Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1875 — Page 4

THE RENSSELAER UNION. " 111 ■ “ .. Thursday, February 11, 1875.

The finding of the jury and nsent/eiiee of court in the case of McCullough charged with the murder of Morgan, which was tried before Judge Hammond in Benton county a year or two ago, lias been affirmed by the Supreme court iu a recent decision. McCullough was sentenced to penitentiary for life. Gov. Hendricks in a recent special message to the Legislature recommended that an appropriation be made to pay the expenses of Circuit ProsecutorS. P. Thompson who so successfully worked up the case and procured the punishment of the guilty party. —........ft The terms St the circuit c#urt of this district have been changed, and also the duration of holding court at the several county-seats. Under the new law tho terras for Jasper county will commence on the 4th Monday of February, 2d Monday of May, 4th Monday of September, and 2d Monday of December, and continue for only two weeks, instead of three weeks as formerly. It is understood that this new arrangement will go iuto operation immediately, so that the lime for holding court here will Jie postponed one week, not commencing until the 22d instant. The people of Galena township narrowly escaped having a sad tragedy in their locality one day last week. George Rhodes wits driving a buggy in wnioh were seated three young ladies, and several who sa w them concluded they were returning from a wedding. Among others whom they met was Sylvester Brewster, who had a rifle iu his hand, which he playfully pointed at Rhodes and demanded the cigars. The gun was loaded and by accident was discharged, the bal! passing through the collar of Mr. Rhodes’ coat, and between the heads of two of the young ladies, but without doing the least bodily harm to any of them. It was a very narrow escape, as the variation of half an inch would have beyond question killed Rhodes. —LaPorte Argus. It is a pity there is no law for sending such pi ay ful emu in als as Sylvester Brewster to the penitenvtiary. About ten years incarceration would be the proper penalty for such funny pranks. Probably most every newspaper reader lias heard of a trans-conti-pental railroad project with which General John C. Fremont was connected, a few years since, that was known as the Memphis, Texas, El Paso & Pacific road, and which was to furnish a southern route to California. Well, it row transpires that the adventurers who composed that company distributed over eleven millions of dollars of stock among members of Congress, for the purpose of interesting them favorably towards the project, and to obtain through thffir influence Government aid lor the road. Among others who participated in this huge Credit Mobilier swindle were General Morton C, Hunter, and General John Peter Cleaver Shanks, Republican members of Congress from ludiana. Although the company failed to accomplish their scheme of swindling the government, all members of Congress who accepted stock from the company showed their corruption and willingness to become parties to the scheme. Mr. Hunter received SBOO,OOO worth of bonds; Mr. Shanks a much smaller amount. It is singular how given to the love of filthy lucre many of our prominent “Christian Statesmen” are found to be, when temptation is presented and they discover an oportunity to make a haul from the public treasury. Jt gives us pleasure to sav that the Legislature of Wisconsin last week defeated the aspirations of Hon. Mat. Carpenter for a re-election to the United States Senate. Little is known of Hod. Angus Cameron who was elected to succeed Mr. Carpenter, but that has not much to do with the cause of our rejoicing, and we care not to know anything about his antecedants if he only proves to be honest and of average ability. The reason we are glad Mr. Carpenter was defeated is because, while undoubtedly ranking among the ablest men in Congress, his career has showed him to be nntrne to the principles which are the foundation’ of our republican form .of government, unscrupulous iu his efforts to uphold the corrupted organi-

