Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1879 — HEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

HEWS OF THE WEEK.

FOREIGN NEWS. The report that England had forbidden the importation of American cattle is denied. Several thousand Liverpool workmen, belonging to the various trades, are on a strike against a wage reduction. A report comes from South America that the terrible plague has broken out in the province of Cara, in Brazil A correspondent at Rome reports that a basis of agreement between Bismarck and he Vatican has been attained. Two of the Directors of the City of Glasgow Bank have been sentenced to imprisonment for eighteen months, and five others to eight months each. A London cablegram says the great excitement prevailing throughout Europe concerning the fate of Prof. Nordenskjold’s Swedish Arctic exploring expedition, which attempted to find a northeast passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans via the north capes of Europe and Asia and Behring’s straits, is daily growing more intense. The new French Cabinet has been constituted, and the following are the changes: M. Waddington, President of Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senator Leroy er, Minister of Justice; M. De Marcere, Interior and also Public Worship, ad interim; M. Jules Ferry, Public Instruction and Fine Arts; M. Lepere, Agriculture; Admiral Jaurequiberry, Marine. France is taking measures to prevent the introduction of the plague. The visit of the American industrial deputation to Mexico promises to result in greatly developing the trade between the sister republics. •A cable dispatch of the Bth inst. reports that from .'IO,OOO to 35,000 men were on a strike at Liverpool. Many sailors had joined the strikers, and the demeanor of the idle crowds was threatening. The Chinese crew on the Australian bark Kate Waters, from Hong Kong for Foo Chow, mutinied, murdered the officers, and scuttled the vessel. Our English cousins have recovered from their cattle-disease scare. The Russo-Turkish definitive treaty of peace has at last been concluded and signed, and the Russians will at once evacuate Turkish territory.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. East. Gen. Geo. Cadwalader, an emiinent citizen of Pennsylvania, died at Philadelphia last week. In New York, a few days ago, John Flanagan, a laborer, returned home from an unsuccessful search for work, and found his wife and a 2-year-old child dead from starvation and his two elder children nearly dead. -Went. of the Cheyenne Intable,eonven aiffortmffYrdm fsrt Robin* intention to walMi T here are bnt HOVOn perienwd mtm.ijx-.lttloy offorodno resistance, uernlations to ponuit of Chicago has just j>, aged TOB years. )HARTERPERPETU nl killed his uncle, the ekleßt H 15 1'ophobia scare tn Floyd cisunty, J <> m., led to a general war on the canine race; over 200 dogs were killed in one township. At Carrollton, 111., Dr. McAuliff, the murderer of James Havener, was hanged by a mob; and near Columbia, 111., Jerry Collins (colored) was lynched for outraging the daughter of William Grubb. The military court convened at Chicago for the purpose of inquiring into the conduct of Maj. Henoat the battle of the Little Big Horn, whore Custer and his comrades met their sad fate, has concluded the testimony. The court sat for three weeks, and examined some two dozen witnesses. The testimony is regarded as favorable to Maj. Reno. The latter made a sworn statement in his own behalf, in which he said that, while he regarded Gen. Custer as not lacking in bravery, he had no confidence whatever in his genius as a sol diar. South. The New Orleans Mint has begun coining money again for the first time since the war.

WASHINGTON NOTES. Canadian papers say there is no foundation for the story that Sitting Bull has returned to American soil. The President has nominated Digby V. Bell Collector of Customs at Detroit, Mich.; Algernon S. Badger, Collector at New Orleans, vice George L. Smith, to be removed, and William 8. McMillan Postmaster at New Orleans, vice Badger. Secretary Sherman believes that a good plan to raise funds to meet the requirements of the new Pension law would be to authorize $40,(XX),000 of 4-per-cent. bonds, which he could sell after taking up all available sixes the latter part of the year; but the better plan still, he thinks, would be to enact a national income tax, and pay pensions out of the proceeds at the rate of $8,(XX),000 or $10,000,000 annually. The Finance Committee of the Senate have voted 16 recommend a reduction of the tobacco tax to 1(5 cents per pound.

