Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1871 — Weekly News Summary. [ARTICLE]

Weekly News Summary.

CONGRESSIONAL. No session of the Senate on the 6th. In the House, on the 6th, bills were <>introduced—to create an additional collection district in Texas; to make tbe city of Sabino Pass ft port of entry; relating to Hid survey of the Natchez and Angelina rivers In Texfts... .Resolutions reported by the Committee on foreign Affhirtfln referftiice to the dispute between Minfsto Washburn and the late Government of Paraguay, were taken up, and the following were adopted: directing a court of inquiry for the trial of Admirals Gordon and Davis—9o to 26; declaring that Admiral Gordon, in neglecting to-aid Mr. Washburn in reaching the Government to which he was accredited, failed in |hp discharge of his duty, as commander oi the Atlantic Squadron—B9 to 39; disapproving of the conduct of Rear Admiral Chas. 11. Davis, in delaying, for an unreasonable time, to proceed to the rescue of Messrs. Bliss and Mastennan, in accepting their release In the manner and under tne circumstances detailed in the testimony, in receiving, holding, and treating them as prisoners—loo to 62. v.. A resolution was adopted, instructing the Committee ou Public Lands to inquire into the expediency of providing, by law, that every officer, soldier, and sailor, who served ninety days In the army for the Union, and was honorably discharged, shall receive 160 acres of public laud as a homestead, his actual term of service to count us a part of the five years required by the homestead act of 1862... .Adjourned, the session on the 7th to lie for general debate only. In the Senate, on the 9th, a bill was introduced and referred appropriating $25,000 for the completion of the harbor at Duluth, Minn The Judiciary Committee reported adversely the bill to provide that elections for I‘residential electors and members of Congress be by ballot... .The House joint resolution appropriating $2,500 a year for Minister Schenck was passed....A message from the President in response to the Senate resolution t ransmit Ung the report of the Secretary of State, covering the correspondence between Mr. Motley and the State Department, was presented, laid on the table and ordered printed... .The lyll revising the laws relative to mints, and coinage was debated ....Adjourned. In the House, on the 9th, bills were introduced and referred—to Ripply the universities and colleges with copies of all Congressional documents; to provide for tie appointments of additional United States Judges in Alabama; granting the right of way through public lands to the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad Company; to set apart all moneys arising from the sale of public lands for five years io the common schools of the South; granting the right of way for a railroad from the Central Pacific road, in Utah, to Walla Walla, Oregon; relinquishing the jurisdiction of the United-States. o. er a part of the Fort Gratiot military reservation, in Michigan; to reimburse Texas for expenditures in protecting her frontier from hostile Indian tribes; in relation to a railroad bridge across the Mississippi riverpextendlng tie benefits of the military asylums to volunteers of the war of 1812; to provide buildings for post-office, etc., at Oshkosh, Wis ; for the relief of settlers on public lands In California; defining swamp lands; to enable soldiers, sailois and marines pre-empt lands at the minimum price on alternate reserved sections of railroad grant lands; to provide for the construction and completion or the harbor at Duluth, Minn.; granting bounty to sailors for the destruction of the enemy’s property; to amend the act of July 31,1869, to enforce the rights of ettizens to vote in certain States; tc fix the number of representatives at 275, and providing for the election of representatives on tie Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 1872, and every second year thereafter . Resolutions were adopted—requesting the Committee on Ways and Means to report a bill for the repeal of the income tax; referring all lulls, resolutions, petitions, and papers on the subject of oceai telegraph cables,’ a joint committee of five members of the Senate and eight of the House, with power to send for persons and papers, and report; calling for information as to persons arrested In Virginia since Jan. 1, 1868, for violation of tlie internal revenue laws, by the revenue officers, and the inoieties obtained by diem since April 1.1569.... A communication from the President was presented and referred, giving information called for by a resolution in regard to the Republic of Dominica... .Adjourned.

