70
garlan wine, or a bottle of Johannls
beig?” , , .
»• Whatever you have, sir; whatever
you have. , llt ,
I remembered that I had a bottle of
schnapps in the next room, and rose to
get it. I passed out into the hall, and
groped my way aloDg lbe entry until I
reached the door that led into the sick
chamber. There was a candle burning
in the corner when I entered, but was
shaded so effectually that I had to light
I a match. The flask for which I came
1 was in a little cabinet at the head of the
bed, I moved on tip toe to the bed side,
and bent my face close down to that of
the child. I could not see him distinct
ly, but I felt his short quick breath ; it
was like the blast of a furnace. I touch
ed his baud; he was consumed with
fever. “Hels no better, sir/' the nurse
whispered, “ but he is sleeping soundly,
and so is his mother; she is worn out.”
Turning my eyes in the direction of the
lounge, I saw my wife stretched upon it.
I stole softly toward her, and kissed her
forehead. Bhe moved her lips, but no
sound came; she was breathing in sleep
a silent prayer for her darling.
When I re-entered my chamber my
heart was sad, and so, seemiugly, was
that of Athur Gurney, for his face was
buried in his hands.
He roused himself with on effort, and
taking a cigar case from his pocket,
offered me a cigar. I placed the bottle
and glasses on the table, and proceeded
to twist a paper-lighter, but he antici
pated me with the blank side of a let
ter, which I noticed was edged with
black. As he bent forward to light it
at the leader which between us,
I saw a large ring on bis finger—an en
graved seal ring, with a curious setting.
“ That is a atrange;ring of yours, Mr.
Gurney,” I observed, after we had
lighted our cigars ; “may I look at it?”
“ Certainly and be handed it to me.
It was a jasper signet of large size.
The stone was remarkably line, and
apparently clear, but on scanuing it
closely I saw that it was flecked with
red spots. They were small aud dim,
except where the stone had been en
graved ; they were larger aud brighter.
It was as if the stone had been inserted
in a bloody foil, which had been pierced
by the cutting. I could not make out
the cutting, whether it was a crest or
merely au initial letter. It was proba
bly a cipher. The workmanship of the
setting, which was of red gold, betok
ened au early state of the art. It was
fantastic and rude, but quite in keeping
with the stone, the cipher of whic.i it
repeated amid a variety of cabalistic
characters. Jlad I met with it in the
cabinet of a collector I should have said
it was the seal of some magician of the
middle ages.
Mr. Gurney had moved the bottle
toward him, aud was filling his glass
when 1 made a motion as if 1 would slip
the ring on my finger. “Stop!” he
said suddenly ; “ what are you übout?”
His tone was so abrupt aud fierce that
I started at him in surprise. “ Ymi
object to my trying it on ?” I asked.
“Indeed I do; it is unlucky.”
I handed him back the ring, a little
piqued by his manner.
“Fill your glass and, and I will satis
fy your curiosity concerning it. You
must not be annoyed with me because
I prevented you from trying it on. It
was on your account, not my own.”
We touched ourglasses and lie began.
“This ring has been in our family for
generations. I know not when, or by
whom, the curse was entailed upon us,
but as far back as our records reach
and we have authentic documents
reaching back five or six hundred years
—we And it mentioned as one of the
heirlooms of the race. It had come
down from father to son with all our
broad lands and possessions, being fre
quently specified in our ancient wills.
Our lands and possessions have passed
aw’ay, as such things will, but the ring
still remains as you see. It has belong
ed at time to various branches of the
family—men of widely diflerent minds
and temperaments. Some lived in
peaceful days, and died at a ripe old
age; others perished young, slain in
battle or broils. Many fell by their own
hands. But it mattered not what was
the fortune of its possessor, he was the
slave of the ring.”
“Butin what sense?” I enquired.—
“ What you have related may be plain
to you. but I must confess it is vague to
me. In what manner, and to whom,
has the ring been a curse ?”
“To all who have worn it, myself
among the rest. As to the manner of
the curse, it has taken a thousand
shapes. Some of us have been hurled
from the pinnacle of wealth aud power,
—others have been raised to almost re
gal diguities. This was iu the old time,
when we ranked among the nobility.
In these latter days of buying and sell
ing, our fortunes have been more stable;
the majority of the Gurneys are rich.”
“ Then you have one thing,” I said,
“to counterbalance the curse of the
ring. I would I had your wealth ; 1
lack nothing but that. I have health
aud strength, a light heart, and a clear
head. I have no inordinate desires, no
impossible longings. I possess myself
thoroughly, my heart, my brain, my
will.”
“ And yet you sigh for wealtli 1 You
must be mistaken iu yourself; you are
not so strong as you think. Whatcould
money give you thatyou donotalready
possess?”
“Many things, sir,” said I bitterly,
thinking of aiy past privations ami
present sorrows. “It would give me the
books that I need, the pictures that I
love. I could build myself a cottage in
the country, or if I were fool enough to
desire it, a palace in Parvenu square. I
could go to Europe, to Loudon, Paris or
Rome.”
“ Anything else?”
“ Yes,” I answered sharply, pro
voked by his cooluess. “I could prob
ably save the life of my child.”
“ I had forgotten that you were mar
ried, Mr. Tracy. Tell me of your wife
and child.”
He spoke kindly, tenderly even, but
I repulsed him. "There is nothing to
tell, save that my child is sick, perhaps
dying.”
“ Poor fellow !” He fell intoa brown
study, twirling the jasper eignet in his
fingers.
“ 1 gather from what you say,” I re-
sumed, “that you think the Gurney
family are an unlucky one, but you have
not told me what the ring lias to do
with it. lam not disposed to admit in
human affairs either the capricious in-
terference of fortune or the iron despot
ism of fate; still less can I admit the
influence of so trivial a thiug as a jasper
signet. I can imagine that your ances
tors were fooled or terrified into such a
superstitution in the age of astrology,
but it is unworthy of you and this age
of enlightenment. If your family has
been unfortunate, Mr. Guruey, it is be
cause sqme member of it has transmitted
some weakness to his descendants.
' The Null, dear Brutus, Is not in oar s!:irq
But In ourselves, that we are uu Jerimjc..
“ As j’ou please ; I did not expeotyou
to believe me. But the facts are the
same nevertheless. None of our family
have ever been happy, or ever will be.
Wretchedness ia our doom. Our motto
should be Misserimus, our crest a bleed
ing heart. We are rich, but wo tukeno
Cleasure In our riches. We are loving,
ut we are seldom loved, or what we
love dies. In short, we are miserable,
thankß to the jasper signet.”
“In the name of common sense, then,’
I exclaimed, “ why keep it among you ?
Why not destroy it or glveitaway?
You can powder it in the fire, I suppose,
or throw it into the sea. It will burn or
sink.”
“It will do neither, sagacious poet.
For one of my ancestors who dabbled
in alchemy a century or two ago, bullied
in his search for the philosopher’s stone,
the impossible Aurum Potabile, wreaked
his vengeance on the ring, which he
conceived to be the cause of his d sap
pointment; and threw it into his cruci
ble at a white heat. It would have
melted granite, but it failed to consume
the jasper signet, for when the fire died
out it was found uninjured; the setting
was not even tarnished. Another mem
ber of the family —my Uncle Bernard —
dropped it into the Tiber, but it came
back to him, like the ring of Poly
crates.”
“ But you could give it away,” I per
sisted.
“ It has been given away many times,
but it has always brought so much mis
ery to its new owner that he has been
obliged to return it to the giver.”
“Suppose you should give it to me,
how would it affect me ? ’ ’
“ You would notbelieve me if I should
tell you.”
“ Try me.”
u It would make you rich.”
“ Come, I should like that.”
“But it would rob you of your iden
tity.”
“ That is impossible.”
“ I said you would not believe me.”
“ Do you mean to tell me, Arthur
Gurney, that if I should wear this jas
per signet, I should cease to be Richard
Tracy ? ”
“Soruns the tradition.”
“ I have no faith in traditions, and to
show you that I have Dot, I will, with
your permissson, wear the ring until
we meet again. Shall I?”
“By no means. If not for your own
sake, for that of your wife and children
beware of the jasper signet. You could
not help me by knowing and sharing
my lot. It would increase your misery,
while it would not lighten mine. I must
meet my doom alone. Be content a 9
you are, for no exchange that you could
make would benefit you. Leave all to
God and time.”
