Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-17
Congress-.

nor the good faith of the nation will allow the
redemption of five twenty bonds until the U.
S. shall perform its primary duty OF paying Its
notes in coin or making them equivalent there
to, and measures should be adopted by Con-
gress 70 secure the resumption OF specie pay
ments at as early period as practicable" The
resolution offered by Mr.. Edmunds IN Novem-
Der, 1867, and referred to the Finance Com
mittee stating, that the public debt OF the
y. S. Except in cases where, IN the law au-
thorizing the same, other provision was ex-
pressv made, is owing In coin or its equiva
lent. and the faith of the u. S. is hereby
solemnly pledged to its payment accordingly"
was reported upon tavorably. The resolutions
were followed by an able speech from Senator
Morton in favor of his bill Tor the resumption
of specie payments The Committee On the
Judiciary was instructed to inquire into the
expediency and practlcability OF reporting such
legislation as will prevent the discharge OF per-
sons convicted of crime under the decisions of
the United States District Judge for Virginia
The resolutions of the Finance Committee,
condemning the financial scheme proposed by
the President in his recent Message, were de-
bated to the time of adjournment. During the
discussion Mr.. Hendricks said that he did not
approve of Mr. johnson recommendations on
the subject referred to.
In the House of Representatives, Mr..
Paine reported q bill from the Committee ON
Reconstruction to repeal such portions of the
Army Appropriation bill as prohibit the
organization of State militia in the lately ere
bellious" States 50 far as relates to the States
of North and South Carolina, Florida, Alaba-
ma and Louisiana, and it was passed. Mr.
Lawrence introduced resolution requesting
the heads of all the Departments to report as
soon as practicable to the House what reduc-
ton in the clerical force of their several De-
partments can be made not incompatible with
the public service. 1t was agreed to. A bill
prohibiting passenger vessels from carrying as
freight nitro gycerine, petroleum and other
combustible articles, was referred to the Com
mittee On Commerce. Mr. Schenck, from the
Committee of Ways and Means, reported
bill extending the time Tor the payment OF tax
on tobacco on hand from the lst OF January to
the 18th of February, and it was passed. Mr.
Van Wyck introduced a bill subjectlng COM
pounds of liquors to the same tax as whiskey;
also, prohibiting the erection of compromising
establishments within six hundred ieet OF dis
tileries. A resolution calling upon the Secre-
tary of State for information relative to the
arrest and imprisonment Of American citizens
in Paraguay, was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. On motion Of Mr.. Jones, Of
kentucky, a resolution was adopted declaring
that ''all females il the employ Of the Gov
eminent be allowed the same pay where they
perform like service with the males. The
members proceeded to draw for seats, Tor the
present session, and upon the conclusion OF the
drawing the House adjourned
Animal Magnet SIN i'm the Courts.
A very remarkable case has recently been
before a Jury in Louisville. Robert Sadler,
about Gity-fVc years old, an Englishman by
birth, was arraigncd ona writ of }nottco en- qotir
cado. Those bringing suit admit that he is
perfectly sane on all subjects save one-and
that is animal magnetism, or mesmerism-and
on that he entertains the most radical and ex
travagant ideas. Although the suit appears
not to have been brought in spirit of malice,
Sadler alleges that it was instigated by de-
sire to deprive him of an inheritance that falls
to him from his parents in Eng land who are
very wealthy. The form taken by the social
led lunacy is that he claims to suffer the most
agonizing pains, in sympathy with people un-
dergoing amputation, fractures, or other tor
ture, and that, toe, when he could have no know
ledge that operations or accidents have been
undergone. He says, for instance, that when
any one with whom he is connected by this
magnetism is hurt he can feel the pain, though
he does net know that it is pain. lie once felt
the burning process OF knife cutting IN his
side, and experienced inexpresSble agonies
aud afterwards learned that such an operation
had been performed the same day at the hos
pital in Louisville
Other examples are given, as follows Once
he was sitting in the midst Of his family, on a
quiet Sabbath afternoon, when he was seized
by a crushing sensation in his shoulder, and
imagined the crushed bones distinctly IN
his shoulder and arm, and suffered the conse-
quent pain, though nothing apparent to the
sight was the matter With his limb, and next
day the city papers brought him the news OF a
man being thrown under the wheels Of an omni-
bus and having his shoulder and arm broken.
At another time, while an operation On the
throat of person was being performed in the
hospital, he felt distinctly the operation being
made, and the tube being thrust into his throat
This continued three or four days, and he after
wards learned of a similar operation being ac-
tually performed. One evening about sunset
he felt bullet strike him in the forehead, and
though he was not shocked or knocked down.
suffered as much pain. In five minutes after
his little nephew came running to the house,
stating that man had been shot a short dis
lance from his house.
He declared furthermore, that he would
scream in the night from pain inflicted upon
others, and gave further instances Of sympath-
etc suffering. His testimony was perfectly ra-
tionaI, and the jury, being unable to agree,
were discharged. This seems to be a case for
serious scientific Investigation, as the mans
character appears to be above suspicion, and it
is positively stated that the coincidence of suf-
fering was in many cases clearly proved
Ne,cark AduertiSer.
WASHINGTON ITEMs.-The subject OF the
continued payment of the interest on the gov
eminent deposits in the Bank of the Metropo-
lis, has been brought before Congress.
Mr. Fernando Wood has purchased for $40,-
900 cash handsome house recently erected on
the corner Of Fifteenth and | streets.