Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 24, 1874, Page 2

MISSISSIPPIL. A Trip from Chicago to Jnclk- son, Decayed Appearance of the State and Its Capital. Tho Gubernatorial Confest Avising ont of the Tatoe-Eleclion, Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune, JAcKaON, Mixs,, Jon, 18, 1874, Lleft Qhicngo droped in her winter's garb of &now and 100,~—hor people huriying from point to point with qulckened gtop, s if auxious to eacapo tho winds as thoy camo swooping across the prairies, armed with frosty nocdles, which ponetrated furs and the honviest clotbing ; and found myegelf, in forty hours’ travel, without chango of cars, in & land of flowors, with tho bnlmiest airand tho brightost sunshine. The air comes in through tho opon windows, laden with tho perfumo of violols, hyncinths, and roscs, Tho magnohs, lanrol, aud many beauti- ful ovorgreons which grow in this climate, all zombing Lo perfact the delusion that we ave in A FAIRY WORLD, and ot a parb of the globson which poor, shivering Chiengo sits, with the wiuds, altornato- 1y from the lakes and praivies, swoeping through her streets with the fury of a hurricane, I found, whon wa reached Centralin, the snow bad disappeared. Tho peojls had nob the stncento step of tho Ohicagoans, ‘Wo wore dotained at Cairo long enough to chinnge the truck of tho cars. Tho Missiusippl Centrol Railropd has extouded its line to Cairo, thoro forming & juuction with tha Illinois Cen- tral Railrond. The Miseissippl Contral track is threo and g hislf inches wider than tho Iilinols Central, and, as noither could change its gaugo, the difiloulty was ousily romoved by running tho cars on o gort of tablo, raising them by scrows, slipping out tho Illinols Central trucks nnd ro- placiug them with tho broad-gauge trucks of the Misslssippl Contral. Tho change is cffccted with a delay of only throo minutes to each car, Thore aro now 900 miles of direct railroad from Chicago to Now Orlenns, It extonds from tho ico and snow of tho North to tho trupical vegota- tion of the Bouth, The people of Misuxss(pl)l neced tho corn and wheat of Illinois; while tho lattor, in turn, wanis the fruits and ocarly vogotnblos of the Boutih, Whon Chicago has uavigation to the Atlantic, which she is bound (o have, Mississippi will send hor cotton to Europo by tuat route, and wo shall sco Chicago A COTTON-DIATT. T saw but fow hoals nt Cairo, and they had a devasted look. The fact iy, railrands and tele- gre, hs havo unfitted us for the slow, old-fash- 1uned, Lut luxurious steambonts of bygone dnys. Many of tho towns on the Ohio and Missiasippl hiavo o **tumble-down” appearsuce, whero tho railroads have cut them off, 1~‘mmer’ly they were vitnlized by stenmbont {raille, but thioy have di- minishied it humber, and have lost their busy wharves, with their lazy negro drivers with their mule and ox teams. Now thoy look liLo many inland towns of Ilhmois, Leaw someof tho DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF SLAVERY on a stenmbont many years ago. I Look passage on ono of the flonting palaces plying between Loninvillo aud New Orleaus, Sho wus_erowded with the wealth and beauty of Koutucky, poing South to spend the winter., 'Who lIndies were handdome and vivacions. Many of them bhad that languor peculine to the women of tho more Southern Stutes, The men, just as Kontuckians tra ell over the world, wero n mongrel betweon the mercurial, sharp-witted Yonkeo and the cary-going Souths erner, Mauy of thom lind their colored eervants, who imitated their mestors in thoir well-bred caso. They stood behind their chairs at tublo, anticipating their wants, and moved about with adignity in proportion to the. gocial position of theiwr musters. “Wo had on board a number of benutifully-dressed children, with their negro nurses with turbaned heads, the bright-colored bandanas contrasting strongly with their copper- colored comploxions, ‘'ho evenings wore spent i doucing and cards, The faro was sumptuous, wiues for dinuor, obliging servants, and all for §12, When I think ol it, I am sometimes almost inclined to wish for the good old Colony times, At present, the boats are fewer in numbor; eluvery has disappeared; tho bondana, which is now considerod o badge of sorvitude, fins givon way to the chiguon; aud the sceuo I liave pic- tured lives only in memory. Mississippi, " with Lev worn-out cotton-fields, tumble-down fonces, sud uupainied farm-lLouses, looks the PICTURE OF DECAY. Whenever the cars utnkpcd, L unw numbors of idle negroes standing ubout, with their hands Tammed down into tleir pockets, enjoying freo. dom which, to most of thom, means frecdomn from work. In tho doors of thio cabing all 108 could be scon, from the woolly-headed old patri- arch down to the baby,—all enjoying that inecsti- mablo blesning, idleness, The Jong-nosed hoga walked Inzily around; the doga scomed to eateh f,lmkspixlt of the timos, aud wero too Inzy to ark, 5 ‘Ihe lands on the Mississippi Central ave poor, as tho rond was built on the high ground,—the Lottom laudy, as thoy are ealled, boing the mout productive portions of the Stato. Tho portions of Jackson burned during tho War hava uover been rebuilt. Poor crops, the onormous taxos, impoverish’ tho poople’ aud clieck unything like prosperity; and, lire mokt Sonthern ‘towus, it bas no vitulity, The negro dominates tho white raco; and, while thin ya aro uch o stato, il branches of trade will be zed. 3 now thero is n good deal of intorest felt in Minissippi in relation to tho [ELEOTION HELD LAST NOVEMBER. It will be romombered that Gov. Alcorn ran as i ndopondont Republicnn candidato against Gon, Awmes, regular Ropublican, for the ofiice of CGovernor, ~ Alcorn and his ticket wore beaten by about 20,000 msjority. Alcorn sccured mainly the support of tho Conservatives, who had no candidato in the fleld, ~Alcorn is an old citizon aud o large property-holder, and, although Lio was not at all acceptablo to the whites, yot they gon- preferrod him to Gon, Amcs, whoim they regurd- ed us & mere edvonturer, without interests in the State, and even without s residence thore. Gov. Powors, who was a candidate bofore the Repub- lican Convention for Govornor, aud tha Attorney- General of the Stato, who wus also 4 candiduto boforo tho eame Convention for ronomination, and was, liko Powers, defoatod, discovered, or thought thoy discovered, aftor {ho Convention had ndjourned, that tho luw fixing the election in Novomber, 1878, WAE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and that the pregont ingumbents of Stato ofiices (iucluding themsolves) were entitlod to Lold their oflices to tho 1st of January, 1876, The Attornoy-Genoral gave a writton opimion to thiy effect to the Governor, who therenpon issued his proclamation that o election uhould be huld, Dut, soon after, Unding that litto aitoutio would be poid to his proclamation, Gov. Power convenod the Logislature, aud recommonded thit tho law o ropented tlxiug tho olection in Novembor Inst, I'io Legislaturo did not agree vith the Governor and Atturney-Goeuoral, and adjourned without rufiunllug the law. The olec~ tion wos accordingly held, with the repult before stated ; and now the Governor and Attorney- General proposo to resitst through the courts, The question at issue, as I havo learnod from those who Lnow, arises thus; The prosent Constitution, finmed under the Reconsiruction Inws, was ratifiod by tho people of the Stute iu Decomber, 1869; but it was not approyad by Congrous, nor was the Btate decided ontitled to roprosontution in Congress till the 28 of July, 1870, 'Iho Coustitution fixes tho Legnning of all oftleinl termu on the first Monduy in January, nud deolurey that genoral electious vhall be beld bieautially, but “without fixing certuinly the % BmiL lar year in which the that elcotion” #hall o beld. The Ames putly say that, as the first clection (which was held “uuder the Ilocon- struction Inws) ook placo fu 1609, then