The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume], June 10, 1878, Image 1

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THE NEbW ORLEANS DAILY DEMOCRAT,
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF 'IHE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
VOL. II1--NO. 171. NEW ORLEANS, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1878. PRICE, FIVE CENTS.
FERRY'S FICTIONS.
THE POTTER COMMITTEE TO IMPALE
TIE PRO TEE. PRI|eDEANT
OF THE ENIATB .
What the Fraudulent Beneflelarles Expect
from Mrs. Jenks, and Wherein They
Will be Disappolnted-Leonard's Con
firmatlon Apparently Certain.
[Special to the Democrat.]
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Democratic mem
bers of the committee, who have been com
paring Benator Ferry's testimony on Satur
day with the records of the electoral count,
say they have caught the Senator in at least
two evasions, which cannot possibly be ex
cused on the ground of aberration of memory,
and propose to establish a case of willful sup
presslon of the truth under oath against him.
The most flagrant of these evasions occur
In his testimony relative to the identity of
the messenger from whom he received the
second or amended certificates, before he
swore he did not remember whether the sec
ond messenger was Returning Board Ander
son or not. The committee propose to prove
not only that he well knew who was the mes
senger in both cases, but that the envelopes
containing the first sct of certificates were
steamed and opened. in order to ascertain the
subject matter of the Irregularitiem; also,
that this was done with the privity of the
messenger, and with a strong presumption
of advice and consent of Ferry himself.
The fraudulent gang base great hopes on
the testimony of Mrs. Jenks to overthrow
that of Anderson, but when that female gets
before the committee she will find plenty of
employment in explaining matters affecting
John Sherman which have not as yet been
even hinted at in the investigation.
The Judiciary Committee Is likely to report
Leonard's nomination back to the Senate on
Tuesday or Wednesday, without recommenda
tion either for or against confirmation, In
which event he will be confirmed without
much opposltion. BnUE~L,.
THE SPENCER REWOLUTION.
,its True Inwardness Revealed - The
Wormley Conference, and Not the
Electoral Count To Be Investigated
The Resolution Really the Ofsepring
of Senator Conkilng.
NEW YouK, June 9.-A Washington special
of Saturday says: The resolution offered In
the Senate to-day by Mr. 8pencer for the In
vestigation of alleged frauds in electoral
counts and elections in Alabama, South Caro
lina, Mississippi, Florida and Oregon, and the
action of the Forty-fourth Congress on the
same, and to further inquiro into the over
throw of the Packard government and as to
any act that prompted it, is the offspring of
Mr. Conkllng.
If the committee is authorized, which is by
no means certain, Mr. Conkling, and not Mr.
Spencer, will be chairman. The real point of
the proposed inquiry is the reference in the
tail of It to the overthrow of the Packard gov
ernment, and the recognition of the Nicholls
government by President Hayes, and the in
timation that it was the result of a bargain.
Mr. Conkling. like Gen. Butler, is anxious
to present some interesting revelations to the
country of the doings of the famous Louisiana
commisslon.
Quite a numlber of Republican Senators are
opposed to the extensive scope of the inquiry,
and several to any investigation whatever.
The Tiumr' sApcial says: In conversation
with Senator Spencer to-night he said that he
intended to call up the resolution on Monday,
and would then address the Senate in advo
cacy of its adoption. 1He iroposed that the
committee should he non-partisan and con
slst, If the resolution was adopted, of four
bReIn)llians and four 1)emocrnts. lie desired
a fair and thorough investigation of every
thing concerning the election, but particu
larly of the famtous event known as the
Wormley c..olfe.ence.
Mr. Spencor said it. couhld ieostablisheld that
a bargain was entered into i.twlen somnll
friends of the P'resident, with the latter's
knowledge and aicqutlesenut, and certain l)nil
ocrates, by which it was agreed and stilulated
that the Doenaocrats of the House would per
mit the electoral count to be co.upieth l if the
Packard and ('hanborhlin governmentls were
lanored and discountenarted, and those of
Nicholls and Wade Hampton recsognized and
upheld.
Mr. Spencer was quite emphatic in his de
claration that I'resident llayes was fully
cognizant of all that occursed at the Wormley
contfelen.e. When asked if he had consultsed
his party colk'agues before presenting the
resolution, Mr. SHlncor shrewdly repliel that
he had showed the document to some of them.
The relatlons i'twneen Conkling and Spen
cer are known to be of a very Intimate char
acter, and It is Intimated that Mr. Conkling
was consulted about the Introduction of this
resolution.
WIND FROM WATTERSON.
What He Thlinks of the Potter Inquiry
He Affirms the Power of Congress to
Oust Hayes, but Doubts the Policy of
Seating Tilden at the Fag End of the
Presidential Term.
NEW YlurK, June 9.----A reporter had an in
teresting and instructive conversation yester
day with Mr. Henry Wattersuon, editor of the
Loulsville (lourier'.,;Imrnnl. iHe said he had
not the slightest doubt albout the prxcof
of the frauds. There would be ample tes
timony to sustain the charges in the Pot
ter resolution. Io had no doubt about the
power of Congress to declare the election of
Hayes null and void if the evidence proved
the frauds charged, as he belived it would.
