Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1871 — Jottings From the Capital. [ARTICLE]

Jottings From the Capital.

Report says that President Grant recalled Minister Motley because he parted hia hair in the middle. A sufficient provocation. Qon. I. B. Washburn, representative in the Assembly, has oqr thanks for late favors in the shape of public documents of State interest. f The A'ortArrn Judiavian quotes from ns and credits the' Plymouth Jlejnibliran with the extract Very well, the Rtpublimn is not compromised thereby. “They” say that since Senator Beeson offered his female suffrage resolution in the State legislature several members have actually commenced parting their hair in the middle and put a little water in their whiskey. The Logansport I’karos, a paper of the “tiled owl” species, is quite indignant that Hon. I. B. Washbum, our representative in the General Assembly, should have returned the pass recently sent him as a bribe from the Toledo, Wabash «fc Western Railroad Company. They can’t comprehend the motives that prompt people to be honest; it so different from anything they ever did. ■, ■•• ■—-I ■— • * General Washburn of Vermillion county, whomjmany of the people of Jasper county will remember as having spoken in Rensselaer during the Grant and Colfax campaign, with Hon. Thotfias Nelson, recently died of consumption. Mr. Washbum had been a representative in the Lower House of Congress and at the time of his death was Surveyor General of Montana.

A telegram states that General Robert H. Milroy, of Delphi, formerly a resident of Rensselaer, is strongly urged for the appointment • as Surveyor General of Montana Territory, vice Washburn, deceased. We hope President Grant will make this appointment as General Milroy is a worthy man, and we believe is competent to perforin the duties of the position in a satisfactory manner. •• The Rensselaer Union is getting to be a spicy paper of late. We suppose the editor has received his census money, and feels like the “Morning Star.’’— Laporte Herald. Nary census or any other money. We don’t get any pub, doc.s from congress this winter and have more time to read tho Herald, Argus, South Bend Union, Mishawaka Enterprise, Winamac Democrat, Warsaw A’brtAern Indianion and other lively exchanges, and have perhaps caught the infection. The South Bend Union got high over the sleet storm up there in the vicinity of the North Pole the other day, and last week walked into its readers on stilts half a column long, labelled “The Ice and wrapped “in a crystalline glory,” decorated with pendant “festoons ©f diamonds,” “glittering gems,” all covered with “silver sheen” and here and there “an icy fringe” that gleamed and glistened and glitter ed, and shone and sparkled and shimmered, and scintillated and twinkled and blinked, like the stars at night, or diamonds bright, or snow so white in gay sun-l’glit.

A prominent whiskey dealer’has written to the Louisville Commercial that there is now on liand-“carricd” for want of a market—more than a two years supply of first class whiskey, not to mention high wines. There are 696 grain distilleries in the Lnitcd States, with a manufacturing capacity of 201,295,200 gallons, yearly, while statistics in the Internal Revenue Department show that only about 80,000,000 gallons are annually consumed. This is assigned as the reason for so many I recent failures of prominent houses in the whiskey trade. Mr. Martindale, member from Marion county, has introdaccd a bill for the purpose of enabling the members to vindicate’ tbem•elvefe from the charge of bribery. The Bill provides that when a charge of bribery is made against a member or officer of the legislature it becomes an pffence "affiPthe party making it is liable to an sction for libel, and no defense can be set up. As now construed by jurors (and they assume to construe probabili ties as well as evidence and law) the fact of being a member of the legislature is conclusive proof that he will take a bribe—when it is large enough.

