Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 18 February 1869 — Page 4

THE JOURNAL.

I

H. B. McCAIN and J. T. TALBOT. Editors

Crawfordsvllle, Ind.» Feb. 18.

Look at the Yellow I*»bcl. Each Mail Subscriber to the

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The meaning of the figures at the

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Journal Office, January 7, ISM).

printed

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THE SITUATION.

Gen. Graiit has at last been officially notified of his election to the office of President of the United States. The fourth of March is not far distant in the future. A new Administration will then enter upon the work •which has been built up and torn down and then rebuilt, but which has "been slowly progressing nevertheless, since the surrender of Lee's army.

The situation at present is not so manifestly the best that could have been reached, as to leave no room for doubt in regard to the expediency of the measures adopted, or for speculations as to what would have been the result if another course had been pursued. But, such as it is, it must be accepted. It must be confessed that the reconstruction of the South has not yet been secured, but the difficulties of the questions involved have been great, and it is not wonderful that mistakes have been made. Congress, laboring under the full assurance that it was carrying out the will of the people, has been slowly and cautiously shaping its counsels so as to secure to the country a per manent peace on the basis of the principles that triumphed in the war. The enfranchisement of the blacks of the South became a necessity before even the whites of the North had •come under the influence of the great moral revolution which has been raging for the past six years. It is too late now to argue the question, whether it would not have been wise to accompany this enfranchisement with a complete restoration of rebel whites to the privileges of citizens. Rebels have no reason to complain, and the logic of events is now last compelling *an occupation of the platform of universal amnesty and impartial suffrage.

The reconstruction of the South, in other respects, will soon be accomplished by individual interests. Twelve millions of American citizens will not starve themselves merely because one-third of them are black.

Complaints have been made that nothing is being done in Congress now. What is there to be done? The country is now Suffering from nothing more than from the plunderings of its officials. The work of unearthing these frauds has been steadily carried on during the present ses sion of Congress. Swindling operations have been discovered and exposed, such as would startle the country if the evil were not so wide spread and the people already so familiar with corruptions. But the question is how to prevent them. All legislation in regard to financial matters, conversion of bonds and specie payments, will be useless until some measures are adopted by which the leaks in the public treasury can be stopped. And it is here that expectations of the results from Grant's administration are liable to run too high. Neither Grant nor Congress can make men honest, and human judgement is liable to err so that it is probable that thieves will still infest the treasury. But there is room for improvement, and it is gratifying to see that members of both parties are anxiously looking for some means whereby official stations shall be purified.

As to the action of Congress in reference to a Constitutional amendment regulating suffrage in the States, it is but fair to say that the movement is opposed by a respectable minority, not wholly governed by prejudice, but which yet has a major share of the ignorance of the several States on its side. The movement

will be supported among the older States, where education reaches the greatest number, and among the newer States, where individual enterprise most predominates. And whatever doubts may exist as to the expediency of such an amendment, the hope of forever settling the question of caste and color in politics will be one great argument in its favor.

Beyond the settlement of these questions Congress has little to do but make the necessary appropriations for carrying on the government, and to give moderate and healthy encouragement to the various systems of public improvements now under way." Economy and retrenchment are demanded in making these provisions, and we see some, though not sufficient, indications of a regard for this want in the provisions already made.

Such is the situation as the time of Andy Johnson's political death approaches. While there is no reason for despondency, there is danger that too much will be expected during the next four years.

Editorial Notes from the Capital. Business has been quite brisk during the past week, and considerable work has been accomplished. The Legislative wheels are beginning to roll smoothly, and it may be possible that a slow beginning will result in a good ending. Bills have been introduced to provide for a Reformatory Institution for girls and women to increase the compensation of school directors to provide for the publication of all legal notices now authorized by law, including the delinquent tax list, in two papers of the county, representing two political parties to increase the fees of County Commissioners from $3 to $4 per day to fix the legal rate of interest at 7 per cent., and many others which will come up again, and of which I shall have oceasion to speakjhereafter.

I# JUDGES' SALARIES. The House has refused to order the bill increasing the salaries of Common Pleas Judges from 81,500 to $2,000. This kills the measure. Neither the Supreme, Circuit nor Common Pleas Judges will have their salaries increased.

JUDGE COWAN'S CIRCUIT.

Mr. Johnson, of Parke, introduced :i bill in the House last week adding the counties of Vermillion and Parke to Judge Cowan's Circuit. What the prospects are for the change I am at present unable to state. The Committee has returned the bill with recommendations that it pass.

SPRING BALANCES

Are likely to come to an untimely end. A bill has passed to its third reading in the House prohibiting their use entirely. Butchers and fish venders may as well begin to dispose of their balances. S.

TIIE EDUCATION OF COLORED CHILDREN.

A bill has passed to its third reading providing for the education of the colored children of the State. Its provisions, in all respects, are similar to the present school law, or rather the provisions of the present school law are extended to colored children, with the exception that the enumeration is taken on separate lists, and that they will be taught in separate schools. The bill will become a law.

