The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-20

From the Maine State Press of April 10, 1871
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending "Wednesday
Might, April 18th.
NATIONAL CAPITAL

--S ave" AVt the week cR0IuS wednesday
Night, April 18th.
NATIONAL CAPITAL
The Cabinet has discussed the question of an
extra session. 1t was suggested that it might
tie advisable to call it on the 18th of May, as
much time might be consumed in the election
of Speaker and the appointment OF standing
committees and as the members might be anx-
ious to close the session before the intense heat
of summer, but no action was taken.
1t is not true as has been reported that this
government has sent passports to Senior Della
Costa, the Venezuelan minister, in retaliation
for the demand of Venezuela that Minister
Russell should be recalled. This government
desires to preserve If possible the increasing
commercial relations between the United
States and Venezuela and Senior Della Costa is
personally great favorite. 1t is also possible
that the new President of Venezuela may be
disposed to adopt a more friendly policy to.
ward the United States, and that Minister
Russell, who still retains his official position,
although here, may be invited to return to his
post at Caracas
Chief Naval Constructor Hanscom will be re-
tired in June, when he attains the age of 81
years.
The Postmaster General has issued an order
providing that hereafter all original appoint
ments of railway post Office clerks, route agents,
mail route messengers and local agents shall be
made only for the probationary term of six
months.
Rear-Admiral Worden, commanding the
American:squadron in European waters has
ordered all vessels of the squadron to assemble
at Nice, whence to sail for Constantinople and
other Eastern ports to look after American in
terests
The board of engineers to investigate the
matter, concerning the foundation of the
Washington monument, report it as Insult cent
to warrant completion of the monument on the
present site. The question of what is to be
done with the unfinished structure will be sub
mitted to Congress.
Major Reno, recently tried by court martial
on charge of insulting the wife of a brother
officer, and sentenced to be dismissed from the
service, has forwarded to the war department
request for delay in the presentation of the
case to the President, claiming that he has adj
ditional evidence which will tend to the miti-
cation of his sentence. The reques. was
granted.
The graduating class at West Point Military
Academy this year numbers u members, being
the largest class that ever graduated from the
institution. There are but 4S vacancies in the
army to be filled and consequently 81 of the
graduates will be appointed brevet I'd lieu
tenants under the law and be promoted to the
grade of I'd lieutenant as vacancies occur.
Hon. John A. Kasson of Iowa has accepted
the mission to Spain.
The Supreme Court having decided that the
law declaring eight hours day for govern
ment employees is merely direction by the
government to its agents, and not a contract
with laborers, the Secretary of the Treasury
will issue an order announcing this decision
and directing its officers not to pay he reafter
ten hours wages for eight hours work. The
order given by President Grant that eight
hours shall constitute days work for all
/. employees of the government will be revoked,
and no additional pay will be allowed those
who work longer than eight hours.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
In conversation with friend the other day
President Hayes earnestly condemned the re-
opening of old issues between North and South,
and expressed his belief that the time has come
for complete reconciliation. He referred to
the fact that the National Republican Conven-
ton which nominated him for the Presidency,
passed resolution pledging the Republican
parry to protect every citizen of the United
States in all civil and political rights and de-
claring that the permanent pacifcation of the
Sonth should be effected by removing all causes
of discord. The spirit of this resolution was in
perfect accord with his own views, previously
expressed and he repeated them in his letter Of
acceptance of his nomination, and more fully
elaborated them in his inaugural address, con-
sistently maintaining the policy of .reconcilia-
ton and local self-government apart from
military support, and when he entered upon
the duties of the Presidency he intended this
policy should not be one of sentiment merely,
but OF actual administration. He spoke with
emphasis when he said, "My belief is the course
tends to give good government to the South, it
tends to secure peace between the sections and
between the races and parties at the South, and
1t tends to secure the right, interest and safety
of the colored people, therefore am in favor
OF this policy. I do not know whether shall
succeed in carrying it out because there are
ways may possibly thwart me. But of one
thing am confident, namely, think it my
duty to try to carry out this policy and I am
going to do it,
Hampton is in quiet possession in South Caro-
lima. He has called upon the Chamberlain
officials to surrender their Offices, and they re-
fuse to comply with the demand. Severe CON-
ment is made on Hampton's conduct in as
Stunning to decide question which is now be
fore the courts.
1t is believed that the troops will soon be
Withdrawn from Louisiana. The Nichols Sem
ate has passed resolutions pledging itself to
hearty support of the constitution al amend
ments and regard for the rights of the black
man. The Nichols House has adopted a reso-
luton by 60 to IL looking to the reorganization
OF the House. The resolution announces that
10 Republicans are soiemnly declared to legally
occupy their seats, and cordially invites IS other
Republicans to come and do the same, and
assert that seven other Republicans will be ad-
mitted subject to contest. 1t provides further
that the organization of the House shall remain
unchanged, and that no contest shall be made
Of the seven seats in which Republicans are
seated until the next shssion.
A handbill is posted all over Washington
containing Evarts' speech before the electoral
commission Feb. Is, in which he said: "If the
federal power leaves unbefriended the unedu.
Gated, simple, black people to the hard fate
from which the state strove to save them, I
say you will have made them. say you will
have made them victims of your constitution,
for your constitution gave them the right of
suffrage and they are to be slaughtered for hay
ng the gift found in their hands.
POLITICAL.
AWashiDgton despatch to the Boston Journal
has the following suggestive bit of political COS
sip:
The Daily Nation, a morning paper here, has
retired from the field of independent Journal
ism to become the organ of the new Wing
Republican movement, which is rapidly gain
ing strength. Thousands of earnest men,
North and South, are tired of the scheming
81, xIoxx