davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
THE STATE DEBT.

In the Senate on Monday last,
Mr.. jenkins, of Cleveland, intro
duced a bill for the adjustment
of the public debt Of the State,
which bill provides for the issuing
of new bonds, payable at the expi>
ration of thirty years and bearing
six per cent interest, to be exchang-
ed for the old bonds in the following
manner:
The Treasurer shall exchange the
new bonds at the rate Of twenty five
cents on the dollar for bonds issued
since the war but under acts Of the
Legislature adopted before the wal ;
shall pay sixteen aH1 tw0>thirds
cents ON the dollar for bon,.s issued
during the war for internal improve
ments shall pty twelve aud halt
cents on the dollar for bends issued
Tor funding the Interest on the
pubic debt Of the Sat" under ac;s
Of the L"Iislatu Of 1867 G8; shall
pay ten cents GA the drAJr for those
since the Us. undrr the ordinance
OF the Cpu,cn,l ~ aud the slvera
acts of the Lrgi-iaturc-not to III,
ciude the sprclat tlV bonds.
Tn, Ill W,, rcf.rrct and ordered
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
SLOWLY IMPROVING.

Between the conditions Of trade
in England and the United States,
says the Boston Post, there is an in>
tense sympathy, and whatever dis
turbs or benefits one country has to
a greater or less degree corres~
ponding effect upon the other. The
financial panic of over year ago in
this country extended its blightiug
grasp even to the trade and industry
of Great Britain. Prices fell Of,
wages became reduced, and business
generally stagnated in proportion.
Up to the end Of September, the
revenue, instead of showing the
promised increase over the first six
months Of the last financial year,
exhibited a decrease of six and q
half million dollars. The impulse
in the downward direction, however,
had then been exhausted, and the
gratifying has now set in.
For the five weeks between October
l and November I the revenue res
ceipts exceeded those of the cores
ponding period of last year by seven
and a half millions of dollars, SC
that the deficiency of the first hall
of the year has not only been made
up, but there is a gain of a million.
This recovery from depression is
not fitful or Fictitious. 1t signalizos
new and valid rea iustment OF
those conditions which regulate la
hor and distribute capital in wages
and trade.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
THE DIFFERENCE.

A telegram of the Both uIt., says:
A pitch battle between the ltal.
ian and striking miners resulted in
the Italians displaying white flag,
and they afterwards promised to
leave tomorrow. Four italians
were killed. The police were on the
spot in force.
Merciful Powers What horrid
Northern outrages Can the Fed
eral government stand aloof when
such atrocities are occurring in one
of it's provinces Troops should be
sent at once and martial law de-
clared in Pennsylvania. Let the
dignity of the government be up
held.
An impartial observer must be
often struck with the difference IN
the dealing of the United States
government IN regard to crimes Of
the same nature North and South.
If q vile incendiary, as for example
Stevens, of CaswelI, IN any portion
of the South so proVokes public in
dignation and outrages all the rights
of private citizens as to gore them
to despair and cause them to cons
nit an unlawful deed and visit a just
retribution upon the head of the
incendiary by taking his life, in
stantly there is 4 hue and cry over
the country that there is & rebellion
against properly constituted auth.
ority, the section of country il
which the deed is committed i:
placed under martial law and sub
jected to depredations Of vile anc
undiciplined soldiery, troops arr
ordered out by the Federal govern
me It to terrify the people, the bes
citizens are arrested without war
rant, thrust into prisons and denic'
the privileGge Of Aa5eas corpus, an,
almost every other outrage commit
ted which oppression could suggest
But what is the conduct of the gcv
ernment towards the frequent riot
by organized societies in the Nor'I
resulting usu@lly in copious blood
sh"d? Simply nothing. Th
whole matter is left where it prop
erly belongs, in the hands OF til
State authorities.
When we contemplate this differ
ence in the Federal administration
we conclude that the Souther
States would be craven to submi
to it if they had the power to resis
it.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
The Pennsylvania Senatorship.

