Lancaster intelligencer. (Lancaster [Pa.]) 1847-1922, December 22, 1869, Image 2

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22, 1869.
GBEATINDEOBiIEKTS.
830 FOB 92ii,
To any one sending us $2O we will
send FROM THE PRESENT DATE
UNTIL JANUARY 1, 1872, FIVE
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GENCER, worth at the subscription price
to single subscribers, 510, and FIVE
COPIES of the “Hearth and Home,”
a literary and farm journal of great ex
cellence, published in New York, and
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Each paper will be sent to a separate
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every five copies of each paper they get
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will make slo—au average of one dol
lar on each paper.
It will be remembered that neither of
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for less than $2 and $4 per annum
respectively.
Stanton on the Supreme Bench.
Grant has appointed Stanton to fill
the vacancy on tho bench of the Su
preme Court caused by the resignation
of Judge Grier. The correspondent of
the N. Y. Tribune says that both the
President and tho Vico President went
together to the house of Stanton to ten
der him the position, and that he ac
cepted it. By this action of Grant he
has shown himself to be a mere tool in
the hands of the worst Radicals in the
country. He had no love for Stanton,
and owed him nothing. Stauton did
his best to oust him from his position
in the army at the time of the siege of
Vicksburg, and there was no concord
between them during President John
son’s administration. Gen. Sherman
despises Stan tou, and is said to have tried
to preveutUraut from appointing him ;
but Simon Cameron and certain other
Radical politicians interested them
selves, and managed to overcome all
obstacles. It is evident that Grant is
intriguing desperately for a re-election,
and that he will not hesitate to eat auy
amount of humble pierather than offend
influential Radical politicians. Simon
Cameron boasts that lie carries the Re
publican party of Pennsylvania in his
breeches pocket, with his pocket-book,
aud wo hear nothing more about
Grant’s opposition to any appointments
he may dictate. He will soou have the
great Ulysses in leading strings, and
will make him dance to whatever tune
he may see lit to play.
The appointment of Stanton to the
bench of the Supreme Court is simply
an outrago. He does not possess the
professional qualifications to fit him to
discharge the duties of the position, ami
liia temper aud the tone of his mind
would necessarily prevent him from
upproaching auy question with the
calmness necessary to proper judicial
investigation. He gained some reputa
tion when in practice as an energetic
case lawyer, but was not regarded as the
equal of many others in Western Penn
sylvania. He never held to any prin- |
ciple with tenacity sufficient to control
bis conduct when self interest was ar.
rayed against liis convictions. When
the {Southern States seceded lie ap
proved the course of the departing
Senators, and told one of them so in
bold aud passionate terms. Yet, he
was ready a few months after that
to accept llie position of .Secretary
of War under Mr. Lincoln, aud
to violate all laws and every dictate of
humanity in his conduct of that office.
He proved to be a revengeful, treacher
ous and cold blooded tyrant. Without
a shudder or a pang of remorse he con
signed thousands of Union prisoners to
a slow and lingering death rather than
carry out llie teiins of exchange to
which he had once fairly agreed ; aud,
when remonstrated with, brutally de
clared that he was not going to ex
change sound rebels for skeletons.
If Grant had searched the whole coun
try through he could not have found a
man more likely to mako an unjust
Judge than lid win M. Stauton. The
extreme Radicals pressed his appoint
ment iu a spirit of revenge against the
youth, aud he goes on the bench fuliof
the bitterest emotions, and with a soul
eaten up by the most viudictlve pas
sions. The spectacle is most humiliat
ing, and Grant’s conduct in the matter
is perfectly inexcusable. He has sacri
ficed all his independence, and from
this hour he must he regarded as a mere
tool of tiie worst meu in the Republican
party’.
Abolish tbe Revenue Officers,
Hon J. Lawrence Getz introduced a
resolution in Congress the other day,
directing the Committee of Ways and
Means to inquire into the expediency
of abolishing the offices of collectors,
assessors, and other agents employed by
tho internal revenue department, and,
in lieu of the present expensive system
of collecting taxes, to apportion the
amount required by the General Gov
ernment among the different States, in
proportion to their taxable population,
to be collected by them in such manner
as they may see fit to adopt. That such
a system would save the people millions
of money annually we have no doubt.
The State taxes are honestly collected,
aud defalcations and dishonesty are
rare things among the domestic
tax gatherers. The taxes due from
the different States to the Federal
Government could be collected without
any increase of local officials, and the
whole army of Federal appointees, now
receiving high salaries could be at once
dispensed with. There is no tax which
could not be just as easily gathered by
State authoriliesaa by the ageucies now
employed. There would be less dispo
sition to evade a State tax, and less
chance to do so, because the citizens of
each Slate and of every election district,
•would feel a direct interest in pre
venting frauds and in seeing that
all taxes were honestly returned and
faithfully' collected. Of course the
officials who are living at their case,
and many of whom are growing rich by
plundering the public treasury, will
oppose any such judicious change, and
Radical Congressmen will be slow to
give up the power which the control of
an army of revenue officers places in
their hands. The people cau not ex
pect to see their burthens lessened so
long as they patiently submit to bear
them without a murmur. They must,
give public officials to understand that
they are their servants, and not their
masters. When the masses earnestly
determine to protect their own rights
we shall not fail to secure needed re
forms, Buch as that suggested by the
resolution of Mr. Getz.
John W. Stevenson has been elected
by the Kentucky Legislature to succeed
Mr. McCreary in the United States
Senate. Mr. Stevenson is a man of de
cided ability, and will be a welcome
acquisition to the Democratic side of
the Senate.
“England collects $75,000,000 of rev
enue from thirty millions of gallons of
whiskey, and wo fail to get half that
much from one hundred millions of
gallons. The reason is a simple one.
The English officialsarehoDest and the
revenue honestly collected and return
ed, while the Radical office holders in
this country are very often no better
than thieves.
TECE X,AJSTGA.STER WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22 1869.
The Tennre-oHMUce Bill*
The probabilities are that the present
Congress will, In accordance with the
imperative demand of Grant, repeal the
Tenure-of-Office Law. As the bill was
put through for the sole purpose of
curtailing the power of Ex-President
Johnson, with the Bingle design of pre
venting the removal of Radical officials,
it was justly regarded as an outrageous
piece of partizan legislation. As Buch
we freely denounced it at the time of
its passage, 'and our opinion, tber
expressed, has undergone no change.
Wo believe that it was calcula
ted to do injury by putting dishonest
and incompetent officials in a position
where they would feel comparatively
secure. Tbe President could not dis
miss them summarily, and many of the
frauds which were perpetrated uader
the late administration were due to the
provisions of the law which Congress
is now hastening to repeal.
The rumors of corruption and the well
authenticated reports of gross frauds on
the revenue which reach us from all
parts of the country show that many of
Grant’s appointees are unmitigated
scoundrels. He has shown a great
lack of judgment in making appoint
ments, from his Cabinet down to the
lowest officials, and he needs the largest
kind of liberty to correct his damaging
blunders. We do not think, however,
that it is a regard forthe public welfare
which now leads him to demand the
repeal of tbe Tenure-of Office Law ; we
believe he is influenced by a desire to
have the thirty thousand office holders
in the country under his absolute and
unrestrained control, in order that he
may compel them all to work diligent
ly to secure his renomination. That is
well understood by his friends in Con
gress, and, as a large majority of the
Republican members are ready to con
cede what he demands, we are not
surprised to see it announced that
the very men who advocated and
voted for the Tenure of Office Liw
are now just as ready to make
speeches against it, and to vote for its
unconditional repeal. It is said aome
Radical Senators are not prepared to
r«caut so suddenly and so completely.
They do not relish beiDg placed in a
position so palpably false and indefen
sible. Colfax, who is industriously in
triguing for tbe Presidency, is said to
be opposed to the repeal qf the law;
but neither his ambitious designs, nor
the reluctance of certain Senators to
make so speedy a change of position on
the question, is likeiy to affect the re
sult.
We hope Ihe law will be repealed. It
is wrong in principle, and calculated to
work injury to the public interests. Be
sides we are in favor of permitting
Grant to assume the responsibility
which he seems 10 covet. With the
repeal of the Tenure of Office Bill, he
will have to answer to the people for
the appointment and continuance in
office of every obnoxious, every incom
petent and every dishonest official. We
are in favor of giving him full swing, of
allowing him all the rope lie needs to
hang himself.
Increased Appropriations.
The Radical newspapers have been
talking much about tbe economy of
Grant’s administration, and have been
contrasting it with that of Johnson.
That the administration of the latter
was less economical than itshould have
been we arc free to admit, but it must
be remembered that the Ex-President
was all the time hampered by the action
of the Radicals in Congress. There is
no such excuse for Grant, and the Radi
cal party cannot escape public odium
by such misrepresentations as availed
them at the last Presidential election.
They will be held to a strict accounta
bility for the mauner in which they
manage public affairs, iuasmucli as they
have entire control of the government
in all its branches.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
just made his estimate of the appropri
ations necessary to meet the expensesof
the government for the current fiscal
year, and they foot up as follows :
Legislative § 5,519,901 23
Executive
Treasury 1
Interior...
