smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

mere waste paper. Hence the question
must be decided by one body, and not
by two, and the decision of one body
OF the other is final and binding. There
is no room for compromise here; either
the Senate has absolute right or the House
has absolute right, to determine which are
the certificates" For this difficulty no pro-
vision whatever is made in the bill proposed
by Mr.. Morton and called up by Mr.. Edmunds
Moreover, this question, which involves all
others, should be decided before the opening
of a single certificate.


The Senate will take impregnable ground II
it asserts from the beginning to the end that
no other body has any power to instruct lts
organ in the performance of his duties. Inc
Senate can direct its President, because he Is
merely the creature and mouthplece Oh tnat
body. 1t has the power at any time 10 elecV
a presiding officer, if any necessity arises no
other body can restrain or control him. or
without impertinence advise him IN the dis-
charge of his duties. This being indisputable'
il is apparent that the Senate can instruct its
President to open as "the certificate" from
Iouisiona the paper forwarded by the Repub-
Iican electors, and make sure that he VIII open
that anu no Quiet lIOh on"' D'''e''


plaln that the Constitution clearly INTENDS that
the Senate should do in any emergency, that
which the Senate alone has power to dof


The supporters of Mr.. Tilden are making
another great mistake in encouraging con-
fict of power between the two houses. They
can appeal, with great force and perhaps with
success, to the more independent and fair
minded men of the Senate, who hold the bal
ance of power, but only if they recognize the
right of those Senators to decide. If they as
sert at the outset that the Senate has no
power, that the House alone can determine,
that its decision is binding, and that, in case
of disagreement, the House will proceed TO
elect and inaugurate n President, they throw
away every chance of success. Nothing Is
more certain than this, that the President
who has been declared elected by the Senate,
has been inaugurated with its approval. and
is recognized by that body in the appointment
and removal of officers and the making or
treaties, will be the President of the United
States, and will have the army and the navy
at his back to put down any resistance. II
the Democrats dispute the right of the Senate
to decide a question which, by the PLAIN pro-
visions of the Constitution, must be deter
mined by its presiding officer and agent, they
will not be the better prepared for that appeal
to the reason and patriotism of Senators which
is now their only chance of success.
Year: 1876




Mr. Fdmunds. no doubt, has good strategic
reasons for desiring to put the Democrats con-
spicuously in the wrong. Logically their posi-
ton will be bad enough to crafty any foe II
they deliberately refuse, upon Ovcrtures by
Republican Senate, to agree that the certln-
Gates having official character shall be counted
unless both houses decide 30 the contrary
Certainly the country will never sustain the
Democratic demand that the same House which
il TO elect a President in case Of failure to
elect by the people shall have power at any
fine TO cause failure to elect by It's sole OBJ
lection to the votes of certain States. What
over else may be conceded, that power. we may
be sure, will not be conceded by the Senate,
nor will the unwarranted assumption OF 1T be
sustained by any considerable portion OF the
law-abiding and intelligent people. Appa-
rently the object of Mr.. Edmunds in call
ing up the bill pressed by Mr.. Morton at
the last session is to drive the Democrats to
take this extreme and utterly mdetensible po-
sition. But there is not much room for adroit
tactics in grave emergency like this. Gun
ming in fence is not the quality which Will
win the public confidence. There is a right
and n wrong in the matter. The Republican
majority in the Senate, discarding all tactical
devices, ought to plant itself on the right
ground at the outset, and to stand there to
the end. Its position will be very much weak
ened if, having first proposed to submit the
main question at issue to the two houses act
ing concurrenty, it finally is compelled to as
sert the constitutional right of the Senate,
through its organ, the presiding officer to de-
termine what are "the certificates" to be
opened.


