The New York Herald Newspaper, September 9, 1868, Page 3

WASHINGTON. A Enotty Question for Radicals to Solve. Franchise or No Franchise for Rebels. Binckley's Investigation Preventing a Compro- mise in the Rollins-McCulloch Imbroglio. Imperfect Construction of the Pacific Railroad. WAsHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1868, Tho September Session of Congress. The concurrent resolution adopted by Congress in July for an adjournment until the third Monday in September provides that the “President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall on that day, unless it be then otherwise ordered by the two houses, further adjourn thetr respective houses until the first Monday in December, 1863.” A quorum of cach house is requisite to “otherwise order.” .-- Siray Nays A New Puzzle for Radical Solution. Some weeks ago I telegraphed you that the demo- eratic leaders of the South intended to raise a new and dighly tnteresting foint as to what citizens in the late rebel States are entitled to vote under the present condition of things, In South Carolina this point has assumed great prominence, from the fact ‘that the Central Executive Committee of that State have issued a proclamation announcing that tinder the Howard constitutional amendment no ¢itizen is excluded from the right of suffrage, although 4 very @rge class {9 shut ont from the right of hold- ing office, If this view of the question be correct it {8 evident the political result can easily be changed in many of the Southern States independent of the negro democratic vote, though, Perhaps, itis not of 80 much consequence in the case of South Carolina, for the reason that in that Btate the negro population is largely in the ascen- dant. A slight perusal of the third section of the fourteenth amendment suffices to show that the point is well taken by the democratic leaders of the South. There is not a word forbidding the right to vote, The disabilities imposed extend solely to the right of holding office, whether federal or State, in elb cases of persons who having previously taken an oath as member of Congress,, or as officer of the United States, or member of any State Legislature, or ag executive or Judicial officer of « any State ‘ to ~ support the constitution of the United States, shall have en gaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. Therefore, under this fourteenth article, ng rebels fre disfranchised. Now it only remains to gee whether the State constitutions impose more severe restrictions, How it may be with other States fat not prepared to declare, but in South Carolina the question seems very cleat. The few Constitition ot that State, Prepared under carpet-bag influence, simply provides “that no person shall be allowed to vote or hold office who is how, or hereafter may be, disqualified therefor by the constitution of the United States.” As the United States constitution allows all to vote, therefore the State constitution is eqnally liberal, The eighth article of the new South Carolina constitution, which is the only one that treats of the right of sutrage, is worded as fol- ows:— ‘ ‘ Te keg cee Every male citizen of the United States of the = of twenty-one and upwards not laboring under the disabilities named in this constitution, without dis- tinction of race, color or former condition, who shall be a resident of this State at the time of the adop- tion of this constitution, or who shall thereafter re- side in this State one year and in the county in which he offers to vote sixty days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote for all officers that are now or hereafter may be elected by the people and “on all questions submitted to the electors at any election; provided that no person shall be gllowed to vote or hold office who 1s now or here after ey be disquaiified therefor by the constitu- tion of the United States until such disqualification shall be removed by the Congress of the United States; provided further that no person while kept in any almshouse or asylum, or of unsound mind, or confined in any public prison, shall be allowed to vote or hold office, A trusty correspondent, who writes me from Charleston, states that this view of the suffrage ques- tion taken by Southern democrats has greatly alarmed the white and black rads in the South, who see no way of escape for themselves under the cir- cumstances, The Internal Revenne Muddle. The usual allowance of news about the internal revenue trouble to-day can be embodied in a brief paragraph. Each day seems to add to the complica- tions of the matter and to the perversity of the con- tending officials, while the existing confasion is not simplified in the least degree by the impatient nomi- nees, who are thirsting for the spoils of the super- visorship, several of whom are here, nor by the off- cious offers of mediition made by their political backers, Commissioner Rolling had another long discussion with the Secretary of the Treasury this morning, but little hope resulted therefrom for the office seekers, ag the deadlock in the appoint- ment of supervisors was scarcely alluded to during the interview. The leading question discussed was the Binckley investigation. Mr. Rollins entered the Secretary's office filed with indignation at the per- sistence of the indefatigable Binckley in the belief that he is unearthing revenue frauds, at the bottom of which he expects to find the handiwork of the Commissioner. Mr. Rollins demanded the imme- diate removal of Solicitor Binckley, or at least that he be at once recalled from the duties in which he is at present engaged, and intimated that there is no chance for even the ghost of a compromise so long as the investigation continues. The Secretary was quite as unyielding as the Commissioner, and de- “elined to interfere with the proceedings of the inqui- sition, and the conference terminated without a sin- gle step being gained in the