smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, March %, 1877.
THE CLAIMS FOR NAIL SERVICE IN THE SOUTH
JUST PRIOR TO THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AS
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE


Congress at its last session passed act providing
for the payment OF who contractors for
carrying tho mails those OF the Southern that
engaged in tho rebellion for the period between their
last settlement and before said States engaged
against tho United States" The Sixth Auditor is
loss to know what construction Is 10 be put upon the
phrase beforc said States engaged in against the
United States." Accepting the term "war' covered
by 'rebeion" the question arises whether, In
Of tho Saes aggressive acts preceded the passage
the ordinance of secession, and others ordinance
preceded overt act tho tho other should DO
accepted date, aad also whether the ordinance
being nulity it had the effect place the State
condition of war against the United States.


All service these States discontinued by the
Postmaster General on tho 3lst OF May 1861 and
vice up to that time has been certified by the Post
Olce Department to this class of claimants to tho
amount Of $500 900, and 1t doubtless upon thus
data that Congress appropriated the $375, ,O0O
much thereof as may be necessary 10 pay the claims.
There Is also provso In tho bill that wnere any
portion OF tho paid for by the late Confed
eracy shall he deducted and another question arises
ns to how the evidence of such payment shall be
taned. On the breaking out OF the rebellion the Con-
lcdcracy assumed all the mail rontes In tho SOUTH and
II Is known that the service many OF tho
continued and paid for long the funds to pay with
held out


The several questions arising under tho act have
boon referred to the Secretary the Treasury, and by
him to the Attorney General and It is possible tho
contractors will have until Congress put
construction upon tho act


A SUGGESTIVE REMOVAL AND MORE ANTICI-


PATED.


suggestive removal was made to-day among the
inspectors of steamboats, in tho person Of District
Inspector Burnett, OF ST. Louis, who replaced by
the appointment OF person named John O'NeilL
Tho next removals to take place under tho Supervising
Inspector General OF Steamboats, Will be- is said In
the Now York district
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON. March 22, 1871
THE LONG DELAYEp SETTLEMENT OF THE


SOUTHERN QUESTION.


Those who best Informed 10 The purposes Of
the administration in the Southern matter and the
prospect Of settlement emphatcally counsel patience
on the part Of tho public person who has
tho best OF Information said to-night-''lf tho
country will only have patience for four five days,
anu If the HERALD will counsel patience all will be
right" He who spoke thus believes that Hampton
and Nichols ought to be the rulers OF their States AMI
his words ure therefore, reassurng to those who hope
for satisfactory solution in the South.


The Southern question has absorbed evcrybody's
attention here to-day. There two OF the
Cabinet during tho day. There Is reason believe
that It was determined to send commission to South
Carolina The question of Withdrawing the troops
from tho State House at Columbia and from the VI
cnity OF the State House In New Orleans intor-
mally discussed by members OF the Cabinet and Ia
believed that majority favor this measure.
II has not como up formally before the Cabinet yet


In administration circles 1t Is said that there Is such
difference between tho OF Louisiana aud South
Carolina that South Carolina matters will be settled
with less delay than those Of Louisiana and without
the interference OF a commission. Governor Hampton
has teleeraphed that he has intention to come to
Washington unless specially asked TO by tho President
He telegrapbs also request to have South Carolina
put on the same footing with Louisiana by removing
the troops from the actual occupation OF tho State
House. II this were done ho would begin q civil pro.
cess to legally oust Chamberlain under the state laws
and in the State courts.


The membership or the Louisiana Commission is as
yet undecided. number OF persons have been tele-
graphed to, and II Is understood that several have
declined Hence some delay. But as the list
Is completed II will be published, together with the
Instructions under which tho commission Is to act


There s no doubt that both the carpet baggers and
The strict party democrats have taken courage from
tho doay In the Southern settlement and tho appoint.
mont of a commi ssion. Some OF the democratic can
ddates for the Speakership think their chances I'M
proved. Some days ago 1t freely admitted that an
era OF good feeling might carry moderate and sensible
republican like Foster into the Speakers chair, but
today the democrats think better Of their chances


