smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

Tho Abolition or tho Franking Privilege


ga Surprise Party'' in Congress.


The pleasure OF 50 surprise party" was
made manifest yesterday in Congress. Mr..
Farnsworth, In the House, asked the privilege
to introduce bill for the abolition Of the
franking privilege, and desired TO name IN
early day for its consideration as o special
order. And here came in the surprise.
1t was in the general cry from all sides
Of the House, ''Now," ssNow," "Let it be
passed now" Accordingly, after brief dis
cussion, the bill was pushed through to Its
passage, and upon this question the vote
stood-yeas 174, nays IA.


This is good days work. For thirty years
and more, over and over again attempts have
been made to abolish the franking privilege,
and over and over again the movement has
been fatty rejected, or evaded or postponed
to the next session The privilege to the mem
bers Of franking without limit their own letters,
their friends letters and everybody's letters,
and books, and speeches, and photographs, and
all sorts Of knick -knackeries as 'sPub Doc, !"
was privilege very hard to surrender; /;
but the Postmaster General, In bringing pub
lie opinion to bear upon this thing, As
dead weight upon the public mails and q
nuisance to the department, and the general
concurrence Of the public press In this opinion,
have been too much for our national lawma-
kers. They have become convinced that they
have dilly-dallied and shilly-shallied and tri-
fed with and put off this question of abolition
long enough, and that they cannot safely triie
with it any longer. Let the earnest friends Of
the House bill see to it that there is no need
less delay upon the measure in the Senate,
and this public nuisance Of the franking privi-
iege will be abated.


While the iron is hot for reform, meantime,
in the House, let the active friends ofthe postal
telegraph bill push it forward, for as compared
with the abolition of the franking privilege,
with Its savings Of many thousands Of dollars
to the department and the Treasury, the postal
telegraph bill will result in gains and savings
to the Treasury and the people amounting to
many millions
Year: 1870

THE BORE AND A FALSE ALARM. time
ago the man who paved Broadway discovered
that his pavement had given way at certain
point, and that the surface was several inches
below it's proper level. He accounted for this
by the fact that the excavations for the pneu-
matte bore were in progress, and hence started
the alarming thought that the borers might let
down the whole surface Of the street. We
thought at the time that the damage looked
more like defect In the pavement, and we
observe that the committee Of the Legislature
appointed to inveaNgats II Of the Same opipion.
Year: 1870

The MURDER TRIAL IN BRooKLYN.-In the
commencement Of the trial of Edwin Perry, for
the murder of the watchman Hayes, before
Judge Pratt in Brooklyn yesterday, counsel on
both sides commented very severely on news
papers for referring to the case in way to
influence public sentiment. As jurors accord
ing to their oaths are to be governed in their
verdict entirely by the evidence, we cannot see
that their judgment will be perverted any more
by fair and disinterested newspaper criticism
than by the biassed arguments of the opposing
lawyers at the close of the trial, when the true
intent of the evidence is often distorted, or by
the opening statements Of the case, wherein.
before any evidence is offered, the counsel on
both sides aim to prejudice the jury in favor Of
or against the prisoner.
Year: 1870

A HOPEFUL SIGN.-Some Of the organs OF
the Northern democracy are beginning to dis
cover that there has been deluge, and that
the sstime- -honored platform of the democratic
party" belongs to the epoch of the Fugitive
Slave law. We have been trying to hammer
this idea into their thick heads for some time;
but at last our hammering is beginning to tell.
like Grants incessant hammering at 'he se6el-
lion
Year: 1870

CoRBN was examined by the Gold Panic
Investigating Committee yesterday. He seems
to have fully recovered, but it cannot be said
that all ID well with him. He refused to
divulge any Of his testimony for the reason
that II would be showing direspect to the
.Aommlttee.
Year: 1870

THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT AND THE
LEGISLATURE Our unterrfed Legislature is
not done with the fifteenth amendment yet.
Mr.. Van Steenburg yesterday introduced
resolution declaring that the adoption of the
amendment by the PROSTATE Southern States
ought to be regarded as null and void
Year: 1870

