Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 19, 1873, Page 2

b FUTURE JURIES. proposal {o Pay Jurymen a Rogular Yearly Salarys The Jury Agitation Spreading’ to Other Countries. - 4 New Bill in England---Lamentable Pioture of Juries in Irelond. A Chicago Officiel Interviewed --'H Suggests the Enlorgment of- Judges' Powers, - Symptoms of & coming chango intho jury system aro ovor rising to tho surfaco. All con= * tribuitions to tho thought of tho day on this sub- Jeot sro of intorost, Tho following paper from “E,F. A" oxprogsos opinions that many will read npprovingly : : For some Himo post thero has Leon's good doal ot nowapaper discnssion of tho‘evils of our prosont jury ‘aystom, aud, so for ns 1 bave secn, without suy yory pertinont suggestions s to approprinto remedics, It Beoms to mo tlist, 1n largo cities, at loast, tloro can Lo Do remedy which does ot fucludo au entlre roversal of our presont theory lndipmcllcb of jury triala, It 18 evidont that no porson s qualified t0 sit na b juror who hap ot to fntogrlly aod copaclty nocossary Lo saceess 1n tmainnan for hijoaclf, nnd in difficult cares tho'best ‘businecss talent of the community fa csseutinl to the successful administration of justice, Inthe complex Folations of our modern biistness life, however, it s troquontly mposslble to suddonly tako n sultablo man from thio conduct of hisown affairs to put him on Jury service without dolug him an_injury far greator han thiat which, in the capacity of a juror, bo may bo called to remedy for somo other poréon wliom hionover saw, and in whorn ho liss not tho alightest intorest, Thoappearanco of au oflicor in_search of Jurymes, In suy large bugincss cstablishmont, fs followed b}\; o stampeie, just ag cortalnly as o oficial presence bo- comos known, I Liave myself law-abiding citizen, whom I know to bo sincerly desir- ous of diachnrging all soclal duties to tho community in which hw lives, but whom ‘modesty forbids mo to ‘name, to ignominiounly fica to the basement Deforo tho faco of kuch an omlssary of justice, . )] ‘Tho theory has boen that the State ta entitled to tho sorvica of 11 bost citizons to decido tho facts in judi- clal trinla; but to earry out this theory would involve Buch outrageous injustico to {unocent parties that no court ever undortakes {0 do it, nor would publio sontl- mant Jusilfy it, € 1t were undertaken, Datif it {s not right l’o tako Potter Palmor or tho editor of Tie Tain. ‘UNE from the conduct of {hoir affairs to try o twenty dollar enit for some atrangor, neither 18 it right to tako Sohin Bmith for tue samo eervice, who dislikea to go e much as either of tho other gentiemen, and perhaps ‘cannot afford the timo 50 woll as they, This theory becamo catablished in o state of so- cloty vory different from that of tho present day, and #ho’ bistory of tho wholo subject would boa very intoresting ond natructive toplo for momo Tinune, innn o work up, If I am not mistaken, it il bo found to bavo its orlgin In o Aupposed personal xight of ucitizen to n irjal by o jury of his pecrs, rather than in suy nssumed right of {ho Btato to tho sorvices of Hla citfzens, “This right of the Siato, howover, undoubledly ex- ists, but l‘t i akin to that of ominent domain, and ‘mut bo pxerolsed under tho samo restriction, that of ying the man whoso property (or timo) s taken ‘whatever. that property (or time) I8 worth,- It & min's. 6mo 4 worth $100 per doy, snd u tako that mun for jury service, Lo ought fo. o Dsid $100 por day far bt work, I do not hestfato to B8y that, excopt for the common defense, tho Slate has R right, moral, legol, or constitutional, fo tho services of any of its citizens, without the payment of o full uivalent therefor, : ? am nware thal a distinction may be drawn belween civiland criminal cases, and that it may bo clalmed {hat in tha lattor, at lcast, tha Stato, for its own pro- fection, may inslst upon fho services of its best men ; bt in {his caso tho sclection should bo sa impurtinl a3 a draft for mililary duty, but asido from his, Is fio fatal objoction that it fa_capocially o criminal casoa that this privilego of Jury ia a personal right, bo- longing to tho crimfual, and ot {o the Stato—ono of tho legacies of that foudal syatem to which wo owo 8o many of our customs nnd of our babiia of thought, 1 cannot further trespass on your space, but Iam snxious to seo tho maiter discussod in ‘this light, I have not the authoritiea at hand, and do not wish to' erguo tho questiou, ik only thia imporfact tmpros- sions of a genersl reader; but I.will not do your read- ors tho injustico of proposing to tear down one cdifico ‘without propostug o plun for anotlior, I propose, Lor every court In our lurge citivs, at leas! Ono or two juries of three men each, 1 All jurors to bo sppointed by {lie Governor or Mayor, e torm of sotvico to bo ot Toss than thres yaars, ‘Tho salary to bo from $2,600 to $5,000, sccording to grado of cotrt, A suiliciont ‘number of extra jurymen, ot averago salarios, to supply the places of Buch 08 might bo ub- sept froim any of tho courds, Mo challengon oxcept for causo. T am suro that 80 obvious o plan must have been proposed before, though I havo not seen it, Will you Bot kindly atato fho objcations which kuvo beca ralsad In England, fn Iroland, as woll o8 in cevoral of tho Btates, the feoling on the subject of tho jury pystom hns assumed tho proportions of s publio agitation, : Lot 1IN NEW YOBE. : The New York Tribunc says *ihe systom of trial by jury, from the preparalion. of the jury lists to tha rendoring of o vordict, hos becomd o topio of gencral disoussion, and lawycrs aro alive to the necessity of roforming it,"” aud sonda out ita r?nrbors to gloan the opinions of tho lawyera and Judges. 4 ‘Henry Nicoll gaid jurors in tho earlieat times ‘wore solocted for the accuracy of their knowl- edga of the matter to bo tried, whoreas previauly the opEaslta 18 now an essential. It is question- ablo whetlior the old systom was not tho bent. To securo proper vordicts an attompt showld bo made to roform tho system without involving any organio changes, It might be advisable to ‘take o verdict rondered by =& mnjority of the jwy, but in euch o onso _thore would be proporly no chango, for as Bevon jurors would constitute o majority, and tho concurrent voto of the soven would be required in rondering a verdict, the jury might Do limited s caeily to that number, tho only benofit to bo otherwise derived existing in the interchirnga of opinions, sud the direction that might4e given by tho minority to tho force and cheracter of the vordict. 3r, Nicoll docs not think it necosgary to change the jury system by &rovldiqg for loss than & unnnimous verdict, 'bo radical roform required is in Lhe solection of Jurors, aud the dotermination of their qualifica- tiona, 'Tho best mon, tax-payors, should be laced on the list, and the proparation of tho i -list and the summoning of jurora should e {ntrusted to capablo and Lienest officors, Mr. Nicoll rogarde 08 & matter of tho greatest im- yportanco thoneccasity of keeping a jury together, and not permitting tho mombers to soparato, particularly in capitel cages, until they havo ren- dered o vordict. Joshua M. Van Cott enid thore are consatitu- tional objections to be considored, ns no ossen- tin] ohangos can bo mado in the 'jury systom without constitutional cnactment.” In support of this view, ho roforred to tho Cancerai cuso, whoroin tho Court of Appeals decidod thnt & verdict by eloven jurors was unlawful, notwith- standing tho stipulation of the dofondant to nceopt Buch o vordiet. Whatover ohanges are dosirablo must be carefully considered, but he thought it oxpedient to ohrm?e tho. systom by rovfillug for loss than unanimity in tle rendor- ing of o verdict. Amplo provision:for “ struck” jurion in both elvil and oviminal cases should &lyo be mada = Diatrict-Attorney l’holpl wne of the opinfon that it Is- aifloult {0 got the boat mon as jurors, and thoro 1 fault to bo found with a olnea of Iutnlh?em citizons who ovado Jury sorvice, and fail to respond to those dutics which thgy, fu coramon with the rest of tho community, insist should bo discharged with intolligence aund rectitude. IN ENGLAND, . Tho feeling of insecurity that has grown up in consaquonce of the palpable Ignoranco, proju- dices, and- fllitoratonoss, not to kay the want of comnion #ense, that prevails among the nvarago jurymen of tho day, has created oven & more morked wensation moross tho ocesn than hore, In England, foroed on by tho prossure of public opinion, and by the changod feoling of - the bur, Sir John Coleridge, - the Attorney-Goneral, has introducod {n the Im- perial Parlinmont a bill to allow of the trial of oivil cauges by jurles of seven mon, = INIRELAND, b Theeffeotsof the old jury system in Irelaud wero allogod (o have been sxecedingly discournging to thoso who desired to witnass s pumrudminlut'm- tlon of juatlco in thnt country, A bill for the mproyoment of the systom was last yoar futro~ duced in the Imperinl Parliament aud passod, ono of the {:"Mhm‘ roforma of whioh was tho in- croasa of tlie ?unlmuuuou ontltling tho juror to Inrv: 3 for in Ireland, ouriously cnough, no man can be saummoued to l:{l]mnr ona jury who doas nol possask a cortain fixod incomo or renl estate. In anawer to Mr, Broen, who mado inquirics 42 to tho worlng of this ' act, tho Marquis of Hartington 6ald Lo had causdd inquiry to bo made luto tho :Hmnuml of the Jurlos nct of lust weaslon, and had found that st the Clare Aasizos, which took placa the othor day, whon the pane} was oallod over, {lio namen of sovoral {urors woraanswerod to by other partics, In one lue stance, after tho verdiot was given, and when it wes nocopunry t0 sign tho fssuo papor, it way found that the foroman was unable bo write, and the ieauo popor hed to bo signed by the second. TIR CHICAGO DAILY ‘PRIBUNE: WEDNESDAY. MARCH, 19. 