Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, April 11, 1874, Page 4

4 THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1874. L 7 L OO ORIy SO U D P o b s e e e Je P i e MICHIGAN. The Recent Revision of Its Constitution. History of the Orgamic Law of That State. The Changes Embodied in the Pending Instrument, Slim Prospect of Its Popular Rati- fication. Bpecial Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune, Derrorr, April 8, 1874 The constitutional history of Micligan may be briefly stated as follows: From tho time !hm State passad into the control of the TUnited States, in 1796, until 1803, it was governed by the pational military suthorities. From 1805 to 1624, 2 Territorial organization existed, in which all governmental powers—exccutive, legislative, and jndicial—were exercised by tho Governor and three Territorial Judges. From 182¢ to 1835, tho Territory wus ruled by Governor and Territorial Council ; and by this Council the FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION was called. The act provided for ths election of 89 delegatos, who met at the Capitol, in De- troit, on the second Monday of May, 1835. John Biddle, of Wasno County, wes appointed President, ond Charles W. Whipple and Mar- £ball J. Bacon, Secretaries. The sessions of the Convention lasted until June 24, and its Consti- tution was ndopted by a vote of 75 yeasto 2 nays. The question of ratification was sub- mitted to the people at an election held on the first Mondsy of October, 1835, and they adopted 1t; but no official record of the precice vote is to be found. Michigan, having adopted this Constitation, did not wait for Congress to ac- cept it before beginning her State Government, but elected a Legislature and State officers in November, 1835. The troubles over the Ohio boundary delayed matters, however, and there was 8 hot debate in Copgress upon the question of final admission, the principal opposition coming from the Whig party; but, on Jan. 26, 1637, the act was passed declaring Michigan one of the United States of America, under the Constitution of 1885, * The practical inconveniences of this instru- ment led to a DEMAND YOR ITS BEVISION, and the people were required to vote for or sgainst a Convention for that purpose at the general election in November, 1849; and_the votes cast wero: Yess 33,193, nays 4,095. This Convention assembled at Lansing, June 3, 1850, and elected Daniel Goodwin, President, and John Sweegles, Jr., Secretary. Its session contirued until Aug. 15, and the now Con- stitution was adopted by the people at the general_election in 1850, by yess 36,169, nays $433. It went into cffect Jan. 1, 1851. By Art. 20, Hec. 2, of this instrument, thie question of ita general revigion was to be submitted to the slectors qualified to voto for members of the Legislature, in 1866, 20d in every sixteenth year thereafter. The people in 1866 voted in favor of the re- vision: yeas 79,503, nays 28,623. As a result, by . 41, Session Laws of 1867, the peoplo wero required, on the first Monday in April, to hold on election for delegates tos Constitutional Convention,—the number to be 100. Thesoe delegates were duly elected, and the Convention met in Lansing on the third Wednes- day of May, 1867. It eclected Charles M. Cros- well, of Lenawee County, President and Tkomas H. élenn, Sscretary ; and its_sessions werb con- tinued until Ang. 2. But its work, on being mh;:itmd to the people at the April election in WAS REJECTED @ vead, 71,788: neys, 110,682, The principal zanses for its defeat wero a proposed increasa in the ealanies of State officers, the establishment of equal suffrage for white nnd black, anda licenss clause which displeased the Prohibition- iste. i Despite the unfortunate resnlt of this attempt to revise the organic law of the State, the Legis- Isture of 1873 decided to make another offort in the same direction, beliving that popular fecling had chapged upon some of the issues that were so prominent then, and that slock of any_corporstion; pus foroign corpora- the general opinion (80 long prevalent) had deep- ened that the reetrictive foatures of the present Constitution do retard the proper development of tho State, Accordingly, at the regular scasion, last year, a joint resolution, spproved April 24, 1873, waa passod, creating A CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION of eighteen members, to be appointed by the Governor, who should carefully reviso the exist- fog instrament, submitting their work to tho Logislaturo for roview,—the latter body in its turn, submitting the perfected articles to the people for final ratification. This Commis- %ion was daly appointed in the summer of 1873, met at Lansing in August of that year, snd, after s session of fifty-one_days, s adjourned sino die, placing a revised + Constitution in the ~ hands of the Governoj. The Commission was unquestionably strongly constituted, and con- tained sevarnl members of first-clase ability ; but the fact that it fell far short of meeting the domands of public sentument, in the matters of placing proper checks tipon the powers of cor- Porations, and of leaving the election of judicinl officers in the hands of the people, vory msa- terially impaired the favorsble influence the aggregato standing of its members would other- wise have ezerted upon the _genoral opinjon. 1his revised Constitution the Governor laid before the Legislature, assembled in an ex- 4ra session (which commenced on March 3 and closed on March 21); and that body mado some chinges in the work of the Commiseion, and left tho new instrument in the final ehape in whichit will bo voted upon by the people in the general election of November next. THE FEATURES OF THE REVISION. It will not take much space_to sum up the Jeading modifications made in the present or- gavic [aw by the Commission and the Legisla- fure, and a brief recapitulation of thom must posseas some genoral interest. Premising thata Tearrangoment of the entiro instrument was mado reducing tno number of articles from tweuty to eighteen, and grouping the various scctions upon much more congruous and convenient plan, I will indicate the character of sll the important shanges: 1.—JTRIES. The present Constitution requiresa unanimous verdict from nil juries, while tho new allows & verdict to bo Fnjen by not less than tiwo-thirds of » jury ih all civil cases; snd, in criminal cases, by consent of parties, s discharge of not more than one juror and & verdict by the remainder. . 2.—THE BENATE. This body is made more conservative by in- creasing the Senatorial term from two to four cara—members from the odd and even distriots cing elected alternately every two years. 3.—THE HOUSE. The number of Representatives is increased from 106 to 110. Every county that has a third more than the number of inhabitants entitling it to a Representative shall have two Represent~ atives ; and every county, or two or more ad- Joining counties, “containing one-third of the Dumber of inhabitants neceasary to representa- tiow, shall also have n Representative. This ia much more liberal towazds the nower portions of the State than the present Constitation,which only allows a Represcutative to new countiesthat Rave one-half tho population esseniial toa rep- Teacntative district, and, in other cases, compels their consolidation into districts containing the fall ratio of representacion. 4.—LiLLS AND RESOLUTIONS. At present, joint rosolucions are nct subject o tho Governor's Yoto; but {he new Constitu.. tion extends the veto-power to them, and to all concurrent resolutions appropriating money or property. Tho iron-clad rule, which now pro- ibite thé introd ictiou of any new mensures after the first fifty days of a locislative session is 80 far relaxed a3 to allow bills to come in of such importance as to recure the recommenda- tion of the Governorin a special message. A Pprovision is also added ordering thst the two- S et e e ok / whenever that is demanded, ) O S0 BT 6.