The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-11

lcaNtS Iue IIdCh clear III al LdSIeIH HAL
for the Presidential nomination. Samuel
J. Tilden knows more about it.
Gov. Groome and the Attorney Generalshlp.
The action of Gov. Groome in the mat
ter of the Attorney Generalship looks to
us very much like little sharp practice on
the part of that gentleman. A contest for
the office of Attorney General is instituted
before him in accordance with plain pro-
vision of the Constitution of the State-a
provision which declares expressly that 1T
shall be the duty of the Governor to decide
on the election and qualification of the per-
son returned, two weeks are consumed
in the effort to arrive at conclusion as to
his powers in the premises, and an opinion
finally rendered which is neither one thing
nor the other, but which sends the whole
case to the Courts for adjudication.
The Court of Appeals, it is true, is in
session, but the time consumed in issuing
and serving the writ of mandamus-the
action determined upon-in getting the
x
of it, will necessarily delay the decision of
that tribunal, at least, one month or six
weeks. At the end of that time Governor
Groome's term of Office will expire, and
"the elephant" as it is popularity called,
be taken off his hands and be transferred
to those of his successor. If Mr.. Carroll
be that successor the whole matter must
fall to the ground. A contest carried on
before him would compel him to decide in
favor of Mr.. Gwinn, fer decision which
would establish Mr.. Wallis right, would
carry with it an acknowledgment that he
himself had no claim to the office which he
occupied, seeing that if S. Teackle Wallis
was elected Attorney General, surely J.
Morrison Harris was elected Governor.
The plan is shrewd one, but we are in
clined to think that it will not go far in
assisting Gov. Groome to regain tho good
opinions of the people of the State.
BY yesterdays papers we learn that
Mr.. Gwinn has filed petition in the Circuit
Court of Anne Arundel county for a man
damus to compel the Governor to issue him
commission as Attorney General. The
petition assumes that the duty of tho Gov
ernor is ministerial only, and by his refusal
to discharge it the petitioner is debarred
from the enjoyment of his rights. He
prays the Court to grant him relief by
mandamus compelling the Governor to do
his duty. Although the complaint is d.
rected against the Governor, that officer is
mentioned by his official title only, and not
by name, which looks as if there was an
expectation of prolonging the litigation
beyond Gov. Groome's term of office.
Gen. Babcock has asked for military
court of inquiry, which has been granted,
and will consist of Generals Terry, Sheri-
dan and Hancock. He left Washington on
Wednesday for Chicago, to appear before
the Court of Inquiry appointed to invest-
gate the charges against him. No informa-
ton has yet been received at the Depart
ment of Justice as to any indictment hav-
ing been found against him at st. Louis.
Although the President appears to be per-
fectly satisfied as to the integrity of Gen
eral Babcock, the Attorney General has
steadily refused to listen to any explana-
ton of the kilograms out of which the
charges against General Babcock have
arisen, as he did not consider it proper for
him, as the representative of the Govern
ment in case of indictment, to do so.
Hon. Reyerdy johnson has gone to
England as the agent of the State of Flor
ida, to sell three millions of acres of land
belonging to that Commonwealth, and the
veteran negotiator and diplomatist feels
confident of success in favorably placing
the lands. Should he succeed in his mis-
sion the proceeds of the sale are expected
to be sufficient to pay off the entire debt of
Florida (which is very smalD and leave
something in the treasury besides.
Another terrible marine disaster is
reported. The steam or Deutsehland, of the
North German Lloyds Line, which sailed
from Bremen. Sunday, for New York, went
aground on Sunday night, on the Kentish
Knock Sands, a few miles eastward of the
mouth of the Thames, and became total
wreck. The loss of life was about fifty.
One hundred and fifty of the passengers
and crew have arrived at Harwick
1t is expected that the Texas Pacific
railroad subsidy will be strongly pressed
before Congress this session. Col. Thos.
A. Scott, the leading spirit of the corpora
ton, has been engaged for months in laying
his plans, and it is believed that he has
secured the aid of nearly all the Southern
members. We shall now see whether the
Democratic party is sincere in its professed
hostility to all railroad grants.
Women are beginning to obtain new
privileges in Minnesota. At the late cleo
ton large majority was given for con-
stitutional amendment providing that any
woman of 81 years of age and older may
vote at any election for officers of schools,
or on any measure relating to schools, or
may be eligible to any Office pertaining to
the management of schools.
Hon. William NJ. Evarts is to be the
orator, and Henry W. Longfellow the poet
of the Centennial Exposition next year, at
the great 4th of July festival. The Declare
ton of Independence, it is said, will be
read by grandson of Richard Henry Lee,
of Virginia.
The decrease in the public debt dur
ing November was $3.50, O7s. There were,
in that month, large disbursements for
army and navy pensions. The entire re-
auctions made in the public debt for the
four months of the present fiscal year, since
July LIST, is $40, II, 200, against 81. 149 9O7