davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
The Legal Tenders.

Hon. f. G. Spaulding of western New
York, who was the father and Trainer of the
greenback measure, and who is a recognized
authority in all matters pertaining to finan.
cial legislation, has just published his views
on the legal tender question. He repeats
what has been so often said, that the green.
backs were not designed as a permanent
issue, but merely as temporary expedient
to meet the war emergency. Their issue
came not under the power relating to money
but under the power to raise and support
the armies. The intention was to retire
them as soon as possible. To prove this Mr..
Spaulding cites the clause from the original
act which made them convertible into six
per cent bonds. This provision was, indeed,
afterward abrogated, but that all the early
legislation contemplated the withdrawal Of
the greenbacks soon after the war is beyond
doubt. Their reissue is held to be unconsti-
tutional, and while Judges Bradley and
Strong united in reversing the decision OF
the supreme court against the legal tender
act, yet they are shown to contend that the
power can only be exercised on extraordi-
nary and pressing occasions. The inevita
BILE deduction from their language is that
the legal tenders should be retired as soon
as the special emergency passes away. Mr.
Spaulding regards it as the plain duty Of
congress to provide for the gradual retire
ment of the legal tender notes, and to STOP
the further coinage of silver. As perma
nent paper currency, Mr. Spauldng regards
bank notes as superior to greenbacks. The
former represent actual securities and theil
redemption is provided for. The latter rep
resent nothing but debt Our foreign trade
has been very favorable But under the
impetus of speculation, our imports are in
creasing, the time may come when gold will
flow out of the country, and there will b.
nothing but debt and a lot of deprecated
standard dollars to represent three hundred
and fifty millions of legal tenders. MI
Spaulding would provide against that da.
by getting them out of the way.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Our War Claims.

A subcommittee, having charge of the
classification of all claims now pending be-
fore the house committee on war claims,
has divided all claims into six general
classes, as follows First, claims allowed by
quartermasters department; second, claims
allowed by commissary-general's depart
ment third, claims allowed by Southern
claims commission fourth, claims arising
out Of service of men and officers, and diff
ferences with contractors fifth, claims
which, under the constitution and laws, the
government is responsible for. This last
mentioned class includes damages and seiz
ures of property in loyal states, of which
claims amounting to not over 100000 are
pending before the committee. Sixth
what are popularity known as rebel wal
claims. The main feature of the report
however, is declaration by the sub-com
nittee in reference TO the sixth class, tina
the government is not legally responsible
for these losses, and that claimants are de
pendent entirely upon the generosity Of tn
government for payment Of them. The re
port and recommendations of the sub-com
mittee will, doubtless, be adopted by tn,
full committee.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24

There is no mistaking the evidence that
public opinion is strongly setting in the
direction of better provision against the
evils attending the treatment of lunatics in
our asylums, both public and private. An
important meeting was held in Cooper In
stitute, New York, last week, to take action
upon this subject, at which George William
Curtis presided and spoke, and Rev. DIR.
Bellows and Rev. Dr. Storrs, with others,
made addresses. Strong resolutions were
adopted setting forth the necessity for APP
pointing lunacy commission to supervise
permanently both public and private asy-
lums. Messrs. William c. Church, Dorman
b. Eaton, G. L. Whitehead, and Drs. George
M. Beard and L. c. Seguin were appointed
a committee to present bill for the creation
of such commission to the next Legislature.
The very nature of the case renders the
care and treatment of the insane most pre-
eminently liable to abuse. The leading
characteristic of insanity is to cause its
poor victim to turn most spitefully against
his best friend, and often to construe actual
kindness into cruel torture. Knowing this,
the public are liable to almost go by contra
ries in accepting the complaints of insane
persons. If they tell stories of cruelty on
the part of their keepers, they are generally
disbelieved, or at least a contradiction from
a sane person is generally accepted as con-
elusive This doubt regarding the COM
plants of the insane, though it may be
justified in many, perhaps most cases, may
also be used by asylum attendants as a
screen for the most outrageous and inhu-
man conduct toward the poor unfortunates
whom they have in their power, but who are
also entitled to their merciful consideration.
Well knowing that all complaints can be
met by calling them but the fruits of insane
delusion, the opportunity for the neglect
and even torture of their secluded patients
by careless physicians and lazy, coarse and
brutal nurses, Is often too great to be lost.
Indeed, we have seen the sickening evidence
of this in cases that have come under our
own eyes. The public is now and then
shocked by some instance of heartless cru
city and torture which finds its way to the
light of day but we have reason to appre-
bend that for every single case made pub
lie many more are buried in oblivion. At
all events, the public have a right to know
it is their duty to know-just what is tax.
ing place inside of our insane asylums;
knowledge they certainly do not now pos
sess. We are therefore rejoiced to see the
public moving in this matter, and it is
earnestly to be hoped that the next legis
lature of our own state will take some eff
cient steps in the right direction.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24