With referenceo o the agrtrment made by
the Democrats. so ucuth talked and paraded
in Republican papers, that the decisions of
the electoral commission were to be final, he
said that it had no more binding force on
them than an ordinary coutract would have
on an individual, if it was. shown to have been
founded on fraud. Yet, he said, it might not
be prudlent for Congress or the people to in
sist on this right, or to attn.lmpt to disturb the
present Executive, if he di snot ftrl that it
was his honorable duty to resign. But they
now had a right to go behind tih returns, and
even if nothing practicable should he accom
plished, so far as the present term is con
cerned the Potter investigation would renhler
returning boetrds ilupossible for all future
time.
While it was right to show up the political
corruption in all its hideoustorms. it would
be bad policy. for many reasons, to depose
Hayes. It would create a great deal of ex
citement without gaining any important
point for the Democratic party.
Mr. Watterson thinks that in the event of
Hayes' resignation or deposition, it would not
only be injudicious and impolitic, but disas
trous to put Mr. Tilden forward as Hayes'
successor for the unexpired term. To
come in at the fag end, he said,
would bring contempt on him and his party.
He could gain no renown thereby, and the
party would not obtain any more adherents,
for the offices are all filled, and practically
there would be very little for Mr. Tilden to
do, and by the time he became fully acquaint-.
ed with the duties of his otoffice and was pre
pared to make himself useful his time would
have expired and he would be obliged to step
down aa4 out without having accomplished
anything, except to destroy his chances, if he
had any, for being nominated in 18O0.
Mr. Watterson went on to speak generally
of the nature of the testimony already pro
duced before the Potter committee. lIe be
lieves there is sufficient evidence to convince
and convict, and in spite of somo apparent
discrepancies on the cross-examination, he
thinks there is abundance of corroborative
[ testimony to show that Anderson and Levi
r see are telling the truth in the main, and that
there is enough In their testimony alone to
show that flagrant frauds have been corm
mitted. f
Finally, the reporter asked his opinion on c
the resolution which B. F. Butler has pre- k
pared to offer: "Whereas, a presidential
-elector has sworn before a committee of I
the House that his signature affixed to
the certificates of the vote of the Electoral I
College of Louisiana was a forgery; therefore, r
resolved that the title of Rutherford B. Hayes i
to the office of President is null and void."
Mr. Watterson declared that he could not see
how Congrese could avoid passing this rose- I
lution if presented.
POOR MATTHEWS.
Both Parties Concede His Dishonesty-A
Subpqrna To Be Issued Compelling His
Attendance Before the Potter Com
mittee.
WASHINOTON, June 9.-The remarkable at
titude of Senator Matthews towards the
Potter committee forms the universal topic in
political circles. That he has lowered his
standing as a Senator, and that he has, to
some extent, clothed with substance the sus
picions concerning his uprightness is conceded
by many of both parties.
Whether or not Mr. Matthews will be able
to disregard the subpo'na which is now to be
issued to him, and thus set at doflanee the
authority of the House, is a question of great
interest, involving as it (does the prerogatives
of the respective houses.
Pentecost Sunday in New York.
NEW YORK, June 9. --Pentecost Sunday was
specially observed at the Cathedral to-day,
cardinal McClosky celebrating pontifical
high mass, and at the conclusion of the
service administering the papal benediction.
There was a vast congregation in the sane
tuary, and the altar was adorned with flowers
Purchase of Valuable Paintings.
NEW YoRK, June 9..- rhe Ilerald's Paris
special cable says: William II. Vanderbilt,
during his stay hereo, purchased pictures by
celebrated artists to the amount, it is said, of
$200,000.
The Panel Game Played on a New Orleans
Man.
NEw YORK, June 9.-Frank Frught who
lately arrived in this city from New Orleans,
La, reported to the police last night that he
had been robbed of $410 by the panel pair at
26 New Chambers street.
GERMANY.
The Eastern Question - lismarck Pre
pares a snlution of it for the Congrrens.
BERLIN, June 9. --Rumors prevail that Prince
Bismarck has elaborated a complete pro
gramme for the solution of the Eastern im
broglio, and intends submitting It to the con
gross and insisting upon its adoption "en
Soelalist Prosecutions In Germany.
BERLIN, Juno 9.-Several houses of this
city have been searched by the police and a
number of persons arrested. Herr Moasnet,
Bocialist member of the Reichstag, has been
sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for per
slating In addressing a mneting at Chemnitz
after the polle had declared it closed. Eight
persons were tried yesterday for using dis
loyal language in speaking of the Emperor.
Seven of the prisoners were sentenced to
eighteen months' imprisonment. Judgment
was deferred in one case.
WEATHER PROBABILITIES.
WA5RINOTON, June 10, 1 a. m. Indications
for Monday:
For the (Gulf States, higher pressure, clear or
partly cloudy weather, ,ams lonal light rains
and warm southerly winds, shifting tnempo
rarily to cooler northlerly over the interior.
WEATHER BUILLETIN.
WAR DEPARTMENT,I
Signal Service, United Mtales Army.
Dally meteorologilal record for the eight hours
Oldlllg at 3:43 p. in., Sundly, June .