The proposition to forbid the Sound steamers
navigating the East river below the foot Of
East Tenth street may be inspired by the hope
of giving an impulse to real estate at the
upper end on the east side, but there is no
doubt that 1t involves real benefit to the mass
of the people, and we take it that this is the
real point Of public morality in this fruitful
matter of legislative jobbery. Perhaps there
are few great improvements not more or less
inspired by considerations Of private interest,
but if results Of positive Importance to the
people are achieved the job becomes public
benefit. The safe navigation of the East river
is q matter of primary consequence to the
people of this city and Brooklyn. The bridge
Is 80 far in the future as to be still very misty,
and the prospect is that we must for years
depend upon the ferryboats. At certain
periods Of the day the river is fairly thronged
with these vessels, every one packed to it's ut
most capacity with its human freight, and At one
Of these periods the Sound boats come crash
ing along at high rate Of speed, traversing
the route Of every ferry and putting
thousands of lives in imminent peril.
Now, the very first consideration in
regard to this matter il that this peril
is altogether unnecessary. There is no good
reason why the Sound boats should go to the
lower part of the city on the east side even,
much less why certain of them should go all
the way around to the North river. They
can quite as well land at points on the east
side further up, and thus put their passengers
nearer the habitable part Of the city and the
hotels, while freight, once on trucks, can 60 as
well to one point as another.
Year: 1870

1t seems that the Ecumenical Council is likely
to have an easy death. A cable despatch from
Rome has it that the proceedings Of the Council
will be suspended about Easter and that the
presumption is that the assemblage will then
be dissolved. At the same time we hear Of
all manner of trouble in the Council. The Pope
is finding on oil hands the reverse Of encour-
agement to the infallibility dogma. SO bad
have matters become that the latest effusion of
the most popular bishop in France, M. Dupan-
loup has been condemned by the Papal authori-
ties. It is also said that the popular Father
Geratry, superior Of the Order df Oratoriens In
Paris, is likely to be superseded because Of q
letter he has published on the Ecumenical
Council. What adds to the gravity Of the gen.
eral situation is that the Holy Father Is really
sick-so sick that his death has been reported,
although later reports have it that the end is
not yet. The Council does indeed promise to
be grand failure 1t will not be wonderful
If it fails in its threefold purpose-the Bodily
Assumption, the Syllabus and Infallibility.
Already the world is pretty fully convinced
t,.at an Ecumenical Council is an anachronism.
If the Pope should die during the sitting Of the
Council whas futter it would create


WENDELL PHILLIPS ON THE RAMPAGE
Mr.. Wendell Phillips, at the meeting Of the
Massachusetts, Anti i-Slavery Society yesterday,
denounced Horace Greeley for his course In
favoring the admission Of Virginia ''half recon-
structed." He suggested that that genial
philosopher be PIT naked on prairie with
only the injunction to ''root, hog, or die"
The expression is very inelegant for Mr..
Phillips and very Inappropriate for Mr..
Greeley. Think Of the latter gentleman,
divested Of his white bat and coat and other
appendages, wasting his philosophy In roofing
amid the bleak air of the prairies, or, In
despair at his want Of success in such an nm
satisfactory mode Of agriculture, accepting the
other alternative and laying down his valuable
life.


THE BORE AND FALSE ALARM.--Some time
ago the man who paved Broadway discovered
Year: 1870

THE GOVERNORS NOMINATIONS. The little
difficulty up at Albany which delayed so long the
confirmation Of the Governors appointments
has been so far tided over that there has been
an executive session, and the Senate has con-
frmsd several Of the Governors nominees,
DR.. Carnochan, for Health Officer, being
among them. This executive session seems
to have been. a Tammany victory, secured by
compromise or arrangement with so much Of
the opposition as was absolutely necessary.
1t is evident, however, that the trouble
within the democratic lines is not all over, and
there may yet be some bitter fighting anent
the distribution of what remains in the gift Of
the Governor and consenting Senate. Polti-
cal leaders must remember that even when
they have the Governor and both houses Of
the Legislature their supremacy is not safe so
long as an unsatisfactory distribution of
patronage may awaken disaffection.
Year: 1870

