Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-08-31
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

In no cases have the mothers been trac-
ed out or discovered. Nine-tenths OF
these murdered infants are colored. In
our experience as Freedman's Bureau
officer in the South, we found great
want of maternal feeling among the col
ored women for their children, and we
don't doubt that the one great cause of
infanticide in this city is due to this
same want which we noticed among the
ex-slaves. Then we attributed it to that
inherent feeling which was prevalent
among the slaves without regard to sex,
that every thing was Massa's." From
the child to the house it was born in, the
parent knew he had no ownership and
that at the mere arbitrary will of the
master the child, the house and the pa
rent could be sold away just as the mule
he plowed with or the corn on which it
was fed. In sickness the slave never at
tempted to aid. Massa alone interposed,
hence it is but natural all maternal in
stincts should be crushed out, and until
this present generation has passed away
we apprehend the infant will reap the
fearful consequences of slavery's teach
ings.
Since our last Mrs. Mitchell has filed
an answer to her husbands bill and APP
plication for divorce, and to this the
husband p w. G. Mitchell replies,
denying all her allegations. She arraigns
him as fearfully as she was herself ar
raigned by him, and we wonder if these
terrible charges and counter charges are
mere fictions of law or utterances of
truth. If the former why do courts of
justice sanction such Outrages of public
decency by compelling resort to legal
falsehood in order to institute processes
Of law? if the latter, propriety would
dictate their suppression from publica-
ton, unless it is desired to have our dali
ly press pander to the perverted and
prurient taste after the manner of the
notorious police and sensational week
lies of New York. Mr. Mitchell has
gone into the courts for redress and
must now establish the truthfulness of
his allegations against the honor of his
wife or must suffer official decapitatlon,
as Secretary Schurz has notified him
that his retention as private Secretary
depends wholly upon the decision of the
courts upon the case. IF adverse, and
divorce thereby is refused, he will be
removed, hence, we may presume that
he will make desperate effort to secure
a decree in his favor.
GREAT DISCOVERY.
Our National Observatory here has
put quite a feather in its cap, through
it's brilliant discovery that the planet
Mars has two satellites. Prof. Hall, one
of our astronomers, noticed about 1
o'clock Thursday evening small star
near the planet Mars, but so faint as to
be nearly obscurcd by the planets bright
ness. This occasioned no comment, in
asmuch as it was known there are sever
al small stars in that part of the heav-
ems, but subsequent observations show
ed that Mars and this star kept pace
with each other, and this fact eventual
ly led the astronomers, Profs. Hall and
NewcOmb, to demonstrate cOnclusively
that Mars had not only one, but two
satellites On Saturday morning the
discovery was communicated to the Su
perintendent Of the Observatory, Admi-
raj Rodgers, who at once took steps to
make it known to astronomers all over
the world Scientific men everywhere
will, doubtless, congratulate Prof. Hall
upon his brilliant achievement. and give
us cause to feel more than ever proud
of our large and unrivaled telescope. 1t
is huge instrument and has the largest
object glass in the world Congress APP
propriated $4,000 in 1870 for building
the foundations alone, which are heavy
masonry and sunk nearly 40 feet in the
ground, The glasses were made in the
East and cost an immense sum. This
is the first discovery made with it, and
we are proud indeed that it bids fair to
realize all our expectations.
TIE ARMY
a strong effort will be made this win
ter to increase the army, and PROPOSE
tons to that effect are already submit
ted here for popular inspection, 1t is
proposed to give the South the benefit
of the increase and draw largely upon
it for the requisite officers and men, on
the ground that such course would de-
stroy the last vestige of the Confcdera-
cy Though we doubt the propriety of
increasing the army, notwithstanding
our Indian and frontier as well as do
nestle troubles, for we are firm believ-
ers in the power and efficacy of volun-
tcers in all eXigencies, yet if increases
come we sincerely trust the ex-rebel
will be invited to don the blue and serve
under the flag he so lately fought
against. History shows us that every
country may safely incorporate its sub
dued rebel element into its army, and
receive thereby most favorable acces-
sion, and hence our desire that he should
be given an opportunity to serve under
the Stars and Stripes.
-Four years Southern service after the
war in the South, taught us to respect
and admire the honor and courage of the
ex-rcbel soldier, and we would unhesita-
tingly trust him under the Stars and
Stripes as either officer or private. We
found the bomb-proof and him, who
fought the Yankees in the rear, where
no Yankee shot and shell ever came to
tcrrify or hurt him, to be an intraetable
element. But the real soldier, who pin
ned his life upon his sleeve and went
forth to do battle and to die if nccessa-
ry, and whose courage and honor were
tested in many bloody and dangerous
conflicts, we found most subducd ODE
dient to our military orders, and anx-
ious for peace, Notwithstanding his
neighbor, who would not fight at all dur
ing the war, was now most anxious to
spill his own and the pcsky Yankees
blood, hence our admiration for the Con
fcderate soldier.
MISCELLANEOUS.
1t is gratifying to note that Captain
Eads jetty system at the mouth of the
Mississippi River, has proved a decided
success The government dredging
boats have been withdrawn from the
passes because Of the report made by
army engineers in charge that Capt,
Eads had secured depth of Is feet
and breadth of $50 feet in the pass or
mouth, which he contracted to open to
such depth and breadth. Yet these en-
ginecrs year ago decided the Eads
scheme impracticable, and we had Il
number Of their reports to that sum- 1t
does seem that West Point doesn't know
everything, and that civil engineer can
do something mcritorious A Japanese
official is here, closely inspecting our
Post Office department, with "A view to
incorporate its advantages into the Jap
am postal service. He is evidently a
shrewd observer and will doubtless copy
our whole system for the use of his gov
eminent. He is a queer looking Jan