The railroad interests of Penn
sylvania are urging the claims Of
William A. Wal ace, democrat, State
Senate aud late Presidentof the Tex
as Pacific Railroad Company, for the
seat i'll the Senate now occupied by
Scott, republican, whose term expires
on the 4th Of March next. Senator
Cameron, the republican head sachem
Of Pennsylvania, taking a railway
view OF the subject, is reported as
favoring the movement for Wallace.
But, on the other hand, Judge Black
has intimated his readiness to fill the
Senatorial chair in question, and
Judge Black has strong claims and a
powerful backing. 1t will not be a
matter of surprise, however, should
the election even democratic Senator
from Pennsylvania be determined by
the strategy and tactics Of the old
campaigner, Cameron.-N. 7. Herald.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

The ". Y. Tribune puts forth
the following illustration Of the
working of the civil service reform.
Gen. Butler has SO far recove. ed
from the paralysis brought on by
the recent election that lie has be-
gun to pay his debts after the popu'
lar f shion Of politicians Of his own
school. An anti>Butler man bad
an inspectorship in the Boston Cuss
tom house; Butler man had been
promised the place; Gen. Butler
spnke the word and the Butler man
W ent in and the anti1Butler man
went out. Aud yet some people
maintain that the Civil Service rules
are enforced.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

The pc. organ of the admj'. slra'
ton at Washington, the National
Republican, is honest enough at
last to make the following confes,
sions: Hundreds Of thousands of
men are idle in every State in the
Union. All trade and industry
are at stand still. The factories
have ceased to produce. Hard
times stare every man in the face.
This is, what defeated US in the
late conpaign, and it viii defeat US
it. the campaigns which are to come
if 1t Is allowed to continue. We do
ut know that the method of relief
we have indicated is the best one,
but what the Republican party mast
do if it wishes to hold the country
in Is is to put the working men to
work #g..
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

We Join the Norfolk Landmark
in the declaration that Gen. Emory,
the Federal ccmmandant in Louis
iana, deserves signal and severe re-
buke fo: the declaration in his re-
port that "the presence Of troops
is necessary to the conservation Of
peace in the Southern country ard
in my opinion to the existence of
the Government itself. As the
Landmark well says, the Southern
country includes all the territory
South of the Potomac. IF General
Emory's command were CO extensive
with this territory he might plead
personal supervision in justification
Of this declaration, and even then
the statement would be false, bu
as the Department of the Gulf ha.
not that extent, We can not see from
what source Gen. Emory obtain.
| the information upon which he bases
his most reckless assertion.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

GENERAL LoNGsrREEr-A corres>
pondent of the New York World,
writing from New Orleans, makes
the following allusion to one Of Lees
favorite Esuteuauts
General Longstreet, for so many
years the courage and nlainstay of
the faltering carpet baggers of this
State, has been brought to a bed OF
sickness, from witch it is thought he
may never more rise. Hated, ali.
horred by those who once followed
him even into the valley of death,
his end, with all his faults, will be a
sad one. If he had died when be
put away that sword which was as
bright and pure az any in the land
save one. a nation would have mourn.
ed his loss; to>day he will pass away
thing despisad, unwept, unhonored
and unsung.'
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
The public mind has been recent.

The public mind has been recent.
ly feasted with a sensation furnish
ed by the Commissioner of Customs,
that may partially maintain its
wonted excitement while it is com
valescing from the shock occasions
ed by its doubt Of clerical virtue.
The Commissioner brings grave
charges against the American
tourists, making them out nothing
more than gang of thieves. The
Commissioner estimates that these
tourists returning during the year
ending June 80, 1878, numbered
$3.50, and that each person
brought on an average sevt n trunks
filled with dutiable goods claimed
to be personal baggage, not dutia
BILE. We have thus" anxiously
reckons the Commissioner, intent
on his mathematical and mora
problem, can aggregate of 257 ,81(
trunks filled with articles claimed as
ddty free, representing, on valu'
alton for each trunk Of $500, The
enormous sum of $128,905,000
at is we'll known he assures US
that much of this baggage is in real
ity intended to be put upon the
market as merchandise. Most oI
the persons engaging in this i'm
portation are people Of wealth"
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
SAYS the Chicsgo Tribune: w

Says the Chicsgo Tribune: We
give for what it is worth a rumor
that the counsel engaged by Beech~
er, Tilton ct al, have decided to
withdraw from the various libel suits
on tie ground that they would in
volve private matters no. fit to be
made public. 1t is not possible
that the eminent legal gentlemen
mentionedin our dispatches are such
fools as to think that it is in their
power to save the reputation of both
Beecher and Iilton. One of them
must be pilloried for a rascal, or the
people will never be content.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
FEDERAL INTERVENTION.