N1TRo-GLYCERINE.-The dangerous char
acter of this material, says the Boston journal,
was well illustrated q few years ago on the pas
sage OF ship from Liverpool to this port
After being short time at sea the captain dis
covered a box near the main hatch which ex
cited Lis suspicion that the contents was the
dreaded nitro-glycerine, and without hesitation
he Immediately ordered its careful removal aft
and threw it overheard from the stern of the
ship. Upon its striking the water a terrific ex-
plosion followed, and q column of water sixty
feet high was thrown into the air, but fortu-
nately the vessel escaped injury. Had the box
been cast over from the side instead of the stern
the broadside Of the ship would probably have
been smashed In, but as the vessel was under
good headway she was enabled to leave a clear
space OF water between her and the box before
the explosion took place.
Year: 1870

THE SAN DOMINGO TREATY.-The Senate
went into Executive session at one o'clock to-
day, and after discussion of halt an hour as to
the propriety of immediate action on the San
Domingo treaty, it was decided, by vote of 81
to %, not to take up the treaty. The doors
were then reopened, and the Senate resumed
the consideration Of legislative business
Year: 1870

THE VACANT JUDGRsHIPs IN THE DISTRICT
The President has not yet sent to the Senate
any nomination for the position of additional
Judge Of the Supreme Court Of this District,
or that of Police Justice under the bills author
izing those appointments recently passed by
Congress. He will, however, make the nomina-
tions for both positions before his departure for
Connecticut on Friday.
Year: 1870

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS
During the time that the counting and investi-
cation Of the affairs of the Printing Bureau at
the Treasury Department is in progress all work
in that Bureau is suspended, therefore no
money is being printed. The counting will be
over in two or three days, and work will be re-
sumed Immediately thereafter.
Year: 1870

ALBANY, june S.-The tug boat Telegraph
ran into the steamer Drew last night near
khinebeck. The Telegraph was sunk. re-
port made here states that the only person in
yured was the engineer on the Telegraph, who
was slightly scalded.
Year: 1870

A GooD HEART.-Ihere was great
master among the Jews, who bid his
scholars consider and tell him what was
the best way wherein man should al
ways keep. Que came and said there
was nothing better than good eye;
which is in their language, a liberal and
contented disposition. Another said
good companion was the best thing in
the world. A third said a good neigh,
Dor was the best thing he could desire;
and fourth preferred man that could
forsee things TO come-that is, wise
person. But, at last, came in one Eleaz-
er, and he said good heart was better
than them all. "True," said the master,
'thon bast comprehended in two words
all that the rest have said for he that
hath good heart will be both content
ed, and good companion, and a good
neighbor, and easily see what is fit to be
done by him." Let every man then seri.
ously labor TO find in himself a sincerity
and uprightness of heart at all times,
and that will save him abundance OF
other labor.
Year: 1870

The green Is fading from each leaf,
The flowers die on the hill
The whispering winds have almost hushed
The murmering of the rill
The sun that lit the earth with gold,
While sinking TO its rest,
Has hung a crimson banner out


To brighten up the west.
The song-birds, too, have ceased 10 sing
Among the fading flowers,
And left requiem signing there
For summers dying hours
And even Nature seemed to mourn,
To watch bright moments die,
Yet fading beauty fingers on


Each leafet floating by.
How can they say the summer time
Is sweeter than the fall
Oh are not autumn's withered leaves
More beautiful than all
And can the bright blush of the rose,
However soft and fair,
Be half as lovely as the touch


OF dying beauty there
Oh no-let others weep TO see


The beauteous summer fade
There is sweeter charm for me


In autumns mellow shade
The whitening flowers that droop and die
Each sere and yellow leaf
Seems but an emblem of this life,


So fading and so brief
The flush must fade from every cheek.
The lustre from each eye,
And all things beautiful must fade,


For all were made 10 die !
The smile must leave the laughing lip,
And joyous hours depart,
For Deaths cold touch at last will chill
The fountain of the heart
Year: 1870

WARNIyG TO YoUNG MES.-Charles Lamb
told his sad experience as warning to young
neu, in the following language:


The waters have run over me, but
out ofti.a black depths, could be heard,
would l cry out to all those who set foot
in the periious Good. Could the youth
10 whom the flavor of the first wine is
as delicious as the opening scenes of life,
or the entering upon some newly discov-
cred paradise, look into my desolation,
and be made to understand how drear it
is when he shall feel himself going down
precipice, with open eyes AID pas: /.
i've will, to his destruction, and have no
human power to stop it, and yet feel it
all emanating from himself; TO see all
godliness emptied out OF him, and yet
not be able to forget time when it was
otherwise to bear the piteous spectacle
of his own ruin could he see my fever
ed eye, fevered with the last nights
drinking, and feverishly looking for to-
nights repeating the folly could he but
feel the body out of which | cry hourly
with teebler outcry to be delivered, it
were enough to make him dash the
sparkling beverage to the earth, in all the
pride Of its mantling temptation"
Year: 1870

A worthy Quaker thus wrote ~ expect to
pass through this world but once If, there
fore, there may be any kindness can show,
or any good thing can do to any fellow hu,
man being, let me do it now. Let me not
defer or neglect it, for viii not pass this wsy
aOain -
Year: 1870

Office, alleging the land described to con-
tain valuable mine or mines, and that
such lands are more valuable for mining
than agricultural purposes. Such afida-
Wits must be specific as to each forty acre
tract described. Yet neither the return
OF the survey nor the mineral affidavit is
conclusive against the settlers for agri-
cultural purposes, who can make and
file a non-mineral affidavit, alleging the
land to be more valuable for agricultural
than for mineral purposes, upon which
he is entitled to file his pre-emption
claim, and upon due notice given have a
trial in this Office as to the truth of his
affidavit; and If the testimony should
then show the land in question: or any
forty acre tract of it, to be more valuable
for agricultural than mining purposes,
the whole of 1t or such portion will be
dealt with as open to pre-emption or
homestead entry. II, however, all or
forty acre tract of such disputed land
should appear to be more valuable for
mining than agricultural purposes, all or
such portion of it will continue to be re-
served as mineral land.


Where the land has been settled upon
and used for agricultural purposes prior
to July 26. 1866, according to the pron-
sions of the Act passed at that date, the
burden of proof will be upon the party
alleging ii to be mineral


AS TO PROVING UP PBE-EMPTIoN CLAIMS.


After the plat of the township has been
filed in this Office, and three months
after the filing of the pre-emption claims
81 =
show a valid settlement, the proofs will
be received at this office. The proofs
must show the settlement, improvements
aud continued residence as before stated,
together with the qualification of the
claimant as a pre-emptinner. When the
claim is not contested, one creditable
witness besides the claimant will be suiii-
eient The proof being satisfactory the
case Is passed for patenting In case
an adverse claim has been filed, citations
will be issued from this Office. and day
fixed for hearing on application.


As TO THE FORM or THE CLAIM.


Any legal division which is con-
tinuous and will block mot cornerj with
another may be taken to the extent al
lowed by law.


NUMBER OF ACRES ALLOWED.


One hundred and sixty acres, whether
in or outside Of the railroad limits, or
any less legal subdivision, may be taken
by pre-empton. When not fractional.
the claim may be one hundred and sixty,
one hundred and twenty, eighty, or forty
acres. If fractional, the party is entitled
to the quarter section, though it should
slightly exceed one hundred and sixty
acres In homestead claims, lands may
be selected in the same form as in pre-
emption, and to the same extent, if out
side Of the railroad limits if inside, then
not exceeding eighty acres.
Year: 1870

hcHbuCAys u. .


