Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1878 — NEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

FOREIGN NEWS Queen Mercedes, of Spain, is so ill that her condition causea much anxiety. St. Petersburg advices are to the effect that the Iluaeiaxs are greatly annoyed at the agreement of the congress that the Turks may garrison the Balkan passes. In Bt. Petersburg Hchouvaloff is seriously blamed for the abandonment of some of the important fruits of the war. A Berlin correspondent of the London Twits says : <r ßoaconsfield informed Bismarck with extraordinary energy that on the question of fortifying the Balkan passes and garrisoning them with Turks England would not hesitate a moment, and that he would quit Berlin if her demands were unsatisfactory.” DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. East. The extensive pork-packing establishment of Charles 11. North A Co., near Boston, has been destroyed by tire. Loss about #750,000. Hon. T. J. Quinn, Member of Con.•gress from the Albany (N. Y.) District, is dead. William Vermilye, founder of the banking house of Vermilye A Co., New York, is dead. An expedition for the recovery of the relics of Si>- John Franklin sailed from New York the other day. The celebration of the privations borne Iby Revolutionary patriots at Valley Forge was held near Norristown, Pa., on the 19th of June. Moses A. Wlieeloek, who has been widely known for more than twenty years ae President of the New York Stock Exchange, committed soicklc, the other day, by shooting himeoif in the head. West. Advices from the West report that Gen. Howard, at the head of a well-organized force, had commenced a forward movement against tho hostile Indians in Idaho. The latter number about 700, including Bannocks, Nez Purees, Shoshones and Piutes. Akron, Ohio, has had a destructive fire. The Academy of Musio building and several stores were burned, involving a loss of about .#150,000. Gen. Harrison will at once institute suit for damages against the Ohio and Miami Medical Colleges at Cincinnati, and the Ann Arbor Collego, Michigan, in #IO,OOO each, for tho parts taken in rosurrecting the bodies of J. Bcott Harrison, his father, and his friend, young Devin.

George Sherry and Jeremiah Connolly were hanged at Chicago on the 21st of June for the murder of Hugh McConville, in January last. On the «ame day Perry Bowsher was executed at Chillicotho, Ohio, for the murder of an old man and woman named McVey, and Charles Barns was hanged at Paris, 111., for tho murder of Elijah Birdwell, in October 1 ast. About 200 tramps boarded a freight train on the Wabash road, at Jacksonville, 111., on Juno 21, saying they intended to ride, as they had had all the walking they wanted. Every possible device was employed to get them off of the traiu, but to no purpose. The tramps wore determined to stay. The railroad employes were entirely too few to cope with ■ this mob. The consequence was that the tramps stayed on the traiu until it reached Quincy, when they got off and scattered throughout the city, a number of them being arrested during the night by the police. The region about Quincy is reported to bo swarmiug with tramps, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Wabash tracks are reported by passengers to bo lined with them for miles. The people of Rockford, 111., were recently treated to a dose of “ supposititious ” journalism after tho style affected by sensational papers. They were intensely agitated by the publication in a local sheet of an atrocious hoax, iu which the most fearful possibilities of a general Communistic uprising throughout America were served up as actual occurrences.

Bouth. Two men who were in custody on the charge of having outraged the person of Mrs. Graves, living near Mitchell, Tenn., on the 16th of May last, were taken from jail last week and lynched by a large body of armed men. Edward H. Castley was executed at Frederick, Md., June 21, for the murder of his cousin, Solomon Castley, in April, 1877. Jacob Levels (colored) was hanged the same day at Little liock, Ark. From accounts received by way of Galveston it appears that Gen. Mackenzie carried mattors with a high hand in his recent expedition into Mexico at the head of a column of United States troops. He was confronted by a Mexican detachment of inferior numbers, about forty-five miles from the border, commanded by Col. Valdez, the latter under orders to ropel the invasion; but he was informed that he must get his Mexicans out of the way within a certain time or they would be fired upon. The Mexicans, not being strong enough to resist, avoided a collision, and the *"•/ all their own way. The expedition is reportod to have oeeu »._u. less so far as the making of captures was concorned. POLITICAL. The Maine Democratic Convention was held at Portland on the 18th of June. Alonzo Garcelon was nominated for Governor. The platform condemns any further issue of Government bonds whereby equal taxation with other property of the country is avoided, favors the gradual substitution of greenbacks for national-bank bills, and approves of the investigation by Congress into the alleged Presi-dential-election frauds. The Republican State Convention of lowa was held at Des Moines on June 19. ExBenator Wright presided, and ex-Congressman James F. Wilson was Chairman of the Com..littee on Resolutions. J. A. T. Hull was nominated for Secretary of State, B. R. Sherman for Auditor, George W. Bemis for Treasurer, J. K. Powers for Register of the Land Office, J. J. McJunkin for Attorney General, J. H. Rotlirock for Supreme Judge, John S. Runnels for Supreme Court Reporter, E. J. Holmes for Clerk of the Supreme Court. The platform declares that: By tbe combined working of the National and State Governments under their respective constitutions, the rights of every citizen should be secured at home and protected abroad, and the common welfare promoted. Any failure on the part of either the National or State Governments to use every possible constitutional power to afford ample protection to their citizens, both at home and abroad, is a criminal neglect of their highest obligation. That It is not only the right but the duty of every good citizen, at the party caucuses, In the party conventions, and at the polls, to use his best efforts to secure the nomination and election of