War
Agricultural
Postoffice
The appropriations last year for all
branches of the government only
amounted t 05251,415,251 01; making an
excess iu the amount asked for this year
of $49,682,537,01. Here is economy,
with a vengeance! As an instance of
the mauner iu which the fifty millions
extra are to be expended,we notice that
the employeesjiu Secretary Boutwell’s
office are to be paid some $14,000, over
and above their regular salaries, for
what is called extra service, Baid extra
service amounting to just nothing at
all. If we are ever to have a cheap
government in this country again it
will be after the Radicals are banished
from power.
Stanton Conics to Grid.
It is now currently reported that
Grant cannot be induced to appoint
Stanton to the seat soon to be left va
cant on the bench of the Supreme Court
by the resignation of Justice Grier. —
Ulysses has not forgotten how Stanton
did his best to have him superseded by
N. P. Banks, when the siege of Vicks
burg was going on. General Sherman,
who has much influence with the Pres
ident, remains bitterly hostile to Stan
ton. The country will be thankful that
this reckless violator of law is not to be
eleyated to the bench of the Supreme
Court. The reasons which influence
Grant may not be of the highest char
acter, but the result will be none the
less satisfactory for that reason. We :
hope Stanton will be permitted to play
the part of “a sick loyalist” without
interruption.
41 r. lloar.j
Attorney General Hoar has been ap
pointed to a seat on the bench of the
Supreme Court of the United States.
That he is not the right man for the
place, his conduct as Attorney General
abuudautly evidences. Some of the opin
ions he has rendered have been open
to the gravest objections. Hehas failed
to display any marked legal ability,
and has shown a tendency to narrow
minded par Lisausb ip. Whether he will
evideuce a proper breadth of judicial
iudgmeut in bis new position remains
to be seen. There is said to be consid
erable opposition to his confirmation in
the Senate, but it is not likely to prove
sufficiently strong to defeat him. He
is likely to receive full pay for the li
brary he gave to Grant.
The Right Spirit.
General Morgan, a prominent mem
ber of the Georgia Legislature, in re
joinder to a letter, says :
“ The present Legislature never will re
seat the negroes, nor will it pass the Fit
teentb Amendment. These are settled facts.
For myself, I have been a subraissionist as
long as I intend to be, and gone as far as I
intend to go to gratify the unhallowed will
and domineering spirit of a corrupt Con
gress.”
That is the right spirit. Better never
to have a representation in Congress,
than to endure the insult of a second
reconstruction, after once complying
with all the terms exacted by the Pres'
ident, by Congress, and even by the
Federal Military Commander of the
State. Let the Radicals assume the re
sponsibility,' and the odium of thrust
ing the State out of the Union again, if
they dare. Reaction must speedily fol
low.
Governor Geary has withdrawn
his order of execution in the case of
Dr. Schoppe. This was made necessary
by the allowance of a writ of error by
the Supreme Court, which is made re*
turnable on the first of January, a day
subsequent to the date fixed for the exe
cution.
The Radical Two Thirds.
By hook and by crook, by fool means,
such as they have learned so well how t
to employ, the Radicals expect, to hold
their two-thirds majority during the
present session of Congress. Contested
election cases will be uniformly decided
against Democrats, without regard to
the facts or the evidence. A majority
of the Election Committee will be found
as pliant and unscrupulous as the mem
ber from Pennsylvania, the tricky dem
agogue John Cessna. Already we have
It said that Covode has his case "fixed,”
and that General Foster is to be unseat
ed. That will beone of the grossest and
most glaringoutrages ever perpetrated,
but it will not stand alone. Enough of
the seats of the Democratic members
have been contested to make the Radi
cal sure of two thirds majority, and the
same outrageous course which has bo
often disgraced Congress since 1861 will
be relentlessly pursued. It has come
to pass that no Democrat can hope to
hold a seat in Congress against a
Radical contestant, unless he is elect
ed by. an overwhelming majority. —
The two thirds majority will not
now be needed to overcome a veto, for
Grant will be found to be a very pliant
tool iu the hands of Congress. He will
sign and attempt to enforce any act
which may be passed, regardless of its
constitutionality. The two-thirds ma
jority will be used to suspend the rules,
to stifle debate, and to rush improper
measures through iu hot haste. The
schemes of tbe Ring 3, the pet measures
of the lobby, and all kinds of paying
jobs will be enacted iuto laws by the
process well known to the initiated.
There is money to be made by voting
away the public lauds to railroads, by
conceding all that manufacturing mo
nopolies eak in the way of a tariff, by
manipulating the whiskey ring, nud
by amultitudeofotherrascally devices.
It pays the Radicals to keep up their
two thirds majority, and they will stop
at nothiug which enables them to do so.
Wandering Congressional Committees.
One of the grossest political abuses of
the day is the appointment of a whole
batch of roving committees of Congress
men each session. Assoon as that body
adjourns these peripatetics starton their
peregrinations, armed with free-passes
on the railroads. They have their com
ings and goings duly heralded, and
their progress announced nightly by
telegraph. They dine and wine sump
tously at the best hotels in the country,
aud are driven about to see all Ihe
sights in the finest coaches that can be
procured. Some take their wives with
them, but a majority prefer to leave all
such encumbrances in the quiet of their
rural homes, trusting to chance and
luck for female compauionship. ,Of
course they live liberally and deny
themselves nothing, since the taxpay
ers foot all the biilsof every description.
Articles supplied which would not look
well iu a list of items are set down as
“sundries” or charged up as contin
gents ” A jolly time these roving
blades have of it during tbe recess of
Congress.
We notice that the Committee on
Accounts of the House is having a hard
time in settling up the billsof the vari
ous waudering committees which were
appointed at the last session. The ac
counts of some of them are so outrage
ously extravagant that an effort is being
made to cut them down. The Sub Elec
tion Committee’s bill,afterbeiDglargely
reduced, still amounts to $17,000. This
was spent by them in a short pleasure
trip to the South. There ought to be
au immediate abatement of this nui
sance, but the people need not expect it
until there is a great reduction of the
Radical majority in Congress.
The Alaska Seal Fishery
It is said that a Boston company offers
to pay the Government two hundred
thousaud dollars a year for the exclusive
privilege of catching seals on the coast
of Alaska. No such contract should be
entered iuto. To give one compauy
exclusive controlofsuch business would
be to debar actual settlers and all private
parties from engaging in the business,
and would retard, instead of advancing
the interest of the territory. Besides
such a monopoly would naturally be
incliued to realize all they could out
of their bargain in two or three years.
The seals would be killed in season and
outofseason, and the breed broken up
or driven to other habitations. The
British government protects its seal
fisheries by stringent laws deoigued to
perpetuate the auimals, and to enhance
the market value of theskins, by bring
ing them to market only when in prime
condition. Tbe same system should be
adopted by us iu regard to tbe coast of
Alaska, which is said to be the finest
seal fishery in the world. It might be
made a source of revenue to the Gov
ernment, aud a raeaus of profit to the
inhabitants of the coast for many years
to come under proper protection. To
give up the entire business to a party of
greedy Yankee monopolisls would be to
-kill a goose that might continue to lay
golden eggs.
1,31)0,714 00
155.410,701 00
30.903,829 51
50,575 50 L 30
28,441,71)1 37
252 070 O 0
30,134,754 21
375,000 0U
.§331,007,825 f»2
Stewart ts. Boutwell
Mr. A. T. Stewart, the gentlemau
whom Grant insisted upon making Sec
retary of the Treasury in spite of the
law, is now a strong advocate of an in
stant resumption of epccle payment.—
Had Congress agreed to repeal the law,
in accordance with Grant’s urgent re
quest, there is no doubt that we should
have had Mr. Stewart’s views incorpo
rated into the President’s late message
to Congress. It is well known that
Grant has no ideas of his own upon the
great financial questions of the day. He
did not write a line of that part of his
message which related to finance. The
ideas and the language were all Bout
well’s own. Had Mr. Stewart been Sec
retary of the Treasury, he would have
had no difficulty about the incorpora
tion of an entirely different theory from
that held by Boutwell. Thisshowshow
much dependence is to be put in the
civil capacity of Grant.
Sumner’s Page.
Sumner has at last succeeded iu se
curing a negro page to wait on him in
the Senate. Andrew Slade, a light
colored mulatto boy, sou of Slade, the
late colored steward at the White
House, has been appointed to fill the
responsible position. All Sumner now
needs isa divorce from his wife,who has
abandoned him. He will then be able
to give practical evidence of his hatred
to “ Caste ” by marrying the daughter,
or the widow of some colored barber or
restaurateur. He has a choice of causes
on which to ground his application for
a divorce and can either plead deser
tion by his wife, or his own impotency.
Secretary Fish has declined to fur
nish to Congress the correspondence
with the Spanish authorities in regard
to Cuba. He says it is “not deemed
advisable to do so.” Whether such an
answer will satisfy a dictatorial Radical
Congress remains to be seen.