THE ELECTION LAW.1

1

A material change will be made in our election law. The bill, as before the House now, provides that all State, county and township elections shall be held biennially, and at the same time. If the bill becomes a law in its present shape there will be no election of any kind, except municipal, held in the State until October, 1870. It provides that those whose terms of office expire before that time shall be filled as now required by law to fill vacancies, viz: by appointment and incumbent holding until successor is elected.

THE REGISTRY LAW.

The people having become pretty well satisfied that the Registry Law is

an enormous expense to the State, and does not meet the ends for which it was intended, will be glad to learn that it will in effect be repealed, though it will go through a process of amendments. Twenty-two sections will be repealed It will be amended so that the inspector shall place upon each elector's ticket, as it is voted, the number to correspond with the number set opposite his name on the poll book.

A SWEEPING MEASURE.

In the Senate last week a bill was introduced which was quite sweeping and comprehensive in its character, and consequently very important. The bill provides for an extended and improved system of education in the State, by increasing and securing the endowment of the State University at Bloomington endowing a law school and law library therein, by ap propriating thereto any net revenues that may arise from the State Prisons providing free tuition in said University establishing and endowing at Indianapolis a medical department of said University providing $5,000 for contingent expenses connected therewith, ana for the sale of University Square in Indianapolis declaring the State Normal School at Terre Haute a branch of the State Univer sity, and appropriating $75,000 for the benefit thereof, and accepting certain donations from the Commissioners of Tippecanoe county, and establishing an Agricultural College, in connection with the State University, at Battle Ground, and providing for other matters pertaining to this subject When it is remembered that Judge Hughes is the author of this proposition, it can be fathomed at once. His object is to build up Bloomington at the expense of the State, and in order to make fnends of his measure he couples the Normal School at Terre Haute, the location of the Agricultural College at Battle Ground, and a Medical Department at Indianapolis with it, thereby securing the influence of the members from each of these localities. The measure is meeting with considerable favor, and may become a law, though not without a big fight against it.

GERMAN IN OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.

A bill is now pending in the House proposing an amendment to the Common School Law, so that where the parents or guardians of twenty-live scholars of the district demand it, the trustees shall provide for the teaching of the German language therein, free of cost. The measure was got up by the Democrats for "buncombc.'' The law already provides for the teaching of other languages besides the English in our common schools, provided the majority of the district desire it. But the Democrats wanted something to "coo and bill" the Germans with. The gun will be spiked by Republicans who will generally vote for the bill, though in fact it is useless.

THE GRAVEL ROAD LAW

Will receive material amendments. The objectionable features will be stricken out.

A STATE GEOLOGIST.

A bill is pending in the House creating the office of State Geologist and appropriating 05,000 for a geological survey of the State In view of the hidden wealth of the State this is an important step toward its development. Indiana is far behind her sister States in this respect, in consequence of which much capital and labor have been lost.

T. H. B. Mca

COSOBESSIOHAL.

On Wednesday of last week, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, passed the bill to allow to deputy collectors and assistant assessors of internal revenue the pay of collectors and assessors when they perform the duties of those officers, in cases where there is no collector or assessor, also to be paid.

This was the day for counting the electoral rotes for President and Vice President.

the House, and Mr. Wade occupied the chair. A large crowd had assembled to witness the ceremony. The counting proceeded quietly, Mr. Pruyn, the Democratic teller, being permitted to call the votes given to Seymour, until the votes of fifteen States had been announced. Then came Louisiana. Mr. Mullins, of Tennessee, objected to the counting of the vote, and was immediately called to order by a dozen different members. The point of order was not sustained, and Mr. Wade directed the Senate to retire to its own chamber, that the two Houses might vote separately on the question of receiving the vote of Louisiana. In haif an hour both Houses had decided, by large majorities, that the vote should be counted.

The counting then proceeded with out interruption until the presiding officer handed to the lellers the vote of Georgia. Ben. Butler immediately sprang to his feet and asked for the reading of the certificate. The certificate showed that the electors had met on the 9th of December instead of the 2nd. Butler was prepar ed, and immediately sent his written objection to the presiding officer. This was the first indication that the joint rule previously adopted in reference to the vote of the State of Georgia would not be regarded.

The scene of excitement that followed the statement of Butler's objection was like those of the good old times when the Rhetts, Toombs, Wig falls, and men of that class used to flourish in Congress. Butler pulled up his sleeves and assumed the defiant air of a confident pugilist. Friends and opponents gathered about him, and in the attempts of so piany to speak at once, there ensued a perfect Babel of confusion. Ben. Wade, at first firm in his determination to hold the two Houses to the joint rule framed especially for the occasion, at last wavered and directed the Senate again to retire, that the question of the admission of the vote of Geor gia might be decided. The Senate resolved to adhere to the rule and count the vote. In the house, however, it was resolved to disregard the joint rule. The Senate again return ed to the Hall of the House, and Mr. Wade directed the tellers to proceed with their counting. Butler renewed his attack and the excitement again ran high. All efforts of the presiding officer to have the counting continued were vain, and it was not until Speaker Colfax, for the first time taking anj^ part in the proceedings, arose from his seat and directed the Ser-gcant-at-arms to arrest any member who should refuse to obey the order of the Convention, that the result could be announced.