It was late that night when we fart
ed. I followed him to the door to get a
breath of air. The night wind was
sweet and fresh, breathing of the green
woods and the saltsea. It flowed around
us as we stood on the stoop, layiDg Its
cold fingers in benediction on our heat
ed brows.
“Good night and pleasant dreams,
Arthur Gurney.”
“ Farewell, und long life to you, Rich
ard Tracy.”
We shook hands, and lie departed. I
lingered a moment aud watched his re
treating form. It was a bright night,
and I saw him for some distance, now
growing dim as lie entered the shadow
of the trees, und now becomingdistinct
as he crossed the spaces of moonshine.
He turned the corner and I saw him no
more, save in his shadow which trailed
like a dark pillar Dehind him. It dis
appeared and the sound of his steps died
away. I locked the door, and returned
to my work. .
The visit of Arthur Gurney, unex
pected as it was, was of service to me.
It kept me from thinking too much of
my sick child, aud it rested my weary
mind. I could not have finished my
task but for his interruption. 1 matur
ed my plan os I talked with him, and
worked it out as 1 listened. When he
rose to depart I was within a few Hues
of the end. There was nothing to do
but to write down what I had composed
—some twenty or thirty lines in all—
and give the whole an epigrammatic
turn. I seized my pen aud dashed it
hurriedly across the paper, maklug a
series of hieroglyphics, which would
have delighted Champoliion or Layard.
It was soon finished, aud I proceed
ed to put the table in order, piling up
the books and arranging the papers in
my portfolio. In sodoiug I happened to
move my pistol, when I discovered the
jasper signet, which Authur Gurney
had left, whether through forgetfulness
or desigu I never knew. I took it cau
tiously between my thumb and finger,
as one might take some strange instru
ment of death, and held it close to the
light. It looked quaint and curious, as
au old signet ring should, but by no
means dangerous or formidable. The
ciphers in the setting were unchanged ;
the stone was as clear as ever. I saw
no difference in it except that the blood
spots appeared a little redder and larger,
hut that might have been my fauey.—
It is true that I felt somewhat nervous
as I handled it but any imaginative
person would have feltso after listening
to the stronge narative of Arthur Gur
ney.
“How absurd that poor fellow wa9,”
I said, “to talk as he did about this
poor, old, harmless riug. It must have
been the Byronic beverage that he
drank, lor certainly no man would be
lieve such nonsense in his sober senses.
‘lf you wear the ling, 1 he said,‘you
will 1036 your identity.’ I've a good
mind to try it.” And I put it on my
finger.
As it slipped down, joint after joint,
the most singular sensation came over
me. At first a sharp thrill ran through
my frame, beginning at my heart, aud
pushing outward like the waves of an
electric sea. This was followed by a
sudden tremor of the nerves, which
ended iu an overpowering faintness. —
What took place I knew not. for when
I recovered I had no remembrance that
anything unusual had happened. How
could i have, when my identity was
gone ?
1 awoke in a richly furnished cham
ber. The light of the chandelier was
turned on full, aud I saw everythingas
clearly as if it had been day. The walls
were hung with beautiful pictures—
the master-pieces of the finest modern
masters, Scheffer, Delaroche, and Hor
ace Veruet, with here aud therea choice
impression of the rarest engravings of
Raphael Morghen. But thegern of the
collection was a pair of Turners—a
morning and evening at sea. In the
one you saw a noble bargecrowded with
lords anti ladies, flying beforethewind,
with her sails all set and her streamers
Hying ; in the other the fragments of a
wreck, drifting over a measureless sea.
The sun was just plunging in gloomy
waves, a world of lire and blood ! The
mantle was loaded with Sevres vases,
aud rich ornaments in ormolu and
bronze, and tables of rosewood and
ebony were strewu with objects of virtu.
High-backed Gothic chairs, covered
with brocade, were scattered around. I
might describe the soft carpet* and
tufted rugs ; the heavy hanging damask
curtains, with their fluted pillar-like
folds; the brilliant mirrors reaching
from floor to ceiling ; but to what end
It is enough to say that I was in the
chamber of the rich and voluptuous
Arthur Gurney. I was Arthur Gur
ney 1
I sat in an arm-chair, holding in my
hand a lady's miniature. It was that of
my cousin Beatrice. She was fairasan
angel, but a deep sadness had settled ou
her face, shadiug its beauty and bright
ness. She was pale and ghost-like, with
thin spiritual lips, aud earnest but
melancholy eyes.
“How.banu'lfnl, If sorrow had not made
Sorro’v more boauttlul than beauty’s self."
I took from my pocket a letter. It
was the fatal letter from England telliDg
me of my cousin’s death.
“ Here,” I murmured, poring over
the miniature, “ is my dear Beatrice as
I saw her a little over a month ago, the
sweetest soul that ever tabernacled in
clay; and here,” looking at the letter,
“ is that which tells me I shall see her
no more! How could she die when I
needed herso much? She was my hope,
my life, the only thing that I loved.—
How weak aud unmanly Tracy was to
repiue as he did to-night! He has a
wife that loves him, and a child —his
child and hers—a little angel, still in
the light of heaven. But 1 am alone,
alone! Were Beatrice living, ray Bea
trice, my beloved, my betrothed, my
wife, I would not shrink from poverty
as he does, but would battle with it
royally, crowned with the great dia
dem of Love! But it is too late! There
is nothing left me but to die!”
I crumbled the letter in my hand,
aud kissed the miniature of Beatrice
for the last time. As 1 rose I caught
sight of my face in the mirror. It was
haggard and ghastly pale. “ Come,
come, Arthur Gurney, be firm ; it will
not do to play the womau now.” I
strode up to the mirror, as I have seen
men do when excited by wine, and took
a long look at myself. How black my
hair was ! aud what a wild light glared
in my sunken eyes ! “Good-by, Arthur
Gurney !” I smiled and walked to the
window. The sky was sown with stars,
and the full moon hung over the tops
of the trees. “ Farewell, oh moon, and
stars, and summer night! a long fare
well !”
I cocked my pistol aud -placed it to
my heart. _ “ Beatrice,” I shrieked, “ I
come.” My finger was on the trigger—
another second and I would have been
in eternity. Suddenly my Band was
seized, and a woman’s shriek rang in
my ear, “Richard!” I struggled vio
lently, determined not to be balked in
ray purpose. “Richard! Richard! I
heeded her not, but tore off the band
that held me. A't thatmomentthe jas
per signet dropped from my finger, and
the charm was broken. I was no longer
Arthur Gurney, but Richard Tracy ! I
was saved from death by my wife, who
came into the room to tell me that my
child was better, “The doctor has been
here, dear husband, and he says that
the crisis is past. Our little Ambrose
will live.” I threw myself into her
arms and burst into tears.
“Look at the watch, Bessy,” said I,
trembling at my narrow escape, “and
note the time carefully, for Arthur Gur
ney is dead, He died to-night, and by
his own hand.”
It was even so. For in the morning
he was found in his chamber, dead, with
a bullet through his heart! His watch
was in his pocket, stopped! It pointed
to the very minute when Bessy arrested
my hand!
J D. Ramsey, city editor of the Pittßbnrg
Gazette, has been admitted to practice law
in the various Courts of Allegheny county.
LANCASTER PA. WEDNESDAY MORNING DECEMBER 8 1869
The Democratic Policy.
JS tincldated by Peter Blsaiarc
The Reporter of the New York Her
aid has been interviewing Peter B.
Sweeny, the City Chamberlain or
Treasurer of New Y'ork City, and the
man who is generally credited with ba
ing the Deus ex Hachina, or controlling
spirit of the New York Democracy, al
though he modestly denies, it will be
seen, the soft impeachment We clip
the following questions and answers:
Reporter —How about the State mea
sures at the approaching session of the
Legislature:
Sweeny— I 'They will be pretty much
as indicated iu the Governor's message
of lastyear. We have now the oppor
tunity of converting Democratic doc
trines into practical principles of gov
ernment. Against special legislation
and jobs of all kinds aud descriptions ;
in favor of economy in all brauches of
the government; the improvement of
the canals and the lowering of the tolls
and charges; a uniform election law
for all parts of the State and the resto
ration of municipal rights to the cities
These will be prominent ideas. A
prompt performance of legislative busi
ness, aud an early adjournment will
also be urged. There are other impor
tant measures under consideration
which I do not feel at liberty to men
tion. The pressure fromall parts of the
State will be to runj the Legislature
clean and clear from taint and stain.—
If this is not successful, the veto power
will be freely exercised. All legitimate
efforts will be directed to reduce taxa
tion, as a conspicuous result of Demo
cratic administration. I think one of
the first acts will be to repeal the action
of last winter approving the Fifteenth
Amendment. It is conceded ou both
sides by leading men that any Stale
can withdraw its assent before the mea
sures becomes fixed by the concurrence
of Lhe required number of the States.