direction of a peaceable settlement. One of the rumors in regard to this subject has it that certain members of Congress think that one of the first things that body should do when it mects is to change the Internal Revenue Bureau into a de- partment and make the Commissioner whoily inde- pendent of the Secretary of the Treasury. Appotatment of Internal Revenne Officers. The following storekeepers were appointed to- day:—Brigham Eckert, Hamilton, Ohio; T. F. Cuyler, Philadelphia; William Goodwin, Massachusetts; Thomas M. Johnson, Dayton, Ohio; Enoch E. Thomas, Mount Vernon, Indiana. The following grugers were appointed:—James Carson, Madison Dye and William Herge Wether, Fourth district, Onto; William M, Sleep, Twenty-fonrth district, Pennsylvania; and P, Chesley, Second district, Mas- sachusctta, . Secretary McCulloch has appointed J. M. Bur- roughs Assistant Assessor of the Fourth, and Ed ward G. Harrison and Joseph Shorn as Assistant Assessors of the Fifth district of Penneyivania. Bonded Tobacco Warchouses to be Estab- lished. A number of dealers in tobacco, from New York, Philadelphia, Baitimore and Richmond, have been here, requesting the establishment of bonded to- bacco warehouses in those cities, They will be established. The only question now pending is as to their number and location. Construction of the Union Pacific Ratlrond. The Secretary of the Interior about two weeks ago, in reporting to the President the completion of the twenty-fifth section of the Union Pacific Raliroad, informed him that although the government com- Missloners—Messrs, Blair, White and Buford—nhad inspected the section and had pronounced ft as fins ished entirely in accordance with the requirements of the Jaw and equipped as a first class road, one of the directors of the road had notified him that the track had been passed around several places where heavy grades would have been necessary, and that temporary structures of timber had been sub- stituted for permanent stone culverts and for stone abutments to some of the bridges. The Secretary Submitted fo the President the question whether, NEW, YORK HERALD, WED ESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1868.—TRIPLE SHEET. as the road was not eonstructed in compliance with the law, a portion of the bonds and patents due the company should not be withheld until the company made the required alterations. The question was presented by the President to the Attorney General for his opinion, and that officer decided that the bonds and patents could not be withheld, as the re- port of the government commissioners is by the terms of the law the only legal information upon which the President canact, Upon this decision the section was accepted, and the order given by the President for the issue of the government subsidy. Bridging Boston Harbor. In accordance with an act passed at the last ses- sion of Congress Rear Admirals S, H. Stringham and O. H. Bell, of the navy, and Brevet Brigadier General J. H. Simpson, of the Engineer Corps of the army, have been appointed a board to examine into the subject of bridging Boston harbor. They are to meet at the Navy Yard at Oharlestown on the 16th inst, That there may be a full examination of the subject the State and municipal authorities have been notified, Inspection of National Cemeteries. Brevet Brigadier General McFerran, Deputy Quar- termaster General in charge of the Department of Washington, has been ordered to make a special in- Spection of matters connected with the cemeteries tn the Department of the Cumberland, He will report as to what portion, if any, of the duties at present , performed under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Ransom can advantageously be transferred to the Quartermaster General's office here; and generally as to what steps are necessary to hasten the com- pletion of the cemeteries as rapidly asconsistent with a proper care and due regard for the honored re- mains resting there, «." . August Report of the Land Commissioner, Returns received to-day by the Commisstoner of the General Land Office show the disposal of 39,321 acres of the public Jands during the past month at the following places;-—Brownsville, Nebraska, 11,681; Qmaha, Nebraska,*. 11,013 acres} East Saginaw, Michigan, 9,623 acres} Humboldt, Kansas, 6,104 acres, The greater portion of thfs land was taken up by actual settlers under the Homestead law. SS MASONIC FETE CHAMPETRE. A Lively Day at Boulevard Grove. Yesterday afternoon and evening the members of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masong, unaey the Juriadiction of the Most Worthy United Grand ige of the State of New York, celebrated their annual reunion with a grand Plenic, or sete champétre, at Boulevard Grove, Brooklyn, B.D, For the information of the “un- initiated” it will probably be well to state that this entertainment was conducted under the duspices of the Colored wing of the Masonic brotherhood, and that its patrons were solely persons of African Iineagé. Not mote than half 9 dozen of thé descend- ants of Laas were on the ground, and these, to- gether with a trio of metropolitans attired in blue and bearing staves, appeared to be present on bust- ness “And perhaps 'twas well ’twas so ‘yery select and exclusive,” for those for whose pleasure and re+ creation the festival was gotten up appeared to enjoy themselvés as well if not better than they could have done with a crowd of gaping Caucasians surround- ing or mingling with them. ~ Everything “went merry as a marriage bell,” and a great many mar riageable belles went merrily too and came away m asirwat fidod, and doubtless in some instances with the hymeneal contragt fairly open. nee <= ‘The weather was chartiingly suitable to the occa- sion, and the grounds were in excellent order, and, with a soctal company prodent, the day was devoted to enjoyment and the interchange of courtesies. It was four o'clock before any considerable