1873, miJcr on the list,. In nnothor Instanco it \nnp%nrnd’thnt & juror was noqualntod only with tho Irlel Ianguage, and that ho was - conso- uontly not sworn, It np‘{;unmd to him thot thoro hind not yot beon rufliciont tmo to form a corroot judgmont on tho working of the act. YVory caroful inquirics wers being medo during tho prosont nssizos as to ita oporation ; and, (€ 1NOCOBRATY, utogu wounld bo taken wmmllhlulnj to amend {Kn' ack, Tho bill, whon introducod by tho Governmont, providad, na a qualification for sorying on juries, for o much highor sum than thet wlhich ‘was nll(mnlnlé inserted fn tho nct, On the suggostion of tho Chinmbor of-Commorco of Dublin, the qualification for spacial jurors wns reduced by one-hnlf, and tho samo thlnfi was dono - In other cascs with rospect to bot) common and spocinl jurors at tho request of various influontial persons, It was quite posai~ blo. that this loworing might lave boon carried 100 far, and that the queation of qualification . might require rovision. IN CHI0ACO, It3s not necossary to go over again the evils of which Chicago has to complaiu in this jury systom. It is only tho othor dny that we passod o now law whicli was to ouro’ so abuses thon rovailing ; and but s fow months aftor that not End ono into operation tha oity wolio np one morping to find, nccording to an articloin this &ournn!, that it was paying ot tho rato of 8130~ 00 por sunum over sud sbovo tho old expondi- ture, for tho new privilego, without any com- pensating advantnges whotover, If proof wero wanting as to tfio porfect accuracy of Tum Trippse's iuformation, it would be found in the fact that tho alarm given woa followed instantly by tho County Commissfonora mnhln[i an_order to suspend tho oxtraordinary paymonts thon bolng mado, tho bonch of Circuit Court Judges also finding it neceasary t0 moot—go oxtromo was the excite- mont—to pronounce on the practices wo ox*oflcd, when thoy ruled in accordanco with the action of n a reapectablo and | the Commissioners. , EXTEND TIE POWER OF JUDOLS, It 15 theroforo npparont that we of Chicago aro not much bottor off than our neighbors In this ‘mattor of jurlos ; and in conncation with the pn- por given nbove, tho opinion of & gentleman who, from long oxporlence of (]“rars and thor- ough eandor, ia well qualified. to speal; is given bolow. THo #ald, sponking. . in roply to a TRIDUNE X0] ortor, that jurors ought to continuo fo bo drawn 08 Toyw provided by Isw. Experionco shows that not more than twunter sur cont of thaso drawn aro notdally impanoled to worve as jurors, for yarious rensops ; for inatance, somo are dootors, some Iawyors, othor are ovor or under ago, some are gick, and some are exempt, 80 that no mat- tor what amount of diligonco {s oxorcisod by the officer, numbors must cseape, If ot moro than {twonty por cont of those drawn nctually sorve tho question In how to fll tho panel. ‘1t would oceasion too much dolny, and prove on obstruc- tion to businesy, to druw nghin, with tho sauo rosult nocossnrily, until the jury panolwasfilled ; tho court would bo obligad to fomain idlo, Tho most fensible way would seem to bo tho uso of a Bpecinl venirg, which allows tho ofiicor-to salect his own men. It is objected againet this prastico that beiliffs, an & general rule, aro nob circum- spoct in thefr soloations, and it {4 broadly charged Ly some that for n considoration jury may bo impancled under’ tho special veniro to suit'tho highest biddor. ‘Thoroforo, tho speolal venire n{'umm, ng ot prosont practiced, not answerin o1l purposos, tho most unobjectionable plan tha suggosts itself is to placo tho responsibility of having good jurors in our courts on the Judgos themselves, *_Bailifts aro now appointed—und 1o ono will dispute this assertion—ag n quid pro quo for services rendored at tho primaried; mld%,y romoving the power of appoiuting baitiffs from tho Shoriff and placing that power in tho hands of tho Judges, so that cach Judgo moy appoint his own bailifts, mon of relisble charac- tor could bo obiained for tho monoy now paid who would bo ‘rosponuiblo o no_political organization for their placds, being answorable only to'tho Judge, who should have full power ot removal for cause. By this means good jurors would bo produced; for nobatfiff, so rosponsiblo, would daro to transgress under the yory noso of s principal, whero detcction would bo nlmost cortain, and punishmont prompt and tinal. ‘This syntom boing adopted, o returu to the old pay- ment of jurors would bo kafo and practicnbie,— without fear of professional jurors,—namoly, 81.00 por dny; and, where thoy reside out of the city, flve conts each way, onco. * . DRIVER’S COUNSLL, KLotter from Johu Mason, [Lsqe-KTin Slanderers and Rovilers kcferred to Ilendquarters for Information Concerning the Way Ile Defendod Georgoe Driver. To the Edtor of The Chicago Tribune: 8in: Immedistely upon my restoration to Beaith, nfter s short but agoniziug illnous, to my gront surpriso I learn that T huyo beon villaine ously alandored by some of tho press in this oity in regard to {ho Georgo Driver onso; that Lia caeo waa not properly” conduoted in court and that his lnwyer, John AMason, was not ina condition to conductlus case, oto.; ote, A vory fow words will sufiico to refuto all {liesio lying slanders. Above all othor men, the Judgo who presidod during that telal, and the Btato's Aftorney who prosccuted George Drivor, Lnowbettor then anyother mon on earth whether his caso waa fully sud propesly conducted by mo, from tho impaueling of tho jury to ihe ovor- gof tho motions for & naw trial and in arrost of judgmont, And I challongo tho strictest scrutiny into my conduct in every rekpect, in rogard to tho man- ner and suflicienoy of -y dofonse, or my por- sonsl condition in roforonco to sobrioty, during the whole of that tedious, grave, and important investigation, To the learned Judge and the ablo Btate’s Attornoy, I rofor all men, with the fullest conviction that oithor or both of those gontlomon vill asert that I dofendod Goorgo river, upon- that oceasion, in o thorough man. nor, and loft no stone unturned that could in any way liave contributed townrds saving his life. “Bomo of thoso vilo slandorors have x\lrondK inquired of the Htato's Attornoy, and all suc hove received tho reply ihat "George Driver could not have boen more fully and honestly do- fonded. Now as to the Bupreme Court, one word, nnd T linve done. I in person went to Wrukepan with the _rocord, ‘pmueuled it to Judgo MeAllis- tor in all duo errors, and with my brief, I discussed at length all thoso errors which I deemed material. Aftor some days' cave- in which ful doliboration upon tha points prosented b mo on the record made, the Judgo rofused to ai- low & writ of crror iu the cnse. Naw Judge McAllistor knowa bottor than any othor man can know that Ibave done all m; duty a8 n lawyorin presenting that record nui applylag for tha writ. ’erhaps some malcontent will wish to -loarn theea facts from Judge McAllistor himeolf; let ‘him apply, and the response will bo without hosi- tancy, a8 it must bo, fuvorable to me, In justico tomo, and i viudication of my ;filpumlun, Troquost you to publish theso fow 8, T writo tho forogoing, not with n view o grat- ify any of tho'wlandorcts, but for tho purpaso of aitisfying any innocent-minded man, who wight possibly bo Icd nstray by thoss insatinble vam- piros. Res, ectm\lg yours, Joux Masox, Curcado, March 18,1873, Counselor at L. et g S THE NEW COURT-HOUSE. o the Editor of The Chipago Lribyne : Bm: It ls protty gonerally undorstood that mombera of the Building Committee on the new Court-Houso and City-Hall plana have, at. vari- oua times not only inopected tho drawings of soruo favorad architects, but-nlso suggoated tho digeating of their plana. Assuming such roporty to bo faota,—which Ihnve every reason £o be- love they are,—it is a groys violation of tho as- surance contajued in the schedulo of goneral in. structiouy issued by tho Board of Committeo as s guewanteo of imparlislity In makiug theix award, and would Lo excoediugly unjust toall honorablo compatitors who. wish thoir deslgns olassifled striotly nccording to thelr merits, .shonld such nu extraoxdinary, sbsurd, and sly- nificnut mothod of prococdiug bo pormitted Lo continuo to tho end of tho compotition. 