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Tlye Tetbvne, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPFION. MY MAIL—IN ADVANCE—! ally Fdltion, one year,,. Parta of & year. per montl nday Editiy Literary T 2y "k k| ‘Specimen copiea sent tres. Give Post-UMce sddress in fall Includiog Btats and Connty, mm’nuneu maybe mada either by draft, express, Toat-Offica order, arin registered lcttern, At ourrisk, TERMS TO CITY BUDSCRIBERS. Daily, delivored, Sunday excepted, 25 cents per weok. atly, dellvered, Sunday Included, 30 conts ner week. ‘Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Cornet Madison and Dearborn-sta., Chieago, il Ordera for the deliyeryof Tnz Tainuxe at Evanston, Englewood, and Iydo Park left1n the countlng-room wllizeceive promot attention, TRIBUNE BRANCII OFFICES. Tne CnicAG0 TRINUKE has established branch offices for the recelpt of subscrintionsand sdvertisements s follows: NEW YORK—Room 20 Tribune Dulldiog. F. T. Mc- Favpxx, Managor, PARIS, France—No. 16 Ttua do |a Grange-Datelicre, H.)anrzn, Agent. . LONDON. Eug.—Ameticsn Exchangw 440 8tzand. Hixymy F. GiLLto, Agent. SAN FIIANCISCO. Cal.—Palace Tiotel, MONDAY, MAROCH 18, 1878, In Now York on Satarday grecnbocks wero worth 083@987. Tho unusunl felicity of celebrating B8t Parnice's Day without snow or rain wns onjoyed yesterday by tho patriotic Irish- Amoricans of Chicago in large numbers, and from the dispatches it will bo seen that the anniversary was very generally obsorved throughout tha United Ktates and the Can. adas, - A correspondont at Montgomery, Ala, whosa letter wo print this morning, prosents o forciblo picturo of the rosults of an unin. terrupted period of Democratic nscondency in that State. Tbe party of hato and repu- diation has had remarkable success fn com- plotely destroying the Stato credit and in practically bankrupting the Stato finances. Bome intoresting facts, figures, and theo- ries respecting the declino in busincss which ia just now a tople of sgitation nmong the business men of New York are given in a latter, to bo found in another part of this morning’s issue, from a merchant of that city, who pointa the way in which Chicago is destined to reap the benofit of this marked change in tho situation. —— e The philosopher and essnyist who, by somo happy accident, dropped into politics and succoeded in getting clooted Coroner of Cook County for two terms fsout in another of those annual reports which have made the mon and tho offico famous, Liko its pro- docessors, it is on official dooument of upiquo character and extraordinary interest, and will be welcomed as cordially as any that have gone bofore. Tho opposito oxtremo of journalistio censorship to that which prevailed in"France under the Dr Broaws Ministry seems to be practiced under Republican rule; otherwise Casgranac, tho Bonapartist bully snd duelist, would not bo permitied to nbuso tho froedom of tho preas by printing in the Pays his be- lief that the speedy rostoration of the Em. pirc and the aceession of tho Prince Im. perial I8 certain to oceur, Rumors aro ngain current of nctivo meas- ures to bring nbout an alliance between En. gland and Austria, and Aspnassy’s place ot the head of the Austrinn Ministry is said to depend upon tho conclusion of such an un. derstanding. Duo allowance must bo made for tho fact that the Vienna correspondenta of tho London papers are just now expected to supply tho pressing demand for nows and epcoulations anti-Russian {n tono, ———— Tho influencaof Germany in tho settle. ment of the Eastorn complication s once moro shown in the successful intervention of Dmsmanck for tho removal of tho ono obstaclo which throstened to soriously block the road to sdjustment by the Berlin Congress, it indeed it did not altogether prevout the assombly of that body—viz.: Russie’s unwillingness to submit all the conditions of tho per. manent treaty of peace to the disens. elon of the Powers. At tho instanco of tho German Chancellor Rusala has con- sented that the Congress—not Evgland, nor Austria, nor any other ous nation—may do. cide whother the outiro treaty is o proper subject of roviow, and to submit to whatever decision shall bo reachiod, —— From Bt. Potersburg the announcement is msdo that tho ratifications of the treaty of ponco botween Ruusia and Turkoy wore ex. changed yestorday, and that Reour Pasha, tho Turkish Plenipotentiary, bas roturned to Constautinople. Tho details of the treaty aro atill held back from publication, though it is said they will bo wmade known s soon 04 the treaty {5 ocommu. nicated to thoe TPowers. Meauwhile there s no relaxation of Russia’s vigllanco against the posslbilities of an ontanglement with Epgland. For every move made by tho latter on sea Nussia maokes a fresh advanco by land, until thero vo longer rewmnains uny uncertainty as to tho Czar's determination to securo the control of tho passago from Constantinople to the Black Bes with a view to the possible con. . Ungenoy of a movement in that diroction by the English fleat, —— Tha evening nows; s of Chicago seem to bo especially singled out os tho shining marks for tho shafts of the grim destroyer, Ouly a weck ago intolligence was received of tho death of tho editor and propriotor of the Jourual, snd now the Poit is suddenly de. prived of ita able aud valusble editorisl con- ductor, Mr. Ouves A. Witninp, who died yesterdoy wworning after an illness of less than threo days. Not alone the P, but tho journslistio fraternity of Chicago, has suffered a surious loss in tho untunely removal of Mr, WitLianp from s carcer of bonorublo uscfulness which he wasso eminent. ly ftted to fulfll. His wisdom aud discorn. went, couplod with an unblemished integri- ty and & journalistic cspacity of a bhigh order, left their stamp npon his daily labors with excoptional distinctuoss, und the place mades vacant by his demiso will not easily be filled Becretary Borvas is again entitled to eredit cor sotting his foot down upons practice whereby the subsidized rsilroads throughout the country have beou aoquiring moro Gov- ernment Jand than they were entitlod to undor tho original grants. Wo print else. where this morning a detailed explanation of thy cose given by & Waabington corresponds Tost-Office Committeo forbidding the for- nel excopt the mails. The bill has not been will be backed by the jmperative demand of way of delivering tho newspaper from tho press-room to the