SPEECH OF MB. STEVENS.
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens made the foL
lowing speech in the House of Represent
tative at the conclusion of the argument
on the Stuakmental Reconstructs Bill :
Mr. StwWs (Pa.) closed the debnte>
saving : I confess that a small portion
of the blame for the acts of the President,
since Congress adjourned, maybe direct
ed to Congress, in using improper lan
guage in the bill, and that was owing to
nn indistinct knowledge of the country
which we were legislating for. If we had
all agreed, as we have stnee agreed, thit
the States lately in rebellion were con
quered territory, and subject to t.'uia na
tion as conquered territory, and if we had
treated thenr accordingly, wo should have
had but very little trouble in reconstruct
ing this government, upon the principles
of tl e admission of free States, but we
were not all perfectly prepared for it in
our understanding of the laws of nations,
nor is it worderful that we should have
been thus wandering in our views. I
will state what I suppose to he our real
condition. The nation was afflicted with
a civil war, which for a time was an in
surrection, which divided its sway.—
Some twelve millions of inhabitants,
claiming that they no longer belonged
to this Union, had set up an independent
government. Tliey formed all the ma
chinery of a government, both of a na
tional government and of a State uuder
that natioual government, and they raised
large armies to defend their pretentions.
We, at the period when we declared a
blockade, admitted them to be not an in
dependent nation, but an independent
belligerent. The nations of Europe so
treated them. In short there ca« be no
doubt of the fact. We were then at war
as two independent nations. It depended
on the conqueror whether he would treat
the one that was vanquished after the
war as a vanquished nation, or whether
he should punish him for violation of the
sovereign rights of the nation iu addition.
We conquered. What did we conquer?
Wo conquered the confederate govern
ment ; we conquered all the States form
ing the confederate government; we con
quered a government which by its own
declaration owed no allegiance to the
government of the United States. That
they should pretend after that, that they
had ono right under the Constitution
which they had thus repudiated and aU
tempted to destroy, and that they were
still within the Union, as asserted by the
gentleman from Wiseohsin. (Mr. Eld*
ridge,) looks to mo like a bold absurdity.
Yet that was the doctrine of the Presi
dent ; that is the doctrine which the gen
tlemen are fighting about. We declared
them to be conquered provinces. We
were treating theui uuder military law.
Now what is the law in reference to
provinces conquered from a foreigu inde
pendent belligerent? When you couf
quer from a foreign nation, or from au
independent belligerent, tho territory
•that is conquered is governed by military
power, by tho commander-io chief of the
army (who in this case was the Presi
dent,) until tho legislative power of the
nation snail ha"c spoken and directed
what laws shall govern ; but the moment
that the legislative power of tho nation
interposes, the military authorities cense i
to exist, and the commauder-iu chief of I
army has no more to say to it than a cor- ,
poral in the army has to say just what '
that legislative power orders him to say. i
He has to do just what that legislative
power orders him to do, and he can do j
nothing else. A great deal is said about i
the President acting as commander-in
chief of the army until he was superse
ded in his authority by Congress. I
have no fault to find with his maintain
ing military rule, but he assumed to ex
ercise legislative powers ; he assumed to
establish governments; he assumed to
appoint civil officers; ho assumed that
that conquered territory should receive
back precisely the Constitution of the
loyal States, and be entitled to all the
privileges they ever had. No part of
that came within the power of the com
mander-in-chief of the anny.