In the Senate, on the 10th, petitions on various subjects were presented, including one from citizens bf Illinois, asking for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States recognizing the Supreme Being.... An adverse report was made from the Finance Committee on tlie supletnentary bill to reduce taxes... .Joint resolutions were introduced -authorizin’; the President to appoint a joint commission to determine the claim for damages ou the commerce of the United States by British cruisers; for the relief of settlers on public lands, providing that the settlers shall have twelve months’ additional time in which to make proofs and payments*... .Bills were introduced authorizing the Secretary of War to construct a telegraph line to military posts on the Missouri River; to organize the Territory of Oklahaiua and consolidate certain Indian tribes under a Territorial Government; for the removal of political disabilities; providing that all persons be relieved, excepting those who left the Cabinet and Congress in 1860 and 1861.. . The bill revising the laws relative to the mints, assay oilices, and coinage of the United States, was passed—3o to 14... .The joint resolution prohibiting ineniheYs of Congress from soliciting office of the President and heads of departments, was taken up.,. and au amendment proposed making a violation of the act a tnisdemeaubr, and subjecting the person found guilty to a fine of £1,000... /Che Senate Dominica joint resolution, with the House amendment, was taken Up, and, after considerable discussion, it agreed to close the debate on the same at 4 o'clock on the 11th... .Adjourned In the House, on the 10th; a remonstrance of 307 women of Ohio against woman suffrage was presented.... Consideration of the joint resolution for the appointment of commissioners to San Domingo was resumed, and an amendment was agreed to declaring that nothing n the resolution was to be construed as committing the government to the annexation of Dominica, and the resolution as amended was passed -123 to 63... .A majority report was made from the Committee ou Elections on the contested election case from the Fourth District of Tennessee, declaring Fillman entitled to the seat, the minority report being in favor of the contestant, Sheafe.... Tlie bill to provide for celebrating the independence of America on the one-hundredth anniversary, by holding an International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, in Philadelphia, in 1876, was amended so as to provide that no expenses of the exhibition, or its officers, should be payable out of the Treasury, and then passed... .Adjourned.

In the Senate, on the 11th, the House concurrent resolution for the appointment of a joint committee on all ocean cable legielatlon, was debated and laid over... .The bill tn aid of repair* and construction of levees in the State of Mississippi, wn* taken up, nud, on motion, referred.,.. TliGHonse amendment to the San Domingo resolution, providing that the appointment of a commission should not commit Congress for or against annexation, was taken up : nd debated at considerable length, additional amendments being offered and rejected, after which the Home amendment was unanimously concurred in-57 io 0.... Adjourned. In the House, <>n the 11th, the Diplomatic Consular Appropriation bill, appropriating $1,438,Mi'.), was reported and made the special order for the 13th....A hill was introduced and referred for the better protection of the frontier of Texas .... Bills were passed—to procure and disseminate information as to the extent of the cereal crops in other countries, requiring such information te be furnished by the United State* Consuls; making an additional appropriation of $200,000 for the Louisville and Portland canal for the current decal year, and appropriating #341,000- for the Dos Moines rapids. .. A bill was reported to prevent cruelty to animals while in transit by railroad and other means of transportation, forbidding them to be confined In railroad care longer than forty eight consecutive hours without unloading, to give the cattle rest, water and feed, except when prevented by contingencies.... The Speaker laid before the House a telegram from Gov. Geary, of Pennsylvania, announcing the death of Hon John Covode, mid, on motion, a committee of eight members was appointed to attend the funeral of the deceased ... The Speaker announced a» the select commitlee on Mr. Brooks' investigation, Messrs. Bingham, Poland, Kerr, Beaman and Biggs... .Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 12th, the House bill for nn International Exposition at Philadelphia in 187(1 was read and referred.... Bills were reported and Introduced—to equalize and fix the salaries of certain bureau omeers; authorizing the establishment .of ocean mall htoamships between the United States and Australia; for the relief of the Census Marshals, directing the Secretary of the Interior to increase one hundred per cent, the compensation of Assistant United States Marshals in state* and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains. Resolutlous were adopted—calling on the Postmaster General for any information he may have in reference to the amount of free mall matter transmitted through the , moils; culling 'for Information from the Secretary of the Treasury as to what States have fully paid their respective portions of the direct tax levied by act of Congress In Aufftut, 18(11, what States and Territories have falleo. the amounts due, etc A remonstrance of Mrs. Geu. Sherman and one thousand .other ladies