The New York Times, though q
Republican paper, has shown most
commendable independence in iEs
discussion of the doings of the ADJ
ministration and laudable zeal in
behalf of just and proper govern
ment of the Southern States. 1t
has not only bitterly denounced the
action of the government in sending
troops to these States at the call of
every vile carpet~bag and scallawag
officer holder, but has stoutly insis~
ted that there should be change
of policy on the part Of the govern
ment IN regard to the character of
men appointed to Federal Offices
throughout the South.
The Times in passing pays its
respects to Attorney General Will
liams. 1t says:
"There can be no question that
the advice of Mr.. Williams on
Southern questions has, generally
speaking, been rash and mischieV~
Gus. He has practically sat in
Judgment on the constitutions of
various States, and construed them
according to his own ideas. And
this is an exercise of his duty which
the Federal Constitution never coald
have provided for, since it does not
even recognize the existence Of a
Cabinet at all. The Attorney Gen
eral has no sort of right to decide
questions of local government in the
Southern or any other States. Mr..
Williams has, in effect, done this
more than once, and if the Presi>
dent were to remove him, and put
in his place some great lawyer who
possessed the confidence of the peo
pie, we believe that he would dc
much for the Republican party, ano
what is of greater consequence.
would render a substantial service
to the whole country
The Times then remarks that i
has "more than once ventured II
remind the people Of the North tina
misgovernment and lack of prosper
ity at the South will inevitably re
act upon them. No man can sa.
he is in a healthy state if one of hi
arms is paralyzed." This is strict
ly true, and the North has begun t
: realize it. There can be no doubt
, that a great part of the fnancla
e distress now upon the country,
5 due to the unwise and unlawful &C
ton of the Federal government tc
! wards the South, by which it ha
e become in many places almost
: desolate waste and produced with
! ering effect upon the entire country
1t it were not for the fact that W
- believe the American people vel
y beginning to realize this truth, "
o would have but little hope for OF
e country materially or otherwise.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.

\ glance at the vote in several
Of the States in 1872 and 1874, SAYS
the Petersburg Ne1cs, will convince
the reader that the recent election
witnessed the most overwhelming 9
political revolution Of which there
is any record. For example, in 1877
the State of New York gave Gov
DIX nearly $4,000 majority. Ii
1874 the majority for Gov. TiIden i;
in the neighhorhood of $4,000
showing change of 100000 votes
in two years. In Illinois tie re
publican majority in 1872 was 80,
G00.- In 1874 the opposition ma.
jority is 10000, showing a change
in two years of $4,000 votes. In
Massachusetts the majority for
Grant i'll 1872 was 1900. IN
1874 the majority for the democrat
ic candidate for Governor is 5000
showing q change in two years ot
81, 900 votes. In Ohio the majority
for Grant in 1872 was $4,000. Ir
1874 the democrats swept the State
by 10000 majority, showing :
change in two years of 1000 votes
In Indiana in 1872 the majority fol
Grant was $1,000. In 1874 til,
Democratic majority in the Sta't
was nearly 1000, showing a change
in two years of 10000 votes. Ii
Moth Carolina Grant obtained ;
majority Of 24,OOO in 1872; but il
1874 the majority on the Congress
ional vo:e was $4,000, making
change IN two years Of 46, 600 votes
And in Pennsylvania the chang,
was greater than any We have men
toned. Grant obtained 1876. 00'
majority in 1872, and the Demo
Gratis carried the State by 1900
majority in 1874, showing a chan5
of l4C, coo votes. Here in sever
States there has been a change i,
two years OF $40 600 votes.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

- TheNashiagsens R&publican, rad
zeal, says sof the Speakership: 1T
seems 70 be generally conceded that
the contestefor the Speakcrship of
the Forty>fourth Congress will lie
between Mr. Kerr, of Indiana, and
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania.
They are both good men, and either
would make a good officer. Mr..
Randall is one of the oldest mem
bers Of cPpngreE and deserves the
honor at the hands of his party.
No man has served it more faiths
fully s
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
Renal Of tha usrrY Law.