sation now controling public affairs, and because of his participation in, and defense of, the salary steal proved him to bo-a dishonest man. With the defeat of Mr. Carpenter the people succeeded in retiring from public life the last of the trio who were conspicuous champions of the “Newspaper gag-law.” Luke P. Poland, of Vermont, Benjamin F. Bu ler, of Massachusets, and Mathew Carpenter, of Wisconsin have been condemned by the great jury of (public opinion for stealing back pay, and assisting to pass the “newspaper gag-law,” which last act was nearly as infamous in its aim as the rebellion of Jefferson Davis, being no less in effect than a direct assault upon free speech, and an insidious and cowardly thrust at popular liberty. Mr. Nathan C. Weathers, of Little Valley, McPherson county, Kansas, well known to many people in this vicinity, having formerly been a resident of Marion township for several years, has written a lengthy letter which he requests to have published in’l’iiE Union; but which we decline to do, for tho reason that it is a graceless and uncalledfor attack upon certain of Ins relatives and former neighbors, because they sent money and supplies to him as one of the grasshopper sufferers, acting upon his own representations, which seem, however, to have been made for another purpose. Mr. Weathers reviews an old family feud in which the public cannot possibly have an interest, and takes occasion to deliver himself of many mean innu' endoes and charges against one of his relatives with whom but few people in this countv have any acquaintance. Although admitting that the grasshopper scourge made sad havoc with his own crops and those his neighbors, causing scarcity with some, he says that lie has plenty to eat, a better farm than there is in Jasper county, wants no assistance from people here, but desires them to “mind their own business’’ and not talk any more about him or his family. We suppose this much of the sul*' stance of his letter will be enough to accomplish the purpose ot the writer, and that his neighbors — who are members of Union Grange, together with all others that -were kind enough to send him money and other supplies when they supposed he was in need, and suffering from a general calamity, being prompted thereto by the noblest motives which inspire human actions—will see that their sympathy was wasted upon an unworthy and an unappreciative being, and treat the subject accordingly. The Colonel Morrow whose recent testimony before the New Orleans committee has afforded the Democrats so much eorfeolation, was au officer of volunteers during the war. isa Virginian by birth, and a former Democrat. 11 is funny how these things always come out . —Indianapolis Journal. The General George H. Thomas whose services to the nauon during her struggle for existence against domestic traitors will always have an honorablj position in his country’s history, “was an officer of volunteers during the war,” was “a Virginian by birth, and a former Democrat,” so far as army officers have any polities! President Grant wfio declares it to he his belief that there U a disposition to magnify the story of Southern wrongs and outrages, and who details the army to maintain iu office and protect in their usurpations men whom he officially announces procured their places by means of a “gigantic fraud,” “was an officer of volunteers daring the war.” is a native of Ohio, “and a former Democrat.” Senator John A. Logan whose recent speech in the United States Senate upholding the interference of military force in a State of the Union not in insurrection, and not proclaimed under martial law, for the purposed enforcing the decisions of a returning board which two Congressional committees have pronounced irajust and unfair, has afforded Republicans so much consolation, “was an officer of volunteers during the war,” a citizen of Illinois, “and a former Democrat” of the Breckinridge faction, of whom it 1 is reported that hq. tendered the services of himself aud a regiment of men armed and equipped for the Confederate serv-

ice in consideration of a bigadier general’s commission,' but which proposition was rejected by Jeff Davis, possibly for the reason that he thought such treason would rival his own in wickedness, and > have a tendency to divide the admiration of his followers. “It is funny how these things always come out.”

WANTS ANOTHER GRAB.

Yesterday, (February 10th, 1875,) Hon. Jasper Packard, Representative in Congress from this District, by his attorneys, Messrs. Osborn & Calkins, of LaPorte, filed Lis complaint in the Jasper county circuit court against Horace E. James and Joshua llealey, editors and publishers of The Rensselaeb Union, for “false aud malicious libel,” claiming damages and reputation” to the amount of ten thousand dollars, for which he “demands judgment and all proper reliet.” There are three counts in the complaint, which is based upon the alleged publication in TheRensselaer Union January 7th, 1875, of the following words, to-wit: DID JASPER PACKARD GET ANY OF IT? It has now been proven that over one million of dollars was used to corrupt members of Congress two years ago, ami procure the passage ot the Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Subsidy bill. That bill provided that the company in question should receive from the United States government an annual subsidy ol $500,U00 for a period of ten years for catryiug the mails twice a month from San Francisco to China. At ti»e time of the passage of this act '1 he Union denounced It as a corrupt job, and charged that Hou. Jasper Packard, together with his compeers, ba< 1 violated their solemn pledges and outraged tlieir constituents by assisting, with their votes and arguments, to pass the infamous measure. From the testimony that has already been elicited by the investigating committee it is known that, iSchumaker, a Democratic member from New York, King, Republican member from Minnesota, and formerly postmaster of the Douse, aud Parsons, Republican member from Ohio, all were feed by the company to influence members of Congress lor tlie passage of their job. There is no longer a doubt that members sold their votes to the Hteam-'Ship Company, some for more, some for less; and we are fully persuaded in our own minds that Hon. Jasper Packard was one of them.. He probably did hot get more than SSOO or SI,OOO, his influence not being very extensive, If he got nothing, he is even more fool than knave, because the stamps were being passed round and when he decided to vote for the robbery it was just as well to share iu the spoils. It would seem from this action that Hon. Jasper Packard despairs ot ever being returned to Congress where lie might participate in another back-salary steal, and now proposes to support himself and family by grabbing from his constituents. Heretofore large city newspapers have monopolized the libel-suit business, and members of Congress estimated damages to their reputations at 525,000,550,000 or $100,000;- but a new era dawns when small-fry Congressmen sue country journals, demanding excessive sums tor very indifferent articles.