THE NEGRO QUESTION
Reporter—ls it proposed to keep up
the negro agitation by this course.
tiweeuy—The fifteenth amendment
goes beyond the negro. It proposes, as
I understand it, to absorb the whole
subject of suffrage, by which Congress
will be enabled to disfranchise the
whites while enlarging the area of negro
domination. The radicals will give it
the broadest construction, and can con
vert Congress into a power as absolute
in controiiog popular suffrage as Louis
Napoleon did iu the first days of the
last empire. The negro question is as
suming au entirely new attitude. At
the South our Democratic friends are
fast coming into political alliance with
the negro voters. The negroes prefer
to sustain the men of the soil, with
whom and their homes aud interests
they have beeu iudentiffed in the past,
rather than the broken down carpet
bag adventurers of the North who want
their votes for the sake of office. Iu
our State the negro question is greatly
exaggerated in importance. By the
census of 1855 the total number of col
ored males over twenty-one years of age
was about eleven thousand ; by the
census of 1305 it was live hundred less,
showing a slow but speedy decrease.—
The total number of negroes nowdebar
red from voting by the property quali
fication requirement is T only about
3,500 in the whole State, of whom
I*2oo are to be fouud in our city. The
larger part of the negroes now votiDg in
our city vote the Democratic ticket, es
pecially in the Eighth Ward and that
vicinity, and they will be all as accessi
ble to us as to the Republicans. Our
boys understand how to get them. It
would not, therefore, have beeu a great
calamity to us if we had all voted tore
move the property qualification. It
seems an anomalous state of things to
contend that the negro is the iuferior of
Lhe whiteman, andyetin a community
in which he must live to refuse him
equal rights. We ought to get rid of
the negroagitation. It hurts more thau
the negro vote could injure us. It in
troduces a moral issue—a sentiment of
justice —and presents the captivating
cry of universal suffrage, which carries
away many votes, especially among the
Germans, and prevents the legitimate
political questions of the country from
having their just weight before the peo
ple. It seems plain that it will be an
unfortunate day for the negro -when he
is divestedof the sympathy and support
of the moral and benevolent agitators of
the country, who make his welfare the
permanent issue of the day, and are left
to take care of themselves on equal
terms with a superior race.
INTRIGUES IN REGARD TO TIIE NEXT
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.
Reporter —BeforeHcomiug.down to the
municipal question I would like to make
one or two inquiries—for instance, about
the intrigues said to be on foot for the
next Democratic nomination for the
Presidency. , t _
Sweeny—There is no intrigue that I
am aware of, anil I don’t think there
will be any from this State. When the
time comes the man will be indicated by
his services .capacity and popular claims.
Intrigue has not been successful in Dem
ocratic national conventions. No can
didate has been nominated by
rangement since the lime of Martin \ an
Buren, of the old regency, except in the
case of Buchanan, and he would not
have succeeded if it had not been for the
contest between the “hards and softs”
of this State,each side sendingdelegates.
The result was that New York had no
voice in the national councils, and each
side of the contestants made its bargain
with the Buchanan men for admission
to seals. Both sides were admitted on
equal terms, and the vote of New York
nominated Buchanan. But for this
condition of affairs William L. Marcy
would no doubt have been elected, and
the country saved from Buchanan and
rebellion.
THE POSITION OF JUDGE CHASE TO
tVAKD THE TARTY
Reporter—Does it not appear proba
ble that Chase will be nominated in the
next Democratic Convention ?
Sweeny—Of course no one can say
what will be the influence controlling
then. But let us look at probabilities.
When the last convention met we had
not yet recovered from the consequen
ces of the attitude of many of our lead
ing men in regard to the war. Besides
a false and unnecessary financial issue
was sprung on the party. We were not
strong enough to win with the Demo
cratic vote ; but it was possible and
practicable to break down the Republi
canjparty by making an alliance. Judge
Chase was the man for that time, and
we of the city of New York were strong
ly for him. It appeared to us as plain
as demonstration that it was the time
for a compromise that would be accept
ed by the whole country, and that Chase
was the man to compromise on. But
when the next convention meets things
will be different. Then the Republican
party will be broken down by Grant,
and the Democratic party will need and
demand a representative Democrat, and
not a Republican ally. I should not be
surprised to see Judge Chase the Re
publican candidate for the Presidency
at the next election.
Reporter—How do you make that
out?
Sweeny—Why, the Republican party
will then be somewhat in the same
need that the Democracy were on the
4th of July, 1868. The Radicals will need
analllanee with the conservative branch
of the party. Chase is not only a states
man in the best sense of the term, but
he is a politician also, and knows how
to pave the way to success in his own
party. Heknowsmen and their motives
well. He will not be injured by the
popular strength which exhibited
when his name was considered on the
Democratic side of the house. And he
was not, in fact, compromised in our
convention. He put neither his hand
nor seal to anything committing him
to us. He was represented by many
t who claimed to -have authority from
him; but there was no written powerof
attorney, and there is no record against
him.
A CARTE DE VISITS OF COLFAX.
Reporter—How about Colfax’s pros
pects ?
Sweeny—Well, he would seem tohave
been placed in the line of succession,
but I don’t think he has a strong hold
on the country. He is a mere politician
and not a statesman. He is a genial,
bland and enterprising politician. He is
a good-natured, hand-shaking, clever
fellow. Bnt togivean illustrationlf
he were a doctor he would be the most
popular one in town; he would smile
his way into the sick room and talk his
way out, but his prescriptions would not
amoqnt to anything. The ladies would
run After him and the children would
cry for him, but no physician of knowl
edge and experience would ever think
of asking him to a consultation on a
serious or doubtful case.
THE “POLICY” OF GRANT.
Reporter —What do you understand
to be the policy of Grant?
Sweeny—When Grant is in doubt his
trump card Is “do nothing.” This is
his policy. Thus he has allowed the
Alabama question to subside into tem
porary oblivion, aud thus with all the
opportunities he has had to make affir
mative issues. This is natural. The
capacity to decide great political ques
tions is not amatterofintuition. Grant
had neither knowledge, habits of
thought nor discipline to grapple with
great* political questions before he en
tered on the presidency, consequently
he Is not able to tell from his own con-
victions what is right or wrong in any
political problem presented, or advice
given to him. As soon as a question
broadens and threatens daDger he ties
up the papers and puts them out of the
way as an annoyance to be avoided. —
He does not want to hear anything
more about it. He is, withal, a proud
man rather than an egotist. He brought
about him mediocre men, because he
did not care to be measured, and he did
not wish to get into water so deep that
he could not wade ashore. He express
ed the wish of his soul when he said he
looked forward as eagerly as a school
boy for his holiday to the end of his
terra. He wantspeace. Hewouldlike
to smoke cigars, drive fast horses, and
go a junketing for the balance of nts
days. I think he is entitled to do so for
his share in puttingdown the rebellion.
He means to make no mistakes which
can be prevented by masterty inactivity.
He might have bad a brilliant admin-
istration if he had been willing to sink
himself to a nominal position. The
Republican party was built up by its
political leaders, and they should have
been allowed to administer the estate
which Ihey had secured. Suppose he
had called such men intohis (Jibinetas
Sumner, Stautou, Ben Wade, Greeley,
Sherman, Ben Butler and Charles A.
Dana,’who were representative men of
the success achieved. He would have
had most pronounced administra
tion of later years, and the Republican
party would have pursued its mission
to the end. Auothertrouble with Grant
is that he entered on the Presidency as
owner, instead of trustee, of his party,
aud he bestows his appointments as
personal gifts, instead of rewards for
personal services, or swaps them off fur
pecuniary benefits received.