A number of the paymasters in the
navy are reported to be deficient in
their accounts, some of (hem inconsid
erable amounts. The Treasury Depart
ment, which has the auditing and set
tling of the accounts of paymasters,
should be prompt in enforcing the
settlement of these accuunts. Many are
doubtless of long standing. A great
amount of duty was thrown upon the
auditing officers in consequence of the
war, but this should not delay prompt
settlements. If the clerical force is not
sufficient, it can easily be increased.
The Senate still hesitates to confirm
Mr. Hoar as Judge of the Supreme
Court, and he hangs on to the portfolio
of Attorney General. He will not resign
his place in the Cabinet unless the Sen
ate confirms him as Judge, which it is
not likely to do.
The Party of Repudiation.
Acting on the maxim that "a lie well
stack to is as good as troth” tbe Repub
lican newspapers and stamp oratore
have persistently asserted that the Dem*
ocratic party favored the repudiation of
the national debt. The theory of Mr.
Pendleton, though folly endorsed by
Thaddeus Stevens, B. F. Butler, Sena
tor Morton and other recognized Radical
leaders, was interpreted by<tho Repub
lican press to be neither more nor less
than disguised repudiation. In vain
were resolutions passed defining the
position of the Democratic party on this
great question, aLd solemnly pledging
it to the pay men t in full of every dollar,
principal and interest, according to the
exact terms of the contract made be
tween the Federal Government and its
creditors; in vain was the uniform op
position of tbe Democratic party to re
pudiation in any shape or form of State
debts iuatanced to prove its complete
and spotless integrity. Radical news
papers and spoutCTß still retailed the lie
from day to day, sticking to it with a
tenacity that made some fools mistake
glaring falsehood for truth.
The debate in Congress, which we
publish elsewhere, gave the Democratic
members an opportunity to define the
position ofiheir party in such a way as
insures the wildest possible circulation
of it. There is no Republican newspa
per of any enterprise or character which
will fail to lay before its readers the re
marks made iojreply to the individual
opinions of Mr. Mungen; of Ohio, and
the resolution which was adopted with
but one dissenting voice. Not to do so
would be deliberately to pursue a courae
calculated to shake confidence in the
national securities, with the undisguis
ed intention of adhering to an exploded
falsehood.
The Democratic party has always set
its face sternly against Repudiation of
every description. When Congress
passed a law making depreciated legal
tender uutes a payment for debts cou
tracted in gold, every Democratic mem
ber voted against it, aud the Democrat
ic press universally denounced it as a
gross and unconstitutional violation of
good faith. By that law one-third of
the debts then owing iu the country
were, in effect and in fact, repudiated.
When, in the State of Pennsylvania,
the Commissioners of Allegheny coun
ty undertook to repudiate an honest
debt, a Democratic Supreme Court re
strained them from their iniquitous de
signs, and rendered a decisiou which
consigned the would-be-repudiators to
prison. When a Radical Legislature
undertook to repudiate one-half the
amount of interest on our State debt,
by payiag iu depreciated paper cur
rency what had been expressly stipu
lated to be paid in coin, every Demo
cratic member voted against the out
rage, which was accomplished by a
solid vote of the Republican majority.
Thus it has been, not only in Pennsyl
vania, but in other States. Whenever
a proposition has been made to repudi
ate a legal obligation, or to shirk the
payment of any part of an honest debt,
the Democratic party has arrayed itself
in stern and decided opposition, and the
iniquity has been perpetrated and the
disgrace entailed by Republican Legis
latures.
The Democratic party will be found
to be just as strong.y iu favor of paying
every dollar of national indebtedness
justly due. The Democratic Congress
men who spoke for tbe party in the
j House were elected in districts where
| the Democratic majority is large. They
uttered the sentiments of theirconstitu
ents, and what they said has been fully
and heartily endorsed in our National
and State Conventions, time and again.
The national debt will be paid,principal
and interest, audit will be paid just as
much by Democratic votes as by Re.
publican votes—just as much by Demo
cratic money as by Republican money.
The solid vote of the Democratic
members of Congress against every
1 form of repudiation, which followed the
■ speech of Mr. Muugen,is no new action
ion their part. More than four years
I ago, Hon.[Samuel J. Randall, of Phila
j delphia, offered the following resolu
j lion, for which every Democratic mem
i ber then voted, except Mr. Trimble, of
1 Kentucky :
! Resolved, That us the sense of this House
1 the public debt erected during tbe late ro
1 bellion wus contracted upon the faith and
i honor of the nation ; that it is sacred and
inviolate, and must and ought to be paid,
principal unci interest; that any attempt to
repudiate or in any mauner to impair or
scale tbe said debt shall be universally dis
countenanced, and promptly rejected by
Congress if proposed.— December 5, 1565.
The Republican newspaper press, and
Radical Congressmen and stump speak
ers have been all the time the cause of
the agitation which has been kept up in
regard to repudiation. They knew four
i years ago, as well as they know now,
that the Democratic party was opposed
to repudiation iti any shape; and yet
they kept up the false hue and cry. The
Radicals are responsible for whatever
damages may have been sustained in
consequence of their coustant efforts to
belie and misrepresent the Democratic
party.
i Had the Democratic party come into
power during the war, or immediately
after, there would never have been aDy
talk of repudiation. The financial
affairs of the Government would have
been economically managed ; tbe Union
would have been speedily restored, and
the South would have yielded a vast
revenue, instead of being for several
years a source of public expense ; the
number of officials, instead of being
continually increased would have been
constantly diminished ; frauds upon the
revenue would have been checked, and
peculations by dishonest officials prop
erly punished ; taxation would have
wisely distributed and constantly de
creased; aud the whole country would
to day have been in a more prosperous
condition than it is, with its credit
abroadand at home fully sustained, and
with business of every description
flourishing instead of languishing, as
it does now. Rich aud poor would
alike have reaped the benefits of
wise legislation, aud none except dis-
honest officials aud grasping monopo
lists would have been heard to com
plain.
We notice that leading Republican
journals are now claimingtbat theques
tion of repudiation has been killed and
dragged out of the political arena. It
can be kept out for all timo to come, if
RadicaFeditors aud orators do not re
turn to the lies they have so persistently
promulgated for political effect.
The Tax on State Banks.
Mr. Justice Nelson and Mr. Justice
Davis did not agree with the majority
of the Supreme Court in its decision in
favor of the right of Congress to tax
State Banks. They noted the fact that
there were four State Banks iD exis
tence at the time of the formation of
the,Federal Constitution; held that the
different States are competent to char
ter State Banks, and showed that this
has been three times decided by the
Supreme Court. They also further
held, that the bills of State Banks, in
stead of being property of the banks
issuing them, areonly evidences of in
debtneas in fact, as such not liable to
taxatiou, and that Congress has Dot the
right uuder the Constitution to tax the
franchise and the indebtedness of such
institution. Justices Nelson and Davis
hold the tax imposed on Stateßanks to
be an unjustifiable attempt to crush
them out of existence; and no sensible
man will deny, that it was imposed for
that very purpose, and to give Congress
full control of the money of the people,
Hon. John Russel, ex-Secretary of
State of Ohio, and a Republican Sena
tor is dead. That leaves the Senate a
tie, and will prevent any action on the
Negro Suffrage Amendment until a
successor is elected.
Grant on Horseback.
A great pleasure ha 3 been provided
for Grant by some wealthy expectants
of official favors, a solace has been
found for his weary hours, and his van
ity and his love for horses are both to.
be gratified at the same time. Ben.
Butler, Bill. Kelly, John A. Logan,
Garfield, the Congressman, and Cooke,
the banker, have got up a subscription
for the purpose of erecting an equestrian
statue of Ulysses on the south front of
the Treasury building, right under the
windows of the White House. A studio
is to be constructed on the south side of
the Presidential mansion, and then the
work of modeling is to be commenced
at once. First, the horse is to be mod
eled, and the General has selected one
from his stud to serve as a pattern for
the moulder. After the horse is com
pleted (it being conceded to be the more
important part of the work) Ulysses
himself is to be cased in plaster of Paris,
in full uniform as General of the army.
The work is to go on under the imme
diate supervision of the President.
It, is said that Butler & Co. found
him languishing for some congenial oc
cupation. He has no taste for books;
he takes little interest in affairs of State,
and can not be induced to apply himself
to the business appertaining to his
station ; Washington does not afford
enough of the kind of amusement he
covets, and Butler & 00., whohavehim
in leading strings, were put to their wits
ends to devise some plan for keeping
him from running off to New York dur
ing the session of Congress. So, they
conceived the project of having him
and his horse done up in broDze. —
Tbe committee have raised a sum
of sixty thousand dollars, with the
distinct understanding that the con
tributors are to get it all back with
interest, in the way of official favors.
The Military Committee of Congress
have promised that a sufficient amount
of metal shall be furnished from cannon
captured from the Confederates in “ tbe
laiu unpleasantness” to make the
casings. Prof. J. A. Bailey has been
selected as the artist, and his designs
have been adopted. It costa a good deal
to keep our epauletted spbynxamused,
but Butler & Co., will lose nothing by
the operation. They will no doubt find
tbejob a profitable one in the end. It
is rumored that Butler intends to con
tribute me bushels of stolen silver
spoons to be melted .with the bronze;
that, however, lacks confirmation, and
the selfishness of tlio Beast gives
strength to the doubt.