good m#n to places of official trust, and we disapprove of all Interference with the perfect freedom of action of any citizen in file exercise of said right and in the discharge of said duty. The Vermont Democrats met in State Convention at Montpelier last week and nominated W. H. H. Bingham for Governor, Jerome W. Pierce for Lieutenant Governor, and George E. Boyce for Treasurer. The Workingmen’s party developed astonishing strength at the recent election in California for members of the Constitutional Convention. A Ban Francisco dispatch says the complexion of the convention as regards county delegates will be as follows: Non-Partisan, 52; Workingmen, 48 ; Republicans, 10 ; Democrats, 8. Full returns may vary the above to the extent of half a dozen. The city of Ban Francisco was carried by the Workingmen by a large majority. The Missouri Greenbaokers held their State Convention at Sedalia last week. A. L. Gilstrop was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court, Gireso Hayden for Railroad Commissioner, and J. M. Greenwood for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The platform demands tlifi repeal of the Specie Resumption act and the issue of absolute money in greenbacks equal to gold and silver, denounces the present system of convict labor, opposes the introduction of Chinese labor, and pronounces against strikes and all violent measures for the relief of labor. Mrs. Capt. Jenks, of New Orleans, was before the Potter committee on Saturday, June 22, to testify in regard to the Sherman letter. Her story in regard to the letter was this : Anderson was pressing Weber to obtain certain guarantees from Sherman, and Weber united with Anderson in writing a joint note to Sherman, a copy of which Anderson produced. This note, she declares, was handed to her sealed to deliver, and that, upon carrying it to a parlor in the St. Charles Hotel, where the visiting statesmen had their sessions, she opened it and became aware of its contents. She never delivered it according to directions, but upon reaching the parlor she dictated a reply to it at a side desk, inclosed it in an envelope after it was completed, directed it to Weber and Anderson, and carried it back and delivered it to Weber. She refused to state who wrote the letter at her dictation, but said that, after it was written, she picked it from the table, inclosed it, and delivered it to Weber. She declared that Sherman Knew nothing of the existence of the letter.

WASHINGTON. Orders have been issued by the Internal Revenue Bureau for the enlistment of a posse, to be employed in hunting down a number of crooked whisky-makors somewhero in the wilds of Alabama. Attorney General Devens, last week, sent to Congress an answer to the House resolution calling for a statement of the pardons issued since March 4, 1877. The whole number up to May 20 is 284. No copies of papers relative to the pardons are sent in as called for. Devens pleaded insufficient clerical force to copy them. It is said that more bills were passed during tho last week of Congress than during the entire session previous. There was a wedding at the White House last week, the contracting parties being Miss Platt, niece of the President, and Gen. Russell Hastings, of the army. About the same hour Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, a well-known journalist, was married at the Church of the Epiphany to Miss Davis, a reigning belle of Wa bington and a niece of Jeff Davis. Congress having refused to appropriate the money expended by the commission sent to Louisiana in tho spring of 1877 to arbitrate between the Packard and Nicholls Governments, ex-Gov. Brown, of Tennessee, one cf the Commissioners, sent to the Treasury Department the other day a draft for #827, that being his share of the bill. Secretary Sherman immediately returned the draft, with an expression of his belief that at the next session of Congress the appropriation will be made, and the assurance that if this belief is not verified the President will pay tho whole amount himself. The Stanley Matthews Senate committee held its first meeting in Washington on the 21st of Juno. James E. Anderson was the first witness summoned, but he positively refused to answer any questions. He told the committee that if Senator Matthews would go before the Potter committee and testify, he (Anderson) would answer any questions the Matthews committee might ask him but otherwise he would remain dumb as An oyster. In the absence of the Senate there being no power to punish a contumacious witness, the committee adjourned subject to the call of the Chairman. Associate Justice Miller, of the United States Supremo Court has undergone a surgical operation of lithotomy.