THE ISSUES OF THE NEXT I’KESIDEN-
TIAL ELECTION
Cuba aud Mexico as well as the Fen
ian aud Alabama issues with England
will enter into the next election. There
is a prospect of filibusterism entering
somewhat largely into the next Presi
dential campaign. Then the tariff*. We
will be as near free trade as the neces
sities of the government will permit.
The negroe question will be out of the
way then. So, too, in regard to the
payment of the war debt, as we will
have resumed specie payments, or have
that result within our grasp. We will
have a capital issue on the question of
taxation. The expenses of the govern
ment the year before the war were nL >ut
eighty-five millions; it is dlfficu u to
know what they are now, but fur the
half year up to January 1, 1809 they
were nearly five hundred aud seventy
six millions, or at the rate of over a
thousand millions a year, although the
appropriations for 1869 were nominally
about one hundred and aixty-two mil
lions. The extravagances, defalcations
and imbecility of the administration
will give us issues enough. Tho army
appropriation was about thirty-four
millious, according to the Army Regis
ter, July 1, 1869, and the expenditures
ou thataccouut were probably double
that sum. Governor Hoffman’s position
iu regard to the equality of native and
adopted citizens, aud the duty of pro
tection to all who have sworn allegiance
to our government against the world,
will also be a prominent Democratic
principle. There will be questions
enough, but I have not time to go into
them now.
PLAIN, UNVARNISHED TALE OK “THE
ERIE RILL” UNFOLDED,
Reporter—While ou general subjects,
how about the “Erie bill,” that theße
publican press make so much fuss
about ?
Sweeny—There never was a subject
so misrepresented aud misunderstood.
The Repub iean press have lied about
it with a purpose. The bill in question,
which is just as much a New York Cen
tral Railroad as it is an Erie bill, is in
precise words a copy of the law adopted
by the Republican Legislatures of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Indi
ana, aud approved by the Republican
Governorsof those States. It was passed
by the Legislature in this State when
both brauches were Republican. The
vote on its passage in the Senate was
nearly uuauimous. It was laid on the
table in the Assembly for abouta month
for objections, butnonecame. Tnebill
provides that a certain number of direc
tors shall go out each year instead of the
whole board, but it does not interfere
with the power of the courts to correct
abuses, nor does it tio up legislation.—
It can be repealed at any time. It ha 3
not been of any practical value to
either the Erie or Central road. The
Erie stockholders at their election in
October last uuauimously elected an
entire new board without availing them
selves of the advantages of the law. The
bill was introduced iutoonr Legislature
purely as a defensive measure against
the action iu the Pennsylvania Legia
lature looking io the control of the Erie
road in tho interest of that State and
subordinate to the Pennsylvania C’eu-
tral, by which the trade of the West
would be diverted to Philadelphia from
New York. The Pennsylvania Legis
lature, having passed a bill precisely
like that under consideration for the
piotection of the Pennsylvania Central,
authorizing that company to make a
large foreign loan, which it leaked out
was intended to buy up the Erie stock
for the purpose I have indicated ; Gov
ernor Hoffman held on to the bill for
objections, but not a single stockholder
remonstrated againstit. Those who did
confer with him, urged him to sign the
bill as being calculated to settle the
wrangling and issuiug of stock to con
trol the road, and likely to work
to the advantage of the stock
holders. At all events it was an
experiment, and if it did not work
well it could be repealed at any time.
Since its passage the stock has been
registered and its capital is on a perma
nent basis. If the Governor had not
signed the bill aud the result had been
that the Pennsylvania Central obtained
control of the Erie road, he would have
been condemned on all hands for the
undue and proper exercise of the veto
power. This is the plain unvarnished
tale of “the Erie bill.” Why don't the
Republican press pitch into Governor
Geary, of Pennsylvania, and the Repub
lican Governors of the States I have
named for having signed the same bill,
word for word? The bill has thus far
been of no advantage to either the’Cen
tral or Erie road, and does no harm that
I can see, because the vote for the new
Erie Board of Directors was unanimous,
as I have stated. It had one advantage
—it arrested the schemes of the Penn
sylvananla Central road to obtain the
control of the Erie and divert trade to
Pennsylvania.
MUNICIPAL RECONSTRUCTION,
Reporter—To return to the more im
mediate question, from which I have
wandered so far, what do you think
will be the scheme for the reorganiza
tion of the municipal government of
New York?
Sweeny —The measures have not yet
been matured. The engrossing duties
of the late and approaching election
have absorbed the time of those who
will be instrumental in preparing the
plan. So far as Tammany Hall is con
cerned she means to proceed deliberate
ly and with moderation. The Demo
cratic party is pledged to restore local
self-government. This ia a pledge
which must be redeemed. The com
missions were inventions to rob the
people of their rights for partisan ends,
and they will of course be wiped out if
the party is true to itself.
Reporter —How will that be done?
Sweeny—lt is very simple in princi
ple. Let New York and Brooklyn have
their own police government through
their own representatives, and respon
sible for their own expenditures; let
our Fire Department (Brooklyn has its
own) be placed under a board composed,
In like manner or under the direction of
the Police Department; have locally
appointed officers for the Health and
Excise boards and the Croton Aqueduct
Department, and the work is done.
Reporter—How is it proposed to offi
cer the departments, by election or ap
pointment, and if by the latter by what
authority ?
Sweeny.—We can never have a con-
1 solidated government unless we have a
responsible bead. Our city has been
as much divided in this respect as the
States of New York, New Jersey aud
Connecticut by their separate sover
-1 elgnties. We are willing to accept the
trust of government, and to be held *as
a party responsible for its administra
tion. The Mayorshould have the pow
iOF to appoint and remove all heads of
, departments, except the finance and
law —the Comptroller and Couusel to
■ the Corporation—who, for obvious rea
sons, should continue to be elective.—
The power should be subject to the ap
proval of some other representative
body. We had a trial under the charter
of 1847 of electing all the important
officers of the city government. Then
we elected a street commissioner, a
commissioner of repairs aud supplies,
a commissioner of lamps aud gas,’and
all other departments and bureaus ;
the result was that we bad a collection
of petty sovereignties,each independent
of the other, aud all spending money
Without any accountability anywhere.
These officers were all nominated iu
convention by combinations of politi
cians, ami the best meu were not suc
cessful. We were soon glad to have
this scheme repealed. I’hen we had
the ten governors of the Almshouse , !
ail will remember their career and rea- :
lize the salutary change to appoint
meets by local authority through which |
the Board of Charities aud Corrections
was secured. When the authority is [
devolved upou the Mayor of appointing ;
prominent officials the eyes of the whole |
community are on him, and lie must,
from regard to his own character aud
that of his office, make the best appoint
ments practicable. 80, too, when com
plaints are made which he has the pow
er to redress, he will be compelled to
apply the remedy or take the conse
quences in public condemnation.
Reporter —Youhad in thelastelcction
a new elemeut —that of the “labor
unions.” Don’t you think that this
labor movement is the rock ahead for
both political parties?
Sweeny—l think not, for what seem
to me to be obvious reasons. The Demo
cratic party is 6ound on all the ques
tions affecting the laboring interests.
The Eight Hour Law is accepted now
by both political parties. Eight hours
to work, eight hours to rest, and eight
hours for social, moral and intellectual
improvement aud enjoyment have be
come an established maxim. In regard
to the conspiracy law, one of the first
acts of theapproaching Legislature will
be to repeal this odious and absurd law.
This will be so much credit to Demo
cratic account. The Republicans re
fused to repeal it: the Democrats will
will make it one of their first acts.—
It is absurd that while the men who
work cannot combine for mutual
protection the men who do not work can
aud do combine for every purpose under
heaven. The gold and stock brokers,
those lilies of the golden valley, have
their boards; the insurance men have
their association of underwriters; the
banks.have their clearing house; the
grain dealers their exchange; the rail
road men their conventions. All these
are associations for mutual protection;
in fact, capital is organized in every
field of speculation and enterprise, and
yet when labor combines for its pro
tection agal'nst the combinations of
capital it is a conspiracy and the
members are liable to be indicted. This
absurdity will be speedily eradicated.