Yfter the announcement of the result the Senate retired. But Butler was not ready to succumb yet, and offered the following resolution

Resolved. That the House protests, that the counting of the vote of Georgia, by order of the Vice President, pro tern, was a jrross act of oppression and an invasion of the rights and privileges of the Ho»se.

The debate on this resolution was exciting and continued till Friday evening. By that time Butler had become convinced that defeat was certain, and he had substituted for the offensive resolution one much milder in character. The feeling of the House, however, was manifested by the tabling of the whole thing by a vote of 130 to 55.

Little else was done in either House last week. Most of the time was taken up with the discussion of the Banking and Currency Bills.

On Monday the House, by a vote of 32 yeas to 137 nays, refused to concur in the Senate substitute in the joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, and a Conference Committee was ordered.

The various Appropriation. Bills are still ander discussion.

THE Republicans of the Eighth Congressional District have nominated J. N. Tyner to fill the vacancy in the House, occasioned by the elec-

Tlic Senate repaired to{ tiom of Pratt to the U. S. Senate.

INDIANA NEWS.

A Clinton county ox weighs 1,880 pounds. Boonville has a "Lazy Society." Everybody belongs to it.

LaFayette wants a mammoth h»tel. Foxes .are killing off the poultry in Floyd county.

Bedford is roaring for a brick manufactory. Only eighty persons have applied for divorces at the February term of the Common Pleas Court of Allen county.

A farmer in Jennings county raised five thousand pounds of tobacco on eight acres of ground.

An enterprising photographer of Indianapolis is about to make an independent fortune by photographing the entire Legislature.

The small-pox rage has nearly ceased in Evansville. No case has yet proved fatal. "How's your measle is the prevalent form of salutation at Indianapolis.

Trade in horses, mules and beef cattle is very active in Putnam county.

It is said that several Indianapolis photographers have ruined

f.heir

cam­

eras trying to photograph the Legislators. Q&ack doctors are being expelled from Fountain county by a long suffering but at last, indignant people.

The New Albany Commercial blows about an honest girl in that city, who found a watch and didn't try to steal it.

The matrimonial market, all over the State, is very dull, but the divorce mills are running on full time, and doing a splendid business.

An oak tree near Anderson, which was cut down the other day, measured seven feet and three inches in diameter, and made 1,110 rails, eleven feet long. The first limbs were fiftyfour feet from the ground.

Four New Albany girls advertised in an Eastern depository, of slip-shod trash, for correspondence. The New Albany postmaster has received about a bushel of letters for them which he refuses to deliver.

The Greencastle nail works turned out 80,000 kegs of nails during the past nine months.—-Ex.

The Terre Haute nail works turn out more than 6,000 kegs every four weeks.—Express.

Barney Barnum, of Jennings county, has fallen heir to an estate from relatives in Germany, to the amount of two and one-seventh millions of dollars. That will be a good thing for Barney—when he gets it.

Theodore Carwin, conductor of an accommodation train on the Fort Wayne and Western Railway, was shot and badly wounded last week by an unknown man whom he ordered out of a box car while the train was standing on the track at Peru.

Twenty eight thousand, two hundred and* forty-nine and one-half barrels of beer and ale were manufactured in Indianapolis last ycar.

The distillery of S. J. Sayler, at Shelbyville, manufactured last month 34,210 gallons of whisky, employing in the production thereof 11,925 bushels of grain.

Five wholesale drug houses of Indianapolis, sold one million and eighty-four thousand dollars worth of goods last year.

The Law Department of the State University lately graduated twelve twigs of the law.

Michael Muxill, an employee in the woolen mills of Brownsburg, on the I. C. D. Railroad, was killed a short time ago, his clothes having caught on a revolving shaft which carried him round with it for half an hour or more, crushing his body to peices

The Indianapolis Commercial says: "A very large spring trade is anticipated. The country is full of grain and there will, be a good demand for it at mod irate prices, and as soon as farmers see that the prospect is good for the next crop they will sell at ruling prices for if prices do not go up before harvest, they can not be expected to be as good afterwards. Ttiere are good grounds, therefore, for a belief in a good business this spring.

The young ladies of Dover, in Wayne county, have joined a society, pledging themselves not to receive the attentions of any young man who uses liquor, tobacco, or indulges in profane language. Said young ladies are now singing, "I'm lonely to-night, love, without you."

The trial of Mrs. Clem has been resumed in the Criminal Court of Marion Couniy. The jury was selected from a large panel, and it was with great difficulty that one could de obtained. Altogether, one hundred and thirty-two personn were called as jurors. Mr. Fishback opened for the State..