—RPECIAL LEGISLATION. One of the most important of the provisions of the revited Constitution is tha: which pro- bibits sgecial Jegislation,—a legislative vice which is now without covstitutioual restriction, and has crowded the statute-books of this State with an enormouns msss of local and special Iaws, The twenty-second section of Art. 4 of tho new people's names, or the names of places; regu- lating Justices' of the Peace or Constables; changing venues; graoiing -special powors to Supervisors; summouing or impancling juries; regulating interest; authorizing the szle, leese, or mortgago of real estate belonging to miuors, or by execators or edminisirators, or by any ro- ligions corporation or Eociety; chartering or licensing ferries or toll-bridges; remitting fines, penalties, or forfeitures; crealing, - creesing, or decrcasing fees, _percentages, or allowances of pubiio ofiicers; chauging the law granting _to suy corporation, association, or individual, any epecial or exclusive privilege, immunity, of franchise whatever; declaring any person of 2ga; exteuding the time for the asscsement or collection of tnxes, or otherwise relicviug auy ‘Ansessor or Collecter of Tazes from tbe duo -performance of Lis ofiicial dutics; punishing erimes or misdemeanors; adoptig any person as another's child or boir; vacatwg or altering any road laid onr by Commissioners of High- \Viys, or any sireet, alley, or public ground “in any city ot village, or in any récorded town-plat; altering the boundarios of ~any school-district ; for building or repairing bridges, or for draining swamp or other low lauds, excopt by expendi- turo of grants to the State; and exempting any party from taxation. The Legislacuro is further required to provide by general laws for the ceses enumerated, and for all other cases whicly, in is judgment, way bo provided for by guch laws. ‘he uecessity aud valuo of theso provisionsaro universally recognized in this Stato, and this part of the work of revision has been applauded on all sides. 6.—THE SUPREME COURT. The number of Judges of the Supreme Court is increased from four to five; their terms from cight years to ten years, & _term expiring every two yenrs, The effect will be to abolish that evey division of the Court mpon any question, which has, in the past, preveatod the final deci- sion of #omo very important points. Cases in appellate jurisdiction are limited to a minimun of 100 in valuo, excopt where an appeal, writ of crror, ote., aro allowed by the Judgo trying the caso; whereas the present Constitution has Do restriction whatever. 7.—THE CIRCOIT COURTS. The present number of Judicial Circuite— twenty-one—is limited to seventoen; the Legis- Iature beiug suthorized to increasic the number as may bo necessary at the expiration of periods of six years. In order to relieve the Circuit Courts from trivial csses, the minimun of value in controversy is tixed at $25. 8.—BALANIES. The rovised instrument iucreases all salaries that are fixed in the Constitution, £8 shown in the following tablo : Present Consiitution. Supt. of Public Instruction. Socrétary of Slate. ,. Commissioner cf Lind-Ofice. Attcrney Gencral. .. Member of Legislaturo. The new Constitution algo fixes tle salaries of the Supremo Court Julges st $4,000. This is the amount pow paid by law: but the present Cobstitution leaves this matter wholly to the Legislature. 9.—RESTRICTIONS ON MUNICIPALITIES, The new article forbids the losung of 1nunici- pal credit to private corporations in any form, and forbids counties, cities, or townships from coustructing or owning uny railroeds. It also prohibits cities and viliages from incurring i dobtedness in excess of 10 per cent of the valua- tion of their taxable property, unless suthorized {0 do o by a popular vote; and quite & number of minor restrictions of like alutary character are also imposed upon municipal corporations of all kinds. < 10.—ANTI-SECTARIANISY. The proposed Constitution provides most ex- plicitly against supporting sectarian schools, or sy form of sectariamism, by means of the public funds, State or municipal. 11.—CONTROL OF CORPORATIONS. The provisions of the now Constitution on this pomnt aro exceedingly importaut. Thoy forbid the fictitious ixsue or increase of bouds or other evidences of indebtednees, or of the capital tions and their individuai stocklolders upon au exact equality with State corporations; author- ize the Legislature to regulate tho specd of railrond-traius ; forbid not only the cousolida- tion of stock between parallel azd competing railroad-lines (as is now done), but thoe leasing, operating, or management of competing lines, or any arrangement with reference to rates of faro, Treight, or the division of earnings; pro- hibit all railroad ofticials and employes from being ivterested in furnisling materinl or supplies to the corporation, or in the business of transportation over the ronds controlled by the. corporation ; and declure that railroads ehall ba public highways, and railroad companies com- mon carriers, that the property of corporations shall be subject to public use, and that their Dueiness must be conducted 50 as not to injure the equal rights of individuals. 12.—TATATION. The new article on finance and taxstion gives the Legislature sdditionsl power to impose specific inxoi " upon sny property or business within this State,” while the prevent Constitu- tion limits specific toxes to * bankiug, railroad, plank-road, and other corporations’ hereafter created.” The importance of this change will be scen when it is stated that it is_claimed that this provision will allow a system of taxation to be impoed upon the liquor-truffic in Michigan, sl- though anotber section of both tho old and the new Constitutions prohibits the passago of any license law. The new instrument further per- mits tho levying of local taxes on the property of corporations not used in their specific busi- ness; applies the specific taxes of all corpora- tious to the Educational fund, after the State debt is extinguished; forbids the State from aid~ ing railroads or any private enterprises; probib- its State officera from using the public funds for their awn privato beneit i auy manner; and requires all interest on the public moneys to be paid to the funds to which they belong. 3.—WOMAN'S RIGHTS. Attached to the new Constitution is 2 proposi- tion, which i to be voted upon at the same time, but_separately, striking out the word male in the article on ** Elections ;” which, if adopted, will allow women {0 vots in Michigan on precise- Iy the same terms (as to age, etc.) as men. In the body of the new Coustitution also occurs the following new provision : : Any woman bove the ago of 21 years, who shall bs a resident of this State, and _of the proper township, city, or ward, and who ia s citizen of the United Statcs, shall be eligible to the ofiice of Register of Deeds Notary Public, ofiices connected with_schools and Librarios, and to such other olices 54 msy ba desiguated ¥ law, THE PROSPECTS. While reflectin; men of all shades of opinion argue that the revised Constitation isa great improvement upon its predecessor, the prospects of itsratitication by the Jeo{de are not encourng- ing. Several influential elements are already combining for 18 dofent, of which the following aro the moat importaut : First—1he German vote of the State will go solidly against 1. Of this thers is no doubt, for this ~hostile movement is being carefally organized. It finds its origin in the action of the Legislature aupon the temperance question. The Constitutional — Commis- sion did not disturb that provision of the present Constitution which declares that #Tho Legislature shall not pass any act sutbor~ izing the grant of license for the sale of ardent spirits or other intoxicating