Capital must make up its mind that it
has to treat in future with associated
labor and communities of interest. It
is no longer combined capital against
the individual. Submission to strikes
will, after a while, be a necessity, and
the excesses, if any, in the claims made
for the time being must be left to the
after good sense and sober second
thought of the unions. Long resisted
strikes lead to great evils and are as in
jurious to capital as they are demoraliz
ing to the men. Capital aud labor are
mutually dependent on each other, and
when their relations are more firmly
established under the new order of
things they will harmonize more thor
oughly. The capitalists, the aristocracy
j of wealth ami the bondholders who eu
'joy immuuity from taxation are in the
1 Republican party. Equal taxation of
ail capital and property is alike the
! principle of the Democratic party aud
of the laboring interests. The Demo
cratic puriy are the natural allies aud |
the helpmates of the laborers of tbe ;
country. If any one thinks that the!
labor unionists are uot reflecting men, 1
and do not understand themselves and |
their rights and duties, let him go to a ;
union meeting where aquestion is to be !
discussed, and listen to the straightfor
ward talk and hard headed sense of the |
debaters.
HCATQUARTEItS A KHIES CF TUK]
United States, >
Washington, D. C., Feb. 17,
Dear General Your letter of the
loth inst., enclosing me the very hand
some testimonial of thecitizena of New
York, with names of all the too gener
ous contributors to it, is received. I feel
at a loss to know how to express my
appreciation of this substantial token
of the friendship of the citizens named
in your letter, and for the generosity of
the citizens of New York generally, and
especially toward those who they con
ceive have rendered service in main
taining the integrity {of tne whole
Union. Suffice it to say that I shall
always appreciate their generosity to
ward me, and endeavor to pursue a
course through life, and to make such
use of the means thus unexpectedly
placed in my possession, as will meet
with their approval.
Through you I wish to thank the gen
tlemen whose names you have enclosed
(o me individually and collectively. I
have the honor to be
Your obt. serv’t,
U. S. Grant, Lieut.-Gen.
List or SFHSFRirTioNs and account
()F KX PKNIHTURKS—TEFT IMONIAL T<)
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
Aspinall. W. H., SI,000; Astnr, W.
I!., 1,000 ; lirnw 11, J ume3, I,UOO ; Barney.
1). X., 1,000; Bruner, llobert, 1,000;
Clews, Henry, 1,000 ; .Corning, 11. lv;
1,000; Culver, C. V., l,O00; Cutting, 1«\
B , 1 000; Clallin, B. B. A Co., 1,000,
Chittenden, «. 8., 1,000 ; Brew, Daniel,
1 000 ; Diusmoro, W. 8., 1,000 ; Dunean,
Sherman & Co., 1.000; Davis, Charles
Augustus, 1,000 ; Euo, Amos It., 1,000 ;
Fearing, Daniel 8., 1,000; Forbes, Paul
5 1 ooo; Green, John C., 1,000; Gris
wold, X. L. AG., 1,000 ; Garrison, C. K.,
1 onO; Grinnell, Miuturn A Co., 1 ooo;
Gaudy, Sheppard, 1,000 ; Harbecks A
Co., 1,000; Howland A Aspinwell, 1,000;
Holliday, Benjamin, l,0oo; Hunt, Til
liughast A Co., 1.000; Johnston, John
T 1 000; Johnston, J. Boorman,
1,000; ’ Denier, J. F. D., 1,00(1; Le
nox, J nines, 1 ,<’oo ; Leary, Arthur, 1,000;
Low, A. A. A Bro., l.ouu ; Loriliard. P.
1 ooo; Morgan, E. D. A Co , 1000;
Mathews, Edward, 1.UO0; New York
Stock Exchange, by B. L. Cutting,
President, 5,000; Ogden, William 11.
1000; Opdyke, George A Co., 1,000;
Phtlphs, Dodge A Co., 1,000; Parish,
Daniel, 1.0U0; Boberts, M. 0., 1,000;
Stewart, A. T,. 5,000; Hpoilbrd, Tilcston
6 Co., 1 000; Sluart, H. L. A A., 1,000;
Sampson, Joseph, 1,000; Taylor Moses,
1 000; Tilden, S. J., 1,000; Wet
more, Samuel, 1,000; Wolfe, John p.,
1 000- IVestou A Gray, 1,000; Wheeler,
Samuel G., 1,000 ; Ashley, O. D., 500;
Allen, D. .D., 500 ; Anthony A Hall, 500;
American Express Company, 500; Ar
nold, Constable A Co., 500; Armstrong,
M & Sods, 500; Audreys, Loriug, 500;
Brooks, D. 11., 500'fMleckman J. W ,
500; Babcock, Bros. A Co., 500; Banker,
James H., 500; Darker, H. J. it Bro.,
:»00; Ball, Black & C0.,500; Bronson,
Frederick. 500 ; Cash, 500; Cowdiu, E
C’., 500; Collins, George C.,500; Cary
ic Co., 500; Cutting, K. L., 500; Cou
noly, C. M., 500; Dows, David, -jUO; !
Dabney. Morgan & Co., 500; Delmoui
co L , 500 ; Detmold, C. E., 500; Ed- ;
glish, J. & Son, 500; Easton & Co.,
500; Field, B. H. 500; Grant, O. D.
F. 500; Greenleaf, Norris & Co., 500;
Uroeabeck,D. &C0.,500; GarlaDd, John
r 500; Goodridge, Frederick, 500;
Griswold, A. W., 500; Hoyt, Edwin,
500 ; Hanna, Samuel, 500 ; Howe, J. C.
it Co., 500 ; Hurlbut, H. A., 500; Hoyt
Bros.. 500; Haggerty, 0., 500; Kennedy,
R. Lennox, 500; Lane, Frederick A.,
500; Livingston, Fox & Co., 500 ; Lang,
W. Bailey & C0.,500; Lord, RufusL.,
500 ; Learned, Edward, 500 ; Morton, L.
P. <t Co., 500; Meyer, S. H., 500; Mar
shall, C. H «t Co., 500 ; Mitchell, Sam
uel L.,500; Mall, H. W. T., 500; PoN
hamus, T. <fc Co., 500; Piaco, J. K. &E.
B 500; Pheips, J. J., 500; Phelps, J.
N., 500; Quintard, Sawyer <t Ward,
500; Quintard & Everett. 500; Robbins,
G. S. <fc Sod, 500; Randolph, F. F., 500;
—Russell, C. H., 500; Roosevelt & Sons,
A fearful item of news from the Russian 51)0 ; Selover, A. A., 500; Schultz,
press is the burning of the town of Jeni- Jackson S., 500 ; Sturges, Jonathan,
selsk, Eastern Siberia, on the Bth of Sep- .jijy • Steward, John, 500; Stuart, J.
tember. The tire originated iu a turf moor, 50Q . Slade & Colby, 500; Skin
which had ueen amoulderiDg for Bomt} ner ’’p it Co 500* Stinson, H. C. &
years, aud during a violent storm burst out » - 0 * 0 . s c huchardt. F., 500; Trav
mto a sea of flames, which seized the near- .. U c, f , n r no . Trevor & Colgate
est house about 11 o’clock in the forenoon, ers, W.R. & Go., 000. i r"* 111 ?'
thence spreading over the whole city. At 8 500; Tjflauy it Co., 000, ma > •
o’clock in the evening 1,300 houses, (mostly it L , SUO; Thompson, rtamuei C., o » ,
wooden, bnt tbirty-tive of great siz:>,) six Webb, William H.. 500; Winslow, J. T
churches, two cloister?, all the stores, and .300- Ward it Co., 500; Worth, White it
an immense amonnt of grain, about two Kean 500- Wood Bro., 500; Williams &
million pounds, were destroyed. The ra- (-’ U ! CI J 500- Draper,SimoD,2so; Devlin,
pidity with which the flames spread pre- n . ~s q . Draper, J. H. & Co., 250;
vented the people in nearly every case from PhiDP 2-50; Halsted, Haines &
preserving the.r goods. Over one hundred oU Jesun M. 11., 250; James, F.
corpses were found charred in the streets, ’ Wi i io ’ or.n. \r rtr .
and as many more are said to have drowned P-. koUinier, t- ~ v a’ ovv
in the water. Many ol the inhabitants fled gao, H. i., 1fj0; racKer. j_.. a., --jo,
to the vessels in the harbor, but these, too, Peckman, W. H., 2o0; Bkeel_& Rey
were caught up by the flames. The city is nolds, 2-50; Skiddy, Francis, 250; Sher
now desolate, audits former residents are man, Isaac, 250; Taylor, R. L., 2-50;
strewn around in the neighboring villages Wesley, E. 8., 2-50; Talman, George F.,
and the various cities of the government. 2 00; Ward, G. Cabot, 200;. Bentley, N.
