Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-27

people OF any one Of said States shat
not be sufiieien6 TO discharge the who'll
Of its Indebtedness, payment shall frs
be made IN debts contracted previous &
the first day of January, 1851, the ex
cess, il any, TO be applied, as far IS !
viii go, TO the payment Of debts con
trac ed subsequent 10 May ], 1867 se
coTding to their class: those Of longes
date hei0g entitled TO preference.
Sec. > That if there shall be surplu
after discharging the debt Of any Of sale
States out of the cotton tax 80 collected
as aforesaid, the secretary OF the treas
ury is hereby directed TO pay the sam'
TO the proper authorities OF the Stat
wherein the people reside, from whom
the same was collected, to be used 10
the support Of tRe free schools OF sait
State.
This is certainly the best plan yet pro
posed for dealing with the cotton ta1
question. It puts the control Of the larg'
sums thus collected out of the reach o.
the cotton tax lobby, which is composed
for the most part Of northern men, ano
provides for Just and equitable settle.
element OF the whole matter. This bill
should certainly command the united
support of the southern delegation, Ou'
its passage even then would by no mesnf
be assured.
THE SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS CHA
| GRINED BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF
INFLUENCE IN CONGRESS.
| Southern matters here are in adisturb-
ed condition, and the southern men
are unhappy. The committee appoint
ed by the slim caucus of southsTn Re
| publican members OF congress 10 strike
| terror to the hearts Of their colleagues
| on the dOor have sigaally failed. The
prominent. northern and western Repub-
| Leans, who were counted upon SIS GER
tain to aid their southern brethren, de-
nounced the caucus As in extremely bad
| taste, aud not at all behtting party
| that ingnoTes sectional issues. The
southern Republicans, IN defense, say
/ that their votes hsye been used long
emo ugh, and that their burden OF com.
pisint is not taxation without represen-
tstion, but taxation without Influence,
and they are resolved 10 make their in
! fiueRce felt. Inc committee appointed
had a long session to-day, but failed to
come to any conclusion. Further con-
sideTatlOn Is postponed until after the
holidays. 1t is pretty clear that the
southern men mean to make the best
bargain for themselves, and to make a
desperate fight for thar lives.
BITTERNESS IN THE REPUBJICAN CAU-
Gus OVER SOUTHERN AFFAIRS.
Meantime the senate caucus, which is
called once more for half-past ten to-
morrow, will Try to agree on a policy ia
regard to the southern States, and it is
thought 1t will try in vain. There is a
disposition among the more courageous
senator's to throw the southern States
overbOard; but, as the southern senators
take an active part in the caucus, they
make a bitter struggle against every sug-
gestIOn in this direction, and this even
ing il is pTObsbie that they viii prevail.
They know that without threatened or
active Federal interference in their States
they would very quickly disappear from
| public life, ana they do not mean TO give
| upIf they can help Il. II is probacle
! that the southern senators have already
ma ie their bargains and supported the
I finance bin in consideration of being
themselves supported in turn. A few
senators, however, privately threaten
that they will, if possible, carry over the
| heads of the southern men q measure to
| cast of the southern Ststes entirely and
| leave them to govern Themselves, and
! thst if necessary they would appeal to
Democratic support for such a measure
OF home rule. But these sentiments are
not very boldly expressed.
A STRANGE STORY.
From theNew York sun
ST. PAUL, December 20.--The Dis
patch tomorrow will contain an ac-
count, derived from responsible citizens
OF St. Paul, which in brief is as follows.
''In the Spring Of 1872, Irwin, OF Pacific
Mail nOJOTiety, appeared at the Metro
p0iitan bank in New York, where he
had q small personal account, and de-
posted check for five hundred thou
sand dollars. He had not usually had
one thousand dollars OndepOai1, and the
president Of the bank reprOved the teller
for accepting so large deposit, which
! was likely to be checked again before
the half million check was collected
( Several days elapsed before any call was
/ made, and then Che stranger presented
check for all or nearly all Of the mysts-
riOus deposit. The check was drawn by
Irwin, payable 10 his (ITwin's) order,
aud Endorsed by him. The paying
teller demanded the Strangers name,
but he declined to give it, saying that
the check was practically payable to the
bearer. AS the teller continued obdu-
rate, the stranger appealed TO the presi-
dent Of the bank, and he also refused to
cash so large q check unless the party
would reveal his name. The stranger
grew indignant, but still refused to give
his name, and finally withdrew, declar-
ing that ne would give until the next
day Tor the bank 70 cash the check. A
bank messenger followed the stranger to
! ascertain his movements, and he pro-
| ceeded directly to the Pacific Mail,
| beyond which he was not traced.
! Next day, soon after banking hours be-
! gan, the stranger sgain called on the
! tank president, Snd asked if be was
| ready TO pay that check. The president
| inquired whether currency was required,
or whether the check Of the bank would
answer. The stranger said he was in
/ tending to deposit, and hence could e
/ the check. The bank president accord
/ ingly drew his check for the desired
amount, payable to bearer, and the
stranger departed. Again the messeu-
ger followed to ascertain who the visitor
was. The stranger proceeded to the
! Park bank, and there deposited the Me-
tropolitsn bank check. The messenger,
calling the cashier aside, asked who il
was making the deposit, and was told
that he was Mr.. King, postmaster OF the
| house Of represen Eatives. The gentle
man who tells this was formerly in busi-
ness in New York, and received the story
I from first hands. In view Of Irwin's
refusal TO tell who got the money, the
ways and means committee may find
! here a cleW worth following.