AN IMPORTANT Decentralization has
yielded up another of her secrets. The
sources of the Niger, mystery since the
time of Herodotus, have been discovered.
Two persons in the service of French trad
ing company, Messrs. Zweifel and Moustier,
crossed the Kong mountains, a range that
extends eastward north of Guinea, and
afterwards bearing toward the north con-
tinues for some distance nearly parallel
with the coast, but quite distant from it..
On the eastern slope of these mountains are
the sources of the Niger, which runs north
east as far as the famous city of Timbuk-
too thence easterly for a short distance,
then turns to the southeast, aud at last
makes great sweep to the southwest, and
after a course of twenty-five hundred miles,
empties by several mouths into the Gulf of
Guinea Its sources are less than three
hundred miles from the sea, and its course is
so circuitous that its mouth and its source
are nearer to each other than either is to the
farthest eastern point about midway in its
course. Some parts of the river have not
yet been explored, but its general course is
known aud is laid down with a reasonable
approach to correctness. 1t has been navi
gated four hundred miles or more from the
sea, and no obstacles are known which
would prevent its navigation as far as Tim
buktoo
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Ireland's Grievance.

In the current number of the Nineteenth
Century Mr.. j. O'Connor Power, the we'll
known member of parliament from Ireland,
makes clear and strong presentation of the
wrong of his people which have led to the
present agitation. He denies emphatically
that over-population or lack of industry and
economy are the causes of Irish poverty, but
"the system of land tenure imposed by the
imperial conquest" OF the nature of that
tenure he makes timely explanation. In
England, he says, the landholders, as gen.
eral thing, remain upon their estates and
take an active interest in agriculture and
the condition of their tenantry. In Ireland
the exact opposite is the case. The lords of
the soil, as rule, have nothing to do with
it. They reside for the most part in Eng
land or on the continent, rarely or never see
their tenantry and do nothing to improve
either their condition or that of the lands
which they occupy. Most Of the Irish work
ing classes are, in the worst sense of the
word, tenants-at-will." OF the 100000
farmers in Ireland more than half million
representing with their families three million
persons, have absolutely no security in their
homes or their business, but are at the mercy
of few thousand nonresident landlords
On some Irish estates so iron is the rule Of
the owner that the tenant dare not harbol
10 his house stranger, or even poor rela.
tive not Immediately belonging to the fam.
lily, unless he wishes to run the danger of
being summarily dispossessed without rem
edy. Worse than this. as appears from re-
port made by recent commission, on some
properties marriages cannot be entered into
without the sanction of the landlord or his
agent.
Such are some of the aspects of system
of tenure which Mr.. Power rightly regards
'as not distinguishable from "degrading
slavery" and which has proved the ruina
ton of Ireland. Under it, as he well points
out it is the interest of the tenant to put as
little into the soil and to take out as much
as he possibly can, while under system
which would give him security in his hold
ing and protection against exorbitant rents
he would nurse his farm as the prudent
merchant nurses his business. Passing
from consideration of his country's wrong.
to the remedies which have been proposed
Mr.. Power defends the land league project
as being merely an attempt to induce the
state to restore the ancient rights of the till
ers of the soil. According to the ancient
tenure the soil was held for the benefit Of
those who cultivated it. The land league
stripped of all ambiguity, is to abolish land
lordism and make the cultivators the owners
of the soil. But the leaders-however il
may be with the rank and fle--do not pro
pose to accomplish their purposes by tn,
revolutionary processes of the anti-renters
They ask the state to take land, give the
landlord proper compensation and settle the
tenants upon it permanently as tenant pro
prietors. The cost of the undertaking il
estimated at f250,000,000.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
The Nations Pension Account.