1 do not vish to ineinuate or consuro o &inglo individualon tho Building Committes without sufliolont grounds; but it occurs o mo that, whon any of the Committeo have charactorized thelr position by visiting difforont offices en- gagod In tho compotition, not only for the pur- - oso of examining tho plaus, but nlso privileg- ug themeselves with oxprosscd idens favorablo to tho objeot of thelr mission, at that momont they manifostly committed thomsclves to au eccontrip individuality. Thelr opinion beeumo notorions in the inforost of such architects, making themselyes wholly incompatible to the position thoy occupy. Their acqunintance with the authors, and proconceived imrrnnnlon of such designs, rendor thom absolutoly disquall- fled to glve an Impartial dedlsion, and, thoreforo, thoy ehiould witlidraw from tho Board at once. The Building Committee sbould appoint a ‘board of scioutiflo experts, not only for tho pur- poso of examining futo the morits and fonsibi'ity of plang, but also to ascertain tho cost of thelr construotion, by scheduling tho quansities throughout, A hfill o tho wise should be sufMiclont, CoxveriTon, Quioaao, Maroh 18, 1673, . paraliel with orm, with tho assignment of | the Commiszioners of the Illiuols & THE LAKE FRONT ACT. Argument of the Hon. M. Fuley in Favor of Xts Repeal, & . o AN AOT Tn relalton fo o portfon of tho submorged Isnds and Lako Park grownds, lylng_on aud ndjacont to tho shiore of Lake Mioligan, onthio easiern frontago of {0 Olty of Obleago, * B8oTioN 1, He it enncted by the People of the State o Iliinoia, represented (i the General Assombly, That nll tho right, #ile, and Intoreat of tho Btato of fllinols in and o go antch of fractlonal Seotion fiffeon (1) *Townahip thirty-nine (39), Raugé fourteon (14) cat o tho third (3d) principal meridian, in_tho Oty of Olis cago, County of Coolr, sud Stato of Tliuols, a8 in situ- atod cast of Michigan dvonuo, and north of ‘Tark Row and Aontl of thio fouth dino of Bonron street, aud woab of lino running paralel with, and U0 feot enat of tha went lino of enld. Michigan nvontie, bolng o trip of fand 400 fevt fn widih, fncluding said ovonue, slong tho ‘slioro of Like Micligin, ~partinlly submicrged by tho walcrs of gald ' lnko, oo Doroby granted, In_feo, to the sald Clty of Olifeago, With fall power and authority to sell snd. convey allo #aid trnct cast of sald nvonue, leaving sald _avenuo ninoty (0) feok fn widih, in such manner ond upon such forms na the Comron Council of sntd city mny by ordinanco provido: Provided, That no enlo or coile vayanco of said proporty, or ang part thoreof, slnll bo Yalid winless tho éame bo gpproved by o voto of not lesn thinu threo-fousthsof nll {he Aldormon clact. 850, 2, Tho proceeda of the soloof nnyond all of eald fands ball bosob aslde, and shall constituton fund, to bo dewlguated o © Park Fund " of enld Clty of Qlilego; andaald fana shall be equltably distribited Dy tho Gommon Council hetweon tho Houth Division 1ho Weat Division, nud_tho North Diviton of tho said city, upon the bnais of the asscsrod valuo of e laxablo real estato of enchi of enld Divisions, nnd shall bo applied to thio purchings ond fmprovoment in each of saidl Divisions, or In tha viclnity thercof, of n_publia park or patln, and for 10 other purposo Whatevar, BEo, 3, Tho right of tho Tilinola Central Raliroad Company, under tho grant fram iho Slato, in ia char- tor, which anid grant conatitutes o part of tho conald- cration for which tho safd Comipany pays to tho Slate at lonat 7 per cont of its gross earniugs, and undor nud by virtuo of ita nppropriation, occupancy, use oud control, and tho ripatian ownerehip, incideht to such i riation, 0 oY, Use, - amd COls ol 'hm’ B ec BT, Wibmerged o -Sthorwie, ‘Tying ‘east of (ho aid lino Tuwuning ) lylog and 400 feob cnsk of tho st no of Miohigen avenue, in fractionnl Sactions ten {10 8ud titeon (16 Townahip and Tango maforaatd, s fioroby confirmed ; ond all tho right snd title of the Stato of Tilinofs in and to tha submcrged_lwnda, cons stituting tho hed of Lake Michigan, aud-Iylug_cant of tho tracke nud brenkvator of tho Iiifnofy Central Hofl- rond Company, for tho disiance of ono iuilo, and be- tween tho south 1ino of the south picr, extended cant- wardly, and a lino oxtendod eastward from tho soull 1ino of 'lot twenty-onc, south of und near {o tho rotard Douso and machino shaps of sald_company, 1 the South Divisfon cf tho snfd City of Chicagy, nrg hereby grantad, in feo, fo the snid fiinois Central Tallroad Company, {ln eucccssors ond ossgns:. Jiro- hotwcer, That tho feo fo sald lsnds ghall hd by rald company in bo ‘porpotuity, and that iho sald Company slinlt not have power Lo grant, soll, or convoy (ho foo to tho amo, and that all tho gross rocelpty for uac, profitw, leascs, or otherwise, of #nid Innds, or fho hinprovemonts tliercon, or that may Loreaftér Lo mads thorcon, shall form & pavt of tho grosa yraceeds, reccipts, and 4 como of enld Ilinols Central Raliroad Company, upon which enld Company shall forover pay into flio Stato Treugury, ecoi-anivally, tho pr centun pro- vided for in it chartor, n accordanco with tho_ xo- quirements of safd chartor: Jnd provtded, also, That othing horeln contatned shall nuthiorizo obatruciiona 10 the Oblcago Harbor, or fmpair tho public right of navigation, nor shall this nact bo coustrued to oxempt tho Ilinols Centrn Rallroad Compony, #ta loscors or nsiigns, from any uct of the Goneral Ascembly which may bo here- nfter passed, regulnting tho rates of wharfago nud dockago to bo charged i sadd liatbor: And provided, Jurther, That nny of the lands hereby grantod o tho Tiliuols'Central Rollrond Company, and ho improve- moota now oe whieh may hewatidr Lo on tho sng ‘which shall horeafler bo leasod by safd Tlinots Contral Talizond Company (o any person or_ corporation, or Which may horeaftor be oceupled byany pereon o cor- porution other tuait maid Iiiuoln Central Tatlroad ompauy, aall noty during (i’ continuauo of much Teasohold 'cstato, of of such occupatcy, bo cxompt from municipal or othor taxntlon, 8r0. 4, All tho rightand title of ihoState of iinofs In and totlio Jands, submerged or otherwlse, lyfug north of tho gouth 1ino ’of Monroo strect, and south of tho south lino of Randoipl strect, and botwoon tho cast line of Michigan avenuo and {ho track and roadway of tho Hifnofs Ceutral Raflroad Company, nud_constitut- ing parts of Tractlonal Boctions ten (10) and fftcen (15), in sld Township thirty-nino (), 08 forosaid, 516 hereby grunted in feo 1o tho Tinols Contral ail- Tosd Company, 11o Chleago, Burlington & Qulney Rallroad Compinuy, and tho Michigan Contral Rflrond Gompany, thelr sitcecssors ond_nanigus, for ho_oroc- tion of & passenger dopot and for such other purposes s ho busiuess of ssid companics moy Te- quiro: Provided, Thst upon il grosé ro- colpta’ of tho ,Tllinols Contral Tlirond Come povy from Jeascs of §ia dnlerest in sadd grounds or improvements thoreon, or other uses of fosnme, tho per coutum provided for in tho charter of naid Company ahall foraver bo pald, in conformity with {ho roquiroments of safd charior, 8e0, 6, In consideration of tho grant to the said hlinofs Gentral, Chicago, Burilngton & Quingy. wwd Michigan Coutral atirond Compuyler, == o niid 08 aforcsaid, said Compnnjes srw UCTEDY Tequired o xng 10 8add City of Qhoayo tho swm of §800,000, {0 Le pai in e £uliowing manuor, viz.: §200,000 within threo months from and after{kio Passigo of this act ; $200, 000 within ~ six months from oud ' after thio pasaago of this act; $200,000 witlin niuo montle from and nfler tho passago of thia act; $200,000 within twelvo months frow and nfier tho passago