Really, that is the only question to be dis
cussed, and in the nature of the case that can
only be decided by one body. Here are two
papers purpOrting to be certificates from
Louisiana; one is known to be from the cleo
tors having certificates from the Governor, and
the other is known to be from the claimants hav-
ing no evidence of election One OF these papers
is the legal certificate of the regular and
lawful vote of the State of Louisiana. That
Is the certificate" which the President of the
Senate is bound to open. The other paper he
ia bound not to open as certificate OF the
legal vote. No construction Of the COnstitu-
tion is admissible which deDrives the State
of its share in the election because
two bodies cannot agree about It's
vote. Having cast one legal vote, the State
has right, and all the people have right
to have that vote counted, and it follows that
any other certificate, pretending to give the
vote Of that State, must DO rejected as
Year: 1876

tions in Massachusetts, have been purely local
and to a great extent personal contests, in
which, over and over again, Democratic May
ors have been chosen in cities strongly kepuo-
lican. This has happened frequently In Bos-
ton. This year it has happened again. Ihat
is all. We do not fancy that the late mayor
Shurtleff, who was a pretty stiff Democrat
ever for moment supposed that his electioh
had anything to do with national politlcs. H
is true that Mr.. Prince was run as democrat
pure and simple, but great many hepuDl-
cans must for reasons satisfactory 10 tnen-
selves have voted for him. We doubt II ne
thinks or would say that these Republicans
have for good and all turned Democrats.


Reform is very taking cry. All tne
cities of Massachusetts have within the recoi-
lection of everybody been reformed" after
the manner of Boston this year. 1t is not
known that any special reduction OF taxes OF
of municipal indebtedness has come OF 1t. AS
general rule, neighborhood quarrels have
been found at the bottom of these "reyou-
tions,r and this Boston business is evidently
the result of family dispute, or OF feel
ing that in the selection of local public OIL
GERS national differences should be dlsregarded,
as sensible men will agree that they ought to
be. Mr.. CASTOR, good Democrat, when he
was elected Mayor of Boston, did not make
an ass of himself by telegraphng special flap
doodle to the New-York newspapers. He
knew very we'll that the city which had
chosen him would on the first opportunity
show itself Republican in matters of State or
of National interest. So he did not slop over
in specials"


If the Democrats of Boston have elected
good, honest, economical city government,
which will not plunge the municipality any
deeper into debt than it is at present, and
which will economically and wisely admins
ter affairs, they have set good example
which we hope will be followed throughout
the land but there is no need OF cock-a-
doodle over a "victory" which could not
have been won without alliances which IN the
nature of things must prove temporary.
Meanwhile, we are curious to see what the
Boston Democrats will 10 with the ProhiDl-
tionists who helped to make Mr.. Prince the
next Mayor. This is an accession which might
produce rather queer mixture, if anything
like a mixture were possible. AT the end OF
the next municipal year these Prohibition
gentlemen perhaps will tell us how much they
have made by their little speculation.
Year: 1876

Whatever may have been the extent to
which the uniformed public was surprised by
tbe failure Of the Continental Life Insurance
Company, the utter collapse of the Security
Life Insurance Company comes with no such
sudden shock. The broken concern of to-day
WAS never accounted very sound or strong,
and during the last year or two
has been merely struggling to keep up
appearances, in n vain hope that turn of the
tide might bring relief. The great mistake
had been made in the earlier years OF Its
business of taking notes instead OF cash for
half the premium. Many OF the Old, strong
companies had begun business in that way
They had. however, been conducted with an
economy of management unknown to the nigh
pressure companies started in later years. But
even with all their advantages, the older COM
panies one by one discovered that the ha1-
note system was n mistake; that 1t did not
brinf. in sufficient funds in the early years OF
a policy to meet the average risk; and they all
abandoned that system. The Security Company
il said TO have continued issuing haf-note poll
cies till four years ago. IL was long since
recognized everywhere that the premium
"notesn Of life insurance company were
among the most worthless of its assets. The
informal estimates of the Security's affairs
show that three-fourths Of its assets were pre-
MUM notes No skill of management could
ever have rescued it from insolvency.