S./lOO; King, T. G. & Sons, 100; Schuy
ler, Hartley, &-Graham, 100; Lockwood
& Co,, 100; Whiteright, W. f 100; Chap
man, T. G., 100. Total, 105,000.
Reporter—^What is the secret of the
immense strength of Tammany Hall
and the certainty with which it brings
its forces into action ?
Sweeny—lt is chiefly from the com
pleteness of its organization and the
thoroughness of its discipline. (ieneral
McCook, of Ohio, remarked at the last
time I saw him that nexttothc Homan
army under Cceaar, the organization of
Tammany Hall was the most thorough
ly disciplined body that the world has
seen. We have good discipline. Our
plan i 3 very simple. Kach ward of the
city is represented in general commit
tee by delegates elected each year for
the ward at large, according to its vote.
This is the central or county organiza
tion, and consists of between fluu ami
400 representatives. This body is
charged with thegeneral party manage
agement during the year, such as calling
public meetings, nominating conveu
tionsand primary elections. Thisgener
al committee is com posed of experienced
politicians—generally the same meu
from year to year—the changes being
chietly in the wards which do not hold
their own, where the defeated delegates
give way to theirsuceessful competitors.
Then we have a ward organization for
each ward, consistingof delegates from
each election district, who are in per
manent session in the wards. These
district representatives may be consid
ered the captains who marshal and lead
into action the rank and file of the
Democratic host iu this city. These
j local leaders have great experience and
know all the voters in their districts
and how to get them out. Then, again,
we are harmonious in Tammany Hall.
Our nominations are made after the
fullest consultation with the leaders
throughout the city, and the organiza
tion moves with the precision of a well
regulated machine. Great vigilance is
exercised to keep up Its discipline.
Reporter —I have but one other ques
tion to ask, and that is, do you not
find the position of political leader iu
this city a very troublesome and thank
less office?
Sweeny —I am glad you have asked
me that question, because it gives me
opportunity to set myself right on that
subject. lam not, and never claimed
to be a leader. If there is any one en
titled to that designation among the
democracy of our city it is Senator ,
Tweed. He is Chairman of the General I
Committee and Grand Sachem of the 1
Tammany Society. He has remarkable
executive ability and is a recognized
leader. Mayor Hall, Comptroler Con
nolly and others I might name are
more leaders than lam. lamasortof
adviser; I try to harmonize the interests
of the party and endeavor to secure good
nominations and sound principles, as
I understand them. But I do not aspire
to the position of a leader. I am simply
a passenger in the ship, with the priv
ilege of going ashore if I do not like its
management or its course.
A Terrible Fire.
Six hundred and sixteen persona pay in
come tax in the Twenty-lourth Congres
sional District, two hundred and seventy
eight in Washington county, odq hundred
and fifty-seven in Beaver, one hundred and
thirty-five in Lawrence and forty-six in
Greene.
Two Presents.
Tbo Great Donations to General Grant
and General Sherman
From the Faw York Sun.
Our readers will find below complete
lists of the gentlemen who subscribed
$105,000 as a present to General Grant,
and $102,000 as a present to General
Sherman. As these lists have never
before beeu made public, we are confi
dent that they will bo examined with
interest.
When Mr. A. R. Corbin first caused a
number of prominent citizens to be
called together at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, for the purpose of raising money
to pay for tho thirty thousand dollar
house which he had persuaded General
Grant to buy, several of the party pre
sent objected to the proposal. Among
the rest, Mr. A. T. Stewart urged that
such a donation should be made by
Congress, and should not bear the char
acter of a pecuniary benefaction confer
red by private persons. This objection
had great weight, though it was over
ruled. At the time, however, wo are
assured that Mr. Btewart could not have
anticipated that such muuificent offer
ings would ever he made a reason for
bestowing high office upon any of their
givers.
Borne of the most intelligent and con
scientious subscribers to both of these
great funds have told us that they re
garded themselves as entirely excluded
by their donations from tho category of
those to whom office could properly be
given by President Grant; and we are
happy to believe that mauy of these
gentlemen would, from a commendable
sense of delicacy, decline all honors of
the kind should he proffer them. Cer
tainly, tiie fact that these presents were
originally inspired by a patriotic and
honorable feeling in most of the sub
scribers, suggests that the same feeling
should now oblige them to refuse all
places of power and profit that Presi
dent Grant might be disposed to offer
them in return. It is also certain that
in all the history of our couutry there
has been nothingso demoralizing as the
example which has been set by General
Grant of appointing men to office iu
consideration of money given to him
self.
Tbc Present to General Gruut.
New York, Feb. 19, IsGG.
Dear Sir: I have the pleasure to
enclose you [fac simile) copy of Lieut.
Gen. Grant's acknowledgment of the
testimonial to which you were a con
tributor, also a list of the subscriptions
aud copy of the correspondence.
Id furnishing this information to con
tributors I am requested to ask that no
copy of these documents may be al
lowed to be printed, as many subscrip
tions were made with that understand
ing. Please consider this my receipt
for your subscription.
I am very respectfully yours, Ac.,
Daniel Butterfield.
(Please acknowledge.)
New York, Feb. 15, 1869.
Lieut, (ten. U. »S’. Grant , Ac., Ac.
General: Iu accordance with the
request of many citizens of New York,
whose names are heretofore transmit
ted, I have the honor to ask your ac
ceptance of the enclosed testimonial of
their appreciation of your services.
I am very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
Dani El. Butterfield.
(Enclosed find:)
Mortgage and interest $30,437.50
55,000 Seven-thirties U. 8. first
series 54,725.00
Cash 19,837.50
Tbe Present to General Sherman.
From the Herald, tt&rcn 4, 1869.
In Washington yesterday morning,
NUMBER 49
I between «leven and twelve o’clock,
I Messrs. A. T. Stewart, Hamilton Fisb,
! Benjamin H. Field, William H Aspin
j wall and William Scott, of the Com*
I mittee appointed by the eubscribers In
New York to the fund for the purchase
of a residence and furniture for Lieu*
tenant-General Sherman, attended by
Alfred M. Hoyt, nephew of Geueral
Sherman, General Butterfield, Judge
HlltoD, Solon Humphrey, also of the
contributions, visited the army head
-1 quarters by appointment. On entering
General Grant’s office, Mr. Stewart ap
proached him and informed him that
they had come prepared to comsumate
the purchase of his residence and fur
niture on I street, for the purpose of
presenting the same to General Sher
man, and at the same time handed to
[ General Grant a check for $05,000. The
Geueral received the gentlemen cordi
ally and expressed his great gratifies
tiou at Gonerai Sherman being tho re-
cipient of such a high mark of friendly
consideration. Tho General then pro
duced a deed of the house and bill of
sale for the furniture, haudsomely en
grossed on parchment, signed and
acknowledged for record ami bearing
the requUUttnieuaturesof GeueralGraut
and his wife. This being completed, it
was evident the parties met as business
men to liulsh the business’ with which
they were iutrusted.
After a short interview with General
Sherman, who was attending to his
duties at a desk in the same room while
the Committee were engaged with Geu.
Graut, the chairman, Mr. Stewart, made
known their desire to have a private
interview*. Geueral Shermau then in-
vited the committee to an adjoining
room, usually occupied by Generul Ilaw
lius, Chief of Stall’, when Mr. Stewart,
holding in his hand the subscription
papers and deed and bill of sale, ad
dressed General Sherman as follows :
General: It is a great pleasure to
me to be the medium of presenting this
subscription of your friends and fellow
countrymen. If there was ever an in-
stance of tho pleasure being greater to
give than to receive, this Is certainly
that one. I assure you that this may be
accepted without auy feeling of obliga
tion on your part, as it is contributed iu
the Bincere belief that your noble and
effective services in behalf of our coun-
try in her hour of peril can never be
compensated. We trust that the kind
Providence who lias in the past watched
over, guided, and protected you on the
battle field and in the camp, may Menu
you with a long life, thatyou may enjoy
the reward of a faithful public servant
from a free and happy people.