of 1his not ; which onid sums shall bb placed in tho pork fund o tho satd ity of Oblezge, and shall bo distributed in Jiko mouner a8 s oreinheforo provided ‘for tho dis- {ributon of tho other funds which moy bo obtained by gald clty from tho salo of thio landy conveyod to it )y this act, 2 87, 6. The Common Councll of tho éald City of Chicago 1s Lioreby authorized and empowered {o quit~ clajm and release to tho eaid Tilinols Central Raflroad Company, the Chicago, Burlington & Quinoy Rafiroad Gompany, and the Michigan Central Railroad Com= pany, any sud all claim sud inferest fn oud_ upon any and all of eaid landa north of the south ling of Montoo sircol, 08 aforesaid, which tho said city snzy bavo by Virtuo of any’ expendifures nnd ini- J<ovemonts thercon, orothorwiso; and in case tho aid Common Councll shall neglect'or refuso {huy to quit-cluim nud roloase to the sald companiea a8 nforo- sald, withiu four montha froni sud after tho passag of thiin act, tuen tho said companics shall bo discharged from ol abligation to pay tha balanico remainiug ute paid to eald ity E£ro, 7. The grants to tho Iilinols Centrsl Raflrond Company coutalued in this et aro heroby declared to Bo upon the express coudition that eafd Ilinoks Central diroad - Company shall perpetunlly pay inte tho Trensury of tho Stato of Iilinols tho per cenium on tho gross o total proceals, receipte, oF incomo derived rom said rond and brenclics, atipulatod in its charter, aud also (o por centum on the gross yecelptn of ald Company, reserved in this act, Ste. 8, ' Thin nct shall boa publio_act, nud fu forco trom and after its pocsage, ¥. donvx, . Spoakier Houso of Repreacutatives, 3, DouauEnty, Bpeaker of tho Schate, Tassed Aprll 16, 1839, R, TULLX'S ANGUMENT, The following is an nbsiract of the argument rocontly made beforo the Sonate Committes on Municipelitios ot Springilold, by B, Tuley, the Corporation Counsel, in support of tho bill to roponl the Lake-Front net. Tio bogan by giving n history of tho Lako Park, from its original dodication up to tho present time. Ilo slated that it appearod that that purt of Lako Park north of Madison sireot was, to- gothor with Dearborn Park, embracod in o sub-~ division made under tho authority of the United Btatos, known ns Fort Doarborn Addition to Chi- ©ago, it boing tho propotty of the United States ot the time of tho subdivision. Doarborn Pari, and that portion of Take Dark norlh of Randelph stroct, was marked on tho subdivieion as public grounds, to Lo forover lept freo from buildivgs, *Tho quostion prowo, in tho subsequent proceedings, com- monced on {ho part of tho United Statey, for an ipjunction against the railrond companies and the City of Chicago, as to whother the plat or subdivision wae entered in accordanca with the roquirements of tho Stato law, passed in 1833, 80 08 to voat the feo of the properly for publis usos in tho Clty of Chleago, It was concedod, In that eage; that tho ackuowledgment was defl- ciont under that statuto, and, being vo, the foo would romain fn tho Unitod States Govornmont. Ho was credibly informed, howovor, that the ab- stracts which woro produced on that hearing of that Injunction cago did not correctly sinto the soknowledgmont, and tha, in fast, ng shown by tho record, which was subssquently oxamined, it was in due form of law, and, In his opivion, vested the fee In tho oity for publio usies, under that nct of 1833, ho taklug tho ground that the samo lognl effect at- tached to tho subdivision thon made by the United Statos ss though it had boon made by an individual, . 11 That 6uit wag commencod In 1869, and, In 1870, ho and M. Goudy, who had beon rotained, made an answor. Bluce (hen tho rallrond companies Liad nover movod in the wmatter, in any way what- ovor, and tho counsel on tho other side woro eatinfled o long e tho injunction stood, Io Liad hoavd it reported, and had little doubt of the truth of tho statomont, that tho rallroad come rmy had, either directly or indircotly, boen malk- ng an unnmve to got'tho Attornoy-Goneral of tho Unitod Blates to order tho eult dismissed, but it had boon discovered that- tho offort was aking, and it had boon frustrated. Ihat part of tho Lake Park south of Madison atrect was ombraced in what was known as Frace t{onal Scotfon 16 Addition to_Obieugo, made by Michigan Canal, And, neoording to that plat, Mluhl;znn nv- onuo waa locatod with fia wost lino asit s at Frunout, afid tho wholo torntory from that Iino 0 tho Inko, which wan_monndorod_on the plat, was marked “Miohignn avonno.,” Subnequontly, & olty ordinanco fixod tho width of Michigan ave- nue nt its present width of 100 feot, and all that Btrip Iylng oant of ft fo tho waters' of tho Inke wau denominated ¢ Lako Park," ¥ In 1851, the Illineis Contrnl Rallrond Company was_incol provided, {n substanoo, that the Company should nok ontot on, or puas_ throughy Gy olly, or: munielpal corporation, without | 1862, on the 14th dny of June, tho ci(’i’ of Ohl- engo passad an ordinance, to ho found on pago 404 of Gary's lnws and ordinatces, Ennun lfiu Tllinols Contral Raflway Company the right to construct and maintain, within the olty limits, ond nlong tho margin of tho luke, within aud ad- Jacaut to the same, ona or moro tracks, and (o operatoe thom. Dy this ordinanco tho Com- pany was suthorized to entor tho o(l,{ at or nonr its aonthorn boundary - on Lake Michi-~ gan, and to follow thoshore on and near the margin of tho Inke, northerly to the southorn ‘bouuds of tho opon space known aa Lalke Park, and in front of Ganal Soctlon 16, and to continug nurtlmrlf across tho open spaco in front - of said Boction 15, to suoh grounds as tha Compauy m(th acquire batwoon tho north line of Ran- dolph stroct _nnd the Chicago River, in Fort Donrborn Addition, and upon which grounds Bhonld bo located 'the dopat of tha Company, and such other bulldiugs, slips, or apparstus as might be necossnry or convement to tho business of tho Cempriry. It also nflulngxm‘nm‘nvialon as to tho width to be accupled by tho rallroad tracks, **Tlio (Jamlmny miny entor upon and nge in porpetuity, for It line of rosd, s width of 800 foet from the southern boundary of said publio grounda noar Twolfth ptreot, to the northorn line of ]hudol[l!)h streot, the {nuer or west lino of the ground to bo usod By tho Corapany, to bo not lewa than 400 feot enst of tho west line of Michigan avenus and parntlol thorato,” ‘L'hio ordinnnco aloo con- taincd a provision ‘that the Company -should oroct aud maintain on tho westorn or inmor lino of tho ground in quontion, such walls and fonces oA _to-provent animals from straying upon and * obstruoting its tracks, - and o seonro poraons nud proporty from dangor, to ho of suitablo matorial, nightly nnyunmucu and such hoight ne {ho Council might v.urouh no oliango thorein to bo made, excopt by mutual cousent, provided that the Company should con- struct such guitablo gates ab proper placos nt thio onda of tho stroots as might bo roquired by tho Council to alford safo nccoss to’ the Inko and provided that, in cnso of tho construction of tho outside harbor, streets might bo Inid out, in manner provided by lnw, to aprroach tho samo, in which easo tho Councll might rogulate tho speod of locomotives or traing cros.ing thom. Thoy woro a0 required by the ordi- nanco to orect n protection againsb tho lake by way of fence, wall or atrncturo of storic masonry, or othor sufficiont matorinl of sightly npponrance, sndnot excecding 1 hoight tho gonoral lead of Alichigan_avenuo, and extending from the north side of Randolph nh'coL‘ to the sonthern boundary of Lnko Parly at o distanco of not moro than 300 foct cnst of and parallol with tho westorn and inner line bo- Afore mentfoned, eud to continuo the works to tho southern boundary of tho city at such dis- tance outsido the track ns might bo expediont. Anothor section provided that the Company should not in any maunor, nor_for auy purposo whatover, occupy, uce, or intrudo upou the opon ground khown ng' Lakio Patl, bolonging to tho City of Chieago, Iying botween Michigan avenna and tno inner 1 far g tho Qommon Council might consent for the convenionco of tho Company, while conatructing or ropairing their tracits in tront of that ground. Auothor soction declared that the Compnny should orcct no buildings between Tandolph street and the south line of Lako T occupy or ueo the tracks proposed to bo coustructod between them, oxcept for tho pas-: sage, or meking up of, or distributmg, traius nor place on any part of (heir tiacks botiveon thoso pomts, any obstruotion to the view of tho Inka from tho shiore ; nor suffor thoir