Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1873 — General News Summary. [ARTICLE]

General News Summary.

CONGRESS; SENATE—EXTRA SESSION March 6.—The Senate of the Fortythird Congress met in extra session ... Senators Jones, of Nevada, Ferry, of Connecticut, and WAdleigb, of New Hampshire, were sworn in.... The committee appointed to wait upon the Presi dent reported that he had no communication to make to the Senate except in the form of nominations. .. .'Mr. Morton offered a resolution declaring that Mr. Caldwell was not entitled to a seat as Senator from Kansas, not having been duly and legally elected ■ . A lengthy debate was had on . the question of the admission of Mr. Spencer, of Alabama, whose credentials were presented, and whose claim is contested by Mr. Sykes, whose certificate of election, signed by the officers of the Legislature of that State, were also presented. March 7. —The Rev. Dr. Newman was re-elected Chaplain.. . . After discussion, a motion was adopted to admit Mr. Spencer, of Alabama, and he was sworn lu. The credentials of Wm. T. McMillen, claiming to be the Senator-elect from Louisiana, elected by the McEnery Legislature, were presented and laid on the table to be printed. . ..The credentials of Roscoe Conkling as Senator from New Tork, were presented, read and laid on the table.. ..Executive session and adjournment ■to the loth.—===q= -- —- .-c ■ ■ ' ■ March 10.—The Committee on Elections were directed to examine and report at the next session the best and most practicable method of electing the President and Vice-President of the United States, together with a plan for the organization of a tribunal to determine all con-, tested questions connected therewith, and that the Committee have leave to sit during the recess Of the Senate... Petitions were presented —for the —prohibition of liquor legislation... ..Tim Caldwell bribery case.was taken up, and after arguments by Mr. Morton in favor of expulsion, Mr. Caldwell made a lengthy statement, claiming that it was an absolute fact that the majority of the Kansas Legislature did vote for him, while there was no proof that there was any restraint in.the premises The election of_a Senator is the act of a State in its sovereign capacity, with which the Senate cannot interfere. He quoted numerous precedents in support of this proposition. Before the reading of Mr. Caldwell’s rtatetnehCw'as completed, the Senate went into Executivwsessfon, and afterwards adjourned, March 11.—Mr. John B. Gordon, Senator electffanHleorgia, was sworn in.... Mr. Wright, oftho SpeclalCommitt.ee of last session, introduced a resolution that the charges against the official conduct of Powell Clayton had not. been sustained, and that the Committee be discliargcd from further consideration of the -subject....A resolution was passed—. 37 to 13—authorizing the Secretary of War to consider and report as to the expediency of setting apart a portion of the Island of Mackinac for a public park . .The Secretary of the Treasury was requested-to furnish, at the next session. Information as to the conveniences and general treat ment accorded to immigrants on shipboard.... The case of Senator Caldwell was taken up. and his statement was concluded. He puts his defense upon the jfrounds—first, that, the motives of the members of a State Legislature, in voting, cannot be inquired into for the purpose of invalidating an election; second, in judging of qualifications the Senate cannot add to those prescribed by the Constitution ; third, not a dollar is traced from Caldwell, or by his authority, or from anybody else, to any member of the Legislature as a consideration for his vote. Mr. .Carpenter spoke in reply to Mr, Morton’s arguments of the day before in favor of the resolution declaring Mr. Caidwell’s election illegal, and said the testimony against Mr. Caldwell was not such as would be submitted by a court to a jury. As to Caldwell’s guilt, he should vote against the expulsion of the senator, and asked the Senators, before they cast their votes to disgrace him, at least to read.and study the testimony. March 12.