number of the picnickians were at the grove, but from that hour until nine o'clock at night they came “afoot,” Lyne and by the street railroad cars. At six o’clock about four or five hundred pleasure seekers were hard at work enjo} themselves at clam counters, restaurant tables, in “swinging boats,” on the turf ‘neath the lc trees, and lastly, though to a decidedly predomina' extent, im dancing on the Ee of ie vilion devoted i] the seenries of, Terp- sichore, company present was, Wi excep- tions, very res etaule ‘and ‘preclse in. thelr de- Foriments and »whil disp! in @ ma- jority of cases evident attention, in the matter of their attire, to the latest fashion bulletins, there were also a‘ number of “old jokers’? present who had evidently outlived the age they were in- tended iy Ean he one tee ot One an: ; sarcasm) a] fe “the er days, though rhape not quite so far ne as tno dare ages.’ ey were all men in tight sleeved coats, of & greenish brown variety of shade and color, with hats that would have concealed the wearer’ nm if those organs would have submitted to be “hid under @ bushel,” and these meh eg shumMied round amor the throng with sun-faded umbrellas under arms and were indiscriminately greeted by the patriarchal appellation of " or “uncle.” A number of these fogies had their conjugal part- ners with them, attired in the plain old cos- tume of. the mothers of this generation, with bonnets of undoubted coal scuttle prociivities and proportions, The later editions of these antique works were also on hand,,exquisitely gotten oe calf, cloth and morocco, ‘with occasional patent leather finishes and illuminated with gold. They were represented in almost every shade and tint, from the sombre black to the deep olive, with the blood fushing Ninges 4 beneath the semi-transparent skin and the pale white that showed the blue veins traversing the cheeks and temples. Men who might have been Otbellos, had not the “accident of birth” made them American citizens, flirted with and cav- aliered women who might have bamboozled a Mark Anthony into fighting Cresar’s navy with a feet of sixty sail of tian war vessels, as Cleopatra did. Fortunately, however, for ordinary mortals, the world is not now held by a Casar,.a Pompey or an Antony and these courtly ladies, whose “infinite vari- ety” perchance “age could not wither nor custom stale,” content themselves by enslaving the hearts of modern ‘‘Augustuses,” and the “George Washing- tons” of to-day; and, instead of picnicking on the Nile ina sixty oared galley, with a poop of gold, and sails whose perfumed surface the winds loved to Kiss, were pleased to go to Boulevard Grove for a day’s amusement at a fle champetre. jut though those who had assembled peeteses were not immortaiized by Shakspeare, they were doubtless as happy, being devoid, apparently, of anxiety concerning kingdoms and crowns, and filled laces in the community much more consonant with his progressive age and its institutions, They troubled no one, and enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent, and to the music of “Champagne Charlie’ and ‘‘Captata Jinks” “chased with 2 ng feet the silver hours,” until near midnight, at whic! seasonable time they betook themselves to their homes with pleasing recollections of a day harmless ly and enjoyably spent. MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES. Wallack’s closes next week for renovation, prepa- Tatory to the regular season, General Tom Thumb and his Liliputian friends will hold a reception in Hartford on the 18th inst, Mrs. Harry Hunter, an actress of meritorious reputation from the Southern States, is in town, and is anxious to obtain an engagement in this city. Littie Lotta—Iittle only in stature—fiits to Boston on Saturday next, where ahe débuts as “Fireily” on Monday evening at the Boston theatre. The Fiorences elleceed Mrs. Lander at the Broad- way, where they will produce the “Lancashire Lass"—a new piece that is now the rage in London. A magical matince at Dodworth Hall to-day by Professor Blitz. * Ventriloquism, trained canaries, sleigh t-of-hand and the spiritual dram are the prin- cipal attractions, The sprightly sisters Worrell are charming the Buffalonians with the “Grand Duchess” in English. ‘They are supported by their entire company from the New York theatre and will remain in Budalo for one week, © ~ ‘The good people of Detroit are rejoicing in an un- fledged version of the leg drama of “Undine,” which, under the management of Messrs. Oates and McManus, we are assured has been brought out with every detail well attended to, Mlle, Wesmael is the leading danseuse, A grand extra gala night is announced for to-mor- row night at the Central Park Garden. Two full orchestras will perform, under the leadership of Mr. Theodore Thomas, and the py 1s replete with choice selections from the most popular com- OFETS, Potne latest music hall sensation in London tan mulatto lady from Calcutta, who is advertised as the “Champion female walker of the world.’ Said lady appears tn her “native costume’—whatever that may be and “waiks one mile around the st m eleven maaretes oe sings @ soo mule wi song.” Certainly @ great ction. Maclanie Rosa was to make her dppeatance in oratorio, for the first time in California, at the Metro- politan theatre, San Francisco, on the 13th of August. “The Creation” was to be performed with a chorus a fk ol ed ea Sl conductors were to ‘arl Rosa and Mr, “ On the 14th September the Ricitings Opera Troupe will begin an en; ment of at least two weeks at the Arch street theatro, Philadelphia, after which there will be one week devoted by the regular stock are, i ve ed Gann which ime the play Ww! any y i: ehh has feed in the band of the direc: tor of the Variétiés the music of a new opera, en- titled “La Périchole.” The authors are, as tstal, MM, Meilhac and Halévy; while Mile. Schneider and M. Dupuis are again to take the principal characters. | worse; and JOHN