[Observations taken at the samlon moment of
time at all stat ions.l
Veloc'y liain
SMiles inut s
Stations. Bar. I ' per hours.
I hour. Inches
i ~I--i-
Cairo........ 29.68 - 1s, NW 10 on
Cincinnati .... ..44.- 1415E 4 11
Davnoport ... .63:- ouI NE 12 o:
Dubque ......72- 6(4 E 12
GOlveston...... .-B IsnlkI
Indianola ...2.7--F. ss 15
Keokuk.......9.07- N 1 .10
Laorosse ...... 29.73- 01 NE o
Leavenworth.. 29.73- 64N 10
Louisville ... 29. 40-F. 7. 12 44
Memhle .... 290.67-F. 74NW 9 6n
Nalhvlile .... 9.59-F.; 72.8W to 17
New Orleans. . 29.t--F. So W 4 7:
Omaha ......2.. 2,.74- )N 7
Pittsburg ...... 29.65- I71 SE 5 0
bhreveport .... .29.71--F.' 90 W 7 o
It. Louts....... 9.5- s NW 11 .21
t. Paul ........29.73- 59N o 0o
Vicksburg ..... 19.72-F., s SW 12 o
Yankton .......129 80o- 701.41 4 0
Augusta ...... 29.66-F.1 91 SW 12 .02
Oorsitana..... 29.69-F. 91 SW . o
Key West....... 12.9--F I 92S, 3 o
Mobile ......... ;I.R92-F. 2't 7 o
Montgomery ..!2973-F so SW 15H
Savannah..... 29.77-F. s.8 W I 0
F-Falling; R-Rising; S-Stationary.
Stage of the Rivers.
Daily telegraphic report of the stage of
water at various points, with changes in the
24 hours ending yesterday at 3 p. m.:
Above low Change.
Stations. water.
Feet.Inch. Feet.In-ch
Cairo...................... 25 11 to
Cincinnati............... , s o 2
Davenport'................ ; o o 0
Dubuque .......... - 11 ... I
Keokuk ................. 11 7 0 0
Lacrosse.................. 2 .; o 2
Leavenworth............ - 17 7 0 5
Augusta .................. 6 i to :1
Louisville ............ ..... o
Memphis .............. 21 5 0
Nashville............. '2 1 2
*Xew Orleans............ 11 7o 1
Omaha.................... 17 5 :0 1
Plttsburg ................. 0 0
Shreveport .......... 23 11 to
St. ILouis ............... 23 10 0 1
tt. Paul ................. 5 2 t0
Vicksburg ............. .1 4 0 0
Yankton..............10 , to 1
*Below high water mark of 1874. tIndicates
rise. lIndicates fall.
Signal Servlce Local Report.
NEW OBLEANS, June 9.
Time. Bar. . " BWather.
7 a. m..... 29.~R2:0 78 W 4 'CRlear.
2 D.m..... 29 K8307 '2 W 4 i Light rain.
9 D.m.- 21 510o 4) S I 4 Clear.
MleansR.- s.,i;9 .7;.79 " · . i ..
Maximum temperature s6 dearees: minimum
temperature 75 degrees. Rainfall o073 of an inch.
Last Tuesday, during a thunder storm, the
lightning killed two mules while plowing in
Mr. Joseph Cararas' field broke the plow
badly and knocked the plowman a colored
man, senseless, but he recovered atterward.--I
INew Iberia Sugar BowL
TIHE LOUISIANA FRAUI)S.
SENATOR McDONALD DENOUNCJE
THEM,
But Will Have No Revolutionary Non.
sense.
IN. Y. World.]
WAsHf.rNroN, June 4.- A Southern member
of Congress has received the following letter
from Senator McDonald. Mr. MoDonald was
one of the gentlemen who went to Louisiana
at the close of the last presidential election to
witness the count and he is thoroughly well
informed of what he wrltes:
Dear Sir-In endeavolrlng to comply with
your request to furnish you a brief statement
of the views presented by me to the Demo
cratic National Committee at its late meeting
in this city, relating to the investigation or
dered by the House of Representatives into
the alleged frauds in the canvass made of the
votes cast for presidential electors In the
States of Louisiana and Florida, it Is proper
to say that I spoke on that occasion without
notes and without any previous intention to
discuss the questions. Although the opinions
expressed by me on that occasion had been
formed long before, I have no hope that I can
recall the language used, and may not be able
to express the idea advanced as fully as I did
at that time. My purpose was to exoress
earnestly my personal aopr6bation of the
course pursued by the Democrats of the
House of Representatives in ordering the in
vestigation, and at the same time to show that
the attempt on the part of the Republican
party to create alarm in the country on ac
count of it had no foundation.
I said that I had no doubt whatefer that
the majority of the votes legally cast for
presidential electors in the States of Louis
lana and Florida had been cast for Messrs.
