The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

A CARPET-BAGGER IN CONGRESS.

There has been considerable excitement in Congress
respecting Mr. Whittemore, who is known as a " Carpet-
bagger." Mr. Whittemore represents, or did represent,
the first district of South Carolina in the House of
Representatives, and has been convicted of selling
cadetships—a fact not very likely to raise the popular
representatives in public estimation. The case
which had been before the House at an earlier date, was
reopened on February 23 by General Logan, when a scene
of great excitement and confusion ensued. General
Butler appeared as Mr. Whittemore's advocate, and de-
fended the sale of the cadetships, saying that the
money had been distributed in the district which
was represented by the accused. General Butler went on
to say, probably with more truth than politeness, that if all
such transactions were punished with expulsion a majority
of the members would be expelled. There was a good deal
of angry contention as to the right of Butler to
speak, but he spoke as we see to some purpose. Mr.
Whittemore having obtained a day's delay telegraphed his
resignation to the Governor of South Carolina. On the
24th the House was crowded in every part by eager spec-
tators, and the excitement when Mr. Whittemore
rose was intense. He first sent a messenger to
the Speaker, reading
and then commenced his
explanation. He had been a little too hasty in
his movements, however, for he had not.read half a page
before he was interrupted by Speaker Blaine. The mes-
sage sent to him was the copy of Mr. Whittemore's resig-
nation, and the correspondence between him and Gover-
nor Scott, of South Carolina. Having read this, the
Speaker ruled that Mr. Whittemore was no
longer a member, and therefore not entitled
to speak. What the Hew York Herald calls
" a very complicated parliamentary muddle " then ensued
the result being that the House decided the speaker was
right. Mr. Whittemore was no longer member, and
could therefore neither be heard nor expelled, but a vote
of censure was adopted without a dissentient voice.
Whittemore's friends are annoyed at Isis resignation which
they take as a confession of guilt. One of them
who was standing talking to Mr. Whittemore when the
vote of censure was being taken, shouted "aye" emphati-
cally, and even before the vote was declared a page was busy
rubbing Mr. Whittemore's name from his desk, but not,
it would seem for long, as the South Carolinians are
expected to send him back again, a fact which gives some
colour to General Butler's story of the distribution of the
prize money.

The fatality told in the song of "The Mistletoe
Bough" was repeated at Balerno last week, when a girl
aced 5, and a boy aged 3, the children of the gardener at
Mallany Flax Mills' shut themselves in a large corn chest
in a stable. The lid hasped itself outside, and the children
were not discovered until they were dead.

SAD ACCIDENT THROUGH EXHAUSTION. —A
shocking accident occurred on Thursday in St. Paul's-
churchyard. It appears that a young man of about 25
years of age applied for work to the decorator who had the
painting of the exterior of No. 31, St. Paul's-churchyard.
The applicant was in a state of extreme destitution. He
stated that he slept the previous night at Mr. Williams'
Refuge, Clerkenwell. He was given employment, and he
had to work on a swing scaffolding, which was suspended
forty feet above the pavement. After painting all day he
became exhausted and dropped down on the scaffolding.
Before anyone could go to his assistance he rolled off the
scaffolding and fell to the pavement. The back part of his
head was completely smashed in by the stones, and he
expired instantly.

THE UNITED STATES >AND CIIBA.—In reply to a
resolution of the House of Representatives on the subject
of Cuban affairs, the President has transmitted a number
of documents to them. From these it appears that
General Sickles dined with the President of the Cortes,
and met the Secretaries of State, Senor Silvela, &c. It was
understood that their remarks were official, and during
the course of the evening it was said that Spain desired
intimate relations with the United States, and would
extend free institutions to Cuba ; that the Cubans were
prepared for free institutions ; that Cuban questions
could not be considered in the Cortes while Cuba was in
rebellion, but that the Government were prepared to
recommend the largest liberty. Secretary Fish stated to
General Sickles that the interest felt in Cuban affairs in
the United States has lessened since the violent acts of
the insurgents' agents had become known. It is certain
that the contest cannot terminate without the abolition of
slavery.
THE DI3IINUTION OF PAIIPERIS3L—The autho-
rities of St. Pancras Woskhouse are still, it appears,
labouring in earnest to diminish the curse of pauperism.
At an inquest held on Thursday night on an old man,
named Discomb, it was shewn that they had kept him
habitually fasting for fifteen hours between his five o'clock
tea and his breakfast the next morning, and thus at length
succeeded in reducing the burden on the rates by
the amount of Discomb's keep. He died suddenly in
the infirmary wartl. The j ury returned a verdict of death by
natural causes, and expressed an opinion that fifteen hours
was too long a period to keep old people without food.
On Wednesday a further reduction of local expenditure
was effected by the administration of castor oil and opium
to George Stapleton whilst suffering from congestion of
the lungs. The jury said this was carelessness. Lvidently,
however, if this system be properly worked, it will com-
pletely supersede all such merely palliative remedies as
emigration.—Pall Mall Gazette. .

WILLS AND BEQUESTS.—The will of the Hon.
Lady Augusta Frederica Louisa Frances Vernon-Went-
worth was proved, under £90,000. Her ladyship bequeaths
to her two daughters, Louisa Mary H. Vernon-Went-
worth and Henrietta Frances Elizabeth Thellusson, all her
jewels, diamonds, and ornaments, and her carriages and
horses, equally divided between them, as well as the rest
of her property, appointing them residuary legatees.—
The will of Mr. Thomas Fielden, of Wellfield, Crumpsell,
was proved under 1,300,000 the executors being the tes-
tator's nephews—Mr. Samuel Fielden, of Centre-tale, near
Todmorden ; Mr. John Fielden, of hobroyd Court ; and
Mr. Joshua Fielden, M.P. for the West Riding of York-.
shire—and to them he leaves his property, subject to the'
payment of the interest from £30,000 secured to his wife
during her life. —The will of Mr. Thomas Parr, late of
Grappenhall, Hey-es, was proved under 500,000 personalty.
The bequests to his sons and daughter are very large, in-
cluding numerous shares in companies ; also liberal lega-
cies to his nephews and nieces, and bequests to his
clerks, servants, and others. To his executors, Mr.
Cross, M.P., and Mr. Charlton, each 230 guineas ; to his
grand-daughters, Florence and Emily Jeffery, £l,OOO.
He has left £l,OOO towards establishing an infirmary at
Warrington, and £lOO to the Ragged Schools there.
He devises his estates of Grappenhall and Appleton
to his son Joseph and issue : and devises all other his
estates, except Kiliechronan, which is subject to disposi-
tion, in conformity with Scotch law, in favour of his son
Thomas Philip Parr whom he appoints residuary legatee.
—The will of Mr. George Thomas, of Bristol, merchant,
was proved under £200,000. He leaves to his wife a
legacy of £3,000, an annuity of £1,500, and a choice of
one of his residences. To his nephew, Alfred Kettson
Thomas, a legacy of £lO,OOO • and liberal bequests to his
other nephews and nieces and to friends, and to several
institptiens ; and appoints his nephew and executor, J.
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