MISCELLANEOUS GLEANINGS. A dispatch from San Antonio says that “extraordinary excitement prevails at Piedras Negras, in Mexico, on account of the presence of Gen. Mackenzie on Mexican soil. The Mexicans are volunteering and organizing to fight him.” Grain in sight in the States and Canada: Wheat, 0,340,000 uuouvio, wiu, w,0v0,000 bushels ; oats, 9,208,000 bushels; rye, 521,000 busneis ; naiioy, 1,104,000 bushels. The scull race at Pittsburgh, Pa., last week, for the championship of the United States and a purse of $2,000, between Evan Morris, of Pittsburgh, and James Hanlan, of Canada, resulted in a victory for the Canadian by four lengths. Time, for the five miles, thir-ty-seven minutes. An immense crowd witnessed the contest. Senator Bruce, of Mississippi, was recently married in Cleveland, Ohio, and will travel in Europe with his bride. Ex-Gov. Brown, before leaving Washington, responded to the letter of Secretary Sherman returning the drafts forwarded to the department in payment of his (Brown’s) share of the Louisiana Commission expenses, again inclosing the draft, saying he feels constrained to do so from a sense of duty to himself and the parties liable for the amount expended.

PORT Y-FIFTH CONGRESS. Monday, Jane 17. —Senate.—After a brief discussion, but without amendment, the House bill to organize the Life-Saving Service was passed. It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a number of new stations on tbe sea and lake coasts, and provides for the appointment of a General Superintendent by the President, and of a District Superintendent ior the Gulf coast by the Secretary of the Treasury, etc.... A resolution was adopted authorizing the Committee on Educa*n<l Labor to inquire into the industrial condition of the country; the extent, nature, and causes of the depression of business and the enforced idleness of labor, and what remedies, if any, J* n .,.® P ro T^ ed by national legislation, and report by bi!l or otherwise.... The Senate had a long debate on the amendment to the Sundry Civil bill, appropriating $3,000 to defray the expenses of the commission Bent by the President to New Orleans to arbitrate between Nlcholls and Packard The amendment was tabled by a vote of 32 to 22. House.—A resolution was adopted authorizing a select committee to inquire Into the depressed condition of labor throughout the country and recom-