Tilden and Hendricks, antid that the boards of
returning oflicers in those States had violated
the laws of their respective States in making
the canvass and returns In favor of the Hayes
and Wheeler electors, and in doing this they
had committed the grossest frauds and the
highest crimes, and that in the commission
of those frauds and crimes they had been
aided and abetted by the leaders of the Re
publican party. That an El~toral Commis
sion, which had been created for the purpose
and charged with the duty of ascertaining the
electoral votes of those States, had, by a strict
party vote, refused t hlook into the alleged
frauds, but received the results of the fraudu
lent and illegal canvass made by the canvas
sing offiers as the truth, and counted the
votes cast by the fraudulent electors as the
"votes provided for by the constitution of the
United States," and thus consummated the
greatest political crime of the age a crime
by which a majority of 260,000 of the voters
of this country were cheated out of their
choice of Chief Magistrate. The Electoral
Commission having thus, as far as it was in
their power so to do closed the door to the
investigation oficially of this crime against
popular rights, it was the duty of the people's
representatives to bring all of the facts to
light and to brand them upon the brow of the
party which had perpetrated them. That the
investigation could not prove a failure that
In the case of Florida no one pretended now
that the Canvassing Board had not violated
the law of the itlteo In exercising powers they
(lid not possess, and that if they had executed
the law they would have been compelled to
return the Tilden and Hendricks electors as
the electors for the State; and if no other fact
is put into an official form than the statement
lately made by a repentant member of that
board as to the motives which governed him
iir doing the illegal act, and the influences
which the Republican loaders brought to bear
upon him to stimulate him to commit the
deed, it will be worth the labor and time that
will be required to take the proof.
In regard to Louisiana, the secret history of
that nimst infamous politicad crime by which
a ,opular majority of over ,(uXt was changed
Into a minority of more than .rao and one
tenth ,of the whole vote of the State rejected
may not ever be fully known. Yet it will in
all probability be in the power of the commirlt
to of investigation to 1ill up the missing
links so as to show by whose advice and
(counsel the Returning hoard holdiy eit the
law at deflance by refusing to 1111 the vacancy
in their laxly by revolving contesting papers
not made olit anlld attached t) the returns as
the law required, and by rejocting polls and
parish returns when no ofller of 'lecti ion hadl
mlade any charges against themr of ally kind;
land It, may also get, ait the bottoml facts in (re
gard to that organi'Azed aflhlavit mill set up lit
the ( ustornl-Ilouse, whore l perjry was sutb
orned by wholesale. That these and lruany
more farts could hil brought to light, and I
Ihoped they would, that time people might so)y
how a corrupt, anti arrogant party had tram
phled th lr rights undler floot, and that sn.ets
tires might be taken to prevent their r.cur
rennce in tihe future.
hut there is nothing in the investigation
nor in the facts that, may te ell(itiel tha.Lt can
alTfect the tille to the prtwidential all e,. That,
was delinitIly settle01 whien, on the fourth of
March, 1877. Mr. Hayes was duly installed In
dllico for the tlrm prleScribed by the constltu
tion. Thel power to choo se a Presldent Is by
the constitution confilll to the States.
From the provisions of the constitution it s
lanifest that It was not the design of its
framers that any Federal authority, or any
department of the Federal government,
should exercise any control over the selection
of the Chief Magistrato of the nation. The
only branch of Congress that Is vested with
any power to choose a President in any con
tingency, when that contingency arises acts
for the States and not as a component part of
the Federal legislature. When, therefore,
the result is once reached, and the
solemn declaration of the constitution
as to the person chosen has been made,
and the person thus dlesignated has been duly
installed in office, the forces of the eonstitu
lion (for selecting a President) for that time
have been exhausted, and there is no power
legally anywhere under the constitution to
review the act or reverse the decision. It
might as well be contended that when the
House of Representatives had, under the con
tingency provided for in the constitution, se
lected a President and the term of that House
had expired that the next House, or some
other part of the Federal government, might
at some future time undo what had thus
solemnly been done, and make another decla
ration of some other person as President, and
thus keep the presidential office in constant
agitati(n. It may be asked, is there no rem
edIy for completed fraud by which a person
not really ele'ted has been inducted into the
presidential office ? To this I answer, in my
judgmeint none except by an appeal to the
people when the time shall come to elect a
successor. There are some political crimes of
suihh magnitude that they can only be dealt
with by the people in their sovereign capacity,
and this, in my opinion, is one of them.
The electoral count acquiesced in by the
Senate and House of Representatives until
the solemn declaration of the constitution
was announced, has rendered the title of the
present incumbent of the presidential office
as unassailable legally as any of his pre
decessors, and he can only be legally de
prived of it by impeachment under the con
stitution for impeachable crimes within the
meaning of the constitution committed by
him; and., in my opinion, it is well for the
peace of the country that it is so, for we can
better endure the evils arising from the pres
ence in the presidential office of one who has
been placed there by fraud than we can afford
to unsettle the administration of our public
affairs by a constant strife over the title of
our Chief Magistrate.
J. E. McDONALD.
THE CAMPAIGN.
The Democratic Parish Committee of Lafa
yette met and organized June 8.
There are already eight candidates for
sheriff of DeSoto annouaced in the DeSoto
Democrat all subject to nomination by the
Democratic parish convention, or primary.
The Alexandria Dcmocrat will support tlho
amendments.
Mr. W.A C. Martin announces himself as a
candidate for the Logislature from Clalborne
parish.
Mr. L. M. Rambin announces himself a
candidate for the Legislature from DeSoto
parish.
The St. Mary Enterprise and Donaldson
vile Chief support New Orleans for State
capital.