There Is some reason TO believe that the d ission
plan was suggested bv Mr.. Yarmouth. who had the
design Of combining the two Legislatures in Louisiana
In some way, aud thus produce harmonious arrange
mcnt, whereby Governor Nichols should bc put in
possession and Packard ousted by loyal forms and
nnder the provisions Of the State and with
The view OF leaving Packard ground stand and
puting himcearly in the wrong before the country
he should resist II this should be true tho appoint.
ment of a commission would have tho effect Of tying
Packard's hands until such a settlement is effected
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON.
Progress in the Consideration Of


the Southern Problem.
PATIENCE RESPECTFULLY SOLICITED.
A Decision in Favor of Autonomy


Confidently Expected.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
Year: 1877

Al the last meeting held by this club committee
appointed with power to secure suitable location
tho club rooms. This committee in treaty for
tho building Nos so and 81 Pine street, formerly
pied by tho Maritime Exchange, and yesterday an
archilec. Inspect the buildings and report
AS this Is done measures will ut once be takcn
iOr u permanent organization.
Year: 1877

On complaint OF Alonzo Evans John Cook was ar.
raigned the Fifty-scveuth Street Court yesterday
charged with driving horse which was suffering from
lesion OF tine suspensory Iigamcnt Of the right hind
cg an enlargement OF tho hook OF the left leg and tho
weakening OF the lgaments OF The right knee. Cook
sand he drove the animal with the permits sion OF his
employer. Tho Judge held Cook tor further cxamna.
Year: 1877

The Christmas that has just passed away
will be in several respects memorable IN the
annals of the city. First of all, so far as
the weather is concerned, it was curious
exception to the long line ofits predecessors
in these northern latitudes, coming to us
clothed in the beauty and balminess OF
spring or the glories Of early autumn, IN
stead of the snow mantle and the wintry
gusts it has worn from immemorial time.
Fashions are constantly changing and the
garb OF old Father Christmas this year is
perhaps the result Of some celestial conven-
ton, which has resolved to upset things
generally. If So, the first experiment Is
decided success. Half dozen more Christ
masses like yesterday and our whole Christ
mas literature will have to be remod-
elled Twice ten thousand poems and stories,
millions OF pictures and toys will have
to be sent to the ice fields of Labrador, or
we shall have to make the tour Of the
Arctic lands and seas to understand them.
The songs OF the poets, the novelettes,
the rich treasures which the publishers
prepared weeks ago for the traditional
Christmas, were strange reading in the sun
shine Of yesterday But the day, II it was
an innovation, was nevertheless beautiful
and welcome. It will be memorable in an
other respect, because of the social restraints
that were imposed, owing to the law, or
rather no law, on the excise question.
Never perhaps, in the history Of the city
was the day celebrated in this respect un-
der greater difficulties, and it will be un-
doubtedly many years until a similar con-
dition of things again exists. But in every
other way the Christmas of 1877 was a
model one The churches Of the Episcopal
and Catholic faith were crowded with wor-
shippers the music and ceremonial were
excellent and impressive the poor were re-
membered the sick and the imprisoned
were not forgotten there was peace and
good will over all the land.
Year: 1877

THE EASTERN WAR DISPATCHES this morning
announce the capture Of AkPalanLa by the
Seryians after very severe engagement. They
arc also bombar,ling Nisch. and the fall of that
point will probably soon take place. This is
their first success in the war, and the effect Of
1t will undoubtedly be very great in encouraging
them to hope for still greater victories in the
fntare. The investment Of Erzcroum has almost
been completed a large force Of infantry
has been inassed to the north OF it and tclc.
graphic communication cut oil The acstruc-
ton OF the bridge ut lbral BY drifting ice will
impede the advance Of the reiniorccmcnts and
is u serious check "a owing 10 the severity OF
the weather it cannot be rebuilt very soon. Ac
cordng TO the dispatches OF Of the cor
respondents OF the London NeicS the condition
of affairs in and around Plcvna Is so horrible as
TO have no counterpart in modern civilized war.
fare.
Year: 1877

TIE IMPRESSION is gaining ground that Excise
Commissioner Murphy is now in Canadn, and
his friends assert that he will return TO the city
inside OF the next fortnight and straigLten out
his financial troubles. The fact that Murphy
has left property in danger by his absence
will. it is sad lead him to come back and refund
the deficiency now existing 1t is to be hoped
that such will he adopted, though it
should not relieve the absent Commissioner or
his associates from removal as public officers.
Year: 1877

THE CHEERING News comes from Washing
ton that the holiday season. in business point
of view, was so good that in many Of the stores
the supply of Christmas Goods fell short of the
demand. 1t is rarely that news from that city is
sointeresting or pleasant.
Year: 1877

menaces Of rebellion, is still as unsatisfac-
tory as ever it was when they were not
engaged in actual outrage and pillage.