—A resolution was adopted that Mr. Carpenter act as President protein. in the absence of the A-icfrPreßklent....The Standing Committees were chosen....A resolution was adopted “that the Committee on Judiciary be instructed to inquire and report nt the December session of the Senate whether the Union Pacific Railway Company, or any company authorized to build a branch road to connect therewith, or any assignee of such will he entitled to lands or bonds for any road which snc.h company may hereafter construct; and that until said Committee shall report, the executive officers of the Government are requested to issue no bonds or patent certificates rnat may be claimed for roads constructed and reported after this date.”... .The Caldwell case was further considered, Messrs. Conkling, Logan and Stockton arguing that the ’Senate had no control over the question as presented; that the election Caldwell was an act of theJState Legislature, behind which' the Senate, as decided by the courts, could not go. Mr. Morton, in reply, claimed that the power to inquire into an election carried with it the right to inquire into everything connected with THE OLD WORLD. A London telegram of the 6th says President Thiers had recognized the belligerent rights of the Carlists in Spain. The impression was growing in London that Don Carlos would succeed. General Sickles has communicated to Scnor Castelar the congratulations of the United States Senate upon the establishment of the Spanish Republic. The French Government, up to the 7th iust., had paid Germany 3,500,000,000 francs on account of the war indemnity. In the Spanish Assembly, on the Sth, a debate occurred on the bill dissolving the Assembly, convoking the ConstittfCnt Cortes, and providing for elections of the latter. ThePresl.dent.of the Chamber left the chair and made a patriotic speech, declaring that he should not oppose, a dissolution of the, Assembly and a call of the Constituent Cortes. Prime Minister Figueras exhorted the Liberals to pursue a conciliatory coursej and urged the Conservatives to trust in the Republic. The Assembly voted to take the bill into consideration by 186 yeas to 19 nays. A large crowd of people in front of the hall, on hearing the result of the vote, gave repeated cheers for,the Republic. The Federal Republic had been proclaimed in Barcelona, and Prime Minister Figueras, on receiving the nows, immediately left ..for that city. Madrid advices of the 9th say that the reports from officers of the staff of the General commanding the Army of the North represent that the Carlists cannot muster over 10,000 or 19,000 men, chiefly paid partisans. Their tactics are to act in small bands, so as to divide the National Xjoops. They have plenty of money. The peasants are growing Weary of the insurrection. Ex-King Amadeus of Spain arrived at Tufin on the Bth, and was welcomed with extraordinary enthusiasm by the people. - A Berlin dispiatch on the Bth says that the Government of France had officially given Germany financial guarantees for the payment of her war indemnity, and that negotiations for the German evacuation of French territory had commenced. A special dispatch from Berlin to the London Tinwa, however, says Germanv refuses to evacuate Belfort until the payment of the war indemnity is completed by France. A frightful accident occurred at Fort Mpnt Valerian, France, on the 7th. A cartridge factory exploded, injuring one hun- . dred persons, many of them fatally. A Berlin dispatch of the 10th says that Prince Bismarck had made a powerful speech in the Upper House of the Prussian Diet in support of the bill limiting the power - of the Roman Catholic clergy. In the English House of Commons on the 12tb, after a protracted debate, Gladstone’s Irish University bill was rejected by a majority of three votes. Ex-King Amadeus has been appointed Lieutenant-General of the Italian Army. At Rome, on the 11th, a deputation of republicans attempted to -celebrate the birthday of Mazzini by visiting his tomb, but the police refused them admission.

