The New York herald., 1872-09-18
The CaterpiIIars and the
Cotton Crop.
The Attorney General Defends the Detention
Of Ku Klux Prisoners.
Prosecution of Steamers for Carrying
Excess Of Passengers.
The Forty Savages Going the
Rounds.
FUR SEAL ISLANDS OFF CAPE HORN.

WASHINGTON, Sept. II, 1872.
The Ku Klux PrisOnerS-AttOrney Gem
eral Winiams' Reply TO A. III. Ste
phens.
1t is understood that the Attorney General after
several weeks consideration, has addressed let
ter to Alexander H. stephens repy to his appeal
for the discharge OF all the Ku Klux from the Al
bany Penitentiary. The ex-Vice President OF the
so-called southern" Confederacy argued at length
that the conviction of the Ku Klux was Illegal as
the law was not in force at the time
OF the alleged offences. He further urged
their pardon on the ground Of justice
and an exercise OF Executive clemency
that would be in keeping with the professed friend
ship Of the Chief Magistrate for the South. The
answer of the Attorney General Is courteous, but
firmly denies the allegations contained in the letter
of Mr.. Stephens Admitting that there are some
among the number upon whom Executive clemency
would not be misplaced, he contends that its exer
else would not have any more political significance
than pardon extended to those who have Violated
other statutes and been convicted of heinous
crimes. The Attorney General fully reviews the
Stephens letter, but prefers he should make it
public.
The Cotton Crop--A Decline in the Pros
pcct.
The following is the report Of the Agricultural
Department on the condition Of the cotton crops
The September report of the statstician of the
Department OF Agriculture indicates decline in
the cotton crop prospect during the past month
IN consequence or the cotton caterpillar In portions
OF Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Loui-
siana, and OF drought OF moderate severity in
Texas Arkansas and Tennessee
The condition of the crop as shown by the aver
age Of returns received is as folows--virgnia,
81; North Carolina, lo1; South Carolina 90; Geor-
gia, 96; Florida, 92; Alabama, sS; Mississippi, 90;
Louisiana, So; Texas, "a; Arkansas, IS; Tonnes
Thus the prospect throughout the entire cotton
area, winch favored a yield five per cent larger
time about ten per cent less than an average.
The increase OF acreage over last year and the
nniavorable character OF the season Of 1871 still
point to material increase in the total crop OF
1872 while the possible extension OF insect ravages
or the early occurrence Of frost may modify the
present expectation. The only counties reporting
cotton in Virginia are Northampton, Southampton,
King and Queen, Chesterfield, Greenville and
declined from iol in August to 81 in September
Returns from thirty counties in North Carolina
Eecklenburg holds its August estimate Of 1as, and
Edgecomb has advanced from IS to 100. Twelve
sects is reported. The average OF condition in
South Carolina has fallen from 0S in August to
and Fairfield counties, which together produced
10000 bales Of the crop OF 1859, average &c. Darling
ton and Fairfield standing better than in August
by the caterpillar and reduces the estimate to 80
In August only twelve counties in Georgia. OF sixty
and the general average was 104 In September it
as paced al w. The insect ravages are becoming
serious In several counties, especially Lee Twiggs
Spaulding, Scnley, Baldwin and Marion The de,
cline during as IL the past month in Florida has been
whole fields before August Is. Leon, Jenerson
have also been visited only four M counties in
Alabama made returns below 100 in August, the
present returns are below ioo thirty-two counties
averaging SO. OF the prominent counties, Hale
81, and MarengO from 90 to 20. Montgomery ind
Gates an advance from los to 10. Two-thirds Of
The general average of the Mississippi returns has
%ilsn since the August report from liz to 90
rom 1o5 to % r. HIN Hiads 0 rom fU nO' ioo @oaSto to
90: Three-fcurths Of the returns are be,
low loo Insect IIn r depredatlons are serious
lol In August, In September So In Caddo the de-
cline s from IN 90 to go from 100 to e in Concorda
minent parish, there is an advance from 12O to I4O
It is reported that the caterpillar has been de-
iandrey in Concorda. Drought has shortened
the Texas crop and reduced the average OF the
the presence Of insects are received. The average
OF Arkansas returns has been decreased from 95 to
drought has also been injurious, reducing the
average from 104 to o. The forms and young bOlls
OF the top crop are rapidly falling or threatening
The Fur Seal Islands, Near Cape Horn.
Mr.. E. B. Elliott, Acting Chief Of the Bureau Of
Statistics through the Collector Of the stonington
Comm Eastern district has received some further
information in regard to the important group OF
Fur Seal Islands, In the vicinity Of Cape Horn, Of
which mention has recently been made.
These islands were first discovered by Dutch
navigator, about A. d. 1900. But little was known
OF them until 1918, when they were accidentally
rediscovered, and the same season visited by two
sealing vessels-one from Buenos Ayres and the
other from Stonington, Conn.
During the next few seasons the business OF seal
catching was prosecuted with energy by several
Stonington vessels, until the supply at the points
then known was nearly exhausted. From
that time the islands were not visited
until recently, when four New London
vessels went there and found the fur seal
and sea elephant in great abundance. The seasons
are said to last from eight to eleven weeks, but 1t
appears they are somewhatvariable and uncertain.
1t is considered unsafe for vessel to engage in
seal catching alone at these islands, owing to the
liability to accident The group appears to be quite
extensive. II an expedition were sent to explore
1t and survey the coasts channels &C., is thought
that the business OF seal catching might be greatly
extended. The skins obtained there said to be
the most valuable yet found. 1t is expected that
there VIII be ten or twelve American vessels there
during the next season, which will commence about
the 1st CT December There are two or three other
small groups OF islands in the vicinity but 1t is not
yet known whether they contain SEAL
Capture OF Gold Counterfeitcrs.
The following despatch was received here to-
day
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss Sept II, 1872.
TO Hon. q. II. WILLIAMS, Attorney General .
The Marshal and myself have Just returned from
an expedition after countcrfeiters OF gold coin we
captured David Flynn, notorious counterfeiter
of forty years standing and nine accompccs
with all their dies, tools, gavanic battery chemi.
Gals, furnace, and quantity Of the man,Iiacfured
coin. G. WILEY WELLS, United States Attorney
Prosecutions Against Ocean steamers-
Excess OF Passengers.
The government will commence proceedings for
the enforcement OF penalties under the Emigrant
law against the steamers Donau and Liberia for