locomo- tives or ecars to romein on tho track; but, only to erect euch works as woro proper for tha construction of thoir noceasary tracks and . _their ocporalion. The ordinanco nlyo provided that,within ninoty days aftor ity pnasago, an agreemont ombodying its provisions, and stipulating that tho rights and priviloges should depend on the porforin- anco on tho part of tho rond of the requiroments of tho ordinaneo, should be executed, sealod, and doliverad to thio city by tho Ilinois ‘Central Company. Such & contract was mado in?mr- anancoe of the ordinanco wilhin the time limited, and was on file in tho Cotptroller's oftico at tho e ook SE1880, revamonly knmwans tho Ltke Clio nok o , pommon - s ok, wi which tho B boforo (ho Cor- ‘mitteo proposed to repoal, granted to tho Iliucis Cantral, tho Micbigan Contyral, and the Chicago, Burlington & uincy Ronds, iho blocks of land bounded on the north by Raudelph and on ‘the south by Monroo streot, being parts of fractional See. 16, nnd Fort Doarborn Addition, snd embracing the two north blocis of the Lake Park, on condition {hat they should pay into tha trensury of tho city, for tho uso of tho pul purks, the sum of $800,000, $200,000 to bo [; within threo monthseftor the passege of tho bill, At the timo of its pnssago tho lowort eslimato thatho heard putupou the laud conveyed to the threo roeds was $1,200,000, whils tho Iarge mn- jority of the estimates yan from two fo two nnd o haif millions us the valuo of those two bloclks. But, ko far s the two blocks of lund wore concorned, thoy, in his_opinion, woro of little ‘consont, Tn consoquence in considering tho ‘priviloges and | ri]ihh ranted by tho Lake-Front aot, If the railroads actually needoed tho Lwo blocks for de- pot_purposes, -tha city would not, prabubly, be Bubjeot to censura if it accoded to the Lill and recoived thio $500,000, although it was much loss, in his opivion, than 'tho property was worth. But ho thought that ‘tho protonse that thoy nooded tho land for depot purposes was without foundation, Fromtho bout information Lo could oblnin, ihey niready had thivty-fivo ncres north of Randolpl streot, which was sufticiont for all depot and othor purposcs, and thoy now were, and for a year or moro had beon, ronting oub portions of that thirty-live acros for lumbor- yaxds and docle purposos. ‘I'ho grent wrong ‘sttempted to boinflicted on the City of Chicago arozs out of that portion of tho law which granted, aud attempted to confinn to ihe Rnilroad Company, all riparian rights from the southorn city limits north to Randolph slreet, 8o Lhat it would obtniu herenfter the benelit of all accrctions that could be made enst of thoir track, bebwoon tha points named, and slo the transfor to tho Illinois Central in feo of tho submorged lands, constituting tho bod of TLako Michlgan and Iying onst of tho tracks and breakwator of the Company for tho distance of one mile, and between tho gouth line of the south ‘})iur oxtendod eastwordly, and & line ox- tonded enstwardly from tho south Line of Lot 21, south ofand nearto the round-houso and machine shops of #aid Company, forthe purposcs of an outer harbor ; and in” giving them this, as tho bill aid, antirely froa from taxation. of every Xkind,~Btnto, county, town, or city,—tha only proviton bolng, that if - they routed any portion of it, tho leayohold cstato -slhould pay tuxcs, biit tho Uumrnuy shoull nnf 7 per cent of the grosy recolpta lutc tho Btate Trensury. T voot tlem with tho ownership and control of tho outer harhor, which tho General Govern~ mont lind oxponded oyor $100,000 in _improving, Dy tho building of & broalwator, was practicpily t0 pub the commorco of tho City of Chicazo nt tho mordy of that mammoth corporation, Inhis opinlon, the moment the outor harbor was con- stracted, ovory foot of proporty in tho twolve 1niles of water' front on thie Chicago River would, on nu avorage, be diminished 16 per cont in velue, No vousols could o induced to inonr the oxponno, delay, and dangoer thoy would havo to undergo in going into tho tortnowsharbor of tho rivor aud its branches; if thers were at Lho month of tho rviver ns safo n harbor s tho outer ono would bo, and the Raflroad Com- pany could afford to pay thom a bonus, iustead of chiarging them for lnylufi: in tholiarbor, Ihete could bo no doubt that such frauchises could bo sold to n joint stock compruy that conld be formed in tho City of Now York™ within u woolk for an immenso bonus, without any railrond con- necting with it. In hLis opinion, the Railroad Company waa really after tho outor hatbor, and cursr but vory little about tho three blocks of land. 4 Ha took the ground that while tho Loglslature could, prior to the now Constitution, ropeai the chiartor of tho City of Chicago, or amend it in any way whatever, yot it wus Loyond thie logislu- tive power, elthor under the old or the new Con- stitution, to tako tho -property of tho City of Chicngo, appropriated to publlo uses, and appro- priato it to ontirely difforont nsos, or to tho usos of what was in roality a pflvniu corporation, although & quesi-publio one in nama ; and fur- ther, tho clty was & our;ilnmflou, oreatod by tho Lngfnlnturo, and whioh had boon given the power to contract. b was at leask au open ucation whother or nof tho contraot botweon am Common Councll and tho Illinols Oentral mado by that ordinanco, was not a contrac! yhih would bo protootud by tho Constitution of he United Statos. ¢ An attempt had been mado b{htha Tillnols Oontral, ab tBe oxpiration of the thres months aftor the passnge of tho Lake-Front act, to ten- dor that $200,000, the firat payment to tho city. Tho evidonce on the point’ whether thero waa & sufficlont tonder or wuot, was con- flioting. He investigated tho matter {m- mudhgoly after coming into ofiico, in Decomber, orated., The act of incorporation © no Liofore menkioned, excopt o . - ottle ot difleront timos, W 1869, and camo to the conclutalon, of courdo ros 1ying upon tho atatomonts mado _that thoro had not bean any. aufllcient tondor undor Lo law, and that thoro hiad heon nolling douo by.any of the city officers, or by the Couns al, which in any way cnmyromlnud, catopped, or »fnvn tho nssant of tho clty, to the pasage of -thnt ect, ‘Choro was no doubt hut what the city, by its Common Counell, would nuthoriza the roceipt of that ©200,000, which extm was still n the handa- of Waltor Kimball, io liaving earrlod it off with him, whon ho wont out of. olico In- December, 1869. 1o thought simplo justico to tho olty ro- nired that thora chould be talen fwny rom tho Common Council the power fo - givo tho consont of ilbo city to that Y.ake Front net, and for that reason ha. thought, tho law shonld bo ropenled and tho: ponding bill should pass, | T2 tho Railrond Com- pauy had any vested rightit by way of contract obtained under that Lnke-I'ront act, they would bo yrotuntud by tho Coustitution of tho” United: Btatos, and any ropeal of the not could nat in- Jure or intorfero with thom. If thoy had .ob- tained nono, thon it would o out of tho . power of (ho Couneil to give thom any, by sauontiug to the Lako-Front not and tho contract which tho Logislature attompted to mako on tho part nl" and for thio, clty, Tho Lnke-flmu{ net nlso_gnve tha city tho ower to soll nll'of the lake front Iying botwoeon Monroo street and ita southern boundary nb Park Row, but tho proceeds woroto go for tha bonellt of public patke, Thatalono rhowed tlint thiera had beon & combination nnd_collution bo- tweon thowo sceking to estobiish tho public parke and tho railroad men to'olinin tho pasy-, ago of that act. Theso parks wero indopondont gorporations, not undor tho control of tho City Govornment, and there could ho no direct hono- 11t rosulting to tho city, oither from tho £500,000 ta bo paid by tho railroad companies, or by the rocoods resulling from tho sale of the Linko Park south of Monroo ntreot, as tho monoy would go into tho hands of those indopondont parks, a8 corporations. OUR ARCHITECTURAL WRECKS, To the ¥ditor of The Chicago Z'ribune : 81n ;. Hoving obsorved in your issuc of yestor- dayon ncconut of tho failura of part of tho masonry of the new L'remont Houoe, I am lod to offor o fow remarks with rogard to tho mannor in which tho magon-work of our-bwtdings in this city iy boing exccuted, Tho numcrous instances of crushing piovs and cracking walls that baye occurred within the lnst yoar would lond us to supposo that our architects would benofit by the oxperionco, ond (hat thoy would adopt ordinary and reasoncblo :means to provent o recurronco of thoso blundors,which are nt onco disgracefnl to the