Great excitement prevailed for a time, but the troops werp called out and prevented a disturbance. The French communist Farrades has been sentenced by court-martial to be executed. The defeat Of Mr. Gladstone’s Irish University bill in the English House of Commons created the most intense excitement. During the debate the galleries were crowded, among those present being the Prince of Wales, the Princess Louise, and Prince Christian. The bill did not receive the vote of a single conservative member. Fortyseven liberals, of whom thirty were Irishmen, voted against’ it. Fifteen Irish members voted for it. Seventeen members, including Isaac Butt, member for Limerick, were absent. Forty members participated In the debate. John Bright, Jacob Bright, 1 his brother, and the Marquis of Lome supported the Government. After the announcement of the result, Gladstone arose and said: “The vote just given is certainly of a grave character. As the House never wishes to continue its deliberations when the existence'of the Government Is in doubt, I move an adjournment until Thursday.” The motion was carried. At noon on the 12th, Mr. Gladstone waited upon the Queen and tendered his resignation. A dispatch from Dublin says that the students of Trinity College had burned Gladstone in effigy. —The Spanish Assembly, on the 11th, definitely sanctioned the bill introduced by the Government suspending the present sittings and convoking a Constituent Cortes for the Ist of May. Martos, President of the Asscmbly, ami..Lopez, Secretary, had resigned. The German Parliament convened on the. 12th. The Emperor opened the session in person. In his speech from the throne the Emperor said he believed that negotiations now in progress would result in the entire evacuation of France by the German troops at an earlier day than- had been heretofore expected. A company has been organized in England for the purpose of laying ane w~ocettn cable from Plymouth, England, to Rye Beach, N. H. Gold closed in New York on the 13th at 115@115XNew Orleans advices on the evening of the 6th, state that the Kellogg Metropolitan Police, armed as infantry, had taken possession of Odd Fellows’ Hall, where the McEnery Legislature had formerly met. The Speaker of the House and several of the members who were-in the hall at the time, were taken to the Police Station, but were subsequently released. It wasclaimed that Governor McEnery did not authorize the movement made by the militia the previous night. The total number of casualties reported as resulting from the affray was one man killed and eight wounded on the aide of the militia, and one wounded of the police. About fifty citizens, or militia, who participated in the affray, had been arrested, taken before a United States Commissioner, and released on SI,OOO bail each. The Fusion Legislature met in the afternoon at the St. James Hotel, and passed a joint resolution, protesting, “in the name of the people of the State, against the interference of the military of the U. S. Government,” ete., etc. Everything was quiet, and no further trouble apprehended. Early on the morning of the 6th, two Chicago policemen, while endeavoring to arrest a couple of drunken rowdies, were set upon by four others of the gang, and a terrible fight ensued. One of the policemen drew his revolver and fired six shots at the party wlio were beating liis companion, and succeeded in driving them away. One of the policemen was very badly beaten, one of the rowdies killed, and another fatally wounded. The new Postal bill, as it was agreed to in the Conference Committee, and finally passed, cuts off free newspaper circulation entirely, except exchanges, and rejects the proposition to compel newspapers to prepay their postage. The two cent letter postage goes into effect July 1. The Miuuesote-House of Representatives on the sth formally impeached Wm. Beegar, State Treasurer, of corrupt conduct in office. A committee waited upon the Senate, and demanded action. That body appointed a committee of five upon the matter, to consider and report at its convenience.. The Governor was also formally notified. The Arkansas Legislature has passed a bill prohibiting the sale of liquors to minors. Senator Sumner resumed his seat in the Senate on the 6th. His health was much Improved. Judge Poland has sent the ten shares of Credit-Mobilier stock, which M r - Ames insisted belonged to Mr. Kelley, but which the latter emphatically disclaimed, to United States Treasurer Spinner, who is to sell them, with accumulated dividends, for the benefit of the conscience tund of J;he Treasury. It is stated from Washington that the Postmaster General insists upon collecting double unpaid rates of postage on newspapers, holding that, as the Attorney-General did not. pass upon