smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The committee appointed by the st. Louis
Convention to inform Gov. Tildcn of his nom
inatinn and request his acceptance discharged
that duty with due and suitable formalty at
the Governors residence in this city last nlght.
The preliminary speeches were oil no
special significance; even Mr.. llannaS
carefully prepared Grafton had lost much
of its force from having been published
in advance OF its delivery. Ii is hut Just to
that gentleman to'say that tins fact dld not
deter him from reading the document i'll an
impressive and eloquent manner, and 1t Is dne
to the Governor TO say that hc listened 10 IL
with as much interest as though 1t had never
been in print The principal event of the
evening, however was the speech of Gov. Til
den. in which he modestly signied his accept
ance of the nomination, and indicated the rea-
SONS why the choice of the Convention had
fallen upon him.


The speech was not intended to anticipate
the letter of acceptance or TO cover the ground
to be occupied by that document. 10 TINS
fact we presume is attributable the omission
of any reference to Tie important questions ol
ryIrIency and finance upon which his opinions
are waited for with some interest. There was
not lacking however, the politicians shrcwdneSs
in the manner wth which he directed attention
to the subject of administrative reform rs the
one great issue upon which he lad received
the nomination aud the one on which the con
test must turn. Ii is this issue that lac pro-
poses to make most prominent; upon this he
will force the fighting. In his conversation
with the friend. in Albany who came to con
gratulatc him upon the nomination, he gave
this as the keynote of the campaign, ana
last night he reiterated II. IL Is not
81 but the idea Of reform which ! represent"
he saws and repeats and will keep repeating
III the canvass Is through. He pits forward
this notion everywhere, and all the time, Tor
he knows it is his strongest point. In his
response 10 the committee last night he gave
his opponents no chance FOR an advantage. lie
will be equally careful anl shrcwd in tn,
preparation of his letter of acceptance, and
whoever is looking for the exposure Of weak
or assailahle point in that document VIII be
disappointed. The Opposition may ms well


understand first as last that they have TO
deal with a politician of remarkable shrcwd-
ness, whom it will not be easy to
corner. The weakness of his position
is in the record of his party
and his associate upon the ticket.
What he means to do, thongh, is to keep ham
mering upon the distinctive idea of admins
tyativc reform, to the exclusion, ii possible, Of
everything else. 1t may be n dodge, but it i5
at least a slrewd one, and it viii not do 10
underestimate its effect.
Year: 1876

considerable force at the South No one whose mind


is not biased by political considerations, believes
that in the present temper of the South troops are
needed there any more than they are i'll New-York
while some look upon their presence as positive
danger What better thing can the Government do
than to leave the South like the North to take care
of ITSELF and move the troops of the country toward
the frontier where they neededf
Year: 1876

The impeachment trial in the Senate makes
rapid progress. The Managers are nearly
through with their case; if the defense should
be equally prompt and speedy the trial may
be concluded by the close of next week.
Year: 1876

Dom Pedro's rapid yet intelligent method OF
sightseeing was tested to the full yesterday
Our readers may share its pleasures without
its exertions, in the description we present OF
the last day of his busy visit to this country
Year: 1876

The decision OF Surrogate Calvin sustaining
the probate of the will of the late Alexander
T. Stewart has long been anticipated and Will


be very generally approved, tor fair-mnded
people are generally well convinced that a man
who, through long industry or skill, accumu-
latcs a fortune has an undispnted right to
bcstow it upon his wife and Others who have
helped him to make it, without consideration
of the claims of unrecosnized forty second
cousins suddenly discovered by speculative
lawyers. The passage in the decision which
sharply condemns the practice OF claimants
who dispute wills on frivolous DreteXts III the
hope of securing allowances from the court
will be most commended, and would have
had still more emphatic Endorsement If it had
had more direct application to the lawyers
who make practice of stirring up such sirlle
and scandal No allowance to the contestants


is made i'll this case, and the encouragement
to continue the hopeless struggle Is net great.
Year: 1876

While citizens are volunteering their services for
the Indian campaign. and Congress is talking about
raising troops, why would it not DO well for the
Government to use the troops it has There is
Year: 1876

The removal of Mr.. Pratt, the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, is another step i'll the
Presidents programme for clearing out OF all
the departments whoever has been active i'll
the prosecution of corrupt officials. Commits
sioner Pratt's oifense consists in his being an
honest and faithful officer who has done
efficient service in the prosecution OF thieves
The President seems to have taken the bits in
his teeth, and determined to have everything
his own way during the remainder OF his term
There was time a few months ago when
the evil spirit appeared to have gone out
of him, hut it has come back with more than
seven others. and the prospect is that his last
state will be worse than the first.
Year: 1876

