Year: 1870

| Presidents 8 message was received and read


The message is ANYTHING but state paper OF


an attractive document. That portion of the


message treating of the fishery question was


written by Ben Butler and shows talent and
research more, however, in the line Of petit
Jogging than that Of statemanship. On the
Alabama question, the message says Con-
gress must take the lead, bat it suggests
that if our own Government would settle the
claims of our own citizens and then make it
question between tho two governments he
would be pleased to acqucscc. What field
for corruption and robbery of our Govern
mcnt would be opened by this ex-parte set
tlement? Grant smells money for bis hounds


in th, sort Of settlement and, therefore, ia
vors it. That portion of the message refer
ring to the purchase and annexation of St.
Domingo and the Bay of Samana, was writ
ten by one of Grants partners in the specula-
ton, and is eloquent and touching, Summer
says the Bay of Samana is all staked off into
water lots, and that the biggest and best one
has Grants name on the stake. There is
cocoanut trees down there, and Sumner ac-
counts for the milk in the cocoanut on the St.
Domingo question. The remainder of the
message is exceedingly common place and has
excited no attention or comment anywhere.
Congress has as yet done but little, and it is
to be hoped it will not do much, as it is, as at
present organized, only body capable of
doing harm.


Augusta, Georgia, has gone Democratic,
though Grants soldiers were drawn up in
sight of the polls. The Legislature of Ala
bama has elected Democrat to the United
States Senate. The Legislature of North
Carolina is about to impeach Governor Hold
en-. The President has complied with his
bargain and paid one man for dirty work, by
appointing Senator Drake of Missouri, Chief
Justice of the Court of Claims. and the Son
ate has confirmed the appointment. Drake
VIII now DccO1nc Qcdu dUcK SO lar us
politics are concerned, but he soon will be
very wealthy man, as the chances for stealing
are great in his new office. a Democratic Uni
ted States Senator will succeed Drake, al
the Legislature of Missouri is largely Demo
cratic. The House has passed bill by a
very large majority, repeating the tenure of
office act. This law was disgrace to the
American Congress and was only passed to
prevent President Andrew johnson from
turning Republican thieves out of federal
raise a commission Ito be appointed by the
President we supposc) to acquire ST. Do
mingo, which clicted strong opposition and
was finally referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. This is Que of the big lobby
schemes Of the session, and pet measure Of
the President, who is said to be not only
President of the United States but also king
of the lobby" Should this measure pass the
House, Sumner, who is Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations in the Sen
ate, will take care of it. Kelly, of Pensyl
vania, introduced resolution directing the
Committee to report bill to abolish the in
tcrnal revenue system, except as to Whisky
and Tobacco which passed by vote of 164
to s. At first blush this resolution would
look like an honest attempt on the part of
Congress to Tighten taxation on the people,
but it vii! be found to be mere trick of the
high protective tariff monopolists of the East
to dispense with one class of odious taxation
and then force, By the wants of the Treasury,
the continuance of the present high tariff or
even increase it for the benefit Of Eastern
manufacturers. at the expense Of the West
en producer. Logan's bill to abolish the
grade. of Admiral and Vice Admiral in the
navy, passed the lower House, after an ex-
citing debate, in which Ben Butler made
speech dcnounciag Vice Admiral Porter in
the most bitter terms, without division. If
the action Of the House on this question is
any indication of what the Senate will do,
Porter will never wear Farragut's uniform or
fill the office of Admiral Of the United States
Navy. Western Congrcssmen are demand
ing additional members under the new census
in the next Congress. We think this demand
can find no precedent, yet it is plausible in

equity. But if the West is entitled to more
members, then the E st has already elected
more than it is entitled to, and the New
England States should be made to strike off
secen members Of those already elected, the
Middle States ten and the Southern States
three, while the Western States are gaining
nine. 1t is poor rule that does not work
both ways; in fact, We would like to zee the
election of Congressman for the forty-se ,ond
Congress as far as it has gone, wiped out,