the others ought to bo in rui;uhr cycles of two years trom that time,—in 1871, 1875, 1876, &o. Tho othor sido coy that, as ths Condtitution was nol nceopted by Congress tll tho 23d of July, 1870,— notwithstanding its ratification in Decombor, 1869, snd the olection b the samo tima of Goy. arnar and other Stato oflicors,—no_oblelsl torn oubt commenco bill aftor Congress had approvod she Constitution ; aud that, thoretare, tho termy amst ho couuted Frou the Ist of Janunry, 1871, nstoad of the 15t of Jamuary, 1870, This stutes protty fairly the £ TOKITION OF THE PARTIES, shough, of courso, their respective positions are fortitied by other argumenty, The first Legislaturo electod took tho viow that Ameg and bis fiionds take now, nud, acting on that view, passed tho statute now susmled, Bxing tho firat genoral oloction in 1871, Under st law, & Logiolature has bovn elected, and helid two sorslons, awd passed many Inwe, witn- out quoation, Undor the mamo law, all the county officers in tho Htate havo beon clootoed ; and tho Anes party,olaim thnt, evon it tho stat- uto s unconstitutional, it {s impossiblo now to corrcet it, nn tho Qovernmont hns hosn put in upnmdon wndor it. Tho Constitution fixon tho torm of (ho mombera of tho Logislature at two yenrs, and of Govornor and Stato oflicors at four vonrs, Tha first Loglslaturoe surrondered thoir ofllces m Novam« Lo, 1871, and tholr succensors Lhon olected wont into offlco. 'Chese nuccossors could hold but for two years, nnd tho Constitution ronuires tho Logislatura to moot anuually. So, as the Amos sido argue, if tho Logislature cloctod Inst fall cannot tako their sents, ‘thero s no Toglulaturo to moeet this year; for tho Conatitution dons not nllow mombors'of the Logisinturo to hold pftor thoir torms have oxpired, until successors nro Jogally olected ; and, morcover, if the presont clection inunconstitutional, than tho old Leoginlature was unconstitutionnl, bocatso clected o year too #nou ; and thig brings about ths roslt, not only that thoro can bo no logat Legistuturo this yoor, but thero HAS IEEN NO HUCH LEGISLATURE for tho past two yonra, g It tho Bupremo Conrt shall sustain Ames view, no tronblo Is anticipated, as Gov, Powers and his parly will bo powerless furthor to carr) on tho coutost,—the now Legislature, whic meots noxt weok, being decidedly ngainst him. But, should the Uourt dectde aguinst Amas, it is ot clonr that ho will submit. Ila is backed by 20,000 popular majority and tho new Legisla- ture, aud will bo able, it is supposed, to hnve his own way, notwithistanding an adverso decis- lon of tho Court. [The Btate Bupremo Court decided, on tho 19th, that the electign was logal, and that Amos was entitlod to tho Govornoraup, and be was innugurated on tho 21st.—Ep, Tnin- e M. L. L. e “F‘UUIET 5 NOT COMMUNISTS.” Lotter From the Master of the Natien. al Grange of the futrons of Iiuse bandry, From the Praivie Farmer, I have just Inid down tho Prairie Farmer of tho 8d inkt., after a caretul porusnl of the lead- ing article, eontitled * Farmers Not Commun- {sts,” In bohalf of tho farmors of the country, and especinlly tho Patrons of Ifusbandry, I wish to thank you for saying of ua, *Thoy tolerate no indolonce.” ¢ They abhor anarcny.,” ** Therr fizst training {n {n tho ways of industry, bones- ty, sobrioty.” *“Ihoy know and rospsot tho rights of man,” * * They organizo, vot for wrong and violence, but for justice.” ‘*'[hoy join in no ery of *Broad or Blood.' " Thero i8 no class of our citizens who have o more abiding interost In the pormanance mud integrity of the government—who would suffor more by a reign of anarchy, thun we who own the soil and till it, Waelive in a Ropublic, aud wo fully under- stand that a ropublicau” formn of government rests on the iden that the people aro honest, and their averago judgmont souud. Wo bave an abiding faith that this ropublican iden i cor- reet, and that the laws witl be s reflox of this honesty of purposo and sounducss of judg- ment, ~ We_ doem it tho duly of ovory citizen to oxpress his views ab the ballot-box, and for all to legally submit to - the judg- ment of the majority, Ouly thus cin a Republic stand. If Inws scem unjust or oppressive—talk about thom, ventilate them, ox- pose their injustice. aud doubt not that the sovercign peoplo will be just, Just now the farmors most ucoply feol tho injustico of certain Iaws, We clearly sco whore they deprive labor of ity just roward. Vo seo Low thoy hold up tho stiong at the expenso of the weak. Wohavo organized to pleco thesa giievanees boforo the Amevican peoble, and expect to receive ample Jjustico under the luw. ‘Wo will bo obedient to the laws, zud we have detormined the laws shall be made just to us. Whatover class of mon seek to redress real or imaginary wrongs i this republic, bf violenco may rest assurcd they will find the Patrons of Husbaudry arrayed in solid plialanx on the side of lnw nnd order, Those papers which by *Nnsly™ cartoons do- ict us a8 wrocking entorprisos by deeds of vio- ]znm, only show their own dense ignorance or oxliibit their hostility. Their advocacy ot $50,000 Presidentiol and 37,600 Congressiounl saiavies indicates thut they fail to comprebend tho great movoment that looks to & return to habits of ceonomy aud republican simplicity. Misropresontation and ridicule from such gourees only deepens our conviotion that reform is needed, and inspires us with renewed doter- mination to seck it in the way provided for Amer- ican farmors, Duprey W, Avads. WAUXKON, 1u,, Jan, B, TRANSPORTATION OF THE DEAD. To the Edlitor of The Clicago Tribune : Sir: Of all the sins for which ratlrond com- pauios should bos held auswerublo, thore is one “that hes not yeb been mentioned, and for which uee. That fs the manner in which t tho cofilned romains of those Lravelers wio hieve gono on their last long jour- noy, If you travel on railronds, you may seo almost any day how that partof the railrond busineus is done. ©Ou the open platform of the baggage-cor, ox- posicd to all weathers, ayd to nuy delfllament thut may huppon, sometitos resting on the side, when the cudo is lsrgor thun usual or the plat- form too_narrow, as to my horror I enw it onco, the remuins of our loved ones are ignominiously dragged ncross half this continont overy day, In ‘theee days of much-vaunted Palace cars, Drawing-Room cars, Pullman ears, and all the rest of it this is the accommodation given to our doead. Aud for this servico the carrior’do- mands eud receives the regular fare of a firut- clnes prusonger, How long will thia stato of things bo toler- ated? Respectfully, Praro. — THE SASH, DOOR, AND BLIND MANUFACTUR- RS, To the Editor of The Chicago I'ribune: Bim: In your repolt of last night's prococd- ings of tho Sash, Door, and Blind Manufactur- ex's Association of Chicago, it is maid: * Some objected to the lumbormen becoming members, Lecause tha sash, door, sud blivd men wanted an organization to protect the membera agninst Jumbermon,” &e. Now what was roally snid wad relalive to */ protection against 1rrespousiblo contractors.” Again, your report says, ** Out of thirty manufacturers presont, fiftoen signed the constitution and by-luwe.” ‘The true state of tho caso was a8 foliows: There wore present at the meeting roprosontatives of twenty-two firms, comprising oue or moro individuals ineach; and, of thut number, eighteen signed tho constitu: tiou, &e, ‘I'wo Lad to leave bofore the time of slgnivg, in order to catch thair traivs, loaving only two not signing ; which made the meatiny elmost unanimous, while your report woul acom to convey quite o different result, Trust- ing you will inscrs this in your next iusue, I ro- muin, yours very respeetfully, A, I, Sty Cutosgo, Jan, 23, 1874, 0f Stk Broy, & Co, e b TS ol The Dead Twins, Greensboro, N, C. (Julll. ) ’Duwlck tothe New York rapihic, There hne been no post-mortem oxamination af tho bodies of Chang and Eug, nor will there bo. ‘The medicnl men