Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-15

prive the Governor Of the authority thus vested
In him. and he alone can DIX the headq uarters of
the Kansas militia There is no law of Con-
gress, and consequently there can he none of the
Territory, authorizing 81. II. Lane" to issue
commissions, nor has any commission been is
sued to him.
people on the restoration Of peace in the Terri
tory, and caution them against encouraging or
countenancing these insidious attempts to renew
the dihiculties and troubles which have too long
held sway here. The effort seems to be to induce
persons to engage In this business under a promise
to pay them 1--we dollars per day, not one cent of
which will ever be realized What but trouble
can ensue IL one turbulent man Ia tbus aIloxv.d
to set up military dictatorship over the civil
authority and sQuander the pubic money at
pleasure! trust the good sense Of the people
VIII induce them to frown down all such Illegal
ana improper movements.
J w. DENVER, Acting Governor
Lecompton, X. T., Feb IS, 1858.
TIE INDIANs.-We understand that some of
the Indian visitors, who have been objects of
curiosity to our citizens and strangers stopping
here, have returned to their Western homes.
The PottOwottamie delegation left on last Fri
day evening. They were followed on Sunday
evening by the Poncahs, and the Sacs and
Foxes will leave this evening. To make
amends for this withdrawal from our popula-
ton, however, delegation of twenty six Sioux
arrived on Saturday evening" and the Pawnee
and iankton delegations still remain. The
Sioux are from northern Minnesota, and be.
long to the Santee band. They have come to
treat for a cession of lands. All along the
route they excited great interest and attention,
crowds having collected at the different stop-
ping places to see them. The whole party are
quartered at Mrs. Makers Union Hotel
COMMUNICATED.
THE CASE OF THE ADRIArIc IN CoNsRKss.-
Editor Of the Star: The Hon. Miles Taylor Of
Louisiana, Is entitled to the thanks Of the ship
owners and the mercantile community through
out the country, for his prompthess in laying be-
fore the House Of Representatives the facts con-
nected with the outrageous proceedings Of the
French authorities in the detention and confsca
ton Of the bark Adriatic.
Ii there was ever a case that called for imme-
diate redress, this is one Not moment should
be lost by our government in demanding ample
reparation for this palpable wrong, done to an
American citizen, coupled as 1t is with a gross
indgnity to the American government.
An honorable and enterprising gentleman as
ever set foot on a ships deck, has been seized
and detained in France for more than year.
his vessel unrgced, his cargo confscated, and
himself made the subject of numberless persecu-
tons, on account Of an accident that occurred
upon our own coast, and for which he
more to blame than the most innocent man that
lives.
A French court has assumed the responsibility
to legalize these vile transactions, by deciding
that the Adriatic was in fault for not carrying a
light Of required size
Capt. Durham, in a letter dated at Marseilles
remarks with much force: ''This decision is the
frst intimation / ever had that Frenchman
could compel an American sailor to carry light
house in his rigging"
The circumstance of his escape from his Der.
secutOrs, has no bearing whatever upon the case.
If he has eluded his captors, he has done right,
and will receive the commentator Of all Just and
honorable men. 1t is a question of deeper con-
Germ to the government than to Capt Durham, as
deeply as be has suffered 1t raises the question
whether foreign Power can rightfully dictate
to American sail vessels the kind and size Of the
light they shall carry, or whether they shall
carry any at all, while sailing along our own
coast!
If doctrine so monstrous as this is to be fixed
upon us, then assuredly but little security re-
mains for our powerful and constantly inc easing
merchant marine; and our first duty iSto prepare
ourselves to fight over again the battle Of Gree
Trade and Sailors Rights" J.
The FRAsKISG PRIvILEGE.-Theseh has been
good deal said, lately. about the illegal use
of this privilege on the part of persons who OBJ
tain the consent thereto of Members of Con-
gress In order to satisfy ourself of the power
of members to delegate the franking privilege,
we made inquiries at the Post Office Depart
ment, where our attention was called to the
following law
And be ii further enacted, That If any person
shall frank any letter letters, other than those
rcritten by himself or by his order, on the bu,i-
ness of his office, he shall, conviction thereof
paw fine Of ten dollars and it shall be the espe-
eai duty OF Postmas,e-s to prosecute for said Of
fence. ProUided, That the Secretary Of the
Treasury, Secretary of State, Secretary of War,
Secretary of the Navy and Pos master General
may frank letters or packets on official business,
prepared In any other public office, In the ab-
sence OF the principal thereof. And If any per-
son having the right to receive his letters free Of
postage, shall receive enclosed to him any letter
or packet addressed to person not having that
right, II shall be his duty to return the same to
the Post Office, marking thereon the place from
whence 1t came, that it may be charged with
postage. And IL any person shall eounterfeit the
same to be done, in order to avoid the payment OF
postage, eaah person offending shall pay, for
every such offence, fire hundred doAars.-See
y, Act Of March 3, 1925; The Postal Laws, chap.
6, section IS.
1t will be observed from the above that no
right exists on the part of any member of Con-
gress or other person. except in the cases stated,
to delegate the right to use their frank; and
all such use is, therefore, punis liable as pro-
vided for in the section quoted for counterfeit
ing. To use the frank of any person, even
when affixed by himself, except in the cases
provided for, is punishable bya fine of ten dol
lars. As ignorance Of this law is no doubt the
cause of whatever illegal use of the franking
privilege is perpetrated, we publish it, and
warn our readers against its violation.
A MISREPRESENTATION CoRREcrED-The
newspaper story saying that Isaac Mon.
day, Esq, one Of the judges lin Kansas) of
the election of the 4th of January, committed
suicide recently, is a gross falsehood, coined for
political effect. He was killed by the acciden-
tai discharge of pistol in his own hand The
occurrence took place in the presence of others,
and we have letter on letter from the Territory
written by gentlemen in whose statements we
entirely eon6de, assuring US of the facts as we
here state them.
APPOINTMENT ny THE PREsIpENT-Bu and