Libel Suit Between Editors
Mr. M. S. Quay, editor of the Beaver
Radical , Secretary of the Republican
State Central Committee, and for three
years a member of the Legislature, has
prosecuted Brigham & Co. of the Pitts
burg Commercial for libeling him. It
seems that the Commercial took occa
sion to comment upon the fact that Mr.
Quay is erecting a splendid mansion,
and to insinuate that he had suddenly
grown rich through arts that are said to
be practiced by itiahonest members of
the Legislature and other corrupt offi
cials. The case was up for a preliminary
bearing in Pittsburg on Saturday, aud
excited much interest. If it should lead
to a thorough exposure of the conduct
of the legislative ring at Harrisburg it
would be productive of no little good.
The parties concerned all belong to tbe
“ God and morality party.”
Elsewhere we reprint a Washing
ton letter from that well-known and
reliable Republican journal, the New
York -Sun. The Sun thinks there is no
hope for the Republican party in the
future unless it becomes more honest
and economical, and it hopes, by such
exposures as are made in the letter
which appears elsewhere, to make up a
sense of indignation among the masses
of the party sufficiently strong to en
sure the choice of more reputable lead
ers. We fear the efforts of the Sun will
be utterly fruitless. The Republican
party is too far gone in corruption to be
saved.
Not a white man can get the authori
ty to sell liquor in Washington without
he pledges himself that negroes shall
drink at his bar if they choose, and
make use of his premises at they may
deem fit and proper. So far as drinking
saloons are concerned, this step towards
practical amalgamation does not per
haps approach the highest point of im
portance, but as an example of the
extent to which the principle will ulti
mately be carried, if its advocates can
retain the power.it is valuable and note
worthy.
Gigantic Frauds on the Revenue.
Tbe following Washington despatch
will show how honest the fellows are
whom Grant has appointed to office :
Washington, Dec. 14, ISG9.—The coun
try ia becoming prolific of sensations in tbe
way of frauds on the Government. It is
only a s-bort time since the people were as
tonished at the drawback frauds in the New
York Custom House, and lora week or two
rumors have reached here that there have
been discovered in Cincinnati, Ohio, frauds
on tbe Treasury, which are so gigantic and
audacious in their character that the pub
lic would be incredulous of their existence,
if it were proper to make them kuown at
the present time. These rumors have as
sumed such a tangible shape in the last
few days that tbe Government officials have
taken Hi- matt*'-in hand for investigation,
and prciii'i’ -1 -oon as the parties are ar
rested , i* i • - fud particulars, and intimate
that the New York drawback frauds will
be throwu completely iu the shade by ihe
enterprising Cincinnatians who have been
engaged in these jobs.
Congressmen Getting Away from Their
Constituents.
The Washington correspondent of
the New York Herald says :
In seeking lodginus for the winter one
of the main objects of Congressmen was to
get out of-tbe-way places, so that they
could not be easily found by their office
hunting constituents. Some of them have
gone away to the outskirts of the city, and
only tell of their whoreabouts to particular
frieudsina confidential way. A Senator
informed me the other day that he had
either to get away from his constituents or
else resign his office. He could not stand
the pressure. Another Congressman says
be did all he could to keep his name and
residence otjt of the newspapers, but one
constituent, who happened to find him out,
published it in the newspapers for the bene
fit of the others.”
salaries to be Raised.
The New York Tribune says
“ Already there are thick-flying lumors
from Washington that during the present
session the salaries of even? body, from the
President down to the doorkeepers are to
be raised. These prognostications are set
afloat with a purpose. They are intended
to prepare the public fur a ; and they
will be followed by distressing accounts of
the slow starvation which is destroying the
health of the Washington clerks, who can
not. so meagre are their stipends, rake and
scrape enough money together to go to
market once u week, aud who are in dan
ger of perishing (with their interesting
familes) in the streets in consequence of the
altitude of the Washington house rents. —
Well, gentlemen, come on with your pa
thos j we are ready for it!’’
The Senate made unnecessary haste
to confirm the nomination of Stanton.
It is rumored that he promised Grant
he would resign shortly, but the proba
bilities are that he will stick to the
Judgeship with the same tenacity he
stuck to the War Office. He belongs to
that class of politicians which never re
sign.
Terrible Locomotive Explosion—. Loss
Philadelphia, Dec, 20.—A terrible lo
comotive explosion took place this morn
ing at the Richmond Coal Wharves, which
resulted in serious injuries to several per
sons and the loss or one man’s life. The
locomotive Annapolis, belonging to the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, which
was stationed at the time on a siding in
front of the ronnd house at the upper
depot, Port Richmond, exploded with ter
rible force killing the engineer and serious
ly injuring several others. Joseph Nagle,
engineer of the Annapolis thrown
a distance of about a hundred yards,
instantly killed; He was thirty years
of age, and leaves a wife and two
or three children. The fireman, James
Brady, was seriously injured. James
Taylor, engineer of the Gold Mine, which
was standing near had his arm and
some ribs broken. John Forbes, engineer
of the Lexington, also standing near, re
ceived severe injuries. No cause can be
assigned for the explosion.
The Integrity of Democratic Presidents.
When Thomas Jefferson was Presi
dent of the United States he procured
from the Spanish Minister some wine*
It occurred to Mr. Jefferson that Foreign
Ministers received each things free of
daty, whereupon he wrote the follow
ing letter to the Collector of the Port of
Philadelphia:
Washington, Feb. 6,1803.
Dear Sib: Monsr. d’Yrojo, the Spanish
Minister here, has been so kind as to spare
me 200 bottles of Champagne, part of a
larger parcel Imported for his own use, and
consequently privileged from duty, bnt it
would be improper for me to take the bene
fit of tbat. I must therefore ask the favor
of you to take the proper measures for
paying the duty, for which purpose I en
close you a bank check for 22i dollars, the
amount of it. If it could be done without
mentioning my name, it would avoid ill
intended observations, as in some snch way
as this, “by duty paid on a part of such a
parcel of wines net entitled to privilege,”
or in any other way you please. The wine
was imported into Philadelphia, probably
about midsummer last. Accept assurances
of my great esteem end respect.
TH. JEFFERSON.
Gen. Muhlenberg.
What a contrast in delicacy of feeling
and regard for law does this action of
Mr. Jefferson present to the [course of
conduct which now prevails. Grant,
who deems it all right to employ a gov
ernment vessel, at an expense of several
thousand dollars a day, to carry him
about to fashionable watering places,
would neverthink of refunding the sum
of $22.50 duty to the Treasury. John P.
Hale, for many years a leading Radical
Senator, disgraced the United States,
when Minister to Spain, by allowing
large amounts of goods to be imported
into that country free of duty under the
privileges of his position. There has
been a vast change since the Democratic
times of Jefferson. Under Radical rule
all sense of honor and decency seems to
have been blotted out, and official in
tegrity is a thing almost unknown in
this country. James Buchanan, the
last Democratic President, was a model
of scrupulous honesty in all his dealings
with the government. He paid a bill
of expense which some of his friends
had thoughtlessly Incurred by ustogaU.
S. vessel on one occasion; and throughout
his long public life never gave any one
a franked envelopeor used that privilege
improperly. Grant might learn whole
some lessons from the conduct of his
Democratic predecessors, if he were so
disposed.
WiIAT IS GOIKG ON IN WASHINGTON.
The Growth ol Corruption—The Bios: in
the Senate—NLaasichaseits.
Correspondence of The N. Y, San,
Washington, Dec. IG.— The spread of
corruption here is appalling. It has in
vaded the highest places. Such opportuni
ties through class and special legislation
never existed before, and they have been
improved without stint by distinguished
members of both branches of Congress.
Fifty or more men might be Darned with
out the least effort, who came to Washing
ton poor OBly a few years ago, and who are
now rolling in great wealth. It is hardly
necessary to inquire how these sudden and
large fortunes have been acquired. Enor
mous railroad grants, whiskey taxes,
banks, tariffs, and the like, furnish the ex
planation. Iu former times political and
personal agencieswere employed to exert
influence In Congress for special objects.—
They are now almost entirely discarded,
unless they be of the gentler sex, who have
become ‘-claim agents,” and whose exer
cise of that calling provokes more than
criticism in the lobbies, which they unbe
comingly haunt.
In all the big things Congressmen of
supposed power, and who are open to con
viction upon the principle so broadly an
nounced by Sir Robert Walpole, will admit
of no intermediate agency. They are fi an k
enough to demand the price of cooperation,
and to insist upon the conditions of the
bond, even to the last ounce of flesh. Hence,
wo see them making costly voyages to
Europe, setting up grand establishments
here, driving fast horses, sporting fine car
riages, and affecting tbe airs of court life.