The Democrats of DeSoto will meet in
mass meeting at Mansfleld, July 2, to elect
delegates to the Baton Rouge convention.
Judge Taylor Beatltie is working for the
Republican nomination for Congress in the
Third (Acklen's) Congressonal District.
Pinchback announces that he will be a can
didate for Congress from the Fifth Congres
sional District.
The old question-shall parish nominations
be made by a convention or by primary elec
tion?-Is again being discussed in a number
of parishes.
The Democratic voters of Livingston par
ish will elect delegates to the parish conven
tion June 29. The convention meets at Port
Vincent the first Monday in Jilv, nominates
parish officers and elects delegates to the
State Convention.
A mass meeting in ward three of Ouachita
showed a close fight between the convention
Iste and anti-conventionists. A mass meeting
held there Thursday to elect delegates to the
parish convention was postponed to Tuesday,
June 11, by a vote of 38 to 37.
The Republican candidates in this parish
are working their little schemes to get fat
offices. The difficulty Is that there are too
many for the spoils, and they are abusing
each other with a vimn that does not Indicate
much "peas and hominy," in the Radical
camp.-[Toerrebonne Progress.
The Clalborne (huarrdin does not think that
there will be any nomination of candidates
made in that parish this year. The Demo
crats feel confident of carrying the election,
ard will, therefore, try a scrub race. They
argue that this will bring out a fall vote and
make the Democratic majority for Congress
the greater.
Hon. W. J. O. Baker announces himself a
candidate for Congress from the Fifth Con
gressional I)istrict on the Republican ticket
at the next election. ' Candidates for sheriff
are the first in the field. There are a hundred
of them already in the field, and only two or
three gentlemen who want to go to the Legis
lature.
We stated last week that there was no pol
itics as yet in the parish. We were badly
mistaken if we are to believe the information
received from many parties during the pres
ent week. We are told that candidates for
the House of Representatives are as numer
ouis as potato bugs in a ten acre lot. Among
the prominent are C. A. Bourgeois, H. C. Mc
Cutcheon, Arthur Robbins and Clem Colly, all
colored. Mr. O. J. Flagg Is also mentioned,
but as he is at present residing in New Or
leans, we do not credit it. It is also said that
the Democrats are willing to elect Coy Clin
ton sheri IffT, if he can bring a large following of
colored voters with him. For the minor
offices there are candidates without number.
But as yet everything is very quiet.- [St.
Charles Herald.
CROP REPORT FOR MAY.
National Cotton Exchanre-New Orleans
Department.
We are Indebted to the president and board of
directors of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange
for the following report:
J,oueisiana--From :17 parishes we have 57 re
plies, Average (late May it. The area of land
planted. compared with last year, Is reported
by 57 correspondents to he the same, while 11
estimate an increase of about 4 per cent and 13
a decrease of 10 per cent. The average decrease
is l4) per cent. The character of the weather
hes been more favorable than last year, and the
stands of *otton good and froM ten days to two
weeks earlier than the same time last year. I
While some few report the labor less in num
bher, the majority state it Is about the same and
much more efficient than for many years. The
use of fortlllers has been very limited; such
as have been used consisted princip ally of barn
yard scrapings and cotton seed. The condition
of the crop is generally good. with some com
plaint of grass owing to t,,o much rain.
AMisissisippi We have reoeived 121 reports
from ir count Ios, dated fromnt May 2 to June 4.
Mixty-slx answers state the aoreage to be the
same as last year; 22 report, an inorease of from
: to Io per cent, and 2 from 1i to to per cent.
whilst Is report a deorease of from 2 to 10 oer
cent. and 9 of from 15t to :o per cent. The aver
Ilge bheing barely I oer cent increonse The
weather has bteon very favorabtle according to I
the most replies received. In sonme counties,
however, tine heavy rains early in the semson,
causetd planting to he delayed whilst In others.
the weather in the forepart of the spring was
very good and as favorable for Dlanting this
year as last. lince then, there has been too
muoch rain and unfavorablle weather for cultiva
tion. The stanrts are getnerally good, and where
complaints are made, the causes are either that
the seed was defective or that the weather had
retarded the growth. With but a few oxcep
tions. cotton is reported to be about two weeks
earlhir than last year. Labor hits been good
and eclotent. Commercial fertillizers have not
been used. The prresent, condition of the crop
is very encouraging; the plant looks healthy
and is growing rapidly.
Arkansas-Wo have 51 replies from 25 coun
tios of average date, thirty-first ultimo. Six
report an increase of acreage of . per cent. 2 of I
5 prer cent, 7 of 10 per cent and i1 the same acre
age ; I reports a decreas, of r per cent, and 4 10 I
per cent, the average of the whole being 1 per
cent increase. The weather up to the tenth of
May wis very unfavorable, the crop being
afTeeted by heavy rains and h}adly in the grass.
Mince then however, the weather has been dry
and favorable, The stands are good and the
crop is about five to ten days earlier that last
sett on. Labor is universally reported as good
and efficient. The present prospect, compared
with lest year, is very good. No commercial
feortilizers have been used.
MARINE NEWS.
SOUTHWPFT PASS, June 9. C p. m.-Barometer
29.45. Wind west-southwest, fresh. Weather
cloudy and warm.