reador is one of the sottled requiremncnts of the doy and nge, and any legisintion which interfercs with or impedes unpopular, fort in comparisons. siderably embarrassed by the & per cont limi- Conrt decisionarolative to borrowing money, and while a good many people are grumbling nt tho fotnl eity appropriations of abont 4,000,000, thore is a certain consolation in contrasting onr condition with that of most largo cities, and particularly with that of Now York., While the Chicago property- owners haveg support of the City Government and the pay- ment of iaterest on tho city debt, the New York property-owners are forced to pay §27,- 000,000, or nenrly scren times ns much, The taxes in New York last year wero 826,821,385, Qver 29,000,000 of this nmonut was used for paymont of interest on tho city dobt ; in oth- or words, Now York's annual interest alone is more than two.thirds as much ps Chicago's entire bonded dobt, whbich is only about $13,000,000. In the faco of these facts, Eastern capitalists cannot conclude that Chi- cago is in a very bad way, and Chlcago peo- ple may congratulate themselves that thers hos been n constitutional limitation on tho dobt, and that Tammany Democrats have nover bad much swing in this commaunity. rency Committos providing for the fssue of coin certificates based on the deposit of sil- ver bullion at the rate of 412} grains to the dollar, differs somowhat from Mr, CocxreLr's bill introduced into the Senate with the same purposo in view. DBoth bills are materially tho same in requiring the issue of tho cor- tificatos on tho standard weight of tho silver essential differenco is that tho Sonate bill makes the cortificates rodeemablo in silver coin or greenbacks, while the House bill makos thom rodscmable in silver coin or silver bullion, at the option of tho Govern. ment. Bosidos this, the House bill pro- garibes more in detail the operation of tho proposed law. Tho deposit of, bullion Is perniitted ot tho various mints and assay. oflicos, but tho certificates are to be redeem- od ot two places only,—at the San Francisco 8ub-Treasury for all doposits west of the Rocky Mountaing, and at the Sub-Tronsury at Now York for all others. This provision is maluly o matter of Government convon. feuco, and {t will nct na a protection ngainst any disposition to uso the Governmont facil. ities for more current banking purposes, common rate of 412} graina to tho dollar is certificates. It would bo as false in princi. ple to cxact a deposit of 448 groins of silver & depouit of 28 grains of gold to sccure o 15 now 412} grains of silver as well as 25 8.10 grains of gold, and no distinction can be mado betwoen thom, such as estimating the value of a silver dollar on a gold basis, with. urged by Secrotary Sursmax to the issue of dollar which it bas coived and therowith THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: MONDAY, MARCII 18, 1878. ent. It hasboen the practice to allow the rabsidized ronds to acquire Innds outside of their original grant as indemnity for any part of tho original grant which had pro- viously been sold, reserved, or otherwiso disposed of by the Government. In the course of A recent decision, the Bupremo Court incidentally held that this privilegs tho customs duties have always been the fund for ths payment of the public interest, nnd must continuo to bo so, 1f the Govern- ment colnage facilitics were unlimited, then there would be no objection to the receipt of bullion-certificates for dnties, in caso the cost of coincgo wora exncted bofore the Is- suo of the cortificates. As it i, it is privileges, and nid wore granted; and, for theso reasons, Congross niade an nncondi. tional resorvation of the power to *‘altor, amend, or repeal " at any time, Benator Davis wont still further into the 1aw of the cnse by analyzing the recent do- cisions of tho Bupreme Court in cases where thero was n conflict betweon Btates and rail- only extends to such land as may hava beon [ certain that tho bulk of tho duties | road companios relative to the pnssago of otherwise disposed of by the Governmont [ would bo paid in silver-certificates Inws claimed by the railroad compasies to be betweon the date of tho grant and tholoca- | in caso, of the pnssage of oithor | in violation of their charters, and hence an tion of tho railronds, The subsidized roads have claimad that this was not a decision of the Conirt, but an incidental expression of opinfon thnt conld not affect them; but Sceretary Scaunz has construed the matter othorwise, and holds thoe railroads to tho manifestly just principle thus laid down, It is thought that some 30,000,000 ncres of public lands will be saved to the Govern- ment by this conatruction of tho land-grant laws, of tha proposed bills, since they will bo ensier to got than silver coln, and, for tife presont, ohenper than gold coin. The resnlt wonld Le, with limited coinnga facilities, that the Government would probably have to”go to tho brokers for the purchaso of coin whore.. withto poy the interest, and be obliged to paya preminm therefor, Nor is it nocossary for the charactor snd usefalnesa of tho silver- certificates that thoy should ho made receive ablo for duties any more than the green- backs. Thoy can be mnado receivable for all other dnes togho Govornment, and in com- morca thoy would always have tho function of a check, draft, or cortifieato of deposit ropresenting so much solid, snbstantial motal at the standard mto of coinnge. It is in this servico that they will bo of groatest benefit to tho conntry,—for the men who | exchango their bullion for certificates will do 8o for the purposa of using such certiflcatea for trade, purchase, and commercisl ex. change, 5 In regard to the redomption of the cortifi- cates, tho provisions of the two bills might probably be combined to good advantage. ‘Tho Benate bill provides silvor dollnrs or legal-tonders (greenbacks), and the Houso bill silver dollars or silver bars, at the option of the Uovernment, for rodeceming theso cortificates. Dut wo can think of no objec. tien to giving the Government the option to redeom in ony legal-tender (including gold, silver, and greonback dollars) or in silver bars. Tho latter provision would enable the Government to protect itsolf against a run for coin, so long ns coin is necessnrily lim- jted; and the privilege of redeeming in lo- gal-tonder would bo o protection ngainst combinationy to