Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-22
GENRRAL NEWS.

The true figure as to the national debt.
is not seen in the present reported amountiof
it. 1t is increasing monthly, because, now
that the Radicals have succeeded in the cleo
tions, there is no party need of turning the
cold shoulder upon claims against the-Goy-
ernment. 1t will continue to increase largely
if all the legitimate demands upon the Unit
ed States Treasury are answered Considered
prospectively, the debt of the General Gov
eminent cannot be put at dollar less than
S3,000,000, AS things are, gold interest
on that sum will amount, in the sort of money
that the people are now using, to something
like S270,000,000. But State, city, county
and town debts are in reality, for the most
part, of the debts incurred on civil war ac-
count. These are not less than 2,000,0 00,-
900. That the aggregate of the debt caused
by the civil war is s, 000,000,000. This was
doubtless the sum which Mr.. Thaddeus Ste
vens SO often referred to as the true national
debt by reason of the war. States, cities,
and towns could not have entered upon any
such usurious and uncomfortable contracts
as to pay excessive interest in gold. Esti-
mating the aggregate amount Of interest in
greenbacks at s120.000,000 on the $1,000
600, goo in State, city, town and county obi
cations on account of the war, the total
amount of interest to be paid by the people
900, 000.-Nattonal Lntclltgcncer.
The Richmond State Journal says >
eve heretofore stated, upon reliable author
ity, that the Stay Law would not be extended
and we now repeat, for the benefit of all it
may concern, that the law will not be extern
ded. A general order suspending sales of
personal property till the 1st of May next
will soon be issued, but executions may issue
after January LIST for all debts under which
liens may be acquired at once on personal
property and sales made of it on and after
May LIST, and real estate may be proceeded
against after January 1st, as if no Stay Law
had been passed. This is entirely reliable,
and We take occasion to say that the military
commander has made just and beneficial
discrimination between real and personal
property under the operation of the law
The order will probably contain special pro-
vision for the protection of widows and or
phans."
Tn the U. S. Circuit Court, in Rich
mond, on the 18th inst, Judge Underwood
presiding, the case of Sallie Anderson. col
orcd, sentenced to death by the county Court
for arson, was brought up ON writ of hdGeas
corpus on the ground that one of the magis-
trates composing the court which tried her
had held the Office of constable before the
war, and being thereby disqualified under the
fourteenth amendment the whole court was
illegal and its proceedings vitiated. Judge
Underwood sustained the prisoners plea, and
discharged her from custody.
In delivering his opinion he said if even
the clerk Of the court was disqualified, it vi
tiatcd the proceedings.
There are, it is said hundred and fifty
nine convicts in the State prison sentenced
since the adoption of the fourteenth amend
ment,w ho may now be released by hdJeas
corpus and turned loose under this decision.
A gentleman just from the plains in
forms the New York Times that buffaloes are
at this time to be found in immense herds
At a distance of two hundred and fifty miles
west of the Missouri river, ON the Kansas
Pacific road, he passed through herd cover
ing surface of FIVE hundred square miles,
and containing probably over a million buff
faIoes. The number of dead buffaloes lying
on the line of the road, shot by passengers
as the cars go along, is very great, and the
informant says there is enough meat lying
there at this time, easy of transportation, to
feed all the poor people of America.
NOBLE WoMEN.-It is stated that the
daughters Of that grand old judge, Chief j us.
tice fancy, now earn their daily bread by
copying reports and other papers for the Sec
rotary of the Interior, at Washington City
What worthy daughters they are of SO noble
father, whom, contrary to the prevailing
opinions of this nineteenth century, thus dare
to live by their own exertions. AS the menu
DRY of this father lives in the hearts of all
who love justice, truth, and strictest honor,
so should they feel proud to know that they
have inherited much of that virtue which so
pre- cminently belonged to him. Some writer
says, however, that the dignity of their fathers
Office should induce the Government to grant
them some provision for their support, more
especially as thousands are being spent every
year to keep negroes in idleness.
- The stockholders of the Southside road
met on December 9th, and re. elected Gen
Malone, President. This road gives him
salary of $4,000, the Norfolk road $4,000,
aud Virginia and Tennessee 1000, $4,000
in all. This is pretty big salary for one
man.
= The county of Rock bridge has voted a
subscription of s400,000 to the proposed
Valley Railroad. Accounts from Augusta
say that the subscription in that county has
been carried (not defeated as heretofore re-
ported,l by vote of 81 to 553.
Tho estimates for the expenses of the
government for the next fiscal year were sent
to the House committee on appropriations on
Saturday week. The total amount is $685.
100000. Included in this estimate is
S129,O00,OO0 for the interest on the public
debt, $50, 100000 for the expenses of the
army, S20,000,000 to carry on the navy, $751;
100000 for pensions, and S45,000,000 for
civil and miscellaneous expenses.
= The Philadelphia Agc reports that since
the LIST of January, 1868, thirty>nine MUIR
ders have occurred in that city. The Press
says: Thirteen prisoners were in the dock
orc day in this city, charged with the crime