arrived aiter tho doath of bath twins, and when they propoued to oxamine tho bodios the family objected, and no examina- tion was made. It nppenrs thorois a provision in the wills of tha twins against tho severance of their bodies after dontl,—thoy probably anticl- pating that one would not survive the other very long, ~ The bodies, X learn, wore given to au em- Lalmer, aad the funeral took place on Monday. Tho deaths ocourred early on Saturday morning. Chang was soized with paralysis nbout § o’clock and diod nlmout immediatefy. Eog gavo an slarm, and when the family entered ho ro- wmarked., “ T supvosoe I must dio too,” Ilia deatlh, which seems to have been tho result of pure fright, took place two hours afterwards, Monut Airy, the rosidonco of the twins, is such an out- of-the-way placo that no medical sssistance could be procured till some howrs after thoir deuths. ~Tho surgeons wished particulurly to eut the mombraua which bound the twins” to- gethor, so ay to uscortain the nature of tho con- noction, and tho probabilities as to whether Lug's lifo could bave been envod by dotachiment from hLis brothor’s corpso, * ‘I'his, however, they wore not allowed to do; and so this singular mystety will vevor be explained, Tho twing Iruve o vory respoctablo property bohiud them, Chang has six ohildron, and Eng flve, Boveral of thelr offupring are doaf and dumb, and those who ero nob afthcted uro of u loyw order of intel- ligeuco, e e ExeMuyor i1all?s Childron, Ex-Muyor Hull, of Now Yorlt, bas flve daugh- tors and ono son, ‘Llie fatter busios hitmsolf with & printing-press, proparstory to learning the art of p§ nting prac:ically, and thon journuls izm, Ouo of tho danghtors is o designer and otobor, the scoond u writar ‘of childven’s booky and o planist, tho third o student of lyrio url, the fourth au nccomplisiod’ amntour actresy mmh: Ath 14 loarning to bo modlste'and or 8 THE RAILROAD QUESTION, Power of States to Rogulnte Commerce. A Legal View of the Matter, o the Rdftor of The Chicayo Tribune : Bin 1 Ono of tho most diffoult questions un- dor our law, and ono which is, by far, tho moat important to tho farmer, the merchant, the manufacturer, and tho capitalist, s that which 18 now boing invostigated in nearly overy Stato and by various tribunala : tho powor of Biates to regulato commorco, and tho oxtout to which thoso rogulations may bo carriod. Rnilrond-corporations and railrond-monopo- lics have bocomo 80 wido-spread and so deop- rooted in our laud aa to wiold n power that 18 irrenfsliblo. Molding up their superior meana for commorcinl iutercourse, they have uprooted and supplauted all othor monns of communica- tion, and WRESTED FROM A THOUGHTLESS PEOTLE gronta of powor which have mado thom ihat thoy are; and to-day, resting bonoath the pro- teotion that is thrown around them by tho old and well-founded dootrine of the Dartmouth College caso, like King Goorge, thoy onact their rulea aud laugh at tholr hardships. But tyranny connot long go unfottored and un- chained. Our ancostors pationtly boro tho yoke of British thralldom and tyrannio sway as loug a8 it was ondurablo; but, when the iax was laid upon tea, nad the rights of women woro thus curtailod, this * was,tho most unkindest cut of all,” and proved the blow which led to American indepondenco. Bo, in this caso, wo have submitted to the frauds of rail- road-monopolios; but, when our in- land towns are ruined by tho superior advan- toges which a town possossos Laving compoting lines, aud whon Sonators aud editors aro sllowod to travol freo, or for the intluenco thelr position commands, then have rsilroad-corporations struck a voin that ruus tao doop to bo hoaled, and n chiord whoso vibrations must ba hoard, The pouplo sra nwnko; they cry out ngainst these abusos, and demaud lawa for their proteo- tion, But, in_responso to their call, wo hear it said: *'The Courts will decide in favor of the peoplo.” “1t would,” says Bouator Whitin, A **plago tho Supromo Court in an unonvizblo position to dacide against tho powoer of the Lcymlntm‘u {o fix rales ; and another adverso do- cision of tho Bupremo Court would creato nu agitation among tho lzuulxln that would bo do- piored.” An argumont too thin to bo lasting, and an assertion too wild to be bolieved by nuy man, The duty of a Judge is to decido IN ACCORDANOE WITIL TIE LAW, and not with popular opinivn whon such is ad- verso to law ; aund we t1ust that in tho future, as in tho past, this principlo will govotn our ciirts in all their decisious ; for, when such is not the casg, thon is thero no safety in any act, aud no rignt, lowover sacred, of which we cannot be do'privcd. 1Lo vower of State Leglalntures to regulato conymerco is o limited one. ~ Whilo it is couceded by all that raurowd-corporations aro snbject to the police-power of a State, aud to tho power of onunent domain; aud that, under theso powors, certain rogulations may be made,—yet thoso apply only to thut class of oages Wwhere 1t is noe- essary for tho proteotion of individuals in their persons and property, and to the taking of the franchise for public purposes, and not to on indiroct regulation of the ratcs that may bo charged, 1t iu also conceded, by the weight of authority, that the law WAB CORTFCTLY CONSTRUED in the oaso aboyo cited ; uud that the charter or act undor which o private corporation is incor- porated is & contract Lotween tho Stuto and the corporation, which cannot be altored or smended unlews tho power to do 80 is roserved therein, or by general laws of tho State existing at the tmo of 1ts acceptance, and which aro a part of tho contract, Seo Cooley's Constitutiounl Limita- tions, pages 279 and 280, and casey cited. But it isclaimed by mnny, that, in the cawe of 'The Chieago & North- western Itailway Company vs. Darius Iailor, Intoly decided 1 the Suprome Court of the United States, the Court have discarded this doctrine, But let us sce, Tho Court says: ** Tho power to regulate commerea 18 vested in Congross, nud yes cottain rogulations may be smposed by tlio Statos whick will bo binding until Congress seos fit to act.” Tho Court ex- pregely eays: “In (his caso no attompt in mndo to regulato tha rates that may ba charged; it i o_mere police-regulntion.”” Tho cases then cited aro cnses only affecting the polico-power. ** Tho Wheoling bridge was de- clored & uuisanco—18 Howard, 4U—Dbecause Cougress hud rogulated the Obio River," In this cnso it was not claimed that the lnw of Iowa wan ono which interfored with charlered rights by impairtng the contract, In view of past divisions, thien, we can look for no fandamental chango in the law ; and I submit thas NONE 18 NEEDED, but that the law is now suilicient, it enforced, Rnilroad-corporations aro private corporations created for a pubiic purposo,--the publis good ; andore vested, by law and their ciiartors, with all thosoe powers, aud only those which aronecos- siary to ovablo thom to carry on their functions, and to accomplish the object of their formation, Like individuals, they are subject to the law and to its burdens ; and, like thom, are bound bv its chauge, But, a there are rights of whick .. individusl counot bo deprived, so it is with private corporations; those rights are vested rights, and with the cor- poration are those to which it succeods Dby an acceptance of its charter, and under the lnws then in forco, 1t ie o woll-settled principle ml«’i tho law in force st the time tho contract is made ENTEIS INTO THE CONTRAGT and becomes o part thereof. And-in Brown va, Schuyler, 4 Galm., 221, it is held that tho repoal of a Iaw in which a 'contract consists is an_infringomont of the Constitution; and, in o lator caee, Matthins vs. Cook, 87 I, 83, it was held that tho repeal of such a low could not affect the rights of the parties. In tho caso first cited, o logislative grant was hold to be such n contract, Now, under our laws, railrond corporations aroe usunlly created under genoral laws of