WILMINGTON, N. c., Nov 9, 1874.
Editor of the N, Y. Journal OF Com
mercs: S\ES Z
Please inform me through the coli
umus Of your valuable paper:
1. Are there any usury laws in
England, and if not; whom were they
abolished ?
2. Are there any usury Laws in
force in France, Germany or Spain =?
g. In what States in this country
have usury laws been abolished2
4. In your opinion would the agri-
cultural and mercs ntile interests o:
the country he benefited by the to-
tal abolition of all usury laws in all
the States -77.-es'.s s-s-z=ssa~7- .
As the, usary question will come up
soon before our Legislature, your
views on this subject from your
long experience in such matters, may
Ilave some effect among our people.
So y 1NaUIRER.
Rsply.-1. There are no usury laws
in England, Early in the reign Of
Victoria, about 1910, they wee re.
pealed in substance, all obligations
over el0, and having not more than
IL months to run, being exempted
from their operation, and about Is
years after, this having worked to tine
qualification of all parties, the re.
strlctions were totally repealed.
2. Most of the enlightened coun-
tries OF Europe have repealed or greut'
ly modified their usury laws, but we
believe they still cling to the old alb
surdity in Spain although we are MOI
quite sure.
3. The usury laws have been sub.
stantially abolished in a majority OF
the States. The only one which
seems to have repented of it was Con
nectlcut, which did not give tia fail
trial. The Savings Banks, it is alleg
ed. by ill-judged action, frightened
borrowers, and the very next Legis
lature restored the time-honored
nuisance. Massachusetts, led the var
among the older States and her citi
z ms have never regretted it. Penn
sylgania, whose Dutch people arr
said to be so slow, is now free, bu
New York still clings to this relic 0
the barbarous ages:
! 4. All classes would be benefited
in any and every community by tn
repeal of these unwholesome restric
tions. The usury laws are alway
imperative TO prevent extortion' an
are never enforced except by a rogu
who wishes to evadc an honest pay
mens. They are therefore in ever,
instance powerless for good, and onl
effective for evil. Whatever risl
there may be in loaning money q
more than the legal rate, the bor
rover pays extra for /. when money
scarce; and the limitation keep
| money scarce wherever it is at a
operative. If the usury laws wer
2 abolished throughout the Unite
States, thus inviting the unrestraine
Use OF foreign capital we doubt
Z the average rate of interest woul
ever again reach the old legal limit.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
The new Cane Fear Agricultural

The new Cane Fear Agricultural
\ ISOLATION is mixing great efforts
fo@ . E'ao,l time at the Fair to b
..Iycn ou hr 15sh inst. Not only
he Association but the private cit
izens Of Wilmington are doing all
chey can to make the occusion Que
of peculiar interest. The Gov. and
Legislature are invited, the Caro-
lima Central Road is expected to
celebrate its completion, steamer
will be chartered for on excursion.
and the whole country, it seems,
will be given over to jollidcation
during the four days Of the Fair.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
The Lynchburg WsaCs thinks that

The Lynchburg NsaOs thinks that
" next to the carpet baggers the
dogs are the greatest enemies of
the productive inluscry of our
State and calls the attention of
the Legislature in advanc, to sheep
devouring dogs. The Ners says:
'' We are too poor to support the
best friends in the world, especially
if, after we have shared what little
meat we have with them by day,
they steal at night what we have
laid by for to-m9rrow.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
BEECHER AND SUNDAY.

