davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13
Gossip OF Grant.

A correspondent of the Springfield Re
publican reports that the ex-President was in
unusually good spirits throughout the voy-
age over and remarked that for the first
time in fifteen years he had passed ten days
without telegraph wire at his back-an
experience as agreeable as 1t had been I'M
usual. He was the universal favorite with
all the passengers on the steamer. Among
the passengers was former soldier under
the rebel General Buckner, at Fort Donald
son. There were repeated scenes Of banter
between General Grant and the confederate
veteran, the General nicknaming the passen-
ger "Johnny." On reaching Liverpool,
"Johnny" proclaimed himself Grant man
for the remainder of his life. One day some
one commenced upon the failure of Carl
Schurz and General Banks in the army.
Grant quietly smiling said, "Dont forget
that they commenced as Maior-Generals."
During the voyage over, when politics were
introduced General Grant abruptly left and
paced the deck. He explained his action to
passenger by saying that any opinion he
might express of President Hayes, whether
favorable or unfavorable, might be miscon-
strued He thought that President Hayes
deserved the esteem and confidence of all
Republicans while trying his experiment in
the South. Nothing could be more unpatri-
otto than a premature quarrel with him, OF
the suspicion that he meant to Johnsonize
the Republican party. lie commended the
personal character of Ex-Governor Chamber
lain, of South Carolina, and ex-Marshall
Packard, of Louisiana. The first, he said
was brilliant scholar, the second man Of
great ability and honesty. He hoped the
experiment of President Hayes would dis
appoint those Republicans who feared gen
eral catastrophe. He spoke in high terms Of
confederate General Joe Johnston, whom he
pronounced very able commander. Heknew
Stonewall jackson when student at West
Point, where he was fanatic in religion
with decidedly hypochondriac tendencies
When passenger asked what would have
become of Jacksons fame had he encoun
tered Sheridan, General Grantremarked thai
Sheridan had not only defeated jackson, bu
DESTROYED him,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13
Russian Enthusiasm.

The Russian Official Messenger publishes
decree ordering new levy of two hundred
and eighteen thousand men. So great a
levy is unprecedented. The money offerings
of the Russian people in aid of the war are
significant. The very day the Cars mani
festo was published, the Duma, or town coun-
Gil, of Moscow, voted sum of one million
FIVE hundred thousand roubles--about one
million dollars--for war purposes and for
the care of the wounded. Subscription lists
we're opened at once by the weathiest mobiles
and merchants of the city, and were covered
in few days by hundreds of signatures,
which produced also over million of roubles
The example Of old mother Moscow was
followed by st. Petersburg, whose town
council voted million roubles, while tn,
people subscribed eight hundred thousand
roubes in few days. Last, but not least
come the humble offerings of the peasants.
Money and requisites for the wounded are
reported as pouring in from all parts of the
country, and the offerings of the village la.
borers especially amounted in four days to
the sum of fifty thousand roubles. All
money and material for the wounded SOL
diers are forwarded to the Red Cross Society,
which is connected with the International
Geneva Association, and has ramifcations
throughout the whole country. The volun-
tary offerings Of the nation in all forms dur
ing the first week of the war amounted at
least to four millions of dollars. A great
number of Russian ladies in st. Petersburg
pledged themselves mutually neither to
wear silk nor satin nor costly ornaments,
nor to give balls, nor TO indulge in other
luxuries during the present war; but to de-
vote the money which they would otherwise
have spent upon such objects to the nursing
of the sick and wounded of their country
This is just what a good many women did
III this country during our rebel war, and
what women have done in all countries un.
der similar conditions.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

RETIRED GREENBACKs.--Congres has
voted that resumption of specie payments
shall take place year from the first of next
January. To fulfill that resolution steps
ought to be taken now and we are glad to
learn that some of the banks of New York
are beginning the work. Our currency laws
require that when new bank notes are issued
to parties presenting bonds to secure them,
eighty per cent. of the amount in greenbacks
shall be withdrawn from circulation and
cancelled. And these notes can no more be
issued. What those banks are doing there.
fore is to present bonds, and get new notes
for circulation. Thereupon the proportions
ate amount of greenbacks is withdrawn.
In short time they present the new notes
they have received, and desire the bonds
which they had deposited for security to be
returned. They then, in brief period
present the bonds anew, desire new notes fol
circulation, and a new batch of greenbacks
is withdrawn. And it is said to be in the
power of the banks of that city to secure
the cancellation OF sixty millions of green
backs in short time, and thus remove in 8
degree the gut of paper money. By thus
reducing a currency which is altogether dis
proportioned to the needs of legitimate bust
ness, the banks will assist in fastening thu
resumption of specie payments, and give t.
their own circulation value which it SEEM
now to lack. For it appears unlikely tina
the banks of our commercial centres can pa,
anything but ueagre dividends, while rates
| Of interest are so low.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