[From the Maysville tKy.) Eagle.] :.>t


More than thirty years ago, when the
pike from Maysville to Mt. Sterling was
one of the workmen, and lived in q shanty
on the side of the road about two miles this
side OF Sharpsburg. He was accused by
q girl who had lived In the family Of
numbering a man the night before she
gave the information, and Of burying the
body under The floor of his shanty. a
number Of excited neighbors vent to
the place, and opening the door saw
blood on the floor. In answer to their
Inquiries the wife of Collins replied that
the blood was that Of some chickens she
had killed the day before. The men then
tore up the flooring, and there saw hole
dug in the ground. Collins explained that
be had dug the hole to keep his potatoes
and other vegetables during winter, and on
digging further they discovered nothing of
a corpse or any sign of violence. They
then dragged the pond opposite to the
mans house, on the place then belonging
to General Sudduth, but found nothing. Sc
satisfied were they, however, that the body
had been thrown into the pond that they
commenced to cut the pike In order to
drain the pond; but they were prevented
from carrying out their purpose by General
Sudduth. Finding no evidence against Col
Inns except the statement Of the girl, he was
released, and the community settled down
in the conviction that it was malicious fab
rication on her part, induced by a quarrel
with Collins or his wife. Some years after
ward q report iNas brought to Bath that
Collins had been hung in Missouri for muir
der, and had confessed to killing man In
Kentucky, but as no one bad hsen iilissed
the n1atterH'as soon again forgotten. ke.
Gently some men were engaged in quarry
ing for the pike just across the pike from
where the shanty of Collins stood, and they
removed q pile of loose rock that had lain
in the field for many years. On digging q
little way preparatory TO Blasting, they un-
earthed a complete skeleton of a man. This
revived the old recollections of the accusa-
ton against Collins, and of ahe report of
his confession in Missouri, and the neigh
borhood is now satisfied that the statement
Of the girl was true, but that the body was
afterward exhumed by Collins and buried
across the road before the search Of his
cabin was made.
Year: 1870

A Washington despatch of yesterday says
TheTel is no longer any doubt among Senators
and members that the rank of Admiral of the
Navy will be speedily abolished, partly because
the Office is useless and partly to relieve the
President from the embarrassment of deciding
whether TO nominate Admiral Porter or not.
All Senators and members who have expressed
opinions favor the abolition of the Office. The
President has not resumed friendly relations
with Admiral Porter, and he manifests much
The original letter of Porter to Secretary
Welles is now at the White House. and is ex-
bibited 10 Congressmen who are curious to
view 10.
Year: 1870

LOuR brauch-Onc


On Monday night about 12 clock the steamer
Champion of the Charleston Line, and the
steamer Isaac Bell, of the Old Dominion Line
came in collision at sea, near Long Branch, by
which the Isaac Bell sustained dreadful crash


Her starboard wheel and wheel-house were
crushed, and the iron work of half the wheel
was doubled up like so much tangled wire. Her
bulwarks were stove in, aud from the force of
the collision the cathead and other fragments
of the Champion were cast upon the deck or left
clinging to the side of the Isaac Bell.


On board the Cham pion there was no personal
injury sustained by the crew or passengers, but
John James, one of the oilers of the Isaac Bell,
was killed. He leaves a widow aud two or
phans.


The Champion was on her trip from Charles
ton TO New York, and the Isaac Bell was on her
passage TO Norfolk.


The following statement of the captain of the
Isaac Bell has been received


The Isaac Bell sailed from New York on Mon
day evening, the 9th of December. at s o'clock,
bound for Norfolk. Passed Sandy Hook and the
Highland Lightship, after which he encountered
dense fog.


OFF the woodlands he heard whistle, to
which he made the usual signals to go TO port
and slowed the engine to one bell, then stopped
Made the steamers light about one point and q
half on the starboard bow; made every effort tC
avoid collision, but without avail; she struck
the Isaac Bell forward on the starboard paddle
wheel, stove In the plank, wheel-house, and
wheel, breaking the starboard shaft. The ship
was then taken in tow by the Champion and
brought back to New York.
Year: 1870

About eleven O'Clock last night az officer staple


ton OF the Seventh precinct, was patroling his beat


on Catharine street he observed a person crawling
through the glass nooring OF the dry goods
store of Flanagan, Brother Mulcahy,
at No. 40. Giving On alarm rap he secured
the services Of brother 0ficer and the two fore
ing open the front door captured he thief as he was
In the act OF secreIng himself behind box OF dry
goods IN the rear OF the store He stated that ne had
himself in the basement OF tue store during the day
had broken the glass nooring with his
fists which were fearfully lacerated and
hoped to escape with large amount OF plunder, in
company with accomplies, who are supposed to
have been secreted In the vicinity Upon being con-
veyed TO the station house he gave hts name as
Patrick Sexton. He will be arraignea ct the Tombs
this morning and held to answer the charge.