davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
THE TREASURY REPORT.

Secretary McCulloch in his report which we
publish elsewhere, makes few recommended
tons, and those are not likely to exercise any
marked influence over Congress. One of these
is for the repeal of the Legal Tender act as to
all contracts made after JAN /, 1870, and for its
absolute repeal on JAM l, 1871, as to all con-
tracts whenever made. AS at neither of these
dates will the present Secretary or the present
Congress be in power, it seems somewhat like
prescribing penance to be performed after
death. For the present Congress the Secretary
has nothing serious to propose.
If O repeal of the Legal Tender act be the
first step toward resumption, we see no reason
why it cannot as well be repealed tomorrow
ms in 1871. We can certainly judge better what
its effects would now be than what they would
then be. Some question will arise whether the
Secretary's proposition to lessen the value Of
the legal tender notes u.s. after ALL the best
mode of redeeming the national honor. There
is room for doubt whether an act taking effect
in 1871, which acts retrOsDectively upon con-
tracts made during the past seven years, SO
as to make them after 1871 payable in
gold only, whereas when contracted they were
payable in currency, would not be er post
fdcto, and therefore void. What the Secretary
now recommends was fully discussed by the
press, on their own motion, two or three years
ago, and was not thought to constitute very
comprehensive remedy. The Secretary de-
clares the United States notes n =" dishonOred
land disreputable currency" We do not think
these words will prove fortunate for Mr..
McCul)ocb. All men know that the discount
on our entire rational debt is about the same
as that on the notes which form One-sixth of
the aggregate. Both involve the same national
credit, both have performed important functions
in saving the nation, and one is 10 moro dis
"honored and disreputable" than the other
The Greenback is hOnOred to the extent Of
IS cents on the dollar, and dishonorcd to the
extent of the remaining p cents. so are
our National Bonds. Mr. McCuloch
has proposed contraction of the whole volume
of the currency with tic view Of bringing the
Greenback to par. Apparently abandoning this,
he proposes to repudiate the life-giying clause
of the United States notes, by denying them
the quality of paying private debts. United
States note which the Government cannot or
will not pay is bad enough. To deprive it of
the power of performing any function what
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

heart-strngs, not superfluous agonies, nor pur
poseless and profitless distress Although the
right to terminate an existence may be grant
ed to society, where is its right to crowd the
torture of whole years into half score of
hours9 The law utterly disclaims all malice
why should it "cut less or more than just a
pound of flesh ?" BY just so far as it tran
sends the purpose of its own enactment, 1t be-
comes itself transgressor, unindicted and un-
punished here, but not the less amenable to
Him who is the top of judgment" There is
but one way by which to reconcile all our IN
consistencies and self contradictions. III we
put Capital Punishment solely upon the ground
of revenge we may on the one hand swing a
gOodly distance from the precepts of the g0s-
pei, but we shall at least make compensat-
ing vibration into the regions of respectable
logic The reader will be at no loss to per-
ceive that when the doctrine of material
retributon is once admitted, there will be no
need of the discussions which now agitate the
people of Maine. The more painful the method
of execution, the juster it will be.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

The petition of the people of Maryland to
Congress TO grant them republican form OF
government sets forth several curious anon
allies in the present Constitution of that State,
whose adoption in 1867 was one of the last tn
umphs of the Lost Cause. The Rebel voters of
the State, though excluded from voting by the
Constitution previously in force, We're permit
ted to vote on tho question of the adoption or
rejection of this new Constitution. In defiance
of the then existing law, they were permitted
TO effect the adoption of Constitution whereby
that law was annulled and repealed The 10000
colored male adult citizens of the State were, OF
course, excluded from voting on the same ques-
ton. The representation in the Legislature being
based OH population, and not on the number OF
voters the whites in effect east the votes which of
right belonged to the blacks. Fifteen counties
of Southern Maryland, where there is large
colored population, with only one-fourth of the
voters of tho State, have three-ffths of the
Senate, or fifteen Senators. Northern Mary
land. with three-fourths of the white popula-
tion has but two-flfths or ten Senators.
Thirty eight thousand five hundred and sixty
four whites are required to elect Senator in
Northern Maryland, while in Southern Mary
land only $685. arc required In Northern
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
Smrstmtnts. DC.


