Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1870 — Weekly News Summary. [ARTICLE]

Weekly News Summary.

FOREIGN. A bloody fight occurred at Weissenburg on the 4th. The Prussians attacked and captured the Fortress of Weissenburg and the heights between Weissenburg and Geisberg. Douay’s division of Marshal McMahon’s Corps was defeated, being driven from its camp, and General Douay himself was killed. Five hundred prisoners were taken. The New York Heraid's cable special says that the defeat of the French on this occasion was disastrous. The Pope has written a letter to the Emperor Napoleon, in which he expresses dissatisfaction at the removal of the French troops from Rome. Generals Phil. Sheridan and Forsyth were in London on the 7th, on their way to the seat of war. According to official news from the seat of war, received in London on the 7th, the Crown Prince of Prussia had driven McMahon’s army from Weissenburg, Lauterburg, and Worth, and probably compelled the evacuation of Haguenan and Strasburg. The victory of General Goeben at Saarbruck and Spieheren, and thq advance from Hamburg, had driven Gen Frossard’s corps from For bach and Stavelt, and probably rendered Bitsche untenable. McMahon’s corps was then cut off at Metz. The prisoners taken by (he Crown Prince and General Goeben, number 8,000; the number killed and wounded was unknown. Immense quantities of army stores were captured. The Prussians crossed the frontier and were advancing on Paris. The Empress Regent had declared Paris in a state of siege, and the French Senate and Chambers had been convoked for the 11th. Great excitement and riotous demonstrations occurred on the Paris Bourse. The substance of the dispatches from the seat of war on the 8:h is to the effect that the French army was badly beaten, with heavy losses, and was in full retreat; that its centre was driven in, the right wing turned and cut off; that the Prussians had taken many prisoners, cannon and small arms, and, flushed with success, were eagerly following up the victory ; and that Napoleon, calling upon France to rise and save the country, was hurriedly preparing for a desperate defence; the Prussians occupied St. Avoid, where MacMahon’s headquarters were located on the 6th ; Metz was beingpTaced in a state of defence by the French; Paris wan fearfully excited over the news from the front; the Empress had issued a proclamation calling upon Frenchmen to be firm and united, and promising to [be first in danger to defend the flag of France ; the Ministers had also issued a similar document. Advices from Rome on the Bth state that the French disasters had caused profound terror, and the Pope had asked Eugenie for just one ship to defend him from the Italians, then organizing for an attack on the Papal dominions and au-' thority. Don Fernando has written a letter, in which he persists in the refusal of the crown of Spain. The French Ministry tendered their resignation to the Empress Regent on the 9th, and it was accepted. Gen. Palikao was charged with the duty of forming a new Ministry. There was great activity in the enrolling of volunteers in Paris. A dispatch from Gen. Froissard, printed in the Patrie of the 9th, says: The Emperor has been solicited to return to Paris by home Generals, and replied: “ I will only return dead or victorious."

The King of Prussia, in passing through Neustadt, on the Bth, received a great ovation. A London dispatch of the 9th says Gladstone’s announcement that the English Government had at last made a speifle proposition for Belgium’s protection was welcomed with a sigh of relief, and a feeling that England had once more vindicated her position as a European power. Cable news on the 10th is to the effect that England and Russia had sigaed a guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality. The British Parliament had been prorogued to October 27. The Prince Imperial of France had arrived in London, with the Empress Eugenie’s jewels and other valuables. No battle had occurred since the 6th; Much dissatisfaction was being manifested at Paris with the generalship of the Emperor, and a Dictatorship was anticipated, with General Trochu acting as supreme head. The new French Ministry is composed as follows: Count Palikao, Minister of War; De La Tour

d’Auvergne, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Henri Chevron, Minister of the Interior ; Grand Perret, Minister Of Justice, De Genouilly, Minister oi Marine; Pierre Magne, Minister of Finance; Jerome David, Minister of Public Works; Jules Brame, Minister of Public Instruction; Clement Duverner, Minister of Commerce; Busson Billault, President of the Council of State. Marshal Bazine had taken command of the French troops united at Metz. McMahan had rallied the bulk of his army, and was falling back upon Nancy tn good order.