architecty and most demeging to the buildings. In tho maltor of brick piors, it {8 not ouly csaontial that thoy should be buil of selecled hard-burnt brick, closely jointed and grouted in cemoné mortar, but ihat they should Do of o sizo proportionato with tho weight they have to bear, haying iron or stono bond-plates a¢ intervala not oxcoeding 8 feot, A That points of such vital importance are com- monly overlooked in tho constyuction of brick piers, {8 priufully ovidont in nomo of our best buildings. Tho brick used Iu the piers that sup- port the Tromont House ave of too poor a quali- ty to he usod In the commonost walls of o firat- olngs building ; tho mortar used is not by any meanns what it ought to bo; end, s for bond- plates, thero ara none,—50 that it is o mystory hovw those picra have stood the prossure so long. In tho sane building is an insido wall built, ono foot thick, of soft brick and common mortar, which is mado to bear iron columng which sup- port the varioua floora to the top. The common Precution of putting an iron plate under (hoso colutons whero they sit on tiua fragilo picco of brick-worl, is not takon,—~tho rosult boing that tho wall is completely ulicttorod by tho exceinive weight it boars, aving closely oxamined tho piors of the Lromont House, I find thet there is Bearcoly ono in the building but indicates signs of being mora or lons injurod by tha weight of the superstructuro,—nlmost all. showing symp- {oms of crushing or ronding. 'Lhat tho builling is whet Mr. Raukin pronounced it to be, “in n bad shnpo indoad,” no expert will deny ; and the mau who would pronounce it not dangerous as it now etrnds, s propared £0 QYBWMO MOYO respon- slbility than any prudent expert would bo willing to shonlder, Our worthy Mayor having chosen MNoessre. Burling, Wheolock, and Boyinplton to oxaming and roport tho stato of tho building, the public could not expect any othor verdict thun that which thoy Liave gived. Taling into conuidern- tion that Mr. Burling is architcet fur the build- ing now in conrko of orcution near the corner of Madison and Olark streets ; that My, Wheeloelo is architect for tha Union Building; and that M. Boyington was architect for bulf-a-dozen buildings of last year, the piors of which crushed to stoms under tho weight that ho ex- pected them. to .boar, the surpriso is, that the threo- unfortunate oxports did not report to hia Honor that no building was securo unless supported by n fow crushed piers and shattored wulls. I wonld suggest that the public heeitato in rccoiving s unbineed the opinion of gentle- men who are thomsclves connocted with build- Iugs the oxcoution of which is sufliciont to slig- wmatize & wholo chaptor of architects. Althoug! I cannot attribute. the failuro of the columns and piera that supported tho Unfon Duilding together to carslesuncss in oxecuting tho work, Tcannot help sinting that tho grossest negic gonce was manifosted on this point, Bome of tho stono piers thet yielded woro *¢ backed” up with Drick which werd Bo misorably built that somaof them wero actually placed o end. This reclleas- nesy in building the brick-work caused tho en- tive woight to be thrown upon the glonder saud- stono picrs, which were ill-suited to bear it, 03 the sequel proved, 3 Whilo on tho Am\)[lcct of briclk plors, I would draw attention to tho disproportionsto dimen- slons of tho_ brick pioru. that support tho now Singor Duilding, on' the cornor of Btato and Washington streots. ‘Thoso piers may Lo ordi- narily woll built, but thoy ere in size such as no rolinblo architect would pronounce udequatoto sustain the mass of stono nud brick that rests upon them, Thoso plers beiug covered up with east-iron, any crushing that may take place can- not well be detected,—a fact that may load to yory gorious consoquencos. Huro wo seo beick piers and iron coluuny sido Ly rido, supporting thio onclintolor boam, "The multiplicity of mortar~ Joints in tho briclk: will enueo’ib to settlo morve or less, thus throwing an uuocqual sharo of tho prousiro upon the iron columu, which will neitlior gottle or shorlen, Such n combination of supports cannot bo too strongly denouncod [y lmFug most fujurious to tho utability of a building, An ovidont want of soundness of construction contragts bndly with o meritricious digplay of ornamont. - | "o syatem common in_thin olty, of carrving up ono part of tho walls of . _buildifig, and leav- ing tho rost behind, to b cartied up uitorwards, i nlso o Fortilo source of mischick. ‘Chin I8 gon= orally dono by what is called ‘¢ toothing,"—thnt is, the projoctiug of ovory altornato course of Dbrick o ob to forns o hond foy tho wall loft " Lo~ hind. When built in this munner, tho side- walls aro n’oquux\tlfv carricd up two, three, or ovon fonr stories, while tha front Is loft boliind, waiting for iron-work or out-stono, the rosul being that tho various H;.\rla of tha building ich enusos o erack i tho walls_along tho lino of tho-* toothing,” aud which seriously affcetn tho ength and -~ solidily of the cdifice. Thin cnn bo avoided to somo oxtent, whon it is necossnry to forwurd nny one part of ‘tho buildiug; by “raking” tho brickewarl,—that is, keoping back to tho extout of llf-n brici on overy courso, thua loaving stops for thoafter Duilling to bond upon, * Raking™ in objected to by builders aa being o little more troublesome to do than “toothing™ Any party who wishos to bo uatisflod s to the uttor worthlessnoss of *{oothing™ can seo it domonstrated in the renr wall of o bullding nlready referred to, near tho cornor of Mudiwon and Olark ptreots. ‘ho i {oothing" In the old wall was_ depended upon for bonding the now wall to it. ‘The consoquonce in, that, to provent tho outive wall fallivg into tlio nllgy, thoy wero undor the necossity of wup- porting it across tho alley, from tho wull of urke'n Hotel, by wooden suantlings. ‘Thoso ‘props will be loft in their_place untfl the wall is socurod by being strapped to the timbors inside ; thon tho outaide supports will ho ramoved, au tho wall loft to dopond ontirely upon thoee fnsido timbers, whereas tha timbors ought to depend upon tho wulls; and, in the ovent of a firo tuking place which would burn those timbers, thewsllis certain to come to tho ground; nnd, WE)mvnm a cutostrophio similar to that which toolt place rocontly at a firo in New York City, tho authorl- tien would do well Lo condemn such walls, and eauso thom to bo pulled down. 1 thinkit & pity that buildors ehould be allow- od to exeouto work In s manner ut varianco with any recolved principlos of sound construction, by earrying on o wholesalo gystom of * tooth~ ing" fu the walls of first-clase bulldings, suoh aslanow bolng dono in the building of the Awmorican Morchunts' Union Expross Gompany, on Monroo stroat, While suchis uliowed, wo cannot expoct that nuumr'nunu intho construcs tion of our buildings which will provent cracked walls, craoked plastor, and, toa groat extont, orushed plers, ~ Yours truly, AnouiTedT, Ou10400, Blarc 18, 1479, city ofticors, | e COLFAX: What the Ex-VicesPresldent Snys, | South Bend (Ind.) Corzu):ryul;m:u of the Indtanapolis Sentinel, « « « u “Tho highostofMcen and all tholr honora tho peoplo,” snid Mr, Colfax. ‘Lo hiave them Inow aud boliova {hat I would nob_recolvaa briba; that I never, ak. any. thno, tried to mis- lend or covor up anything,—Is tho higheut honor I nspire to In_ thin world, ~Doosn't 1f soom pititul; ho sald, *“thet I ahould bartor away nof only my chinracter in ihis world, the fraits of o Jifo-woilt, but nay changes fus tho world to coma, forn paltry 61,2007 Innocont, a8 tho chargos camo up at difforont timos, I auaworod thowm, ay T thought, sufiiciont to ratlafy overyono as it ald mysolf, I£I hnd doliborately laid out a plan for decoption, nnd had promedifated wroug doing, do you sippoto I would havo boon ko horte aiglled as not to_ bavo antloipatod overy nccusation, guarded overy nvonuo of dotec. tion, and carofully covered up my tracka? But, consclous of no wrong-doing, I'livad and actod, tho right ns I know it to bo. Littlo nc- tlons, to Which I pava only tho thought of tha moment, and did them openly snd immcenll{, wors torturod, and twisted, aud construed into clrcumstantial ovidonco of gullt by my enomies, with o porsistency and audaoity {hat Lorritled’ and stunnod mo, nud woro allowed to woigh agoinst o charactor that lins boen the worl of o lifotimo, But 1y conkcionce thon, as now, was cloar. God koows I am innocent, and in Iiiy own good timo I flrmly beliovo the peoplo will know it." Mr. Colfax carries with him th§ cancaled drafts sont (o A, 1I. Conner, thon Chalrman of ! tho Ropublican Stato Committee. To those ho Ling pinned tho cheoks with which ho drow thom, and as ho showed them to mo ho eaid:s “This is sn ovidonco that the monoy Nesbitt sont wns intended for political purposes, and was immediately ap ‘Ylml by mo in nc- cordanco with that intoution, and shonld bo proof positive to tho most eaptious that thoy wero not intondoed or need for cormption, Nos- Dbitt took o most unaccountablo liking for ma, amounting almont to fondnoss, Ho wan worth ovor hnlf o miltion, and Lad Lo Jived longor would probably have given. mo much largor gutns, aud yet those small amonnts woroe eried sgainet us ns gomething awful, and acts of por- gonnl friendship crueily tortured iuto avi- donceg nf pelitivat corruption,” Nehad wl him, too, o fac-similo of the 8. 