liquors;” but it did add s proposition, to be voted tpon separately, providing for the restriction of the liquor-tratic Ly a system of lnxntiou", I':0 latter was at once attacked by the Proinbitioniste, who controlled the State Leislature,”and thoy resolutely re- fused, after a series of heated debates, to allow the people to vote upon the subject at all. This action grestly .incensed the Germans, and, to emphasizo their freely expressed indignation, they propose to _ropudiste the entire work of the Legislatare. This is in wholly irrational, for the prescat Constitution contaivs !he anti-liconse clause (word for word) of the mew one, and tims nothing whatever is gained by the latter's defeat, while the revised instrument, by its provicions, (noted above) ailowing tiie levring of specific taxes on ** business,” wonld give much grester latitade to legi: n on the very point in con- trovorsy than is now possible.” Moreover, the fact that the presect anti-license saction has been construed by our State Supreme Court as not prohibiting the municipal taxation of the liquor-trafiic deprives the whole question of most of its practical importance. Stll, theee 1ast conmideratiuns aro not given any weight in the matter Ly the Gerraan masses, whose *‘ mad is up,” as the result of the temperauco-crusade, a0d who mean, 28 a mark of vrath, to slaughter all that the.Legislature placed within their reach, without any regard to the abstract justice of such = preceeding. Second—The Pronibitionists will aleo, un- doubtedly, cest some votes against the new in- strument, from s fear that the section author- izing epecific taxes upon ** business " will allow the establishment of what would bo, to all in- tents and purposes, a license systes. Still, there is no present probability that they wili ar- EBuizo for its dofeat, althongh the Good Tem- plare’ organ, The Belter Age, is talking crosaly on the subject. Third—1he agricultural classes aro showing Constitntion forbida local and special lemn?lt._ian n]m saliecation ovar the slight incressa of in tho mattet U granting divozcas; provided for, The revision éa usdoubt | edly in the interest of economy, and, in its ag- gregate result, would cheapan, by many thou- sands of dollars, the cost of sdministering the Stato Goveanment, while the total incresso in the ealaries fixed does not exceod o fow thou- sznds per annum. Howover, the latter is tani- ble, while tho former is remote sud uot plainl visible on the surface; and tho rural pocket is rensitivo snd not broad in its judgments. Therefore, votes will be lost by a fprovision whose righteousness no seneiblo man will dis- pute. Fourih—The indications are that the Demo- crats will also, a3 & rule, opposo the revision. Their few members at Lanewg voted _against it, and their papers generally speak coldly of its merits and prospects, whilo a few of them vig- orously denounce it. - No especial grounds of op- position are given, and no just foundation for any partisan action can be found. Bat, asthe measurois & Republican onoe in ite origiv, and might aid that orzamzatien in case of success, it is £afo to nuticipate & largo'borcentage of Demo- cratic enmity. Fifth—1Le railrond interest will quietly do all it cau on the ** anti " side of this issue, for the purposes of escaping the stringent restrictions imposed upon_carporations in the new article under that head. Add to these positive clemonts of hostility the general apathy aud disgust crouted by recent po- Ditical developments, and the disposition &0 provalent among tho masses in this region just now to lut any head that happens to show itself, and it must be concluded that the prospects of the new Constitution are not roscate. Un- doubtedly it will roceive the support of tho lead- ing newspapers and tho influential pablic men of iho State, and on its merits it ought to bo rati- fied by an overwhelming majority ; but all the probabilitics are thst the Philistinos will b too numerous for it, and that 1t will join tho rovision of 1667 in tho Lmbo of unvitalized Constitu- tions. SmyEY. THE “DMOLLIE MAGUIRES.” Terrorism in tho Conl.Regions of Pennsylvania--Wholesale Assassine ation by o Segularly-Organized Baud of Outlaws. Corrispondence of The Chicago Tribune. ScraNTON, Pa,, April 7, 1674, Probably.no Stato in the country is so overrun with robbers and desperadoes as Pennsylvanis. Almost every largely-populated city or town has within its precincts & rogularly organizod DAND OF OUTLAWS, who hold the citizens in terror by their frequent and terriblo depredations on person and property. The acts of these semi-educated vandals outstrip, in many instances, those that are attributed to the border-ruffisna or the desperadoes of the Far West. The cause of all this torrorism, in sihiat is gonerally supposed to be acivilized State, is attribnted to the manner in which the crimina] cases are mauaged. 'The Legislators who make the laws, and the lawyers who handle them, are, s a rule, shysters ; and, if & criminal has money, 2 job is very easily arrangod by which Lo is al- lowed to go scot-frce. While scoundrels and vurglars walk the stroets of the priacipal cities unmolested, honest men are dying in the State Penitentiaries. Unless some radical ehange is eNlected soon, the Commonvweslth of Penusylva- nia will havo soon such = reputation for out- Inwry that strangers will avoid ic with shudders. To give tho readers of TuE TRIDUNE some idea of the terrorism which now exists in tho coal-regions of Pennsslvanis, your correspond- ent has written this letter from this city. Beranton is situated at the upper eud of the renowned Wyoming coal-rogion. Near hers, and in the eame corporation, is Hyde Park, s placo of some 10,000 populstion. This placo has, of recent years, been the scone of many outrages perpetrated by i TOE ‘‘ MOLLIE MAGUIRES,™ ahordo of desperadoes who iufest the ooal- country. 1t is eaid the *‘Mollies” origmated from & secret orgenization which existed for many years in Ireland. The band, which is be- tween 1,500 and £,000 strong, is led by Tim 0'Donelly, whose beadquarters arein s lonesome, unromautic spot on Keyaor's Mountain. In liyde Park and this city, no lees than twelve persons bave disappeared mysteriously, and are gaid to have been * put away” by the * Mollics," this year, Itissaid that they coutrol the adminis tration of Scranton ; and it is a matter of com- won belief that two of the leading city officials are members of tho band. TREIR PLAN OF OPERATIONS iseaid to beasfollows : Whenthe * 3lollies " have determined upon the death of any one who has incurred their vengeance, cats are drawn, and the one to whose lot it falls to dispatch tho vic- tim does his bloody work silently, but surely. A man named Joneg, a * Mollio,” warned a friend about o weok since, that he wass * marked man.” A fow days afterwards, Jones himself was found dead upon the bighway. Upon ox- amination, it was found that he had beon stab- bod to the emblem of heart, Near where he laid was the ho * Mollies,"—* a coflin, skull, aud to which was attached. on a card, So dies a traitor.” When the band wishes aoy one to leave tho neighborhood, a notice bearing some horrible symbol of death is placed on tho door of his residence, with tho written injunction that he must loave in twenty- four hours. It is needless to state that the warning is gencrally heeded. The * Mollie Ma- euiros ” have their way in everything ; and those that ivenr their disploasure, in suy part of the conl-region, aremade to quit the country, or forfeit their lives. IN THE_BCHUYLKILL REGION, especially sbout Mahauoy City, Girardville, Lo- cust Gap, Centralia, Alt. Carmel, and Shamiokin, the * Molliey "puraue their depredations with- out any check,—the people living in constant fear of their livos. Hardly a day passes but that o “mysterious death™ occurs. A few days since, a miner, Michael Dougherty, was passing slong the main