in- corporation. The Legislature has enacted lnws by which corporations may be organized and regulated ; under these laws corporations have been formed, and roads constructed; thus have been formed, &t various times, contracts which can be changed oul; in nccordanco with the terms theroof, or with the lnws in forco at the time thoy woro mado. This in tho only consistent theory of the coso. An offer is mndo by s Stato, guarantesiug certain priviloges and immunities to auy body of individuals who will accopt its terms and dis- chiargo n public duly. ‘Ihia offer i accopted. Now, will any ouo sny that the Stato which has mado tho offer 11AS A LEGAL RIGHT tostop in and 10pudiate that coutract? an individual do this? And porfect, Laban had as wmuch right (laying agido tho fraud, which, in~ the two cases, I oqual) to ropudiato 'his contract with Jocob, and refnse to give him all the ring- strenkod and speckled of his flocks for hording (hem a corlain time, becauso the inoronse was great, ns a 8tato has to broak its contrnct with a railrond-corporation becaiigo it proves to bo a paying inatitution. Chen, from what Ihave eaid, it follows that, in ordor to decide how far a court muy go, and the truo rights oxisting betwoen a Btate amd corporations, wo have only to look &t " the ~chavter ond the laws in foreo at the time of its acceptance, 1If, by its GConatitution, or by general laws, the Btato has provided that all rosds ehall be' subject to the will of tho Logislature; if it has said that no road should churge moro thau & reasonublo rate, and that iho Logislaturo should, in all cases, mako what should be considered n roa~ souable ruate,—a corporation which constructs n rond under such luws thereby consents to suols lawy, aud is at_tho will of the Leglalnture, But, if the State has morely passed nn act saying that no road should chnrge moro than u roasonablo rato, as our Logislature dld in 1869, this provision would control ; and s to what was 8 roasonable 1alo would in evory cusio bo A QUESTION FOR TUE COURTS TO DEQIDE in accordanco with the -law of the laud, And, whilo a_State might wmake certaln schodulos prima facle ovidence of reasonablo ratos, yob they could not bo mado conclusive evidence, so oy to bind ronds proviously constructod, Could yot the analogy is Under the ‘common’ law, s rond wounld bo allowed * to chargo only n remson- able rato, and would Lo pro- cluded from unjust diecriminutiova; this also is au implied agreomont on their payt {n necopting private proporty for l‘puullu purpoges ; hence wa may eny that oll rouds constructod undor such olrcumstancos are bouud (o reasonablo rates, But, in eago (ho Loelalature of Ulinuls jn 1840, e T e e oI T by nn{]ng that all rosds should rogulata thelr own charges, subjoot to such reductiona s the Loglslature should soe fit to fmpose, o long an tho samo wan not roduced bolow o cortain yate, then it may be sald on principle, that this provi- slon, entoring into ko contrnot nw nn oxprony provision, would do awny with all implied n{;run- ments, ana by it tha parties would bo bound. Bat 1t 18 urinoceasary to pursus this furthor, I hiavo prosented what I boliovo to b TUE ONLY RULES by which thls problom can bo olved ; and, if courts—tho modlntor bo- tweon tho poopla and tho_corporations—ndhers to thoso, a8 thoy are bound to do in tho light of past adjudications, thore will then bo no moro noed of railrond-legislation ; the intorests of the unrrnmtlan aud the peoplowill bo promoted, nud loglatalion will bo lom froquent thun it would bo wore our conrta to disrogard pnst decl slons, and declaro all privato corporations at tho will aud merey of s changoful I’Imn“ o, + UNDERY;00D, M. Drnow, 1, NORTI WOODS ADVENT URES Looking n ffonr Out of Co Wolves on o Doora. To the Editor of ths Grand Rapids Eagl Beldon B, Turnor, Xaq,, of your city, in tho employ of Wondorly & Co., who lLias been estl- mating and mapplog the piue lunds bolonging to them, hins Just rolated to tho writor tha following incldonts that occurred on lug lato visits to the pito woods ¢ 5 On tho Gth of Janunry, in Town 12 N., 7 W,, in Montealm County, hie suw nuniorous bonr-tracks, On the 7th fnst., fuTowa 11N, 0 W., which Iy tho Lownship of Day, ho_was Toturuthg to bia bonrding placo, vory much woatiod aftor a hard day’s tramp, wheon hio camo to o eunrl of fallen trees which Into wiuds Lad thrown across Lis track., o climbed upon the body of owo of tho prostrato pines, ond as he was about to leap down a heavy guttural growl saluted bis ears, Looking in tho direction of the sound, he was surprised to behold a hugo brown boar, stooding erect upon bhis hind foot and facing him. ile was tnll ns a man, lle romained in thot attitude some time, growling, whining, guashing Lis teoth, and ohnllungmfi hum to combat. Mr. Turnoer hiud no weapon witl bim, not oven his favorite Latchiot. Beoing the threatoning attitude of the bear, and reatizing his defencoless coudition, his first impulso was toturn sud run, But ou second thought ho concluded that would bo usoless if the bosr should choose to follow him, 80 ho decided to try tho oxporimeut of standing and ** looking him out of countonance,” ‘Mho bear was very apgry ot being thus intorviowed, but, after oyeing lus iuterviewer for some tune, he turnod lin head, looked backward, then dropped down ugon his feot and cantored away. Lhis intorview lasted about five minutes, but NMr. 4\ says it seemed to him much longer. Ho had doubls for somo time what the bear intended ** to do about it," aud he left it entirely to the bear to Layo his own way. At any rate, ho folt a sonsible relief at seong tho suvago monster dissppear in the woods. 8, in Maplo Val- Lnst Friday, Jan, 16, on Sec. Jey Pownship, Mr, Turner mot with auother ad- yeugure, uot quite sodungerous to him, but from its nature quite as interenting. - Ho was going west on o ridgo of lsud covered with pme, when he saw & large deer bounding slong with bhis touguo out, and running iu tho snme dircc~ tion ho was traveling., Protty soon lo hieard s yolp and saw o largo gray wolf upon his track, In » momont more another wolf appeared upon the econo between hiw and the first, und running in n line parallel with it, T'ho deer took n turn to the north and northeast around the ridgo, koeping in tho valley sll the timo. Aftor he turned, the second wolf, which was not at firat upon the tiack, but was acting s & flanking party by & hne across, struck the track of the deer thirty roda or so ahead of his compauion, cmmufi in about fifteen rods behind tho deer. When ho struck tho track he aunounced it by singlo yelp, Thon tho first wolf abandoned tho truck, and turned imeclf into o flauking party on the lett of the chinse, while tho second wolf conbuicd on tho track of tho worricd deor, Tho decr fually faced about, taling & turn around o swamp, making to the notth, thon west, soutl, and eust again, until tho firnt wolf, which allthis timo kopt his oyo on the main chance, by coming seross, struck tho track aliead of his comrade. He in turn announced it by a singlo yelp, when the other left the track ngain and’ resolved himeself into o flanling party, In this manner they con- tinued the pursuit of their proy aud disappeared frow his viaw, How the ailair torminated is not known. They were all running with tongues out agif they had been long on tho chase. Doubte less the wolves worried down aud devoyrod their zauI0. ¢ Who will eny, after witnessing such a sceno, that foxes aco the only four-tooted wild animuls that huve cunning und foresight 7 0. L. Ray, Taznsox, Mich R — Tl-}E PENITENTIARY OUTRAGE. Aunona, Ill., Jou, 22, 1874, To the Editor-of The Chicago Lribune: Bin: Quitoa humber of people have given their ideas of the treatmant of tho prisonor at Jolict. If all who feel indignant about it shoutd do 80, the press would bo overrun with lottors, It was an outrago which will not sink out of notico at the biddiug of any whitowashing Cor- oner's Jury or Senate Committee. The Committeo say: “Tho great physical offort ho made in resisting tho oficers when bathiog him in pursuance of tho dircetions of the physician, caused rupture of tho hoart, of which he died.” Bupposo six or oight men should come to my house and drag mo awny, in violation of law, and, in rosisting them, I should be suddenty torn limb from limb, woutd there be an attempt on the part of any one to white- waeh tho outrage by saying, *Tochnically tbe men may bave gono a step too far in drogging bim from his houso, but yet ho was torn limb from limb on account of the resistance ho offored them, and thereforo they were not to blame™? It is a wonder the Bouate Com- miteeo did nol find that the prisonor committed suicide ; thoy might have said Lo came lo his denti by Lis own honds, Bee. 87 of the Ponitentiary act reads: ‘It shall not bo lawful in #aid Ponitontiary to use auy eruol or unusual moda of puuishment, or to pubish any convict by whipping in any cuse whatever.” 