RAILROAD PROSPECTS.

The railroad prospects are said to highly encouraging. Col. Healey came back from the Delphi meeting last week much more favorably impressed towards those who are managing the affairs of the Chicago <fc South Atlantic railroad project, and fully convinced of their earnest, intention to complete the work they have undertaken at an early day, and also of their ability to do so, if the local aid lhey # ask is received. The company owns rights ancLfjgrachises in Chicago which are worth not less than three millious of dollars; they have done, and paid, for upwards of $50,000 of work in Lake oounty, in the construction of grades and culverts; the timbers for the bridge over the Kankakee river are on the ground and will be ready to put into place within three weeks; at Delphi $25,000 to $40,000 has been expended in grades, cutting, filling and material for the bridge across the Wabash river, while piers to support this bridge have been built up ten feet, or above high water mark, so that nothing will interfere with its completion as soon as the weather is suitable for doing masou work- We are assured by Vice President Rae, that-, within sixty days after the ground is in condition in the spring, the earth-work of the road-bed would be completed across Jasper county, contingent only upon the - people here raising the quota of local atd required of

tjiem, and that the company would be ready to follow immediately with ties and iron.,., The company has propositions from rolling mills to furnish all the iron they want | as rapidly as it can be- used, at prices and on terras more favorable than have been prevailing for many years. In conclusion, and to sum up, it was stated that, in case the local aid was raised along the fine so as not to delay work, the cars will surely be running over the road from Chicago to Delphi via Rensselaer before the first day of January, 1876; -Since the meeting at Delphi, the Board of Commissioners of Carroll county have ordered elections to be held on the 6th day of March, in Clay, Deer Creek, Madison, Tippecanoe and Jefferson townships to vote upon a proposition to levy taxes in each of them for the benefit of this railroad to the aggregate amount of $70,000; and this is in addition tep $50,000 already pledged by private subscription in that county. People of Jasper county will be required to fill up their quota of donations for this enterprise to $75,000; about $38,000 has already been raised by private subscription and tax, leaving a balance of $37,000 yet to be provided for. How shall this be secured?

Starving Kansas.

We have'permission to publish the following extracts from letters written by former residents of Jasperscounty, now in Kansas, to friends in this place; Wichita, Kan., Jan. 29, 1875. S. P. Howard, “mu. _ x : Rensselaer , Ind. ® As Kansas and her grasshoppereaten district is a main topic* East as well as West, I thought a word from us might be of interest to you. Kansas lias been thought to be the best advertised State in the Union; certainly there can be no doubt on that point now. It lias been advertised to the world as one of the best agricultural countries in existence-—especially the great Arkansas Valley region. I have seen very many overdrawn pictures of the products of the soil, yet from the first season here I have been favorably impressed with this part of the State as an agricultural and stock-growing country. I consider the soil as good as the besffoff Indiana, and the advantages for stock-raising far surpass any locality as far north as Northern Indiana ; yet to-day it is peopled with the most destitute inhabitants that it has ever been my lot to behold. But when you recollect that this country is just being settled, and that a large majority are poor people who had little means when they came here which they have exausted in improving their new homes, you will easily perceive that when the grasshoppers swept over the country, all were left in poor circumstances, and many, very many, destitute. The destitution is more extensive, and far greater, than it was at first supposed to be; aud it must grow still worse. The great wants will be feed for teams and seed for spring planting. A large breadth of wheat was sown in this county, and so far the prospects for a good crop could not be l etter. The health of people is good. This country cannot be too highly recommended for persons with diseases of the lungs. Our winters are short, and the climate is mild. In fact, I can hardly write anything about the country without branching off on its beauties and advantages, notwithstanding the great destitution which prevails here now. But as this is jjur first failure, we hope it is also the last, and look forward in anticipation of a grand future for the Arkansas Valley. Respectfully, jfcc., . D. L. Green. Charleston, Greenwood Co.. Ks. v January 23, 1875. Eli Yeoman, Rensselaer , Ind, We have had severe oold weather for nearly a month; on the Bth instant the thermometer indicated 8° below zero. It has been very ; dry since last June. Rad only a fewlight showers last fall; have had only enough snow to whiten the ground twice. The first part of