mako silver bullion dear to thio Govornmont in caso it advances to or nearly to par with gold, for the Government could then simply avail itself of the bullion on doposit. impalrment of the obligation of a contract. Without going into tha dotails of thess cases, it is sufllciont to say that Bonator Davis clearly domonstrated the genoral conclusion of these decisions to bo that a State Legisla. ture mny rogulate fares nnd froights, and pnss any othoer legialntion regulating and con. trolling the oporations of raiironds within State jurisdiction, which does not affoct pow- cra speoifically granted and fixed by an irre. pealabla charter, If n Stato Logislaturshave such an nuthority, ns distinetly defined by the Buprome Court, then it ia a legal absurd- ity to contend that Congress, having resorvod tho unconditional right to edd to, alter, amend, and repeal previous acts in re Pacific Raliroads, has not now authority to provide for tho ulti. mate paytent of money advanced to thess compnnios by tho United Btatcs, Thus Alr. Marruews' sole apology for reporting a bill in the intercsts of the rnilronds losos any force it might have if it were corrcct, and every Senator and momber of Congress will find it difficult to explain a voto given to his bill, We have moro than onco explained the provisions of tho Tronsax bill, Itis in no respoct unfair to the other croditors of these railroad companies, nor onerons to the com- panies themselves. It provides for eatimat- ing tho not earnings of the roads by deduct- ing from tho gross earnings tho necossary oxpenseas for oporating nnd keeping the ronds fin ropmr, and also tho interost on tho first-mortgage indebted- ness. Tho *“net oarnings” having thus beon nacertained, it ia provided that the comipanies shall pay into tho Treasury, in one way and anothor, 25 por cont thorcof, port of which is to be applied on acorned and aceruing interest, and the rost invested in a Sinkingfund for the ultimato oxtinguish- ment of ‘the bondod rallrond debt to the Govornment. It is provided on the ono hand that no dividends shall be paid till theso provisions are complied with, and on tho othor that the Govornment shall at all times romit s0 much of tho 5 per cont ns may bo necessary to meat obligations of tho companios that have a lien paramount to that of tho Government. Tho bill is entircly foir, and should command tho support of every man in Congress who desires to avoid tho suspicion of being rotained by the raile road lobby. Gront indignation and alarm aro eald to have been excited among daily nowspnaper publishers in consequence of the provision in tho bill just agreed upon by tho House warding of printed matter through any chan- reported in the Houso, much less pnssed, and it its provisions in any way hinder or incrense tho cost of the prompt trans. missfon of the nowspapers to their renders it may be set down as. certain that the indignant protesiy of tha publishers the pooplo that Congress lot well cnough nlone. ‘The quickest, shortest, and cheapest tho system of news distribution .ln sure to be Thera i8 sometimes a good deal of com- ‘While Chicago is con- tation of indebtedness and tho Buprome THE GOVERNMENT RAILRUAD DEBTS, ‘The Government issuod 04,000,000 in bonds to aid in the construction of the Pacifio RRailronds (mainly the Union and Cen. tral Pacific lines), on which thero fs now about £29,000,000 of interest that the com- panies have not paid aud refuso to pay. ‘The sacuritly which the Govornment retained in tho original nct of 1862 for the repayment of interest and principal was forfeited by tho act of 1864, which was passod as an amend- ment. Under the coustruction of the courts, the law a5 it now stands s all on the side of the companies. The Governmont can only withhold from them onec-hal? of the com. pensation due them on sccount of Govern. ment servico; the 5 por cont on not carnings which they are required to pay in on acconnt of the Government loan can only be rockoned after making such deductions from gross ro- coipts as practically loave no *‘net earningn,” nud only collectodon such earnings from 1874 instead of 1869, whon the roads were actually completed. The result, under the prosent conditions, is that the Governmont will bo able to collect littlo or nothing from tho rail- roads on nccount of their debt, and that the railroads will owe tho Government ot lenst $150,000,000 at tho maturnty of the bonds, or conaiderably moro than the value of tho roads. ‘Tho Governmont will then be forced to loso this enormous sum of monay, or take the ronds and assnme another groat load of dobt which 14 now a firut liou on tho ronds. Mennwhile these railronds are earning mouoy and poying good dividonds onstock that doca not rapresont the investmont of o dollar. I'his condition is on its face an outragoous swicdle, aud it hos long boea folt by hongst pooplo that Congross should pnss such addi tional legislation so mny bo necessary to pro- toct tho Government in {ts rights, ‘Thore aro now two bills before tho United Btates Benato ostenmbly introduced to nchiove this purpose. Mr. Taounman's bill, reported by tho Judiclary Committes, s in the iuterest of tho Government ond tho people; Mr, Marrazws' bill, reported by tho Railroad Committee, is confessedly in the interest of the companies which are in do- fault, Mr, Marruxws justiies the lattor bill (which merely roquires the annua! pay- ment of an {nadequato sum by the companies, which tho Government i to compute av compound interest) on tha ground that pre. vious legislation hus constituted a contract betweon tho Government aud tho railroad companies, and that thoro can be no addi. tional legislation impairing this assumed con- tract without tho consont of tho companios. "T'lerofore, arguoa Ar, MaTTHEWS, siuce tho Government is at tho wmeroy of tho railroad companies, it is botter that wo should agree upon eome compromise, This merely amounts to an admission that the Marrrews bill meots with the approval of the compa- nies, which means that it has been diotated by tho companies, Benator Davis, from this State, made an argument lost Wodnosday in bohialf of the Tuoauax bill, in whichs bo gave a clear and conclso statoment of the law of the case, aud complotely demolished the theory ad. vanced by Sonator dlaTriews in extonuation of roporting o bLill at tho dictation of the railrond lobby, Senator DAvis was nlways rogarded as ono of the sblost