street of Centralia, when, all at once, he was seen to totter and fall. Persons ran to him, snd, upon reeching the spof, found he had been ehot. As no shot was heard at the time of the occurrence, the matter was, of course, regarded s very mystorions. The mnn +was cerriod to lus homé, and on the door of his house was found the inscription: **He be- trayed tho band.” This was followed by skalls, cross-bones, und otler hideous emblems. By this it was_at once known who committed the murdor. No attempt is ever mado by the su- thonities to unfavel thoso crimes, a8 evarybody fenrs the vengeance of the terrible organization. Itis generally conceded that there is no law in Schuylkill County. The * ollies” number about 2,000 in the Schuyltill region, The leaders are many, but tho 108t prominent one is eaid to be a man_by the namo of Bamey Dolan, who lives near Lo- cust Gop. Citizens, businoss-men, coal-ope- retors and miners, have either been driven from the regions or brutally assassinated on the high- ways. THE POPULAR BELIEF. These brigands are bound by the most terrible onth: and, if one is selected to commiv murder, and then fails, Le 18 compelled to dio by his own hand. in presence of tho entiro organization. Pt Haster, who is now in_tho Eastern Peni- tentiary, is Known as the “King of the Aollie Maguires.” During the memorablo *long strike” of 1870-'71, he tried to force Father Koche, of Shanokan, to allow tho burial of one of the pand in consecrated ground. Upon being refused, he raised a riot. The Stata troops were czlled oat, and he, together with several others, waa nrrested and imprisonod. 1t is daring A MINERS' STRIKE that the “ollies™ raiso the misshief generally. Your ocorrespondent hox been tho witness of son:e terriblo ecenes at such times. Murders are perpetrated; “‘minc-breakers” and other prop- erty burned. Durivg the * long strike,” no less than 100 persons fcll victims to the riots and disorder, while, at the timo of the “stand-out,” last winter, at least twonty-five atrogious mur- ders wero perpetrated. *loliic Maguirism"” is increasing in all the coal-districts; and eveutually uothing can be dono by the citizens, unless sauctioned by the organization. Such # state of affairs would seam almost impossible in tho State of Penusylvania: but matters are at present even worsa than has been depicted here. In someof tho obscure mining towns, tho people are even now afmid to venture npon the streets at night, for fear of at- tack: while, in thecities, all the males, and many of tho females, go to their places of bLosiness armed. Every town in the coal-regions has & branch of the “3Mollie Maguire” organization, which is controlled by the leaders in the Scran- ton, Wyoming, and Schuylkill regions. Wkon a “big Job" is to be put up, delegations are sent from the_ principal beadquarters, to ‘‘make as- suranca doubly sur Totnust. Sharp Girl The girls in a California scminary iately de- veloped & singular fancy for using throe I-cent etamps, instead of the regular kind, npon Lheir envelopes, Tho letters were wo very plun and matcer of fact, and the attempis at evading survoillance in the old-fashioned way grew so scarce, that one inspecting teacher investigated this whim. Andlo! the cuaning creatures had taken to writing tender, emotional hittle epistles %0 thelr lovars under the stampa. OUR FORESTS. An Earnest Appeal for Their Preservation. Shameful Wasto of Timber—Efect of Forests on Rain-Fall. What Our Fences Cost--Destruction of Timber for Railroad-Ties. Letter from Gen. Brisbin to Sena- tor Hitcheock. F Oatarza, Neb,, April 4, 1874, The Hon. P. W. Hitcheock, United States Senate, 1ash- ington, D. C. Xy Dean SeNaToR: I cannot say when I was more gratified than in reading the papers the other day that the President kad made the pres- ervation of our forests the subject of a special mesaage to Congress, and recommended the pas- sage of an act creating 5 Commissioner of For- estry. Idoubt if a wiser recommendation has been made by any President, snd I hope Con- gross will not adjourn without acting upon that message. None but those who bave made troo- growing, and tho criminal waste of timber, s careful study, can appreciate the necessity of legislation on this subject. Wo Lave now left untouched, in the whiole United States, but ONE REALLY GREAT TRACT of timber, consisting of sbout one-hslf of Wash- ington Torritory and a third of Oregon. Califor- nis hos, perhaps, 500,000 scres of forest. one- half of which has been cut away within the last two years; but that Stato, awarc of the future necessity, and keenly alive to ths depletion of our forests, has already commenced the caltiva- tion of tho Australin,—a tree that grows rapidly and to great size. Now York has lost her maple, walnut, hickory, and has now no considerable forest left, except what ia to be found in her Adirondacks. The Wieconsia forests are in process of rapid dogtruc- tion,—no less than 1,630,000,000 feet having been cnt in & single year. Tens of thonsands of logs are annually rafted down the Miseissippi to towns in Tows, whero they are cut into lumber. One firm,—Young & Co.,—I am told, bavo a mill at Clinton, Is., that runs 200 saws, and _threc- fourths of all the lumber thoy cut goes to Kausas and Nebraska. In one year, 185,000,000 feet of Wisconsin logs were cut in Iowa ; and I predict that, if the present destruction goes on, in ten or twenty years at most, not only the forests of ‘Wieconsin, bat Michigen and Minnesots, will be SWEPT AWAY. Only consider for a moment that 50,000 acres of Wisconsin timber aro cut anpually to supply the Kaneas and Nebrasks market alone. The Sag- juaw forests are now practically destroyed ; aud, if tho Northern Pacific Railroad sbould be built, it will open up and subject to the ax the Oregon and Washingtou Territory forests, and then the last great belt of American timber will be de- stroyed. Letusat lenst save, and use with economy, the magnificent yellow fir trecs (many of them 300 foot Ligh) that cover this poruon of our public domain. The greatest cormorants we will have to con- tend with will be the railroads, Thoy already use ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILLIONS OF TIES ANNU- ALLY, and our railroading Les but just begun. Ties have to be replaced every seren years; and, when 10,000 miles more of rail have been laid, it will require nll the young trees in the country to supply the demnnd for ties. " A tie, as every one knows, is made from soung timber, tho trees be- ing only 8 to 10 inckes in diameter, and few trees will cué more than two ties. There can no longer be any doubt that the rain-fall and water-courses of a country are QREATLY AFFECTED DY ITS FORLSTS, A peach-treo will give off 18 pounds, or about 2 gallons, of meisture every twelvo hours. The ovaporation, then, from tho earth through trecs must be imiaense, the roots often drawing from underground springs, and throwing off through their brauches vest volumes of humid air. Es- pecially is this true of Kansas and Nebraeka, whoro, at a depth of some 20 fect, whito sand 18 struck which i8 so full of water that, in many places, pubterraneous streams have been formed, and are frequently struck when bormng shafts for wolls. % I think the great carrents'of air which leave the Pacific Coast bumid and warm empty in snows on the Rocky Mountains ; and, E:nv[ng the mouatains dry, thoy sweep over the Great Plains, finding 0o moisture to take up until they pass over the Missouri and Mississippi, when, having been recharzed, they empty in Illinois and Wisconsin. In Wyoming Territory, &s we know, the dearth is almost complete’; but, in Nebraska, the heavily-timbered heads of her slreams give some humidity, and the clouds ompty in froquent showers along the Loups, Niobrara, Plattes, Elkhorn, and Missouri. Those who have watched the effect of forests on rain- {lls say that, by commencing at the edge of a