If Congress Sends an army to Nebraska
to quell the Indian war, Congress orders
them togo there. What do the officers
do? They pass no act of legislation.—
They go there and order these troops
when to charge nnd when to retreat.—
"They drill them, they put them through
oil the military exercises. They can do
no act which looks like regulating the
objeot of the way or the object of tho
army. The Constitution tukes express
reservation to show that there can be no
such power. It expressly declares that j
Congress shall have power to make all
rules and regulations for the government
of the land and naval forces of the United
States. The Executive has nothing to
do with it. The Judiciary has nothing
to do with it. Congress is the only
power ! Congress has enacted rules and
' articles of war. Can the President of the
• United States interfere with them?—
Can ho add new article?, new rules, new
regulations? No such thing. The mil
itary officers that were sent us command
ers in these States were simply appointed
as agents of Congress. To be sure, ori
ginally the bill provided a military sui
pervision simply, and we had intended to
follow it up with a law putting recon
struction into the hands of civilians.—
That is what I should have done, and
what I had been prepared for; but if we
choose tp adopt officers of tho army—if
Congress chooses to take them from tho
army and to assign them to that duty,
they then become agents of Congress and
, neither the President nor any person un
der him has the right to interfere, or to
anything but exactly what Congress has
said. It can be reduced. I think, to a
plain proposition. That Congress, and
Congress alone, was tho only power that
can admit these outlying States. I deny
that Ihe President had any right to call
upon the Attorney General, or upon any
other branch of the government to inter
fere in any act of such reconstruction.—
There w«« but one appeal, and that was
to the agents appointed by Congress, or
to Congress. It ought to be known be
fore this to the President —I trust it is
known in every coolred school in this
District —that the Constitution docs not
apply to any territory. The States arc
parties to the Canstitution. They are,
the contracting powers. Thfy are the
substantial body. Territory, however
acquired by purchase or conquest, or by
inheritance, is the property only of that
substantive power, and that power is
bound up by the Constitution. That
power aione is governed by the Constitu
tion ; but does not extend for any pur
pose iuto any territory or acquired prov
ince.
Why, then, talk about the Constitution
regulating the action of Congress in a
province, in a territory, or in a conquered
State, whether conquered from a legiti*
mate State or an illegitimate State ? I
may be asked how one would treat the
Confederate States of Auieiioa. Just as
Congress chooses. They are our prop
erty ; their citizens are our subjects.
Their lives and their liberties are sub
ject to the supremo will of the body,
always controlled by the laws of nations,
the laws of war-and the laws of humanity
There is no other power on earth—there
is uo branch of the government—there is
no power in the government, except what
t have mentioned, that has any right to
interfere or say one word on the subject.
If you wish to punish the malefactors for
violated majesty, that is another matter.
Possibly you might do so through yout
courts of practice; at least you uiight
attempt it, but I don't suppose you can
do it. But there is one thing clear.—
That territory not being yet declared by
Congress to be in a state of peace or res
toration, it is under the military authority
of the government, and any tribunal con
stituted by the military authority, any
military tribunal, any court martial, can
try any one cf those who belonged to the
belligerent forces. Jefferson J)avis, or
any man of the army of the confederacy,
conquered by us, is this day subjee to
trial by military tribunal. If I had my
way, I would long ago have organized a
military tribuual, under military power,
and I would have put Jefferson Davis
and all the members of his Cabinet on
trial for the murders at Andersonville,
the murders at Salisbury, and the shoot
ing down of prisoners of war in cold blood.
Every man of them is responsible for
these crimes. It was mockery to try that
wicked fellow, Wirz, and make him re
sponsible for acts which the Confederate
Cabinet was guilty of. Of course, they
should be condemned. Whether they
I should h» txecuteu afterward I give no
I opinion. I would carry out such puu
ishmcnt as, in my judgment, tha justice
of the country required. I would carry
it out through the legal tribunal I have
mentioned, and which is as much the
legal tribunal of thejland as the Supreme
Court of the United Slates. This is my
view exactly of what would be logical. I
As to the question of confiscation, I think 1
that a man who has murdered a thousand
men, who has robbed a thousand widows
and orphaus, who has burned down a
thousand houses, escapes well, if owning
a hundred thousand dollars ho is hoed
fifty thousand dollars, as a punishment,
and to rcpuir his ravages. I said before
that I was uot in favor of a sanguinary
punishment. I trust, in saying that I
need not be supposed to condeinu them
when they arc necessary, for instance, the
clamor that has been raised against the
Mexican government for tha heroic exe
cution of murderers and piratos [Some
applause and clapping of hands by mem
i her-', followed by some hisses ]
I That clamor finis uo favor with me. I !