There is what is called a ring of Chairmen
ia tbo Senate. As the Chairman has power
to call the Committee together, and to ex
ercise exceptional influence in many ways,
he is necessarily the orgau of its authority,
and oftou, by a sort of conventional rule,
the director of its opinion. Hence such
places are sought with unusual zeal, not
only lor their prominence, but for their
advantages. There is a sort of tacit un
derstanding among theso Chairman gen
erally (to which there are exceptions, ot
course) that one shall not oppose any pro
project particularly pressed by another. In
this way multitudes of corrupt schemes are
carried, Jbecause the Chairmen who is
favored to day reciprocates the courtesy
to-morrow, when some other job is to be
hurried through. No questions are asked.
The committee report theconcealed roguery.
That is sufficient. A luw is made, oue or
more Senators are enriched, and the Treas
ury is robbed. But these are patriots all,
and preeminently Radical, else they could
not be Chairmen. Look around that chain
ber and remark the pursy demagogues who
have grown proud, pretentious and wealthy
by shouting for freedom, bleeding Kansas,
on to Richmond, and reconstruction. Their
shouts, like the mantle of charity, cover all
sins with the faithful; and the greater the
knave the louder the shout. The noblest of
causes has suffered by an organized venal
ity, which has had no purallel in history.
These practices and others have carried
demoralization everywhere in the public
service. Witness the President giving the
example of choosing his Cabinet in consid
eration of presents received from Fish,
Borie, and company; of tilling the great
offices with Butterfields and Grinnells, wbn
were regular gift collectors; and of crowd
ing the public service with the kindred of
himself and his wife down to the remotest
degree. It is stated with confidence tbat
more nepotism has been practised since the
4th of March last than by all the Presidents
since the foundation of the Government.
The Clerk of the House has reported that
some §67,000 in round numbers had been
expended of tbe contingent fund, and since
the 4th of March last, when this Congress
commenced, committees of various kinds
have squandered this money without the
east reason. This shameful practico is of
recent growth, and deserves tbe sternest
condemnation. Among tbe curious items
is one to the “ Hon. N. G. Ordway, Ser
geant-at-Arms, for fees, §6,588.78.” This
man draws a large regular salary, has his
office, clerks, and stationery free, and yet is
allowed fees, which have already summed
up a fortune. And so they might easily do,
at tho price which it has cost to bury mem
bers of Congress, with moarning gloves at
'§4o per dozeD, and everything else in pro
portion.
Although the South has hardly had any
representation in Congress for eight years
past, which should naturally have reduced
the contingent expenses to that extent, it
will be seen that they have frightfully in
creased since 1861 under evt ry imaginable
pretext, until the plunder from that source
has became enormous.
It is no longer considered respectable or
prudent even for ladies to go unattended
into the mat Me room of the Senate, or the
reception room of the House. Notorious
females are seen about these places, send
ing in their cards familiarly to various well
known Senators and members who control
patronage in the Departments and who
have heretofore secured offices for persons
of more than doubtful repute. Men who
spout very strongly about “moral ideas”
are exactly those that have been most noted
in this regard. If a fraction of what is
known here was published, what a sensa
tion there would be, and how some ficti
tious reputations would fall!
Well,Massachusetts has got another plum
in the nomination of Mr. Hoar as Justieeof
the Supreme Court The suffering condi
tion of that poor State, which now has only
about a third of the consular and diplomatic
appointments, most of the pick ed places in
the Departments, two Cabinet Ministers, a
lurge proportion of the carpet-bag repre
sentation, the choicest Committees in both
Houses of Congress, and the lion's share ol
the profits of the war, required this sop to
relieve her wants. Mr. Hoar is a respecta
ble man, but be has not gained much repute
as a jurist among the profession here. He
has, however, the great merit of being from
Massachusetts, which supplied so many
substitutes of all colors during the rebellion
for her patriotic citizens, who found it mere
congenial to “ prepare the heurts of the peo
pie,” to pocket large dividends, and to
organise victory by profitable contracts.
A Lady Outraged—The Negro Killed.
The Sayanah Republican records an in*
famous outrage committed upon the per
son of a respectable lady, Mrs. Johnson, in
Thomasville, Mitchell .county, Ga,ontbe
29th of November, by an immense black
rascal by the nameof William Lee. It ap
pears that Mrs.lJobnson had retired for the
night, with no one in the house but a very
small child and the first intimation that any
person was near was the door being broken
open and the fiend standing before her.
She asked the negro where her husband
was—he being in his employ, and had been
for some time. It was then that he inform
ed her ofhis hellish intentions. She imme
diately seized an axe, and attempted to de
fend herself, whereupon the negro took the
axe from her. and at the same time struck
her with a stick which he had in his Hand,
knocking her senseless. Upon restoration to
consciousness she discovered that she had
been dragged pbout forty yards from the
house. The negro, DQt being sadisfied
with what he had done, then stamped with
his infernal feet on.her throat ana in her
face. She became nnconscioosfor the time,
and while in this condition be finished his
hellish and damnable work.
On the morningof December 4, a parly of
njen, disguised as old men, represented that
they were the sheriffs of Mitchell .county,
and demanded this fiend, who had been
identified and arreste'd, bat they were in
formed by tbegood lady of the Jailor ( the
tailor being absent) that she could not de
liver the negro to them. After some parley
ing, they succeeded in getting possession of
him. He was then taken a short distance
from the town and shot, abont daylight, two
balls penetrating his body and killing him.
Bepndlatlon Bepndlated.
The following is the Associate Press re
port of the debate which followed Mr.
Mud gen’s speech in favor of repudiation:
’ Mr. Mungen’s argument, which was de
livered from manuscript, advocated the
repudiation of the national debt Assoon
as be had oonclnded his argument, be was
replied to, and his position repudiated, by
Messrs. Brooks, of New York, Randall,
Slocum, Cox, Kerr, and Woodward, all the
members of the Republican aide gathering
around the speakers and ovincing intenso
interest in the discussion.
Mr. Brooks, of New York, said the gen
tleman from Ohio said—and well said—be
spoke only for himself. If what he said had
not been said on the fi >or of the House, in
the presence of all of us, I should not feel
it necessary to disclaim all responsibility
for his advocaoyjof repudiation, and I think
I may speak for the Democratic members
from New York State, as well as for myself.
The national debt never b&s been, never
can be, never will be repudiated. While
much of what the gentleman said is true,
all that relates to repudiation we utterly
disclaim. We expect to pay every cent of
the debt according to contract, and under
a better and reduced system of taxation we
think it will be as easily paid as tho debt of
the War of 1812.
Mr. Kerr said: While I remember very
well that my friend from Ohio [Mr. Mun
gen] did us on this side the justice to remark
that, in whatever he wa9 about to say, be
would attempt to bind nobody but himeelf,
yet I deem it an act of duty to myself and
to those I represent, and I believe I say
with becoming modesty,to the whole Demo
cratic party of this country, to say tbat I do
not endorse repudiation in any form, aud
that Ido not believe that that great acid
honorable party of which I have the honor
to be an humble member, endorses any
such theory. While I approve of very much
of what my friend from Ohio said, and
while I believe that there is very great
truth in much tbat be b&9 said, I think it is
my duty to say as much as I have
noweaid to enter my emphatic disclaimer of
the conclusion and theories of my friends.
Mr. Slocum said : lam elad the gen
tleman from Ohio makes no pretenses of
represeuting any political party in the re
marks he has made. Tbe Congressional
district I have tbe honor to represent on this
floor pays into the Treasury more taxes
than two or three of the Western States
combined, and I can assure the gentleman
that he represents the sentimeuts of no
party, and, I may soy, of no people of that
district. For one I here declare that no
partie tie, no hope of political advancement
will ever induce me to favor any measure
tending towards repudiation, either directly
or indirectly, or any measure tending to
prevent this government from discharging
every obligation incurred in the suppres
sion of tbe rebellion,in tbcßtrict accordance
with tbe letter and spirit of the law crea
ting tbe obligation. In behalf of the Dem •
ocracy I represent I here repudiate all
repudiator?.
Mr. Rundall said : Mr. Chairman, In the
time allowed me it is hardly possible that
I should follow the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. MungeD) in all his sayings, or what I
might mildly term his political heresies,
but for myself, and I think I can speak for
my constituents, I am utterly opposed to
repudiation. But the moment allowed me
gives me the opportunity to remonstrate ;
against the enunciation of any scheme of
legislation which I believe would place my
country in a dishonest attitude before the
world. Not only do I believe that wo
should pay tho debt, but I believe, what is |
of vastly more importance, tbat the coun- |
try has tbe ability, the disposition aud re j
sources to pay i(. I agree with the gentle- ,
man from Ohio (Mr. Mungen) tbat this !
debt was negbtiated at ruinous rates. Thut
is a matter of just criticism against the
party who tbeu controlled the govern
ment and made the negotiation ; but as
regards those who hold bonds upon
which is stamped the faith and credit of
the country, nay, repudiation stands iu
no other light than the light of dishon
esty. In buying this, I but speak what I
have said bt'fore my constituents. But, sir,
I do nut apprehend half the danger Irotn
speeches such as t :at of the geu'leman
from Ohio, which I do from tho extrava
gance, from tbo corruption, from thb undue
and unequal taxation which has been
placed upon the statute book by tbe ma
jority uf this House. I have a vast deal
more apprehension of tho growth of tho
spirit uf repudiation from that cause. —
Agaiu, the autne thing is to beapprehended
when tho majority stand up here and de
fend one of tbe most crushiug, one of the
most wusteful monopolies—the banking
interest of the country. The same thing
is to be apprehended from the legislation
lhat has been, with tbe view of mnkiug the
few rich at tbe expense of tbe many. I be
lieve thut in tho interest of my country
Iheru should be no question about paying
the eutire principal of the public debt.