dry bolt, the forests, and consequent rain-falls, miy gragually be oxtended across the whoie of the dry belt. So we might commouce Lere at Omaba, &nd, by gradually planting trces west- ward, increaso the humidity of the atmosphere, until the required moisture for rain is reached ALL OVER THE DRY PLAINS. ‘The deplorable result of the loss of timber is now to bo secn all over Europe. The Eibe has loat 16 per cont of its flow in consequence of cutting away of the trees along its banks, ex- ‘posing its watcrs to the hot sun, and cousequont increased evaporation. The island of Sauta Cruz, in the West Indies, which, twenty-five years sgo, was & garden of . fertility, 18 now a desert almost,—the result of cutting away tho forests. Tho theory is, that the dry car- rents of air are retarded by forests, and elovated until a point of coudensation is reached. Radi- ation is also prevented, the air colled, and the clouds passing over forests are 'rendered Taoro easily condensed. Electricity i3 also & great agent, the treees being negatively charged, and drawing with great power the positively charged clouds. This theory is no longer doubt or experiment, bat positive fact, demonstrated by oxperience and knowledge of the lawa that govern the atmosphere. I kuow you agree with me in these views, and it was a convictivn that they are corract which led you to frame and have 5 %y whon literally compelled to do so. M. is jnst oor annual decrease of forest, bnt it is notfar from 8,000,000 acres, 38 sgainst 10.000 acres new forest planted. Tius ia truly alarming, aud certainly it was ].\i(,:h time for some one to call tho atiention of Congress to tho subject of forestry. s . Your excellent bill to provide for the growing of now forests will do much to save u3 from & timber-dearth ; but we must, nevertheless, take the best care we can of our old forests, and make them last as long 28 possible. As the father of the new Forest bill, I thought you the most proper person to bring forward A TRIBER-SAYING LAW, N £nd T writo that you will doso at your earliest convopienco, and press it to a voto the present session. You will no doubs find able minds to second you, for I feel sure such thinking men as Carpenor, Conkling, Cameron, orton, Chan- dler, and Logan, In tho Scnate, and Kolley, Daves, Blaing, Myers, Butler, Negloy, O'Neill, and others, in the House, will recognize the nocessity of preserving what forests our vandal fathers have left us. Very truly, yours, &c., Jaues'S. BuissIN, THE BAPTIST COUNCIL. ‘Fhe Other Side. To the Editor of The Chicago Tritune: Sm: While the finding of the Council on Ar. McCarthy is almost universally regarded as just, by one man its methods of procedure have been criticised and denounced. This critic, whilo de~ claring that his pulpit has been barred against Mr. McCarthy for two years; and, moreover, charging him with having ¢ preached sermons which disgraced the pulpit and inenited every Buptist minister in America,” and having ac- knowledged to the Clerk of the Council his agreement with the verdict,—notwithstanding, without just provocation, rushes into print, and holds up bis bretbren in the miniscry, together with the representatives of the churches, to the condemnation and ecorn of the world, as hay- ing perpetrated a great outrago in this Christian ago and land. And all this, observe, because they did what he acknowledges ought to have been done, His position with regard to tis matter cppears to be tlus: Because, for- sooth, he was not permitted todictate the method of procedure,—with allthe teuacity and obstinacy of his Scottish character he opposes it. Some men imagino themselyes born (o lead, and such, wo tako it, is the inferonce of tho protestor. But this is not the conclusion of the mattor. Ilis church is forced into a position wherein they must either vindicato his mode of procedure, or dispenso with his services. 1t scems necessery, therefore, that the friends of the Couccil should speak in its behalf, and vindicato its members from misrepresentation and falsehood. It is bighly probable that, if thoso who composed the Council had their work fo do over sgain, they might take a different course. But it is not couceivable that they could, by any_poesibility, bave reached s differ- ont result. No one who impartially considers tho difiicult and embarrassing circumstances un- der which they 1abored, together with the char- acter of the men composing the body, will feel disposed to impugn their motives, criticiae their course, or stigmatize their action. There are several very important considera- tious to which the attcution of tho public hus not been callod, but which are essential to & just decision : TFirst—No Council was ever more regularly called. In accordance with the advico of the ex- parte Council, the church, with absolute unan- imity, and in the precise imanner specified i Crowell's Mznual, called to its aid this Ecclesi- astical Conneil. Second—It was constituted 8o as to meet with tho approbation of Mr. McCartly aud bis frieuds. ‘I'ho church wished to include 1n the call & num- ber of suburban churches of the Fox River and Chicago Asscciations. The accused aud his ad- herents objected, and requested the restriction of the call to the city churches. The church ac- ceded to their wishes, 80 that the Council, to all intents and purposes, was of their own selection, —a8 much their own 88 though they alone had issued the call. Third—Each church inclnded in the call se- Jocted its wisest and best men as representatives. Twenty-eight more fair, conscientious, and clear- heoded men cannot be found in the Daptist churches of Chicago. And these are the men who sare held up to theridicule and condemnation of the world by oue of the most youtbful min- isters in the city, a8 conspirators and sssmseing. ‘I'hat minister's position is not an enviable ono who becomes the falso accuser of his brethren. Fourth—The Council acted with almost porfect unapimity from first to Jast. It sclected s Mod- erator who was thorouglily conversant with eccleaiastical usages and parliameutary rules, and sustained him in all of his decisions. It hag been represented that there was frequent disorder and confusion in the mectings. The fact is pateut to all who watched the procee ings, that the majority of the Council acted with courtesy and moderation, strictly observing the rules of order. Ono man repeatedly, day After day, thronghout the sessions, songht to obstruct tho proceedings and introduce discord, and he ‘the accuser of his brethren,” Fifth—No body of men wag ever moro patient finder abuse. The defendant permitted no op- portunity to pass without accusing, browbeating, and insulting the very men whom his friends had invited to investigate his conduct. Hecalled in question their wtelligence, impugned their motives, and charged them with conspiring to blacken lis good vawme, and even ‘‘murder” him. One other man, from time to time, joined in this tirade of abuse,—the protestor. The Councl, with Christian forbearance and patience oodured tt all, occasionally offering & dignified and courteous rebuke. Sixth—The Council proceeded throughout oa one princivlo: It appearod to them that tho greatest kindness they could poseibly exercise foward the accused—whether innocent or guilty —would be to introduce all the evidence for the prosecution in his presonce, snd then allow am- ple timo for Lis defonss. An innocent minister, it accused of lying or embezzlement, wonid not ingist on having the day, the charges, and tho witnesses, specified before submitting to trial. He will ask that the ovidence be introduced, and then, if necessary, request time to secura coun- ter-testimony. This was tho principle upon which the Council acted, as & court of equity, beloving that this course wonld insuro justico to the accused. They wanted all the facts in the cese brought before them, aud then directed the