The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-05
Plymouth Democrat.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1883.
A. y CITY CORRESPONDENCE.
New York. Feb. 22.

So thoroughly aroused and feyerishly
excited has New York labored under du.
ring the week, over the startling intelli.
gence from Washington, that the better
class Of our citizens have become painfully
alarmed about the unhappy condition Of
the country, and the dangerous aspect
which public affairs have taken. 1t seems
as if we we're to be plunged into another
internecine strife, more calamitous than
the rebellion, in which every interest and
even the country itself were to be sacri-
feed upon the bloody Moloch Of partiEan
vengeance. The scene transpiring in and
about the city when the telegraph an
nounced the passage through the lower
house Of congress, of tLs impeachment
resolutions against tbs president, were in.
deed mournful spectacle. Impromptu
meetings were held, and men commenced
organizing at once for armed resistance.
Business for the time being was suspended,
and it was with the utmost difficulty f.
nancial panic, which once started, would
have been contagious in every section Of
the country, was happily frustrated. The
police, too in their excessive zeal to pre-
serve order, cana near provoking riot aud
bloodshed by their oficlous intermedlipgs
with excited knots of men, who were taking
counsel of each other in public discussion.
At one time it was reported that the city
was placed under martial law; newsboys
rushed to and fro, doing a lively business
in "extras," which only contained the
most absurd reports, but all having ten.
dency to add fresh fuel to the excitement.
1t would have taken but little urging Of
the party leaders to have assembled to-
gether an armed host, ready at a moments
notice to repair to Washington upon the
slightest pretezt. Happily since better
councils have prevailed. A great deal Of
speculation is INDUCED in by everybody.
Revolutionary or violent measures Of any
kind are generally deprecated. Recruit.
ing officers however, are in different quar-
ters of the city, the ostensible object Of
which is the formation of johnson clubs.
and the emigration of recruits to Maryland
to respond to any call that is made upon
! them. about ten thousand names il is as
certained have already been enrolled. The
better class Of our citizens, however, agree
that the supreme court is the only proper
tribunal next to the ballot box, where the
questions at issue can be legally and Justly
decided.
We had supposed that the old passport
system, so utterly repugnant to al Amer
leans idea of personal liberty, had been
abolished at the close of the war. We
find now, however, we were mistaken in
this conclusion, and that it is to be more
rigidly enforced than ever. The formal
official regulations as amended, were issued
this week by the state department at
Washington to the agents in this city, for
granting the necessary documents to all
citizens of the United States travelling in
foreign countries, in which the plain let
ter of the law and the penalty attached to
its violation are plainly set forth. While
the old tottering monarchies of Europe
are fast doing away with this odious sys-
tenn of bygone autocratic age, it seems
rather strange anomaly just at this time
for republican America to give it renew
ed vitality. Hitherto the expense of pro-
curing passport wss 50, but now, under
the new regulations, the amount is in.
creased to SO, arising from the revenue
stamp of So required to give validity to
the document. 1t affords fine opportu.
nifty for bogus generals, the q Hon." Mrs.
Montmorency Browns and Major Buzzins,
of Metropolitan society, who claim stun
ming titles to their names, to air them
selves in full regalia before royalty in Eu-
rope. Armed and endorsed with the E
Pluri5us Jnum in red wax on huge piece
Of parchment. who would dare question
their assumption to be considered of the
superior aris,ocratic class of AmericaI
No one. And all this, too, for only $40
in greenbacks. Cheap distinction, isn't
it?