The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-02-23
CURRENT NEWS.


GENERAL.
Rear Admiral wilkes. United States Navy
retired list, died In Washington on the sth.
The ease Of the United States against
Gen. Belknap, late Secretary Of War, has
been dismissed m motion Of the District
Attorney General, for the reason, as stated,
that the evidence would not sustain the
prosecution. The action Of the Attorney
General Is taken BY the direction OF Presi-
dent Grant, & who indorses . report
by the District Attorney rs follows:
Gin view OF the within statement OF the
District-Attorney OF the District Of Column
bia, TO the effect that he believes . con-
viction impossible, and in view OF the long
suffering OF the accused and the great ex-
pense TO which he has already been subject
ed, think the District Attorney should be
directed to dismiss the suit.
lSignedl U. s. GRANT,
Mrs. Mary s. Oliver, widow lady en-
ployed in the Treasury Department 1t
Washington. has commenced suit against
Senator Simon Cameron, Of Pennsylvania,
for breach Of promise Of marriage, dam
ages being placed at $4,000. The lady is
from Senator Cameron's own State, and Is
about 10 years Of age. while the defendant
In the suit IL nearly 7s-
The majority report Of the House Special
Committee on Louisiana Affairs, after ex-
pressing the opinion that the election in
peaceAble, says q the Returning Board;
ssConceding for the Returning Board all
the judicial dignity claimed for itsby the
admirers Of its unparalleled iniquities, it
can not be denied that, In order to give
validity and effect to its decisions where II
has attempted to throw out and reject re-
turns from polls, the jurisdictional fact re-
quired by the statute must afiirmatively
appear, and unless that fact does so appear,
its action In tbs case was without jurisdic-
ton. and on its face null and void. The
Board had ne right, under the law OF Lou
isiana, to throw out or count out the polls
and votes they have thrown out and count
ed out. and their action in that behalf il
without authority Of law and null and
void.
The minority report Of the House Special
Committee on Louisiana is signed by Rep
resenfatives Hurlbut. Townsend, Danford,
Grape and Joyce-all the Republicans Of
the Committee. The report declares that
s'this much abused Returning Board have
acted in the spirit Of the law creating them,
and that their determination Is
final in the NATTER and the report con-
cludes with resolution further declaring
-'sthat the election held for Presidential
Electors in Louisiana, 7th November, 1876.
was examined into. determined, declared
and promulgated by proper authorities Of
said State under all forms OF law and in
conformity with the Constitution OF the
United States.
Charles O'Conor . few days since paid
visit to President Grant In company with
Secretary Fish, on which occasion, II Is said,
be rendered an apology to the President for
certain expressions made use OF in letter
written BY him. which had found its way
into the newspapers.
The Senate has recently confirmed The
following nominations: X. A. Watts,
United States Attorney for Wyoming Terri
tory; l.. p. Luckey, Secretary OF the Ter
ritory Of Utah; Jno. Young, Indian Agent,
Blackfeet Agency. Montana; A. w. Brig
ham, Indian Agent, Whitstone Agency,
Neb.: ,. r. q. Pitkin, United States Mar
shall Of Louisiana; j. r. Keefer, United
States Army Paymaster, rank Of Major.
The Department OF the Interior has re-
ceived certificates Of the completion OF 30
mile section Of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road, In California, on the Yuma Division,
and two sections OF 20 miles on the Tulare
Division. The Commissioners report that
the road Is progressing eastward, and the
track will probably cross the Colorado River
1t Fort Yuma, and on to Arizona BY the
middle Of narcn.
The Treasury Department has issued an
order prohibiting the importation OF neat
cattle and the hides OF neat cattle from Ger
many, until further orders, In consequences
Of the rinderpest there.
Mardi Gras was celebrated with the usual
ceremonies and festivities II New Orleans,
Memphis, Galveston, Little Rock, Wheel
ing and some other cities.