The Portland daily press., 1877-01-12

Secretary OF w ar.
The dispute over the Governorship in South
Corolina continues, and the report of the Con-
gressional committee is awaited with interest.
In Florida matters are quiet, and the Con-
gressional committee will soon report. Two
reports are expected
Evidences of corruption multiply in the Ore
gon case 1t has been shown that large sums
of money were sent from New York to Oregon
and there used to push through the scheme by
which Cronin was given an electoral certificate.
Some of the money is in fair way to be traced
to Tilden's bankers, and Pelton, Tilden's Sec.
rotary, is directly implicated. The Senate is
vigorously pushing the investigation.
Many prominent politicians still express the
hope that some plan may be devised by which
the determination of the electoral vote for
President and Vice President may be copfded
to the judges Of the Supreme Court 1t is
known that all of the judges, as one of them
recently said, are opposed to having any thing
whatever to do with the question for the reason
that though they might perform that duty hon.
estly and faithfully, they would naturally be
suspected of being influenced by their political
opinions.
Attorney General Taft in his annual
report remarks that to allow the
Southern states the increased polti-
cal power implied by extending the rights of
suffrage to the colored population and then to
allow the exercise of that right to be prevented
by intimidation or otherwise, is a perversion of
the Constitution and operates most unjusty
towards the other states. The inconvenience
of having large population Of unintellgent
voters can only be overcome by educating them
and no time should be l,st in furnishing to
every American citizen of whatever race or
color or condition, ample opportunity to ac-
quire sufficient mental and physical training
to vote and fight.
The great Democratic meetings held on the
eighth of January to influence public opinion
wore generally failures. The language used
was in some cases revolutionary, but in most
cases absurd.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The Trans Atlantic steamship, Amerique,
| ran ashore at Seabright rear Long Branch last
| Sunday. Three of the crew were drowned.
The inquest on the Ashtabula victims is still
| going on, but little new has been developed
The Ohio legislature has passed resolution to
Steamship Montgomery of the New York and
Savannah line was sunk by collision with the
Seminole of the Boston and Savannah line off
| Cape May the 18th inst and fifteen persons
| drowned.
Edwin w. Major, the Wilton, N. e., wife
\ murderer, was hanged last Friday. He made
/ no confession. Before the drop was sprung his
/ nerve deserted him and he fell upon his knees
L utterly broken down. He died without a
4 struggle.
In the village of Corning near Elmira, N.
Y, Friday, fire destroyed the Erie Railroad
| depot, telegraph Office and five stores. Loss
| 100000.
| Five negroes have been convicted of murder
| of Kaufman and Portman, near Aiken S. {.
| One of them confessed and gave names of oiti-
zens they intended to kill.
| VARIOUS MATTERS.
The will of Commodore Vanderbilt is a
lengthy document, contains no public requests,
devises his immense property to his family,
relatives, friends employees, sc. To his wife,
agreeable to the ante-marriage settlement, he
leaves 100000 and his house on Washington
| Square and appurtenances, and also 100000 to
each OF his five daughters, to his grandson,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., he gives q, 1856 shares
| in the New York and Harlem and 31.65O
shares in the New York Central and Hudson
River. His children, grandchildren, brothers
and sisters and their children are mentioned to
various amounts, and the balance of his estate,
after paying large number of requests, is
| given to his son, VIM. 81. Vanderbilt.
New York has enjoyed a sensation this week
over duel between James Gordon Bennett of
the Herald and Frederick May. Bennett was
engaged to be married to Mays sister but dis
carded her on the day set for the we'd
| ding. Incensed by the treatment May
| sailed forth with cowhide and meeting
| Bennett in front of the Union Club
House struck him several times over the
head with it. The result was challenge from
Bennett, and the duel was fought in Delaware
Monday Accounts differ as to the result, one
despatch saying that May was wounded in the
breast and another that neither of the belliger-
| ents was hurt.
| BRIEF MENTION.
The Florida committee have concluded their
investigation.--D. l. Odell has been promoted
to be British Vice Consul at Eastport'-Bea
81. Richardson, editor of the Baltimore Re-
publican died last week.-Mrs.. Windham has
| been unanimously renomnated for Senator from
| Minn.---The New York Chamber of Commerce
has adopted a resolution urging that silver
coin be made standard legal tender through
out the United States.-The steamer Artisan
| running between Calais and Boston has been
attached for throwing overheard portion of
| her cargo and taken off the line.--The Grand
Il lxl.a L
| to work.--The Providence Tool Company
| has Just shipped 10000 rifles and as many baJo-
| nets and scabbards for the Turkish govern
ment.--Minnie Lonsdale, an actress, is dead,
| Edward L. Abbott of Concord has been ap-
pointed receiver of the Eastern Railroad in New
| Hampshire. severe drouth is prevailing
| in California aud corps are seriously endsn-
gered.--J. q. Williams was inaugurated gov
ernor of Indiana nopday. Alexis Caswell D.
D., ex-presiaent of Brown University died
| Monday. The authorities of Newark
| are daily feeding 1000 poor peo-
| p2e.--Gen. Hancock says he has not been
| transferred to the Pacific coast-Total
amount received at the sale of pews in Ply
mouth church this year was $4S, 421 5O,-Sl5,.
| 900 less than last.--New York bay is full of
l lC6--LA-OOV. lSudu VI. uarrlS mas been
elected U. S. Senator from Tennessee vice
Henry Cooper, whose term expires in March.
| The contest between the trustees of the
Lick estate and the heirs has been compro-
| missed. --Commodore Vanderbilt left fund
| for building hospital for the employees of his
railroads. Commodore Vanderbilts sister.
| Mrs. Deforest Egbert is dead.
FOREIGN.
The outlook in the East is still warlike.
Turkey refuses to comply with the demands of
the conference, but some days have been given
her to change her mind. To add to the COM
plication Rouman;a demands an acknowledp.
ment of her independence. Upon the final
refusal of Turkey an occupation by foreign
troops of the disputed provinces will be de-
cided upon. Rumor has it that Russia is not
prepared for war.
An extradition treaty between Spain and the
United States has been signed. The treaty
specifies tweDty-six offenses for which persons
accused may be surrendered, and is the most
comprehensive yet entered into by this country
Offenses of political nature are excepted.
M. GreVy has been elected president of the