Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-21

TnE contest against the will of Commo-
dorc Vanderbilt rested mainly on the theory
that his son Cornelius had been greatly pre-
JUDGED and eventually disinheritei by the
Commodore, by plot of William Ii. Van
dcrbilt, who hired detectives to follow a
ial>e Cornelius j. Vanderbilt into gambling
hells and houses of i'll fame, aud report his
misduingS to the old Commodure AiidayiIs
to this effect, signed by Detectives Redburu,
Clark and Mason, were put into tue case.
But the detective, are missing, and have
left letter stating that they are now con-
vinced that Cornelius j. Vanderbilt 'pu.
upa job on thcm le siing them to suppose
they were dealing with the genuine William
H. and C,mmOjurc Vanderbilt. whereas
they now know that these honorable gentle
mea Were represented by ingenious doubles
hired by Cornelius j. This reprobate son,
according t. the latest story Of the missing
detectives, seeing his excellent chance for
being dsinherited, conceived and executed
this furehanded scheme for getting evidence
which should set aside the will to be made
against him. The Cornelius side charge
that the detectives have bsen bribel to
change their story and disappear, while
William Ii. Swears that he never knew them,
or had any thing to DO with them. or engag-
ed them to do any thing for him, directly or in
directly. The developments illustrate forci-
bly, the devious ways Of New York detectives
ard the uncertainties Of the law.
llARrER's Weekly siys Of Mr. Elmunds'.
bill S1me such provision i6r the settlement
of objection at the counting Of the electoral
votes by Congress must be made, or our
whole system may collapse at any election.
In the Winter of lS16-171 it was evident that
objection would be made, and that there was
no way provided by the Constitution or the
Law to dispose of it. If the two Houses had
not created the Electoral Commission, there
il is cusy enough to see what the consequences
would have been in country mad with
PARTY passion. Mr. Eimunds and all other
sensible men IN the country know that SONIC
thing must be done, and that this Is the time
10 do it. lie question ui tt e election Ol 1876
was settled by tie Electoral Commission final
ly and beyond all disturbance except by the
courts ol law or by revolution. Butt is
uut to he supposed that, should similar
question arise IN lSSl, II similar remedy
would be provided The probability is that
civil war wuuld lie ri-kcd. That would be
the counsel of knavcs and fools. Patriots
and w.se men. however, seeing plain con-
tingency, provide for it, aad this is what
the bill OF Senator Elinunds does. No man
saw the danger after the last election more
plainly than he. No man labored more dii-
gently and with more ability and knowl-
edge Tor the plan of settlement finally
Mr.. Coukling's speech, which
WAS admirable ard conclusive, was but an
amplititation uf that with which MIR. Ed
mnndS introduced and explained the bill
There Is no man in lhe country whose judy
mcnt upon this question is sounder. or whose
study oi it Is more thorough than that of
Mr.. Edmunds. 1t iS not a question upon
which To split hams. nor does it involse
provide SOme legislation of this kind ut this
session, it will prove it>elf to be Inadeqate
to the discharge oi its paramount duty.
Mn. Flrz JcuN Porter WAS not precisely
1 rebel, but having been u Union officer who
WAS cishierei for di~obeiicnec of orders On
the battlefield, his claim to be enneiliated
by Il rchearing of his ease has been granted
by the President. Mr.. Porter does not
l1ny that he disnbeyel Gen. Pope's order to
lttIck the enemy, hut promises to show that
.he elrmy Were in greater force than Pope
and that, hence. had he Obeyed
Inc Or6er, an unpleasant amount Ot fighting
might have followed. 1t WAS the opinion
# both President johnson and President
;rant that when an officer had been cashier
ID for an open disobcdience Of orders. it
p:as not worth while to listen to subsequent
showing why he committed the
rhine The rehearing is now in progress at
WcS. Point, ami il MIR. Porter satisfactorily
,huwS that an officer is at liberty to diso1ey
,ricrS on the battlefield, provided he does
not personally like his commander, cadets
If the Military Academy. will learn a new
md valuable lesson N. Y. Times.
"Rev. Henry IL. BUiium, who Is now
AID 10 ba invited 10 supply the church in
'Ownal Tor n year, We have good reason
a believe ~ mono other than the Frank II.
Sui fun. OF East Hartford Bo;oriety. He has
or some time bee IN lawyers Cthce al
Sorth Adams, and doubtless has succeeded
n convincing the Pownal people that he is
proper person To act ~ their leader in spir-