The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-21
CURRENT TOPICS.
MINERAL WEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

MINERAL WEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
Prof. Thomas Egleston gave an interesting
lecture In New York recently relative to the iron
and coal resources of Virginia. He confined his
remarks to the district circumscribed by the
AlleRhenies on the east and the Blue Ridge
mountains on the west. This gave series Of
ores remarkable In themselves. beginning on
the east near the Potsdam district and running
through the entire breadth OF the country.
These ores. though new. were as distinct and
certain as any he had ever known. 6pecular
ores were found there that might have come
from Lake Superior. SO rich we're they In min
erals. The time. be thought. must soon come
when these mines would be opened. and then It
would be found that there was existing In them
series Of ores disclosing an iron district not
second to any In the United States. When rail-
roads were constructed. which would not be
long hence. he thought there would be revo-
luti on In the manufacture Of Virginia iron. In
co including. Prof. Egleston said there was more
iron In Virginia than In Pennsylvania. It had
not been worked, but lay there az wealth for fu-
ture enerations. 1.-THE prosperity In the iron
trade continued. an industrial survey would
have to be made of this country. either by pri-
vate parties or by the State governments them
In Virginia. within short time after It wss
pu blished capital would flow into that State,
and cause prosperity there such as had never
been known previously.
MAJOR RENO DISMISSED.
A brief telegram from Washington. on the
seventeenth instant announced that the Presi-
d ent had confr med the sentence OF Major Reno.
OF the army. Reno was court-martialed res
CO ntly for the second time. and his dismissal
was recommended By the court. but on the
recommendation OF prominent persons the
President gave him the opportunity Of
re signing. Reno occupied this time In
ende avorinR to secure mitigation Of
his sentence. and appearances at one time
seemed as though he would be successful.
His friends advised him not to resign. as that
would be considered a confession Of guilt. The
record and finding OF the court martial are en-
dorsed By the court with recommendation to
m roy, the reason therefor being that the court,
In nding Reno guilty had only acted In strict
conf ormity to an article OF war which deprived
1t OF all discretionary power. Gen. Terry's en-
doris ement reviews the case In q similar spirit.
and avs that 1t Is evident that the large ma
jority Of the court did not think that the con-
duct OF Reno was such as to unfit him to hold
his commission. He considers the sentence as
man ifestly excessive as q punishment for the
act OF which Reno was found guilty. and he
Joins In the recommendations. Gen. Sherman q
end oree ment recommends suspension from
command for one year. with loss OF half pay
Reno to be confined during that time to the
limits Of the post where his regiment may be
and that he be reduced five files In the list Of
majors OF cavalry. The confirmation OF the
sentence. however. cooks the festive major'f
goose. and places him permanently on the re
| tired" list.
STRONG GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES.
The st rong government revolutionists (thos'
wire- pullers who. for the last fifteen years q
least. have deceived their constitu ents and be
| trayed the people at Target now proclaim tina
Congress does not govern with sufficient!
stro ng hand. and impudently declare their In
| tention to oppose the National Legislature witt
an arbitrary executive power. The intention
80 unblushinRly avowed by these Grant men Il
as ridiculous as 1t Is reasonable. The execu
tive is public servant. I do solemnly swea
Tor affirm that will faithfully execute tn
Office OF President OF the United States. ant
will. to the best OF my ability. preserve. protec
and defend the constitution Of the Unite'
States" Such are the professions OF faith ant
conditions upon which President Is permittet
to assume the duties prescribed to him by tn
constitution. and for which. like other govern
ment employees. he receives compensation O
$50 goo per annum. He is liable to be impeaehe
by Congress. Will the strong government
champions maintain that a President can i'm
peach Congress? Their claims might lea
strangers to our laws to believe a
much Nevertheless. the people shout
be on their guard. for to allow
! CLIQUE OF monopoiists and public plum
derers to occupy such an un-American plat
form Is to encourage misdemeanors and usur
pations on the part Of officials which have bu
, recently very nearly resulted In revolution.