TA HOFFMAN. Ovation to Mayor Hoffman at Buffalo— Hearty Reception of Mr. Hoffman in the Rural Districts. - ~ BUFFALO, Sept. 8, 1868. J.T. Hoffman arrived in this city at two o'clock this afternoon to open the political campaign at the democratic ratification meeting to be held this even- ing. The train was delayed overtwo hours and a haif to permit Mr. Hoffmanto respond to the calls at every station dn the Erle road between New York and this city, The County Convention of Erie connty has just assembled. ‘The military and civic delegations from the different townships, with music and banners, are arriving every hour. The torch- light celebration to-night will be the largest proces- sion that ever assembled in Western New York, Grand Democratic Ratification Mecting=Great Turn Out of the Masses—Speech by Mr. Hofman, BUFFALO, Sept. 8, 1863. ‘The democratic party of Erie county deferred their ralification meeting of the national ticket until the nomination of a Congressman and county officers had been made, One of the most imposing public Meetings ever organized in Buffalo assembled in St, James Hall this evening. Additional interést was given to the meeting from the fact that John T. Hoffman, the democratic candidate, for Governor, was to make his opening speech of the campaign. Long before the hour of meeting St. James’ Hall was packed to its utmost capacity, Cannon helched forth a welcome, bands of music discoursed national airs from every section of the city, and the largest procession of civic and military organizations, with torches, banners, &c., ever witnessed in Buifalo, pa- raded the streets. Tho military organization of the party in this county, independent of ward clubs, numbers over five thousand members. Outside of the hall, notwithstanding a drizzle of rain, speeches were delivered toa vast crowd. At half-past seven o’ciock the meeting inside the hall was organized by the nomination of Mr. Israe] T. Hatch as presi- dent, with one vice president from each ward in the city and township of the county and several secreta- ries, After a stirring address the president intro- duced Mr. Hoffman, who was received with deafen- ing cheers. After silence had been restored Mr. Hoffman held the. vast assemblage in breathless at- tention for over two hours, saying:— ~~ sax. FELLOW CrrizENs—I come among you, as your chairman has said, from that great city which is the head of foreign commerce, to thts great city which the head of the inland commerce of the country, address you as American citizens. I need not say that I rejoice in the greatness of this demonstration; not that I take itas pergonal to myself, but because L look upon {t as a demonstration in the interests of the cause of constitutional law and constituttonal Uberty, (Cheers,) Weare citizens of one great re- public. irty-seven States make up the chain of the Union—thirty-seven States, which under the constitution of the country are sovereign, independ- ent and equal. We have a population of Raha thirty-seven -millions, an average of a million every State; a population as hardy, as industrious, as enterprising, as energetic, as patriotic, as law- abiding, as constitution-loving as any people upon the face of the earth, We recognize one flag from one end of our broad domain to the other—a flag which ought to be, even if it is not, a protection to every citizen, native or adopted, either at home or abroad. (Cheers.) We have vast oceans upon either shore; we have the finest ports in the world; we have the greatest inland lakes; we have the greatest arteries of inland commerce; we have millions upon millions of acres of land which have yielded to the culture of the husbandman, and we have millions upon millions of acres of land upon which the foot of man has nevér yet trod and which has never yet known the influence of the agricultural art. Far away towards the great Pacific a railroad is now being bnilt, passing across the plains, up the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and away over to the Pacitic Ocean. We have land- ing upon our shores every year three hundred thou- sand hardy immigrants, adding, by careful computa- tion, to the healthy productive capacity of our coun- try one hundred and fifty millions of doliars. We have a people now, thank God! at peace with one another and at peace with the world. (Applause.) We have a people who have no desire, no aim but to secure for themselves, for their States and for the Union & great and glorious destiny. Such a people and such @ country ought to be the most blest and prosperous in the world. God and Nature have given to them advantages equal if not superior to any other people, Folly, fanaticism and the hate of men have made them to-day more burdened by debt, more oppressed by taxation, more insecure in their property, more uncertain for the future than almost os — on the face of the earth. (Applause.) What do people complain of? They complain that that which has been borne by gallant and brave men all the world over, which has been borne upon battle flelds of our country, and which now waves triumphantly over the capitol of every State, is not at home a protection to every American citizen, and that abroad, in foreign lands, citizens adopted into American nationality languish in prison for words spoken and acts committed on American soil, They compiain that this country, in five years, has accumu- lated a debt as large as Great Britain accumulated in two hundred, They complain that while our popula- tion numbers thirty-seven Sete the eee tion of Great Britian, bot ingland and the eolonies, numbers two hund: and thirty-seven millions, that their debt ts no than our debt. They complain that although they have entrusted to the party which has been dominant in this State and nation for years full powerto do as it pleased, unlimit- ed means and authority, yet they are taxed to-day hy everything they eat, upon everything they-drink, upon