POLITICAL POINTS. An analysis of the vote on the confirmation of Gen. Merritt as Collector of the Port of New York shows that fifteen Bepublicans voted to sustain the administration by confirming the nomination, namely: Burnside, Conover, Kirkwood, Matthews, Oglesby, Cameron (Wis.), Ferry, Hoar, Saunders, Windom, Dawes, McMillan, Morrill, Christiancy, and Plumb. Twentythree Bepublicans ranged themselves on the side of Mr. Conkling and voted against confirmation, viz.: Allison, Booth, Howe, Patterson, Spencer, Anthony, Bruce, Conkling, Jones (Nev.), Mitchell, (Bollins, Teller, Blaine, Chaffee, Hamlin, Kellogg, Paddock, Sargent, Edmunds, Ingalls, Sharon, Dorsey and Cameron (Pa.). The Democrats voted largely in favor of confirmation—Barnum, McPherson, Cockrell, Eaton, McDonald, Garland and Voorhees (seven) being the only Democrats recorded as voting in the negative. A Washington dispatch says, that at a joint caucus of Democratic Senators and Bepresentatfves it was decided to add a clause repealing the test oath to some important appropriation bill, and insist upon its passage. They also agreed to support a bill abolishing national banks and replacing national-bank currency with greenbacks. The New York Democrats talk of nominating Horatio Seymour for Governor next summer. Moses W. Field, Chairman of the State Committee of Michigan, has

called a State Convention of the party for Feb. 28. The President has appointed N. P. Banks United States Marshal for Massachusetts; John Parker, Marshal for the Western District of Michigan; Ex-Senator John N. Patterson Marshal of New Hampshire; Martin L Townsend United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; and Decius 8. Wade Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana. James H. Maddox was before the Potter Investigating Committee at Washington last week, and denied all of the testimony of witness St Martins, so far as it related to nim. Maddox swore that St. Marins had offered to correct or withhold hie affidavit for a money consideration, but that he (Maddox) declined to entertain the proposition. The President has made the following appointments: Ephraim McMurtry to be Collector of Customs of the District of Minnesota; John F. Hartranft, Postmaster of Philadelphia; James Pollock, Naval Officer of Philadelphia: A. Loudon Snowden, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint; Martin Parry Kennard, Assistant Treasurer of the United States at Boston, and Thomas Stevenson, Collector of Internal Revenue of the Fifteenth District of New York. Col. George W. Carter, of Louisiana, testified before the Potter Committee, at Washington, in relation to St. Martins’ statements. He denied the allegations of St Martins so far as they concerned him, and said he had no knowledge whatever of how subpoenas were served, of the coaching of witnesses, etc. A. M. Gibson, of the Now York Sun, testified before the committee that St. Martins’ story, so far as it related to hifn, was a tissue of falsehoods.

THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION. AT CHARLESTON, S. C. The Teller Committee resumed its sittings at Washington, last week. E. W. Mackay, defeated Republican candidate for Congress in South Carolina, was the first witness. He testified that the Republicans were, in numerous ways, prevented from having a full and free vote in Charleston county, and that the Democrats resorted to frauds for that purpose. Witness, in order to counteract the Democrats, had 5,000 tissuetickets printed, and these were to be used only in the event that the Republicans were certain the Democrats were using tissue-tickets. R. M. Wallace, United States Marshal for South Carolina, testified to arresting Democrats for breaking up Republican meetings, but on conviction resulted. The Democrats regarded the voting of tissue-ballots as a huge joke on the Republicans, saying that they had learned tricks from the Republicans, and were now beating .them at their own game.