Under the latter circumstances the settlers
on the frontier may know that they must
defend themselves and their possessions to
desperation but under false appearance
of peace and good will they may be sur
prised at any moment in their fancied
security by an outbreak such as that Of the
Nez PercGs last summer. In very striking
letter from Montana the feeling Of the Ban
nocks and Shoshones toward the whites
is described as threatening deplorable
war, which may equal in importance
that which was waged by the Sioux
during 1876. It's cause is a series OF
grievances such as the later records Of the
Interior Department have been burdened
with only too frequently. The families last
winter suffered almost the horrors OF starva-
ton through the shameful default of the
government in furnishing rations which by
treaty were promised to them. Under such
misfortune they behaved with admirable
fortitudo but few Of the more reckless
and depraved Of the warriors of the Ban
mock tribe. doubtless goaded on by sense
OF the general wrong, have since then mur-
dered and robbed three white men, one Of
whom was an officer Of the law.
Year: 1877

FOLLOWING the general practice Of the Ameri-
can turf the Grand National Hunt Committee
of England have decided that after the present
year, hurdle races less than two miles and with
less than eight flights Of hurdles shall not be
1eua1
Year: 1877

Because one of their number was permitted
to put it in his pocket and run away with
it that does not relieve the other Commits
sioners of their responsibility. 1t will be
pertinent now to inquire whether the APP
pointment of Murphy as treasurer was IN
any way profitable to his associates Did
he pay any interest on the moneys he held!
Year: 1877

TIE DIFFICULTIES between the cigarnlakers
and their old employers are still unadjusted.
No one seems to have intelligence enough to sug-
gcst a compromise, which must inevitably be the
end Of the trouble
Year: 1877

A CONNECTICUT FIRM celebrated Christmas by
generously paying its employees, not in the silver
dollar of the fathers which is swindle, but in
the honest golden ducats which VIC are all SO
anxiously waiting to scc
Year: 1877

~


The proprietor Of Barren Island, re-
sponsible man. makes certain statements in
the HERALD to-day in relation to the dis
posal of the city garbage, which may afford
some light to the Mayor and to the Commits
sioners of Accounts should they be in
structed to make an examination of the
financial matters Of the Police Board. The
Police Commissioners have insisted that
they are unable to clean the streets be-
cause it is impossible to dispose of the city
garbage. Mr.. Swift shows ~ that some
months ago responsible contractor Of
fered to make q contract with the Commits
sioners to clean the streets thoroughly and
dispose of the garbage entirely for fifty
thousand dollars a month or ten thou
and dollars month less than it costs
the Commissioners to ilnperfectly clean
them and not get rid Of the garbage such
contract to be terminable from month
to month if the work should not be prop
erly performed. lo) That he has himself
offered to take all the garbage from New
York at his own expense and dispose OF it
in an unobjectionable manner for one thou
sand dollars year for ten years. (3( That
he is willing at his own expense, to take
from the city and dump on his own sunken
lands three thousand scow loads Of city
dirt, running the scows, dumping them and
returning them to the city to be retlled, at
his own charge and with his own labor.
But he says ~ that no attention was paid
to the contractors offer. ~ That his own
proposition to remove all the garbage and
dispose of it for the trifing sum of one
thousand dollars year was treated in the
same manner. (3) That Commissioner
Nichols has avoided him whenever he has
called at headquarters on the subject OF the
loads for his sunken lands.