0. check, It i o plain bit of paper, tho necess sary cheek formnin priuted in tho plaineut, few- o8t words, andon it scrawled the 8. C,” in waver- ingg, Irresolute sortof hioroglyphics ; the “twelve hundred” writton in n carelesg, drawling manner, aud tho Onlkos Amos” in bold roticf at tho bot- tom. ‘¢ Yougay yon noverenw this check till you paw it in the commitico-room 7’ I never Baw the cheelt till it was l[Irmumh!(l thoro, or movor had an iden of its oxistenco il thon,” answored Mr. Colfax. *If I Iind drawn the monoy on that, do you think I would havo takon no mensures_to pre- Enra on jmmedinto answor, when I know I elionld o confronted with it ‘aooLer or later? Wonld I not havo had an arrangemont of civcume(ances and o pinvaiblo {010 yendy 7 But instead, I was nstoundad, ;and this surpriso was abonco Lor- tured into the nfiitntinn of guilty fear. Imagino ourself aceuned of stenling; conscious of your nocenco, you stoutly dony it, and nro thero- upon confronted with a check boaring your ini- tinls, wouldn'l you be confounded? Isu't it robable, ,thon,” that this check, with tho other nitinl cheels the receipt of which thio supposed owners dony, were iutonded to ropresont tha Juno dividends of the stock which youraolf and the others thraw back on Ames’ hunds 7" ¥If that is corract,” raid Mr. Colfax, *“it wonld fonn & link with * Mr. Dillor’s necount, which says ho paid all tho uitial checka to Amos” On all points Mr, Colfex but reitorated what ho Laa nl- rendy steted, subtracting or adding nothing. As bo carrion these papors in hig pockets, #o ho soems to carry tho snbject in his mind, Hois ovor roady to toll Lis talo to s listener Mr « Colfnx?s Oredit Mobilicr Stocik. From the New York Sun, Mureii 17, At tho reecption given to the Idon. Oakes Amos Dy hls townsmen, Mr. Ames said t0 & rop- rosontniivo of tho.Sun, that Mr, C. A. Runlklo, attornoy for tho Now York Tribune, had told Mr, William T, Hyatt, of this city, that somo montls ago Sehmylor Colfax informed Lim (Runklo) that 1o had bought somo Crodit_ Mobilier stock, and that he considored it o good thing. Fostorday o Siun repostor callod npor My, Hy- att and neliod bim whothor Mr, Ames' assortion was truo, Mr., lyatt replied, “Why do you wish to know suyihing from mo &0 long ns you Linvo Oakoes Amew' story ?" Toporter—I simply wish to know whether tho story is true. Mr. Hyatt—It is truo, The Sun has stated it correctly. As you seo, I deal in herdware, Tho Desnra, Ames gonerzlly cell on mo whenever thay aro in town., On ona occasion, whou Alr, Oliver Amce weshero, I told lim the story which iy printed in to-doy's Sun. . - Roportor—Did Mr., Runklo tell you whether Ar, Colfax mentioned the number of shares of Crodit Mobilior stock which ho held, or whother. ho Liad bought thom from Mr. Onkes Ames ? Ar. Hyatt—Ne, not that I remember, Io sim- El,v told mo that Colfax had told him that'lho ad bought some of that stock, and that ho thouglit the moncy which he had paid for it had: boon well invested. When I told this story to Mr, Olivor Amoeg, ho wished me o ask Mr Run- klo if ho would go to Washington and teatify to this conversation with Colfax boforo the Con- rossiounl Committeo. I spoko-to Runkle about it, but Lio exprossed an unwillinguess to do 80, 08 tho convorsation had takon place nt tho brenk- fast tablo. e thought, too, ‘that what he could say*would not be of much sarvico. Hoportor—This conyoreation hobwoen Colfax and Runklo waa somo timo ago, was it not ? Mr, Hyatt—Yes, I believe so. It ts some time sinco Runklo told mo of it, and I think his talic with Colfex was some timo before that. - As the veporter turned to go,” Mr. Hyatt eald tht Lo had bottor soo v, Tunklo boforo Lo wroto nnythiug, * Ruuklo will not dony that lio told mo #o,"” enid ho, “ No ono else was prozent when ho told mg, But he hay told the kamo story to othors.” . Calling upon Mr. Cornelius A. Runkle, the ro- porter inquired whether Oslies Ames' aagortion Widtrue. | 1 A, Runkle—I have no timo to talk about it. Idon’t want to tall shout tho matier at all, L —————— " MARINE DISASTER. Wreelk of the Stenumer Goorg Wright-=Lous of Fwenty Live: Seattle, Wash, Ter. (March 1), lh'.‘lrnl:ls(a the Portland (Ore) Heraid, ) Mo Infelligencer will contain tho following from tho Victoriw Standard of tho 27th ult.: Yesterday tho . steanmor Lmma and. Douglas brought uews from tho east const, whick confirmun tho bolief that tho ill-faled stexmer Goorge 8. Wright has foundered nt sen, and that ell hands an board have perished. ‘Fho first tidings of the end disngtor wore brought to Nnuaimio 'on ‘Woeduosday, and they are in point of fuct 2s fol- lows: About fourteon duys sinco onumber of In- dians in canoen discovercd nesr the shoro off Capo Caution, tho deck of & stonner, tho pilot or wheol-iouso, ‘some parts of her masts, boxos, blonkots, and tho board bearing thé usnio of the unfortunato vessel upon it, to- gothor with certnin portions of clothing. Nob n traco or vestiga of hman romaing was, howover, to Lo found, and tho Indiaus having prosecutod a plrict eenrch for five days, gave up tho hope of discovering anybody, dead or ulivo, aud Linstoned down to Nanaimo'to bear the rews of tho un- timely ond which has bofallen thoe stonmer. Purt of a putrid deer was seon flonting about noar tho spof, which |ui;1vm hnvo Dbeen on board tho ateamor ; if no, its stato would iufer that tho wreek took plico somo timo ago. On o raok, also, thoro wag discovored huir, which, from its appenrance, was supposed to hove boen part of o laay’s ohignon. Tho Indians who brought the nows nre of tho Bolls Coolla tribe, and the facts thoy stato ara corroborated by n communication to & private gontleman in this ciia’. i Wiion tho steamor George B, Wright loft Naunimo, it is thought front clroumstancos which transpired that she was badly found in canyng, and was traveling, moreover, wiili ‘a brokoen escapo-pipo, and that the unfortunato Ohiof-Fngineer, ' Mr. Sutton, who was waoll Inown hore, had his forehodings about the trip, romurking that lo did not like tho looks of things ot all, and bad but littlo faith in tho on- gincor undor him. It may, thevofore, bo wur- mined that (he stenmer blow wp, or thet Lot ma- chinory broko down ; nud, having no canvas to nsaist Lor progross or enable hor to put back, slio was in o vory pitiablo state to make nny re- malanco to the honvy gales, or to suceessfully combat tho torriflo soas” which are known to havo provailed in the locality of the disnstor shout Ltl\én timo the stoumer i thought to have gous wn, 'I'he Douglas, when loaving Nanaimo, hnd five oanaos, manned by Tudiaus, In tow, bul threo of thom got adrit, and up to fast nighlt hud uot ar- rived Liere, P Neither tho numbor or names of the passon- fiura and oraw on board the doomod steamor ara ellnitel?' knowa; It would not, therofore, be wiso to publlsh thom on supposition. Thore were Frnhnbly some twenty souts, all told, including ho orew, on board at tho time sho wont down, 'I'ho cataatrophe ovidontly took place during the down trip from_Bitks, for slio Was soeu passing upwardat Alert Bay, and sttil latorsomo200 miles nro banblns comparod with tho faith of |- highor up at Fort Simpson, wherons Capo Can- ton, whoro tho wraele wis discovored, la 200 _milos_this nido—that is, lowor qown tho const than I"or‘l Simpson, It is preciroly €ha samo apot whore Capt, Warren was attacked by Indinns, tm’dv whoro Kuight and Stratton wore murdered, 'Lho Goorge 8. Wright beloiod to tha Oregun Steamahip Uompany, Cuptain Thomas Ainloy wes in commnnd of hor s T, Button, Chief Iin= | ginoor ; J. Noouan, Chiaf Offleor, fnd I'rank Vnfllar.”l"ux"jnr. \ “, ‘The Jerald unys: * 8ho cartled from lior only U nesis Blag oo hors wife, 'They wore paskongers on hor when sho was lost, and Yrolmbly threo olhers,—Gaorgo A, Tndos, ox-Colleotor of