of the Hu- preme Court Judgea whon Lie was on the Bonoh, and auy exposition of law mads by him is apt to be inconteatable; besddes, his present statoment commends itsolf to com. mon sense and to a fair estimato of the jus. tico of the case, Ilo ehows, firut, that the constitutional prohibition against the im. poivment of coutraots does not apply to Cougreas, but only to the Bates, eo that tho Dartmouth College docision, which is the mainstay of oll perverse corporations, hag no spplication, But he shows further tbat, even if the Constitution did prohibit Con. gress from passing any leglslation {mpairing the obligation of contracts, and even if Con- gress wimply occupied tho position of o State Legislature in this mat. tor, then thero has beonm mo con- traot which provents new legislation for the protection of Government rights. The act of 1862 chartering tho railroads reserved the right to alter, add to, amend, or ropeal said law, but with the condition of *‘having duo regard for tho rights of said cowpa- nies”; this coudition, Sonator Divis con- tends, will be held siuply to mean that Con. gress should not impose uew duties without due considoration for the rights of creditors and stockholders. The act of 1804 was in the nature of an amondment to that of 1862, and uecessarily forms an essential pars of nny ¥ oontraot” that exists. In this second act, uuprecedontod concosslons wers 1ade to the companies; the first lien held by the Goveruwent was sbandoned ; now fachitics, pay 34,000,000 a year for the THE MASSACHUSETTS 8TAY LAW, Wo took ocension Baturday to comment at spme length upon an extraordinary artiolo which appearcd in a lato issuo of the Boston Gazctte, moking an appeol for o closer union botweon New England and the West. This romarkable article may well bo reprodaced in substance in the form of a proamblo econ- sisting of two whereascs aud o resalution, as follows: Wnzreas, Tho people of Now England are en- dowed with “‘superior Intcllectual power and moral purposo,” posacssed of an sbundance of wealth, biessod with almost superhuman integrity, Rencrous In the extrome, and charitablo to a fault; au Wneneas, Tho peopla of the Weat are poor, !rnnrnnt, unfortunate, unhlnry. dishonest, ' in ubt, wanting in foreelght, guiliy of entertalning perniclous views on the subject of political econas my, too uninformed and stupid to be governed by the dictatos of rosson; therefore,” . . Resolved, That **tho Wost la our natoral ally, " — our oyeter, 80 Lo speak, to bs opened and devour- when wo feel disposed to eat oysters, Tho people of the West *‘are the producers from tho soil™;their hands aro horny, and covered wilh warts, **We aro the mnuhcznnnfi and com« mercial agents with whom they luterchange prod- ugts, and “who act a9 thotr fuctors in thoir rela- tions with the Old World.” Our handa are clean and white, and wa are endowed with the highest degroe of cunning. We alonscan cope with the shrewd people of the Old World. We have secured the conctinent of o tari(® averaging 40 per cens on foreign wmerchandise, bul we know how to svade payment of duties, Wa have oulvo enler our im- portations ot the pott of New York at haif thelr volue, or got & damage sllowance of 50 per cent, to reduce the tarlX to £0 per cent, while the Western jmporter stupidly pays 40 xcnnnl attnterior ports. ‘Tho Westorn peoplo noe: 8 guardian; Now En- gland sppoints iLself their Tuardian, Curlously enough, in the {ssus of Tme Tamune which contained an expoaition of this extraordinary nllianco proposed by the Uazette apponred 8 spocial dispatoh from Boston, stating, in effect, that the ** General Court” of the Commonwealth of Maasa. chusotta wag, on Friday last, ongaged in the arduous duty of passing o stay law for tho rehef of savings 1nstitutions! We reproduca it, s follows: The titate Scnate passed to-day the bill which went through the llouse yestonlay, to give the state Baviugs Bank Cowmivsioners authority to isauc an order to any bank which, {n thelr judg- ment, may require {t, to lmit aud regulate she E:ymcnu to depoaitors in time and anlount s« tho nedt of all the depasitors moy require, Iie ayowod object 1s ta stop the runs oo the nvlnq- banks, Any poreon m{fimvuu of tha ordor ia kiven rizht of uppeal to the Supreme Court, which ahiall givo equitablo Judgment. Tho act ls Nmited tothreo years. It was debated strounously in the Honate, on grounds of cunatitutiunality, ns being & breach of contract, buta larie majorlty mumfed 1t as constitutional, especially na it waa drawn b thu Attorney-tenural, und 1t was bastened throuyl all its stages undor 8 suspensiun of the rules, Several amendmonts were all rojected, As the Iouse will not be in sesslon to-morrow, sad the bill must return to it to be evacted, it cannot re- ceivo tho Uovernor's” signsture bafora Mopday aficrnoon. . The Gazelte said: **The West is poor and in debt. Despito its vocent blessings In sbundant crops, it feels the hard mea wore soverely thon do tho'older sections of the country, This wmakes its people uneasy™ It appears, according to the dispatch from which we havo quoted, that the people of Boston aro ‘‘unessy,” The dispatch pro. ceeds to state that tho dopositons in the Five. Cent Bavings Bank were 50 *‘uneasy " that they collected sbout the bank in a vast crowd; that “for a time travel on Behool streot was seriously impeded”; that *‘the people are panic-stricken,” ete. Singular that the rich, intelligent poople of ‘Boston should be panjcstricken! Tha dispatch proceeds to stato that tho peopls of Boston “will bellove no offiolal statemont of the most authoritative character declaring the solvency of the Five-Cont Savings Bank, so deap is the fecling of distruat™ If this bo true, what is to becoma of the reputation of Now England for glmost superhuman integ. rity! ‘Tho dlspatch proceeds to state that the Franklin Bavings Bank has decided to requive the aixty days' mnotico, and limited the amount to be paid on de. 1nand without it to §25, and adds: * There aro ouly three banks in the clty which are not paying in full on demand !* DBut tha stay lawis thoastounding thing. Whilethe Boston Gazetts is in the act of compassionating the West on its poverty, its ignorance, its dishon. esty, and its debls, and generouily proposing that Now England shall become its guardian, tho * General Court” of the Commonwealth of Mussachusetts ia deliborating in indecont lgste upon a easure of doubtful constitu- tionality for the rellef from the payment of thewr debts of tho bankers of Boston! 