These statements, if correct, tend to show
that the Police Commissioners are not
anxious to save the public money or to
relieve themselves of the difficulty under
which they profess to labor in regard to the
disposal of the city garbage. But Mr.. Swift
makes one other statement which demands
explanation or investigation. He hears
'sthat the Police Department is paying
twenty-one dollars scow-load for the
privilege of dumping at Pamrapo." This is
on the sunken lands Of the New Jersey Gen.
tral Railroad, where filling is SO much
wanted that the company has heretofore
gladly taken the city dirt there at its own
expense, as Mr. Swift stands ready to take
it now. Is it conceivable that the Police
Commissioners are paying twenty-one dol
lars or twenty-one cents o load for the
privilege of dumping stuff which any owner
of sunken lots would be glad to take at his
own expense, and for which many would be
willing to pay?
Year: 1877

The dedication of monument to this
noted man ut Ossawattomie on Friday tends
to revive recollections which some squeamish
people may think inopportune but we see
no good reason anybody should object. The
right to erect monuments and to cherish
the memory Of popular favorites should be
freely conceded to both parties to the late
civil strife. Of course the people of the
North contributed neither money nor in
huence to the monument to Stone
wall Jackson, but when the people Of
the South chose to pay that tribute
of respect it was their right. Stonewall
Jackson was unique and excellent type of
American character, and, however mis-
taken he may have been in his opinions, it
is to be hoped that the country will not
cease to produce men as brave, as religious,
as loyal to their convictions as sincere and
single minded as that praying and fighting
Confederate general. John Brown was also
q unique and remarkable specimen OF
American character brave, religious, in
flexible with heart as tender as woman's,
but willing to sacrifice himself and those
who were most uenr 10 MIN III pur-
suance of what he believed to be right.
God grant that men of this heroic mould
may never be wanting either in the North
or the South Our common country, now
happily reunited, has reason to be proud OF
the valor, the endurance, the public spirit,
the readiness to stake life and fortune in
cause believed to be just, which were mani
tested on both sides previous to and through
out the civil war. Transient errors of
opinion can be overlooked and condoned,
but the hardy and heroic virtues, when
exhibited in high degree, should
always be honored even in adver-
saries. We do not believe that any
right-minded Southerner will take umbrage
Mt the honors paid to the memory of John
Brown, for even ut the time when he was
executed in Virginia his coolness, sincerity
and manly bearing extorted the admiration
of the supporters of slavery. Soon after
the affair at Harper's Ferry Governor Wise
said, in speech ut Richmond:-"Colonel
Washington said that Brown was the cool
est man he ever saw in defyng death and
danger. With one son dead by his side, and
another shot through, lie felt the pulse of
his dying son with one hand, held his rifle
Year: 1877

tide or current, and hence leaves the result
of contest between them as much in doub,
as ever.


Mr. BIorrissey recently set himself tc
bring together the fastest of our oarsmen,
even though the meeting seemed improba-
BILE at first, and has worked most satisfac-
tory results, showing conclusively who is
the fastest sculler in this country. Now il
some of our public spirited citizens would
lend their aid toward bringing about this
far more important meeting, to take place
on Saratoga Lake or some other New York
water early in the coming summer, no
doubt the Australian could be prevailed on,
champion Of the world though he be, to ac-
cept their invitation and test American hos
pitality and appreciation of merit such as
his, even as do the English rifemen to-day.
Negotiations should be opened at once and
every step taken to insure such race rs
one of the importance of this one would be.
While his presence would probably not be
necessary to help in deciding the champion
ship, it would still be but courteous to in-
vite Blackmsn. the English champion, to
also take part
Year: 1877

The holidays are almost over, and the
waves OF life which at the beginning of sum
mer poured out of the cities now flow back
again with the beginning Of the fall. The
steamships arc bringing home the travellers
who have been delighted with London or
dazzled with Paris, or have done the Alps
or Italy Hunters and fishermen begin to
como back from Canada and the Adiron-
dacks, and tourists from the Plains and the
shores of the Pacific. The floating popula-
ton of the fashionable watering places
diminishes Niagara will in few weeks
roll on and hear no sound save that
of its own dashing; Lake George
will be almost as lonely as it was
when none but the Indians knew its beauty !;
Saratoga's healing waters will waste their
saltness on the desert air and Old Ocean will
pour forth his music unheard from the Isle
Of Shoals to Cape May The mountains will
be left alone in their savage grandeur.
There will be those who will still remain in
the country, for September is beautiful
month but even those telegrams which the
cooler nights suggest, Express my over
coat at once y ''Send my shawl it is in the
lower bureau drawer" will soon burden the
wires no longer, and the season will be ended.
Happy ere those who have brought from the
country health and good spirits and are
better prepared to resume the duties Of
business. Soon the active season of the
year will be in full career. The fall trade





