New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-09
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.

CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
T1oIENCE IN TEE soUTH-TBE RIVER AND HARBoh
APPROPRIATIONS.
story Of violence and intimidation reaches
Washington from Florida, which contrasts
strongly with the pictures of the South drawn
by Messrs. Hooker and Aiken few days
ago. The managers of the River and Haroor
Appropriation bill were unable to OBTAIN
action upon it in the House yesterday out
they are circulating pledge binding Its signers
to insist uuon it's passage without amend
ment, and are obtaining many signatures.
THE RECONSTRUCTED SOUTH
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION IN FLORIDA -
CHANCE FOR MR.. AIKEN TO RISE AND EXPLAIN.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WARRINGTON, Feb S.-The Hon. Horatio Bsbee,
ir., received the following dspatch this evening:
MADISON, Fla. Feb 8. 1881.
raasns lifs threatened Have been Obliged stop
One man killed. What shall dos H. JENKINS.
To this dispatch Representative Bisbee sent the
following reply:
,ess .eyenteS by force To abandon Madison will en-
courage vOsnce elsewhere but act on your own 1udg
ment
The explanation of the above dispatches is as fol-
lows: Colonel Bisbee was candidate for reelection
To CONGRESS last November. His Democratic COM
petitor was Jesse j. Finley. Finley was declared
elected by the Democratic officials by majority of
about 600. Colonel Bisbee alleges that this ap-
parent majority is fraudulent. and that be was fairly
and legally elected. Within the required period
subsequent to the election Colonel Bsbee informed
his opponent that ne would contest the seat of the
latter in the XLVIIth Congress. Colonel Bsbee
employed as his attorney General Fl. Jenkins.
prominent lawyer residing at Jacksonville. Cen
eral Jenkins served throughout the war with dis
tinctiOn as An officer of o Massachusetts, regiment,
and was mustered out Of the service as brgadier-
general by brevet He has been citizen of Florida
during the last sixteen years. but. Of c'urse is still
q "carpet-bagger" and therefore. IN the chaste
language of Mr.. Aiken. Of South Carolina. Is o
"lezalized political burglar" Mr.. Eagan also has
been reputable CITIZEN of Florida during the last
sixteen years. but be- too. labors under the disability
incurred by previous residence in the State Of
New-York and is, therefore, in the words of the
calm non par tisan Colonel Hooker, alien, and
q stranger TO the soil and the institutions" OF
Florida Both General jenkins and MIR. Eagan are
represented to be brave and discreet men.
MsiiIson at which place General Jenk1ns's telegram
is dated is the county seat Of Madison County, Fla
Iu o fair election the county returns Republican
majority of 40 to 800. The Democratic Elections
Committee of the present House Of Representatives
allowed Mr.. Bisbee majority in this county in
1878 of 272 besides 1872 votes which were not
counted. After the election last November the re-
turns were "doctoredo to show a Democratic
majority of about so In Madison County. Yesterday
General jenkins In his capacity OF attorney arrived
at Madison to take testimony in support of Colonel
Blsbee's election contest. He was accompanied by
Mr. Esgsn, who is a notary public. The reception
which awaited these gentlemen is outlined in the
dispatch first quoted few further facts about the
political condition of Madison County have been
obtained from perfectly trustworthy source.
So open q fragrant were the violations of tho
election laws last November that proceedings were
begun against n number of the offenders. Twenty
or thirty persons were indicted colored citizen
named Crosby. who answered q subpoena of the
United States District Court, and testified in
some Of the cases. returned to bis home. where he
now lies suffering from q gun-shOt wound in the
shoulder inflicted by Democrats who IN this case
only wounded when thew meant to Kill. A United
States Marshal, who recently went with posse or
thirteen men arrest of tho persons indicted.
on his return reported that his journey was like
military expedition through an enemys country.
His men were compelled to carry and cook Their t
own rations and TO camp IN the woods everv night.
Not a night passed that the party was not fired upon
BY "bushwacaiugn Democrats from some safe place
of concealmeEt. The marshal succeeded III arrest
ing four of tes indicted Democrats The remainder
Of them loudly swear that they will never submit
ton ar !" the House Of Representatives last Thurs
dsy REPRESENTATIVE Davidson. OF the First District
Of Florida welt upon the amlable virtues displayed
by the Democrats OF that State. and denounced the
"bitter and malignant spirit " of Florida Repnbi
cans. The events now occurring IN Madison County
are At commentary upon the truthfulness of the
declarations which Mr. Davidson so huently and
emphaticaly made
Colonel Bisbee will call upon the Attorney General
Tomorrow morning TO see If something cannot be
done for the protection of his counsel and the wit
nesses W who may be summoned TO testify in his be-
half Under the law United States District Judge
Settle can take testimony in the case, and probably
even the amiable and peaceabe Democrats of Florida
would not mOlest him. Their evident design, now
ever is to defeat Colonel Bisbees contest by In:n
dating bis witnesses, SO that they VIII moi dare 10
testfy.n bis behalf. This is a new development of
the Southern Democratic conspiracy to suppress
Hepublcauism in the South.
SUDDEN LOSS OF INTEREST
CLANS OF THE MANAGERS OF THE RIVER AND