BROADWAY TnEArER-This Evening ny ~ is,R EsSs.,
p'sy By John Brougaan. Tue Emerad Ring MI ANU M
Williams. - Dill
BpYANT's NEW MINSTREL HALL amman R,1 A. IL
rr Pourteer.s fdlOitug Academy o. % he Wonderful
&" III True. Bad-Doer." BpaEFs MinsiTsA-De 'O'@ w.
Teaor ,.a, 1l;s
CooprP I1NION-Free Course OF LectuIeS'-AH'
y,Srfng ~ a. "a. Earthquake" BENJAMIN Hariinse
Frrru-AyE. ART GALLERY, corner OF . Four-
- 80 nav AID Eyeuinr-Frce Exhibition Of Jerome
sons - Home SSeet Home " Tie Oh oAksA Du0As' %
Your Own Canoe" C.onI NV;o4ar
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.-oecohu "luVoi
Exhibitor This Day AM Evening ,. =,
Nvw-YorK CIRCUS Fourteenth-st-lhls Evening
=, a." Cinderella" Display Of Athletic Skull MeH'e 'oAH''
sdekney. etc -
NrwYoHK THEATFR.-This Evening at g.
aio.i ADO 4b"nt Nothing" Mn, ScottSddous
NrpIos GARDRX.-This Evening at s." After
Darki or Lopdon by Might"
OfYAlPIc THEATER. - This Evening at g.
Uu,ppty Dunp;y." g. L. Fox Mile Sangaih
PrKT's OPERA HOUSE,. 49, This Evening at D
La Grsnde Duehesss' Basoe bleae 'Aie' De MUSE ' ~
Tostce
PCTNAM'S Art GAILERY.-Ihls Day ana Evening"
Exhibition Of BieniadtS Nesuyius'
SAN Francisco MINSTRELs, No. $50 Broadway
This Ere-pgOpe,a Bou" Barber Brown or the P"ehe S'pe
STECKs Hall. No. l41 EIghth-st-Ihs Evening aI
Oscar Pirilrrs Soree Musicale
THEATRE FRANCAIs.-This Day at ]. and lVe DlIls
st7i-"Genereve De Brahsut" Nile Marie Descaul'' !" '
WNIACK's THEATER-This Evening at s. no
lancashire Lass" Mr j. W. WallaeE
WOOD's MUSEUM AND METROPOLITAN IHEAlEiE,
pr,svsv opI Tlieht-This Afer1O'n at = Cdee'st u's
.ns .. n Iyior lie Man At Wheel" end Dd Ion hlt5
SD Your Wf, 10 Je-evl" Throughout ttr Datt e' SN
Foot Combination. ari Grand Mcuage'le oi L.'Int --
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
nfR R0LLLNS,S REPORT

Commissioner Rollins, in his report on the
Internal Revenue Bureau, states that the
aggregate Internal Revenue receipts, excluding
taxes upon lands and the circulation and
deposit of banks, for the year ending June 80,
1868, were Si0l.ts0.56 2S. In 1866, the
similar receipts were $3lO0Oo.9s4 II, and
in 1867, $685., 020,474 65. In 1866, there
were collected on incomes. SG0.S94.13j IS
in 1867 s57OiO,6i0 81 and in 1868, S32 O276 i0 rs.
The receipts from fermented liquors were in
1868, $685., GG3 20 against $5S19345 10 in 1867,
and $5.115l40 40 in 1866. From distilled
spirits and brandy there were received
in 1868 S14,200,730 9S. against Sl91644O9 "a
in 1867 and $29,4S2.0U 90 in 1866. The
decrease the past year is attributable to Frauds,
and thh Commissioner says that "tle remedy
Z" lies in the improved character of the revenue
"and judicial officers rather than in the in
Creased stringency of the law or the improved
regulations and requirements of the Office"
The expenses for collecting the revenue in
1868 were S9,3273O1 II, in 1867 $S,9S26S6 03, and
in 1906 S7,6S9,700 46. The incIease is attri-
buted to the raised pay of the Assistant Asses
sors from 81 to So per day. Mr.. Rollins
gives table of the receipts during the months
of July August, and September, 1868. compared
with that for the same period of 1867. During
the former period there were collected S3s,62O,-
500 70, while during the same months i'll 1867
the total was S53,397,0G3 o. This decrease is
because of tho repeal of the tax on manufac-
lures. During the same months of 1867 there
were collected from distilled spirits $685.
02O 90, and 1858, $s46J,443 90.
The Commissioner makes several suggestions
about the law, and recommends that the Inter
nal Revenue Department should be made a
department of its own, and not mere ap-
pendage to tho Treasury
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
Tile ERA or Good EEELING.