Strasburg was closely invested by a large Prussian army on the 11th, and the surrender of the city had been demanded and refused. The King of Prussia had issued a proclamation, stating that he warred against soldiers, not dtiaens, and the latter might continue secure in person and property so long as they abstained from hostile acta Paris dispatches nf the. Ilin declare with certainty that the Prince Imperial had not quit France, while the London PM MM Gazette of the same date reaffirms his presence, with the imperial jewels, in London.

The Paris Rewills and Rappd, radical journals, have been entirely suppressed. The Paris Monitewr gives an account of the death of General Douay at the battle of Weissenburg, and states that, when he saw the day was lost, the General deliberately rode to the front, shot his horse, and then slowly walked toward the enemy. The retreating soldiers, aroused by the spectacle, turned again toward the enemy, but fell in heaps around their General, who still pressed forward. Another tremendous discharge from the enemy, and Douay, almost alone, fell dead. A decree of amnesty has been published in Spain, pardoningall political offences committed since' the 29th of September, 1868, with the single condition that persons, in the military service who come umjer the operation of the decree shall take oath to the constitution.

DOMESTIC. Gold closed in New York on the 11th at 117%. Notice has been given at Washington that passports for France can be obtained on applying to the Department of State, Passport Bureau. The number of immigrants arriving in New York during the week ending August 6 amounted to only 8,631, showing that the war is having great effect Advices from Wyoming, and other portions of the disturbed Indian districts, received at the Interior Department at Washington on the 6th, indicate a complete cessation of hostilities. A Raleigh, N. C., dispatch of the 7th says: “Geo. W. Brooks, Judge of the United States District Court, has issued a writ of habeas corpus for all citizens now held by Colonel Kirk, under the' order of Governor Holden, to appear before him at Salisbury, where he opens court tomorrow."

By ah accident which occurred to a train on the Chesapeake <& Ohio Railroad, at Jerry’s Run, on the 6th, twelve persons were killed and twenty wounded. John Savage, President of the Fenian Brotherhood in New York, has issued a circular, calling upon his followers to refrain from taking the side of either nation engaged in the present war. A .Raleigh, N. C., dispatch of the 9th says the Deputy United States Marshal had served on Kirk the writs of habeas corpus issued by Judge Brocks to bring his prisoners before him at Salisbury. Kirk replied that he would answer after consultation with General Holden. The news of the recent Prussian victory caused great rejoicing among the German people in Eastern cities as well as at the West. The event was celebrated in many places by triumphal processions, the firing of cannon, etc. The first bale of Alabama cotton was sold at Montgomery, on the 10th, at auction, for thirty-five cents a pound. It is classed low middling. A snow storm is reported at Idaho, Colorado, on the 11th, and a shower of lizards at Corinne, Utah. The National Methodist Camp Meeting opened at Des Plaines station, near Chicago, on the 9th, and will continue ten days. Customs receipts for week ending August 6, <16,637,794.

PERSONAL. The President has appointed Wm. Bailey, of Ohio, Consul at Hong Kong. The Woolen Exposition at Indianapolis closed on the sth. The Haymakers, of Troy, defeated the White Stockings, of Chicago, on the sth -11 to 16. ' ‘ The second annual reunion of the Society of the Army and Navy of the Gulf was held at Boston on the sth. Admiral Farragut was re-chosen President of the Society, and provision was made for the collection of a history of the Department. The next annual convention will he held at Saratoga, July 8, next year. Jefferson Davis left Greenbrier (Va.) White Sulphur Springs, on the 4th, on his way to Europe. President Grant was in Washington on the sth. The Chicago White Stockings defeated the Maryland Club, of Baltimore, on the 6th—2B to 15. John Real, the slayer of Policeman John Smedick, was hung in New York city on the morning on the sth, two years and thirteen days after the killing of his victim.

