The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-01-16

Nearly the whole business PoItio'
of the. village of Natick (Mass.) ha
been destroyed by fire; three store
only being saved. Losses are est
mated at $50O,OOO Charles M
Chairman, Engineer of the Fire De
partment, was killed by falling walls
Two children are reported missing
Catherine Story, formerly laun
dress in the reform school at Wash
ington, sues Superintendent Howe
of that institution, for breach o
promise laying damages al. $40, zoo
She alleges. that he seduced her
about year ago, under promise o
marriage, and that q child has beer
born to her as result of the crime
Cartagena has surrendered, and il
now occupied by Government troop
under Gen. Dominguez. Upon tht
capitulation Of the city.the Intransig
ents' Junta and liberated convict'
went on board the frigate Numancia
which was attacked by the Govern
ment squadron, and at the time the
last dispatch was forwarded a nava
engagement was in progress.
The Democratic State Convention
of New Hampshire on the Sth, nomi.
mated J. w. Weston for Governor
and denounced the present Admins
tration roundly; called for repeal
of the Salary Act; denounced all kind
of monopolies; declared in favor Of
State Rights, and offered adherence
to the Baltimore platform OF 1872,
and adjourned sine die.
Much excitement has been created
at Memphis by the report Of the
Grand Jury of the Criminal Court
with regard to the Poor-house, which
they declare is disgrace to civilian
ton. The sick, the we'll, the insane,
black and white, criminalsand simply
unfortunate beings, are mixed to-
gether indiscriminately, without re-
gard to sex. They are half-starved,
filthy, half clothed, and are beaten
and abused by the keeper and his
deputies.
The following resolution was offer
ed by Mr.. Nesmith and passed the
House of Representatives on the Sth:
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be requested, if not in
compatible with the public service, to
furnish the House of Representatives
with copies of all the correspondence
between the different Departments of
the Government and the Peace Com
missioners during the war with the
Modoc Indians in Southern Oregon
and Northern California during the
years 1872 and 1878; also, copies Of
all correspondence with, and orders
issued to, military authorities engag-
ed in such war up to theperiod of the
removal of the Modoc Indians from
the States of Oregon and California. "
Representative Hurlbut, of Illinois,
member of the Committee on Rail-
ways and Canals, will introduce a
bill, the features of which he fore
shadowed at meeting of the friends
of cheap transportation, recently, for
the construction of q double-track
freight railroad from New York to
Council Bluffs, with branches to the
Chicago and st. Louis Railroad, to
be operated by corporation under
the auspices of the General Govern
ment, and to be controlled by Govern
ment Commissioners. The rates for
the transportation Of cereals are to
be fixed at five mills per ton per mile
for any distance over 750 miles, the
length of the road being 1,500 miles,
and for a shorter distance than $50
miles they are to be q little less than
five mills per ton per mile The road
is to be operated exclusively as a
freight road for cereals, stock and
other productions. The train will
move at the quickest economical rate
of spead, which will be at least ten
miles an hour. The cost of the road
is estimated at $175, 1000, GOO, includ-
ing the necessary rolling stock.
The Government aid suggested is
guarantee of five per cent. interest
on $50, 900, 600, of bonds.
The message of the President to
the Senate Withdrawing the nomina-
ton Of Geo. II. Williams as Chief
Justice states that it is done at his
own request. Williams remains in
Office as Attorney General, and the
nomination of Colonel Bristow for
the position is in another brief mes
sage consequently Withdrawn. Fol-
lowing is the letter of Attorney Gen
eral Williams requesting the with
drawal of his nomination:
"WAsH1NaToN, January 7, 1874.
"10 the President-Sir: You were
kind enough, without my solicitation
or any knowledge on my part thatyou
contemplated such thing, to nomi-
nate me for Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United State.
Since that time the Aoodgates of
calumny in all directions have been
opened upon me. My abilities have
been disparaged, my integrity brought
in question, and, as it seems
to me, that stage of public opinion
adverse to my appointment has been
reached which might hereafter en-
barrass your Administration and per-
haps impair my usefulness upon the
bench. With a perfect consciousness
that have performed, with clean
hands and upright purpose, all the
duties of the various public Offices to
which have been called, and trusting
to time to adjust the public mind,
when better informed, for my vindi-
cation, l respectfully ask you to with
draw my nomination.
"
The assessable property of Polk
county, as shown by the assessment
books, amounts to 81 ,640, ,S25. The