Paris capitulated to the Germans ’ last Ssrturday, An armistice has been dechired until noon February 10th. During this period active negotiations will looking to permanent peace. The French people arc very much humbled while on the other hand, the Prussians, although greatly elated at their success, arc not so demonstrative as a less phlegmatic people might be. King William and Count Bismarck do not appear willing to modify in the least respect their original demands for money indemnity and the dismemberment of the French possessions. By the terms of armistice the French arc permitted to rcvictual Paris, while none of their armies are disbanded or disarmed.. Tho Germans occupy the cordon of forts around that city. If no basis ol peace can be agreed upon, France will again resume defensive-offensive operations with a force of nine hundred thousand troops. Frank S. Bedell, editor of the Crown Point Register, is a fortunate man. We doubt if there is another so fortunate an editor on the American continent. Thousands of people would give half of their possessions to know what people think about them as he knows what pco» pic think about him. We call him fortunate because he has lived to read a brother editor’s obituary on his demise, and the resolutions incubated by a committee appointed to draft a form of dignified grief. Besides this, he has seen a telegram from a life insurance company, asking their agent whether he had paid his premiums promptly and if there was not some loophole through which they might creep and avoid paying the policy. It is thought the mistake arose from the fact that he has permitted some of his patrons to becomejjelinquent for ten years subscription, and in was naturally concluded that he had starved to death.

They keep their promiscs to the people, well. They always do.— Perhaps if there is one thing more than another for which they are distinguished-—unless it be to charge corruption upon others—it fulfilling their promises. But in this respect they are peculiar.— Performing what they promise to do is “a game _they don’t understand,” very well, and the way they go about it is original. Last fall, it will be remembered, they—we mean the candidates and claquers of the democratic party — promised if the people of Indiana would place them in power they ijrould inaugurate a system of reform that would save the State much unnecessary expense. The government of Indiana was being extravagantly administered, they said, and none but the hard-headed democracy had the financial ability or will to economize. The elections took place and the democracy have control of the State. Mark what follows. The legislature of 1868-9, which had a republican majority, voted an appropriation bill of barely §70,000 to defray the expenses of the session, but this democratic legislature, pledged to economy, reform and retrenchment, has voted itself' §IOO,OOO for expenses. Which is why we remark And our language is plain— That for ways of reform in economy's train, The Hoosier Democ is peculiar. The Advauce, a large sized, well conducted religious newspaper, published at Chicago, in the interest of the Congregalionalist denomination, has rapidly gained popularity throughout the North-west, and now stands in the front rank of American religious journals. Able, candid and independent in its editorials, full and fresh in its church news of all denominations, very attractive in its children’s department: in fact it embraces in its columns—agricultural, scientific, commercial and literary—a complete summary of current news of the day, which, with correspondence from all parts of the globe, make it a most attractive family paper. Among its premiums it is now offering a superb chromo of Henry Ward Beecher for every three new subscriptions. Address, Advance Company, Chicago.

