Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1874 — LATEST NEWS. [ARTICLE]

LATEST NEWS.

Governmental. Crisis in France. Heavy Rains Extinguish the Michigan Forest Fires. Recognition of Baxter as Governor of Arkansas. Terrible Calamity In Western Idas■achuaeMs. Other Interesting Personal and General News Items. THE OLD WORLD. According to Madrid dispatches Gen. Concha left Bllboa on the 11th. The Carlists were barricading the mountain passes. According to a recent decree all Carlists decrying the pretensions of Don Carlos are to be shot. Bayonne dispatches of the 12th deny that the Carlists under Don Alfonzo had recently suffered defeat. The sentence of banishment Imposed by Don Carlos upon the Cure of Santa Cruz had been revoked and that official had been ’invited to return to Spain. The Spanish Government, on the 16th, called into active service forty battalions of the reserves. An extensive conflagration occurred in Paris on the night of the 11th, in that section known as the Bastile quarter. A number of lives were lost and more than 200 families had their habitations destroyed. paper on the 14th, justifying the killing of the Virginius prisoners. He says: “If the laws of Spain are too severe in the judgment of foreigners they are at liberty not to tread its soil.” A governmental crisis occurred in France on the 15th, on the proposition to create an upper chamber advocated by the Ministry. The project created intense excitement, and the prospect was that the Ministry would be defeated and forced to resign. On the 16th the proposition was defeated, and the Ministry resigned. The President on the 17tli intrusted the formation of a new Cabinet to M. Goulard, of the Right Center. A Berlin special of the 15th says that It was Prince Nicholas, one of the Emperor’s nephews, who was recently arrested in St. Petersburg, and not the Grand Duke Nicholas, as first reported. The offense charged against the young man was the giving of Borneo! his mother's diamonds to a French actress. The Emperor had ordered his arrest and punishment^

TIIB NEW WORLD. - The Arkansas Legislature met on the 13th with a quorum in both brandies. A joint committee was appointed to prepare a resolution to send to the President relative to the pending difficulties. Both branches ot the Legislature met on the morniug of the 14th and adopted resolutions requesting the President to give them possession and control of the State House and public property, and protect the State and Legislature from domestic violence and molestation. In the evening the Assembly met in joint convention and received a message from Baxter inviting the Legislature to decide who is Governor of Arkansas, and suggesting tho propriety of calling a Constitutional Convention. On the 15th Attorney-General Williams furnished the President with an opinion holding that, under all the circumstances of the case, it was the duty of that officer to recognise Baxter as the lawful Executive of the State of Arkansas. The President thereupon issued his proclamation recognizing him, and commanding all disorderly persons to retire peacefully within ten days. In the afternoon Gov. Baxter issued his proclamation announcing the decision, and congratulating the people of Arkansas upon the Anal settlement of the difficulty. Brooks sent a communication to Baxter in the evening to arrange for sending home the troops on both sides. Both houses of the Arkansas Legislature passed the bill, on the 16th, for catling a Constitutional Convention; to be held on July 14. The State House was surrendered to the State authorities. On tho 11th more crevasses were reported in the lower Mississippi, and the outlook for the suffering people was thought to be more disheartening than ever. The United States Centennial Commission published a card on the 11th, stating that the work contemplated by that organization had been commenced and would bo vigorously prosecuted without delay. The town of Ridgeway, lowa, has been entirely consumed, with the exception of a single brick building. The fire was caused by the carelessness of two boys playing in an unoccupied house. The Attorney-General of Wisconsin has decided that the State Railway law is constitutional, and the Governor of that State has determined to enforce its provisions. The investigation into the affairs of the District of Columbia was concluded on the 12th. Both parties were notified to submit their arguments in writing as speedily as possible. ■# Hon. David B. Mellish, M. C. from the Ninth New York Congressional District, has become* insane in consequence of his studies upon finance. according to the classification of the Chicago Tribune, given on the morning of the 18th, of 928 Western newspapers, 295 Republican, 128 Democratic and 91 Independent papers sustain the veto; aqji 234 Republican, 112 Democratic and 62 Independent papers oppose it. A Democratic caucus of the Connecticut Legislature on the 18th nominated Hon. Wm. W. Eaton for United States Senator. The Liberal Republicans of New York met in conference at Albany on the 18th and resolved to continue the organization. At the annual meeting of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at Harrisburg, Pa., on the 13tb, Chas. Devens, Jr., of Massachusetts, was elected 'Commander-in-Cblef. Chicago was selected as the next place of meeting. An application was made to the New York Supreme Court, on the 13th, for an order to wind up the Samana Bay Company and appoint a receiver of its effects. The Second, Fifth and Sixth Army Corps acid a reunion at Harrisburgb, Pa., on the 12th. It wts largely attended by distinguished civilians and soldiers. A resolution was adopted