winter was open and mild, which was a God’s blessing for the popr. There are hundreds in Kansas who are suffering tor the necessaries of life. I can Cowit many who would gladly work for their board if they could get it to d©j but work is not here for themx- • • • There is nothing to sell, and it there was we could not get the fourth part of its value. . . . . 1 have thought back East they who have plenty and to spare think it is all a hoax about people here suffering for lack of food and clothing; but had thev been here three days after the hot winds set in, or while the earth was covered with grasshoppers; they would not doubt that we really are in need. For nearly two weeks I saw the whole face of the heavens clouded with grasshoppers and at times the son was darkened as

I they passed.

A Ruinous Proposition.

A bill is now pending in the Legislature to repeal the existing law which makes the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees, in suits on promissory notes, collectable off the defendant. This was one of the measures of legislation recently petitioned for by the grangers of Lawrence county, and at first blush Is apt so receive the approval of welhmeaning but unthinking men. The argument in its favor is, of course, the general and popular one, iq favor of the borrower against the lender. It is argued that as money-lenders are generally rich, and the borrowers poor, the former are better able to pay lawyer’s feesthan the latter, and should therefore be compelled to do so, This is no argument at all, but simply an ad vaptandum appeal to vulgar prejudice. It is founded not on any principle of justice, but on that ot injustice, since it aims to place legal difficulties and expenses in the_ way ol a . man's obtaining liis rights. It is essentially a dishonest proposition. It says in effect, that the citizen who lends money is not entitled to have it returned to him, principal mid interest, without rebate, but that the borrower may use the machinery of the law to keep him out of 1 1 is own as 1 ong as possible, and' then compel him to pay lawyer’s fees f<>r collecting what should have been returned to him without any suit. The law is not made to ad-' 1 minister sympathy, but to administer justice. Lenders have rights as well as borrowers, and are as strictly entitled to them. One of those is, when they lend money, to have it returned to them at the stipulated time, with the stipulated interest, and without any offset, rebate, or diminution. . . In a commercial point of view, the effect of the passage of this law would be disastrous. At the present time there are millions of dollars of Eastern capitaLJogned: tqpartiesin this State and employed in the various avenues of productive industry. The great bulk of this money, in fact, nearly all, is secures by notes and mortgages containing this provision, saving the tejjder against the contingency of having to pay lawyer’s fees for collecting the same. Let the proposed law be passed, and not one in a thousand of the loans will be be renewed. Of all the Eastern and foreign capital now loaned in the State, probably not two per cent, would be reloaned if tee existing provision in regard to attorney’s fees is repealed. The passage of such a law would he followed by the withdrawal from Indiana during the next two years of millions of dollars off foreign capital which is now contributing to the revival of business and disseminating a healthy influence through all the channels of trade. Other things being equal, capitalists will loan their money where they can find the best collection laws and tfie surest guaranties of their rights. It is a fact that European capitalists who lend money in this city at ten and twelve per cent, per year, lend in St. Louis at eight per cent. Why? Simply because they get better security there and the collection laws of Missouri are better than those of Indiana. The better the collection laws the lower the rate of interest-. So tar from legislating in a spirit of hostility to foreign capital, every inducement consistent with public honor and individual rights should be held out to draw and keep it here. W e need it to assist in developing mines, establishing manufactures, and building towns and cities. *lt would boas wisetolegislate against labor as against capital. A law laying a special poll-tax on skilled laborers and excluding their cbil--1 dren from the common schools | would hardly smack more strongly Jof odions - efass-legislation or be more inimical to the general welfare of society, than a law specially directed against capital, and calculated to drive it from the State.— Indianapolis Journal.