Mr. Stewart then handed Gen. Sher
man the subscription list and deed and
bill of sale, remarking that the balance
of tho subscription, now amounting to
nearly $lOO,OOO, would be forwarded to
him within a few days, and after the
names shall have beeu obtained of a few
gentlemen who desire to contribute, ad
ding thataportlon of thlssum had been
subscribed by Gen. Sherman’s friends
in Boston, whoso names would bo ad
ded to the list.
General Sherman seemed much af
fected, and replied that this noble act of
kindness was entirely unexpected by
him until a few days past ; that iu
view of his coming to Washington he
had been engaged iu making arrange
ments for living hero in a manner pro
portionate to his income and in an
humble but modest style. Of course
this gift would enable him to live in a
different manner than he had contem-
plated ; that he assured the gentlemen
that it should be held by him for the
Bpecial benefit of his family and the
education of his children ; that beyond
this purpose he intended never to touch
himself one dollar of it; that apart
from this he desired the contributors
to understand that he should aL
$105,000.00
ways be happy to welcome them in
what might be regarded aa their house
while visiting Washington, iu order
that ho might know them and they
know him more intimately, and that
he could not further express his grate
ful sense of their kindness, so uuex-
pected and so generously accorded to
him. Ho then shook hands with all
present. Mr. Btewart, while holding
his hand, said that he desired to add
one further remark, which was that to
no one were they more iudehted in this
undertaking than to Gen. Butterfield,
whose energy aud earnestness had con
tributed largely to its successful com
pletion.
Tho Committee, after a brief and
pleasant conversation for a few min
utes, withdrew.
[lt is well understood that the move
ment to raise this large sum for Gen.
Sherman was begun here in New York,
in consequence of (he letter written to a
gentleman in this city by G< n. Grant.
in this letter Gen. Graut said that Gen.
Sherman was coming to live in Wash
ington, but had not mouey enough to
live there in the style which was de
sirable for a man in his position, and
that he would like to have tho neces-
sary sum made up for him. Conse
quently the subscription was begun ami
the money raised. The house for which
$65,000 was paid to Gen. Grant was the
same house which A. K. Corbin sold to
him for $30,000. It contained, how-
ever, when bought for Gen. Hherman,
a considerable quantity of furniture,
which added ten or fifteen thousand
dollars to its value.]
Benjamin 11. Field, Treamrer of tbe
Sherman Testimonial Fund, in account
with the Subscribers, February 25 to
April 10, ISO!):
A. T. Stewart, $2,500 ; S. B. Chitten
den, 2,500; K. L>. Morgan & Co., .1.500 ;
Moses Taylor, 1,500; Hamilton Fish,
l t ou0; John I). Wolfe, 1,000 ; Benjamin
H. Field, 1,000 ; Weston Gray, 1.0(H);
Peter Cooper, 1,000; William H. Aspin
wull, 1 ,000 ; LeGrand Lockwood, 1,000 ;
James Lenox, l.oou; Brooks Brothers,
1,(1110; Musi'a H. Grinne 1. 1,000; (J. K.
Garrison, l.oou; B. JI. Hutton, 1,000;
H. C. Fahnestock, 1,0»0; F. I'. James,
I, Iv.lw. Matthews, 1,000; Jonathan
t-'turges, 1,000; Paran .Stevens, 1,000;
11. G. Arnold, 1,000; John C. Green,
1,000; It L. A. A. Stewart, 1,01)0; A.
A. Low & Bro., 1,000; Jtohert Bonner,
1,000; W. FI. Dodge, 1,000; John J
t : isco, 1,000 ; Thomas C. Durant, 1,000 ;
Morton, Bliss A Co., 1,000 ; Jas. Stokes,
1,000; James 11. Banker, 1,000 ; J. F. D
Lanier, 1,000; John Steward, 1.000
William B. Astor, 1,000; Boosewelt &
Son 1,000; F’isk & Hatch, 1,000; "A
Friend of the Union” through General
D. Butterfield, 1,000; l’uul Hpolford,
1,000 ; David Dows A (Jo., 1000 ; Daulel
Parish, 1,000; Richard Schell, 1,000;
Joseph Sampson, 1,000; Horace B.
Clallin, 1,000; Gardner A Co., 1,000;
Ball, Black A Co., 1,000 ; Tiffany A Co.,
1 000; Jackson S. Shulls, 000; Trevor A
Colgate, 6UO ; H. G. Stebbius, 600 ; A. C.
Kingslaud, 6,00 ; W. Wllltewrlght, Jr.,
600; K. B. Higgins, 600; D. N. Barney,
600 ; Babcock, Brothers A Co., 600; U. A.
Murdock, 600 ; Charles H. Ward, 600;
Klliot C. Cowdeu, 600, William Lotti
mer, 600; Klllugham Townsend, 600;
John A H. Atichincloss.6oo; Baton A Co.,
600‘ W. B. Dinsmore, 600 ; W. M. Yer
mil’ye, 600; Cash, 600; H. A._ Smith,
600; Arnold Constable A Co., 600; Jo
seph Battel, 600; John Bridge, 600 ; W.
11. Weeb, 500; Edwin Hoyt, 500; Hen
ry Hilton,soo; B. W. Hopkins A Co., 500;
W. A. Wheelook, 250 ; William Scott,
230; U, J. Smith, 230; C. T. Reynolds,
230; K. Cay lus De Ruyter A Co., 2)0;
J. D. Jones, 250 ; Isaac Sherman, 250 ;
Adrian Delhi,2so; James Kelley,|P. M.,
250; A. Grade King 230; H. M. Bene
dict, 250 ; Otis D. Swan, 230; W. H
Beckman, 250 ; W. Lalmbeer, 230 ; H
A. Burr, 250; The Batriot’s Friend—
(through the Treasurer), 800 ; Henry]
Chauncey, 230; Valentine G. Hail
250; Williams A Guiou, 360; H. F.
Morgan, 250 ; George Cabot Wend, 500 ;
Daulel Butterfield, 500; Iteubeu W.
Howes, 500; J. I’ierpout Morgau, 500;
D. R. Martin, 500; Robert- Lenox
Kennedy; 500; W. H. Vanderbilt, 600;
William H. Appleton, 500 ; Alfred M.
Hoyt, 500 ; S. M. Bowman, 500; Stan
ton, SheldoD A Company, 500; Benja
min B. ShermaD, 500; Henry Clews
500; Edward S. Hall, 500; William T.
Coleman, 500; John Bloodgood, 500; S.
L. M. Barlow, 500 ; John K. William,
500; George J. Seney, 500 ; F. Hchuch
ardt, 500; W. Butler Duncan, 600; J.
N.A. Griswold,[soo ; O. D. F Grant,soo;
Charles H. Russell, 500; Samuel L
Mitcbel, 500 ; D. B. Fearing, 500 ; John
J. Phelps, 500; Royal Phelps, 500; Lan
man A Kemp, 500 ; Bradlsh Johnson,
500; John Alatyne, 500 ; H. J. Baker &
Brother, 250; A. A. Sclover, 250;
George Palen, 100 ; Lee A Company,
100 ; Hoyt Brothers, 100; J. S. Rockwell,
100 ; Hans Rees A Sons, 100; William
H. Hoople, 100; H. Meigs, jr„ 100; Pe
ter Molter, 100 ; Austin M. Knight A
Company, 100; A Healy & Company,
100; J. V. Van Woert A Company, 100;
Abraham Da Bois, 100; H. V. Butler,
100; F. W. Devoe, 100; JohnJ. Crane,
, 100; William R. Renwick, 100; Hal-
JSAT£ OF ADVERTISING.*.
KfraTirma' ADVEKTT BltrM ENTS," £l2'B~ yCOf PJT
SSS,“ffUHISSVw per y’carfor .each adr
dltlonal square. *
sertlon.
tlon.
Special Notices Inserted In Local Column
15 cents per line.
BPIOTAI. Notices preceding
Lkoal and other Notices—
Executors’ notices - ;pS{
Administrators' notices
Assignees’ notices,-......
Auditors’ notices,
Other "Notices,‘.’.tea linos* or loss, j
three times, I **~*
sted Haines & Company, 100; E. A.
Quintard, 150;. Thomas L. nmull &
Company, 50; Samuel T. Keese, 50 ;
Keck, Moser &' Company, 50; H. M.
Taber, 60; Cash,so; EdwardHlnehcn,
50* Massachusetts and Rhode Islnud,
through William Gray, Esq., 15,600.