This years appropriation for pensions. as
reported by the committee on that subject,
and passed by the house with little debate,
amounts to the sum of s32, 404,0 900. Thisis
an increase of s3,O3S,OO0 over the appro-
priation last winter for the current year.
This appropriation has increased by special
legislation, and more especially by the ar
rearage act of last session, until now IL far
surpasses the army, the navy, the civil SER
vice, the interior department, or indeed any
other account in the national ledger. There
were 242,755 names on our pension rolls the
first of July last. During last year there
were added to the above list, after deduct
ing names stricken out for death, discovery
Of fraud, or other causes, 1877 new names,
and this increase will go on for years under
the arrearage of pension bill, which has
already increased the annual appropriation
100000.
The foregoing figures are CLEANED from an
article in the New York Sun, which well
says " The real feeling Of the people about
this business is what every patriotic citizen
can find in his own heart; wish that every
brave soldier and sailor of the war who de-
serves pension should have one-they and
the widows, children, or dependent relatives
who are also entitled to pensions under the
liberal laws. But that mock soldiers and sail
ors, or swinders and knaves who pretend to
have been invaldedo or crippled in the service,
should defraud alike the public treasury and
those deserving pensioners who might other
wise receive larger sums, is not endurable."
That there are frauds almost innumerable,
and of the blacklist dye, connected with this
subject, is fully shown by the following ex-
tract from the report of the commissioner of
pensions:
" An examination into the papers in the cases OF
FIVE hundred pensioners whose names have been
dropped from the rolls within the last three years
and four months, because the pensions have been
obtained by fraud, shows the following: Two hun
dred and twenty nine invalids established their
cases by producing 15S1 affidavits and certif-
Gates, OF which l233 were false-of the latter, 291
were made by officers, 179 by comrades, and 1863
by other persons. Two hundred and seventy-oDe
pensions of widows, minor children, and depen-
dent relatives were established and allowed upon
2,816 certificates and affdavits, of which 1851
were false-of the latter 80 were made by officers,
so by comrades, and ,6S7 by others"
1t is also asserted by the commissioner that
at least ninety-two outright forgeries were
committed in the FIVE hundred cases. There
had been paid to the five hundred persons
spoken of in the above illustrative example,
s547, 225 before the discovery of their frauds.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Letter from Boston.

