Year: 1878

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 3, 1878.
SECTIONAL AGITATION TO BE RENEwED-A


SWORD THAT WILL CUT TWO WAYS.


The republicans have determined to force the
Southern question forward at all hazards a party
mannuvre. and will make their first in this di-
recion by demanding laws to enforce the consti
tntona amendments especially that relating to the
suffrage. They pretend that the great body OF
laws framed and passed by themselves dur
ing the reconstruction period. many of them
odious in the irresponsible power they
confer upon mere partisan agents. are not
sufficient and that other laws necessary. The
democrats will probably wait to what precise
laws the republicans will propose, and is possi-
BILE that prolonged and important debate may result
from this republican manGuvre. 1t is not probable
that the end the country he deceived to the
purposes of the republicans in dragging this question
forward more bnt it is possible that
= large number OF democrats will agree to
any proposition to make these laws more
stringent. They reason that this whole class of
regulations gives tho party in power great and de-
csive control the elections in many if not in all
the States, that they be used by democratic
administration. whenever that party goes into power.
with greater effect than. they used by the
republicans It is well known that when, in 1876. it
supposed that Mr. Tilden would be President. the
proposition Of the better class Of democrats fepea
the Enforcement and Election laws violently op
posed by democratic politicians who observed that
these laws would be useful to them they had
hcen to the republicans and that they would be
in haste to repeal them.


MIR. BLAINE's ELECTION INVESTIGATING REso-
4 LUTON.


The democratic Senators have determined not to
oppose Mr. Blaine's resolution for investigation
committee to inquire into alleged violations of the
federal election aws and interference with the rights
OF voters. They will only ask to have it amended
to make the inquiry general and applicable to
all the States and not to certain Southern States
alone, and it is understood that Mr.. Blaine will
cept this amendment. There is good deal Of feel
ing among the New York democrats here about the
arrests Of voters in the city election day which,
iAcharged intimidated great number Of persons
legally entitled to vote and kept them from the polls
and was designed to produce this effect and an in
quiry into this matter will be demanded under Mr.
Biaine's resolution.


THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN
eGf BUREAU.


The inquiry into the advisability Of transferring
the Indian Bureau to the War Department win not
close for days. Secretary Schurz will testify on
Friday. Everybody admits that Mr.. Schurz has made
great and important reforms in the management Of
the Indians, and that he keeps vgilant eye tho
service. but those who think the War Department
should have entire control of the Indians urge that
there will always be an injurious conflict Of authority
80 long as tie Interior Department manages Indian
affairs and vet must depend on the army to
help it. There is little doubt that bill ordering
the transfer to the War Department will pass tho
House, but IL will probably be rejected by the Senate
No lasting reform in the management Of the Indians
is possible so long as the government deals with
them only tribes and as communities Of psupcrs.
and not individuals This is seen by Secretary
schurz who has Of late begun to employ Indians as
teamstcrs, and with good results. and proposes
that they shall also be enlisted soldiers. to
an auxiliary force the plains. OF late cry has
arisen that the Indians must be civilized by making
them successfully first. pastoral tribes, and then
:ultivators Of the SOIL But real and speedy way to
subdue them to civilization would be to form the
rvstions into military colonies. in which, after
years. drill and discipline the lands should be divided
,mong the families OF the tribe and the community
should then be held together under martial law until
it's members acquire fixed habits OF labor
md love for their individual possessions
In such scheme this intelligent army
officers, who understand tho construction of



more useful than the average Indian agents. who.
even IL they are honest, generally incapable Of
doing than serving out ratons II the present
plan of maintaining the Indians paupers is to be
continued the War Department will do but little more
than the Interior Department toward cvilizing thcm
though II would. probably, prevent wars.


APPROPRIATION BILLS PASSED AND PENDING


The House in excellent working spirit to-day
and passed two OF the Appropriation bills. 1t would
have passed third had it been ready The Consular
and Diplomatic bin will probably be reported and
passed tomorrow. The Army bin is held back to
await the report Of the Committee on Army Organiza-
.tion which will be completed early next week.


COLLISION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE AU-


THoRIMEs-CoNvIcTED CRIMINALS SET FREE


BY UNITED STATES JUDGE


A singular case Of collision between federal and
State authorities is likely to be reported to the pres
ent Congress, being now under investigation by the
Governor Of Virginia, in order that the facts may be
presented to tho President Some time ago two
negroes were indicted and tried in Patrick county
Va for . serious crime. One was sentenced 20
eighteen years in State Prison. the other for shorter
period They appealed TO the federal Circuit Court
with the plea shat their trial before tho state
court they had asked for mixed jury. composed
PARTLY Of colorcd and partly of white men, and that
this had Decn reIuseu. ana on tine ground tDat the
jury had been regularly drawn and the law recognized
no difference of race. Judge Rivcs. Of tho United
States Circuit Court entertained their appeal and set
them both free, and they at larga When all
the facts Ia the collected by the Attorney Gen
eral Of Virginia the Governor will present the to
the President, In order TO have the question deter
mined properly whether II is in the power Of federal
Judge thus to interrupt the course OF justice and set
convicted criminals at liberty upon his own notion
and the may be brought before Congress for its
action.





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