think that while ho has gone far enough, |
though not half as far as he might be i
i justified ingoing, yot there is no law or
| policy, under Heaven, and no sense of
| justice that will condemn that real heroic,
much enduring man, who for six yearn
has been huntel with a reward upon his
head : has been driven from one end of
his empire to another until he got to the
very end ; who has no parallel iu history
that I know of except it be " William of
Orange," who was driven from island to
island and from sand patch to sand patch
by just about as bloody a persecutor as
was to be found iu Maximilian' when he
decreed that every man warring against
him should be shot down without further
trial. I am not going to shrink from
saying that I think such punishment
proper. Ido not say nor do I as'c, that
anybody should bs executed in this soun
try. There has got to be a sickly hu
manity here which 1 dare not get along
side of, for l'ear I catch it.] Laughter ]
And it is now held by ono of the most
liberal and enlightened gentlemen in the
country (I mean Gerritt Smith) that we
should evea pay a portion of the damages
inflicted on the rebels, and pay a portion
of the rebel debt. [Laughter.] I shall
come some day to have an argument
.with Horace Gaecley about that, and
therefore I need not say any further. I
believe I have said enough to explain my
views on the subj;ct, and now 1 ask for
a vote.
As Mr. Elevens concluded his remarks,
there was considerable applauso on the
part of the members.
A CANADIAN letter-writer says in
reference to Jeff. Davis: "'I don't see
so much change in the ex-Prcsident's
appearance as the newspapers de
scribe. His spirits, however, are de
pressed. The constant vituperation
to which hs has been subjected, the
suspicion with which he was dogged,
thecriticism of his slightest words and
movements, all harrass and annoy
his mind. lie told me that he wish
ed he could suddenly disappear from
the view of men and pass the remnant
of his life in soure seclusion where
none but his personal friends could
fiud him."
We hardly think Mr. Davis will
find many to differ with him in his wish.
—A Boston nearly
lost his nose the other day, in a very
singular manner.- lie was being
shaved in a barber's shop when his
horse, which had been left standing
near the door, started and he jumped
from his chair, nearly had his nose
served from his face by the razor
which the barber held, his sudden
movement causing the razor to nearly
erase that useful organ from his face.
—Hon. William H. Brown, an
eminent citizen of Chicago, formerly
residing at Orleans, died at Amster
dam, Holland, June 19.
?ltc gtmcricau Cittern.
gSaf The Largest Circulation oj
any Paper in the Gounty.
0. E. ANDERSON, - - - Editor
BUTLER PA.
WEDNESDAY, IDLY 21, 18«7.
" Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, On*
end •n«eparable."--D. Webtter.
Union Republican State Ticket.
SUPHfcME JUDGE.
Hon, Henry W. Williams,
Of Allegheny Gounty.
Union Republican County Ticket.
ASSEMBLY !
JAMES T. M'JUNKIN,
JOHN EDWARDS, [LAWRENCK CO.]
GEO. S. WESTLAKE, \ M
DAVID ROBINSON, J ILRCER co
TREASURER:
HUOII MORRISON.
COMMISSIONER :
CHARLES HOFFMAN.
JURY COMMISSIONER :
CHARLES M'CLUNG.
AUDITOR :
J. CALVIN GLENN.
Tlie President ami Ills Veto.
In our last issue we gave fire Supplo
| mental Reconstruction act as passed by
both houses of Congress, and stated that
it had been sent to the President and
that he was expected to send in his veto
against the same, and that his labor would
be in vain, as Congress would pass the
Bill over bis veto. The veto was sent in.
Both Houses, without debate, passed the
Bill by nearly 4to 1. If we had had
nothing but peace and prosperity for the
last six years the veto of the President
might be considered a sound public doc
ument, but when we take into considera
tion the fact that we have passed through
a gigantic struggle, spent over two bil
lions of treasure, and sacrificed nearly
half a million of lives to put down one
of the most wicked rebellions that has
ever been witnessed by man ; and that
great and vital principles are at issue
which must be settled, now aud forever,
iu order to secure the peace, prosperity
and perpetuity of onr Republican Gov
ernment When viewed in the light of
these things, the veto is out of place, ana
the position assumed by the President is
erroneous, and utterly untenable. We
are told that a Washrngton Newspaper,
known to bo in the confidence of the j
President, and to speak very often by his
diction, " admonished Congress that the
President was determined to havo his
messages treated with what ho was ploas
cd to consider due and proper respect,
and that if this was not done, ho would
resign and precipitate a struggle,
which was dimly foreshadowed as some
thing terrible, but the exact purport of
which was conveniently shrouded in am
biguity." What the President is pleased
to consider due respect we are not told ;
but, if he has any notion of resigning,
he cannot do so any too soon for the good
of the country.