The Savannah Republican, in an effort to
show "what is necessary TO an era of good
feeling" argues that the North must sur
render certain "ideas" or convictions which
now occupy the Northern mind. Tho consti-
tutional difficulty with our Southern brethren
is that they always demand the surrender of
that which in its nature is incapable Of being
surrendered. If they would merely ask n
change in our laws or surrender Of our
purses, we might crafty them. But in de-
handing change in our "ideasn and cOnyic-
tons of right or of relative excellence, they
are asking the only thing it is impossible for
us to grant. The first idea we are called on
to surrender is stated to be "the desire on the
"part of the North, for purposes OF their own,
to force the Southern people to discard the
odd bond OF union, and enter into o new one
with them, never contemplated in the f0rma-
ton of the Government, or proposed until
" the physical preponderance was proved to be
against us.n This assumes that the "old
Z" bond of union" was one in which tho State
had the right to secede. Our Southern friends
will witness the era Of good feeling long be-
fore the North sanctions the right of secession.
The Republicans second requirement is of
course, that we shall allow none but the Reb-
els of the South to vote. 1t says
1.-THE North goes further than this She insists
that shall organize q society In the South aud come
under the jurisdiction OF laws that have force or
isence at the North In other words that there shall be
kind OF government for the South and another kind
for the North. and still both continue exist together AS
homogeneous political society Is such "a demand
justi Is II even consistent with reason ."
The falsehoOd of this statement consists in
assuming that the South includes only the
Democrats of the South and that the legsla-
tive inaotiou Of the North relative to negro
suffrage here expresses the conscience of the
same Republican party which has granted inn
part;a. suffrage to the South. The assumption
that the SOuth opposes negro suffrage over
looks two-6lths of the people of the South
who desire il. The assumption that " the
North " intends TO grant suffrage to the negro
at the South and not at the North overlooks
the fact that the whole Democratic party OF
the North oppose negro suffrage everywhere
alike, and ninc-tcnths of the Republican
party favor it everywhere alike. The re-
naming tenth of the Republican party, COM
bining with the Democratic party, retard
but cannot long prevent suffrage from be-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE

ever is indeed to make it, what the Secretary
declares it, dishOnored and disreputable."
Instead of redemption this is reputation
This is not avoided by funding them, fol
they promise dollars" not bonds" II
the Secretary of the Treasury can thus
dishonor the nOn-interest- bearing United States
note issued under his hand and stamped with
his likeness, he may dshonor the interest
bearing bond 1t is well to know the extent
and fertility of our Secretary's financial re-
sources. When we have brought our national
credit to par, Congress will repeal the Legal
Tender act. So long as its repeal means the
unseating of three-fourths of the members who
vote for it, the Secretary is quite safe III pro-
posing it,
The Public Debt has been increased, from
Nov. I, 1867, to Nov. l, 1868, by $35,G25,1OS 50
of which increase 94159,OOO are chargeable to
the Pacific Railways and S7,9OO,OOo to the pur-
chase of Alaska. The Secretary concludes by
defending his policies relative to secret sales OF
gold, but gives us no reason why SlOo'ooo'oVU
of gold should be boarded at an annual
burden of 100000 per annum foI
interest without performing any useful
function whatever, either for the Govern
ment, the currency or the people. Nor has the
Secretary any measures to propose to prevent
twenty per cent of our revenue from being lost
to the Government by frauds. The present
modes of appointing officers and collecting rev
enuo seem to him satisfactory. Our financial
condition is paved with Mr.. McCulloch'S good
intentions but the country waits for vigorous
Secretary of the Treasury, having policy al
equatc to the occasion, with longing only less
earnest and painful than that with which II
once waited for a General to lead its armies.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