Sccretaries to furnish Ar. McCarthy with & verbatim copy of all the testimony, which con- tained the specifications complete. They then allowed the defendant all the timo requested for the purpose of preparing his defense. No min- ister was ever treated with grester considera- tic; “or allowed better opportunitios to meet the ¢} | o8 preferrad and vindicate Limself. « | «tenth—The Council went into private seas}l:!ml c- pussed your great timber-growing bill, giving + Sarthy desired them to act with open doors. It overy person 160 acres of the public Jands who would plant 20d keep in good order for ten years forty ascres of timber. That law, as amended at this session of Cougreas, I think, 18 NEARLY PERFECT, and does you groat crodit as a wise law-giver. But not ouly in Europe, butin America, is the loss of timber alrcady lamentably felt. Many of our rivers have lost Lalf their uscfulnees for manufacturing purposes. Tho Connecticut is sow bardly navigable, and the Ecunebec and Merrimac have elirunk one-fourth. The Potomac has lost nearly s fourth of its volume, and the Hudson doclined s sisth. If the Adirondack wilderness and otber foreets adjacent zre do- stroyed, 1 believait woald render the Hudson wholly nnnavigable. Perhaps tho greatest drain at present on our timber-supply is TIE FEXCES of the United States. This cormorant is now felt in every State of the East, znd every year farmers are becoming more saving of their tim- ber. It is an astonishing fact, but noveriheless true, that tho fences have cost more than tho lands, and are to-day the most valuable class of property in the United States, except railronds, and real estate in citice. Our fences are valued 2t one thousand eight hundred millions of dollars, andit coats ninety-eight millions to xeep theminre- paire. The new State of Illinois alone hus £2,000,- 000 invested in fences, G0 per cent of which are boords, post, and rail, and 40 per cent wirs and Ledges. They cost annually 175,000 for re- Ppairs. 4 In Nebrasks, fences have cost leas in propor- tion to the population than in any other Siate in the Union, the excelient herd laws fu forco Lera having lessencd the necessity for fences. Theso Iaws should beadopted in every State, and farm- ers shiould Lesdge, and thus utilize the 31,000,000 or more of dend capital now invested in fences in each State. Incredible 28 it may seem, forests are still FELLED AND DURNED for the purposo of bringing the land under calti- vation. From 1860 to 1870, no less than furelre million acres of forest were cut, the timber logged, and burned on the ground, so the laud could be farmed. The annual decrease of for- eats by lozging and burning, I am told, is still wome 2,0003090 acres per year. And, while we havo been doing nothing to replace our forests, the demand for lumber in the United States has increased at the rate_of 25 per cent esch yesr. There was received at Chicago in 1871 over 2.500,000,000 feet of lumber, and 10,000 scres of 1and were stripped of timber to supply that great ity with fusl.” I cannot say with cartainiy what. *was to gratify bis vesire that the) couseuted. But the deliberations of the body were con- stantly interrupted by the friends of the accasod, propoing irrelevant questions, insulting the mt- nesses and attorneys, objecting to the rulings of tlio Chair, jeering, threatening, ustorly preciud- ing the possibility of transacting business; in siort, converting the court of justice into a very Dabel. Ineheer sclf-defense, the Council was obliged to closo tha doors, permitting, at tho same time, the representatives of tho press, togother with several of the defendant’s friends—e. g., Messre. Burtis, Brigham, Paront, and otbers to remain. Eighth-—~While tho prosscution was utterly prohibited from introducing hearsay testimony, much wider lztitude was granted the accnsed in bis defense, 38 1n the testimony of Mrs. Curtis, for exawple, and of the sccused himself. The prosecution objectzd, and protested that that kind of testimony had been ruled out when of- fered by them ; but the complsint Waa not con- sidered. DNinth—Tho_greatest liberty of speech was granted 3r. McCarthy. He was permitted to teetits in his own defense, queation all witnesses, speak on all motions ; and in this way occapted more time than all the members of the Council put together, if Ar. ** Protest " bo exncptod. Tenth—The case was not prejndged. ** Pro- test " alone confessed that he wentto tho Council Dinsed againat the prisoner at the bar. It is pos- sible (?) that the public believes this. At tho opening of the secret seseion, on the last evening, no member of the body knew how his brother felt. 2Mr. Gordon was the ouly man who expressed an opinion. When the result of the informal ballot was announced, all were sur- prized at the unanimity revealed. The Council renponded to the invitation of the Upion Park Church most reluctantly. Every member would gladly have resigned bis position. They sacrificed procions time and business. It was their detormination, in the sight of Heaven, to do justly and remember morcy. Their decis- lon was the conviction of their inmost souls. For twenty-seven years the Baptist churches of Chicago had not been called upon to try a minis- ter. There were few precedents to go by. But it i believed that substantial justice has been done. The Council, if anything to biame, acted 00 leniently. 'Tre public would hzave indorsed the action with the unanimity displayed by the Council, if one man, who could not bend twenty- eight others to his will, all but one of whom were older than himeelf, bad not publicly and disgracefuily garbled and mistepresentsd the re- port of the edings. Yours, stc, Cricuad, Ao §, 1L " Bquzn TRANSIT IN CITIES. Wanted Greater Facilities for Both Rapid and Slow Transit. A Proposed Elevated Railway Along the Line of Alleys. 1 brve a few earnest words to say to the peopls of Chicago sbout a growing neceseity for the means of transit and transportation in this city. This is s matter that concerns them deeply at the present time, and will concern them more and more a8 population increases. It should be remembered that the present is the, primary age of city improvement under modern civilization. It is within the memory of middle-aged men that everything that marks the improvements of streets in cities, better than the boylder-paving of olden timo, has come into use, such as the Dutch and Russ paving, the concrete and asphalt paving, the wood paving, the rails for horse-cars, and underground and elevated rail- 1uads, and even the omnibuses. Xet NONE OF THESE aro the complete thing, and it is ceriein that many improvements sre much needed still. The commercial character of the timos has drawn millions to cities, 0 that human inge- nuity is taxed to its utmost to provide for their convenient transit to and fro. This very great rush to the city, the piling upof society and humanity in masses, is what has given the rage we now havo for suburban residences. Said the Chief Engineer of the City of London tome, * e do not wish to encourage any scheme of public improvement to bring people into the city. Our greatest care is to know what to do with the people that are already come, and how thoee who are here csn best get about, and how get away.” And onoof these great means was the underground railway of London, with traina coming an d Geparting at all times, every two or three minutes, M. RICHARD P. MORGAN, JR., gon of the old engineer of the Galena Railrosd, Las recently written o very interesting article for Tux TRisUNE on the various plans for rapid traneit which have been thonght of, aud experi- mented upon in the City of New York. The projeets principally epecified are the under- ground way, in which comparisons are made with the London, and the elevated track, on the prin- ciple of which is the Greenwich-street line in New York. And he tells us of a scheme of