everything they wear, upon the clothes which are upon them When they are born and upon the shroud which is to cover them when they die. (Cheers.) They do not complain bécause this debt ‘was accumulated in the war for the preservation of the Union. On the contrary they give their hearty aye and amen to the expenditure of every dollar honestly expended in that contest to preserve our nationality, They do not Keg song that taxes are wrung from our people to pay the honest expendi- tuyes of the governinent or the interest upon the debt. They will cheerfully submit to give up the last do'lar and the last cent to pay all necessary ex- enses of the government and to fulfil its honest, honorable and just obligations, Bat they do com- plain that now, in a time of peace, we have in our midst an army of sixty thousand men, aid for to the fast dollar and last cent py taxes taken from the labor of the laboring men of the Northern States. (Applause.) They complain that this army of sixty thousand men, maintained at your expense in a time of peace, is more than four times as large as was the whole army employed by this government to conquer Mexico. They com- piain that in this time of peace we have a navy the expense of which is at least four times as much as were the expenditures for the ‘-” and navy before the commencement of the war. They complain that Although war is over, althoagh revefiton against the authority of the government ia ended, although those who were in the rebellion laid down thetr arms and submitted in absolute and unconditional surrender to this national authority, these States, to preserve which within the common Union $3,000,000,000 were expended and three hundred thousana lives were lost, are to-day, notwithstand- ing the many reconstruction acts of a ra. cal Con ‘8%, practicaily out of the Union of the States, They complain that in ten Southern States the white man ts subject to the domination of the negro. (Applause.) That by an act of Congress negro suffrage is forced noon them, while white men are disfranchised, Shaii I pursue this indictment further? Shail I pursue this cate- gory of Goatees, against them? It is unnecessary, my friends. hether you be democrats or repubii- cans you will not find me uttering one word in this + Vast assemblage to disparage you. (Applanae.) I re- cognize in the masses of the people one common object, one common aim, and that is the public good, T desire to address myself to all, irrespective of party, and I shail utter no word against any citizen who seeks the good of his country; bat I ahall aeal unsparingly with the men who have been entrusted with power and who forfeited their obligations to to the constitution and the country and left unfal- ee a) promises which they made to the people. Sheers. | ‘ After a lengthy and pungent allusion to the radical reconstruction acts for the Southern States and other matters of public policy, Mr. Hoffman reviewed the financial issues of the day as follows:— have called your attention to the fact of the great beam which has been committed to the radi in Jongress and in control of the government. It is not necessary to say that President Johnson vetoed this Or that till, because they were passed over his vetoes as fast as the vetoes Were sent in. Now, with all the resources of this great country, to which I have already called your attention, its wealth, its energy and its emigration, one would hy oe that by this time the ise in power would have made our securities worth at least as much as those of New Zealand. I think that even the Sonth Carolina Legisiature could have done that. But let us see what is the market value of our securities. I take the ee of the first of January, 1868, The five-twenty bonds of the United States were then selling about 7054; that ts, one hundred dollars in bonds was worth $70 in gold and a fraction over. The bonds of England pay 3 per cent gold for 04; ours paid 6 per cent in gold, theirs paid 3 per cent in gold. Canadian bonds paying 6 per cent in gold sold for 104, and New Zealand bonds sold for 109; Russian bonds sold for 84, Egyptias nds for 82 to 4, Turkiah bonds for 81 to 43, and the bonds of the State of Massachasetts, with all honor for her doing it, had the magnaminity, courage and bounty during the war to eontinue to pay her interest tn gold, sold for 85 to 87, although hag paid only five rent interest. The premium in gold in the nited States at that time was 4 per cent; in Russia, 14 per cent, and in Austria, 22 {4 cent. What do ou think of the capacity of a Congress which in hree years of , with the eon! paying out their taxes without Bradee with the resources of the country undiminished, If they had husbanded them and used proper economy, which kept the securities of the government at that time at a rate below those of the cotintries to which I have called your attention? I think if I employed a clerk who could not manage private basiness ‘better than that T should say that a change could not be for the tak that is What you would say. Now a 1 want to call your attention to the platform of the two parties upon the subject of the payment of the national debt, and the taxation gov bonds, oi democratic platform reads a3 follows:— Payment of the public debt of the United States as rapidly all drat thlptas chat ei hy eae seen adm appl don ly state upon thelr face or the law were isaued ror be paid in coim they Quebt th right and in justice be paid in the lawful "Eft ination of vary iecen of proper, according to ‘cordin, wa I value including government yonds aid other publle “One curreney for the government and the people, the laborer and the officeholder, the pensioner and the soldier, the pro- ducer and the bondholder, Now, that is a plain, frank, honest and_ bold plat- form, and no man can question its meaning. If it is right we will triumph before the people; if it is wrong they can say 80, for they know just what we