The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-07-24

population there now numbering half
million souls, and constituting the chief
business element. Tho unsettled state
OF affairs, however, in these countries.
has led tho emigrants to turn their ut
tention to the United States. And the
Chronicle cites the fact that an Italian
agent has recently been buying large
tracts of land in California for his coun-
trymen to settle upon during this year.
The postoffice department. is much
pleased with the system of demanding
the prepayment of newspaper postnge,
and will, at the beginning of the next
congress, ut once endeavor to secure
the repeal of the law in relation to
mails. The law regulating the pay
ment of postage, will, however, be re-
tnined. It has been found that, al
though the rate: has been reduced, the
department. now receives as much as it
did when it had q higher rate, but col
leoted the postage Mt tho office of de-
livery, which leads to the melancholy
conclusion that some of tho postmas-
ters are not rs pure and honest III the
discharge of their duty MS they should
be.
TIE death of General T. P. Blair,
which occurred last week, was not I'M
expected. He had been in i'll health
for two years, and WAS recently sup
-
from TRANSMISSION of blood, but his
friends had little hope of his ultimate
recovery. AS soldier he made con-
siderable reputation during the war,
and was the democratic candidate for
the Presidency in 1868 on the
ticket with Horatio Seymour. He. fig
urcd little in politics afterward, though
he appeared in the Cincinnati convcn-
tion of 1872 to nominate Horace
Greeley. At the time Of his death, lie
was state insurance commissioner of
Missouri.
The American rifle team will prob
ably shoot at Wimbledon range, near
London, before their return. If they
succeed there as Mt Dollymount, there
will be q growl from John Bull, for he
hates to be beaten. Wimbledon was
established about fifteen years ago.
and ut the grand opening Queen Vic
TORN fred the first shot, and put her
bullet through the bulls eye at 400
yards. But then any woman could
hav5 done the same thing, as the queen
sat costly in luxurious arm chair, and
pulled silver cord which pulled Il
rifle trigger, sixty yards of, the rifle
itself having been sighted for her and
fixed immovably in q wise for this
especial occasion.
The Texans of tho border will cer-
tainly enjoy brief respite from desc
lating cattle raids inst now while the
Mexicans on the Rio Grande arc az
loggerhcads about the arrcs. and incar-
ceration of Cortina. The dispatches
indicate high degree of excitement i'll
Matamoras, which doubtless extends
measurably throughout the state of
Tamanlipas. The capture of their
leader is regarded is an undue inter
ruption to thoir smuggling operations
by the people of Nlatsmoras and vicin-
ity, and President Lerdo evidently has
M insurrection Oil his hands which will
require tho presence of more troops.
Matnmoras, where tho troubles now
center, is Immediately opposite Browns
vile, Texas, and contains n population
of about $4,000. AS an effort will be
made to carry Cortina to Vera Cruz, n
conflict between the citizens and the
Mexican troops is probable.
DISPATCHES from the Black Hills
geological expedition indicate that near
Harney's Peak gold has really been
found IN paying quantities. The cor
respondent OF the Now York Tribune
accompanying tho expedition writes
that, after tho party entered the unex.
plored region from the east, they struck
n granite formation and gold-bearing
quartz, besides finding gold in flakes in
the gulches. Prof. Jenny, Lieut.. Nor
ton and Dr. Lane, of the government
expedition, are said to be satisfied that
gold; exists there. Whether it will be
fonnd in sufficient quantities TO fill the
pockets of the thousands who are wait
ing to crowd into the hills, makes no
difference. The people will 60, in spite
of restrictions, and possess the land on
the mere intimation that gold is there.
If Gen. Custnr had never rambled in