The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-22
POLTTICIL.

Tho latest official adviccs from Gen.
Sickles predicteda stormy time in Spain.
Gen. Sickles expressed the belief that
events were rapidly progressing to cri-
sis. Some important movement either by
Gen. Prim or his opponents must soon DO
made.
Il has been ascertaincd that tho late
Postmaster General, Randall, increased
the pay of contractors on one route alone
in Texas from thirty-three thousand dol
lars annually to three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, without u corresponding
increase in postal facilities on the part of
the contractor. Members of the Commit
tee on Rctrcnchment say that there are
many similar cases, all bearing evidence
of corruption and fraud on tho part Of tho
late post-oilice officials.
In response to an inquiry, whether no
intended to issue IN amnesty proclsma-
tion or send n special message to Congress
recommending tho removal of the disa-
bilities imposed by the fourteenth amend
mcnt. President Grant is reported to have
said: "No, Sir, don't intend to issue an
amnesty proclamation ut all. My prcdc-
ceSsor, President Johnson, exhausted that
pretty Observation-Disclosures 1t is
quite true that l did, some time ago, con-
template sending to Congress special
message recommending the removal Of MI
disabilities. thought that u fitting occa-
sion for message of tho kind would DO
tho restoration Of Texas and tho other
States to the Union, believing that itwould
have tho effect to promote general good
feeling and harmony throughout the South !;
but since then there have been so many
complaints about outragcs in the South,
and requests for military interposition in
some of the States, like Tennessee and
North Carolina, that have reconsidered
my resolution and have come TO the con-
clusion that so long rs tho state Of society
in those districts Is such rs to call for mill
tary aid to preserve order, 1t would DO
useless to recommend to Congress tho ro-
moval of disabilities. For tho present,
therefore. I cannot send that message to
Congress"
Tho Chicago Post thinks 1t fortunate
for the country just Mt this period tho
Democratic party has political control of
the State of New York, because "its ina
bility to conduct tho affairs of n single
State Is thcrc shown so that q wnyfaring
man, though fool, can SEQ it rs plain rs
daylight"
Tho affair in the Supreme Court Tues,
day has been the subject Of good deal of
talk among lawyers. All who worc in
tho room ut the time concur In saying tho
Chief Justice showed strong passion, and
it is evident that there is u state of feeling
in the Court by no means pleasant. rela-
tive to tho rehearing of tho legsl-tcndcr
case.
Tho New Orleans Picayuno recently
sail of the late Gen. Geo. ii. Thomas:
1.-The man has gone to his last account,
having by his offences sacrificed all claim
to d nicho in tho same commemorative
temple of great Virginia with Lee and
Stoncwall jackson" There is no doubt
about that.
ArPOKrIoNMENT OF CoNGREssMEN.-
The bill, which has passed tho House of
Representatives making an superintendent
of members Of Congress among the sew
oral States, provides for two hundred and
scvcnty-iive members; and 1t provides
that after March 3, 1871, tho number Of
Representatives shall be 276. II aftcr an
apportionment is made any new State Is
added tho Representatives of such State
shall DO additional to the number. If the
number of Representatives of any State
shall be reduced by the new apportionment
such reduction shall not take effect In tho
Forty-secondC Congress. but such State shall
have the same number Of Representatives
in the Forty-second Congress to which II
is by law entitled in the Forty-iirst Con-
grcss, and any Representative or Repro
segtaiiucs which such State may have in
the Forty-second Congress In excess OF the
number fixed by such apportioument, shall
be additional to the number of 275 herein
limited. And If the representation OF any
State shall be increased by such apportion-
mcnt, any additional Representative or
Representatives of such State in tho 42d
Congress shall be chosen by tho State Mt
large.
The Secretary of tho interior Is to fix
the basis Of representation after ascertain
inc the result of the next enumeration,
and he shall ascertain the basis Of repre-
scntation of the several Congressional dis
tricts by dividing tho aggregate basis Of
representation of the United States by tho
number 275, rejecting any fraction of n
unit which may remain, and no shall AS
certain the number Of representatives to
DO apportioned to each State. by dividing
tho basis of representation Of tho several
Congressional districts rejecting any frac-
ton of unit which may remain, and he
shall apportion so many additional repre-
scntatives to The States having tho largest
rejected fractions, ono Ia each, rs shall
make tho whole number OF representa-
tives 275.
The town elections generally in the
west show decided republican gains.