Customs, and two othors whota nemes aro unknown,—thtin mnking twon- ty-thron touls sent before thoir Maker without a moment's warniug,"] A $500,000 LIBEL SUIT. An. Offshioot of thoe MNurder of Jacoh and Wotsy Farpor, ol Keniuciy. Lezington {Ky.) Dispatch to the Lowtsville Courfer- Journal, In tho Beott Civonit Court’ in Georgotown, the colebrated Tinrpor slandor sult is on trial. Boma- thing liko n_yenr ago Jacob and Lotey Harpor woro eruolly murdered. That lilling is. the origin of thin suit, J, Wallaco Harpor, tho de- foutlant, fo o raefdont of tho County of Wood- ford, and, s iy churged fun (ho polition, hos ne. ensed Adam Hnrpor with beiug conncetod with the kitling. Theso roports had bean in circulation for quit o whilo boforo they enmo. to tho car of Adam Harper, who lives in Franklin County, and uo daminging wore thoy Lo iy charactor thint ho wag put to the noccsnity of Inetituling this suit, Lin only otlier recoursd would havo beon n trinlundor indlotmont fu_tho Criminal Court. o Grand Juty of Woodford Counly rofused to {ndict him, and ho was forced to this suit ns tho ouly means in bis power of clenting his uao, Tho fixat count in {lio polition charges the defondant, 7. Wallaco arpor, with tho - follow- ing slanderous words: * Sdam and J, W, Iar- por woro nt tho hend of tho musder of Jucob and Botny Harpor.” Aleo, that **Adam and D won John il murdered Jacob wnd Botsy Harper,”” ‘Iho dato of {hoso slandorous wordy 'is about six monthu atter tho killing took plsco, Tho puit upon theso wordn was brought, and tho dumagos plncad nb_ £500,000. The partios aro related, and both related to the murdored g:‘l;:ni::u,—nm bewng anophew and tho othor o ‘ho dofondant's snuwor sots up a_donlnl of tho first count In tho- potition. - and e the socond, but adds that, from all Lhe elrcumstancos and tho bad charseter of Adam Iarper, ho {a led to bellove him guilty, aud will coutinlio so to Deliove, uutil ho provo ihe contrary, His nuswor Dringa up tho question of charactor, and upon that }mmt both partios hiave been industriously “working, 80 that now there* nto no less than thirty-ono depositions 13;0:\ that single point. Eight witncssos for dofendant givo Adom HMHM bad namo; twenty-thice, on the other hiend, give him u good charncter, " Lextnglon, Iy, (Aarch 3 )y Dispateh to the Cincinnati azette, Guzetie, Tlhio onso has doveloped u good dosl of evidenca. of n character rather dumaging to the plnintii, Adam Harper, who suca for 12600,000 damages for alander, It is vory ovidont from the toati- mony that protty much ovory man in Woodford County, where the murdor was committed, be- lioves Admn Harper nud Lis uon, Johi, tho gullty partion, ‘W'ho offort of Adam Hurpor to erluvu an alibi on tho night of tke murder failed. 3 yory gront desire to prove that ho could not have committed tho dead bLoeauuo he was loft~ Lianded, when no ono had suspected him, is ro- gnrded ag very suspicious. Iig furthor offort to male some of the negroes who lived on the placo confess tohaving commitledtho crimo, by gotting upa KuXinx party, ond teking them out to Diang thom, whon holind befora stated thut thoy .| wero going to confosy, is regarded as strongly sgafust him.. Lextugton, Ky, (:lum.lm, Dispateh to the Cincinnatl nquiecr, Tho gront Marpor suit g closed, after & pro- Iongod investigation, with o verdics for the do- fendont, Upon tho reading of the verdics by 1lvj. Beadloy, tha Clork, tromondons applausa was manifestod by the crowded rudiouce in tho County Shoriff ’s ofico, Judgo 'Ihomas, aided by tho Bhieriff, ondeavored to silencs tho applanso and arrost tho parties, but failed to produca the desired effoct, Tha event of the day was o soncation which oc- curred aftor tho adjourneieat of the Court. John W. Huorper, son of Adam Harper, plaintity in the action, undor tho influence of whialy, aud aggrae vated by tho verdict, mode an nitack on L. D. Binitland, reportor of {ho Loxington Daily L'ress, and drev/ n pistol on him. Finding Maltlend o4 quick a3 ho was, ho stoppeid on him, nnd_sought a difficuity with Capt. Joo Blackburn, oue of the nttornoys for tho defenuo. e drow o pistol on Blackburn, who also draw his pistol, Just at thig juncture Marshul Sinolair interposed end tool: hold ot Harper, who sought to freo himeolf, Blaclburn aood utill witls o dravm_pistol, veady tomeot him. Blackburn remarked: * Lot tha d—d csgasyin go; I am not afraid of him. I don’t want to shoot him whilo in your custody." o e ae OIL IN 10WA, The Excitement at Saylorvilio, Poll 2 Connty. From the LesMoines Leader, Beylorville, Polk Co., Tows, six miles from thin city, is tho scono of the now itemet’, Oil hay beon discoverad. Tebmlous priccs hate Dbeen offered for tho wall furm. —Prices of proporty o tho wholo uoighborhood Lave trebled. 3fon who, Tuenday bight, wera poos, conuider thomnotves rich. All workla susp.cud: od, except boring for oil. Mv, McQuiston is the lucky man who "bes struck oil. In prospecting for conl Do sunk n shalt about thirty-five foet through gbluo clay, and then with an tuger bored somo fivo feob furiher, A nausoous gas com- menced cocaping. M. McQuiston got out of the woll, end when {he suger wes drawn out o violent -explosiva took placa, aud wator commoncad riging, A potroloum odor filled tho nir. Tho roaring noina continucd, A lightod papor was thrown in the well, and the gas iguited. o fire was pnt out Dy throwing carthin the well, and proventing ~tho escapo of fire. ¥, The woll I sitnated on or nearthe dividing Huo of J, B, Baylor’s estate end Mr. MceQuiston's fam. A good-uized brook runs within o fow feet of'it. In this brook, Mr. MeQuiston telly tho writer, ho hag frequontly reon iadications of conl oll. ‘Tho morning on which ihe discovory was niado Mr., McQuiston stated to sovocul goti- tlomon that_ho hod quit prospecting for conl, and thereaftor would bore for oil; 'I'wo hours afterward ho “ struck ilo,” ‘Che well i about four feob in dinmoter, and is dug for furty-Liwo foct through herd blio clay, About twenty foet from the surface the work- mon found piocos of cottonwood, nnd fifleon foat furthor down sovoral pleeas of ccdar, ‘Ihat potroloum [s thors, there can bo no rea- souable doubt, Tho pelroleum smell pervados overything, Wo oxnmined a pailful of tho in- gredients of the well as it was drawn up, and it cortainly appoared Lo bo thie simon pure articlo, Sovoral gentlemon having & good understanding of the subjeot Lnva viuited tho well, nad pro- nounc it good coal vil. Whother {t suoandy fn K}\yiug quantities or not, rewmatns to bo seen, . Quiston has had somo experienco in tho oil regions of Penusylvauls, and foels conli- dont thab it docs, Ho thinks thal ib would bo considored o fair kind of u well {n Ponusylvanin, —yiolding about 500 Larrels parday,—at any rata 16 proposes to coutinuo his iuvostigution, aud domonetruto fully whotbor it will jay or not, Tor the pust bwo “years Mr. MeQuiston lns beon prospeoting, with tho confidont boliof (hat he would oventnally “triko ilo,” and it nuw upposrs that o has struok. ! A lurgo number of peoplo have alrendy vivited tho_woll. The wholo community in groutly oxcited, aml roal estafe is hold at big prices, Ouo men who s the forlunuto possossor of five ncres ‘‘ouldn't look at 81,000 au acte” for the laud. Othors are url\mlly u8 confident. MeQuiston fa rogavded a8 & rich man airendy, nd, shonld the expectu~ tious of the poopla of Suylorvillo bo roufized, the fortunos of many olliorn aro wssured. It ig tho opinion of a geutloman wwho las been investigating the matter for years, thut s car- rout of oil is runuing from Rixing Sun to Cory= don, If this supposition should prove true, wo tony enfoly expout Lively timas nlong tho line for'somo to como. ‘L'hat the result muy bo grat- itying we all hopo, but no definito or cortain gouclusions oan yob e renched, —In England they now call the selence of in- atructing tho deaf aud dumb Cophology, It ap- pears thut the Groek word Jophos, which oveura glx tinzes in_the Now Teatawment, in our vorsion {a translated in thieo Y’uuaugcn a8 ! donf,” and fn throe othors au ““ dumb,” in sccordance with tho senso of the context, . —Thirty yoars ago o yonng man entered tho Clty of New York in an almost penniless condi- tion, aud without a single nn(‘unlutflunu in tho eat wildornoss of houges. ‘'o-dsy his name 8 known whorevor humnnity broathes It s apolton n overy ofty, aud fs as familiar to the worlers lu the mines ss to big brother in tha ‘mills, and wherevor Innguage {s known and idons nxsreuncd tho nane of this ponniloas, unkuown, and uncouth Ind of thirfy yoara sgo Is uttorod, 1t was John Bmith.—Danbury Newa, ‘