No arrivals or departures.
Pour EADS, June 9, 6 p. m.--Wind southeast,
very light, Weather dark and cloudy.
Arrived: American schooner Geo. .ealy. La
master, 3 days from Galveston, in ballast to C.
Miltenberger.
Malled: Steamships Cordova and City of New
York, bark Sarah Douglass, schooner Jennie
Wood.
NEW YORK. June 9.-Arrived: England, from
Liverpool.
BOsTON, June ..--Sailed: Illgrian, for Liver
pool.
BALTIMORE, June 9.-Arrived: Berlin, from
Bromen.
PHILADELPHIA, June 9.-Hailed: Vaderland,
for Antwerp.
GLASoOW. June 9.-Arrived: Cclina, from
Mont real.
HAVRE. June U.-Sailed: Canada. for New
York.
SOUTHAMPTON, June Si - Arrived: Braun
schweig, from New Orleans for IBromen.
In Naples recently every one has been on
the lookout for an eruption, and Prof. Pal
mier has been so tormented by telegrams
asking for information that he has at length
issued a bill of health for the mountain. The
new mouth which opened at the bottom of
the crater in 1872 has been active since De
cember, 1875. On May 2, 1878, it gave indica
tions of increased activity, but what thut
partial eruption will resultin cannot be tore
told. A long time, however, must elapse be
fore the lava will roll down the sides of the
cone, as the cavity of the crater is far from
being full. But should the cone be opened
laterally by some extraordinary eruptive
force, the lava will pour out in a deluge. The
fire cannot now be seen from Naples, as it is
at the bottom of the crater, and only its re
flection is visible on the smoke.
TIIE (OUNTIRY PRESS.
VARIOUS VIEWS ON DIFFERENT TOP
ICs OF INTERESr.
The Capital quentlon.
[Donaldsonville Ohief.]
We saw no reason why the State capital
should le changedl. If our legislators are
suisceptil4e of being biased and misled by
corrupt influences, that latluence will lind
them whorever they go.--(St. Mary Enter
prise.
You are right. It Is a favorite argument
with the capltal-movers that the (General
Assembly would be Iseasubjeet to the control
of rings and monopo~ie In the pure atmos
phere of a rural town, but it must be a very
weak and harmless combination indeed that
cannot follow the assembly a few miles into
the country where there would be a infit
nitely more favorable opportunity of getting
in its work, removed, as It would be, from the
immediate scrutiny of a large proportion of
the people of the State, exercised mainly
through the dairy press of the metrnpolke.
The capital-moving project will do for a senti
ment, but when viewed In a practical light
Its vaunted advantages pale into lonslgsl
cance.
A Cofatltutlenal Convontioa.
(Natchitoches Vindicator.)
To argue that the intelligent people'of Lo
isiana are not as a mass in favor of a consti
tutional convention, and have not been from
the beginning, is to condemn them as idiots
who know not that which will benefit them.
And to say that the press does not represent I
public sentiment is as bald an untruth as
could be imagined. Why is it, if the preses
has not spoken the public pulse, that the re- I
calcitrant legislators are so anxious, on their
return to their constituents, to "explain" why
they opposed the calling of a convention?
And whyis it that they. oeven now, admit that (
a constitutional convention is necessary'y The
causes which demanded a new eonetitution.
existed, with as much force and with as bale
ful effect, last winter as they do now. This
admission springs only from the fact that
these unfaithful men now see that the press
which they vainly attempted to throttle, did
represent popular sentiment, and a senmtiment
of such strength and power that they dare
not longer combat it.
A Senator whose purity of purpose and
ability we have never impugned or ques
tioned, after he had made his public "expla
nation," stated to a friend of this journal that
it "would be a crime to deny the demand of
the people for a constitution," "for," said he, t
"I had no idea that there existed such an
overwhelming sentiment in its favor."
The crime committed against the Demo
cratic masses cannot be atoned by crimina- I
tlion and recrimination; its apology ies in i
not defending or repeating it. 1
What Ought To Be Done at Baton Rouge.
[Marksville Bulletin.] 1
Only about sixty days remain before the I
assembling of the State Convention at Baton 1
Rouge. From almost every parish in the (
State we see that the local committees are or- 1
ganizing the party. The nomination of a
candidate for the office of State Treasurer 1
will be a mere formality, and in fact the indi- I
cations are that Major Moncure will be hon
ored with the almost unanimous vote of the
convention. So for once the convention will ]
be lifted above the more routine of ofloce 1
giving.
The delegates selected, and who will meet
at Baton Rouge, will go there with a far dif
ferent purpose, and with a far more patriotic
ambition. The adoption of a policy for the
party is the issue involved. Upon the action
of the convention on this particular point will
depend, in a large measure, the success of the
party this fall. We say success, and yet we
do not wish to be understoodl as apprehending
dOefeat, because we believe that under any and
all ('ercumstances, upon this or that platform,
we will be successful, but what would success
amount to if we are deprived of its real ben
elits. We understand success to imply some- t
thing more tangible and durable, somethin
lidehsl the mere defeat of Radicalism. We
would have It signify party pledges faithfully a
and promptly redeemed ; reformsseeured, and
a better and more honorable understanding
infused among the advocates of the party that
is sucfessful.