8o imminent was the danger, and so groat the emergenoy, that this sloy law, the very name of which is 80 odious to all who rovere the sacred chasncter of contracts, was “hastened e BILVER-BULLION CERTIFICATES. Tho bill reported by the Banking and Cur. dollar, and in making said certiflcates racoiv- able for all ducs to the Government; the Tho ngreement of tho two bills upon the tho only Yogical foundation for the proposed to securo o certificato for o dollar as to exnct cortiticato for a dollar, Tho standard dollar out vitiating tho system. Tho objeotion cortificntes ot tho rato of 412§ graing to the dollar was undoubtedly founded upon tho theory that, undor the law as it now stands, the Govornment will bo able to make a profit right along on the purchase of silver bullion aod the cvinngo thereof, and that it will be deprived of such profit under the certificate aystom, But this oxpoctation of profit Is obviously fullacious. It Is absurd to sup~ poso that tho Government can tako the silver purchaso ailver bullion at tho rate of 92 cents on that dollar; o other words, it 13 absurd to suppose that the Goverument can continue to exchange 4124 gralus of sitver, when coined, for 418 grains of eilvor uncofned. If the value of silver shall not gradually spproximate that of gold, under tho influence of practical remonotiza- tlon, then it will bo nocesuary for the Gov- oroment to purchaso gold with the silver dollars in order to buy silver bullion st its gold value; butthe promium paid for the gold to do this will offset the apparent gain in the reparchaso of silvorin its bullion shape, 60 that tho illusion of o profit will disappear in praotico. The legal-tender notes do mot enter into cousideration, becauso thoy will never be worth moro than tho silver dollars, in which they will be redcemablo after ro. sumption of specie-psyments, Thero will be uno rosson, therefore, in opposing the issusof ilver-bullion certificatessimply on tho ground that the Government will then make po profit on coining, for the Government will wake no profit {u any case, except thoro Lo a profit in the charges for colnage, which aro provided for in tho House bill suthoriz. ing tho certificates. We aro still inclined to think, however, that both the Benste bill snd the House bill err in making these certificates rocelvable for all dues to the Government, which would in- cluds the customs Qutfes. The intercst on the public'debt is payable in coin, 5o that Lullion, whether of silver or gold, is not svailablo for that purpose until it can be converted into coin, DBub the receipts from in rocommeonding to the Lagislature, smend the phrascology of the statutos so od was to begin by jointly analyzing and ar. ranging tho whola body of tha statutes into five principal parts, with division into titles throngh all its stages under a suspension of tho rules,” ‘ Not long ago sevoral misguided citizons of this Btate urged Gov. Ovrrom to call o spocial session of the Genoral Assembly to ocnsider the question of rolief to debtors by tho passage of a stay 1aw, but the proposi- tion recoived no favor with the Exeoutive, with tho press, or with the masses of the pooplo, It was {nstanily frownod down ad in derogation of the dignity of the poople of Illinois, Lot us not bo misunderstood in re- gard to the proposed stay lawin Mnssachu- setts, Wae deoply rogret the npparent noces. sity for itsadoption. Wo eannot for s mo. ment beliove that the situation of the bauks of Boston is #0 wretched as to warrant this extrome movo in the wrong direction, We trust, for tho oredit of the Commonwealth of Mansachusatts, that this disgrace will bo spared hor, We trust that tho Lower Housa will fail to pass the billy but if it shall prove as panic-stricken as the Senato, then that the Govornor may interpose his voto, is oarnestly to bo hoped., BEVISION OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES, ‘The last revision of the goneral laws of Wisconsin was made twenty yoars ngo, in the winter of 1858. Bince that timo twenty sosstona of the Legislature hiavo been em- ployed in altering, amending, nnd repealing tha statutos, until the Iabyrinthian legal mud. dle would have puzzled ‘‘a Philadelphia lawyer.,” Some of the lnws—that ono relat- ing to ovidence, 88 an oxamplo—have beon changed over fifty times sinca the former ravision, while othora have boen amended so often that tho original intent of tho act was ontiroly defeated. Others that tho Logisla. turo intonded to repenl were found by the revisors to bo in full forco and effect, 4 am nsked & question of common law,” said Lord Coxe, “I shonld bo nshomed i I could not immedirtely snswor it; but, if Iy nsked o quostion of statute law, I should bo ashamed to answoer it without referring to the statute-book.” especially in point in a 8tate, liko Wisconsin, Lord Coxe's truism is whero nobody is abla to find out what tho 1aw is without wading through* twenty yoars of logislative rubbish. But all this is soon to be romedied. In 1875 the Legialature of Wisconsin passed an nct nuthorizing o revision of tho statntes, and requosted tho Judges of tho Bupromo Court to namo threo compotont lawyors to undertake the work, The Court named the Hon, Davip Tarron, of Fond du Lac; J. P. 0. Corrpesr, of Milwaukoo; and Wrnrnax M. Viuas, of Madison, ns tho rovisors. Af. torwards, by tho euthority of n subsequent Iaw, Judge Ontox, Prof. Canrenren, and Prof. PanxiNson wero assigned to and por- formed somo spocial work ; but tho most of the labor fell upon the throo gentlemen first nnmed. The rovisors met on tho 21st of April, 1876, and, after clecting Judge ‘Tayron as their Ohairman, proceeded with the very laborious and important dutics nssigned them. The work has ongrozsed nearly thoir ontira time from that day to this, What thoy nudertook to do, ns stated by them. selves, was (1) to mako o corroct analysia and intolligent arrangement of all tho gon- oral laws, in proper principal divisions, chapters, and ssctions, as & harmonious and consistont whole. (2) To ombody such ad- ditions to, ond corrections of, the various parta o4 & clear analytical collocation and comparison should demonstrate s nocessary () To that avery provision shall bo expressed in clear nnd perspicuous language, and compro. henslble by overy intolligent person capable of understanding