Notwithslandingthe President's threats
and veto, tho Supplemental bill is now
the law of tke laud, and we have no
doubt the District Commanders will ex
ecute the same in accordance with the
will of the loyal people as expressed by
their loyal Representatives.
The Indian Uill Passed.
The Senate passed the Indian bill on
Thursday, 18th inst., after four hour's
debate. It provides for the appointment
of a commissioner to visit th? scene of
hostilities, and confer with the chiefs of
the hostile tribes as to the cause of the
war. If possible, they are to select reser
vations upon which to locate the hostile
tribes. If no peace can be made, the
President is authorized to accept four
regiments of volunteer mounted infantry
to engage in the war. An appropriation
of $450,000 is made, 8150,000 to carry
the bill into effect, and $300,000 to feed
friendly Indians belonging to the hostile
tribes, who seek the protection of the
United States.
Congress Adjourned.
Congress adjourned on Saturday till
the 21st of November. That for which
it assembled was expeditiously and well
done, the President to the contrary not
withstanding. llia attempt to defeat
previous legislation has lesulted in the
curtailment of his own powor and in
creased stringency relating to tho South.
The impeachers, though they mado tho
vote tho occasion for a vigorous and con
certed movement iu favor of immediate
impeachment, failed entirely—the order
of the House to the committee to report
the testimony taken, failing.
Mowing Match.
lo accordance with previous arrange
ments, the mowing match for the purpose
of testing the qualities of the different
Mowing Machines now offered for sale in
this county, came off on Thursday tho
11th inst., in the meadow belonging to
R. C. M'Aboy,
The challenge, as our readers are iware,
was given by Wilson, Weckbecker & Uo.i
Agents 112o p the Union Mower, manufac
tured by John Hall & Co., Pittsburgh,
and was accepted by J. G. & Win. Camp'
bell, Agents for tho Buckeye and other
Mowers.
But a small proportion of our farmers
have as yet, provided ttemselves with
labor-saving machinery, and especially is
this the case in regard to Mowers and
lteapers. All admit that cradling and
mowing is hard work, and must be done
at a timo when tho heat is oppressive ;
and when it is often difficult to obtain
the necessary help to take off the bar
vest. Our farmers are beginning to wake
up to their true interests, and during the
last three years many have purchased
Mowers and Headers, Patent Hay Rakes,
Forks, &c.
When mon aro about to expend a con
siderable amount of money they are apt
to ask themselves the question " Will it
pay ?" and more especially should this
be the casein purchasing Agricultural
Machinery. It is of vital importance to
the farmer to know that the machinery
which he is about to purchase is such as
will perforin the work for which it is de
signed.
A knowledge of these facts led to the
challenge and its acceptance by the gen»
tlemen acting as agents for the sale of
machines in this county. At tho trial
referred to, the following machines were
entered : The ''Excelsior," manufactur
ed by Brown, Seiborling&Co., Massilon,
I Ohio, J. Knox, General Agent, and 11.
B. Weiz, General Agent for Butler coun
ty, and J. G. & Wm. Campbell, Local
Agents.
Tho " World," jr., manufactured by
Ball Manufacturing Company, Canton,
0., J. Knox tho general agent; and the
Aetna by the same gontlemanjthc Buckeye
sr. and jr., manufactured by C. Aultman
& Co., Canton, Ohio, represented respec
tively by Lewis Reed, of Zelienople, J.
G. fi Wm. Campbell, of Butljr, and I.
T. K'nk, of New castle, general agent for
Lawrence county. The " Champion,'
manufactured by Whitely, Fassler &
Kelly, Springfield, Ohio, by Beckman &
Long, of Pittsburgh; the "Union,"
manufactured by John Hall &Co., repre
sented by the manufacturers aud Wilson
Weckbocker & Co., agents for Butler
county, and the " Iron City," manufac
tured at tho Iron City Agricultural
Works, Pittsburgh, by Wilson & Co.
After tho different machines had arriv.
cd on tho ground, it was arranged that
each party having a machine should choose
one man as a committee, which was done
with the exception of the Buckeye; there
being two of these, tho Junior and Se
nior, it was decided they should have
but eue of a committee : there was, there
fore, one less in number of committee
men than machines. The following per
sons were selected as a committco, viz :
J. N. Dehaven, Michael Emerick, Wm.
Albert, J. J. West, Silas Pcarcc aud H.