How IT WoRKs.-The trial of the Ellen
ton, S, c., conspirators, who raised the riot
in that place during the late Presidential
election, which resulted in the killing of a
large number of blacks, occurred last week,
before Chief Justice Waite. The jury was
composed of six whites and six blacks, and
as was expected, they could agree upon no
verdict, save that they united in acquitting
an old man who was on the list. On the
question of general acquittal they divided on
the race line, the six whites for and the six
blacks against. The blacks proposed com
promise of convicting two and acquitting the
rest, but the whites would not hear to it,
The accused were bound over for their ap
pearance at the next term of court but the
probabilities are that the second trial will
never be called. If it is, Southern jury
cannot be found that will convict Southern
men of political crimes
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

VIEWS OF SECRETARY EvARTs.-Secre-
tary Evarts, who has just returned to Wash
ington after flying visit to his Vermont
farm, predicts that in view of the patriotic
course pursued by President Hayes and his
Cabinet, in 1880 the Republican choice
for President will be elected by an over
whelming majority. The only ambition of
the present administration is to give the
people good government Mr.. Evarts says
the colored man has friend in the present
administration, and that if Tilden had been
placed in the White House there would GER
tainly have been series of murders com
United to which the few that have already
occurred would be insignificant. The Sec
rotary thinks that the course of certain Re
publican leaders in seeming to antagonize
the administration is only natural one, and
he does not believe that they will be able tc
awaken an opposition among the people, OF
the strength of dead issues, tina. will amount
to anything
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13
The Old Southern Game.

Not long since, two colored persons were
postmasters of two parishes in Louisiana.
On May 18th, when one by the name of Chap
man was about to enter upon his duties, he
was confronted by democratic Judge, and
by democratic member of the legislature,
who assured him that as he had given testi-
mony before the United States Senate Com
mittee, there was no law that would protect
him against mob, if he undertook to exer-
else the Office of postmaster. Knowing that
such threats were not meaningless, Chapman
took no further steps toward securing the
position but reported the facts to Washing
ton. The other, whose name was Dulo, on
receiving his commission, arranged to enter
1t once upon the discharge of his duties. On
making a demand upon the outgoing post
master for the possession of books and pa
pers, he was refused, and then appealed t.
the authorities for assistance. His appeals
would receive load of buckshot if he per-
sisted in his design. Afterwards, he found
a coffin at his door, covered with emblens OF
death, and thinking safety demanded fight,
he quietly, at night, made his way across the
Mississippi to New Orleans, and reported the
above facts to the Postmaster General. 1t
now becomes question of general interest
what the administration will do about it.
Here is open defiance of its authority. A
mob dictates to the general government, and
declares that its orders are of no account. Ii
it cannot act when there is direct opposition
to its authority, and bring to punishment
those who resist the operations of its ordi-
nary functions, then altogether too much is
left to state sovereignty to accomplish, and
the general government is name only.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13
The Wanderer Identified.

Two weeks ago we published the death, at our
town farm Of poor wayfarer, who called his
name Howard but whose real name we suspected
was stratton. Copies Of the paper, sent in ac-
cordance with our belief as therein expressed,
brought us the following reply, which proves our
theory to have been correct. Most heartily do
we sympathize with the deeply bereaved family;
" EXCELSIOR, June 9th 1877.
Messrs. j. d J. w. Poland. Dear Srs We
received the copy of the WATcHMAN containing
the death notice Of my brother. Father is in
Minneapolis Mt present, and do not wish to ac-
quaint him of the facts until his return, and |
dare not let mother know anything about 1t just
now, as she is old and feeble and 1t would GER
tainly kill her were she to know the circumstances
under which Thomas died. He was the eldest of
three boys; and the fourth Of eight children, being
the first 10 cross the River. He was born in Al.
ton, Illinois, January 3D. 1850, ana lived in Mime
apos from 81 to 81, when he and | both went
East. am printer by trade two years younger
than he. The last time saw him was in the fall
Of 81, in Springfield, ILL.,, where was working
on the Journal We never heard from him until
March, 70; he was then working in Fairbury,
III. Father answered the letter Immediately, and
begged MIN 10 come home; but he was perverse
and stubborn, saying he preferred to earn his own
living rather than live on him father. His sis
ters Nell, Carrie and Jennie, and myself repeat.
eddy wrote him and begged him to come, without
| avail We received two or three letters from him
last spring, in which he gave MS to understand
| that his health was good, and that he likely
to get work where he was going. In his letter
| Of March, '76, he said that previous to that he
had gone under an assumed name, so that If any
thing should happen to him. or he should die, hi
mother would always be in ignorance of it
sent the paper to Nell, who is teaching schoo
nine miles from here, with instructions to reaC
and send 10 three other sisters
Father will communicate with the town an
| thorities as soon as he returns
Thanking you for your kind and charitable
notice of his death, | remain,
Fraternally, JOIN p SrRATToN."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13
Playing Ont.

