Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-05-26

The President has bought a country
residence-Death of Mrs. Pendleton-
Reports from the Judiciary Commit
tee of which Tucker is Chairman.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Monday, May gath.
In the proceedings of Congress this week
there has been little that would be of in
terest to your readers. Both houses are
now chiefly engaged on the appropriation
bills, which consist largely of routine work.
The Ocean Steam subsidy amendment to
the Postofice appropriation bill elected
considerable discussion and was defeated
by decided vote. The proposition was to
substitute certain lines for the transporta-
ton of foreign mails.
The Senate passed the Pension bill. The
bill as passed provides that any soldier or
sailor who served three months in the Army
bly discharged therefrom, who is, or shall
become disabled, from any cause not the
result of his own fault, and is dependent
upon his own exertions or others for sup
port, may receive pension of not less than
81 and not more than 1874 month. The
second section raises from S. to $12
month the pensions allowed dependent par
ents of soldiers who died in the service or
from disabilities contracted therein.
The House discussed a measure prOpos-
ing a constitutional amendment to elect
second vice-p president to act in case OF the
death or removal of both president and
vice-president.
There is considerable talk in official circles
over the seizure of the M aine fishing YES
sells by the Canadian authorities. The
latest is that the Government has demanded
their release and indemnity for their deten-
ton. Indeed it sometimes looks as if there
was small speck of war in the horizon.
Less causes have produced great wars. The
United States Government is not now in a
position to be very exacting, on account OF
her lack of Navy. Expeditions against
Canada by land have always been IN the
end disastrous.
It is announced that the President has
bought beautiful country residence few
miles out of Washington. The property
| contains 90 acres and has commanding
view of Washington, Georgetown and the
| Potomac and the surrounding country
:. This look little like he means matrimony.
| There has been lull in the gossip about
his marriage for the past few days. 1t was
expected that Miss Folsom would be pre-
sented to the Queen of England, but her
name does not appear on the list presented
by Minister Phelps.
There is great regret expressed here over
the tragic death of the wife of Mr.. Pendle-
ton, Minister to Berlin, in New York few
days ago. She was thrown from her car
rage and instantly killed and her daughter
who was with her was badly injured. Mrs.
Pendleton was daughter of Francis Scott
| Key, the author of the "Star Spangled
Banner and sister of Philip Barton Key,
killed by Gen. Sickles in 1859. 1t is said
Mr.. Pendleton who is in Europe, fell in a
swoon when the sad news was broken to
him. He and another daughter had just
returned from review of the German army
when he received the dispatch.
Mr.. Tucker as Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee has rendered number of inter-
esting reports in the past week, which have
been highly spoken of and are upon subjects
of national importance. One was Congress
man Brady's Bill to authorize the
President of the United States to appoint a
board of commissioners to investigate to
what extent the United States may be
legally or equitably liable for the debt due
by the State of Virginia, the extent OF the
equitable liability of the United States TIC
the bondholders of other States and to
l
acts of the State government of Virginia
nullifying the decisions of the Supreme
Court of the United States, and for Other
purposes.
The report was adverse upon this bill
which is nearly all preamble and in char.
acter Readjuster Campaign document.
Upon bill to give authority by act OF
Congress to all citizens of the different
States to fish in the navigable waters OF
each State the report was also adverse and
is of interest to Virginia especially. The
report concludes
s'Your committee, therefore, being of opin-
ion that the navigable waters within each
State belong to it, subject to the paramount
right of navigation, for the benefit OF its
own people, it has the right to secure the
exclusive right of fishing in them to its own
citizens by virtue of their common property
in said waters, and that the citizens OF 9TH
er States have no constitutional right, nor
can Congress confer any, to participate IL
fishing in them"
Also bill providing an Amendment to
the Constitution against Polyamy. This
was prepared by Mr.. Tucker with great
care and has the approval of eminent law
yers. The following are the articles:-
First. The marriage relation, by contract
or in fact, between one person OF either sex
and more than one person of the other sex
shall be deemed polygamy. Neither polyg-
amy nor any polygamous association or CO.
habitation between the sexes shall exist OF
be lawful in any place within the jurisdic-
ton of the United States or of any State.
Second. The United States shall not, nor
shall any State, make or enforce any law
which shall allow polygamy or any polyg-
amous association or cohabitation between
the sexes, but the United States and every
State shall prohibit the same by law within
their respective Jurisdictions.
Third. The judicial power of the United
States shall extend to the prosecution OF
the crimes of polygamy and of polyg-
amous association or cohabitation between
the sexes under this article, and Congress
shall have power to declare by law the pun
ishment therefor.
Fourth. Nothing in the Constitution or
in this article shall be construed to deny to
any State the exclusive power, subject to
the provisions of this article, to make and
enforce all laws concerning marriage ami
divorce within its jurisdiction, Or to vest in
the United States any power respecting the
same within any State.
Whilst speaking of Mr. Tucker, he in
forms me that his bill for an appropriation
to build public buildings IN Staunton, ne Is
assured will receive favorable report from
the Committee which has it in charge and
willeventually pass.
wish your people could see the city in
this season of verdure and flowers. 1t is
really beautiful. l intend one Of these
weeks to devote my letter to some of the
beauties Of Washington (not the feminine
beauties speciality It will be a relief to
turn away from the stale subjects of Bills,
and resolutions and politics generally and
breathe the fresh air of fragrant Spring.
ssM."
CUT HIS WIFE FOR REFUSING TO GIVE
HIM MoNEY.-In Charlottesville, last Tues.