('atn these results be accomplished by a I
policy alike weak and meaningless? Will (
the theory of excuses work out the problemn
sullnittld tot us? We know that it cannot. 1
But inltuvla of titll let the convention adopt a I
clear, bold, anggressive and ringing policy. I
Tlh party should be comnnlitt.d to the sweep- A
ing 'rformns, and tlhse couched in words with 1
no double meaning, but striking the colnpro- 1
lhenllon of thlie most illiterate and carrying C
con vhictln tI the douilbtfuI and most skeptical. I
I'l'here iust, be no glittering high sounding
worlds with a meaningless p.tint, but instead
of this a ihi ipositioin minust he assumled aand as
clear patch tracied oilt to lie traveled by those t
who maity he honiiot'.ld by the )Democratic party s
and elcted by i)emocratic votes. 1
Instruct Your Delegates. r
[Franklin (t. Mary) Enterprise.l
Trie Loulsiana i)ienIocratie State Convention
will meet at Biato llRouge on the first Monday f
of August next. Then, and not until then, t
will the plan of the onlling political battle be t
delinltely settledl ulpon. Whatever that plan t
or policy mnay be, tile people, must support it
if it is In consonance with popular justice and
(ommon right,. That plan will be discIussed,
adopted and worked out by representatives
of the people, sent to Baton Rouge for that
purposnl.
SThey will act for and from tihe people, and t
It is our duty to see that they act by and
agreeably ti) the express4s will of the people. .
The recreancy and obstinate denial of that t
popular will by the majority of the members
of the last General Assembly have taughtt itus
the wise and salutary lrsson, we hope, never
again to send any one to the Legislature or
elsewlhere to sDeak for us unless they be men
honorable enough, true enough, and firm
enough against all temptation to speak freely
our sentiments. We have sent thlm tb'fore, a
trusting to their fair and correct discretion; t
we mrust send them now instructed as to the 1
important, serious and vital questions which 1
must he decided by that convention. I1
Let the convention give a full and fair ex
pression of the will of a majority of the
people.
Let eac:h parish instruct its delegates, C
when chosen, as to: i
1. The amendmernts, which some are seek- e
ing to plaster on our organic law. .1
2. Whether it is the policy of the people to r
preserve and protect. legislation, powerful c
monopolies, such as Howard's lottery, etc., a
which feed off the very substance of the j
people.
3. W'tether our political enlightenment de- f
mands a new and more equitable constitu- C
tion --,ne not conceived in a party spirit, but a
one stretching its protecting arms over the
whole people, without regard to race, color
previous condition of servitude or political
sentiments.
These are the great questions for the
Democ:ratlc-Conservative party to decide;
and we say let the people of that party de
cide them at the very inception of the
campaign, so that when decided they may not
work disjointedly, but solidly and firmly to
.ether, in support of that decision, whatever
it may be. This is a fair proposition, and we
feel it will meet with general approbation.
There are a few, who, living as it were, in the
past, will accept nothing--who are not up 1
with the progression of the age-and who, in
the name of a conservatism which they never
had, cling with a lingering, abiding faith and
love to the old organic enormity of the State
of Louisiana; but let the people of the par
ishes of the State generally, who are truly
conservative, give instructions to their dele
gates for oragainst the propositione, and lt
the people iBt, Mary pecially, who say li
unity "down with the amendments, down
with the monopolie, and up with a new con
stitution," instruct their delegates accord
itgly.
LOUISIANA.
Thilbodaux proposes to organize anartillery
company.
TPi elaptist .State Convention will meet at
Shiloh June 12.
Hlrekness is prewaling to an alsarmlng d-.
grec among the ladies hr and around Locb*
port, flafourche.
The Natchitochee people are moving for a
brancfr railroad to their town eight and s
half miles from the main Iine of the New Ors'
leans and Pacilic.
Longriew plantation parish of St. Jame-,
sold lately by the SI&i.a National Bank º
$10,00, was resold by ite purchaser, ]i
Gebelen, inlots, for $15.500.
The gino house and several outbuildtags ..i
Mr. J. iH. Hunrblis' place; on Conulee CTrch
ereek in SL Landry parish, were blown douV
and d`stroysd by the teorm whloh prevaede.
in that regiy.
Nearly ali the crops below en, Bayou a..i
cache, in Te.rrboane parish, were destroy-d
Inst week by ligh tdes. But those not ý
ject to overflcm In other parts of thepear.lh,
are very lfine.
The public sehords of' the parish, of Slt
James at the enM of thlis narnth will havl rui
uriing twelve- months, anad without itºt*
mission. Who could do better ?--[jlt Jme
Louisianian.
Irish Bend pestoffloe has just beelt
lished in the location of that name,at M]. T
J. Shaffer's store, alout ave miles
Franklin, and the mails are'now dellt
there daily.--lNewIberia Sugar Bowlh
The present cane and cora crogs in this;
parish are better at'this season of t.
than any crop since the war. The l.
expect a big yield .his wlnter. They s + IIr
up with their work, and the labors~ alb
working with a good will that speaks bebtt
times in the future.-[Terrebonne Pr.ogl,s.