Shaffer. The ground was staked off by
the committe, and the different machines
allotted to their respective places, ac
cording to numbers which they had pre*
viously drawn after arriving on the
ground.
Some hundreds of persons were pres
ent to witness the contest Several per*
son 3 were present from Pittsburgh, among
whom we noticed Gen. J. S. Negley,
Judge Park, W. Knox, Esq., 11. B. Long,
Thomas Hall, J. T. F. Wright, Editor
and Proprietor of tho National Ayricul
turist. Jas. Brown, Esq., of Mas.iilon,
Ohio, was also present. Everything be
ing arranged as well as time and circum*
stances would admit, the different mi
chines commenced operations. The crowd
were so anxious to witness the test that
they pressed up after the different ma
chines, closely inspecting the operation,
and a looker on would naturally have
concluded that the large assembly had
resolved themselves into a committee of
the wholo, in order to pass judgment up
on the operations.
In fact tho crowd was so thoughtless as
I to tramp the unuiown grass in each al-
I lotmcnt into such disorder as not to ad-
I mit of a fair test being made, even in the
mowing.and the machines ail working at
the same time, on different plots of ground,
it was impossible for the committee, as a
body, to witness the action of each ma*
chine, and examino the mowing as it pro~
grepsed. It was impossible for the com
mittee, under the circumstances, to test
the different machines as to starting,
backing, raising aud lowering tha cutting
bars, throwing in and out of gear, fold
ing for transportation, &e. After this
the machines were taken to another part
of the meadow to be tested as to draft
with the Dynamometer. According to
previous arrangements, the Champion
was tho first tried, and the judges pro
nounced the draft to be 175 pounds,
cutting ban four feet feur inches. The
Union was tho next in order, and the
judges-reported the draft 260 pounds,
length of cutting bar four feet six inches.
The World's Mower was next: the team
was fractious, and in the trial tho Dyna
mometer was broken—no repoit of draft.
The Excelsior junior and senior were
tried by another Dynamometer, and tho
draft decided to be 200 for the junio r
and 250 for the senior.
The Dynamometer selected for testing
tho draft being broken, the owners and
representatives of the mowers thus far
tested would not agree to having the oth
er machines tested with a different l)yn%
amometer. This circumstance, and the
afternoon being far spent, brought the
trial to a close. Only one half of the
machines being tested as to draft, and
that only partially. The inequalities of
tbo grouud, and the difference in the
weight and condition of the grass being
such as tj utterly preclude the possibility
for tho committee to make a decided re
port in favor of any particular machine.
We gave the report of the committee
in last weeks CITIZEN. Tho different
mowers, so far as our observation went,
appeared to work well. We agree with
the committee, that the trial was not suf
ficicnt to thoroughly test any of the Ma<
chines on exhibition. The ground and
grass were not suitable, and tho time was
too short, and without casting any reflec
tions upon the committee, the arrange*
ments for the test wore not in keeping
with the object in view. We think that it
would be well to mako the proper ar
rangements for a thorouglUe3t iu 1868. If
it should be so desired, wo will have
something to say upon this subject at a
future time.
Urn. Slierniiui on tlic Indians.
General Sberuiau writes to a Senatgr
pretty emphatically on the Indian ques*
tion. In tho course of his letter he says:
'■ I trust Congress will prescribe clearly
what the military ought to do, and to say
who shall declare war against any aud
what Indians. This should not be left
an open question."
Revenue Stamp*.
WASHINGTON, Ju'Y 9, 1867.
It is reportod that persons in vari
ous parts of the country aro engaged
in collecting cancelled revenue stamps
and preparing thein for further use by
removing the cancelling marks, re
gumming, &c., &c. These collections
are made, to a great extent, from
among the waste paper of banks, bank
ers and brokers. Checks, drafts,
&c., when they Lave ceased to be val
uable as instrument of evidence, and
especially bills or memoranda of sales
or tho contract for sales of stock,
bonds, gold or silver bullion, coin,
promissory notes, are generally
cast aside with tho cancelled stamps
attached, and thus the stamps fall in
to the hands of those who seek them
for fraudulent purposes.
