Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-05

"DrummeFSs WnO Soucit erduS III tAe LIS
 trict of Columbia must pay $2oo for a license
 The law which imposes this tax is of recent enactment. and the revenue collected under
 it amounted, in 1879, to $20, ,058; in 1880 to
 S19, ,55S, and in 1881 to $3S, OPS. The in
 crease of revenue in 1881 has been caused by
 a more strict enforcement of the law, and the
 imposition of fines for violations of it. There
 has been much complaint about this tax, and
 it is said that merchants of Baltimore, Phila-
 delphia, Boston and New York will ask Con-
 eress at it's next session to repeal 1t. Thus far in the present year the District has issued
 143 of these licenses; of tAeses s2 are owned by Baltimore traders Philadelphia has ; New York 16. and the merchants of the Dis trict of Columbia hold 28. The law is ap- piled as well to local wholesale dealers who solicit trade in their own city as to "drum- mers" from abroad. The law falls with much force upon the merchants of Balu- moro, but they enjoy large portion or the Washington trade, both retail and wholesale. Manufacturers, whether resident or non- resident, can sell their goods in Washington without buying any license.
 Rev. Adirondack Murray is very enthusi- astic over Texas in his letters to the Boston Herald The section he writes about is that of which San Antonio is the trade center. The climate is enjoyable, and there are as few physical inconvenience he assures us, as in any other part of the world he has ever visited There is no political animosity, no social ostraczn on account of northern birth or political proclivities. The peculiar land renting system which came in at the South with the downfall of slavery, by which the owners of small estates leased small farms upon 'sshares, :" has proved beneficial to the emigrant Instead of making an invest ment hap-hazard, he has had an opportunity of hiring lands upon easy terms and pur- chasing at leisure This form of land-rent- ing is, however. gradually being supplanted by the English system of tenant farming in- troduced by English land spectators. &c., lecting large tracts of fertile lands, British capitalists, singly or in association, buy them for $1O or so an acre and rent them to new corners for $5 or $S or so an acre. Some times a colony of tenants is brought over from England at the time of purchase. This form of speculation, MT. Murray points out, is of the most profitable description.
 The case of Nathan Orlando Greenfield who is to be hung today at Syracuse, New York, if nothing happens to prevent it, is without parallel in the criminal annals of the State of New York. MT. Greenfeld's wife was murdered October 21, 1875. Greenfield was indicted for the crime in December, 1875. The first trial began at Oswego, May 29, 1876, and was concluded June 26, result ng in a disagreement of the jury. The sec ond trial at Oswego began Feb. 13, 1877, and ended March-5. Greenfield was convicted and sentenced to be hanged May II follow ing. stay was granted and an appeal taken to the General Term, which affirmed the conviction, Jan. g, 1878. Greenfield was and the date of execution fixed for March 22, 1878. Appeal was taken to the Court of Appeals and the court Sept. 26 1878, granted new trial In October, 1878. Judge Merwin granted change of venue to Onondaga county The third trial began Sept. 15, 1879, and ended Oct. 16 following. Greenfield was again convicted, and sentenced to be hanged Dec. 12, 1879. Through res- bites by Govs. Robinson and Cornell the day of execution was postponed first, until Jan 30, 1880; second, until Feb. 27, 18S0 third, until April g. On April 20, 1880, Judge Merwin granted stay of proceedings, and the case was again taken to the General Term, which handed down a decision, Dec. 31, 1880, affirming the conviction. Greenfield was re- sentenced Jan 10 to hang Feb. IT, 1S81. Jan IS, Judge Merwin granted stay ,and the case was again taken to the Court of Appeals, which reafirmed the decisions of the lower courts. And last June Greenfield was taken before the General Term at Buffalo, and for the fifth time was sentenced to be hanged, on the 5th of August. The dispatches yes terday reported that he still stoutly asserted his innocence and was confident that God would interpose to save his life.