If General Grant violated the Constitution, the White League of Louisiana afforded hin»an excellent pretext for so doing. Ot course, the pretext cannot be cited as Graiw’s justification. Only a knave will- take advantage of a pretext; But at the same time only rogues or simpletons will offer pretexts. Of these two classes we consider the White League to be composed. Some persons tell us it is a very innocent association; but the sentiments expressed in the speeches of its greatest champions forbid us to believe anything of the sort of fa “The White League!” Its very name condemns it. It flings its banner to the winds with the wordsr “This is a White man’s country !” Its very name, then, is prima fadeevidence that it is a conspiracy organized to defraud the negro of his rights, and that it appeals to prejudices of race to aid itin carrying out its criminal design. Suppose a Black League were to rise up in the South? Would not {suspicion, be instantly aroused? Would not people ask what the thing meant? Would not astonishment and indignation be expressed at those blacks? Would not men interpret the purpose of their organization as a menance to the whites? Certainly they would. And this; interpretation would be both just and natural. Now, what is sauce for the goose must be sauce for the gander. The same suspicions exist j regarding the White League, and the same questions can as fairly and properly be put concerning their society. The White League is an Auli-Negro League. That is its name in other words. .Congress passes reconstruction laws—Congress talks; but the White League acts, and nullifies those laws. This is the intent and purpose of that society; and it the White Leaguers were honest they would squarely acknowledge the charge. We bear no ill-feeling toward the South. We cherish no sectional prejudices. We have no party purposes to, subserve. Our honest desire is to see the people of all the sections of our common country prosperous and happy. In saying this much we feel we but express the sentiments of the great majority of the people of the North of both polite - ical parties. But true prosperity cannot exist independent of justice. The good people of the South desire tor bejurt toward the colored man. They have accepted the issues of the war, ami they are now as loyal and as law-abiding as the people ot any other part of th% \Union. Of this we are assured * At the same time, it is clear there are certain misehievious men, amongst them, who retain a little leaven of the old nigger-driving days, and who do their beat to, give a rebellious complexion to the eutire Southern population. From, men of this sort the people of the South have long; since turned aside. But they must do more. They must, in justice to themselves, lie* the North know that not only are they not of suoh men, nor in any — way influenced by them, but that they are uncompromisingly opposed to them, and will use their best exertions to defeat their purpose. The White League is Grant’s best ally; and the people of the South should know this.— N. K Irish World.

J. H. YEOMAN.

At present there is in the National Capital a grand-daughter of Thomas Jefferson, who, with her young son, is pleading and begging for an office for one or the other as a means of support. The daughters of ex-Sec-retary of the Treasury Robert J. Walker, and those of Chief Justice Taney are doing copying as a means of livelihood, and there are the grandchildren of ex-Presidents, Generals, and hundreds of other distinguished people pleading for labor at even the smallestrenomerar tion, so that they may be able to live. All of which shows that people are just what they are trained and educated to. The sons of the wealthy of this generation, as a rule, are the poverty stricken of the next. Too often wealth pampers, and begets indolence and idleness. A boy needs good practical, tugged training, to teach him self-reliance,, and make him useful.— lnd. Farmer »

* The bill introduced into the ture on Tuesday by Senator Rhodes, looks very much as if the Kankakee draining swindle was about to be revived. The bill goes considerably* into details and in many respects is very suggestive of an attempt to breathe new life into that very mean project. When it is well known that more than nine-tenths of the people effected by it, are very decidedly opposed to the scheme, it ought to be the best reason in the worlid why the members of the legislature should cease listening to the wiles of the adventurers and speculators in this job, for job it was, and would be again, if reinvested with the life and respectability a new act of the would give it, —Indiana farmer.

The White League.

Faults of Training.

The Kankakee Swamps.