Bankers, brokers, and all others arp
respectfully requested to destroy
their revenue stamps after they have
been used and have ceased to be of
value to them, or to mako such other
disposition of them as shall effectually
prevent their restoration and re-use.
Bank Examiners also aro lequested
to call the attention of Bankers to
the gross frauds that are practiced
upon the public revenue in this way,
and to urge a co-operation with the
Revenue Officers in the suppression
of them; and all Internal Revenue
Officers arc hereby directed and on
joined to give this matter their at
tention, to acquaint all persons who
use Btamps wish the true purposes
for which they are collecting after
having been once used, and to urge
such disposal of cancelled stamps as
shall protect the United States from
loss.
The fact that a person is collecting
such stamps is sufficient to arouse
strong suspicions and to call for im
mediate investigation; while the pos
session of washed, restored, or altered
stamps is prima facie evidence of
guilt.
No pains should be spared toeffect
the detectioa of the guilty parties
and to ensure their punishment as
provided in section 155 of the Inter
nal Revenue Act.
E. A. ROLLINS,
Commissioner.
More liood Testimony.
A few days#incc we published an ab
stract from a Supreme Court decision highly
c iinpliincntary to tlio judicial character of
lion. IIEXBV W. WILLIAMS, our candidate
fur the Supremo Judgeship, and from a
mass uf equally c unpliiueuiary testimony,
we publish the following extract from tlie
Isgal Juurnal of this city, of August Ist,
18d7, while that paper was in the editorial
charge of JOHN W. BAILEY, Esq., of the
Allegheny liar, a gentleman of one lejtal
attainment*, then aud now a prominent
Democrat,
'l'he Journal in tlint issue commenced the
publication of a series of what the editor
styled " the able opinions delivered by the
Judges of our District Court,"in the con
fidence that they would "prove fully as ac
ceptable to the profession eg decisions of
the Supreme Bench, and that they will af
ford additional assurance of the high judi
cial capacity of the eminent gentlemau who
compose that Court."
Alter a generous recognition of the ability
of Judge HAMPTON, the editor savs :
"Judge Willams furacool,
calm, unwearying earnestness, u stern deter
mination to see that right and justice are
done ; a clear, well balanced judgment in
determining between conflicting reasons,
and great energy in enforcing his views of
tho law upon the jury. Both manifest the
most untiring devotion to the arduous duties
of their position, and as eminent courtesy
and conciliatory demeanor towards tho bar,
and at the same time strictly maintain the i
dignity of the Court. Allejihony county has I
reason to be proud of such Judges, and it is i
certain that no county in this State, if in any j
other State, can present a judiciary better
qualified by oharacter, learning, ability and
integrity for a faithful and capable discharge
of its responsible and honorable functions.-'
—l' M*. Conmarcihl.
(tommuuication-s.
FOR TUB CITISBH.
MR. EDITOR. —Sines others deem it
a privilege to boast of their pleasures and
leastings 011 the glorious Fourth, allow
us to speak through the columns of your
excellent paper of the entertainment and
delight wo enjoyed on that day.
The plaoe selected by us to pass that
evening in was our own pleasant borough,
viz, Sunbury. After passing the day
very pleasantly at North Washington, at
a Picnic given by the ladies of that
placo and vicinity, we left for Sunbury.
An hour's moderate driving found us in
front of the Inn, where supper had been
ordtied. Our trip had been a pleasant
one, a fall of rain having cleared the
roads of dust, adding greatly to its pleaa>
ure. But when we were about to enter
the house, we were not a little surprised
to find all the boys in town en masse,
blockading the door. With considerable
difficulty we made our way inside the
house, found a room, and had not long
to wait until our cars were greeted by
the ringing of the supper bell. For the
time all was anxiety, and a few moments
more found us on our way to see and
partake of, as we supposed, a grand sup
per. In this we were slightly disap
pointed, but would havo said very little
if those who did not feel disposed to pay
two dollars for a treat , had kept silent,
but they have the impudence to inquire
hoW long since the parent turkey of
which you partook, weaned uor brood ?