requesting the President to reopen the Fitz John Porter case. There were heavy rains in Michigan on the night of the 11th, which extinguished the greater part of the forest fires then raging. In the northern and western portions of the State many hundreds of acres of valuable Umber had been consumed. The managers conducting the impeachment of Treasurer Hayes, of Kansas, have withdrawn the charges against that official in consequence of bis resignation. John Francis has been appointed Hayes’ successor. The National Agricultural Congress assembled at Atlanta, Ga., on the 13th. An address was delivered by President Jackson felicitating the Congress upon the good results accomplished by the organization and recommending co-operation, union, and the obliteration of sectional antipathies. The members of the Masonic lodge at Habana Grande were recently arrested by the authorities of Porto Rico. ' The Massachusetts Senate on the 14th refused to order to a third reading, by 14 yeas to 10 nays, a resolution providing for a constitutional amendment securing to women the elective franchise and the right to hold office. The Grand Army of the Republic of the Department of New York has lately adopted a resolution agreeing to make no distinction, on Decoration day, between the graves of the Confederate and Union dead. The sixth annual session of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association began in New York on the 14th. Susan B. Anthony presided. The Wisconsin Railroad Commissioners, on the 14th, issued a schedule classifying the railroads and fixing passenger and freight rates. r '-~£y , Senator Carpenter on the 15th published a letter in the Madison StateJoumal, in which he says that Messrs. Curtis and Evarts evaded the real point at Issue in their recently-pub-lished opinions. He declares that the State Legislature has the right to alter, amend or repeal the charter of any railway corporation, to give it new privileges or restrict those it now has. Any other view of the question he contends would give to corporations the power to override the Constitution of the State, and render null and void the action of the Legislature.' The Ohio Constitutional Convention adjourned sine die on the 15th.• Williamsburg, Leeds, Haydenville and Florence, in Hampshire County, Mass., were devastated, on the morning of the 16th, In consequence of the giving away of a reservoir erected for supplying water in dry seasons. Over 150 livorfwere lost, and property valued at $2,000,000 destroyed. A suit has been commenced in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin for the forfeiture of the charters of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Bt. Paul and the Northwestern Railway Companies, on the charge of having defiantly and habitually violated the law of the State regulating their franchises. CONGRESSIONAL.. In the Senate, on the 11th, a memorial of the Workingmen's Convention that the two houses of Congress adjonrn sine die was presented and referred. ...A favorable report was made on the House bill for the relief of settlers on railway lands.... The House bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to discharge certain obligations of the United States to the credit of the Upper and Lower bands of the Sioux Indians was passed.... The Geneva Award bill was debated.... A bill was introduced to repeal so much of the act of July 15,1870, as requires payment by the Northern Pacific Railway Company of the cost of surveying and conveying lands granted said company.... Adjourned. In the House, on the 11th, among the more important billa introduced were the following: To provide for free banking and better security to depositors, to hinder usury, to give elasticity to the currency, preserve its value to the people, and prevent flnnclal panics by locking up the currency; to fix the term of President at six years, and to prohibit his re-election.... Bills were passed—lndian Appropriation bill; declaring subject to local. State or Territorial taxation the lands of the Pacific Railway Companies from the time that they became entitled to them, Irrespective of the time at which patents were Issued; to confirm preemption and homestead entries on pnblic lands within the limits of railway grants in cases where such entries are made nnder the regulations of the Land Office; the Military Academy Appropriation bill ($385,685)....A resolution was adopted—lß6 to 64—declaring that, if an Increase of taxation be found necessary, such increase shall commence with the taxation of persons and corporations on their annual incomes, dividends and salaries.... The Deficiency Appropriation bill ($3,841,175) was considered In Committee of the Whole....Adjonroed. In the Senate, on the 12th, the bill amendatory of the act to Increase the pay of the soldiers of the United States army was reported favorably....An amendment to the new Finance bill was reported from the Committee on Finance. *.. .The Geneva Award bill was taken up, and the amendment to strike out the clause excluding the claims of insurance companies was rejected, and other proposed amendments were disposed of, and the bill jvas passed—B6 to 17 ...A resolution was offered providing for a committee of three to proceed to Arkansas to inquire into the cause of the existing troubles In tne governmental affairs of that State, and to ascertain who Is the lawfully elected Governor of the State... .Adjourned. In the House, on the 12th, a resolution was adopted declaring that Cannon, the sitting member from Utah, had been duly elected and was entitled to a seat as Delegate, and a resolution was also agreed t 0—127 to 51—to refer the question of Cannon's polygamic practices to ths Committee on Elections.... The bill to amend the Passenger Steamboat law was considered In Committee of the Wh01e.... Adjourned. - In the Senate, on the 13th, bills were Introduced—for the better protection cf Immigrants ; to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign nations; for the relief of the Chlckaeaws and the freedmen.. . .The new Finance bill was taken np and debated, and one prorsed amendment was rejected.... The Ilonee bill secure homesteads to actual settlers on the pnblic domain was reported from committee, with amendments.... Adjourned. In the House, on the 13th, the bill to revise, amend and cansblidatt law* relating to the security of life on board vessels propelled in whole or In part-by steam was psssed... .The De ficlency bill was considered in Committee of the Whole... The Senate bill to distribute the Geneva award was referred to the Judiciary Committee .... Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 14th, the Finance bill was taken np Itnd amended as follows: Making 85 per cent. (Instead of 60) as the proportion of legal tenders to be retired a* the new National Bank notes are Issued; providing that within thirty days after circulating notes to the amount of $1,000,000 shall, from- time to time, be issued to National Banking associations under this act in excess of the highest outstanding volume thereof at any time prior to snch Issue, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to retire an amount of United States notes equal to 25percenLof the circulating notes so issued: making 4)4 per cent, (instead, of 5) as the rate of interest which bonds lstoed to redeem the preeent United States notes after Janaary, 1877, shall bear; making ten yean (Instead of fifteen) as the time when such bonds shall be redeemed In cob; fixing July 1,1878 (Instead of Jan. 1,1877), as the time when United States notes may be redeemed in the bonds above mentioned; inserting the word " shall ” (instead of “ may”) in the clause authorising the Secretary of the Treasury to reissue United States notes redeemed after Jnty, 1878. as provided Iq the ninth section. Among the imendments offered and rejected waa one providing for the withdrawal of $46,000,000 from those States having an excess of National Bank circulation and the redistribution thereof to those States having less than their proportion—yeas 18, nays 98. The bill was then finally passed—yeas2s, nays 19.... A bill was Introduced and referred to authorize ths settlement of the Claims of several States for 5 per cent of the value* of Indian reservations... .Adjourned. a