The public will inevitably ask of our State
Insurance Department an answer To the ques-
ton why this condition of the Security Com
pany was not made known long ago, and why
the Superintendent did not prevent the COM
pany from taking new policies. The de-
fault il too great; the disproportion OF
liabilities to sound assets is too enormous.
Il cannot be supposed that this condition was
utterly unsuspectcd mt Albany. If the super
intendent had hopes that company could re-
cover itself after sinking three-fourths OF It's
assets in premium notes, he was too sanSnlhe
by half for his position. If he did not know,
opproximately, the condition of the company,
he has still less excuse. 1t was his business
to know.


There is n very hard time ahead for weak
insurance companies. Within few weeks 1t
ia expcctcd that Others will succumb. For this
there is no help. Those that survive this
Winters inspection will do so by virtue OF
their fitness-because they are really strong.
When the wrecks are cleared away, there will
come a gradual return ol couno0n'o va '


mart of the public, which will greatly benefit
the companies that weather the storm Ana
since there is no way to avoid it, the sooner
the crash comes to the weak concerns, the bet
ter for all. We trust there will be no delay
in the annual examinations, and that they Will
be unexampled in thoroughness. Sound com
nonies have nothing to fear; full showing
will add to their favor with the public. What
noliey holders are now asking is whether they
are insured ut all.
Year: 1876

they manage to escape the law; but the views OF
life they present are those taken from the
grogshop and gambling hell; their very at
mosphere is crime. A boy who would be SIM
ply disgusted by the open vice in publications
which the law prohibits accepts the concealed
poison in these without suspicion. When we
read Gas in our exchanges of last week. OF
murderers of fourteen years old, of burglars
of nine, of delicately reared girls in the
first bloom of innocent youth leaving their
homes and coming to this city in the mad desire
for adventure, to be rescued on the very verge Oh
ruin, we can trace the motive cause in every case
to these publications, or their dramatzation
on the boards of variety theaters. In even
the best class of Juvenile literature belonging
to the present day there is too much OF fever
and unrest. The child's brain, crammed and
forced at school, is still further heated by tales
of wild adventure or fantastic improbabllty.
Robinson CrusOe and the Parents Assistant
are voted dull by our boys; even Scotes
magic wand moves too slowly to enchaDt
them. But if our best juvenile literature be
thus open 20 criticism, what is to be said OF
this the worst and lowest deepR


We speak this warning advisedly to parents.
1t would be well if they would pay closer
attention not only to the books which are
bought for them to study Mt school, but to
those which they buy themselves to study out
cid
Year: 1876

The Democracy of Indiana and New-Hampshire
are already firing up according to the programme.
The Unterrlfied but Terrible, are to assemble on
given day in mass meetings all through the North
for the purpose of Simultaneous vociferation. The
shout of certain disappointed politicians who had
failed to elect their candidate by intimidation once
"tore HELPS concave," according to report, and
n consolidated Democratic war-whoOp might be
counted on to rip things universally. But precau-
tions should be taken by the management against
such melancholy miscarriage as happened on
similar occasion. When those restless gentlemen,
the scientists persuaded all the world to turn out
and yell in chorus in order to attract the notice OF
the dwellers on the moOn it will be remembered
that Just az the clocks delivered tho fatal tick,
sufocating silence fell upon the earth, only broken
over a very limited area of disturbance somewhere
in Siberia, where q deaf old lady screamed her
shrillest This good woman on account of her IN
irmity was not exposed to the temptation which
overmastered the collective virtue of humankind
each one of whom had stealthily adopted pro-
Vramme of his own, viz, to keep absolutely quiet
and listen to the racket. Let every Democrat De
reminded that the perforatng eve of Mr.. Hewitt Is
upon him. and that Mr. Tilden stands expectant
with his trumpet at his ear SO altogether, breth-
rem! We will do the listening.
Year: 1876

unlUeG. IOUClCdl cfolutioh -


stance, insured the survival OF the httest.
In Germany, three years ago, law was
passed abolishing the duties on iron and steel
at the end of this year. The depressed state
of the iron industry has since led many to
doubt the righteousness of this measure.
Prince Bismarck was convinced that it would
be well to postpone the abolition until 1879.
The Reichstag has, however, decided by vote
of 2O6 to 116 to let the law take effect
Germany being large exporter of iron and
steel wares, the majority doubtless conclude
that she may safely defy foreign competition