While Mr.. Blaine was bringing to bear
all his ferocious rhetoric to describe the
horrors Of one war, it is significant
that the President elected by his party
seems to have been doing all he could to
invoke another. 1t is now known that
the circular which the foreign office pro-
mulgated in regard to Cuban affairs was
SO threatening as to provoke a very
sharp and doubtless justly violent reply
from the Spanish Government. That
reply controverts the declaration that
United States has suffered in CON
sequence Of the insurrection in
the island. Instead of being i'm
paired, says the document, it
has really been increased, and is still
increasing. 1t also calls attention to the
fact that many American citizens estab-
lished themselves in business on the
island, and, under the protection Of the
Spanish Government, gained large indi-
vfdual fortunes. 1t also asserts what
we all; know to be true-that the terri
tory Of the United States is the constant
refuge for Cuban outlaws, who are per-
mitted to develop their conspiracies to
the detriment and injury Of a friendly
power; that all just claims of the United
States against Spain have been promptly
adjusted, and that there has been moth
ing to justify the bullying message Of
the President, nor the Incorporate cir
cular which he has caused to be issued
by the Foreign Office.


We hope that Congress will at once
turn it's attention to this matter, for al
though Congress can alone declare war,
it is in the power Of the President to
precipitate conditions which may rem
der it impossible for us to escape the
calamity in any decent or honorable
way. There is certainly no just cause
Year: 1876

Friday being the regular session of the
Police Board q lively time was expected
as Chief Of Police w. r. Loan was to be
tried on charges preferred against him
by Commissioner v. A. Ryan, for neglect
OF duty and disobedience of orders in
refusing to comply with the resolution
adopted by the Police Board, December
20, 1875, relative to bunko.


At 10 o'clock all the members being
present Vice President r. A. Bray took
the chair and the Secretary read the
charges preferred against the Superin-
tendent,


Commissioner Ryan arose and in
formed the Board that he was not pre-
pared for trial, and asked u continuance
Of the case until Monday.


Col. Loan said that he was ready for
trial; that he knew there was more
behind the accusation than appeared on
the face, and that the charges could not
be sustained, and that he thought it
was nothing but justice to give him q
trial at once.


Commissioner Lewis wanted to know
Ii 1t would affect the Chief i'm any way
by a continuance.


Col. Loan replied that it affected his
reputation for honesty and efficiency.
Mr.. Ryan here moved that the case
be continued until Monday.
This Col. Loan protested against,
stating that he could not see upon what
grounds the Commissioner wished q
continuance; that he had had ample
time to get his witnesses, even if they
had to come from California.


Commissioner Gaudet moved that the
charge be put upon it's second reading,
which was done.


Mr.. Murdock then seconded Mr..
Ryan's motion, stating why he seconded
it was that the charges were made on
information received, and that he wished
to give the Commissioner time to pro-
duce his witnesses before the Board, to
substantiatc the charges If he could :;
and il the Superintendent had wished
u continuance in his case, he would have
done likewise.


Commissioner Lewis then took the floor
and said he thought that the Superin-
tendent should be allowed to enter his
plea of guilty or not guilty IL he desired
to; and IL those gentlemen, who were
witnesses for the defence did not reside
IN the city, as stated by Col. Loan, and
could not stay until Monday, let them
make their written statement before
any one authorized to take testimony
and lot it be used as testimony for the
defence.


Commissioner Mccarthy wished Com
missioner Ryan to state why he was not
ready; that sufficient time had been
given him to have collected his wit
nesses.


Commissioner Ryan answered by sta
ting that his principal witness was not
in the city and could not be here before
Monday. And Ryan furthermore stated
that il the Board insisted upon trying
Col. Loan to-day he would Withdraw
the charges.


Vice President Bray wanted to know
IL Mr.. Ryan had taken steps to have the
witness present, and was answered
yes"


The motion was then put to see il the
would be allowed to
plead to the charge, which was carried.


Col. Loan then entered a plea OF not
guilty, and the case was continued until
Monday next.
Year: 1876

Daniel Webster had an anecdoie of old
Father Searl, the minister of his boyhood,
which is too good to be lost. II was custo-
mary then 70 wear buckskin breeches in cool
weather Que Sunday morning in autum,
Father Sear brought his breeches down from
the garret, but the wasps had taken posses
sion during the summer, and were having "a
nice time Of it in them. BY dnt of effort he
got out the lntruders and dressed for meeting.
But while reading the scriptures to the con
gregation he fclt dagger from one Of the
around the pulpit slapping his thighs, But
the more he slapped and danced the more
they stung The people thought him crazy,
but he explained the matter by saying:
Brethren, don't be alarmed; the word of the
Lord is in my mouth, but the devil Is in my
breeches!' Webster always told it with
great glec to the ministers.
Year: 1876

From the n. Y Herald.