reason to expect busy time the churches
will be opened, and pastors and focks will
meet once more; the theatres already pre-
sent new plays and companies lectures
and libraries offer attractions to students ;
the schools are prepared for the children,
and society will soon move upon its accus-
toned grooves. So the holidays end and
the world goes to work again, better and
happier, we trust, for the change.
Year: 1877

advanced forces of the Russians in that
direction is tribute to the tenacity with
which the ground was held. They claim
that the Russians lost four thousand but Of
that they could have no knowledge. There
fore the battle that is to test the ability
Of the Russians to hold their line has not
yet been fought. The battle Of Thursday
is only preliminary to it, and as in that pre-
liminary collision the Turks lost three
Thousand men it will take large army to
fight its way to the true field Of battle if
every stage Of its progress is equally ex-
pensive, as it probably will be-, With what
will be left when it gets there we doubt if
it can carry the Russian position.
Year: 1877

In the death OF Il. L. Davenport the
and one OF. the most accomplished Of its
artists, one whose place it will be hard to
fill. His genius was 50 facile that he sue
ceeded in everything he attempted, and he
exceled in all the principal lines of his
art. AS tragedian he stood among the
best actors of the time in the higher order
of melodrama he had no superior, and his
comedy was exquisite and charming. He
played Hamlet, Sir Giles Overreach and
Benedick with equal ease, and kept the
public in continual doubt MS to the branch
of art in which he was at his finest. In
tellect and culture were displayed in all
his best characters, but probably his
distinguishing quality was an indescrib-
able grace. Mr.. Davenport never seemed
to labor at the oar. Perhaps this facility of
expression interfered with the concentra-
tion OF his power and created the opinion
that he was an actor of higher general
ability than of genius. 1t is unfortunate
when an artist becomes his own rival. and
Mr.. Davenports fame might have been
greater had his ability been more limited.


What he could have done had he devoted
himself to tragedy alone was indicated a
few years ago, when it might almost be said
that he recreated the character Of Sir Giles
Overreach, and made it one of the most ter
rible pictures of passion on our stage. His
career was long, brilliant and honorable.
and when the dark curtain fell yesterday it
Year: 1877

with the other, and commanded his men
with the utmost composure, encouraging
them TO be firm and to sell their lives as
dearly as possible" We are sure that no
Southern man at this day regards the fact
that John Brown died upon the gallows as
a stain upon his memory. Such qualities
as he exhibited will receive admiration SO
long as brave men recognize and value IN
others what constitutes their own best titles
to esteem
Year: 1877

TwEED.--Now that the Aldermen have got


Tweed the interesting question arises, What


will they do with him Perhaps the better and
more accurate way to put the question would
be, What will he do with them /! For, although
they have succeeded in bringing him before
them, he is really the more important factor of
the two. They can, of course, put questions to
bi,u---thc questions everybody are so anxious to
have answcrcd--but there is no way 70 make
hin answer. They can punish him for con-
tempt, but he has been in contempt so long that
an additional straw in bis heavy load will make
very little difference one way or the other
Unless the Ludlow prisoner has some purpose to
cain il Is safe to say the Aldermen will get very
listle comfort from him.
Year: 1877

RECEIVER JEwETr's inventory of the Erie
Railway property is unique document. 1t in
cludcs, among other things, the tights costumes
and paraphernalia of the Grand Opera House
rather curious possessions for line Of railroad.
The list of the property it used to own in the
Albany Senate and House would be still more
cIIloIla
Year: 1877

The MEANING OF THE New TELEGRAPH RATES
in q word is this The tolls have been reduced
where it will do the companies financial in
jury, and they have been increased where the
increase will do them the most benefit. The
public loses by the arrangement between them,
and that of course was the object in view when
they began their pooling business.
Year: 1877

SOME OF THE CHARGES against Pinney, San
Franciscos defaulting naval paymaster's clerk
have been thrown out by the Grand Jury. but
they have found true bills in number sufficient
in all probability to make him the guest of the
State for number of wears.