mean, (Cheers.) Now let us see what the other party has said:— We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime, and the national honor requires the payment of the public ap PRE Oa 0 the beirit of the lawa under which it was sontracted. or? ou 2 Can you tell me what the words “letter and spirit”? mean? Do they mean gold or greenbacks? Does the spirit mean gold and the letter creenbacks? or the letter gold and the spirit greenbacks ? Can you tell me what the letter means or what the spirit means? & voice, “Whiskey.” Loud laughter and cheers.) yne of the audience says the spirit means whiskey, The letter Must mean, then, the failure to collect the tax on it. (Great laughter.) Now there are men who foel sensitive upon the subject, and there are no doubt, men within the sound of my voice who think the bonds ought ali to be paid in gold. I want to ask my sensitive friend what security he has under that clause of the republican platform? Out West we find Senator Sherman, who is Chairman of the Finance Committee of the radical Senate, saying that the law does not require that their bonds shall be paid in anything but greenbacks, and you find other radical Senators and speakers in tho Western States saying the same thing. But you come to New York and you find Senator Morgan and the New York Evening Post and the Tribune and the New York rad- ical State Convention telling you that the letter and spirit mean that the bonds are to be paid in gold. ‘ou will find the republican House ot Representa- tives passing a Funding bill, which provides for the issue of new bonds to take i the oid ones, which new bonds are to bear only four or four and a haif per cent interest, and it does not need a man of very extraordinary understanding to know that ifthe present bonds are to pay six per cent in gold nobody would be fool enough to exchange them for other bonds paying but four per cent.’ You find, I say, men in the West sayin the letter and spirit mean in greenbacks and men in the East saying they mean gold. Which will you trust, this equivocal platform or a frank and hon- est platform which says that where the law does not provide that the bonds shall be paid in coin that they ought in right and justice to be paid in lawful cur- Tency, and that further declares that the govern- ment shall be administered upon such economical ppaae that the currency of the country shall all made, as it will be made, ‘as good as gold? (Cheers) I know’ just what the wo letter and spirit mean. To be frank with you, Tused them once myself when I wanted to dodge that question. I thought that the question a\ that time was not a practicable one, and was one that had better be avoided and postponed, hoping that in time wisdom and economy would rule those in power, and that our affairs would be so managed that there would be no difference between gold and greenbacks, and this question would therefore be of no further importance. But no) t the question is met, we have it fairly and squarely. The interpretation Which the radi- cals give the words “lett and — spirit’ in the West and East nds me of a aman who had a In‘tery teket numbered 66, He found that No. 66 he™ wn pzlze; but on present- ing it to the lottery, ““an-person tirned it up- side down and rv )) radical platform Is 66 out West ana ihter.) Perhaps some of my digntiea ‘ponents and digni- fied political friends ** t aman who ts the candidate for the higi. vernor of the State of New York, addressii,, ligent people of the great elty of Buifalo, sicald not use such Ulustrations, I have been taught all my life that you can properly use any illustration you please, provided it conveys the truth in the simplest and most for ble language to the people you are addressing. te cers.) Now this same radical Con- gress, whose representatives in New York tell you they want to pay these bonds in gold, refused, dur- ing the last session of Congress, to sees = Ur le- galizing a gold contract. ‘hey would not recog- nize any distinction and would not provide by law that men should make any contracts in gold. Now, what is this whole gold and reenback question? As I said before, if there had been any wisdom and economy in the administration of the affairs of the government, the question would not have arisen, because gold and oe ‘would have been onthe par; but the eory of the issue of the greenbacks and of the act making them a legal tender was that they were as ee as gold, and if that had not been presumed to the case Congress would never have forced them upon the people as a legal tender. The law providing for the jue of the five-twenty bonds provides that they shall run for twenty years, with the rivilege on the part of the government to redeem hem any time after the lapse of five years, and that the interest should be paid in gold, It also provides that greenbacks should be a legal tender for all debts, public and private, except on duties and the interest on the public debt. That is a simple state- ment of the law, and the q7*Mon to-day comes be- fore the Americ; eh at the law shall be con- strued agains! ta letter and its spirit in the interest of the men who hold the bonds, My friends, if I thought the doctrine I advocated here to-night was going to injnre the credit of the Rear at home or abroad, and would not advocate it; but every man here knows, and every intelligent man throughout that county knows, that this government cannot and never will pay the principal of these bonds in gold as long as gold is worth as much more than greenbacks, as it is (Loud cheers,) If this government cannot make its greenbacks worth more than seventy cents on the dollar it cannot pay these bonds in gold. There is no use in shutting your eyes to that fact. If you are to meet the question and remove the ditm- culties which surround ob ger will say these green- backs will be made as gi as gold, and then there will be no question as to the payment of your bonds. But we are told