This desperate man has been driven by
his insolent and ignoble ambition to medi
tate measure which stamps him either
as a Cataline or maniac. The most
charitable treatment his friends could be-
stow on him would be to shave his head
put him in straitjacket and commit
him to some kindly managed retreat for
the insane. If his power were as great
as his temper is ungovernable and wicked
he would be dangerous man to be left
at large. What he now threatens is to
arrest Wade Hampton on charge of trea-
son. The atrocity Of this wild threat
does not consist in the intended conse-
quence to the victim. The hanging OF
General Hampton would be small crime
in comparison with the incendia'y effect
of such an attempt.


A maniac who should carry torch
into powder magazine, or a william who
should send a tool on that errand, would
hardly excite more horror than an in
cendiay politician undertaking to arrest
for treason the most popular and trusted
citizen of South Carolina in the present
Iintiammable condition of public feeling
, i'll that State. \ man must be absolutely
insane not to know that such an act
won ld kindle the whole State into a con
| tlagraton. 1t would be absurd to say
that the author did not iItenc this conse
quence if he should venture on such al
act when popular passions are excited tc
such pitch that the restraining mora
influence of Wade Hampton himself i,


the only thing that has prevented violent
outbreaks.
Year: 1876

The Herald's dispatches from Colum-
bia says, Wade Hampton will prepare q
memorial to Congress, detailing all the
facts of the election and demand to be
sustained as the legal governor. In the
meantime he will issue proclamation
calling upon all the county and State Of
ticials to recognize his authority.


While this is being done, Chamberlain
and his gang will issue a proclamation re-
quiring such persons to disperse within
three days. If the provisions of this
proclamation are not complied with he
will then order his special constabulary
to arrest such persons and will have them
committed for trial under the special new
law through one of his trial justices. OF
course the first man to be arrested would
be Hampton. Chamberlain knows his
arrest would be resisted, and conflict in
augurated which would bring in the in
terposition of federal troops ostensibly to
preserve the peace, but really to protect
his negro special constables in enforcing
his order and making his arrests. In this
way it is expected that serious riot or
conflict, in which blood will be shed and
lives lost, would result, and the next
move will then be a declaration of mar
tial law by the President and the appoint
ment of Chamberlain as military Cover
nor
Year: 1876

The dispatches from New Orleans de-
failing the sworn evidence Of colored men
before the Congressional committee on
Saturday show that "intimidation' had
been practiced upon colored democrats to
an extent that was horrible. Where brib-
cry with money promises failed, muir
der and shooting were practiced without
the least fear of arrest or punishment.
Year: 1876

Any one who will read the speeches in
the Senate of the United States for the
past week will wonder if in the wide
world there is another intelligent body in
which there are so many members SO
stupidity ignorant Of the duty they are
charged with to perform, as the Republi-
can side of that chamber has developed,
with regard to opening and counting of
the votes for President and Vice-Pres-
dent of the United States.


These gentlemen show by their
speeches and the CONSERVATION and sur
prise evinced in ejaculatory remarks that
from idleness or Indifference they have
no correct knowledge of the manner in
which the counting Of the votes have
been done :; and they are not at all fa-
milar with the records in which the
transactions of these important events
have been long, accurately and mnutely
ran scribed and printed.


Enough Of ignorance has been dis
played in the L. S. Senate by the leading
Republican Senators to utterly ruin the
influence of any leader in the English
Parliament for whole generation. If we
expect any one of these gentlemen on the
Republican side of the Senate it must be
those who, like Mr.. Conkling, has chosen
10 listen rather than talk of that of which
he was not informed, or let his colleagues
have line enough 20 hang themselves.
For certainly some Of them have talked
as wildly as though they were ignorant
and had not cared to learn and rather
han do this they would hurry their coun-
~ on to the very verge Of civil war.
Year: 1876

The Democratic Senators have been
doing good service within the past few
days. They have very kindly and cour-
teously led the Radicals through the his
tory of the country as to the Electoral vote
by the joint sessions Of the two houses OF
Congress since the election Of the first
President down to the Inauguration O
The present sham. And showed then
how utterly futile it would be to under
take to introduce any new mode of lie
termining who has received the maiorit,
of the votes of the Electoral College.
Year: 1876

THE American Neurological Society,
at its meeting held in New York few
days ago, adopted a series Of resolutions
on the subject of coinage, of which we
publish a synopsis in another column.
The society declared unequiVocally against
the proposition to restore the double stan
dard system by making silver, as well as
gold, e legal tender in all amounts, express
ing the opinion that such a measure would
be disastrous to the business interests Of
the country. This society has for its OBJ
ject the improvement of existing systems
of weights and measures, or, rather, the
substitution of uniform scientific system
for the heterogeneous systems now in use;
and as the measure of value is money, the
proposed reform of course includes that of
the existing monetary systems. Themem-
bership Of this body is composed of gen.
tlemen who have made the subjects of
weights, measures and coinage special
study, and comprises many who are dis
tipguished for their acquaintance with
finance and political economy. These
facts, together with the strictly non.par-
tisan character Of the society, entitle its
opinions to the careful attention of our
Legislators and of the public in general.
Year: 1876