the English langusge, (4) To consolidate statutes rolnting to the samo subjeots, roconciling incongruous pro- visions, snd purging them of rodundsncy and tantology. The genoral plan which tho revisers adopt. and sabdivislons into chapters. Thoy also assumed that the mandate of the statute ap- pointing thom cnjoined that thoy should not only “oollect,” but that thoy should *re. viso,” the general laws; that is, that thoy should *‘revise,” alfer, and amend them as that vorb is usad by tho best loxicographers, In sooordanco with this view of thelr duties they have taken some responsibility, and in some instances assumod the functions of legislators, so that It is now nooessary for tho Legislature to forwally adopt and ap- prove thelr work., Accordingly o racess for two months has boon agreed upon, in order that the goneral laws of the presont session may be embraced in the rovision, and to givo the Joint Committes on Rovision timo to critically oxamino the now volume, * Leaving the rovisers and tho Legislatura to settle the question ag to whether tho for. mer infringed upon the priviloges of tho law-makers, it may be stated in justice to thoss gentlemen that they have performed o very great sorvice for tho Btate, and given the peoplo o volume of lawe at once com- prohensive, intelligible, and harmonious with itself. They have compressed the revision of 1838, and the general laws which twonty years of industrious though often ill. directed loglalation has evolved since, and arvanged 8 volumo ouly & trifio larger than the first ono published. UNHAPPY ROUMANIA. Ot all the principalitics in Eastern Europs, Ronmanis finds bersolf in the most unfortu. nate plight, and apparently without friends, as the.direct result of the recent war, and the despalr of her situation is that she was driven Into her position by circumstances bayond hercontrol. Bulgaria, as & roward for her past sufferings, will secure bher emancipation from the Turkish yoko and the concantration of all her peoplo into a large sutonomous provinos. Montenegro, in virtus of her gallantry aud herolsm, will re- ceive an extension of her frontiers that will give her bardy mountaineers nccess to the 868, pastursge for their hards, and complete freedom from Turkish spolistion. Bervis, though she did not enter the struggle until tho Bick Man had recelved his mortal hurt, and haa failed to display any of those quall. tiea of coursge or military prowesa that have charscterized the rest of the Sclaves, will obtain & portion of her old territory, Even Groece, which took no part in tho war at all, will possibly extend her area to the north, so as to include Epirus, Theasaly, and o portion of Macedonia. Unfortunate Rou- mania will not have a friend in the Congroas, and, although she renderod Ruials lnesti- mable service, will roocive sbsolutely nothing, 8he has borms the brunt of war for a year, she bhas made jm. mense sacrifices of money and life, she has willingly spent her blood and treasure to aid her colossal neighbor, but cannot ex. pect any requital; on the other hand, she is compelled to submit to a palpable injus- tico that barders on national outrage, if not deliborate robbery. While all the other peovinces gain territory, Roumanis must lose territory nt the hands of the very Power she haa baen aiding. Roumania was originally erected Into a Principality by the Powers to intorposo be- tween Russia nnd Turkey, tho idea boing that wars would not bo ns frequent, or the shacks of collision go violent, with a noutral Provineo lying botwoon them. The mo- mentum of the present war, howevor, was 0 great, and the tide of cansos that led up to It so resistless, that Iloumania was no longer an effootive Lnrrier. Had she not ylolded to the inevitable, sho wonld have been swopt away like a straw boforo the gale. Her ultimato decision was ono of necessity, Iad she decided to cast in her 1lot with Turkey, sho would have been instantly crushed by Russin, Had sho chogen to romain neu- tral, Rnssia wonld bave immediatoly seizod nud oceapied hor tervitory, Iler only ro~ source, thercfore,” was (o foin the stronger Power, with the ljope that in the ultimate seftloment sho would receive componsation for hor sorvicos, and secnro some honor and profit. Bho might of courso kave conssnted {0 tho Russian right of way across tho torri tory under protest, but nothing was to be gained by such a courso. Ier only altornn- tiva was to ally hersolf absolutely oither with "Turkoy or Rusain, ond sho ohoso the latter, 04 any other small Power wonld hiave done undor the cireumstances. Ilnving done so, sho gavo to Iussia o servico which was not only important, but indispensable to the lat. tor's success, Iussin hind completoe right of way, and tho Roumnnian highways aud rail- ronds were pressed into the Russian service ond plnced under Russian ofilcials, thus completely susponding Roumaniaan teafilo and transportation. Bho provided tho Russian {roops with subsistonce oud storos, with hospitals and supplies, and with mntorinl of war, Bhe bent all her onorgies to forward the Muscovite troops to the Danube, nnd she kopt communications coustantly open. Ab last slio oponly declared war ngainst Tarkey, and placed nn army in the field to co-operato with tho Russinns, and oven consonted to sacrifico her idontity by having her army ab- sorbod in tho Russian. Tho troops sho fur- nished wero consplenous for their gallantry. They displayod all tho courage and horoism of their old Latin ancestors, and they struck tho first decisive blow at Plevna nador thoir own Prince, which ultimately lod to its fall snd to the complote overthrow of Turkey. And pow what does Russin proposo as compensation to Ioumanin? Bimply tho exchango of tho Dobrudscha for Bessarabin, —an exchange which will give to Russin tho fortilo valloy of the Lowsr Danube, the con- trol of its mouth, aud the restoration of her power on that mighly river, and to Roumania a sterilo,worthloas, fover-breeding marsh, nlmost impassable, and of no use for any purpose. A corraspondent of tho Now York ZT'imes writes that tho proposition caused gonoral consternation in the Rou- manian Parliament whon it was first an. nounced. The Sonato nud Okamber met in secrot session and interpellated tho Minister, ML Cooarnioano, Ho arose, and, with tears rolling down his chooks, confessed that Rus. sln bad made such & domnnd. Ho hed pro- tosted and gont special appeals to