BosroN, December %, 1879
Messrs. Editors According to the division OF
the seasons
WINTER HAS JUST BEGUN,
and its advent has been accompanied by a heavy
IA OF snow which now lies in our streets to the
d pth of over six inches. Sleighing, which is so
rarely in this city, has commenced in earnest
and the merry ringing OF sleigh bells will render
THE APPROACHING HOLIDAYS
all the more enjoyable. The city already pre-
sents a holiday appearance and in the numberless
shop windows there is displayed every variety of
present to please the eye and gladden. the hearts
Of all expecting to be remembered at this season
Of the year.
THE MUSICAL ATTRACTIONS
of the coming week promise much enjoyment to
all lovers of song, but the musical event of the
year and that which will interest all musical
people in New England will be the opening in
this city of the Mapleson opera season, at the
Boston theater December 10Th. Her Majesty's
Opera Company are now just closing most sat
isiactory engagement In New York city and come
here for a stay OF two weeks only, when they will
visit the three principal cities of the west. The
company embraces many OF the finest musical
artists of the world, and Manager Mapeson pro.
poses II possible, to surpass the excellencies of
his last years representations, which, when we
remember the cordial and enthusiastic reception
that greeted him last year, must be considered as
a difficult undertaking For the benefit of those
who contemplate visiting Boston during the opera
season for the purpose of listening to the best
music the world produces and to show the va
rlety and completeness of the first weeks roper
toire will give the programme as it has been
arranged. Commencing Monday evening, Deem
Der 10Th, in Belini's Opera La sonnambula,"
with Mile Marie Marimon, Nine Lablache, Signor
Campanini, and Signor Del puente; Tuesday even
ing December Both, flotow's opera, Martha"
with Mile Alwina Valera, Cary, Signor Cam
panini, and Herr Behrens; Wednesday evening,
December 3lst Donizetts opera, la figlia
Del Reggmento," with Marimon, Lablanche,
Runcio aud Del Puente; Thursday evening Janu-
AIRY lst, Verdi's chef d@uvre, "0uida," with
ANDRE, Cary, Campann Galassi and Behrens
Friday evening, January I'd, Donizettis opera,
Linda di Chamouni," with Valleria, Cary,
Runcio Behrens and Galassi Saturday, January
I'd, a grand matinee performance will be given 10
which Mile. Marmon will make her third appear
anoe. Signor Arditti, as director, will insure ex.
cellence in the orchestral effects. The sale OF
tickets commenced to-day, and range from sew
euty-6ve cents to three dollars. All who wish a
musical feast should make an effort to be present
at one or more OF these representations
JOHN n COUGH
will lecture at Boston Music Hall, on New Years
| Eve. and Governor Long will preside. Ac.J
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Massachusetts, Thrift.

The old Bay State is not only exceptional
in its mechanical industries, but also that
those different industries gather in clusters.
Lynn resounds with the music of the cord
waners, and sundry towns of Old Essex are
largely occupied with shoe manufactures,
Gloucester prides herself on being the first
fish town of the world. Danvers tans the
raw material, drawing upon Vermont and
New York forests for the hemlock for this
purpose. Worcester county supplements
her great agricultural industries with here
and there a whole township seemingly oc.
cupied with manufactures of wood, chiefly
chairs and cabinet furniture. Gardner,
Winchendon and Templeton are examples.
Gardner, it is said, employs fifteen hun
bred work-people on chairs, turning out two
million in year-thousands upon thousands
of which are sent up into Vermont, where
plenty Of the raw material and power to
manufacture it are within stones throw OF
almost everybody. Such advantage is taken
of improved machinery and skill In these
manufactures that they find markets in dis
tant states and countries. Indeed, Yankees
have been credited with furnishing about
everything wanted for civilized life, and
something over. The consignment of warm
ing pans sent TO the West Indies is no ex
ception, since the pans were utilized for {
useful purpose, and the speculation proved
| q success.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24

A FoRERUNNER.-The rumor that the
New York Times is soon to break ground
openly for General Grant finds confirmation
in the following, which appeared in its col
umns last week "The people who are
weary of sectional controversy, sick of the
endless wrangling which keeps North and
South apart as if their contest had ended
like that between Irish Cells and Norman
barons, look TO Grant as the man who could
do most to extinguish smoldering animos-
ity and silence the partisan cries of hatred
aud dstrust. A public taste on which the
Habby goodness of the present administra
ton has somewhat palled seeks for needed
change in man whose acts, whether well
or i'll directed, were at least always as good
as his words. We fully believe there are
eminent Republicans. of whom Il. b. Wash
burne may be taken as type, with whom
Republican success would be quite as secure
as with Grant but, at the same time, there
can be no mstaking the fact that the unan-
unity with which men of all sections and
all parties accept General Grant as the fore
most American citizen OF his time, will give
to his candidacy, should he accept such a
responsibility, a Significance altogether mt "
to our politics.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Republican National Committee.