IT SEEMS from yesterdays proceedings


that the House Uer6Gtim record is per-
mitted to be falsifed by the mutual con-
sent of the parties to the debate or COL
loquy. 1t is done under the pretense of
revision. If this is proper it may, upon the
same principle, 60 to the extent of with
holding an entire speech. Such, indeed,
was the practice of Bob Toombs when he
was in the Senate. He obtained the STEM
ographer's notes for revision of several of
his worst speeches and never returned
them for insertion in the Globe. II the
Record is simply to be made the convent
ence Of members for printing just that
portion of their actions and sayings which
they fancy will do them good in the
future, with the privilege of suppressiug
what they are ashamed of, it might as well
be abandoned and let Congress return to
the old practice of printing copy of the
Journal, pure and SIMPLE, leaving sketches
of the debates to be printed by the press.
Year: 1876

in that condition forever. And now tire
proaches them for 1t. What should be
said of the men who maintained the sys-
tenn which the World says held four mil
liens of people in 'barbarismf" What do
the 'tchivalry" think of this charge
coming from one of their professed friends
and time-serversi The member of the
editorial staff of the World who penned
that article must have taken more than one
bottle of La Rose claret or he would not
have allowed that sentence to slip in.
Perhaps it is one of those World editorials
which one of its city contemporaries said
''smelt of whisky" Any way, we COM
mend it to 'the chivalry," with the COM
pliments of the World.
Year: 1876

THE gigantic Sinking-Fund Land
Scheme of c. P. Huntington, Crocker &
Co., which proposes to sell back to the
Government the worthless portion of its
land grant at $3.50 per acre to form sink
ing fund for the final payment of princi-
pal and interest Of the bonds which this
great monopoly owes it for, does not seem
to get along very fast in Congress.
Neither it ought" as the boys say.
Year: 1876

, SENATOR MORTON, in discussing the prog
ress of the Investigations going on in the


Southern States Of the recent Presidential
election, is reported to have said that he did
not see anything thus far to warrant the
Democrats in taking comfort, or any cause to
make the Republicans feel concerned about
the event. 'When the whole testimony is
in and everything is KNOWN" he said, ''it
will be.enough to blow the Democratic pre-
tensions to success sky high, and will show
such state Of things as will set the Ameri-
can people to thinking. The Democratic
Senators are already disgusted with the Ore
gon case as it has been shown up in the Sem
ate, as is evidenced in only few of them
attempting 10 defend it. Notwithstanding
their talk the Democrats know il is all over
with them and their Presidential candidate"
Year: 1876

IT Is curious parody on the condition of
the Sick Man to find Russia hesitating to be-
gin war because Turkey has twice as many
troops on the Danube as can be mustered
along the Russian frontier. The Sick Man
may be very sick, but his disease appears to
take the similitude of an eplleptic fit, during
which the patient has half dozen times his
normal strength,
Year: 1876

THE cotton crop just gathered is somewhat
smaller than that of last year. The fibre is
represented as being very clean and of good
quality. Worms and other enemies have not
been so troublesome as usual, and the season
is represented as being remarkably favorable.
Although prices have declined, the crop will
bring large amount of money into the
South, and prepare for prosperous times.
Year: 1876

We do not read anonymous letters and communI-
cations. The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve eommu-
nieations that are not used.
Year: 1876

\ So MANY conflicting rumors are flashed
across the Atlantic cable in regard to the real
position of affairs in Constantinople that the
situation seems to be fairly summed up in the
statement that war is probable, but peace
still possible.
Year: 1876

THE Brooklyn Eagle, which paper was
among the ablest and most influential of Til
den's supporters, rejects the doctrine that one
branch of Congress has the constitutional
authority to object to the Electoral vote of
any State and throw it out. The Eagle ex-
presses itself in this way:


If Congress is not moved and guided by high
er and !oftier patriotism than has yet mani
tested itself among the people, as a whole,
congress can do nothing but embroil the ex ist-
ing situation. The so called Twenty-second
Rnle-about which politicians of late SO earn
estly Vrangled-in our opinion was devised to
make fraud easy, for it is a monstrous peryer-
sion OF the forms of our Government to claim
that either House of Congress has the power to
throw out the vote of a State of this Union
under any pretext, after the constituted au :
tnorlties OF that State have certified the result
we believe this is the Democratic theory, ard
we propose to stand by it, in dark and troub-
LED times Just as we have upheld it in the bet
Ter days when the assumption of judicial DOW
ers by political legislative bodies would have
been universally condemned.