that- question, his late decision refers only to letters. A frightful double murder is reported at Mattoon, 111., on the 6th. A widow named Nancy Lanxton, and her adopted daughter, twelve years old, were found dead in bed, with their throats cut from ear to ear. A common case-knife was sticking in the wound in Mrs. Lanxton’s throat, her right hand grasping its handle. The bodies lay in a composed position, evidently having been arranged after death, and nicely covered by the bed-clothes. A son of Mrs. Lanxton was arrested on suspicion of having committed the murders. A dispatch from Fort Benton, 7th, says that a war party of Piegan Indians killed Hiratn Cook and Charles Randolph, a fe’w days since, above Eagle Creek, on the Missouri River, where they had been all winter. The bodies were horribly mutilated. The Kansas Legislature adjourned on the 7th. The Pomeroy Investigating Committee reported on the 6th. The majority report, signed by four members, finds Pomeroy guilty of bribery and attempting to corj-upt members of the ..Legislature by offers of money. The micorTty report/ signed Joy three members of the committee, finds the charges of bribery and corruption not proven. The minority report was adopted by the House, and the majority report by the Senate. Previous to adjournment Senator York addressed the Senate regarding his connection with the- Pomeroy affair, and after his speech the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution expressing ! ‘full i faith

and confidence in the statements made, by Senator York before the Joint Senatorial Convention for the election of a United States Senator, and that Samuel C. Pomeroy, did offer to bribe him by the payment of $7,000 for his vote.” The resolution sloses by thanking Senator York, “in behalf of the people of the State .of Kansas,, for the unmasking of Samuel C. Pomeroy, who has by corrupt practices so long held his position in the United States Senate.” A dispatch from Portsmouth, N. H., says that on the evening of the sth, two girls were murdered near that place by one Lewis Wagner. A third person had a narrow escape. The object was robbery, aud the result sls. The President has authorized the public;] tion of the following letter to Mr. Colfax: Executive Mansion, Washington, March 4. My Deab Mr. Colfax: Allow me to say that I sympathize with you in the recent Congressional investigations; that I have watched them closely and I am as satisfied now as I have ever been of yoar integrity, patriotism and freedom from the charges imputed as if I knew of my own knowledge of your innocence. Our official-relations have been so pleasant that I would like to keep up the personal relations through life. Affectionately yours, U. 8. Grant. A dispatch from Yreka, Cal., Bth, says that the sister of Captain Jack-had visited the headquarters of the Peace Commission, and reported the acceptance by her brother of the terms of surrender offered by the Commissioners. A later dispatch (9th) adds that Ca ptain Jack had requested three wagons to be sent to meet them at Rocky Point, half way between Fairchild’s lava bed. The Modoc war was therefore considered at an end. —JPresideut Grant has contributed SIOO and Viee-x*resident Wilson SSO to the Greeley monumeut fund. An enthusiastic reception was tendered ex-Vice-President Colfax on his return to his home at South Bend, Ind., on the Bth. Mr. Colfax made a lengthy and carefully prepared speech in reply to the congratulatory address on the part of the citizens, in which he reviewed the charges brought against him in connection with the CreditMobilier investigation, and reiterated his entire innocence of all blame. Both branches of the Tennessee Legislature have united in the enactment of a law providing a uniform system of free schools. In accordance with the usual custom, the members of the Diplomatic Corps in Washington paid their respects in person to the President on the 10th, and congratulated him on the beginning of his second term of office. An official dispatch received in Washington on the 10th confirms the press statements of the surrender of the Modocs, and expresses the belief that peace will be permanent. Secretary Delano stated that the Department would take steps as soon as possible to procure for the Modocs an acceptable and suitable reservation. Lcb Canman,recently com .cted of robbing the mail while a clerk in the Chicago postoffice, and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years, has been pardoned by the President. Some doubt was felt as to the young man being actually guilty of the crime, and his pardon was recommended by a very large number of the most prominent citizens of Chicago. In the Senate, on the 10th, Senator Morton made an argument in the Caldwell case, in .which he contended