Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-01-21

the action the OF owner OF lot OF cotton, VINO
brought suit directly against the officer making
the seizure. This latter person pleads the law
as his defence.
What is known as the Virginia case affects
the mode in which Congress can proceed IN rat
living contracts between States. 1t comes into
the Court on motion of parties representing Vlr-
ginia, and claiming that the cession ofthe coun-
ties Of Berkeley and Jefferson to West Virginia
is not valid, although ratified by Congress.
The State of West Virginia provided for receiv
ing these counties upon the consent Of Virginia
being given This consent was obtained, and
Congress was asked to ratify the contract Be-
fore the action of this body was consummated
Virginia withdrew her consent, but Congress
paid no attention to this action, and proceeded
to ratify the agreement. Virginia claims that
such action was unconstitutional and comes into
the Supreme Court to test it.
By order of General Grant, companies b, Z,
f andsK of the 18th Regiment of Infantry have
been dispatched to Charleston, S. c., to report
to the commanding General Any African
broils brewing down ''thar?' Grant has an
eye evidently to the seasoning of the ''stew"
with red as well as black pepper, should there
be one. Nous Uerrons!
General Pugeol, the Danish commissioner to
the United States, to dispose Of the West India
Islands to Uncle Sam S agents, had long in
ward on Friday last. Suppose an earthquake
should swallow up these Islands? In that In
stance, the purchase money might be consider
ed as having been added to the sinking fund.
If there ever was such place as modern
Babylon, it is Washington. Since the war and
the withdrawal of Southcrners from its either
mud or dusty highways, the moral decade has
been awful to contemplate. About every Sec
ond or third day in the week, those wide awake
chaps, the local reporters, called upon to re-
cord such cases, or similar ones, as the follow
ing.
very unusual and, probably, an unfortunate,
affair occurred at the Capitol One OF the mes
sengers in the Capitol building observed that a
quite lady-like person, neatly dressed, who had
been spending some time in the corridors, show
ed strong symptoms of uneasiness. Finally she
approached policeman and requested him to
give her chair at the east portlco He did so
when she seated herself, remarking that she
felt unwell, and the policeman returned to his
post In the course OF a few minutes he re-
turned, when-horror othorrors what should
meet his sight? The lady was gone, but on the
hard stones lay dead infant and other unmis-
taxable evidences of what had occurred. The
lady was traced short distance; but finally all
evidencessof the direction she took had disap-
peared. A physician, who was called, pro-
nounced the child still-born, and within two
months of maturity The whereabouts Of the
woman is still a mystery"
The eight hour system has passed the House,
but the probability is, that 1T will receive its
Quietus In the Senate many Senators being op-
posed to it.
Mr. Faber has been confirmed by the Senate
postmaster at Martinsburg Colonel Edmund
Cooper has been rejected by the Rump
General milford, collector Of the revenue in
the Richmond District, is here looking after his
confirmation as such. In order to be success
full, the General ought to black his face
Forney' nightmare appears to be the re-
constructing Unionmaule ridden by Andrew
johnson.
Colonel Robert L.. Owen, late President of
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Thomas
J. Randolph, A. r. Roteler, j ohm Minor Bolts
and Fayette McMullen are here. Bolts is about
to lobby a new bill through the Rump.
Fayette is funny or 'conniving' man.
A few days ago, while conversng with Ex-Gov-
ernor Yates, (now Senator from Illinois, J in the
hall of the Metropolitan Hotel, | overheard
him say, Il am one of the most liberal mind
ed Conservative men in my State; and L have
more confidence in my Radical than my demo-
cratic friends. . THE ID, you say 'Now,
Fayette what did you mean by that speech 2
Explain. old boy You cant go out on the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and make
such speeches among the blue grass-men. =
Dick Yates, simple man was overjoyed to hear
the Territorial Ex- Governor speak thus, and
| exclaimed, i believe you, ME boy!" and then
took smile to the health Of his wife, Kitty.
Before closing, [ wish to observe, privately,
to the many fair readers, (single ones), of the
Spectator, that Sid is singular single man,
young, and some think not at all homely that
he is, in other words, lone bachelor, and that
this is Leap Year and he would like for some Of
the pretty, blushing, rosy mouth damsels of the
Valley to leap at him. He swcars, in advance,
he won kick, and that he is gentle and war;
ranted sound-on the goose! That he is ready
to receive bids for Sealed proposals. thro'
the Spectator office, enclosing carte de visite.-
Now, girls don't all speak at once and re-
member that
Hope blooms eternal in the human breast"
STnNEv