Mr. Potter said: Mr. Chairman, upon
questions of public faith and national
honor, I do not purpose to let any man do
cide for me, or any organization to control
my vote. lam not unmindful of some of
the evils to which the gentleman from Ohio
has adverted, but without now referring to
them, I desire simply to say, that for my
self and my constituents, I disclaim the
doctrine of repudiation advocated by tho
gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. Cox said: While no one is more
ready thsD I to honor tbe soldier and the
gentloman from Ohio, who has just spokeD,
I will not do him the injustice to believe
lhat he undertakes :o speak either for the
Democracy of bis State or of the Nation. —
Ilia opinions on repudiation are his own,
aud he alone is responsible for them. They
are not tolerable nor excusable because of
the wrongs suffered by the masses, because
Coogress lails to tax as they should the
bondholders; because Congress fails to
obey the claims of loyal claimants, or
because of the outrageous and persistent
taxatiun of the people. The worst form of
repudiation bus not been referred to. The
legal tenders are a debt, and so loDg as they
are unredeemed, so long is their repudia
tion. Who is responsible for this? I charge
the Republican members now around mo
with either lackingthe skill or the courage
to redeem the legal tenders.
Mr. Dawes—That is my interpretation of
Mr. Peudloton’s theory. Ia it not repudia
tion?
Mr. Cox—l might not agree with Mr.
Pendleton’s interpretation, yet it would not
be repudiation. Did not the distinguished
moralist from Massachusetts (Mr. Butler)
agree with Mr. Pendleton, and Thaddeus
Stevens, and Senator Morton, and are they
repudiators? I understand the astuteness
of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr;
Dawes). He desired to give a partizan face
to this debate, but he cannot do it. With
out regard to party, this Houso should en
deavor to raise • ud not to degrade our credit
and honor. I denounce repudiation in every
form, whether it repudiates legal-tender
notes or bonds, loyal claims, orconstitu
tional guarantee?. I will never consent to
favor the dishonor of my country, which is
hound up with its prosperity. All of our
constituents pay taxes alike to sustain tbe
public credit. There are questions which
will press hereafter, whether taxation is
inordinate, and whether we ought not to
reduce it. Whether, with a full Treasury,
it is not an outrage to keep up these bur
dens, but we all agree that our credit should
remain unt rnisbed. We may differ on tbe
ways and means to preserve our credit, aud
as to other fiscal questions, but on this Jet
us be in concord. >
Mr. Woodward said that it seemed to
him to be a day of general confession.—
[Laughtor.] He hud happened to be u
member ol the Supreme Court of Pennsyl
vania, when the Republican county of Al
legheny, and the Republican city of Pitts
burg, repudiated the most honest and
righteous debt, and it had fallen to hi-* lot
to write the first opinion that was over
wiitten in I’ensj lvania against those repu
diators. O'.her opinions in other cases hud
lMlowed, and tbu*e county commissioners
and municipal authorities bad been im
prisoned—the commissioners for one whole
year—in jail. Ho went on to speak of a
Republican Congress having on February
25, 18G2, passed an act declaring that green
backs, then worth about GO per cunt, on the
dollur, should be a legal-tender In payment
of debts, t.f ing a direct and palpable viola
ti-'-i* of a c.oiistitu’iona! provision, and in
utter repudiation of one-third of the whole
indebtedness of the couDtrv. Against that
instance of repudiation, bis whole soul
rebelled, and be had, wiiou he became a
member of tbo House, offered a resolution
instructing the Judiciary Committee to re
port u bib to repeal that law, as a disgrace
to the country and the age, and he v/as
obliged to say that thut Committee hud not
yet reported on his resolution.
Mr. Myers expressed the hope that i;
never would. These, and other instances
of repudiation, had had the effect of setting
men liUe flint against repudiation and ro
pudiutors. He looked forward to the time
when the Republican party of the country
would be in favor of repudiating the natiou
al debt, and he might at some future day
have to stand up iu defense of the plighted
faith and good credit of the.nation agaiust
tho Republican party.
Mr. Schofield asked his colleague to do
justice to the people of Pittsburg and Alle
gheny by saying that it was not a party of
repudiation.
Mr. Morgan claimed that there was in
disputable evidence that the Republican
party of the JJniled States was a parly of
repudiation during the late and when
greenbacks were worth fifty cents on the
dollar, every State under Republican juris •
diction repudiated the payment of tho in
terest of its State debt in gold.
Mr. Garfield said that Ohio had not done
so.
Mr. Cox said, that iu Now York the
Democratic party paid the interest in gold,
but that the Republican party paid it iu
paper.
SPtCTATOR.
Mr. Fitch addressed the Committee in
favor of the immediate recognition of the
independence of Cnba, and was followed
by Mr. Willard, wbodelended the positiou
taken in the President’s Message on that
subject.
Mr. Garfield then, by unanimous consent,
moved that the Committee report to the
House the following:
Betolvcd , That the proposition, direct or
indirect, to repudiate any portion of the
debtof the United States is unworthy the
honor and good name of the Dation, and
that this House, without distinction to
party, hereby sets its seal of condemnation
on any and all such propositions.
The Committee then rose, and tbeSpcakei
having resumed the Chair, Mr. Allison,
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole,
reported Mr. Garfield’s resolntion to the
House, and Mr. Garfield moved the previ
ous question upon its adoption and called
for the yeas and nays.
The previous question was seconded, and
the yea 9 aod nays were ordered in the res
olution.
Mr. Jones, of Kentucky, moved that the
resolution be laid on the table, and the vote
was taken on that motion by a division of
of tho House, and there was bat one mem
ber voting iq the affrmative—Mr. Jones
himself.
Mr. Brooks, ofNow York, suggested that
as a great many members were absent on
account of the understanding that no busi
ness would be transacted, the vote should
not be taken till the next meeting of the
House, when the vote would show a full
expression of opinion.
Mr. Schofield, with that object In view,
moved that the House do now adjourn.
The House refused to adjourn, and the
vote on the resolution was taken by yeas
and nays.
. Before the announcement of the result,
Mr. Eldrldge said that he had voted under
a misapprehension and desired to withdraw
his vote, as he understood the resolution to
be virtually one of censure against the gen
tleman from Ohio (Mr. Mungen). He said
I understood it as charging that gentleman
as being unworthy.
Mr. Garfield—Not at all.
Mr. Eldridge—Or that his speech was an
unworthy one.
Mr. Garfield—Not a word In it about the
speech.
Mr. Eldrldge—Ho had a right to make
the speech, though I did not agree with
him in H.
Mr. Jones (Ky.) asked and obtained per
mission to make a statement. He said,
lest my vote should be misunderstood, I
desire to say that I am not now in favor of
repudiation, and prohably never shall bo.
Several members repeating, probably !
Mr. Jones—Yes, sir, probably I never
shah be. I should be in a certain conlin
geney in part. If the alternative were ever
presented to me whether to vote that part of
the bonded debt not specified to be paid in
gold should bo paid m gold, or that there
should be repudiation to that extent, I
should go fur repudiation. But lam not
now for repudiation. I only conceived that
this resolution was not a proper one to be
adopted at this time, as it might be misun
derstood. I therefore voted no, und I main
tain that vote.
The vote was thou announced : yeas 123 ;
nays 1. The negative vote being that of
Mr. Jones. So the resolution was adopted
with but one negative vote.
Mr. Eldridge asked the indulgence of the
House to state why it was that' be had ex -
pressed a wish to withdraw his vole. He
aa d that he did not wish by any vote ofhis
to pronouuce censure on the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Mungen). He said that he
believed that that gentleman had the right
to make the speech he did make, if he was
himself convinced of the sounduoss of bis
position. That was the reason why ho
doubted the propriety of voting for tho res
olution. He was not a repudiator and
never ex peeled to be. Ho paid his own
debts and was in favor of the government
paying its debts.
A message was receivod from tho Presi
deuf, announcing tho ratification of tho
Fifteenth Constitutional Amendment by
ibo State of Alabama.
The House then, at half-past four o'clock
adjourned till Wednesday next.
IMITUEK SUNIAG HOSUtOF
Cnviug lu of a Stine at Stockton, Pa.—
Four t!oases with Ten Perso nH tarried
Down-N'oucol ihcTeu Saved.