'This Las boen the luw since July 1, 1871, Tho Comumitteo sny the Poni- teutinry Commissionors had abolished the bath threc or four months beforo, H'he physicion says *bo was feigning,” and ordered him bathed in _cold water,—put under four or five times ; held under two or three sce- onds gt & time, say those who had the poor man at their mercy. ) “I'he punishment was cruel ; it wag probibited by tholaw of tho State, aud abolishod ”{; the Yonitentiary Commissioners. The doctor who or- dored, and the mon who oxecuted it, did what thoy had not the shadow of & right to do ; they did the work in an inhuman maunor, 'Tioy caused tha death of tho prisoner, and should not os- capo from responsibility for their deed. L. Sicomay e il An Xmportant Medical Question in Court. In » capital case lately triod before tho Bu- premo Court of Massachusetts, medical evidonca wus givon on one side showing that it was im- ousiblo to distiuguish with certalnty, human Fiood feom. that of a Lorks, snd, on " dho thor sido, evidonco was givon shiowing that the differ- enco botween those two lkiudsof blood is dis- tiuctly revoaled by the microscope. Tho re- markable fact hore involved presonta itgelf in tho light of the invostigation mado by ewinont men of ucience_in Europe, with concurrent results, showing that, though thero are, beyond ques- tion, difforcuces of size, doterminable by caveful micromotrio mensuromont—the human corpuscles thuy appeming to bo on an average, larger than {hoso of the horso—yet, oven int frosh blood, these difforences have been found 0 slight as to Lo recoguized ouly with extreme difliculty. In buwnan blood the “corpusvles aro soon to vary from 8,000 to 5,000 {u an iuch, the avorage Lefng 8,600. In horso blood the snmo varintions oxist, the nverage beiug 4,600—g0 tiat very swall human corpusclos ond vory large horse corpusces might be K]ucml_ sido by side and found equul iu sizo. This I in fresh Llood, Iu dried bloud tho differonces are almost bloited out, #o that it has boon universslly agroed that when blood has onca bocome dry, it 18 not possi- ble to distinguish with cortainty tho blood of one mammal from that of auothor. i Quininoe Ghosts, The spivit photogruphs which paes current among credulous Bpiritunlists for gonulne ghosts of the departod are produced in various ways, ‘I'io latost aud wmost serentilic mothod is as fol- lows: ‘Tho plam buckground scroon, Leforo which tho gittor Is placed in ordor to have his portrait taken, is to be paiutod boforolinud with the form of the desirad *“spirit," the paint boing composed of sume fluoroscont substanco, such ul a kolution of sulphnto of quining. Whon this pointing drics ou tho seroou, it is invisiblo to tho eye but it sonds out’ rays that have Puwor to impresn tho photo plate; and thus the fnago of tho person together with the quinine ghat aro almultancously developod upon tho nogailyo,— Scienlifio Amerioan, THE ARMY. Protost Agninst n Reduction of the Foree. Evil Rosults of Tao Groat Economy in This Direetion. o the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: Bm: At tho presont time, tho fover of ro- trononmont ling attrcked Congrous wlith gront virulenco, Itfs doubtless ncoded. Thero aro, liowovor, somo propositions thut, It carriod out, will offeat no truo economy for tho present, and bo productive of VAST EXTIAVAGANGE IN THE FUTURE. Ono of thoso s .to roduco our alroady small army. This {8 alwoys a favorito monsuro with Congressmon, and p matter of porfect mdiffor- onee to the poople. An English ofticer, hurrylng forward " to meat ho forces of the Protendor, with n small Dody of troops under his command, way bonighted, day befora repching the scone of action at the farm of n wenlthy Quaker, The farmer cordially invited him to stay under his xoof, praising tho army and ita ofticots, and saying that ho deemed them tho pillars of tho Btato. Whon day broko, Lio presscd his guest to spond some time with hiin should ho over come to thut reglon again. A fow years nfterwnrds, when peaco roigned, tho officer cnllod on his formor host, oxpecting & warm welcome, Tho Quaker gazed at him with BUrprise, say- ing Lo wondored nt his boldness in visiting ong who was ‘woll-known to' desplse soldiors. “Why,” said tho officer, *you prossed me to viait you whon I was hero beforo, and said you cousidored mo o pillar of tho Btnte.” ¢ Depend upon It,” wag the nnswer, * that, it T said so, T moaut o caterpillar.” And so it Is with our own littlo army in timo of pence. ‘Lhero is probably no animosity on the part of the publio; it is merely indifforonco. With Coupress, such is not tho case, American officrs, ns o cluss, hold themeolves aloof from politics; o do not count in political strugglos ; theroforo, ns it may ho dove at tho expenso of mon who cunuot injure them, our legislators nover hosilate to attompt n reduction, 'There in, howover, n limit which should never be prased, LEST DANGEROUR WEAKNESS NESULT. At tho present day, when all nations bave largo, - well-organized, well-cquipped armies, and the magnitudo of ‘our comiordial ralations brings us daiiy in_closer contact with thom, wo should bavo o sufficient forco to meot thom in cago of war, 1ialf-n-miilion of mon aro required to man our sen-const and frontior dofenses properly. For so Iargo o army, an intelligent, carefully-golected, thoroughly-instructed Stafl’ is nceded. ‘I'lie Slafl i of primal importance, s it munt clotho, foed, arm, cquip, and fortify for the Lino, Staf> ofticers must bo oducated by experionco and con- stant practico; {hoy caunot be improvised, ‘I'o advocnto o tegulararmy of 500,600 men would bo absurd ; for, if history proves ono thing more clearly than any other, it ie, that standing armics aro dangerous to Rupublics. Situated ag we are, the oxistenco of solargo a force in our midst wonld be far worse than nuilhlug to bo approhouded from & forsign foo. ‘Iliers’ is a portion of tho army not to bo foared, and which, if preserved, can ronder ofliciont our’ huge massess of militin in a short time as compared with that which tho lack of such an suxiiary would roquire. TIAT POBTION 18 THE STAFF, It should bo 8o maintained as to sufico for the wants of tho largest armics wo may be com- polled touse, It is economical to 0 80, for their knowledgo of routine enables them to pro- vent the frightful wasto of resources that must otherwiso oceur, The Engingers, by devoting thomeolves to the profession, keop pmong us a body of men u\m{a posted in tho latost dovel- opments of thoir science, ‘The Oiduance, studying the results arrived at by all similar or- guuizations in tho world, and by carcful sud nu- worous oxperiments, maintaitn our arms and cquipments at a8 high o standard as Bpproprin- tions will allow. T'ho Pay, Quartermaster, and Commissary Dopartmouts continue & knowledgo of the proper system of military accounts, and, during tho lato War, saved untold sums by their oxpericnce and integrity. ‘The position of Gon- eral