his o0 vwn, which bie bas patented, for a line suspended by Gothic arches over the centre cf the street ; and also a plan of Vanderbilt’s. which has been recently broached, and which he well calls au- dacious, for elevating & track in Broadway on colunus crected in the centre of the street. These aro all interesting a8 samples and tests, or rojects for thonght to thoso who wan facts, or are interested in such plans for city imorove- ments, What do they suqgest to us in the way of fillang the wants of the Cily of.Chicago? Wiat does Chicazo need? These are questions which the nowspapers do well in discussing. . ‘WIAT DOES CHICAGO NEED? . She needs, first, better and more convenient meuas of travei t, both for men axd vehbicles, on acd in the streets than sho now bas, o that the pressure upon her public atreots, 28 population sball iucreaso shall be relieved and equalized. The improvements may bLe extended to vebicles 28 well as to the ways. Secondly, she needs some practical scheme or means for rapid transit; 8o that the time now consumed by carrisges and borse-cars can be much shortened. The city is so large, the ra- dius of population 8o broad, that it 15 a burden of expense in time and money for s man to reach both home and business. Now, weall can oo that the emergency demands some device or improvement to meet this want. What becomes 2 necesaity in tho way of human improvement is in the end some way achieved. Nov, it is wisdom to_look the necessity in the faco; provide for it, while ic can bo more cheaply dore than when population is more dense and property higher in value. THE CITY NEEDS & double-track line, for rapid passage, from near tho Government buildiug in the South Division, running midway betwoen the river and the lake, on s parallcl line witli the streets, to extend gix or eight miles south. Sheneeds a like double-track on the North Side, extending to Lake View, and also on the West Side, to extend three or four miles west. Then thess stems need to be connected Dby a line on the circumference of the city, taking the parallel lines of tho streets as far as prac- ticable; so thata person on either one of these sections may reach any otker portion of the city that is upon either of " these lines, and be con- veyed to any distent point. 1t may bo said. we have these, snd can have them still further extended in the street-carsys- tem. But we have not the speed. What is de- manded i3 BAPIDITY OF PASSAGE. The lines must be of that character that the or- dinary speed of the mailwsy can be obtained. This cannot be done on the Surfsce where the train would como in contact with man and beast in the public etreets. The pablic will never al- low its business or residence streots to ba thus encumbered. "And it is certain that we can have no under- ground railway in Chicsgo. It is because the ground-surface is too near the water-level of the lake ; and, as wo_could_Lave no cellars, even, witliont the certainty of being looded, before the grade was elovated, so we can have no under- ground railroad until we drain down the lake 15 Toet more, or raiso the grads sgain. Either of these would be entorprise that this generation might boast loudly of. Therefore, whole underground system AUST BE ABANDONED without even discussion. It only remains to build on the surface, or buld on an elevated grade, made so for the purpose of sustaining the frack. Building on the surface is confessed an impracticability if we 1will have speed, because people and vebicles will occupy all our great streets in crowds, and will -not and cannot be put out of the way of the cara. Is there any way iu which we can have an elevated track, s0 that we can got from the city at such spoed 88 it will make it profitablo to go to and fro, or live out of it, and do busainess hero 7 HOW CAN WE HAVE IT ? Mr. Morgan's plan is probably better than any yot devised, 08 a mere working machiue. Bus it soeiny to mo that its enormous expense sill for- ever debar it from any city like Caicago. Then the rapid passage of @ train of caraover the centre of a thronged street, the rumbling of the cars overhead, the locomotive sending out fire, and smoke, and steam, will be a nuisance un- bearublo to the populition, apd will terrify horses. Itseems to mo ths public would not enduro it until they are prepared to abandon the street altogether to theroad ; and, when they are roady for that, the road had better come to the surfaco. Butit does seem to me probable that they miglt ondure the nuisanco, for the sake of the public good, if tho track were PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE. It cannot be put over the blocks, or through the midst of the lots and the ground condemued for that purposo, because that would make the lize too expensive ever to be remunerative. And the public hiave rights of way in anotler place than throogh the main streets. I suppose the authority of the public over the alleys 18 concar- rent with the authority over the streets for all legitiniate purposes. ButIam no lawyer, aud peihaps some barrister may come in and bar my way, and kuock all my echeme to nought. Bat, when I owned property in the city that butted on an alley, the authorities never treated mo aa if [ Liad any Tight in that alley which they or the public were bound to respect. My proposition, then, is to put this railway ALONG THE LINE OF THE ALLEY. Elevate it sufficiently to secure the passage of the train over the cross-streets on an arch and girders, transversely to the streot; and support the tracks over tlie alley ou iron’columus, or trici walls, along the line of the lots, as it may be deemed best in the particular situstion whero the truck is made. The surface or pathway ‘of the alley should be kept entirely clear, as it now is, for the use of the rear of tho lots. The walls which support the girders or beams on which the track is laid mny%a tho rear walls of the Iot, considered only 28 a fence to divide the Iot from te alley, with door-ways or arch-ways for free passage; or, in most cases in the popu- lous parta of the city, they may become the rear walls of the buildings. The elovated track in this eitustion is entixely out of the way of everybody and everything. The traflicin the street is not in the least disturbed; the proper use of the alley a8 an alley is not interrupted. If it did not interfere too much with veutila:ion, ¢ berailway- track mightbe the roof of the covered way of the wholo alley (enilicient light being let in 8t the sides), which would keep out the snow ur rain, and make the alley cleaner and more agreeabls 28 8 passsge-way. The stopping-places to take on aad off passangars will, of course, be over ;lz’:i [:.xdswnlk, with easy ascending flighty of Bat this all depecds upon the fact, _ DO THE PEOPLE WANT rapid means of trausit in this cits? It ao, must take itas theycan get it, It is cartaiy ¢ :‘l;:s ;m;a -.vnl_lifiomm in a very few years pm’f::gll; {rhon they will feel that the necedsity is impery 1t is nono too early to begin to provids for i WEST AND EAST. The Tariff Legislation of the Pasp ‘Tweive Xears. To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: Sm: Since the close of the War, has notshy policy of the Government tended to, snd yf. fected the acquisition of. the commercial and financial sggrandizement and supremacy of the Eastern and Middle States of the Union over the Western and Southern States—of the capitaj ang mannfacturing States over the agricaltury States? Is it not this policy which has pro. duced the most noticeable phenomens in our condition sinca the War, as compared with the condition uf the country before tho War? The sgriculture of the West and South is ¢;. day producing the bulk of tho exportablo wealty of the country. Their products not only sp. ply the vast home demand, but also paythy larger part of our indebtedness, Notwithstang. ing this, it is the East which monopolizes