The Georgia question came up IN the Senate
yesterday, and the Senators elect presented
their credentials. 1t WAS cOntended by Sen
ators Drake and Thayer that the RecOnstruc-
ton laws had not been fully complied with
by the people of Georgia, and especially
in the expulsion of the colored members
in the Legislature they had violated the
fundamental principles of a republican form
of government. Mr.. Sherman was anxious TO
admit the Senators without reference to the
misconduct of the Legislature, but, after a con-
sultation with Mr.. Hill, the whole subject was
postponed until Wednesday. There seemed to
be no objection to Mr.. Hill personally, but the
Senate evidently intends to give the affairs in
Georgia IA thorough examination.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

United States Treasurer Spinner has written
another letter on the National Finances. else
where printed, in which he takes strong ground
in favor of q return to specie payments, and
repels the charge of "Greenbacks being ire
deemable paper, by declaring that he has yet
to see the first note that was not redeemed at
sight. Calamites have been avoided because
business men have believed that resumption
would be- soon achieved; and he accounts for
the depreciation of the currency in the facs
that Government receives its payments in it
with the exception of customs dues. The an
nual receipts for these dues are about equal to
the whole amount of currency in circulation.
The road to!Resumption clearly is to resume.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

The Provisional Government for Spain has
for some time assumed a hostile attitude
toward the Republican party. From Cadiz it
is reported that troops have been called out to
disperse procession of armed Republicans.
The Republicans are not charged with any
violation of law; but the Government re-
garded the procession as dangerous demon
stration, and therefore resolved to suppress it,
If the Government thus persists in using its
authority in the interest of the monarchists,
| there is reason to fear the outbreak of serious
\ troubles,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 8. 1868.

ING without distinction of color. Meanwhile,
it is the Republican party South and North
that extends the suffrage, and it is the Demo-
cratic party that delays its extension without
regard TO locality. The Republican party
would find it difficult to surrender any of those
fundamental ideas of political equality on
which its very existence depends, and by which
all its success has been won. Nor are political
parties prone to surrender the ideas which
make them victorious.
We beseech our Southern friends therefore
not to postpone the "era OF good feeling" so
long. We are ready to help the South with
working men, intelligent, highly educated
women, plenty of capital to reconstruct Its
plantations, develop its mines, and start Its
manufactures, rebuild its ruined railroads, ana
convert its Wilderness into garden. But the
first essential to genuine era of good leellng
must be that everybody shall be invited. Inc
Calyinistic theory, according to which IN es-
sential element in the enjoyment OF the eject
il to be the contemplation of the distinguish
ing grace which has selected them for exalted
bliss, while others, no more undeservlng, are
consigned to unspeakabe woe, may 90 very
well in theology as theory OF the next lie,
but it does not answer in politics, or as
model for government. AT least having tr1ed
it, and abolished it, we are not hankerng to
return to it. Another condition of the T" era OF
"good feeling must be that everybody shall
have leave to tell whether he feels well or Ill.
This involves that freedom of speech, OF the
press, and of thought, of which Southern
Democrats have not been the most consistent
champions.
We are fully conscious that we need to re-
store in the South an era of good feeling To
this end the chief means must be to make
Southern industry profitable, and the Southern
working class free, not only from all human
masters, but from the most inhuman Oh all
masters want. Adam Smith argues that
Slavery arises whenever two men are seeking
one MASTER Freedom begins only when two
masters are seeking to employ the labor OF one
man. The South has the cotton, the cheap
labor the water and coal power, the brains
the demand, and no small share of the capital
necessary TO set running fifty thousand cotton
manufactures and twenty million spindes. This
would reverse the present condition OF both
blacks and whites at the South. Where now
ten HELPLESS labOrers are seeking to be en-
Moved by one master, there would then be
two masters competing for the labor OF one
man. Herein lies true freedom for the working
class, rapid increase in wealth for all classes
and that general EZRA of good feeling" for
which the South is looking. But to this end
there must be peace, protection to capital and
labor, and vigorous suppression of Ku-klux
Klans, and the entire mob and murder
spirit VIII The Savannah Republican labor to
bring about these conditions of the era of
" good feeling T.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
n0SEArE HLSIONS-RETRENCHlfENT