that these men lent their money to the government during the war and incurred great risk. They laid their capital at the foot of the gov- ernment ‘and made it a free offering, and now, therefore, they should bo rewarded for ‘that exhibition of their loyalty, Well, my friends, they gave the vernment the romises which the government had given them. hey gave the government greenbacky. Did they take any risk? If the government did not triamph in war to maintain its integrity, the greenbacks were not worth the paper they were written on. They loaned them to save their government, but if their government had not been saved they would not h been worth giving or Iv = They took no risk. therefore. It was their salvation, and if they took a risk they had since made much of it. Is not the loan free trom all taxes excepting only income tax, and is not that compensation enough for all the risk they took? Six per cent in gold, which is now at least nine per cent in paper, and three per cent for exemp- tion from taxes, makes an tnterest of twelve per cent, and that f@ @ pretty good loan, and one would think that with such an income from the loan @ man ought to be satisfied if he was paid back in the same currency which he paid for tt. Cheers.) Did they take risks in making this loan? id not yonder widow take a risk when she sent ber only son to the battlefield to fight to preserve the integrity of the nation? And does she receive her pension in gold? (Loud applause.) Did not the man who loaned his money to the government, per- haps with the same kind of currency, buy a substi- tute for his son’ And do not he and his son to-day together remain at home and receive six per cent tn oid free from taxation, while the widow whose son fies buried tn Southern soll receives her pension tn the depreciated paper of the country? (Cheers.) Who made the greatest sacrifice, and why, uniess the law gives it and unless the bond gives ii why should you, men of America, insist upon tt that the man who lent his money should get gold, while the widow Who gave her son should get greenbacks I would like to have some radical friend of mine, here or elsewhere, answer that. My friends, demo- crais and republicans, do you in thia great Empire State believe there is to one currency for the holder of the bond and another for the widow who takes her pension? I do not think you believe it, I do not think you will give your buffrages in the election to keep in power a party here in the State government or to send to the Con- gress of the United States a man who would establish for one currency better than that which is paid to the other. (Applause.) 1 am in favor of one currency for the bondholders and the Beeps. Tam tn favor of a good currency for both. Tat in favor of putting a varty in power which will make a good currency for Born if there Is to bea distinction kept up between the paper dollar of the government and the gold dol- lar, [say thatall men should fare alike. Por the same necessity which made the government give to the people greenbacks and declare them to be a legal tender for all gold debts, that same public ‘necessity will make it necessary that the men who lent their money to the government should be paid in the same kind of currency which they gave. No man can stand before an audience of the people of the State of New York and hope to have their ap- proval on any other platform, (Cheers,) But a radi- cal said to me the other day, “I ain going to addresa a meeting to-night, and T am going to talk to the poonle urea the subject of paying the debt in greenbacks. I am going to show that it hol Fults om going to tell them that tho savings banks have their money invested in government securities, and the people have their money invested in sayi banks. Lam oing to tell them that this greenback theory will reak down the government bonds, and will therefore break down the savings banks. Now if this story was told to men who did not understand we juestion and there was no one to answer it might have it@ effect; but every man 0 nows that if this government can’t pay sense its debts in the money it declares to be ) tender for ali debts, it cannot pay them at all. If the sav- ings banks cannot realize that fact, then they are unsafe. ou know the; ‘The banks collect their interest in gold. Do yon depositors in savil banks get your inte- rest in ki 1 should The way to make the securities of this gov- ernment valuable in the markets of the world Is to let the world understand that we mean to pay them in the same currency in which they were incurred, and we mean to make that currency just what administration bas alwi made it—as good as id. (Cheers.) do that we will abolish the Freedmen’s Bureau. (Laughter.) We will cut down the arm: to ieee What it ought to be in a time of peace, we will reduce the navy. We will cut down all the un- necessary expenditures of the government. After a general allusion to the Internal Revenue laws and the mismanagement of the canals of New York under radical misrule, Mr. Hoifman continued:—I have not attempted to appeal to your prejudices. I have not tried to excite your enthu- Slasm. I have used scarcely an expression in the course of my remarks which was aimed at the pur- ose of calling out a single cheer. If I have some- imes by my illustrations excited a smile, it was’ @ smile that arose from the conviction of your heads and _ hearts by the impression I made upon them. I come along you to reason with you; I want you to under- stand me; [have nothing to say about the candi- dates running against me; I have nothing to say against the candidates put forward ag the represen- tatives of the republican party for the high ottices of the nation; I don’t believe in disparaging them; I believe it ts better for the people of our great country that weshonid let it be undetstood that each party haa put forth its best men, and that this country has nemhig: to gain in its