The Placer herald., 1872-12-28
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.


THE ENTERING WEDGE.
He is indeed hopeful man who expects that
our for orm OF government at the end of General
Gram 8 second term will at all resemble tbe one
inten ded by its founders. The work of central
ization is rapidly going on. Right on the heels
Of the practical workings Of the Enforcement y cts
in Louisiana, where the Federal courts, backed
by the Administration, step in and set up the
Legislature that best suits the Radicals, we have
special committee raised in the Senate to con-
sider the subject Of internal improvements, and
to get from the Judiciary Committee an opinion
rs to the constitutional authority OF Congress to
regul ate transportation into and between the
States. This simply means that the first step 10
the Government control over the railroads and
canals of the country has been taken. The Ju-
dietary Committee as now composed with the
plant, scheming Edmunds as Chairman, WILL of
course see nothing in the Constitution to prevent
such exercise of power. This movement though
not entirely unexpected, causes considerable
alarm among conservatives, who begin to despair
of any successful opposition being made against
the designs of kadicalism, which surely means
the utter subversion of the present form Of
Government.
ANOTHER STEP.
The introduction, yesterday, OF n bill in the
Senate, by Senator Carpenter, to provide for the
taking of private property for public USE Is an
9th er step in the same direction. There Is no
more clearly defined provision IN the Constltu'
ton than that which makes it obligatory ON the
Fed eral government to get the consent OF the
Leg stature of the State which the land Is to
be acquired yet Mr.. Carpenter would override
this wise provision and vest the power III the
Federal Courts. The hippant, sneerlng manner
of the Senator when he said that, since some
Senators thought this involved great constitu-
-. ...J bo would Of tha hoIyIlyS
make some remarks upon it; gave assurance that
he felt he would be sustained his bold usurpa-
ton, which he will no doubt find warrant Tor III
the Declaration of Independence, Mr.. sumner S
last report, or he may quote the Bible to sustain
his position, rs would Pomeroy or Harlan, or he
may fall back on Josh Billings almanac us
would funny Jim Nye. Either of the above au-
thorities would suffice for Radical purposes and
ma ch better than the Constitution, as they would
admit OF more liberal construction.
LOUISIANA.
Moderate men of the Radical persuasion, both
in and out of Congress- ore somewhat concerned
at the condition of things in Louisiana and At
tOrney-Genera Williams has made a statement
de Tending the position assumed by the President
in the matter even if in accordance with law,
will not serve to allay the feeling which the
nSurpation of power, under the Enforcement
A cts by the Federal Government, has created.
Y sterday General Dick Taylor called ON the
President in the hope OF getting modification OF
tn Executive policy in Louisiana affairs, bu;
General Grant could not go back ON his
brother-in-aw Casey, and thereby nnperil his
chance for the United States Senatorship by re-
laxing his grip on Yarmouth, and So things re-
II, ain in Sdtu quo. In regard to Yarmouth S
application for writ OF prohibition against Judge
- urell, the Supreme Court holds that when IA
ii 2al decree shall be rendered III the Circuit
- =. -. 4 I,.. tI.
preme Court which has no jurisdiction to issue
u writ of prohibition until an appeal is taken
So, for the present Yarmouth has no hope from
the Supreme Court. committee OF thirty y-seven
from New Orleans will be here tomorrow IN be-
IN alf of Yarmouth, but their errand Will be fruit
less, as the fiat has gone FORTH and there Will be
10 halting.
RICH DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED.
The Credit Mohilier committee have decided
that by the terms of the resolution under which
they were appointed they can only inquire INTO
charges made against members Of Congress. SO,
II order to to give the committee full sweep, the
Hon. p NJ b. Young will, soon as he can
obtain the floor, offer resolution to extend the
scope Of the investigation as to authorize the
committee to inquire whether the Union Pacific
RAILROAD has, through the Credit Mobilier, de
frauded the United States, or any State or citizen
thereof 1t is claimed that if this resolution
pass, the most astounding disclosures Will be
made and that it will be shown among other
things tn since 1868 the Company have made
50 900 900 by fraudulent transactions. The vote
on this resolution will be nterestingas indicating
whose skirts are bedraggled with Credit Mobller
or Pac hc airoad mud.
KU-KLUx CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT.
The case of Greer, South Carolina ku-kluX,
charged with felony under the Enforcement Act
of 1872, was disposed of yesterday The question
was whether the Supreme Court had jurisdiction
to discharge the prisoner on habeds corpus. The
Court were divided in opinion. and IN conse-
quence the writ was denied. A decision of this
case would have involved "a decision of the con
sttutionay of the Enforcement Act. On this
account it is much regretted that decision was
not reached in the above case.
HOW NOT TO DO IT
Must be the motto of the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections, who were instructed to
inquire into charges of corruption made against
Senator Caldwell, of Kansas, Twice during the
recess did the Chairnan-SenatorM Morton-issue n
call for meeting, and but with one exception they
replied that it was not convenient This may not
be parliamentary reason for not attending to
their duties, but it is very etfectual method of
| how not to do what they should do. If this be
| II good reason for neglecting, purposely, other
| wise Senatorial duties we shall have any number
4
| ordered.
| THE PRESIDENCY.
| The smiling Vice has not yet indicated his ac-
ceptance of the editorship of the Tribune Should
he accept, and resign the Vice-Presidency, Sen.
| ator Anthony will succeed him until March 4th
| and should Grant go the way of all flesh before
| that time, Anthony would become President.
FREE BANKING.
The bill introduced in the House by Mr.. Mer-
riam provides that new banking associations
| may be formed under the National Currency Act
in any of the States Territories, upon de
post United States bonds with the Comptroller
of the currency, such bonds not to bear higher
rate of interest than five per cent per annum.'
| MORE BOUNTY.
Mr.. Shellabarger's bill, introduced in the
House yesterday, provides that the Act of April
22d, 1872, be extended to every volunteer non
commissioned officer, private musician and arti-
ticer who was enlisted and mustered into the
| military service of the United States at any time