mend remediez there f0r.... The bill to amend the Internal Revenue laws wae passed after a long debate. Its principal provision is to reduce the tobacco tax to 16 cents per pound.... Mr. Harris, from the Committee on Elections, reported the Robertsen, of Louisiana, and Elam, of Louisiana (the sitting members in the contestedelection cases), are entitled to their seats, and that in the Alabama contested-election case of Haralson and Shelley additional testimony may be taken. The reportß were all agreed to. Mr. Harris also reported a resolution to pay the ten contestants and contestees SI,OOO each, and two others S6OO each in part for their expenses of the contest. Agreed t 0.... The contested-election case from South Carolina—Richardson vs. Rainey—was postponed till next session.... The House, after a long and animated debate, lasting till midnight, defeated the bill appropriating $5,500,000 to pay the award of the Halifax Fisheries Commission. The scene attending the defeat of this measure was one of the most violent in the history of the session. It was the intention of the managers of the bill to prevent debate. Mr. Butler discovered this, and became very demonstrative in his effortß to defy the authority of the House. He asked unanimous consent to speak, which was refused, violent objection being made from all parts of the hall. Mr. Butler insisted upon speaking, but bis voice was drowned in the tumult. The shouts from the Republican side were deafening, and quite drowned Mr. Butler’s voice. Turning around and facing tbe Republican side of the House, he defied them to stop him, and shook his head in a belligerent way. The Sergeant-at-Arms was finally sent to Mr. Butler, and remained standing by liton with orders to seat him until the tumult ended. ...Mr. Butler offered a resolution, which was adopted without a dissenting voice, requesting Jjhe Senate to instruct Hon. Stanley Matthews, a member of that body, to appear and testify biff ore the House Committee on Electoral Frauds. There was little debate on the resolution, and as little appearance of interest in it. Tuesday, June 18,—Senate. —Tbe Senate was engaged nearly all day On the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill. The amendments appropriating $5,50P,000 to pay the award of the Halifax Commission, and modifying the contract with James B. Eads for the improvement of the South pass of the Mississippi river, were adopted.... Mr. Paddock called up the House bill for the relief of settlers on public lands Passed.... In explanation of the bill Mr. paddock said it merely extended the provisions of the act of March 3, 1877, so as to allow settlers who had their crops injured by grasshoppers to leave their homesteads temporarily for the purpose of obtaining sustenance. House. —The House concurred in the Senate concurrent resolution declaring that the treaty with China, allowing unrestricted immigration to this country, should be modified, and calling the attention of tee President to the subject... .The Senate substitute for the House bill repealing the Resumption law was non-concurred in, for want of the necessary two-thirds majority—--140 to 105—so that the bill falls. ...The bill directing the Secretary of the Treasuiy to pay Southern mall contractors for services rendered prior to tho war was finally agreed to, with amendments providing that the claimants shall give a bond for the return of the money to the United Stateß in case it shall be discovered that the claims were paid by the Confederate States... .The Senate bill to modify the Eads jetty contract was passed.... Mr. To wnshend, of Illinois, moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill to repeal that section of the Resumption act which authorizes tho sale of United States bonds for purposes of resumption, and to provide that United States notes shall be receivable for duties on imports. Rejected—yeas, 114; nayß, 113— not the necessary two-thirds in the affirmative.... Mr. Pound moved to suspend the rules and pass the Benato bill extending for ten years the time to complete the Northern Pacific railroad. Defeated—yeas, 89; nays, 127.-.. .It was found necessary to prolong the session another day, and both houses agreed to a resolution extending the time for adjournment to Wednesday, 19th, at 6 p. m. Wednesday, June 19.— Senate.— Tbo Prosi dent pro tem. announced as the committee on the part of the Senate to consider the subject of reorganizing the army, Messrs. Burnside, Plumb and Butler. The President pro tem. also appointed Messrs. Oglesby, Saunders, and McCreery the committee on the part of the Senate to consider the subject of transferring the Indian Bureau from the Interior to the War Department.... There was considerable debate in executive session concerning the nominations of Reuben E. Fenton, William S. Groesbeck, and Francis A. Walker as Cmmissioners to represent the United States in the coming international conference on the silver question. Finally the nomination of Groesbeck and Walker was confirmed and Fenton rejected. Tho President then sent in the name of Judge Charles B. Lawrence, of Illinois, as the third Commissioner, but, before action upon it could be taken, Mr. Conkling, who had been absent during these proceedings, came in, and, making an earnest appeal in behalf of Mr. Fenion, secured a reconsideration of the vote by which he was rejected. He was then confirmed by two majority. House.—Mr. Ewing moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill to retire national-bank notes and substitute treasury notes for them. Rejected—yeas, 109; nays, 114. The result was greeted with applause on the Republican side. .... A bill was passed under a suspension of the rules, providing that on and after the Ist of October, 1878, legal-tender notes of the United States shall be receivable at par in payment of customs du ies... .Mr. CoDger moved to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment forever prohibiting the payment of any claim for property taken, used, injured or destroyed by United States troops during the war of the Rebellion unless the owner was loyal to the Government, and ga v e neither aid nor encouragement to tne enemy. Agreed to— yeas 144; nays. 61.... A number of other bills and resolutions were passed under a suspension of the rules... .The Spiaker.announced the appointment of the following commissions : On tbe reorganization of the army, Banning, Dibrell, Bragg, Strait, and White of Pennsylvania ; on the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the war Department, Seales, Boone, Hooker, Van Vorhes and Stewart; on the labor question, Hewitt of New York, Riddle, Dickey, Tucker, Thompson, Rice and 80yd.... The Sundry Civil Appropriation bill occupied the attention of the House, and necessitated a postponement of the session to Thursday morning at 5 o’clock, at which hour both houses adjourned till the regular date of assembling in December... .The Post-Route bill, containing the Brazilian steamship subsidy, the restoration of the franking privilege, reg illation of postage on mail matter, and regulation of railway service, failed between the two houses.