“Koskoo” come down with the stamps and we’ll print you.— Winamac Democrat. That’s what we “tole” ’em, but “thar’s” too much tar on their heels; they “aint a-gwine” to-do it r < o-Post-route No. 12,379 is to be established in Newton county, July Ist, 1871. It is to be from Kentland via Morocco to Hervey, a distance of 28 miles, Mails are to be carried once a week.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., ( January 23d, 1871. Editor* Union: ■ The legislative work of last week might be characterized as a continuance of the preliminary order. A number of bills were introduced proposing to enact, amend and repeal, laws for the “dear people.” Twice during the week all bills, resolutions, etc.,-were cleared from the Speaker’s table, which shows that the House is keeping its work well in hand. On Friday afternoon, the Senate and House held a joint meeting to hear Alins Way and Mrs. Swank present a memorial and offer their arguments in favor of female suffrage. The hall of the House was packed, so much bg, that many of the “grave and reverend” Senators, like the Dutchman’s hen, set standing. The ladies had a very respectful hearing, but the papers did not reproduce their memorials or speeches, so that we can not give you a synopsis of them. The Superior Court bill passed the House on its third reading with but eight nays recorded against it. The last bill introduced is No. 156, by Dr. Butterworth, of St. Joseph qpnnty, repealing the objectionable sections of the Kankakee draining law. The present legislature adjourns every Fri ’ay noon until the next Monday afternoon with a cool reg-, ularity that astonishes those who came here to work. This afternoon the House had under consideration Mr. Calkins’s bill to amend the Draining law.— The bill was ordered printed so that all the members may become thoroughly posted in the matter.— The members from the north-west-ern portion of the State are interesting themselves in the matter and will do all they can to get as good a law as possible. There is a general feeling among members of tho legislature that the Common Pleas Courts should be abolished and have county courts instituted in place, so far as county business is connected, and increase the Circuit court districts. Also to amend the law so that the Supreme court will not be called to pass upon cases involving a less sum than one hundred dollars. The members of the House Are promptly on hand for business.— Yesterday there was no quorum in the Senate. One democratic member had been granted leave of absence, and it is reported that those here were afraid to come together and form a quorum, lest the republican majority might undo some of their partisan work. Wash. January 28th, Not much done this week besides the introduction of bills and “blowing off” of some pent up democratic steam. Au article in the Journal of Thursday morning gave a good opportunity for the democracy to give vent to their “pheelings.” Captain Simpson, of Jefferson, offered a resolution that the Journal be expelled from the House because it had misrepresented the House by saying that “disgraceful scenes had been enacted” therein. The democracy did some heavy speaking.— The little fishes were going from one part of the Hall to another and thought had a “soft thing” on the Journal since the republicans were compelled to confess that the statement was not true, but then the editor of that paper made the stateriient on the authority of a leading democrat of this city. During the skirmish, Judge J. E. McI Donald came in and prevailed on Mr. Davidson, of Tippecanoe, to offer an amendment merely censuring the Journal, which was passed. When tlie out Friday morning it reiterated the charge and Would not retract. The chairb man ot the Marion county democratic central committee says it was so and sticks to it and the Journal will not take it back until he does, since he was fts authority. It was not correct and if a lie at all it is a democratic one. Time in the House is worth about one hundred and fifty dollars per hour—they spent two hours on that resolution apd accomplished little for themselves aud nothing for the public. That portion of the Journal's charge referring to the Speaker not checking same vulgar proceedings last Friday, during or just after the joint session to receive the Memorial presented by the women asking suffrage for themselves, is true and none try to deny it. ’ A resolution to instruct and request our senators and representatives in Congress to place coffee, tea, sugaf-, pig iron and sole leather 1 pn the free list, cost the State about

three hundred dollars and was postponed one week. The ‘.‘barefooted democracy'’ want cheaper soles so they can spend more on their appetites, we suppose. E. 8. Alvord, said lo be n reformed gambler, and now chairman of the democratic State central committee, gave a party to which all the members of the legislature and two or three hundred citizens of the city were invited, last Thursday evening. It is said to have been a magnificent affair and was all that money could make it.— James Elliott, senator from Fayette county, says that Alvord offered him §15,000 for three votes, viz:— For the Wabash <t Erie Canal swindle; the Morgan Raid Claims, and the rcdistricting of the State lor Congressional and Legislative purposes. “How is that for high?” This same chairman of the democratic State central committee promised his dying son, so people say, that his family should want for nothing after his death, but now allows his orphan grandchildren to go about the streets ragged and barefooted. How much money does the democracy of Jasper county pay this man for campaign purposes? The last legislature did br“ little and the probability that this one will do less. More thaw one-third of the session has now’ passed and not a single important measure passed yet, excepting the appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars for legislative purposes. Two members of the committee on Benevolent Institutions started to go with tho others of the fcommittee to visit the Asylum so Insane, but got into the wrong carriage. The consequence wms, bills posted, police sent out in every direction, and finally two “Honorable” gentlemen were arrested. Explanations followed and all was right again. Wash.

Fort Wayne city owes §600,000. Erysipelas is prevailing in Valparaiso. Wolves come into Valparaiso for their’nightly mutton. Ninety-nine marriage licenses were issued in Lake county, last year. There are about one dozen candidates for clerk of the city of Anderson. A dog-fight was tho only interesting occurrance in Monticello last week. A farmer near Wanatah recently found a three weeks old female infant on his doorstep. A California sapling, measuring twenty-five feet in diameter, passed through Logansport on the cars, one day last week. Mrs. Fleming, an Irish woman, got drunk in Valparaiso last Saturday week, started hsn?’, fell into a ditch and was drowned. Neck-tie sociables are raging among the softs at South Bend.— So long as the ties are not hempen we presume they will be enjoyed. A surgeon at Logansport recently performed a difficult operation on an ovarian tumor weighing thirtyfive pounds by removing a lady, and it is now quite comfortable.