Total,’SlOJ.ToO. March 3. By check on
Merchants’. National Bank, order of
Lieutenaut Geueral W. T. Shermau.
aud by him endorsed to General u. o-
Grant, for house, lot and furniture,
$65,000. March 20. By check on pome,
order of Genera! W. T. Bherman, S3*,-
000 May 10. By check on the same,
order of General W. T. Sherman, s7uo.
Total, $102,750.
Benj. H Field, Treasurer.
New York, May 10, IS6O.
Flora Temple and Her Colts.
A. Welch, Esq., i 3 well known as tho
owner of Flora Temple, the queen of the
past, and as part owner of Lady f lhorn,
tho queeu of tbe present day. Mr.
Welch indulges thebolief llmttheHam
bietouiau stock produces the speediest
aud the best bottomed horses. As to
this matter, any turfman can decide for
himself by relleoling and gathering in
his own inlud tho names of those ani
mals who have made their mark on the
American turf. ‘Mr. Welch's place,
which Is styled the llamblotonluu ritoek
Farm, is situated on tho Limekiln load,
at Chestnut Hil), about eleven miles
from the city. It contains about 250
acres, and is ho elevated that one
can look down upon the beautiful
scenery of the surrounding country
for miles without any obstruction
interfering witli the prospect. Tho
buildings, which will accommodate
about oue hundred horses, are separa
ted from euehotherbygood-sized vaula.
After spending a few minutes in de
scanting upon tlie qualities of the three
and four year olds, which are located in
tho first stable, Mr. Welch directed
Hughy, tho stableman, to produ-v the
stallions JLtysdyk aud William Welch.
In a second tho door of a box stall was
opened, and in another appeared Kys
dyk, a four year old. He Is a hay, got
by Itysdyk’s Hambletoniau; dam Lady
Duke, by Lexington ; giand mi Magda
lena, by Medoo out of Ralph's dam, by
Sumter, &e. This is a very handsome
buy, fifteen two, with both hind feet
white, iu all points he is good, ami
shows such qualities as are to be ex
pected from his thorough-bred dam,
with the Messenger cross through his
grandam, by Medoo. His action shows
the trotting step of the family of his
siic, aud although he bus been hand
led but little, his way of going
is altogether satisfactory. Ills Hist
progeny is tho yearling bay filly
Lady Temple, of which wo will
speak hereafter. Ho is also sire of
colts owued by President Grant. Then
Wm. Welch, another four-year old, was
brought out. He, like Itysdyk, is a
bay, got by liyadyk’n Hauibletoniun,
dam rtusau, by imported Trustee, and
grandam said to be of Mambiiuo blood.
This Trustee mare was bred by Mr. Vun
Wycke, of New Jersey. He Is a darker
and richer bay than itysdyk, without
white, except tho heeds of his hind feet.
He is about fifteen-three, and has more
of tho Hauibletoniun look than Ida
rival. His pedigree is not so good, not
withstanding the Trustee blood is trjr
tremaly desirable, but ho may beat
Itysdyk ou the course. While William
was beiug moved around by Mr. Wood
ruff, Hughy gave a peculiar shrill
whistle, aud in a short time wo recog-
nized Flora Templecoming upthc lunc,
followed by two colts. The name Flora
Temple has become a household word,
aud throughout the laud her perform
ances and merits are discussed. Her ex
traordinary speed lias astonished tho
world, but her wonderful feat at Kala
mazoo was not a greater astonishment
than is her youthful, vigorous appear
ance so-dny. Hheis now 24 yeata old,and
has done a good part by Hit* colts follow
ing her but there is scarcely an indication
of approaching ago, except it. to bo in
the sinking of the hack. Her great,
fine eye Is undimmed, and her clean,
bony, expressive head still shows tho
indomitable courage which carried her
to so many triumphs. The interest
which centered around her perform
ances is now transferred to her maternal
relations, and to her-condition in her
green old age. With all the hard cam
paigning she has endured, and tho
many life struggles in which she has
been engaged, she is fat and hearty,
and really looks younger and more vig
orous than aDy animal of her ago (no
difference what their lives may havo
been) that we havo seen. Her oldest
colt is known as Lady Temple. Kho
is eighteen months old, and was aired
by Kysdyk, Bhe Is all bay without
marks. Her color is a lighter shade,
and she will be two sizes larger than
her dam. In tho head, eyo, and ear tho
resemblance is very close, but her body
islonger and more likea race horse. Her
muzzle is particularly line, ami her
hirnl leg according to all trotting ideas,
Is an improvement. She will not bo
trained till she matures, and she lias u
good show then to add fresh laurels to
those she inherits. Home idea may bo
formed of what sho is expected to do
when we state that her owner recently
received an offer of $5,250 for her from
a Chicago gentleman. Tho younger is
a bay colt of six months old, sired by
William Welch, ami is known us tho
Priuce Imperial. This is a very taking
colt, and is more like his dam than
his sister in blood. The head, eye,
aud ear are true copiis of tho
dam. Indeed, so far as a judgment
can be formed and compuriaou made
between a weanling and a mature horse,
the resemblance is completed in every
particular. The star lu tho old mare’s
forehead is long aud narrow, while that
in the colt’s is round. Tho w’hitu hair
the tlauks and tho rows of it aerosn
the root of the tail are prt ei.-ely tho
Rarno ns ou the datn. His gait is very
similar to that of Flora. The next fen
turo—and just now the most important
oue—ou the place was Ludy Thorn, who
has been brought Imre fur wintering.
Her name is familiar to every one, aud
it would be useless to say anything of
herrecord. She wasalittlelame, and for
that reason was tukeu from the track a
liLtleearliertbisseason than usual. Not
withstanding that sho was lame, her
owners were very desirous of accepting
tiie firstofferof Mr. Bonner, to purchase
any horse who would trot a milo to u
road wagon in 2.213, the time inado by
Dexter, and why the feat was not tried
is known to all turfmen. This animal
was bred in Kentucky, and was pur
chased for $2,500 by Mr. Keif iu 1802. 11l
tiie previous spriugshe bad been offered
to another Philadelphia gentleman for
$1,500, hut he refused her, being blind
of an eye, and being represented to him
, aa vicious. ThereraaiderofMr. Welch’s
Stock, about seventy-five in number, is
composed of thoroughbred mares aud
colts. — Philadelphia Evening Post.
New York Foundlings.
With reference to the hospital lor found
lings recently established in Nmv York
citr, some of tho New York papers havo
remarks upou tho rapid increase of Infanti
cide for the past few years, and stale that
in Russia tho property devoted to tho sup
port, maintenance ntid correction of found
lings amounts to fire hundred millions of
dollars. Tho hospital on Twelfth street was
completed on the lltk of October, and a re
port says:
“Tho second night after tho Sislora had
taken possession of tho house and put their
plate on tho door, with this inscription,
‘Foundling Hospital, by tho Sisters of
Charily,' and before they worn able to make
the slightest preparation for tho receptlou
~( children, tho bell rang loudly, nnd ono
of tho Sisters going out fouud a babo about
a week old on the stops. Contributions ilow
in rapidly ; ono gontloman promised to
furnish tho liouso with all the milk needed
for u year to come, another sent a cheat
filled with all sorts of medicines for tho
little ones; nnotber presented u few iron
cribs, and others again bed clothing and
many other various articles of which tho
Sisters stood sorely in need.”
The principal object of the institution is
to wave tho Uvea ot babe* who, in nine cases
out often, would be destroyed by their in
human parents at birth, aud it is intended
only to accept babes under three weeks old
or thereabouts. They are all kept in Iron
cribs, nicely clothed, aud every attention
that the beat of nurses can give Is paid to
them. In every instance but'one a slip of
paper was left in tho crib, on which tho
child's name and time of birth were writ
ten. In two caaea small sums of money
were left with the child, and In several
instances letters addressed to tho Ststorp,
stating that a day irnlght soon oouio when
the parents or mother might reclaim it,
were found in the basket with tho “living
gift” to the institution. Tho policy oi tho
establishment of such institutions has been
profoundly discussed in time, past iu differ
ent countries, but the necessity of lookiug
the evil in the face, and making provision
for tho preservation of existing human life,
necessarily prevailed over all other consid
erations, and hence those institutions are
now humanely and wisely provided In all
l civilised countries whore there are large
concentrated populations. i