A curiously vacillating brute this seems to
be who shot young girl yesterday on the
street in broad daylight. For four years he
has been refusing to marry her, in spite OF
repeated promises to do so, and now he shoots
her down IN cold blood because he fears that
there is danger of her marrying some one else,
and she has refused to marry him. The man
ner of hesmurder, for such it will doubtless
prove was business-like to the last degree
Three shots were fired with cool precision, but
they were hardly discharged before this lover
was on his knees, embracing her body. lie
soon regained his cOmposure, and now adheres
to the opinion that the girl deserved to die as
she did. Altogether this seems likely to travel
through the country press as 90 curiosity OF
" crime"
Year: 1876

Fire Marshal Keady's report on the BROOKLYN
calamity very properly lays stress on the mad
equate means for extinguishing fire In the
tlcater. The managers had taken no warning
from two previous fires there. Their employees
were not at all trained and practlced Tor ther
duties in such an emergency. There was no
hose kept on hand ready to attach to the stage
hydrant. On the other points, especially as 10
the means of exit being sufficient, there may
be room for two opinions; as to the neglect to
provide for extinguishing fire there can be no
question. The blame for this neglect must be
laid where it belongs. Several of our theatcrs
have their employees well drilled, so that each
knows lust what he is to do when fire breaks
out The certainty that such system had
been adopted by all the theaters IN this city,
would tend largely to relieve the present
anxiety of Ihay-goers. 1t is scarcely possible
that any of our theaters are so destitute OF the
appliances for bringing a stream OF water to
bear OH the scenery, as has been shown to have
been the case in Brooklyn.
Year: 1876

II is the misfortune of the House of Repre-
sentatives that its blunders have been OF so
peculiar kind as almost to mOnOpolize pub
lie attention. The good 1t has done has been
much less picturesque than the evil. Yet
it has accomplished important results worthy
of not, little cOmmendatiOn. The House
which drove Bclknap from Office which made
handsome saving in the appropriations that
does not seem to have been followed by de-
fjciencies of the number and size that were
predicted; ard which disclosed, with
all its frantic raking and fiinging OF
mud, much corruption that might otherwise
have gone undiscovered, can surely lay some
claim to the public gratitude, whatever may
have been its mistakes. and its weaknesses.
This claim will be greatly increased ii the
House fulfilIs the promise now made of going
ON in good faith with the work of making ap-
propriations, without knowing who Is to spend
the money. 1t is perhaps a strange thing to
he grateful for, that the House intends to do
its duty, and will make no attempt to black


mail its opponents into yielding up the Gov
ernment but we have had reason to be thank
full for some queer things already, and more
of the same kind are likely TO follow. And 1t
is only lust to the House, on the other hand,
TO say that there has never been any authorl-
tative declaration of a purpose on It's part TO
attempt to block the wheels OF government IN
this way The people abide by the law, and
their representatives are not likely to venture
TO nullify it.
Year: 1876

It is unfortunate for Germany that the penal
code which was to secure uniformity in the
criminal laws of the Empire has been set aside
by the conservatism of the Federal Council,
which insisted upon stringent press laws. Ii
ia better, however, to postpone the measure
than to have the liberal policy of the Reich
stag completely thwarted.
Year: 1876

Now it seems that there were twenty-four sol
diers at Petersburg instead of ten, and a cap
tain besides a lieutenant This puts more
aerious aspect on the affair, and the House will
now do we'll to consider whether impeachment
would not .be a duty as well as pleasure
Perhaps the President might be induced TO re-
sign to save time, expense, and trouble Let
Mr.. Hewitt see to it at once.
Year: 1876

During the recent meetings some hand. bills were printed in one of the neighbor. ing towns headed "Ho for the New Jeru- salem " It seems that one of them got over into Sanlsbury and created consider able excitement there, as most of the pro- mlnent citizens have been writing to ask where the place is situated and whether h . man went there to work by the day he would be able to get home Sundays.- NOrsoich Bullitin.
Year: 1876