The called session of the National Repub-
lican Committee, held at Washington last
week, resulted in the election of United
States Senator Don Cameron of Pennsylva-
mia as chairman, and fixing on the Sd of
June next as the time, and Chicago as the
place, for holding the next national con-
vention. There was a spirited canvass for
the craftsmanship between the friends of the
rival presidential candidates. and Senator
Cameron received but three or four majority
out of some forty or fifty votes. The sue
cess of Senator Cameron is another indica-
ton of the prevailing Grant feeling. He
was General Grants secretary of war, and
both he and his father are pronounced
Grant men. Senator Cameron is universally
acknowledged to be ashrewd, energetic, saga
cious manager, with great executive ability
and organizing force, and is doubtless much
the best qualified for handling presidential
campaign of any of the candidates named.
Chicago is very acceptable place for the
convention. Saratoga would have been
better on some accounts, but Chicago is
central for the whole country and it put
forth special efforts. It has an inspiring
history in presidential contests. Lincoln
was nominated there in 1860 and Grant in
1863, and there the president to be elected
in 1880 will be named.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Grant in PHILADELPHIA.

The reception of General Grant at Phila-
delphia last week was a marked event. 1t
is nearly two years since he embarked from
that city on his trip around the world and
now he ends where he began. The city
which so generously sped his going, now
most appropriately marks his return with
the browning ovation. The reception was
magnificent demonstration of the popular
affection and enthusiasm for the first citizen
of the republic. There were said to be
10000 people in the procession, and thrice
as many on the line More than 5000 vete-
rams of the war saluted their old commander
and every class and interest were repre-
sented. Philadelphia has always had a
warm heart for Grant, and on this occasion
it beat in unison with the whole American
feeling. State and city authorities Joined
in the welcome and regiments from New
Jersey and Delaware made part of the
pageant. The procession was reviewed
from the Republican headquarters, and was
six hours passing given point. The pro-
cession contained twenty divisions, com.
prising military, Grand Army of the Re-
public, Republican clubs and representa-
tions of trades, workshops, ships, etc. Among
the officers of the army and navy present
were Generals Burnside, Hancock, Sheridan,
Commodores Pierce, Crosby, and Colonel
Treadwell. The military display included
about 1000 men, troops of Pennsylvania
and adjoining states. The Grand Army of
the Republic turned out 5000 strong. The
textile manufacturers and various industrial
crafts of the city were strongly represented
while the political organizations had 1900
men in the line Among the shipbuilders
were 1000 men from the shipyard of John
Roach at Chester.
After dismissng the parade Genera
Grant dined with the members of his ole
cabinet at the residence of Hon. George w
Childs, and afterwards held reception
which was largely attended. In the evening
the city was brilliantly Illuminated, including
independence hall. Private dwellings wer
lighted from their first stories to their roofs
and the hotels were illuminated by calcium
lights.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24

WASHINGTON MoNUMENT.-The joint
committee on the completion of the Wash.
ington monument submitted detailed re-
port to the house recently, showing that
$67, 904 has been expended in strengthening
the foundations, leaving available $4,000
of the appropriation for that purpose; $751;,
536 has been expended upon the completion
of the monument, leaving S6S,6i3 available
of the appropriation for that purpose. The
total amonnt unexpended of the appropria
tions aud now available for carrying on the
work is Sl00,740. This amount will be sutR
cient to complete the Strengthening of the
foundation, provide the iron framework Of
the interior stairway for two hundred and
fifty feet, construct the shaft, and add twelve
feet to the hight of the monument. To con
tinue the work until October 81, 1881, will
require 100000 additional, and TO complet,
the shaft to the proposed might've hun
dred feet--will require s677,32l. 1t is es
timated that the entire work can be accom-
plished by the spring of 1883.