Hazleton,. Pa., Pec. IS.—A terrible min
ing accidont occurred ibis morniug ut five
o’clock, ut the village of Stockton, near this
place. At the hour named thocommunity
was startled from slumber by a loud noise,
caused by the caving in of slope No. 1 of
Lindorman it Skeer’a coal mine. Upon
parties hurrying to the scone it was discov
ed that two double dwelling houses had
been carried down with the • enormou*
masses of earth that filled the shaft and
tunnel.
Stockton is a village situated on the
Hazleton branch of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad, two miles distant from Hazleton.
It contains many very neatly built houses
and other buildings, tho company’s stores
and the hotel being tho principal structures.
Tho company employs about 1200 miners,
who make this their home. The mine runs
parallel with tho railroad track through
the middle of the village. About filly feet
above tho place of this morning's accident
the mime cuved in some years ago, but no
danger of its happening again has since
been apprehended. About ten years ago a
small hole was made by tho falling of tho
earth directly in front of tho two ill-futed
houses.
The residents of houses Nos. 3 and 4, Mr.
Philip Welheran, his family aud boarders
and the family of Mr. William Morrist and
boarders, were saved from a terrible death
by a singular circumstance, A dog belong
ing t j Mr. Morrist awoke the family by Its
persistent howling and barking. One of the
men urose for the purpose of ascertaining
what ailed the animal, when be discovered
that the house was sinking. He immedi
ately gave the alarm, and the two families
had barely time to escape. Mias Mury
Wetheran, runuing in the wrong direction,
fell into the abyss, but was subsequently
rescued by some courageous youug men.
She is somewhat bruised, and prostruted
from excitement and fear, but will recover.
All of the residents of houses Nos. 5 and
G lie hopelessly buried in the ruins. They
comprise Mr. Schwenk, his wife, a sou of
nineteen years, a daughter of eighteen
years, u sou or emhi years*, mid nu iufnui
This comprised one family. The other
consisted of Mr. Isauc Ranck, his mother,
wife, aDd infant. This makes a total of ten
persuns. It is reported that some men
were in the mine at the time of the uccident,
and il so ull are undoubtedly dead ; but the
report is very doubtful, and cannot be
traced to any reliable authority. Ko far il
has been found impossible to reach the
1 dead bodies of ibe victims.
The cavo is seventy-live feet wide and
sixty leet deep, and as the stoves in the
houses set liro to the wood work, the entire
cavity is now ft burningand smoking mass.
The Pioneer No. 1 fire engine ofUuzelton
was soon on the ground aud made every
exertion to extinguish the fire in the hope
thut some of the persons in the cave might
be saved. Tnore was not, however, the
faintest probability of any being alive one
hour after tho accident took place, aa all
were buried by tho fallen earth with fright
ful effectiveness.
It is dangerous to enter on the work of
of rescue because of tho earth's still contin
uing to fall in and thus enlarge tho cavity
continually.
The excitement is very great nnd is in
creasing. Families in the vicinity are mov
ing out of their houses, fearing theirs will
fail in next. It is the geueral opinion that
other houses will fall in. Thero is also
danger of the mines.taking fire. Messrs.
Liudermuu und Sheer arrived at ibo scene
of tho disaster this afternoon. They are
sparing no pains to secure tho bodies as
speedily as possible.
Fnrtlcnlnrs of the Virginia Tragedy.
Tim following additional details of llio
shooting of Dr. Oliver are given in a dis
patch from Charlottesville dated tho Kith:
A tragedy occurred here this morning in
which a lulher became the avenger of hi*
daughter’s injured honor by tuking tholife
of her seducer. Dr. Anthony R. Oliver was
killed at about 7* A. M. by GeorgeS. Ayres,
of Fauquier county. The parties to the
tragedy are both Englishmen. Ayres Is an
old resident’of upper Fauquier county, near
the borders ol Loudon, where he possesses
considerable property, occupies a high po
sition in society, is a respected member of
the Baptist Church, and a gentleman of
family. Dr. Oliver recently emigrated to
this country from New-castle-upoa-Tyne,
England, and has been indefatigable in his
efforts to induce emigration from his coun
try to Virginia. He succeeded at one time
in bringing oversixty families, all of whom
settled in the Piedmont region. From the
fuels elicited tho cause of the tragedy origi
nated some time last summer, when Oliver
went on k visit to tho house of Mr. Ayres,
in I uuqti ier, where he spent several mouths.
W Idle there enjoying his hospitality, under
tho insidious guise and plea of “medical
treatment,” Oliver seduced and ruined the
daughter of Ayres, a young and nnsopbis
tiCßled girl.
For a long time tho paieut was unawaro
of the terrible misfortune which brought
shame und disgruce upon his family, but in
time the matter became developed, and
with the determination of being revenged,
he set off at once in quest of Oliver hen-.
He arrived yesterday evening at 2 o’clock,
and spent the night at the hotel, creating
nosuspicion whatever by Ins conauct. Soon
after daylight this morning he wont to the
house of Mr. Browne, brother-in-law of Dr.
Oliver, by whom he was admitted to th
parlor, where he took a seat while Browne
completed his toilet. Upon the return of
the latter, Ayres asked to sc-e Oliver, and
Brown knocked at his room door und ho
informed him. Browne then withdrew. In
a moment Oliver opened the door and ad
vanced in his night clothes to meet Ayres,
extending his hand and exclaiming, “How
do you do, old fellow ? ”
Ayres drew back in indignation, and
said : “ I cannot take your hand ; nothing
but your life’s blood can wipe out the in
famy my family has sustained from you.”
At the same time he raised his pistol, a
Colt’s navy, and fired. Oliver then retreated
through the open door, Ayres following and
still firing. Two shots had taken effect, and
Oliver fell behind his bed. Four shots io
all were fired, two alter Oliver fell, three
takingeflect, and Ayres then left the house,
having fulfilled his terrible mis'jion. Oliver
waa dead.
Browne, who bad no apprehension of any
hostility between the parties, thought the
first report was the explosion of one of
Oliver’s metnllic cartridges, but when tho
successive reports rang upou the air, he and
Mrs. Oliver both rushed to tho apartment
in time to see Ayres leaving through the
front gate. On looking iDto Oliver’s cham
ber they saw him lylDgdead upon tho floor,
his body partially under tho bed.
Ayres then went direct to the telegraph
office, from which he sent a message to his
relatives and friends, and Immediately
afterwards surrendered himself to a civil
officer. As soon as tbo tragedy became
known tbo greatest excitement prevailed
among tho community here, all of whom
sympathized with Mr. Ayresuoderthe un
fortunate circumstances. An inquest was
held upon the body of the doctor, and the
ury, having heard the testimony, rendered
the following verdict: “That the said An
thony R. Oliver was killed about 7 o’clock,
A. M., this IGth day of December, 1860, by
a pistol in the hands of George S. Ayres. In
testimony whereof the said acting coroner
and jury have hereto set their hands.*’
Up to the present Ayres had not been
committed, but be voluntarily remains in
tbe custody of an officer, awaiting what
ever disposition may be made of him. Ho
is said to have been a man of the most ex
emplary character and un upright Chris
tian. He conversed freely upon all sub
jects during the day, except tbe shooting,
about which he was exceedingly cautious
in his replies. The unfortunate young lady
Is spoken of as a model of virtue and chas
tity, and her friends are unwilling to be
-1 lieve she submitted to tbo degradation
without undue lufiuenots being brought to
bear. Darlngtbe day Ayres was visited l y
a number of clergymen among whom was
a chaplain of the University hero.
Synopsis of Congressional Proceedings.
Washington, Dec. 14.
In the U. S. Senate the Joint resolutions
of the Ohio Legislature, rescinding Ihe rati
fication of the fifteenth amendment, were
presented. On motion of Mr. Trnmbul) the
Public Lands Committee were directed to
inquire whether land offices may not be
dispensed with in States where no public
lauds are for sale. Mr. Cole introduced n
bill for semi-monthly malt service to China
and Japan. On motion of Mr. Howard the
Financo Committee wore instructed to in
quire into the advisability of reducing Ibe
penalties indicted by the Internal Revenue
act of July, ISfiS. Mr. Cole ottered a reso
lution looking to the lovying of a tax of $1
per gallon on distilled spirits, nod the col
lection of a tax according to tho capacity of
the stills. The resolution was laid upon
the table at his request. Mr. Morrill, of
announced the death of Senator
Fessenden, and offered tho customary
resolutions ol respect. After the usual
eulogies and tho adoption of the resolutions
the Senate adjourned.
Iq the House, resolutions were offered
by Mr. Gentry, looking to the abolUiou of
the present system of tax colh-ctnrs, and
the apportionment of the tutorial lax
among the States ; ami by Mr. Cox, urging
intervention on behalf of American citizens
held as political prisoners by the British
Government. Both were referred. Yuri
ous memorials and bills were introduced.—
Among tho hills was oue to provide for
meteorological observation at tho militaiy
siatious in tho interior of the contineoi,
i with a view of lessening marine disustets
on ibe Northern Lukes, by timely notice of
approaching storms. Mr. Ward obtained
leave to have printed and recommitted a
bill pending in the Reconstruction Com •
milteo, imposing, as u lundauiental condi
tion to the admission of Yirgiuiu, that she
shall never deprive negroes of the right to
vote, sit on juries, or enjoy equal privileges
in the schools. A message from tho Presi
dent was received, announcing that he h-td
signed the hill to remove political disabili
ties from a large number of persons. The
census bill was considered. After tuilogies
on the lute Senator Fu?s uidon, the lluumj
adjourned.