Oflicer affords to ail ambitious and desorv- ing men on incontive to honorablo oxertion, Tlereforo, the Staff, innocuous and 8o naces- sary, should not be reduced, The Line Lins already beon brought to * A MUCIH BUALLER NUMBER then is deomed mulitary men. tcattored from Maino to Toxas, from Alaska to Moxico, from the Tio Grando fo tho Red Tivor of tho North, T'hero are not onough men in our soa-const forts Lo keep the guus ciean; yet it is gravely proposed to reduce the number atill more. 1s it not timo to stop this folly? Forty thousand lioxfmnra would have put au end to the gront Rebollion in six montha. Hod our foo, instead of being a8 raw and dworgnnized ns our- eolves, consivted of votersns from o foreign land, our seaport citios would have fallen with greutor promptituda than iu the War of 1812, 'Co-day, thauks to tho false economy of our Legislators, wo have no rifled _guns equal to the lowest son-coast calibres in Murope. Had wo boen embroiled ywith Spain, the probabilitios ate, thut tho crude dofenso of . torpodoes alomo could hove saved tho ‘almost dofouse- less City of Now York, Thoro aro not- soldicrs enough in the fortifications surrounding that great Metropolis to keop tha earthworks slone In r:}mr. Beside tho great pe- cuninry loss that would Lave resulted, tho dis- grace {)rg])nr by our best-informed 'hirty thousand eoldiets are WOULD HAVE DBEEN UNDEARADLE, Wo spoalt ot the bonsiful Spaniatd ; we can find Bomubastes Furiosos as protontious, and far weaker, ontside of Spain. ~Bixty thongand Reogu- lars 1n Cuba, recruited from s uation whoso civil broils havo roudercd the mass of lier mon sol- diers, would not_oasily have boon dofeated by Liorde of green militia and a fow thousand veter~ ans that conld have beon sont againet thom, the daily roports of outrages ou our frontiprs by contomptible savages, who defy the National overnmont, are not culeulated to malko us thiulk our military forco too great. Not ouly would reduction be folly, but oven to tnlk of it Ho constautly iy wrong. I'he discour- agoment that reeults from uncertainty of tonure in “oftico ust produce its effect. The intogrity of our military mon is kept up to its prosent bigh staudard by nothing o much ag tbo cortaiuty of o position for lifo or good behavior, Wherover, in tho midst of all the sickoning corruption now rife, B;ou find pub- lic ofticinla who Lold themselves gbave it, “they will generally bo found amoug those who rotain their places by this tenuro. : Should not, then, these demagogicsl ecliomas haye a period, this tinkering ‘by the Lnuds of clumsy Logislators como to'an ond ? I'ho con- duct of Congross toward the avmy is . CONTEMPTIBLE AND NEPREIENSIDLE, Tho people generally are inditferont, and it is but natural thoy sbould bo, Whon, Lowever, sume boliove andway that they cousider tho ollicors drouos, who spond their time in drink- ing, gambling,'snd idloncss, a Lttlo roflection shoid b Ipdalged da Waa i by drinking, gambling, ldIhxF, that such solutors as Sherman, Thomns, Sedgwick, and the large number of mosh ablo oflicers, North and South, were pro- duced 7 ** By their fiuits yo shull know thom." Common souto must show that such chorges against the army a8 o body aro fulse, for tho great majority of ‘officors who had served beforo tho War earned luurels, "The paople, whon not blinded by pnesion or refudmu, aro just ; aud, if any appeal can open helr oyos to tho faolish action of Congross in tho mattor of military luf;islutinu, it muy bo of value, Fortunately for the country, Lut unfor- wnntoly for themsolves, oflicors are tho last to rugh juto print. Thora aro poriods, however, whoro it is almost criminal to bo silont, aud snch o one bng now arrived. What is asked of Congresa is a wise rogmd for tho Intorests of the couiitry, and o littlo common uouxo, in place of 80 muco blatant demagogisu, JusTUs, st o et School Biscipline and Pistols, From the Butler (Mo,) Record, ‘Tho cltizonn of Prairie Oity School District aro ocither vory uufortunato in seouring the sorvioos of a good sohoul-tenchor or elso it is one of the worat places in our county for a podagogue, on accouut of tho interferonco from Hehuol Diroot. ois and others, It appeats that a cortain Mr, Lowis, who by the way has gained no very enbi- able reputation for sobrioty and good behavior gnunmfiy Liad ocenslon to whip flu rogular old- fashionad style) one of his pu{x 18, & Miss Shaw, who is o [\;ulml{ Indy botween 16 and 20 years of ugo, but his strongth failing him, or from some . othor osuso, he did not adminiater, .a8 he thought, sufticient punishmont, decided to post- pone it until tho noxt duy. In tho meantime s rothor of tho young lady, J. 8. Sbaw, Luq,, and John Morrison, one of the Dirootors, concluded thoy would, the noxt day, callat tho school-hiouso aud have & talk with the irata toachor, whioh thoy did, whon they found that 3 Lewin lind prepared himsolf by strapplug on ono of thoso indiupcnsablo articlos in a soliool-room, a novon-shootar, upon his poraon, nwunrln’z that lie would ahoot any one who intorfored with him In tho discharga of his dutios, Iowovor, it aps [Mmrn that Bbaw and Morrison had eeon a plstot hefore, thorofora thoy 1ushod upon and disarniod the nedagogue, ond ware thon no ungoentlomnnly at to lnve Lowis arrested and takon boforo a Justico of the Peaco, who meraly finod him tho small sum of £80, —_—_———— BLOOD AND WOODHULL: Paying 01K 01d Scores. Lrom the Keokuk (In,) Gute City. "Tho careor of Victorin Wootlull lanhM‘ Tus- band, J, H, Blood, hus uvll.\mlllY boon a chbekered ono. Homo imporlant ovents in thoir past Lis- tory havo boon brought to lightduring their pres- ont tour, Tho transitlon from the humble posi- tion of & eancer-doctor's wifo to the champion #hip of political rovolution, soclal roform, ‘and woman's rights, didw’t provont Victoria from boing recoguizod and eaffod upon to llyuidate oblirtations conteaoted in former vears, ‘Che following from tho DosMoines Journal ux})l:\luu the situation tully ; *‘Ihiose who Linve bron ditizons of Dos Moines for tho Inst six or cight yonrs, will probably 1omombor, sbout that long ngo, ‘one Dr. J, . Iarvoy, who profosacd to'bio” & Omncor Dctor aud ! Honlor of Disoasos gouerally, Ifo ad- vortised oxtonsively in nll waya his wondoful powera for ouring all tho ails 1o which human Hlesh is bolr. I1ig wifo camo to him whilo horo. l‘.,lonfiz woro hur{o nho:xb‘ulx weelks, nud,1 ‘i-llmln li}xluy . sway, forgot to pay several littlo bills which thoy had cumructu(f: A drossmakor's bill ¥as one, and the priutors' bill for advortielng, olroular printing, cte., which amounted to 100, thoy also forgot to Iy, Tho drestmalker and tho printor Loth conolidod the bills woro ot worth the paper on which they woro writton, and caiod” thoir work o dond loss. Lol Saturday - aftorncon _somo ono eaw Mra. Woodbull 3at the Savory Houso, nud at onco recognizod hor as tho sama Mys, Dr, Har- voy. They took stepa to inform the dressninkor of tho faot. "That lady at onco proceaded to pro- pate bLorsolf “aud call on tho tamous Viotoria. Once more tho old bill was mndo ont, and the lady, goiug to the Suvory Houuo, ontlod'on Wood- huil and juformed hor that sho supposad nonoy wag moro plonty with her now, and presentoil tho DbIl, which “was ‘honored ot sight. The Frintor was not. s lucky, not lenrning tho facts i tho case nntil it was 0o lato." T'ho printing firmn in queation, Messrs, Mills & Co., formerly "proprigtors of the Register, en- couraged by tho dronsmakor’s succoss, put ono of its mgimbiors on tho track of the doflnqumu, who followed “thom fo this city, arriving on the swino train that thoy did, Ie at ouco avelled himsolf of ~ tho legal advice and eorvices of Messrs. Gillmore & Audorson, and proccoded to business, Blood acknowledgod that hio was the individual in ques- tion, aud Lio kuow tho partios had o claim agnumst him for printing and ndvnrl.luh\fi, but was sur- priged to find it so large, o thought that