That Norwich man who courted his wife fifty years before he married her was n prudent fellow. Fifty years takes the strength ont of most any arm. and makes m inconSenient for woman to get down on her knees to urge the head of the house to come ont from under the bed and talk the matter over.-Bridgepor lSand0rd.
Year: 1876

The work originally published under the title of THE NEW AMERICAN CYCLOPEDIA completed in 1863 since which time, the wide circulation which it has attained in all parts of the United States the signal developments which have taken place in every branch of science literature, and art, have induced the editors and publishers to submit it to exact and thorough rev1son and to issue edition entitled
Year: 1876

Forming in fact new Cyclopadia with the plan aud compnss its predecessor but with far greater pecuniary expenditure, and with such improvements in its composition have suggested by longer experience and enlarged knowledge. E
Year: 1876




than under the control of any party or sect They
must be neither sectarian nor partisan, and there
must be neither a division instrumentation of
the funds for their SUPPORT. Likewise regard the
ties and antagOnisms among his contrymen
dangerous enemy to his country. All the people
must be made to feel and know that once more there
is established purpose and policy under which all
secure in the enjoyment of whatever rights the
stitution and laws declare recognize and that in
controversies that may arise, the government is not
a partisan, but within its constitutional authority,
the inst and werful guardian the rights of safe
ty Ali strife between sections and races will cease
as soon as power for the evils taken away from
a party that makes political gain out of scenes of
Violence and bloOdshed. and the constitutional au-
welfare requires that peace and good order shall be
pre7ei Gu TILDEN.


IT will be seen gentlemen; that am in entire ac-
cord with the platform of the convention by which
have been nominated a candidate for the Office of
vice president of the United States. Permit me- in
conclusion, express my satisfaction at being asso-
ciated with n candidate for the presidency who is
first among his equals as representative of the
spirit and of the achievements of reform In his off,
cial the executive of The state of New
York, he has, in comparatively short period,
formed the public service, ami reduced the public
of his state and the admiratios of the country The
people know him to be thoroughly in earnest. He
has shown himself to be Possessed of powers md
qualities which mt him, in an eminent degree, for
needs and if he shat he chosen hy the people
TO the high Office of pr NJ If the United States,
believe that the day - as inauguration will he
the beginning ofa new of peace, purity and pros
perity in all departments of our government. am,
gentlemen, your obedient servant,


THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.
To Hon. John A. NJ 'Clernand, chairman, and Others


of the committee of the national democratic con-
Year: 1876

WHILE in Buffalo visited one of the
banks, the cashier ofwhich I had known
when he was resident of Liverpool.
As / was talking with him, a small, thin
man passed out of the bank. Said the
cashier: "Did you notice that slim lit
tie man who just went out2 No?
Well, 1t me tell you about him. That
man, about this time every week, comes
TO deposite 4 few dollars, which are
placed to the credit of the--Insur-
ance Company. Last year he had an
office in a building that was insured for
fifteen thousand dollars, about all it was
worth. One day, as he was about to
leave his office, he happened to drop some
fire from his cigar into basket ofpapers
Fear his desk. Half an hour after he
had gone the building was in blaze,
and somehow the origin of the fire was
traced to the room he had left. Now,
what do you think? Why, that man is
saving every cent he can get and putting
it here to reimburse the insurance COM
pany, because it was through his absence
of mind that they had to pay for burnt
building. He may never get enough
together to cover the whole amount. but
lie is doing what he can. Now that's
what some of us would call Internal
fooliShness. l callit honesty Hodqson's s
Notes on 1BlcTicn.
Year: 1876

Very rarely has the country suffered
such u killing drought as the one Which
now prevails in many localities within a
hundred miles of this city. In addition
to the failure of rain, parching winds
seem to have absorbed all the moisture
from the ground, which is dust dry to
an unusual depth. In some parts OF
northern New Jersey the standing crops
are injured nearly beyond the chance OF
recovery; the "truck" in the gardens
has withered away, and the pastures
look as bare and brown as the stretches
of a California summer landscape.