Trades unions seem to be going generally
and rapidly under a cloud, and we are glad
that IL is 80, for we believe their influence,
on the whole. to be subversive of the very
ends they ostensibly aim to promote. The
Albany moulders' union, formerly one of the
most powerful labor organizations in the
country, has virtually disbanded by voting
that the members may work for whatever
wages they can get They have been on a
strike all the winter and spring, and their
places in the foundries have been filed.
The same result has nearly been reached in
Troy, great stove manufacturing place,
where long strike has been attended with
some bloodshed. In New York, as has
already been mentioned, Judge Barrett has
granted a mandamus directing the longshore-
mems protective union to reinstate eight
hundred men who had broken the regula-
tions by working under the rates. A very
important case has just been decided at
Montreal, that of Vain against the stone
cutters union. Plaintiff alleged that at his
trade he could make from two dollars and
fifty cents to five dollars a day, but that in
December, 1875, the union, by blacklisting
the employers who gave him work, drove
him out of occupation. The court gave him
five hundred dollars damages and costs,
which, as there were seven lawyers engaged
and all men of professional prominence, will
make a very heavy fine for the thirty-eight
members of the union. This civil recourse
in conjunction with the penalties of the
Trades Conspiracy act, will probably make
unions in Canada much more cautious in
their discipline of independent artisans oil
employers.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

The DIFFERENcE.-It is impossible to
conjecture what would become of writers for
the New York Sun if the French practice of
filming and imprisoning editors for insulting
the President should be introduced here.
Almost every day the telegraph brings news
that at least one unfortunate journalist has
been sent to prison-terms varying from one
TO three months-and fine of three thou.
America is not only allowed, but encouraged
The difference between the two countries
seems to be that in France the government is
run by the people in Office, and in America
an attempt to run the government is made
by the people out of office.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

THE 'HopPERs.- The following is an extract
from a letter from IL. W. Scribner, formerly Of
this place, but now resident of Monoma county,
Missouri. 1t gives some idea of the Western
pest; see in the Montpelier Journal frequent
mention u our Western pests, the hoppers; bui
1t gives you faint idea, after all. In the valley
of the Little Sioux the young hoppers have
Matched so plentifuily that they are eating the
prairie grass leaving the land behind them a.
smooth and bare as though shaved with a razor
or fire; and towards evening they 90 to roost on
the spears of grass until you find rolls of then
AS large as your thumb and as long as the blad,
or stick on which they roost. Now when you
take into consideration the fact that the young
hoppers are only from one-fourth to three-eighth,
of an inch long aud that the ground is covered
with them like dust, you can form some conject
IRE as to our hopper pest ! sat down in the roac
one day and took my pocket-knife and gave on,
dig into the earth and threw out over twenty-fiv,
hopper eggs | saw cloud of them pass owe
last fall so dense that they cast a shadow like
cloud, and the army was five or six miles long
and two broad. The noise of their flight was lik,
the rushing of mighty wind"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

The MEXICAN BoRDER.--For years the
citizens of Texas have been annoyed by
forays from thieves from across the Mexican
boundary. The extension of railroad facili-
ties has given greater value to the herds OF
that state. Texas abounds in rich pastures,
and the climate and scanty population en-
courage the breeding of immense numbers
of cattle. Although the steers from that
region have taken great liberties, they yet
ripen into excellent beef, if fed for a season
on the rank corn of Illinois. But one cir
cumstance has interfered with the profit Of
the Texas drovers. Along the border of the
Mexican provinces lawless set of men have
gathered, who pay no more respect to rights
in cattle than the Scotch borderers of three
centuries ago did to the rights of English
farmers in the same property. Hitherto ma
tional comfy has shielded the thieves; could
they but recross the boundary line they were
safe from molestation. Our indignant herd
ers were restrained from pursuing them,
lest they violate the territory OF Mexico.
United States forces have been stationed on
the border, but the line is so extensive that
they could not always be invoked to arrest
the robbers before the latter had slipped int,
their own provinces. 1t seems that oui
government have now decided that If Mexic'
cannot restrain her villains our soldiers shall
The commanding general in Texas, there.
fore, has been directed to try to effect a
friendly arrangement with the Mexican au-
thorities for joint effort to stop cattle steal
ing. If the Mexican military will keep thel
thieves at home, or secure restoration OF
the stolen bovines, the sanctity Of their terri
tory will be respected. But if not, our forces
will be instructed to pursue the robbers, and
make them understand that if they must
live by plumber, they must rob Mexicans and
not Americans.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