The annual electilen last Monday .of:
and aldermen of the town of Lake 0.
resulted in the election of Hon Wmn.
(re-elected) for mayor and of C P. A.
laugher, J.P. Geary, }L C. Gill, T,.B. hr
and O. M. Marsh for aldermen. A better
lection could not have been made.-.4(ii
Charles Echo.
The subject of the extension of the Vidhald
and Western Railroadithrough the pa
of Franklin, RIchland and Morekouse is
tracting considerable attention in this
The citizens of Franklin will meestat
hero on the tenth of June to consult with
H. M. Gastrell, the energetic preeldentoa
road, and his friends in reference to the
sibility of its immediate extension,
that parish.
The Mansfield Democratlin le Iessue
first, contains the followi: Dr. l T'
assures us that he has disooveed a
superior article of superphosphate of
in this parish. It is worth, about as pe
Qs a fertilizer. The existence of a bed'
valuable a substance in this coutr. wnr
dicted by Prof. Hilgard severae years
but it was thought to be neaerNatehl
than this place.
Last Sunday old man Nason Die
his wife his daughter, who is the
Henry Young, and their chlld, starbedt
their home to attend the fair iven b
colored people of this pla e. -When
reached the Ridgeland plantation a.
DuLarge, the horse which they
became unmanageable and tegan. toW
run away. They were all thownoout O
cart, hurting very badly the three gtv p
sons, and killing the child of Henr i'otir
[Thibodaux Sentinel.
Mr. P. C. Bethel is the most-fortunate
owner we know of, for he his suooeed.
disposing of one after another of hist
plantations to good advantage. His .lb
was Oak Grove plantation, whlok we
contains about 400 acres of arable
the sum of $15,000. We learn that Mr.
formerly of Ouachita, was the purcha.esa,.
since he took posseseson is putting thei
machinery in complete running order,
making other important lmprovematO
the place..--[New Iberia Sugar BowL.
The crop reports from dlfferent parts
parish are quite encouraging, p.__. ua
(csxton, Corn will make an abundant
we can only have a good rain (whleh
ances indicate) in a few days. The b
weather for the past two weeks, aided
plow and hoe, has played sad havee
grass. The cane prospects are newas
as rouldl well be jcxpected, arti y
The Hstubble crop is generally a bad taSUl,
only cultivated with a view of making
it. [Washington (St. Landay7"News .
Last Monday, June 3, was a feld day
Vermillilonville, the greatest day of the
son, on the occasion of a general reunil p
the corpanpies of the vigilance committda
severel of the parishes. Many of the
panies were from a long distance were
mounted on good( horses, and maAe a
respectablo appearance, as the long p
looked much like an army as it march
military order through the streets of V
lilonvllle-such a sight as we have not pSa
for many a day, not since the war. Imp =
taat business was transacted, and thea
diffeTrent companies started quietly on
homeward march.-New Iberia Sugar
We have recently conversed with a nn
of gentlemen who have made extended
throughoutthe country since the raias d
their reports of the condition of the crops
very cheering. The corn crop was saved
the tiomely rains, and promises tobe unus
large this season; the cotton crop is
with much vigor, and unless the
troahbliat, will give heavy yield, while
plant cane and rattoons have attained a
stand," and considering the increaseda
age, gives a fair promise of the largest sugera
crop made in Louisiana for sevenn.te
All planters are therefore of good cheer.-.-'
Iberia Sugar Bowl.
Last Sunday week a colored man was
and killed by John Lee (white), a short
tance below Bullitt's bayou 1n this
The facts are about as follows: The d
had started with a raft of logs from Paw P5
island and when a short distance below t
point landed, and while on shore his raft j '
loose. It was caught by one Henry Clay, at
St. Joseph, who, upon the arrival of
owner, demanded salvage, which was prod.
ised as soon as the raft could be sold atIN't
chiez. John Lee, who is a fisherman at
Joseph, soon after the departure of the i
missed some of his lines. He suspected i
deceased as the thief, and, with Clay, got in
skiff and gave pursuit, overtaking the . '
just below Bullitt's bayou. Boarding It, Le
demanded the return of his lines, but wa la
formed by the deceased that he knew nothing
of them, whereupon Lee raised his shotaunn
and fired, killing the unknown man instan~i¥I
-[Concordia Eagle.
Mr. J. D. Dansby, an olf tizen of Claiborne
parish, was killed on F day night last b~y
J. D. Gladney. A difficulty between the par
ties early in the evening, was supposed to.
have been amicably arranaged. A short whiUe
afterward the deceased was called to his frooi
door by the accused, and, after some words,
was shot with se'eral shot from a double:
barreled gun and died in a very short while.
The above statement is the one current oaths
streets. Different facts may possibly shhop'
the crime in a less heinous light. We wish ta.
do Do injustice to any one. At presentthefao#
that the accused fled from justice, taken l
connection with the statement generally
rated, would indicate that a great crime be d
I been committed. It is to be hopedthat ftti.
e developments will dispel some of the horrl.
features which now seem tobe connected with
' this killing, and, while throwing no blame on
the man who is dead may o<ter some pallla
t tion for the act ofthe man who lv 4ClaI
i borae Guardla.