THE CIPHER TELEGRAMS. The Potter Sub-Committee, sent to New York to prosecute the investigation of the cipher telegrams, began work on the sth inst. Smith M. Weed, of New York, was the first witness. He acknowledged having done a good deal of telegraphing in cipher while the electoral count was pending, and said the translation of the dispatches published, so far as he know, was pretty correct Mr. Weed testified that while in South Carolina a proposition was handed him offering a decision of the State Canvassing Board for Tilden, in consideration of $(10,000 or SBO,OOO, but he declined to entertain it. He subsequently sent the proposition to New York; Pelton stirred himself around to raise the money; the matter came to the ears of Mr. Tilden, and, according to the witness, “he brought us to order in very forcible terms for having attempted to make a trade with the Betuming Board, and repeated his positive abhorrence of any such scheme. ” Col. Pelton, the nephew of Gov. Tilden, was before the Potter Sub-Committee at New York, on the 6th inst., and told what he knew alxjut the cipher dispatches. He said that all the telegrams sent by Smith M. Weed were by his instructions, and that in his absence they were opened by the National Democratic Committee. Telegrams from Florida signed “Marble,” stating that propositions looking to the purchase of the Beturning Board had been made, and asking if he (Pelton) could raise the required funds, were also shown to witness and acknowledged to be correct; also the replies of Pelton, in which he notified Marble of the acceptance of the propositions, and that the money would be forthcoming. Dispatches touching similar negotiations in South Carolina were also exhibited and their authenticity acknowledged by the witness. Gov. Tilden was entirely ignorant of these negotiations, and had no hand in them whatever. Witness said he had an idea that the Beturning Board propositions, even if not carried out, would result, if assented to, in a delay which would be favorable to the Democratic party. He had made no arrangements for raising money, but intended eventually to lay the matter before the Democratic National Committee, and let it decide. In the meanwhile he thought it best to commit the members of the Beturning Board to the propositions in question. He acted wholly on his own responsibility, without consultation with any one. He held no authority to act for the Democratic National Committee in the matter. Manton Marble testified before the Potter sub-committee, at New York, on the 7th inst He said that he went to Florida on his own volition to look after the electoral vote; did not go under the instructions of the De mocratic committee, at the request of Gov. Tilden or anybody else. He was furnished by Col. Pelton with a cipher before he left New York, and used it subsequently. He neither sent to, nor received from, Gov. Tilden any telegrams. All his dispatches were addressed to Pelton. He said the cipher telegrams, as published in the New York Tribune, were simply rubbish, so far as he (Marble) was concerned. He did not remember the dispatch to Pelton stating that the vote of Florida could be purchased for $200,000, and to which the latter replied that the figure was too high. The second dispatch, in which Pelton was informed that the vote could be nad for $50,000, the witness recollected. He stated, however, that none of these propositions were his, and that he only telegraphed them as matters of news. The witness explained the meaning of certain phrases in the telegrams he sent to Pelton, and said that none of them had reference to money or purchasing transactions. Samuel J. Tilden was summoned as a witness by the Potter sub-Oommittee at New York, on the Sth inst He was sworn the same

as any other witness and testified substantially as follows: “ I never entered into any arrangemen purchase the vote of South Carolina or Florida. I had no information and no suspicion that any such communications were being carried on until I saw the dispatches published in the New York Tribune. I had no knowledge and no dealings with any parties to these negotiations. I never authorized any such negotiations in any form whatever. On the morning of Nov. 20, 1876, Mrs. Col Pelton mentioned in my presence that her husband had gone for the day. I didn't know that he had gone or was going out of the city. He went to Philadelphia, I believe/. Later in the day I was called on by Mr. Cooper, who was on k his way down town, and was told by him that he had received an offer from some party, offering to obtain, for money, the vote of South Carolina. I said that I would authorize no such transaction, nor spend money for any such purpose. The whole conversation occupied only a few minutes. I obtained CoL Pelton’s address in Baltimore, and telegraphed to him to come home. I knew nothing of the ciphers that had been passing between him and others and could not have translated them. In regard to the Oregon dispatches, I did not know that they came in cipher until after the meeting of the committee to investigate them. From the 7th of November, 1876, until Dec. 6, of the same year, under no circumstance did I enter into any combination for seeking certificates by venal inducement. There never was an hour nor a minute that I entertained such a thought. To the people who, as I believe, elected me as President of the United States, to 4,000,000 of citizens who were defrauded, I | owed it to proclaim that I would not yield one jot or tittle of my right Whatever evil may result from this subversion of the electoral system, and of a free Government, I resolved that , I would enter into no auction for the purchase of the Chief Magistracy. I was resolved that I would continue to protest against a wrong by which the people were defrauded out of their rights. I declare before God and my country that the vote of Louisiana and Florida were bought (meaning by the Republicans). I would scorn and condemn my righteous title if the Democratic party had secured it by fraud.” The committee decided to examine no more witnesses in New York, and left immediately for Washington.