The Sunday concert question has
elected considerable discussion from
the pulpits of New York and Brook,
lyn. On last Sunday Mr.. Beeeher
gave bis views on the subject from
the text in Isaiah lyiii 13, IA. Ever
loose in his religious ideas and ever
opposed to what he styles I" old the
ology" and " orthodoxy" Mr..
Beecher makes what will be consid"
cred wide departure by the evan~
gelical world, and on the principle
.'higher planes" " development,
spiritual progress" &C., authors
zes a use of the Sabbath but little
known among the christian people
of this country at least.
Like everything that ever emena~
ted from the pen Of this great man
this discourse is plausible aud beau
tiful. We give the closing para
graph:
Such an observance of the Lord S
Day as educates man, rescues
him from toll, enlarging the scope
of his vision, of his thought power,
giving aspirations towards what is
spirit-this makes it of transcend
ant value to the citizen. You ask
me if | think it would be good tc
bring in concerts and plays? No,
/ don't. Why would it not be
good? Why would it not be just as
right for you to 90 inside of pub.
lie building and play Hamlet, if you
don't interrupt anybody else, as fol
you to discuss he questions of Cal
vinism? Why, considering ouI
church choirs, may not Strakosci
90 to the Academy of Music ant
give opera? For one thing l car
answer that question on a purel.
legal ground. 1t is because tn
: laws forbid it. If you ask me wha
right they have to make such a law
if these people don't interfere will
, anybody eIses liberty; why hav
they not TIE right to observe tn
Sunday in these says? My repl
is, from the nature of your institu
tions l don't see any ground upo1
which you can restrain them.
e don't see how the law can interfere
I don't see the ground on which 20
make that distinction, to violate th
right of the people to conduct them
selves according to their own bes
d judgment. You ask me if there
5 q refining force in them. | simpl
f say it does not seem to me that tn
Influence under which these thing
came up tend to that. II they couI
be shown to augment social purit,
n to enlarge the good Of men, then
: should advocate them. If thel
5 was a proof that they tended to ST
- cularize men, to scatter their soci
influence, then sor that reason
) should be against them; not fro
It any kind Of prejudice or abstra
e right, but l say of the Lords D.
Is that it might be such as tends
~ make more of the individual, mo
- Of the family, Iuore of tho rnmort
II man. i do not fear that God W
l. be angry with any that uses Sund
IN in unaccustomed ways, if when !
is comes to make inquisition it sh;
h, appear that it was IN their hearts
make the Sunday beautiful, blossoI
w ing, fragrant and fruitful.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

The Legislature is mostly occu>
pied IN local bills and SO far has
done but little of public interest.
There is not really much legislation
of a general interest to DO, if the
Convention question and the subs
iect of the State debt is left out Of
consideration. If the friends of the
Convention see that their cause is
hopeless they had better drop it and
not waste time and money in its dis
cussion. The schemes suggested to
Iiquidate the State debt we look
upon as inadequate. If any com,
promise is made there must be some
cash paid and we all know that we
cannot raise more revenue by addi,
tional taxation.
The Legislature had better pas:
its local bills as soon as possible and
adjourn at Christmas. It can d.
nothing wit. the debt and will no
act on Convention. ...r.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04
Platt, the wou'd-be Congressman

Platt, the wou'd-be Congressman
from the Norfolk Distric. in 1875, is
much disgruntled at the recent de-
cision of the Canvassing Board at
Richmond by which the certifc ate of
election was given Col. Goode. He
has vented his spleen though the
National Republican, and that paper
joins him in abusing the party of re-
form for doing this fragrant wrong
lit will contest the seat, but it is
said that the Board of Canvassers in
their action followed the strict letter
Of the law
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

The New York Herald admits, ed
itorially, that Baltimore has fully re-
gained her supremacy in the coffee
trade. aud that the grain traffic of
New York is in great danger from the
better facilities offered by that city.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

'How many regular, steady BOARD
ers are there in It's house ? asked
census taker of a servant girl.
here's fifteen in all, sir, but not
more'n four of 'em is steady persons,
sir
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

.'. d. .Po-a. 7ceu;s t.
n"vc o:I-l""tr ~l,h several grand
jurics IN djffereut counties, tu,
whether it Will be endorsed by the
people ofthe Statc or not remains to
he seen. With the gallant Georgi.
ans it is "A question a. to whe her the
Constitution needs re"islon without
amy reference, whatever, to a weak
A"eel expediency.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

.'y c'":na Ii.
"le,.l tnur pans ct battle.
The rrpuU,Ic'u- continue to have
the advantage i'll the municipal e,cc~
tions.
A. L.st.rr, paper iurimatrs that
IT~a u ilnncr acquired his habit
OF prof'nl,y while learning TO read
Ills own writing.
The enquirer southerner., 1874-12-04

The people in Georgia, says the
WlImin1'o" Jouaa', are revolving
tn" rn..sri mt h err e2isncy, #
.f.. .- - 80 u. >..