the Czar not to enforce it, but in vain, In tho midst of tho excitement some of tho mombers favorod rocalling tho Roumaninn forces be- foro Widdin and sonding thom into Bessara~ bin. Othors asked what could their lttlearmy do ogoinst the mighty power of Russin, to which they roplied that Europe woun!d not stand by and sco Roumanin crushed merely bocausa shio wished to proserve the integrity of har own territory. A long do- bate ensued, but they could not arrive at any resolution, bocausy thoy kuew not what todo, That Russia should want Bessarabin back, and she should want to regaln her foothold on the Danube, {4 not remarkable ; but conld sho not accomplish this without dospoiling tho ally who performod for Ler suich valuable sorvice, and whose gallantry de. sorves soma rocognition? A great Powor lika Tussia in the hour of vistory can afford to be just, She can least of all afford to perpatrate such on outrage as this upon a friend who hias mado such sacrificos for her, THE REPUTATION OF H. B. JAMES, Tae Tsinuxe, In its issue of tho 1st inst., gavo & resunie of & very romarkable cnstoms casa which went up to tho Treasary Dopart- ‘ment from this city on appeal by H. A, Konx & Brothors, The anbject of tho appeal wns cortain merchandise assossed for duty hers ot 85 per cent ad valorem, bat allegod by certaln Now York importors to be rogularly passed at that port at 80 per cont ad valorem. Mlr, H. B.Jaxrs is Chief of tho Customs Division of tho ‘Creasury Dopartment, Ifo is the de. ciding officer of tho Department. The Koux caso was reforrod to bim, Tho cese, as pro- sontod, included the letters of the Now York importers making the allogation above mon- tioned, and samples of the goods covered by the appeal. All tho facts necossary to a final dooision were before Mr, Jauzs, but, contra. ry to the practice of the Department, he avolded rendering a decision, and neglected to make any explanation of the allegation contained in the letters of the Now York im. porters, In commenting upon thia extraor- dinary csso we then sald : o The conditions] decislon u explainable upon one hyputhesis—the hyuotacsls that the Appraieer at Nuw York {s actuslly in the habit of passiog the poods covered by the Kouw upfi-\ at 80 per centy that Mr, JAMES knows this to bu the fact; that he desires the praclice 1o bo conttnoud tiers bui not elsowhero, and thersfore cunniugly avoids tha Tesponmoility of placing on record o decision datly problbiting the practice,” . . Now, if tho aistements of the GRidoND lelts e trud, wWe have presented tha spectucle of oticlal in the Treasary Dopartment using his position to guard cortald New Yurk importers while they rob the Government of Agwuon of fts juat yeyenuo. We do not prefer the charge specldcally: bul wa e e e, M cumatantial svidencs :‘: fé“.’.'é'.‘.‘.{:.',"’."n",’ lmm{u‘nlwnuou of Becrutary BuERNAX, 1o oxpressing tho opinlon that the Komx ¢ conditional decision” reflected very un. favorsbly upon the integrity of Mr. Juus, —-0 much 5o 8s to domand the snslunt at. tention of the Becretary of the Treasury,— wo eaid jnst what wo mesnt. We waited o woek, expecting that each day would bring xnews of soma action on the part of Bocretary Sazeaay in the matter. At the end of that time we took steps to ascertain what reputa- tion Mr, Jaues has borno in the past, Fol. lowing is his biography and standing as an official, as near as can be gathered by cazeful inquirios: H. B. Jaus4, present Chiof of Customs Division, Treasury Duparimeot, was sppointed a_§1, %0 clork sulne ten ur twelve years ago from Hoch ter, N. Y,. sud was assigued to 5“‘5“ 8 subord- inste ntion fu the Custowms Divisivn. He graduslly advanced in ths grade of clerkships until, upon tbe death of 2hy Calef of tho Divialoa s0me years ago,—bosslbly clubt yeats, —he was wade Chief of the Division. e held that poultion under Dortwsit snd JicUAKUSON, 8u short time, under Bmistow., Dub bhe temoved by Iwwtow sfter tho latter had baen o the Treasary & rumpnnllvul{. briel perlod. Tho ouly reason known 10 have bees ss. sizned for this reiuovul was that BarsTow {uet cone (deace ln Blas. U thute waa wav pasticular cause Py aro not how pablicly known. Bt thery are Duimcrous general accusations sysinst Jaxks, which, 10 8 person &8 earuestiy 1a favor of tefonn 08 Bitsrow was, wight properly bave Leen rogard- vd as suficieut cause fur semoval. JAMES' 3430+ with Cusfom-House trokers porters, and h: many of the offici: officiala in the Ne: mate termg d with some tm. evn regarded with ansplcion by the Trenmrf. and by those ork Custom-H{onse wio tang. among the better clare of employes. Javes te nn. popular in the Department. There are endlesy roinors and accusaticns agaivst him, which grow ont of it association with theso brokers and with & certaly class of importers. 1o 18 said to have very special personnl friend in A noted New York enstoms broker, ' Thers are rumors of favorltism, and of unholy ailiance outsldo of the Department; bat thera has never boen any definite charge pre. farred agninst him. At the time he vne removed from the Chiefahin by Bunetow he was for 8 time entirely dropped from the rolla of the Dopartment; but he was in bad lneauh[l with s atrong tendency to consump. tion; bad been Jonz in the Depsriment, and sueh infinonce wna brouxht 1o bear that, Anajly, ho was relnstated in o sudordinate position. When Mon. niLL came into the Departinent as Secretary, Jawry, throngh tho infinenca of CoNaxr, who managed allaies generally under MoaniLi, s adminlstration, | o the poaition of Cltef, which ) i FeSsOR WhY. B Bie: neneios ':1;;‘ Eaumlcn. 