Suppose she did raise a family ? the
calling is honorable ; and if the -Ith had
not come until winter, and she had been
well fed, she would havo mado a very
good roast ; and we feel confident that a
few months could not have made any dif
ference in the quality of her flesh. If
the table was liberally supplied with
green currants, they are not a costly
luxury at this season of the year, and,
under certain circumstances, a dish of
them would uot be amiss. If the table
was scantily supplied with canned
peaches, (there just being enough to sup
ply four couples,) you are all aware the
peach crop about Sunbury was a failure
lost year, aud to have purchased another
can would have greatly reduced the net
profits of supper. If the cream did
ferment before it was brought to the
table, their .dairy may be none of the
best. Soma say that there was not
enough of large spoons; suppose that to
be the case, the dessert did not sufTer in
consequence. The only reason wa can
assign for certain individuals belonging
to the party being craved " Two and
a quarter," before they had their teoth
picked, is this: the generous landlord
was afraid they would forget to settlo
their bills before leaving, judging others
by himself. We can easily account for
so many boys standing about the doors
and gazing in at the windows. They do
not of'ton see persons from a distance,
and also wished to be about when the
several baskets of fragments of the sup
per were gathered.
Hut not wishing to be tedious," and
hoping that, in the future, rur neighbor
will have his suppers to correspond with
those we have partaken of in other
places, we close.
SEVERAL OF. THE PARTY.
Kor the American Citixen.
MR. EDITOR. —The 4th of July, 1867,
is now numbered with the past. The
Sunday School of the M. E. Church, of
Centrcville, had their festivities in the
church, which was tastefully decorated
for the occasion, with flowers and ever
greens. The tables were loaded with all
the luxuries that could be desired, in tffe
shape of cakes, of all kinds, pies, straw
berries, &c.
AtlOj o'clock, the services commenced
by singing and prayer, led by the Su
perintendent, Mr. Crill. Appropriate
addresses were delivered by Messrs.
M'Creary and Wick. All present were
then served with the good things provi
ded. The committee of arrangements
performed their duties admirably. All
were served with eatables and lemonade.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
house was crowded,the affair passed off in
the most perfect order.
The ladies who were present, both old
and young, showed that they were at
home in getting up such treats. The
blacd smiles and graceful movements of
the ladies, and the laughing faces of the
children, as the rich dainties were dis
tributed, give ample evidence that all
present, if living, will welcome the return
of anoiher independence day. After a
short time spent in feasting, the audi
ence separated, all apparently well
pleased. Yours, &c., P.
—Nearly all Europe professes to be
overwhelmed with grief aud indignation
at the death of the man Maximilian, and
the disposition to accuse the United
States of not doing what we could to save
him is general. One who reads theso
things is necessarily reminded that Max
imilian's appearance in Mexico was pur.
suant to the programme which contem
plated the overthrow of the Government
of the United States, and very much, too,
through the assistance of some, and the
sympathy of nearly all, these samo Eu
ropean countries. We appealed to them
to withhold that assistance and sympathy,
but in vain. Nevertheless we triumph*
ed, and were able to forbid the longer
continuance of the occupation of Mexi
co We do not believe our Government
failed to do what it properly could in the
interest-of humanity in behalf of Max
imilian ; but in the light of recent his
tory, how could these overwhelmed Eu<
ropcan States reproach us if we raised
but a finger to save the uuhappy Prince? !
XLTII COXUKKSN.
THE VETO MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON. July 19, 1807. —Tb»
principal feature of to-days Congressional
procsedings was the reception of the
President's veto message of tho supple
mental reconstruction bill. It was con.
sidered in the regular cabinet meeting
today, and sent to the House, the body
in which the bill originated, about 2 p. M.
It is asserted on excellent authority that
an elaboration of the Presidential views
on the Sonther debt question was out off
the message at the cabinet meeting. Th«
reading of the document was listened to
throughout with close attention, every
member being in his seat. No demon
strations of assent or dissent were made,
but a severe onslaught followed its read
ing. Thad. Stevens took the floor in de
nunciation of it, and was succeeded bj
Mr. Houtwell, who proceeded in an earn
est and exoited manner to state that the
Pre ident had defiantly declared in the
message that be would not exeoute a law
of Congress, despite tho faot that Con
gress would make the bill to which the>
President objected tho supreme law of
the land. This was sufficient, he said,
oven if no other reason existed, why this
House should continue in Bession, aud
proceed at once to impeach the President.