The N. Y. Times, discussing the work that
presses upon the attention of Congress at Its
present short session, says:
If the settlement Of these questions were as ensy as
their enumeration the path Of Congress would be clear
enough 1t might call up each in succession and 80
ahead But except the single question OF retrench'
ment diversity Of opinions OF plans, and even OF pur
poses exists which only be overcome by sagaciy ana
strength OF WILL The cutting down Of expenses is sim
pie straightforward task II the published abstracts OF
Departmental reports may be credited more than one Of
the Secretaries will show how large savings may be Ell
feced Whether this be the case or not OF tho TACT tha
large savings are possible there Is doubt and u re-
mains for Congress TO take care these be pushed TO
their uttermost limit The country Is unit on tins ON
nothing csetha as fast the eXgences OF the pubhc
service will admit OF reductions. they shall be made
without reference the caprice Of officials or the inter
ests that have grown up around things INFERRED IRON
the war demand urgent and so just not hkeiy 70
Is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

A great battle has taken place between the
insurgents in Cuba and the Government forces,
at the foot of Mount Alta Gracia, between
! Puerto Principe and Nuevitas. The Spanish
Government, usually so bOastful in its war
bulletins, this time only claims that the losses
on both sides were equal. There can be but
little doubt that in this battle the insurgents
gained decisive victory. There was another
fight at Moron, in which both parties claim to
have gained victory. Havana is flooded with
conflicting reports; but a comparison of the
present Government dispatches with those re-
ccived a few weeks ago, clearly shows that
even the Government does now no longer dare
to represent the movement as one Of no import
ancc
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

Certain Philadelphia judges and lawyers
have united in giving certificates that Mr.. John
Goforth. who defended Hester Vaughn when
on trial, performed that duty faithfully. We
do not know that this has been questioned.
What was stated, on her authority, was, that
he never called on her during the long months
through which she awaited trial. and that con-
sequently. he was not properly prepared TO
defend her. 1t seems clear that charge Ia
made.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08


Comics of several documents furnished by
the descendants Of the late Dr. S. l.. Mitchll,
and bearing upon the question whether the
diamond ring from the Emperor Alexander /.
of Russia was intended for him or for Jetiro
Wood are given in another column. The Orgi-
nails, with other papers relating to Dr. Mitchfl,
and collected by his biOgrapher, were acciden-
tally destroyed by fire several years ago. They
support fully the claim of DR.. Mitchil unless
the heirs of Jethro Wood shall establish the
statement lately made on their behalf that on
subsequent application to the Emperor.
through the Russian Minister at Washington.
he replied that the gift was designed for Mr..
Wood. The archives of the Russian Govern
ment will undoubtedly show whether Count
Nesselrode's note to Mr.. Pinckney has been
accurately copied, and also whether there was
any later correspondence on the subject IL
these documents contain the entire correspond
ence, it seems remarkable that Woods claim
at the time it was made should have been sup
ported by considerable portion of the press.
and that Dr. Mitchill should not have repealed,
once for all, the imputatiOn upon his integrity.
by giving them publicity at once.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

We learn that the recent contract or enpa,s.
ment entered into between the PenpsvIvan;.
Railroad Company and the Pittsburgh For.
Wayne, and Chicago Railroad Colnpany, and a..
Pittsburgh, Columbus, and st. Louis Ro;,road
Company, is neither consolidation nor q lsos.
of either road to the others. The arranoomon,
is one which is intended to harmonic tbs
working of the three roads so as TO nrevont
undue competition in the cutting down q,
rates, or the promotion of the building of rival
or competing roads. The contract fully reeoy-
nizes the equality Of the several corporatiops
and neither one is subordinated to the other.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company in No
sense absorbs the powers Of the two Western
corporations; but the powers of the three ara
in some important particulars executed by
joint commission, in such way as to make
unit from New York to Chicago and st. Louis.
The parties to the contract regard it as the
most important and valuable one yet devised
in railway management, and that it will greatly
enhance the value of three properties, and
at the same time be promotive of the public
good.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08

We learn that the decision of Virginia Judge
in case of shooting by n negro has been ap-
pealed from, on the ground that the Judge was
ineligible to hold his Office under the AlVth
Amendment, and therefore not Judge, and
that Judge Underwood has sustained the ap-
peal. This important case is to come before
Chief-Justce Chase in the current Court and
upon the decision will depend the validity of
two-thirds of the judicial decisions which have
been rendered since the war.