that the Senate had a right to protect itself against a criminal, although the Legislature electing him might be indifferent on the subject. The power to expel a member was necessary to enable the House to perform its high functions, and was incidental to the protection of the State. The Indiana Legislature ad journed sine die on the 10th. The Ohio House of Representatives, on the 10th, adopted a resolution—74 to 6—to censure the Ohio members of Congress who voted for the retroactive salary bill. A motion to amend the resolution so as to ,sensure President Grant for sighing and approving the bill was lost—yeas, 24; nays, 52. The grand jury at Evansville, Ind., on the 11th, indicted Frederick J. Smith, alias Meyer, for killing a woman whose headless body was found buried April 10,1866. The Falls City Tobacco Bank, at Louisville, Ky., was broken into and robbed, on the night of the Bth, of bonds and other securities amounting to over SIOO,OOO. The President has reappointed, as Government Directors of the Union Pacific Railroad, Hiram Price and James F. Wilson, of Iowa; J. C. Harrison, Indiana; J. 11. Millard, Nebraska, and D. S. 8. Ruddock, Connecticut. It has been publicly charged ih New York that Mrs. Putnam received $15;000 in consideration of her appeal to Governor Dix to have the sentence of Foster, the car-hook murderer of Putnam, commuted to a lesser punishment. The New Hampshire State election occurred on the 11th. Returns received up to midnight from 130 towns give Straw (Republican), 24,971; Weston (Democrat), 21,857; Blackman (Temperance)® 826; and Ma-, son (Liberal), 466. Jt was thought the three Democratic Congressmen were elected. The Republicans claimed the Legislature. ' A Virginia, Nevada, dispatch of the 11th, says that the epizootic had reached that place, and was so universally spread that work in the mines had been almost entirely abandoned. Rev. J. F. Clarke, of the Methodist Episcopal Cfiurch South, stationed at White Sulphur Springs, West Va., has been- expelled from the church fdr immorality. At Charlotte, Clinton County, lowa, recently, a party of five, in trying to ford the Maquoketa River with a team, were swept under the ice which had accumulated in large quantities near by, and of the five occupants of the wagon but one, a woman, was saved, and but one body of thte djowned recovered. At Rolling Fork, Miss., ifew days ago, a family of four persons were horribly murdered and an attempt made to destroy their remains by burning the building in which the deed was committed. Robbery was supposed to have been the cause of the crime, and the perpetrators had not been arrested. At Cascade, Michr, a few nights ago, the Jwnae of M* G> Smith was destroyed by fire, caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. Mrs. Smith’s clothing caught fire from the explosion, and"she was badly, and probably fatally, burned. JThe flames spread so rapidly that a son of Mr. Smith, fourteen years old, asleep in another part of ' the building, was burned to death, it being impossible to rescue him. . Mrs. Sally Herndon, of Cairo, 111., attempted recently to kindle a fire by pouring

“non-explosive” oil on some live coals. An explosion followed, and the foolish woman would probably die of Injuries received. The Illinois House of Representatives, on the 12th, passed a resolution—yeas 103, nays 4—“ emphatically condemning the action of our Representatives in Congress from this State who, by their own votes, increased their own pay to $7,500 per annum.” The Massachusetts Legislature in joint convention on the 12th, elected Hon. George S. Boutwell to the seat in the United States Senate made vacant by the resignation of Hon. Henry Wilson. The vote was as follows: Boutwell, 152; Dawes, 115; Loring, 2; J. R. Tarbox, 2; Wm. Whiting, 2; C. Greene, 2—making 275 votes in all. Senator Carpenter, of Wisconsin, has been chosen President pro tern. of the United States Senate. The Democrats have been allowed two representatives on each of the new standing Senate Committees. Judge Richardson assumed charge of the Treasury Department at Washington, as Acting Secretary, on the 13th. A New York telegram of the 12th says Congressman W. R. Roberts, of that-eity, in a communication addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, directs his back pay as a member of the Forty-second Congress to be paid into the Treasury of the United States. It was said that Merrick (Md.) also refused his extra pay, and that Judge Hoar (Mass.) accepted his, but afterward turned it over to -charities. - An extensive fire occurred at Indianapolis, Ind., on the night of the 11th, involving a loss of about SIOO,OOO. Daniel Glazier, Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, was almost instantly killed by a falling wall.