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Monday, Feb. 3.—Senate.—Mr. McCreery introduc a bill to transfer the office of Indian Affairs from the Interior to the War Department. ....Mr. Matthews introduced a joint resolution providing for a commercial treaty with Mexico.... Mr Teller presented a petition from the colored people of Louisiana, claiming that they are not protected either in life or property. They therefore invoke the protection of the Federal Government. Referred to the Teller Committee... .Mr. Harris, from the select committee on epidemic diseases, reported a bill to prevent the introduction of contagious orinfectious diseases into the United States, and to establish a Bureau of Public Health... .The Senate had a lively and interesting executive session, the New York Custom House nominations forming" the bone of contention. Mr. Conkling attacked the administration, in a two-hours’ speech, which proved to be an effort by the side of which all previous speeches of his life in the direction of bitterness are' declared by good judges to sink into insignificance, and were made to appear as the very essence of mildness and suavity. Mr. Edmunds, in a mild speech, opposed the removal of Gen. Arthur. Messrs. Howe, Voorhees and Kernan also opposed the removal of Arthur. Mr. Bayard advocated the confirmation of the President's appointees. At the close of the debate the roll was called, and Gen. Merritt was confirmed as Collector of Customs at New York by 33 yeas to 24 nays, and Silas W. Burt was confirmed as Naval Officer by 31 yeas to 18 nays. House.—Mr. Cutler introduced a bill appropriating $100,000,000 for the payment of arrearages of pensions. The same subject was brought before the House on a motion to suspend the rules, and pass a bill introduced by Mr. Burchard, of Illinois, authorizing the issue of 4 per-cent, bonds to the amount of $40,000,000 to pay the claimants under the Arrears of Pension act. Defeated—two-thirds failing to vote in the affirmative. Tuesday, Feb. 4.—Senate.—Mr. Cameron (Wis.). from the Committee on Privileges and Elections, submitted a majority report, signed by the Republican members.declaring David T. Corbin duly elected Senator from South Carolina, and duly entitled to a seat. Mr. Hill, from the same committee, submitted a minority report, signed by the Dejnocratic members, in favor of the incumbent, M. C. Butler. Both reports were ordered printed, and placed ‘on the calendar.... Mr. Coke spoke at length in favor of constructing a railroad in Texas to the Rio Grande, after which consideration was resumed of the resolutions of Mr. Edmunds, declaring the validity of the Thirteenth Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments, and speeches were made pro and con by Messrs. Edmunds and Bayard. House.—The House devoted the day, in committee of the whole, upon the Army Appropriation biH. Several propositions for a reduction of the army were made and voted down... .An evening session, for consideration of the Mississippi Levee bill, was 1 fid.

Wednesday, Feb. s.—Senate.—The Senate after a protracted debate lasting until nearly midnight, adopted Mr. Edmunds’ resolutions affirming the validity of the later constitutional amendments. A number of amendments were offered by the Democrats and rejected. The Morgan substitute, adopted by the Democratic caucus, was also voted down—l 3 yeas to 2t> nays. The Edmunds resolutions, as originally introduced, were then adopted by a vote of 23 yeas to 1? irffcs. ... .Nothing else of importance transpired in the Senate. House.—The report of the Committee on Elections in the Florida contested case was submitted in favor of Jesse J. Finlay, and adverse to the claims of Horace Bisbee. The minority submitted dissenting views, and both reports were recommitted. The House passed the Mississippi Levee bill and spent the balance of the day on the Army Appropriation bill. Thursday, Feb. 6.—Senate.—Mr. Paddock submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on Agriculture to inquire in regard to the reports concerning infectious diseases among horned cattle. Agreed t 0... Mr. Wallace submitted a resolution requesting the Committee on Commerce to report the House bill, known as “The Inter-State Commerce bill.” at the earliest possible moment. Laid on the table. He gave notice that he would call it up at an early day... .The bill to provide for taking the tenth and subsequent censuses was passed. House.—Mr. Hayes introduced a bill, appropriating $50,000 for the improvement of the Hlinois river, and enlarging the Illinois and Michigan ship canal... .Mr. Cummings introduced abill making appropriations for the payment of the arrears of pensions... .The Army Appropriation bill was discussed at length. The main features of the Burnside Army Reorganization bill were incorporated into the bill by the committee of the whole, and a motion was made to engraft upon it also the proposition to transfer the Indian Bureau from the Interior to the War Department, pending which the House adjourned. Friday, Feb. 7.—Senate.—The Committee on Foreign Relations reported back the Senate bill to restrict the immigration of Chinese, and also the House bill for the same purpose. They were placed on the calendar... .Mr. Harris, from the select committee to inquire into the best means of preventing epidemic diseases, reported a bill to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases and to establish a bureau of public health... Mr. Windom called up his resolutions in regard to the migration of colored people, and spoke in favor thereof... .The Senate took up and passed—4o yeas to 20 nays—the bill allowing women to practice law in the United States Supreme Court. House. —The House devoted the day to dull routine business and the consideration of private claims. Saturday, Feb. B.—Senate.—The Senate passed the House bill providing for the payment to officers and soldiers of the Mexican war of three months’ extra pay provided for by the act of July 11), 1848, and devoted the remainder of the day to routine business of trifling interest. House. —The Army Appropriation bill was passed, including the two important amendments relative to the organization of the army and to the railroad telegraph, and defeating the amendment which proposed to transfer the Indian Bureau to the War Department. No other business was transaated.

The will of Caleb Cushing, opened in‘Newburyport, Mass., directs that his property be divided into two equal parts, one for the children of John N. Cushing, and the other for the children of the late William Cushing. The will was made in Madrid in 1876,