The international yacht race at New York on the Bth, for the Queen's cup, was won by the Magic. Ex-Senator Seward left Auburn, N. Y., on the 10th, for San Francisco. President Grant and party reached St. Lcuis on the 10th. A Washington special of the 11th says: “ Complaint against Roderick Butler (charged with pension frauds) was lodged with the District Attorney, in due form, to-day, by the Pension Bureau, and it will be immediately forwarded to the District Court of the United States for Tennessee, from which court a warrant of arrest must issue. The trial will take place here, and the indictment will be for forgery.” A dispatch from Portsmouth, N. H., on the 11th, says Admiral Farragut was comfortable in the morning, but might not live through the day. At the Nathan inquest on the 11th, the evidence of William Killy, the housekeeper’s son, failed to furnish ground for suspicion of his guilt POLITICALS A Labor Reform Convention will be held at Syracuse, N. Y., in September, to nominate an independent ticket. The Republicans in Virginia have nominated James H. Platt, Jr., of Norfolk

and Charles H. Porter, of Richmond, for re-election to Congress. .The Judicial election in Tennessee on the 4th resulted in the success of the Democratic candidates. A Memphis dispatch says there was great dissatisfaction among Republicans from the fact that a large proportion of the Republican tickets were thrown out by a failure to state from what division the State candidates for the Supreme bench were, and also that they voted for Chancellors and Judges for which no election was ordered. George H. Minier, of Tazewell county, is the Temperance nominee for Congress in the Eighth Illinois District. Col. John M. Crebs has been nominated for Congress by the Democrats of the Thirteenth Illinois District. John Cartwright, of Pomeroy, is the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Fifteenth District of Ohio. A Louisville dispatch of the Bth says the official returns of the late (local) elections in Kentucky give the Democrats a majority of about 50,000. A Wilmington, N. C., dispatch of the Bth says: “The Legislature will stand about as follows: Senate—Conservatives, 32; Republicans, 18. House—Conservatives, 75; Republicans, 45. Congressmen —5 Conservatives, 2 Republicans.” The Democrats of the Sixth lowa Congressional District have chosen as their candidate Hon. C. C. Smeltyer, of Fort Dodge. A Railroad Aid Amendment to the constitution of the State was agreed to by the Michigan Legislature on the 9th. It is to be submitted to the voters of the State at the next general election to be holden on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, 1870. The Democracy of Alabama have called a State Convention, to meet at Montgomery on the Ist of September.

The first bale of Alabama cotton, new crop, was received at Montgomery on the 9th. The Nebraska Republican State Convention, on the 10th inst., renominated David Butler for Governor. Hon. John Taffe was renominated for Congress by acclamation. Joseph Lancaster, present Collector of Internal Revenue, was nominated for Congress, contingent on Nebraska being entitled to two representatives. The lowa State Democratic Convention have nominated: For Secretary of State, Charles Dorr, of Lee; State Auditor, W. W. Gamer, of Louisa; Treasurer, W. C. James, of Pottawotomie; Attorney General, H. M. Martin, of Scott; Register, D. F. Ellsworth, of Hardin; Clerk of the Supreme Court, William McLennan, of Dubuque; Supreme Judges, long term, J. C. Knapp, of Van Buren; first vacancy, P. H. Smith, of Des Moines; second vacancy, Reuben Noble, of Clayton.

The Ohio Republican State Convention, at Columbus, on the 10th, nominated: Gen. Isaac R. Sherwood for Secretary of State; George W. Mcllvain for Supreme Judge; William T. Wilson for Comptroller of the Treasury; Philip V. Hessing for Member of Board of Public Works. The Michigan Legislature adjourned tine die on the 10th.

The Louisiana Republican State Convention, on the 10th, nominated A. Dubuclet for Treasurer, and James Graham for Auditor. The Congressional Conventions nominated J. H. Sypher, First District; R. L. Sheldon, Second; 0. B. Darrell, Third. In reply to a number of members of the Georgia Legislature, who asked his views upon the question of an election in that State, Attorney General Akerman maintains that there is absolutely no power conferred by the constitution upon the Legislature to extend the term of State officers or their own, and that the fact of military supervision does not alter the case.