Lo owed hom about 345, and_was willing to pay that amount. But tho plaintiff and his counsol coulditt soe it in that way, a3 the clalm, wilh intoreut, smounted to o littlo ovor 3150, and pro- coeded £o tako tho nacesgary stops to attach the properky of the defendanls. “This brought Blood to a tuiler venso of the justico of tho claim, and tho importance of liquidating it. Wo undor- stand that & compromise was” finally offoctod, by which Dlood was relopsod on tho puyment of about 8100 1u cash, If they havo very many snch old scaros to sotule, we don't soo how their pres. oub tour through tho West can Lo made a re- munorative one. LOUISIANA. An Interview fetween Gov. Hellogg and u Logislative Comintitee, L'rom the Nco Orleans Tiuies, Jan, 11, The Legislature yesterday sent Lo Gov. Kol- logg s bill appropriating $139,000 to pay the ox- Dpanees of the two Howgos during tho prosent acesion, The Govornor Hlutly refused to sign it, aud thorenpon a committon waa doputed to wait upon him and aslk his roasons for refusing., The Committoo reprosonted that all tho mom- bors woro fiat broke, and unless tho bill was passed and tho members put in funds, they might find thomselves at odds with their iashe orwomen, and thero weuld be Ioud lamentations and sore compluints from their boarding-house lmapurfl. A i a3 ovornor (in reply)—Have you pgssed the TFunding bill ? $ Yoy Comuittee—No ! But it hns gone to the Sonato with some amendmouus proposed by the Olam- ber of Commerce and will probabl; g0 back to tho Ilouso for concwirance after o while, Govornor—After a whilo won't do! You must pass that Fuuding bill, and the State must bo ralioved frora the prosont appressive taxation at onco, aud I will not sign any act you may pro- bose until you pass the Funding bill, " * Committeemen—VWell, Governor, we surely intend to pass that bill 28 soon s cortnin othor little mattora aro put through, and you kuow it is o hard caso for us to wait for our pay o long. Governor—You havo now beon fn session ten doys and have not passed o single bill, and it is rathor stranga that thoe very first act you pro- sout to me for my signature is an act for paying you mileago and por diom, I will not allow such an eet to go beforo the public s your first act, 1t would b u crying shamo aud o disgrace to the State, You must pass the Tunding bull, or the Wheela of Govorumont shall stop uutil you do. You shinll not pass a singlo act until youdo. You can't have a doliar for yoursolves until you re- lieve the poopla by paesing tho Funding bill. Committoomen—But why not, Governor, wait a weelk or two, until we hiave time to doliborate? Govornor—Thpt’s just what Warmoth has ‘beon tolographing to mo to do, * Wait a weak or gol” Warmoth holds £300,000 in State bonds, and, lo!afimphs that, if I will only keep back the Funding bill, he will stop all agitation abont anew election, Ho will fiiva up his pet measure and go back on his friends, the Fusionists, if I will only wait a woek. There are boudholders in Masgachusetts who hold $2,500,000 in Chatta- naogs Railrond bonds, They also telograph mo to “‘wait o weok.” Iwill not wait; you must EMH that bill next Monday, the 19th. It shsll e your first public act that is published to the world, I repoat, you must pnss the Funding bill on Monday, and you will got nothing elso till that is dono, Goad morning, gontlemen, And tho Committee bowed thomsolves out, convinced tlint tho Governor was in earnost. —_— One of Prol. Agnssizs Last Lettors, Nalure for Deo. 18, contains tho following correspondenco ; ** Tho sad intelligonce roceived in London this moruing, of the doath of Drof. Agassiz adds nn- other illustrious uame to the long roll of victime to the insidious demon *overwork.' May I ask you to give room in your next issue to the fol- lowing passage from a lotter (probably one of the lnst hie peuned) recoived from Prof, Agassiz only last week, which may be interesting to his many sorrowing frionds on this side of tho At Iantlc, as attesting indirctly to tho cause of his doath, ncmely : excess of mental and physical oxertion? P, De M. Grey EoERTON, ATneyzus CLup, Deo, 16, “MUSEU3 OF CoMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, Cansuibgr, Maws,, Nov, 20, 1673, ‘A _feellng of despoudenoy comos over me when I soc Low louga timo bas olapsed sinco I recoived your last lotter, which at the time I meaut to suswor immodintely, With 1eturn- ing health, I have found the most frightful amount of noglocted work to bring up to date, with the addition ' of & now institution to or-, ganizo, I have given mysclf up to the task with all the encrgy of which I am capablo, and have mado o splondid succoss of the Anderson 8Schiool, which cannot fait henceforth to have a powerful intluonce upon tho progress of ficionce in the United Statos. But thls has driven ot everything olso, andI should have nogleoted oven tho Musoum had not a constant appenl to my attoution arisen from the close counnection in” which the Andorson School stands to tho Musoum, of which it is, as it were, tho eduoa~ tioual branch, Bo Beliool and Museum have mndo glgantio stridos side by side; but I am dawn again, At least, I feol unable to oxert ny- solf a8 usual, and suol a feoling in the bogine ning of the working season is disheartoning, When I lnst wrote, I' had strong hopes of an easy summer with my fawily, and confidontly expootad to be able to pass tlio groator part of the winter in Buropo, and to have piepared tha volume on Seluohian of the ¢ Polsgony Fossilos * for a now edition, or, rather, an Buglieh work on tho subjuct. Now that hopo i3 gono; the Im- mouse accossions to our muscum make even the progroes of the conl fishes of Towa slow and alumost bopeless, With twonty-two assistants aud fourteou sub-nssistants in ‘tho Musocum, I havo my hauds full with administrative dutios and reepousibilitios, and sclence and fricnds suf- for, Ever truly your friend, L. Aoassiz," - A Tian Charged with Murdering Kfis Mother and Attempting to Poison Hlis Brother, Buth, N. Y, (Jan, 19), Cns‘flvf:pom!muni the New York A fow yoara ago George Chnso moved from Addison,"N. Y., to the southern part of Miohi- gan., Ilo marvied there, A fuw wooks ago bis rothor, Chubb Chaso, went from the aamo place to visit him. While there, Chubb foll in love with Goorgo's wifo, and, as roceut developments show, onspired with Let toklll hor husband, that tho troncharous brothor might take his place Ohubb roturned home, and wroto to Mrs, Chaso, Inolowsing & quantity of stryohnino, 1Ilo Instructs ed hor how to use {t, and enconraged bor to tho murdorous doed by saying that he had douo o Job juat na bad, Mra, Obaso coutd not find honrt to administor tho poisbn, Ilor husband learnod of tho acoret. A doteolive wrote to Chubb Chuse, signing the namo of tho brotber's wifo, m\ylnp that tho poison kad beon admiuiatored, and** Goorgo waa dead and buried.,” Chulb hastoned to fnln his brothor's wife. Whon he sot foot in Miohigan Jio was at onco taken {nto mmtudg, and, on & chinrge mado by his brother, swas lodged in jail at Ann Aibor, A dotcotiva was sont to look IIII furthor ovi- donco of the crimo in Addison. T'ha oflicer then loarued of tho mysterious and suddon death a tow months ngo of the mother of tho Ohnses. Chubb was at homo whon sho dled. Putting togoethor cortaln suspicious notions of his an tho statements in Lis lotter that he had done n fuh worso than tho ono slie wos about to do, b s uow bolleved in Addisgn that ho myrderod his mothor for n fow dollara 8o had in hor louse, ond which sho tonnciously hosrded, Her ro= maing havo boon extmmed and portions of them sont away for chomloal analysis. No ono doubts that tho examination will rosult in the discovory of polson. — e ITEMS AT LARGE. 