thy imports, which are mostly luxurics, spends ‘money abrozd in European tzavel, spends money extravagautly at home, ahd yet has mo lend, aud, in times of panic, money to hosrd, while the producers of tEe ‘West have to contenf themselves with a homely subsistence, and thy producers of the South are in a still mors ds. plorable condition. . Naturally this state of things conld ist. 1t could only be brought about by means. It is the BESULT OF OUR FINANCIAL LEGISLATION, not ex. Since the closo of the War our tax system, both impost and ;Zif; has been ' framed aud execmted wity 8 view to this end. The tariff has not been for revenue—far from it. The whole_internal-rey. enue system is, in fact, 50 arranged, 2s faras thy necessities of the caso will permit, as to faver sectional interests. Both together have been designed and manipulated bya few knowin, oues, who bave shaped aud controlled the legic- lation of Congress by natural and artificial powers, 80 88 10 onrich thewr constituenta at the expense of the developers and earners of the substantial wealth of the nation. Since the suo- ceus of the last Presidoutial campaign there has been an entire subsidence of all war-talk. It is logical, therefore, to conclude that the *crme! war is over ” at last, and that its fruita areal) secured ; and this question forces itself : Is this advantoge of the East over the West and South: —this establishment of the political supremacy ofa fapxtaé :lnad m;;zopnly aristocracy over the ‘people, an 0 foct mastery by 1t o Hheir thdustriea-tho LTt Al LEGITIMATE: FRUIT OF TIE WAR ? After all, was not the War the culmnation of & long contict, dating from the ratification of the Constitution, between the interests of differ- ent sections of the country ? As it was upon tha tariff question that the South first threatened 1y secede, was not fiual seceasion undertakea maip- ly to avoid sabmission to tariff-protection, which the Sonth knew would be ruinous to her? Mors- over, waa not the determination to fores th ‘monopoly upon the South and the whole country the real wotive in the Enstern and Middle Statea that roused them to and nerved then m the War sgamst Secession, 1:d more st heart really than patriotisa, | which was the motivein tie West, oranimosity ! to slavery, which was the motive of butafex fanatica ? ; I Itis overwhelmingly apparent that this con- flict of interests is still going on, and, judgug ! from the anti-monopoly uprisings all overths country, it promises to be an irvepressible oue, There are many among those most alive to the injuries that oppress them and the dangers s threaten thom, who are determined sgant | longer submission ; and, 88 it is chiefly through » protective tariff that ono small section of ths country holds the mastery over sll the otbers, this contlict, in the nature of things, can mever be settled to the satisfaction of those opprecsed except BY ITS REPEAL OR BY ITS NULLIFICATION, One or the other is inevitable. We are drifting dreadfally near to & repetition of the saddest 2aa most direful chapter of our lustory. *Nallifica- tion " i » fighting word. . War is tho last resort of Kings. Bebellicnis the last resort of peoples. May God grant us peace and the preservation of the Union. There seems to me to bo but one way mpucubl:( ac- complish a repeal of * Protoction,” and that is upon tho ground of its unconstitutionality. Even fter the demonstration of its damnsbie injustice ; oven after the nstion, toamen, ia convinced of it,—the vote on it, sectionally ed individually, will be governed by self-interest. It will still 'be a conflict of interests, the esuls of which may continue the present condition of things; that of a majorty inflicting upon s minority, not only su acknomledged Dbut s tyrannous and destructive wrong. Now, if there was anything that the frmen and ratifiers of the Constitution dreaded, a4 endeavored to provent by every means that com- probensive foretlought could suggest, it Weas 1mposition like this by the General Governmed: upon the NATURAL RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNED. Early amendments show the jealons fear the had of the Government being wielded 1s1 porwer for the oppression of the people, of m- norities, of weaxor sections, or even of icf- viduals. For this reason, they specifically ited the powers of the Government they wen constuuting over themselves and their posteri. Hence, when they conferred upon Congress tkt power *‘to lay andjcollect duties,” etc.; “toyay th debts, and provide for the common defento azd general welfare of the United States,” (Art.} Sec. 8, clauso 1.) they distinctly limited tbwqamj- pose of these duties to that of revopue. It & ot conceivable that they iutended to allow e Government a function, by the exercise of which, being nnder the control of any sestion, arty, or fraction, that Government coald .deoy o the country at large, or any section of it tid right of freedom in trade—s power by which the Government could enrich the section cantrolling it, to the impoverishment of those not cou- trolling it. 1t is not probable that they intended to coo- cede this power when they had bat just freed themselves: by a long and determined stuggie, from o tyrraony which, in the Declaration of Indepondence, they had dmmglvhumd for cutting off their trade with all pans of the world.™ Tho Convention which mtified the Constitation in New York, sod that by & vote of 30 to 27—a majority of ¢o:¥ three,—resolved “That nothing in tbe ssid Coustitution contained shall be constroed to suthorize Congress to grant monopolies,™ etc- Is it reasonable to suppose that they ever dreamed that, under that Constitation, CO?BF‘;‘ could usurp the right to t moropolies by the wholesals, in order to drive the earnings the meny into the coffers of the few? . . It is not coveeivable that the Copslitntiod does, or over waa intended,'to empower Cocgress to luy prolubitory dutics or import duties fXX the benefit of sny 8ection or of any ial Our whole tarifl-system, from its concap! ezmts unconstitutionally, and will till its destl and barial, never to be resurrected. Itis UNCONSTITUTIONAL. o It is an unconstitational monster, whose exL‘ ence isimperiling the hiberties and indepevdea<t of the people, the integrity of tho Unioi, 527 sullving the purity of the Government. Tt that advocate it and protit by it Juow 2 1ts iniquity, but its uoconatitutionslity. “;; nzht or wrong, constitutional or uncoot! o tional, they fought for it, they intrigned for and they mean to have it, if political po¥eh corruption, or force can maintainit. 456 Tho time hes come, I believe, when it is ue® less and dangerous longer to_dally with t ovil. Tt must, with all its terriblo propensitics be put down, or 1t will ntterly consume us. i time has coma to fight it from the press snd & tho tloors of Cougress, upon the grousd 7 ite unconstitutionallly, Let us at least 1637 whother the Constitution is still the by premo law of the land,—s law over G goveroment, a3 “alfi, i the goremeCi or whether, when greed, and avarice, 80C Faption £l the seats and riot in tho lobies o Congress, it is no longer a eafeguard aod & i dofenss to the freedom and rights of tho Pe LET US AT LEAST LEARN Lo whether it is a function of our quernm!fl] o7 turn loose a horde of princely thioves (1877 tribute from the industries and carniogs of 2 people ; or whether it is_its duty, 28 8 PIrEAC, ) of social order aud doumestin n‘lfl't]nflhm,“ guard the peopls, in their peacefal vfl;'l“;_,,_ from destruction by these surreptitions a0 ing foos. Frep. B. Wis> Prince Arthur. il Prince Arthur whose name is also Patrich 3% who will probably be made Duke of Dublis, ¥ bo 24 next May, and, i overything goce well 7 800 after cross the channel to be bis % Viceroy. He is s highly intelligent, well &d, amiablo, and discreet young man, Yery Iaf with the army and with all persasd whom b has been hrough into oontach