The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-02
CURRENT TOPICS.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS In INDIANA.

On Monday next Indiana will vote upon nine
amendments to the State constitution. The
most important Of these are the first and third.
The constitution. as 1t now stands. merely re-
aures a residence of six months In the etate to
qualify person to vote. The first of the pro-
posed am endments will add to this residence
of sixty days In the township and thirty days In
the election precinct, and provides for o regis
tration of voters. It is the only one of the
amendments to which there Is any organized
opposition, which comes from the De mocratic
party. The Democracy Of the Hoosier State are
evidently determined to adhere to the time
b onored usages of the fathers In election mat
tiers. and do not feel willing to inaugurate any
Of the pernioious measures practiced by the
r adfcals In their so.called reconstruction of
the Southern States. The third amendment
changes the time Of holding the State election
from October to November AS this will result
In saving of about 800, 900 year. 1t will prob
ably be adopted. and thus another one OF The
States that have served as political weather
cocks will be taken out Of the October list. leBv-
Ing Ohio almost clone as q preliminary battle
or skirmish ground.
MYSTERIOUS MEN OF. WAR.
Panama has recently been thrown into a
state Of utter CONSERVATION by the appearance
Of couple of United States men-of. war In
COSTA Rica waters. The Secretary Of the State
government of Panama has addressed letter
to the United States Consul at the city OF Pan
anna advising him that the two vessels referred
to above are ct the Boca del Toro. engaged In
soundinRs. surveys and various other opera
tions. examining the laguna Of Chiriaui and
the rivers which empty into 1t. In mysterious
manner operations which are conducted with
out tho slightest reference to the authorities
on shore. The secretary seeks information ON
the subject from the American consul and the
latter answers simply that he has no advices
from bis government on the point, knows
nothing OF the expedition or Its objects. and
has referred the correspondence to his gov
eminent for instructions. These vessels were
sent southwark some time since under sealed
orders. and 1t now appears that they
they are engaged In surveying the coast line OF
the Boea del Toro: but as this bay is In the
jurisdiction OF the republic of Costa RIca it is
not very clear as to what the State of Panama
has to do with the matter. However as the
people of that vicinity are Just now
considerably excited over the shir
canal projects. their anxiety Is NOT
very remarkable. as they are known to favor
the plan proposed by III. de Lesseps. and would
naturally feel provoked IL Uncle Sam should
undertake to dig out the channel without the
Frenchman's knowledge.
THE NEGRos PARADISE.
The exodus committee of senator VOORHEES,
@ ontinues to develop new features of the negro
migration from the Southern to the Northern
States. Although 1t has been very clearly es'
tablished that the initial movement was In the
interest of certain reckless POLITICAL leaders Of
sis. rAT
that the opportunity was taken advantage of By
upprlncipled persons to deceive and swindlt
The ignorant and unsuspecting colored people
One of the Witnesses recently examined by ths
@ ommittee stated that several hundred negroes
rincipally from Texas, had arrived at For
Scott, Kansas. In a destitute condition, ant
gave as their only reason for leaving theil
sout hern homes the prevalence of hard timet
result ting from the short crop of last year ant
their uude rel audlng that Kansas was the
colored peoples promised land" where there
was plenty of work and liberal pay. They
further stated that some white men had trav
elled the South. displaying chroma'ic illustra
tions of negro high life In Kansas, where theI
had fine houses. elegantly furnished, fine plan
tations and white servants to wait upon them
These travelling agents charged the negro emf
grants from 90 to So each for purchasing thei
| tickets aud properly starting them en- route fol
the land of Ethiopian delights.
| BRAZIL, AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
| Senator Cockrell and Representative Well
have introduced simultaneously In both house
| Of Congress bill TO provide for opening direc
trade between the States of the Mississippi
valley and Brazil and the chief West Indi
Islands The bill authorizes the Postmaste
General to contract with the Mississippi Vale
and Brazil STEAMSHIP Company Of st. Louis 70
a semi monthly mall service from New Or
loans to Havana. Kingston. Jamaica, Por
Spain. Trinidad. In the West Indies and Para
Janeiro In Brazil. the contract to continue TO
t ten years, with compensation OF s2b for eac
nautical mile. providing the compensation
shall not exceed $4,000 per annum. The bill
further provides that the company may do a.
express business. and that there shall be
river connection between st. Louis and Ne,
Orleans. special dispatch from Wash!ngto
to st. Louis contemporary says 1t 10 under
stood that this bill meets with the approval c
the Postmaster General and the Secretary c
State. and will supercede the bill Of Mr.. Ellit
so far as relates to the steamship line from Me-
Orleans to Brazil. which Is supposed to favo
Mr.. Roach in his effort to obtain he New Or
leans line as we'll as that Of New York. Wit
this view of the subject the bill OF Messrs. Cock
rell and Wells Is likely to meet with q favorab
r. ception at the hands of the commercial an
manufacturing classes or Inc great MISSISSIPPI
valley.
}, NUNUD npANN