The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-20
Last Nights Dispatches.
WASHINGTON.

senators ana representatives from th
/, southern states was held at the capitc
this evening for the purpose of giving ex
preston to the public sentiment in th
region recently affected by the yellow feve
toward the people Of the north for thei
charity and assistance during the epidemic
Senator Eastis presided aud Fl. D. None,
acted as secretary. Fitting resolutions
were drafted and adopted. The mos
prominent southern congressman made ell
oquent speeches.
! President Hayes, answering the reaues
OF the senate to transmit any information
received by the departments concernins
the postal ana commercial intercourse be
tween the United States and South Amer
lean countries, together with any recon.
mendatlons, submits the reports of the
secretary OF state and postmaster general
| lie says: The external commerce Of the
United States has for many years been a
subject OF solicitude, because the out
ward drain of precious metals is caused
For fully twenty years previous to 1877
| the shipment of gold was constant and
| heavy. So heavy during the entire period
| OF suspension of specie payments as to pre-
clude the hope of resum ption safely during
| Its continuance. 10 1876, however. yigor.
Gus efforts were made by enterprising citi-
zens of the country and they have continued
to extend our general commerce with foreign
lands, and especially in manufactured ar
| tlcles, and these efforts have been attended
with very marked success. The importa-
tlon of manufactured goods was at the
same time reduced in an equal degree and
the result has been en- extraordinary re-
lyypr i1ff IL.
and the complete cessation of the outward
drain OF gold. The official statement of
values, represented in foreign commerce.
will show the unprecedented magnitude to
which the merchant has attained, and the
protection thus secured to the public inter
ests at time when commercial security
become Indispensable. The agencies
through which this change has been
effected must be maintained and strength
| cned ii the future is to be made secure.
A return to excessive imports or to ma
| terlal decline In the export trade would
| render possible a return to the former
condition of adverse balances, with an inc
vitabe outward drain of gold as a peces-
sary consequence, Every element of aid
tC the introduction of the products of our
soil and manufactures into new markets
should be made available. At present
such is the favor with which many of the
| products Of the United States are held
that they obtain remunerative disiribu-
ton Notwithstanding positive difference
| of cost, resulting from our defective ship
ping and the imperIection of our arrange
! ments 10 every respect in comparison with
! those OF our competitors for conducting
| trade with foreign markets. If we have
equal commercial faculties we need not
| tear competition anywhere. The laws
| have now directed the resumption of fnan-
clal equality with other nations and have
ordered return TO the basis Of coin val
ues. It is OF the greatest importance that
the ommeTcial condition now fortunately
attained shall be made permanent and
that our rapidly increasing export trade
shall not be allowed to suffer for want
of ordinary means of communication with
other countries. The accompanying re-
ports contain a valuable and instructive
summary Of information with respect to
our commercial interests in South America
where an inviting field for the enterprise of
our people is presented. They are trans
mitted with the assurance that any meas
ures that may be enacted for the furthe-
rance OF these important interests will
meet with my cordial approval
(Signed) Z. B. HAYES.
Secretary Evarts, iD his accompanying
report to the president, says: 1T seems
to be very evident that the provision Of
regular steam postal communication by aid
from the government has been the forerun-
Ber Of commercial predominance of Great
Britain in the great markets of Central and
South America 1t is obviously the die
tate of interest aud duty on part of our
government to promote by every just and
appropriate means the attainment of this
first and principal agency for the desired
expansion OF our foreign commerce. 1t is
difficult to understand how this commence.
ment and development OF ocean postal sys-
TEN, to be the forerunner of expected
trade. can be wholly trusted TO the mere
interest of mercantile combinations.
The house committe on private land
claims to-day agreed to report to the
house with favorable recommendation Q
bill granting Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines the
title to $40 arpents of land in the state
of Louisiana. The balance of her claim
$4,000 arpents was disallowed.
The senate confirmed Iowa postmasters,
P. st. Clair, Hamburg; Orland Nichis
Alton; Geo. Phillip, Brooklyn. Anthony
Phillips, Clarinda; James Bate, Lansing
llliuois-Mrs Mary 4. Harlau, Winehes
ter; j. w. Coventry. .Edwardsville; james
III. Mcclure. Gibson City; r. N. Hinman,
Mt. Vernon, H. r. Crenshaw, Marengo:
Patrick A. Bebins, Corning; Mrs. Emily
l.. Dilman, Tolona; Seena A. Wilman,
Cherokee; Joseph Edgington, Eldera.
Hon. Casey Young. chairman Of the
house committee to examine into and re.
port upon the cause of the yellow fever
outbreak in the southern states last sum
mer, has appointed subcommittee to visit
the. afflicted sections.
The house committee on claims to-day
authorized Mr.. Henderson to report to the
house with favorable recommendations the
pending bill authorizing the proper &C.
counting officer of the treasury to pay the
amount due the state of Tennessee for
keeping and maintaining United States
military prisoners from the lst of July
1868, until December /, 1871.
There will be meeting Of yellow fever
texperts in Memphis on the 26th inst. The