Washington, Dec. 15
In tho United Slates Senate, on motion nf
Mr. Kellogg, the Commerce Cotnmiitee
were directed to inquire intotheoxpediency
of repealing tho laws relating to the di-tn
bution of customs penalties and forfeitures.
The House resolution for a recess from De
cember 22 to Jamiarj' f> was ngVoed to. Mr.
Osborn introduced u resolution, which was
referred, authorizing tho internal Revenue
Commissioner to give rewards for tho do
toetion of persons trying to murder revenue
officers. On motion of Mr. Carponter, ot
Wisconsin, his resolution declaring that in
tho opinion of the Senate tho Spanish gun
boats should not bo allowed to leave the
country, was taken up. It was advocated
by Mr. Curpentor. Mi. Sumner opposed it,
aud it was laid over. Tho resolution regu
lating tho hours ofj-irbor of Governmont
employees, and tho bill limiting the uppel
late jurisdiction of the Supreme Court u ere
considered. After an Executive Session,
the Senate adjourned.
In t ho House Mr. Jonos, of Ky., n lie red a
resolution authorizing the Prosideul to do
tail war vessels to receive tho licet convey
ing the remains of George Peabody, and
make other preparations for tho reception
of tho body. Bills were introduced by Mr.
Prosser to provide forsp* cie payments, and
Mr. Dyer to increase the tax on National
Banks. On motiou of Mr. Hay,the M ining
Committee were directed to investigate the
Avondale Mine (iisuf-ter, end report a bill
to prevent 6uch occurrences, and also to
consider tho propriety of the creation by the
House of a new committee, to be called “Of
Public Salety,’’ to investigate nil mvidents
fatal to or endangering human life. The
Census bill was considered in Committee of
tho Whole and reported to the House,
which adjourned pending its consideration.
Washington, I)>c. 1G
In the U. S. Semite, the lull authorizing
the erection ofa bridge across the Delaware
at Philadelphia, was reported favorably.—
Mr. Sherman offered a resolution inquiring
whether any arrangement has been made
to turn the case of Yerger over to the civil
authorities in Mississippi should Congress
restrict the Jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court, ami if uny nrrnugeun*nl exists for
delaying tho proceedings on the habeas cor
pus in that case. Mr. Sumner objected,
and tho resolution laid over. The Georgia
bill aud the bill restricting appellate Juris
diction of the Supremo Court were cousid •
ered. Mr. Sherman introduced u bill crea
ling a Bureau of Customs Revenue, and
Mr. Sumner a bill declaring that “ theacis
of the several departments shall not be
called in question by oilier departments,"
aud defining the limits of Hie judicial pow •
er. Bills relating to steamship lines to
Europe wore introduced by Messrs. Rico
and Ramsey. Adjourned.
In the House, bills were introduced, by-
Mr. Judd ami Mr. Allison, to apportion
Representatives for the Forty second Con
gress; by Mr. Kcheuck, to establish u Bu
reau of Customs Revenue; by Mr. Scott, to
amend tho laws in relation to the assess
ment ana collection or revenue ; and by Mr.
Stone, to repeal tho ten per cent, tux on
State banks. On motion, the Judiciary'
Committee werodirected in inquire if legis
lation is necessary to decide any eleruon
contest that may arise in the Electoral Go)
lege. A letter wus presented from the Nr ere
tary of tho Navy, usklngauthority to enlist
1500 men for tho Navy, in addition to the
8500 now allowed by law. Tho remain
ing amendments to tho Census lull were
disposed of, and tho bill pas-ed and
sent to Iho Senate. A message was re
ceived from the President, stating in rep'y
to a resolution ot the House, that It is tini
deemed advisable to furnish tho corres
pondence with our Minister to Spain m re
latum to Culm. Tho House went into Com
mittee of the Whole, and Mr. Mungen, of
Ohio, read u speech advocating tho repudia
tion of the national debt. When lie had
concluded, he was replied to and his posi
tion denounced, by Messrs. Brooks, C« x,
and Nlocutn of Now York, Randall and
Woodward of Pennsylvania, and Kerr of
Indiana, who declared that tor themselves
and tho Democratic party of tho country
they utterly disclaimed and i-ppoßed repu
diation in any form. Their id. arks wero
listened to with grout interest by the Re
publican members, and Mr. Garfield moved
that the Committee report to tho House a
resolution, declaring the House l , without
distinction of party, condemned nil propo
sitions direct or indirect, to repudiate any
portion of the debt of tho United Slate*.
Tho resolution was reported to (he House,
when Mr. Jones, of Ky., moved to lay it
upon the table. On Ibis motion the only
affirmative vote was Mr. Jones, und iho
resolution was adopted by 123 yeas to cue
nay, Mr. Jones being tho negative*. Ad
journed uutil Monday.
Washington, Dec. 17,
In llio U. S. Senate, tit 11m wort* introdmvd
to abolish tbo office of Naval Officer, to re
duce tho number of army officers, and to
abolish franking, substituting a dUlnlmiion
of postugo stumps therefor. Tho Georgia
bill was considered, tbo discussion being
continued at a night besHlon, and was finally
passed; yeas-Jj, nays l), being amended to
allow persona who were forced into the
rebel service by direct physical twee, to
hold fleets in tbo Legislature.
The House was not in session.
Washington, Die
In tbo United States Senate, the bill re
pealing tbejdulien on canned uud preserved
fish was reported favorable. Mr. Schurz
introduced a bill to reform tho.civil service,
which was referred. Mr. Trumbull, from
the Judiciary Committee, reported a joint
resolution, Ideclariug Virginia entitled to
representation In Congress. On motion of
Mr. .Sumner, tho I’re.-ident wus requested
to communicate copies of correspondence
between tho Uuited States and Great Bri
tain concerning pending questions] since
the rejection.ol tho Alabama Claims Treat v,
After an extcutlve session tho St-n.de ad
journed.
In tho House, a inomuriul was prc.-i nt. d
from tho Tennessee Senators and R-o:e
-sentutives, asking Congress to interpose
“ for tho relief ol ltie* loyal citizens” of ihut
Slate. A number of bills were introduced,
among them one for a free banking s\ s' cm,
and otliers to suspond t ho operalmu of th,<
Public Credit act of March 1$ las', ab di-ii
frauking, regulule labor contracts with ;m
-fuigruniH, und regul.totho taking of had u
civil and criminal casco. Mr. Cox off-rid
a resolution declaring for tin ly resumption
of specie payments, which was relern-d. On
motion of Mr. Woodword, the President
was asked information in regard to ciiizms
held in military custody. On motion of Mr.
Poland, tho Committee on revmmn of Laws
were instructed to consider the expediency
of providing that bankruptcy pio< eidii g<
pending in one district uiuy i J( . inm.-lemd
to another. Mr. Butler having *.stattd that
the Reconstruction Committee hue post
poned the consideration of tho Virginia
resolutions umill after the recess, Mr.
Farnsworth moved to suspend tho rubs
that he might introduce a resolution for the
admission of Virginia. The Hou*-**, t y u
vote of 105 ugaiost G 3, refused to suspend
the rules. Several Republicans, among
them Bingham Furusworlh, aud Poland,
voted for buspenaiou. Thu Gooigia bill, as
passed by the Senate, was taken up ai.d
discussed, the debato being continued at a
nighi sessiou, untill 11.30 P. M, when tho
House adjourned*
Abolition of tbe frnuiiluic Privilege.
Tbe bill recently introduced tn the Hmi.-e
of Representatives by Mr. Farnsworth in
relation to franking abolishes all franks
after July 1, 1870, und appropriates momy
for purchases of postage stamps, requiring
alLofficors who uro allowed money to keep
on uccount of its use, und report toCongrexs
auDually. Tho amount for Seuators uud
members is left blank, to bo filled up by
Congress. Appropriations for tho President
and the Departments are as follows :
Secretary of Senate, Ac §lO COO
Clerk of House, Ac 10,000
Pjesident, for Executive Muusion.... 10,000
Stale Department 100.000
Treasury Department 250.000
War Department 200’00Q
Navy Department 100.000
Postoffice 250.000
Attorney General’s Office 10,000
Interior Department 250,000
The Postmaster Generul is to furnish
postage stamps and envelopes, to be used
exclusively for official business, wilh water
marks to prevent counterfeiting, and tho
bill provides penalties for their improper
use.— Washington Republican.
The oldest Senator in Congress is Simon
CameroD, who was born in 1799. The
youngest is Thomas W. Osborne, so called
Senator from Florida, born in 183 S. Sprague,
of Rhode Island, aud the carpet-baggote
McDonald, of Arkansas, Kellogg, of Ijouls
lana, and Spencer, of Alabama, are all
under forty.