sgalnM female auflYnge, the remonstrance Includin'. a number of wive, of Senators and Representative., and prominent men lu profeaidonal life throughout ttie country, was presented and read.... The llouae Joint reeolutloy appropriating $‘260.000 for continuing the work or the Louiaville A Portland Canal, and $341,000 for the completion of the Des Molnco Rapids was passed.. . .The Hoiiso hill for a commission to investigate the claims arising from depredations committed by or upon the Indians id Kansas, was amended so as to include Nebraska,'and passed... .The bill to relieve Congressmen from Importunity and preserve the independence of the several departments of the government, was taken up and, after considerable discussion, its further consideration was deferred to the 18th. ...Executive session and adjournment. In the House, on the Isth, a resolution was adopted instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expulsion and subsequent enforced resignation of Cadets Baird, Flecklnger and Barnes from the West Point Miliitary Academy... .The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill was considered in Committee of the Whole... .Adjourned.

FOREIGN. A Versailles dispatch of the 4th says the bombardment of the soufli forts of Paris commenced at 9 o’clock a. m. on that day. A London dispatch of the Bth says the casemates of Forts Issy and Vanvres were battered down after a fight of eight hours duration. Private advices from Versailles to the 6th inst, state that the general bombardment of the forts southeast and north was furious, and notwithstanding the slaughter caused by the French fire they would be silenced before Sunday. O’Donovan Rossa and other Fenians were released on the 7th, and left for New York per steamer Cuba. They w’ere taken on board under guard, who refused to allow them to have communication with any body. The British Government, it is said, pays their expenses to the United States. A special to the New York World, from London on the 7th, says the London Conference had been postponed, probably until after the fall of Paris. Telegrams from Versailles on the Bth say the American Consul had been permitted to leave Paris, and had arrived there. The Prussian guns could easily sliell the city. Several houses in Paris had been set on fire.

King William telegraphed to the Queen from Versailles on the 9th: “The bom : bardment he re* is proceeding favorably. The barracks in the fortifications are on fire.” In a telegram from Versailles on the ,Bth, to the Prussian Minister in London, BRemark says: “The report of the German comnjander at Rouen respecting the the English colliers has not ar* rived, but the facts are known. Tell Lord Granville that we sincerely regret that our troops, to avert imminent danger, were obliged to seize British ships. We admit the claim for indemnity. If unjustifiable acts were also committed, we shall call those guilty to account.” Further explaj nations represent that the vessels were seized for fear the French would use them to land troops. A London dispatch of the 10th says:— Mr. Shaw Lefevre has been appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department. An immense meeting was held at Greenwich on the 10th to demand Gladstone’s resignation. There was great disturbance and some fighting. In November last the Italian ship Uncowa, from Macoa, for Callao, with coolies, was set on lire when near Neptune Island, and was- abandoned by the captain and crew’, who were saved by a San Salvador ship. One hundred and twelve of the coolies were picked up by the ship Juan Pore. The remainder of the coolies, 425 in number, perished in the flames. '. ' t The bombardment of the fortifications of Paris, on the north, east and south sides, was vigorously kept up all day on the 10th. The French returned a moderate fire. Perrin has capitulated to the Germans with three thousand prisoners. Intelligence from Paris, received in Brussels on the 11th, confirms the report of bread riots having occurred in the city. A collision between the mob and the military had taken place. The Prussian shells, on the Sth, are said to have fired part of the city.

Telegrams received in London on the 11th announce the occupation of Havre by the German troops. The report received but little credit. A dispatch from Versailles on the 12th says a large fire was raging within the outer walls of Paris, and on the north side of the city. A Brussels dispatch of the 11th saya the bombardment, on the 10th, of the nine forts and seven French batteries between the foats, resulted in no serious damage, and not a single gun was dismounted. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg telegraphed, on the 12th, that in a battle at Lombfon and La Chapelle, on the 10th, 10,000 French prisoners were captured, the German loss being inconsiderable. The Right Hon. Wm. Monsell, Member of Parliament from county Limerick, has offered the Pope a residence on his estate in Ireland.