13 bacanne he [e an expert i custoins decisions, and has bad very long expe. rienco in such matters, 1t does not sppear, as siafted ucenflyb( the Cnf. cago 7imes, thut Mr.JAnes \vas reapona(ble for the ‘comma "'which cost the Government vltimate. ly nomething ovee $000,000 in drawbacks; bug 1o waa Chiet af the Castoma Diviston st the time the arawbacke were nllowed, and there have been intimations that ho rhonld have known of the ab. noncs or of Lbe cionge of that comma much earlier than he did, saea very considerabie periog clapscd beforo the fraud was exposed, ‘ITiore ia & genersl feeling nmoug the class of customs employes whose opinfons deeerso most ::',‘,‘,};‘f,,’,’,‘"" that Jawzs rightfully rests under We submit that, if Jaues' charscter is no battor than his reputation, ho is utterly unfit to remain o single dny nt the hond of the Customs Division of the Troasury Depart. meont, If Becretary Derarow removed Jauzs on mere suspicion, based upon the fncls 03 nbove statod touching his reputation, he didright. Tho repatation of n man is often bottor than his character; n man's character is soldom bottor thnn his reputation, Jases’ roatoration in the faco of tho fact of his shaky raputation, which it sosms ho haslong borne, was a gross improprioty. There is but one plausible prosumption in regard to it,namely: That his rostoration was procured by the influence of the corrupt ring of New York oustoma brokers and importers, with whom ho is sald to bo in intimate associntion, It ia not, howover, nocessary longer to rest our case against Mr. Jaaes solely on hig Lad reputation. It {s smply suficlant to' warrant his instant romoval, But therelsa vital polnt in the Konn cass suscoptiblo of ' dotermination by the Socratary of the Treasury in forty.cight hours, In thot case ] Mr. Jaxes, with all thoe facts boefore him, re- * fused to render n decision, Lot him bo re- quired o state why ho rofused, and {f ho cnnnot give a reason lot him bo removed at ! ouce, DBut.whethor o can givo a ronson in that case or mot, still let himbe vemoved, (1) bocauso he was onoe romoved on *¢ good suspicion,” and " (2) because ho wns reln. statod without good ronson. In tho interest of o fair administration of tho laws and of seousfng thom equal rights with the Im. posteraof Now York City, to which Mr. Jauzs isan obstruction, the importing mer. cbants of the West aro justified in demmnd. fog bis immediate removal, ‘When wo spoke the other day of the Ourx. 188 claim, which has been before the Wis- consin Logislature for twenty years, m baving more lives than o cat, we did not think the sssertion would so soon havo ad. ditional verifieation. Last wock the Colonol'a “littlo bill," as ho calls it, was refusedn third rending by a tie voto,—46 to 46,—nnd the olalm wea consldered doad for the present seasion, But, lo! the wily claimant had pro. vided for just such an omergency., Io had 4wo bills introduced carly in tho scesion, one in tho Senato aud tho othor in the Assembly, snd no sooner was the latter disposed of than Lo fell back upon tho othor. On Fri. day, tho Senate Laving passed the bill, it came up for action in tho Houss, and, aftora sharp parliamentary fight, it wes passed by @ vote of 41 to 48, Bo, if Gov, 8xrrn does not veto it, Col, Carxrvs will got his monay, As the State holds two recelpts in full al. rendy from Mr. Carzing, neither tho Joint Committoo on Claims vor the Btato Trens. uror will think of nsking for another such usoless and superfluous voucher. The public will bo somewhat curious to know just what shnpe tho ch!mvil!c__—flu_m_)lx_::oxt winter, GEORQE FRAROIB ON THE EAMPAGE. The following charactoristic mcssoge was recelyed At thia offico yosterday: MiLwAUKZE, Wis, arch 17, 7' the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: Retract—insane libel—ur defend suit for -nven:rflvu thousand dollare dam- oges, Beo postal-cart 7 (8t odfi’ Oxonox FuaNcis Traw, Not haviug received the postal-card referred to by Mr. Traty, owing to the fact that the Post-Oflice was not opened last evoning for the delivery of mail-matter, we are unabls to give our reuders the beneflt of its contents. As to the “Insanc Hbel " mentioned {n the aliove dls patch, wo ure at o loss to understand what he refers to. Is it to the followlng, copted from the New York Sun, and printed undor the head- {ng % Curreot Gosslp ? in Tux TRisuxs of Sus~ day: Une day, wrltes *+ Et Pengixs," 1 met Ozonas Fitaxcss TuaiN in Madison Square, surrounded by children, Dr. Hamxoxp Lad tuld we that ridiculs wasan iofalliblo test for insanity; that, If & man ud ot & harmiues Joke, —a joke with nuanimus n {t,—it was o protty sure slgu of Jnvanity, **Do you sou thess Lands!" commenced lxonos, o8 he iways does, ‘*Seef tho bluod run into them. U 's health for _you! All thiscomes ftrum vegetable diet, sir, NO meat formo, 1eat nalhlnz‘anl vegetables, V-puhln wmake muacle, sinew, strength, manbood,™ kot alg, ''you'rs right. Aest 1alwi otice ol tho strong anle 1wals live oo vegetabluos, s the weuk lion aud the tender panther, thoy live ou vogetstles; and thero's the "‘"1“,{ shoep, the Lardy gouee, the 1 3 H ‘*Yes, 1 weakening, Thoy savago cutf, tho wild and ravesous Jucksss, (hey Ilye un wicat entirely—" **1t Always miakes mo thad to talk to an Infernal fool," suld 'Pain, coluring up, while he turned on s hoel und loft i & hufl, ‘Then 1 kuew Grokux FraNcia waa insane, Or to the following, which was printed in the sdvertislvg columus of Tum Tuinuxa yestor- day: TURNER HALL. QEQ, FRANCIS TRAIN among the Socia War Declared ! The Crack of Doum! 40, 000 caguans in chalus! A great city bonnd nand sud foot by Newspaper Rings! Church Digots! Folite {cal dwindlan National Savinge baoks, snd lixliway Kran or Shame! Citizens) ¥or Shawmel Tabernaclel Farwelll McCormick Il church, sud thestre closed against the e e, ot (b peopil hubee pendent of Jiugs und Cliques} “Taruer Hall, welfti-ot., Wodneaday, March 20, 8p; w, Admialon 25c. foweerve, U3¢, Mr. Toalx occupies & dollsr room sud lvos five-cent plate of Putaioes st the Pulnivr Houl Wheu we recelvo Mr, Tsan's postal-card wo shall take pleasure in maklug the vequired so- traction. —— 8amiver Cox savs that * 00 special plesdiogs no retinements of social science, 0o snaps Parllamentary practice, uo whiniug for content, no odor of sauctity over thu decd, can ever eradicate the dataned spat. It will not out.” We knew that BaMivaL couldu't unwrite that letter to ¢ M. Prestdont ? Tayes, saking for an olfice for o scalawsg, but we Bad no Idea ho felt 50 bad overit. Thisls *Why Wo Don't Laugh! e e—— 1t 13 whispered that Fresident Havxzs hus & estrauged Benstor HAMLIN that the lsiter sweors he whil uever czoss the threshold of the White Houso sgein as louy 24 its prescnt occus pant rewalns there. Commiscration in this lo- stance trembles fu the balance, although, so 185 as congratulations ure coacerucd, thoy 1@ promptly teudcred to the President. o e—— - Tho Sclous of Pennsylvauls bave latroduced 8 bitl akiog it @ peual offense fur ons wao ta o= vite suothier to tako a drink of any ntoxicatiog liquor. 1In this wey the Feunsylvanls tover wili Le sble4o drink aloe, and have au excuse for dolug so. The proposed Lew rewinds us of the fawmous yeport of Joux B. Qouvau's lectard