1 Tho Mantorville (Minn.) Lzpress sayn the wolves are gotting quite bold in womo portiona of that county, —During the drf - P at bed in Will ty, lowa, took fire, nnd for flve weoks rtoadily. ''ho duo?, sud wil fuel, —The Meriden (Ct.) Call says tbat a woll- koown oitizon of that eity Las beon so long nb- Hont that his oroditors havo ot lnst_attacled his l:ropony. aud it i alleged that & discovery Lny ocn made of his forgetios on indorsemonts to thie amount of 820,000, ~—The Greon Buy fisheries aro mow yiolding, hoavily, Oue doalor i Greon Bay Oity uhmuufi 1,000 packages botweon tha 1st nid 10th 1nst., and oxpocts to haudle from twelve to fifcen tous of 1sh per weolk, —A Xookul (In.}x dandy rubbed his hands with glycorine to make his New Yoar's gloves go on easy, Whon ho had coneluded his calls hio was dellghtod to discovor that bo bad mistakep liquid gluo for tho glycerino, and »ll that night uud the next day Lo sat reflectively holding fia buuds in a water-bowl of warm walor, —It i contagious, The Saglunw Enlerprise says that o Indy in that city nim-d Jonks hos commenced action agaiust Mr. Buura, proprietor of o saloon on Genasee avanus, olnming 96,000 damagog, for liquor sold to hor hutband, —Hurd timos is tho great peaos-makor. Out in Nevada all the revolvers snd bowios ara Hpouted, nnd thie editors of papers hnvo all Bona ctazy, Thero hasn't beun o bl votwg ofiray for & month. —Tho economical authoritios of Grafton, Mo, rofrain from arresting Mooy Tonnoy, wio ro- cently murdorad Lis wifo, on the grouud that hig ago and infirmities 1endor it * quite: probabla \hiat in tho courko of ntauve his ‘iiserable oxige tence may bo ended by donth bofore he will ba arraigned in our courts,” ~—A man_was reconily lodged on somo petty charge in the jail at Dullas, Oregon. 'L'ho firsk night aftor his incaroeration he cscaped, and wont eight milcs on foot to flad a man to ©o hig bail. Tho tollowing morning he returned to Datlas with his bond all sigued, and was 1olensod on bail, ¥ —The Bishop of Nizmes Intely received, ns a teply to Lis racont pastoral, two visifing cards— ono from Madume Hyaciuthio de Loyson, und the othor from * Hyaciuthe de Loyson, Curo of Ge- neva,"” on which ure writton tlie following lines s ** With our Chuisiian purdon for tho Bross ine sults which you have heapod upon upon us." —A rolior socioty has beon organized in Olnoy- ville, R. I, which furnishos o free diuner of hot 8oup to tho hungry, Previous 10 the banquat, however, each applicaut is requested o vign tha pledgo, stato what Church he attonds, where his children go to Sunday-school, &e, Aftor having proved hs orthodoxy, the liquid repast is ten- deved, aud Lo is supposcd tp ent with the proud salwfaction of kaowing that his spiritual wel- Iaro is bLeing carad for ok tho sams tume his empty stomuch is lpeluf filled, . —1ho German Biik Hanufacturing Company, of Oniengo, hove bought several thougand acros ot land “along the lme of tho Vicksburg aud Meridian Railroad, near Chuuke; Btation, Migs., and intond sottling two hundred anud #ifty Gore mons upon it, who are to engago in the cultivae tion and propugation of the sils-worm, —T'ue fellow who wanted to cross tho Miesia- slppi river on the ico at Muscatie, aud, fearing 1t was too thin, bogan to crawl over on bis hands and knees, draggiug o slaft after him as a lifo Presorvor 1n case of accidout, felt very sicl whon, Just as ho was noarly across and all tired out, o fellow pussed bim with a sled loadud with plg— iron. —Soys the Boston Journal: Sovonty-oight newsboys of Indianapolis were on Clristmas presented by somo staid old cilizens with save ings-bank pass-vooks, each ono having a emall accaunt opeued.” T'ho story is Jiterally truo, but it remains to be told that on tho doy after Christmns thoso soventy-eight accounts were deawn, thoso seventy-eight pass-books sold for old paper, and geventy-eight newsboys might have beou sgen at bhe thentie that ovening, —Oun Suuday morning, the 18th, Mrs. MeCrum, who ltves on I'arsons strest, Kalamazoo, Mic gave birth to & pair of twins, The two wero weigled togethor in a basket in which they wora carefully placed and their net weight was one pound and fen ounces cach. ‘Ihey aro perfoctly formod, lively, aud all right oxcopt-in sizo, ‘Thoy are likely to live, and o is tho mother. Sho is tho parent of sovoral childron, some of whom aro grown up. The house whore the children are hins beon besioged by persous anx- ious to seo the little humaa beings. 'Thoy are kept in o little box of cotton Latting, and aro the tiest litilo dolls ever thought of, —Gen, Jamos 8. Whitnoy hasg boon elected President of the Boston Water-Power Company, and a now Board of Directors has been chosei, with o view to carrying out & proposed plan to fund the wholo dobt of $2,000,000, includivg ail tho floating and bondeddebt, to a bond 1or ten yours at 8 por cont interest. This will enablo tho Company to securo time to adopt o compre- hensive plan with the City of Boston for tha do- velopuiont of tho 10,000,000 feot of luud thoy own, spell—just boforo tho sogvs ow Township, Jaokson Cowise burned Enut soomy to bo about fAvg fect propuration would mako fjood —From the reports we have rcceived from various portions of Dubuque Couaty regarding the existonce of tho small-pox, we liave tnmise takaplo ovideuce that this much-to-be-qreaded opidemio doos oxist_ (o quito un slarming extout throughiont the southeastorn portion of tho county, OQur I'arloy correspondout informs ua that there o & number of sovore cases within 4 miles of that placo, and that thero ara over sixleen cases of tho diseaso at Cascade. In fact, so great is its preyalemco.at the Iatier pluce that a special mossengor was sont -from Cnycado on luat Monday, to wmform tho Epjs- copal mivister at Fuiloy pot to again return, and to postpone all services untit further notico. — Dubuque Herald, —_—— The Great Lava-Fields West of the Kocky Mountains, . Prof, Le Conts, of the California State Uni- veraity, considers the Cascnde Mouatain regiona one of the most intorosting flelds for goolqgical rescarch on the earth, In connection with tha groat overllow of lava yhich deluged the terris tories of the Norihwost in past ages, the Pro- foasor suys : Tho principal point of c:.uption from the groat cantial cauldron was at the Coy cade Mouutatas, in Orogon, which atoof theme solvos ono solid mass of lava, From this contra the Inva overflowed a groat portion of Orogan, Washington Torritory, all of Northorn Culifornia, and vast sections of Novada, Alontana, and Idaho, ‘Tho luva-flood covored aun aros of n) lonst 200,000 squaro miles, ns far a8 ox| plored, ond it would probably’ bo found !o oxe tend over a surfacc of 800,000 square milos, a8 its lim(t northward . had nover been dotermived. ‘Che depth of tha Java orust varied from upward of 8,000 faot in the Uascado aud Blue Mountain region, to one and two hundrod foot and less at romota {mlnu ou the ousor edge of tho ovorflow, Whera he tremenuous gnrio of the Columbin Rivor out through the lava bod it had o depth of 8,00 fosk, Tho explorations of Prof. Le Conto hiad determined tuat tho great lava tlood pertained to a comparatively recent geological poriod, and he assigns tho eruption to tho latier part of the miocapo, possibly oxtouding to the post-tertiary, In the groat canon of the Columbin River, bo- noath this immonso Iayor of lava, ho had dise covored the Futrluun stumps of frees, beds of leavos, and all’ the ovideucos of a great foresy once oxisting on a lovel corrosponding with tha present surfuce of the river, Above this foreuf came a drift perlod, and it was burled in a heavy layer of conglomerate bofore tho overiluw of 8,000 foot of luva, e The Grand=HDuchess Naric's Wuahnnd, ‘Tho following lndies will Lo attaclied to the household of tho Grand-Duchess ‘Marie on Loy marriago with the Duke of Lidinburgh.: Ludy Lrangos Buillio, daugliter of the Boventl Ear} of Elgin; Lady Luma Godolphin Qsborno, sistor of the Duke of Leeds; and Lady Mary Butlor, siater of the Marquis of Ormonde, 1T'hg solection, ways tho Pall Mall Gazalte, woula saotn Lo be Iutonded a8 & ropresentation of . the three Kingdoms, !