DOMESTIC. Gold closed in New York on the 12th at 111. As the 8 ;20 Boston train started from the Union Depot in Albany, N. Y., on the evening of the Oth, to cross the Hudson River bridge, a man sprang onto the American Express car, and shot the express messenger, Thos. A. Halpine, through the neck, in the right eye and right ear. The robber then took the keys frotn the messenger and opened the safe, from which .he abstracted <2,259 in bills. He accomplished all this while crossing the bridge, and on arriving in East Albany Jumped off the train and made bis escape. Hal- > pine’s recovery was hot considered -possible, although he was able to converse and give description of the robber. According to the Auditor’s the

State debt of Indiana on the sth was: Foreign, $178,000; domestic, $8,792,001.15. The State debt of Minnesota is nominally $350,000; accumulations of the sinking fund, $64,496. The total value of the taxable property in the State in 1870 was returned at $85,406,377. The connecting link between Montgomery and Selma, Ala., has been completed, giving a tlirough line of railroad from Vicksburg to Savannah. Great excitement is caused, in ■ New Hampshire and Massachusetts by the appearance of the cattle plague. The scarcity of water in Jersey City, N. J., was so great on the 10th, that as much as fifteen cents a pail was paid for it. Much privation and suffering resulted because of the water "ft.mine, and the town was thrown into general disorder. The Ohio Supreme Court has pronounced the law by which the recent annexations have been made to Cincinnati unconstitutional. The Convention of the American Dairymen’s Association,' which assembled at Utica on the 11th, was largely attended. Horatio Seymour, President of the Association, presided. The scarcity of water in Jersey City continued on the 11th. Six hundred men were thrown out of employment by the temporary suspension of manufactories, caused by the water famine. *New counterfeit $lO bills on the Farmers’ and Manufacturers’ National Bank of Poughkeepsis, were recently put in circulation in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pa. Information received at Omaha on the 11th from Fort Laramie says a large number of Indians—Sioux, Cheyennes, Arrapahoes and Gros Ventres were coming in at that point. They report a great scarcity of game, and that they were nearly starving, and begged for food. By a recent strike of the coal-miners in the Schuylkill, Wyoming and Lehigh Valley coal regions of Pennsylvania, one hundred thousand workmen are thrown out of employment. Cedar Rapids has been agreed upon by the State Agricultural Society as the location of the lowa State Fair for the present year. —77 —— A rfecent New Orleans dispatch says negro children will hereafter be admitted to the public schools.

PERSONAL. Captain Ayre, of the steamer Bombay whose conduct at the time he ran into and sunk the United States steamer Oneida caused his suspension for the term of six months, has, at the expiration of the time, been notified by the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company, his employers, that his service* are no longer required, z The Directors of hofflome Insurance Company of New Haven, Conn., made an assignment, on the 9th, of the assets of the Company to Samuel E. Mervin, Jr. Among the nominations sent to the Senate by the Presicent on the 9th were: Stephen Coffin, to be. Indian Agent at Warm Springs, Orjgon; J. E. Kellogg, Tension Agent at L* Crosse, Wia; J. H. Knight, Register at 3ayfield, Wis. Postmasters—Martha F Gordon, Coalsville, Pa.; Edward Siiussy, Beterly, Ind. Vinnie Ream’s statue of Lincoln was temporarily unveiled, on the 7th, in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington for inspection by the Secretary of the Interior, prior to the formal acceptance of the work by Congress. All present expressed the highest satisfaction at the artistic manner in vhich the work had been performed.

Ex-Postmaster General Randall has recently returned from Japan,' whither he accompanied Hou. W. 11. Seward. He says both of Governor Seward’s arms were completely paralyzed, so that he was entirely deprived of their use. With this exception, his health seemed to be unimpaired. He proposed to extend his trip to India, and, on his way home, will visit St. Petersburg, upon invitation of the Czar of Russia. James Kelly, postmaster of New York city under Mr. Lincoln, died on the evening of the 10th. John L. Murphy has been appointed to the Senate by the President, as Associate Justice of the Supremo Court of Montana Territory.