Mr. Uoutwell proceeded in this strain,
and insisted that if the President were
removed for but an hour before his term
of office expired, that Congress and tho
nation would be vindicated.
The njpssage and lioutwell's excited
manner of speaking caused considerable
excitement on both sides of the hall. As
he sat down, Mr. llandall, of Pa.,sprang,
out of his scat on the Democratic side,
and pointing bis finger at Mr. Routwcll,
said :
" We dare you to impeach the Presi
dent. Goon and do it if you dare."
Mr. Butler then took the floor, and
said the remaik of Mr. Randall would
apply, he was afraid, to some members of
the Republican side, who dared not pro
ceed with the work of impeachment. Ho
(Butler) was not among that number,
and went on then to answer the Presi
dent's objections to the bill.
Mr. Williams, of Pa., followed in tha
same strain, demanding that Congress
should remain in session, and declaring
that there was abundant evidence for im
peachment.
Thad. Stevens then resumed the floor.
All of the members gathered around bim,
and the crowdee galleries listened atten
tively. He looked, he said, upon the
impeachment matter as dead, aud be
hoved that there wero invisible influences
at work in the House which would pre
vent impeachment.
Mr. Wilson, of lowa, Chairn.an of tho
Judiciary Committee, then took tho floor,
and alluding to the remarks of Mr. Wil
liams and Mr. Stevens, said that he wtts
not to be drawn from the conscientious
discharge of his duty, although the polit
ical opponent of Andrew Johnson, by no
man or set of men. [A round of applause
greeted tho sentiment.] Nor was ho to
be bunted down because he choose tj
entertain his own opinion about impcaoh
ment.
The Democrats oocupied ten minutes
of the hour's debate; the voto was then
taken, and the bill passed over the Pres
ident's voto, by a party vote.
It was then sent to the Senate, where,
to the surprise of many, the bill was
passed over the veto without any debate,
the moment the message was read, by
thirty to six. Reverdy Johnson voted to
sustain the veto.
ANOTHER VETO.
As soon as the House disposed of 000
veto, another came in, refusing Presiden
tial approval to the Appropriation bill to
carry oat the Reconstruction act. This
was speedily passed over the vet] in both
houses without debate.
ADJOURNMENT TILI, DECEMBER.
Tho Senate then agreed to adjourn
from to-morrow until Novjmbe* next,aod
it is generally undeistood to-night that
the House will acquiesce. Mr. Sumner,
however, insisted that the President
should be impeached at once, or that
Congress should continuo in perpetual
session.
Npt-ukcr C'dlfax.
WASHINGTON, July 21.—3peakcr Col
fax, in the course of a speech in reply to
a serenade last night, said : " The peo
ple, surprised at the decision of the Pres
ident aod Attorney General, appealed to
Congress, in which they placed such de
served confidence, to reassemble, and
from Maine to California they came
hither to resume their legislative author
ity, and so declared the meaning of their
legislation that no legal sophistries of any
Attorney General could mystify it Ve
toed again they repassed it by a vote of
four to one, and it has gone on the statute
book as one of the laws which the Presi
dent, by his Constitution, must take caro
to have faithfully executed. Some, I
knew, condemn Congress for having done
too much in its past legislation, and some
for having done too little ; but I think it
has struck tho golden means, firm and yet
prudent, courageous without undue ex
citement, inflexible and yet wise. Tho
President in his veto denounces this
military despotism, as he calis it, and de
clares Congress has subjected the Soutlk,
to a tyranny most intolerable. We have
heard these charges of military despotism,
before, during tbe war, from the party.'
which so bitterly opposed his election
three years ago. Every act tending to
strengthen tha government, such aa tho
suspension of tho habeus corpus, trials by
court martial, &o , was denounced as a
military despotism ; but the people ren
dered their verdiot and it could not be
reversed. lustead of tyranny, tho key-».
note of Congressional policy is protection
to all, and the vindication and triumph
of loyalty; and, God keeping us, wc shall
stand by it until it is crowned with tfw
umph."
—On Wednesday a woman was
around begging in the streets of New
York with u dead infant in her arms.
The poor creature stated that she
was delivered of her babe on Thurs
day morning, acd the child died soon
after. She was begging in order ta
procure money to defray the burial
expenses.