The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-21
The French Losses in the conflict before
Montmedy have been serious.

The French losses in the conflict before
Montmedy have been serious.
CIscISxArlr, Nov. 2l.-The following
authentic statement OF the President with
reference to Secretary Cox and the Nc
Gorrog han claim is just received direct
1t is stated on the highest authority first
that there never was the slightest disa
greement betwesn the President and
Secretary Cox on the McGorraghsn land
claim In the administration of the interior
department Eot one word was passed on
the subject of the claim except when the
Cabinel was organized in March 1869 when
the President said to his Cabinet and more
| particularly to secretary Cox
that he supposed this
claim would be brought before the admins
tration in some form, and he would thus
early announce his views to them, and not
believing that either of the claimants had
we'll grounded titles, but both we're tainted
with fraxd, and that the governments really
owned the land. He did not want the ad-
mini,tration to have anything to do with it,
but let the courts and congress settle the
matter. He then and there, In the presence
of the cabinet directed Secretary Cox to
decline to consider the claims until congress
and the courts made it imperative for the
| ad u inistrstion to act, and from that day TO
this time the secretary wrote his first letter
| of resignation. He never as much as init
mated to the President that the time had
arrived for the administration to act, and
having these facts in his mind when be
wrote from Long Branch, and assuming
that the secretary did not
intend to act until he conferred
with him. The President nevertheless
feared that he might commit himself to
some line OF policy which commissioner
Wilson might seize upon as . pretext to
compromise the administration in favor of
one or the other of these fraudulent claims.
The very nature of his communication to
the secretary shows that he never distrust-
ed him for q moment. He had his order
fully Is months before. The President could
not suppose he would disobey him as be
had good reason in the shape Of written
evidence to distrust Wilson and warned
the secretary accordingly. The secretary e
second res ign nation cut off the explanation
promised and The prudence OF the President
is commeudable. The temper of the sec
retary should not have committed him SO far
to one of these parties without consultinR 3
the President or his Cabinet. Since he
says in his letter il is measure Of 80 much
administrative importance. one OF the great
est likely to come before it, as that be could
not withdraw when requested by
his superior, without showing so much
insu bordination and bad temper.
I'd. The subject of managing the depart
ment of the interior never was discussed by
| The President and the Secretary, and the
former never interfered with him in way
either by himself or through others, except
as be may have read it in newspapers of the
day. He was not advised of what the Sec
retary was doing in this respect.
CINCINNATI, Nov. 2l.-Tbe steamers
Norman, Pine Bluff, and the City of Evans
vile together with Pomroy's Il Co.'S, wharf
boat was burned at Evansville at O'Clock
thus morning. Mrs. Ward and child, pas
sengers on the Norman, were burned. The
fire originated on the Norman, and
communicated to the other boats, whlcf
lay along side. Total loss is estimated al
s2O0. 900. The City of Evansville was
new boat, cost $50, 900, insured $4,000 in
Pittsburg. Norman owned by DR.. Kennedy
Evansville valued at $l3,330, insured
$4,000 Pine Bluff valued at $4,000
insured in Cincinnati $4,000; lao bales
of cotton burned.
CHICAGO, Nov 2I-The wife of 7. NJ
Avery. prominent lumber merchant, lefi
home Friday while lsboring under insanit,
and was not heard from until las. nigh,
when Mr.. Avery received dispatch from
Nispra Falls stating that she had come to
that city on Sunday and committed suicide
hr iumninp over the falls