It is now stated from Washington that Hon. Hamilton Fish wi(J retire from the Cabinet as Secretary of State, on the adjournment of the present session of Congress, and that Hon. Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana, will be appointed in his place. Hon. B. Gratz Brown was on the 9th inaugurated as Governor of Missouri. The Ohio House has adopted a resolution, by a vote of 68 to 16, granting permission to place a memorial of Lincoln in the rotunda of the State House. A Washington dispatch of the 11th says there was authority Tor asserting that all rumors, since the resignation of Secretary’ Cox, of Cabinet changes, are without a particle of foundation. The following nominations were sent to the Senate on the Uth: Willis S. Drummond, Commissioner of General Land Office; John Walker, Postmaster at Aurora, Ind. Hon. John Covode, M. C., died at. Harrisburg, Pa., on the 11 th,, aged 63. In a billiard matchat Buffalo on the 11th, between Parker and Rudolphe, for the championship of America and <I,OOO, the former was the winner by a score of 1,501 to 1,235. The first White House reception of the season was given on the evening of the 10th. Jt was given by Mrs. President i Grant, and was very largely attended. Nominations were made on the 12th: I S. A. Strickland, Nebraska, Governor of i Utah Territory; Joshua Armitage, Indian I Agent for the Blackfeet and neighboring

tribes; Wm. Goodloe, Penaldn Agent at Lexington, Ky, . . i poutFcal. The Legislature of Nevada organized on the 4th. The House has twenty-three Demoerate, twenty.-one Republicans, and two Independents. Robert E.‘ Lowery, Democrat, was chosen Speaker. Governor Bradley was sworn in. The Illinois Legislature contains 227 members in all. The Senate has 50 members, and the House 177. ’ Of the 227, 125 are Republicans and 94 Democrats, and 8 call themselves Independent. *' At the municipal election at Brownville, Tenn., on the 7th, the Republicans elected tjieir entire ticket, except one Aiderman. A DemocsatiaUitate: Convention for Texas has been called .to meet at Austin January 23, for the purpose of effecting a reorganization of the party. The New Jersey Legislature organized on tlie 10th. Senator. Battle was elected President of the Senate, and Mr. Condet, of Essex county, Speaker of the House. The Ohio Democratic State Centra; Committee met at Columbus oft the 10th, and decided to hold their next State Con; vention at Columbus, on the first day of June. The Kansas Legislature organized on the 10th.

A bill to make the reading of the in the public schools unlawful failed to pass the Ohio House on the 11th. The vote stood 14 yeas to 75 nays. The Wisconsin Legislature organized an the 11th. Hon. Wm. E. Smith, of Dodge,; was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Gov. Bullock, of Georgia, has given certificates to the following Members of Congress: Paine and Mclntyre, from the First District; Bethune, Third District ; Price, Sixth District: Gen. Young, Seventh District. Twenty-one bills passed by the Lottisiana Legislature, and covering appropriations amounting to $6,875,000, and 500,000 acres of land, have been vetoed by the Governor. Many persons, including Judges of the Supreme Court, Circuit Judges, the At-torney-General, and magistrates, have been indicted in the Federal Courts for holding office in Tennessee in violation of the Fourteenth amendment. The House Judiciary Committee on the 11th heard the arguments of Victoria C. Woodhull and others claiming the right of suffrage for women under the Fifteenth amendment. The Committee took no action. The New Hampshire Democratic State Convention on the 11th nominated James A. Western for Governor, and David Gilchrist for Railroad Commissioner. In the Democratic caucus of the Missouri Legislature, on the night of the 12th, Gen. F. P. Blair was nominated for U. S. Senator. In the Arkansas Legislature, on the 10th> Governor Clayton was elected United States Senator, by a vote of 94 to 9, on the first ballot The Louisiana Legislature, on the 10th, elected J. R. West, Republican, United States Senator, on the first by a large majority. *