In the House, on the 14th, a bill was passed to amend the charter of the Freed men’s Saving and Trust Company... .The Deficiency bill was reported from Committee of the Whole and passed... .The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill ($3,347,804) was considered In Committee of the Wh01e.... Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 15th, a resolution was passed calling for copies of official correspondence relative to the troubles In Arkansas.... Several private relief bills were passed....A bill was introduced to establish a Bureau of Internal Commerce, to be attached to the Treasury Department, and be nnder the direction of a Commissioner of Internal Commerce, who shall be ap pointed by the President and confirmed by tne Senate.... Adjourned to the 18th. In the House, on the 15th, the Senate joint resolution prohibiting the publication in the Congressional Record of speeches or parts of speeches not actnally delivered was reported, with an amendment providing that it shall not be lawful for any member of either house of Congress to speak longer than one hour on any ques tien, any agreement of consent to the contrary notwithstanding, and after debate was laid on the table.... Several private bills were passed.... Adjourned. No session of the Senate on the 16th ....In the House bills were passed—extending from the 80th of January, 1574, to the 30th of January, 1875, the time for filing claims for additional bounty; extending the time for payment for lands purchased by actual settlers In Kansas, belonging to the Miami and other bands; to legalize the entries of public lands under the Homestead law in certain cases'... .The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was reported from Committee of the Whole and passed.... The Postoffice Appropriation bill ($35,653,391) was taken up in Committee of the Whole... .Adjourned.