Year: 1877

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"; suISGToN. d. c.,
.Jar@. IL, 1877. )


The unprecedented cold weal.N .Ner when
We have experienced tor the pa, TWO
months has had very depressing e0~N
upon business generally. Such cold
and stormy December has not been
known for many years. Ga the ist inst.
snow fell to depth of 10 inches on a
level, completely blockaiing our streets.
The Potomac river has been practically
closed to navigation for fully six weeks
The ice Mt the present time is quite foot
thick, and very large amount OF ship
ping is lying at the wharves on the river
front, unable to get away. The past
week has been one OF uninterrupted
good sleighing. which has been well i'm
proved and much enjoyed by those who
were able to indulge in the luxury OF n
sleigh ride; but, with the price Of .
double team fixed at 80 per hour, or a
single one ut 81, government clerk
coud not dissipate any great length OF
time. and we have contented ourselves
in living over the times when we were
enjoying these luXuries at much less
cost, among the hills aud valleys OF "old
Oxford" Tho severity OF the weather
is having telling effect on the poor OF the
city With no labor to be obtained there.
is vast amount OF suffering. which is
being attempted to be relieved by tho
charitably disposed. who are doing much
for those in need. There probably never
was a time in The history OF this city
when there were so many idle ones as at
present. While most of them would be
glad OF work there is absolutely nothing
doing by which they can earn livlihood.
Fuel and provisions are to be had at very
reasonable rates. except potatoes. which
are retailing at 81 per bushel and at
wholesale they bring Sl.7j.


There is little or no change 10 political
affairs. The Copperheads are still at
their game of buster. Very few, how
ever. are fool hardy enough to pretend
that Tilden has been fairly and honestly
elected, aud fewer still are found who
deny that fraud and intimidation was
prac.iced on an extensive scale in any
e ,k 81 mk
Copperheads and their allies boldly assert
that these facts must not prevent the
votes of these States from being counted
on the face OF the returns. The investi-
cations now going on in regard to the
several States, especially OF Oregon is
developing some startling facts. From
what has been brought TO light so Tar
there is little or no room left TO doubt
that Grover was well paid for his course.
Cronin admitted while being examined
before the Senate Committee that he re-
ceived 100000 for the part he has
played. Il has also been proven that
Tilden's private Secretary sent So,OOO.OO
to Salem, Oregon, on the day of counting
the vote. That they have determined TO (
put Tilden into The White House if the
thing is possible by buster there is no
possible doubt, though they have been
less demonstrative for the past two
weeks. Hewitt has not kept up his daily
average OF lies, having been 50 quiet
that one would conclude that he had sub
sided altogether. His charge against The
New York city Post Office has seemed to
have a very depressing effect, and his
headquarters for lying seem at present 10
be closed, though we suppose they will
soon be opened again.


An effort is being made to ascertain the
true state of affairs in Mississippi; and
it is confidently asserted by those who
should know whereof they speak, that
the State was carried by Hayes and
Wheeler. How it should be otherwise,
is almost beyond comprehension, as
lueEc Is q ublului SA
at least $4,000 in the State, yet the TIL
denites claim to have carried it by 10000.
The turn of affairs in Florida, the pusi-
luminous course of Stearns in allowing
the Supreme Court TO usurp all the
functions of the government are subjects
that excite but little or in fact no comment
hero, as it cannot effect the presidential
contest in the least. Beyond doubt the
Returning Board did its duty under the
law at its first meeting in an honest and
conscientious manner, and had they been
sustained by a competent executive there
would have been no second count. and
the State wol,d have remainfd where
it OF right belongs-under republican
rule.


The Joint committee of the two Houses
on counting the votes for President and
Vice-President have not,-so far as the