The EASTERN WAR.-As far as the two
great fighting powers, Russia and Turkey, are
concerned, there has been but little change
during the week. They have engaged in no
battle nor made any extraordinary demon
stration The Danube still separates the
armies in the West, and the alleged reasons
of Russia's inactivity is that the water of
the river is so high as to make the crossing
perilous, if not impossible. Reports of the
poverty of the Turks indeed of the almost
bankrupt condition Of their government,
come from every quarter, and have led some
to believe that peace movement is on foot
Others are of the opinion that especial prom
nence is given to this feature of the Turk
ish condition in order TO induce England
under menace of her interests in India, to
join them, as an easy victory over the forces
of Islam might induce the Russians to in
terfere with English interests. England
however, remains passive, and the neutra
sentiment seems to be strengthening.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

The BUG.-Mr. Boardman, the secretary
of the Maine Board of Agriculture, has
issued a circular, calling attention to the
danger to the potato crop from the Colorado
beetle. He says there is but one course to
pursue-the beetle must be killed at sight
The only efficient remedy is Paris green
which is an active poison, and must be
handled with care. The best way to apply
II is in the form of powder, mixed with
twenty-five or thirty times its weight in flour
1t should be sprinkled on the vines in the
morning, when the dew is on, and those who
handle it should have their mouths mufileC
and avoid contact of the poison with mois
and perspirng or raw surfaces.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

QUICK WoRK.-The Scribner edition OF
"Harry" was set, stereotyped, printed, bound
and on the market within twenty four hours
after copy of the edition from English
plates came to hand This recalls the lively
days when competition over English books
ran hottest, and the Harpers brought out al
edition of SCOTS "Peverl of the Peak il
twenty-one hours This, by the way, wa
one of the feats of the late Fletcher Harper
who, in his later days, was wont to lamen
that there were no longer the old opportuni
ties TO be enterprising
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

FLAG DAY.-To-morrow Ohe 14th) will
occur The centennial anniversary of the
American flag. One hundred years ago, on
the l4th, of June, 1777, the Continental Con-
gress passed resolution adopting the "stars
and Stripes as the national flag. 1t is fit
there should be general observance of this
day throughout the country. The flag
should be raised on every fort and arsenal
and ship of war, and saluted with the ma.
tional salute, and public buildings and pri
vate dwellings be decorated with the fred
white and blue" The celebration of the
day in this manner will be simply appropri
ate, and result in the creation of heartiel
love for the dear old flag of our fathers, and
carry il down to untold generations as the
symbol of freemen and freedom"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13

HIGH-HANDED.-The French government
with President Mcmahon at the head, is evi
IDENTIFY bound to win in the coming elections
at any cost, and is carrying its repressive
measures with high hand. Free speech
and free assemblages are forbidden, editors
who dare to express their opinions are fined
and imprisoned, and the government is using
its whole power to enable minority to
carry the next election. The editor of the
Mdrseilaise charged with insulting Nc
Mahon, gets three months Imprisonment
and fine of fifty thousand francs. Such
measures would not be endured in this
country for an hour, and even in France,
where the people are used to tyranny, they
will be very likely to produce violent out
breaks. In fact. the Mcmahon government
even now rests upon volcano, but its own
unjustifable course has made it, rather than
the people, responsible for whatever of public
commotion or of revolution there may be.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-13


BUTLER AND McVEAGH.-Genera Haw-
ley, who was one of the Louisiana commits.
sioners, has a few words to say in the Hart.
ford Courdnt about General Buffers attack
upon Mr. McVeagh. at is sometimes diff
cult" he says, to set the correct limit be-
tween what must be published as news and
what must be excluded as blackguardsm.
General Buffers letter to Wayne McVeagh
is extraordinary but characteristic. Wher-
ever Mr.. McVeagh is known none of the
Generals mud will stick. His character rs
an able lawyer, high-minded gentleman
and very independent politician is beyond
question. Mr.. McVeagh married an intel
lectual, amiable and most charming lady, the
daughter of Simon Cameron. That it is
possible to do that without sharing The po-
litical views and tactics of the father-in-law,
is certainly fortunate in some cases, as all
know who saw how excellent wife General
Ames got without adopting Butlerism.
Nothing that General Butler says is worthy
of reply, save so far as it may involve the
Louisiana settlement. In that settlement
nothing was said or intimated or understood
about federal or state affairs as price of
arrangement, or about the pay of Legislators
AS to the latter, the Nichols legislature, be-
fore the arrival of the commissioners, had
established the precedent of paying every
legislator from the beginning of the session
whenever he took his seat, whether he came
from home or from the Packard Legislature
1t was after the Legislature had been prac
ically consolidated that Governor Nicholl,
look some thirty thousand dollars of his con
tingent fund to pay some poor men, police
men and others, who had been employed
around the Packard Legislature. Genera
Butler will be very welcome to his investga
ton. The Louisiana commission have moth
| ing to conceal and nothing to be ashamed OF. ;