reputation either at home or abroa sented to thesuffrages of the people are unworthy: to hold the positions for which they are hominated. (A voice in the crowd—I am a republican, I propose three cheers for that sentiment. God bless you. Tho cheers were given with a will.) I go further than that, I will say in regard to General Grant that the nation has placed three stars on his shoulders, and I would be the last man in the world to say that they ought not to have been placed there, I would not like to see them of, I would let him wear them, as he has earned them, but [ wouid not, by my voice or vote, sustain the policy of the party which puts him in nomination, which, while it leaves the stars upon his shoulders, takes them om the flag of the country, They stand em- blazoned upon that glorious old flag, each star the representative of a sovereign, independent and equal State; but we want no military President, ne country wants a statesman. (Loud cheers.) The di of the sword is passed. An incident occurred al the mecting of the National Convention which was an omen. That grand hall where the Convention met was full of patriotic men, Upon its walls were, ped oe seas ue aaoh States, and around eyery ghield was the Americ: Upon the platform stood tw b! aie healuahae er noble soldiers, one leaning upon a great bronze sword. The Conventien had been in gession for several days ballot after ballot had taken place. First one was up and then another, and at last a gallant gene- ral, whose name has neyer been mentioned any- where save with respect—I_ mean General Hancock, No man knew whether on the next ballot he was or was not to be chosen. Everything was uncertain when suddenly the great bronzed sword in the hand of that noble statute snapped asunder at the hiit. It was not touched by mortal hands—no human agency broke it. Some mystertous, invistbie and irresistible power snapped it at the hilt, and the Word went forth that the country was henceforth to have a statesman and not a soldier for a leader. (Tremendous Sisering.) Mr. Hotfman was followed by Hon. A. P. Lanning in an cloquent address, anne BOOK’ NOTICES. A Prrsonat flistory oF Unyssrs 8. GRANT. By Albert D, Richardson, author of Field, Dungeon and Escape,” and “Beyond the Mississippi.” Hart ford: Connecticut American Publishing Company. The author of this bulky volume of flve hundred and fifty pages mentions in a foot note the fact that “while this book was passing through the press five or six lives of Grant were already out and twelve were announced to appear within a few weeks,” But the life of the General has often been exposed before, and we may hope that he will survive all these attempts upon it. The present work appears to justify ita title of «A personal history” of Grant, and the avowed purpose of its author, who remarks in the preface:—“In these pages I do not give all the minute details of his achievements in the eld. The world knows them by heart. Iseck rather to show ‘what made him the man he is; the stock from which he sprung; the moulding influences of his boyhood; his early military and .civil life; his intellectual growth and political education during the great rebellion; his opinions since on na- tional and international affairs, chiefly the dificult ‘and ever-changing questions involved in the stu- pendons problem of readjusting the political and industrial relations of ten millions of people, occu- pying haifa continent; and through all the little things indicating the intertor life of the man—what he thought and hoped and feared. Hence I relate many incidents, believing that those even which seem trivial and potntless may help to throw light upon his organization and development.” In con- sulting previous works Mr. Richardson has drawn most upon Badeau’s admirable volume. material oficial records have, he says, been open to him with great freedom and kindness, enabling him to use many letters and despatches upon im- portant points of our recent history never before ven to the public. Mr. Richardson has journeyed housands of miles to visit the various scenes of Grant’s chequered life, and talked with handreds of his life long acquaintances, ctvil and military. The re- sult is a fulness of detail, which, if sometimes unneccessarily overflowing, as if to swell the volume to the size required by mere bookmaking exigen- cies, has, nevertheless, value as well as interest. The book 1s illustrated by twenty-six engravings, most of which belong to the cheap and ordinary style peculiar to books issued by subscription—by several fac similes of letters from Grant, Lincoln, Sheridan, Buckner, Lee, ete., and by six maps, with @ portrait and sketch of Schuyler Colfax. fixed to the forty-seven chapters of which the work con- sists isan appropriate quotation from Tennyson's ode on the death of Wellington. One verse particu- larly, notwithstanding Brick Barlow's protest, must be endorsed as “a true bill” for General Grant:— Our greatest, yet with least pretence, Great tn counetl and great In war, Foremost Captam of fits time; Rich in saving common sense, And, as the greatest only are, Tn his simplicity sublime. Tur, Wonks or Kev. Arrmurn O'Lrafy, 0. 3. F. Edited by a clergyman of Massachusetts. Boston: Patrick Donahoe. This collection of the celebrated and influential Franciscan, whose name has been coupled with that of Ganganelll, the late Pope Clement XIV., as among the most distinguished of that great order, was undertaken at the suggestion of the late lamented Bishop John B. Fitzpatrick. It is as complete as every research by the editor, both in Ireland and America, could make It. In the debates of the Irish House of Commons on the Popery bill, February 24, 1782, Sir Lucius O'Brian made the comparison be- tween Pope Clement and Father O'Leary, which con- ferred on the latter the appellation of “the Irish Gan- ganelli.” Mr. Grattan paid an elegant tribute to the patriotism and genius of Father O'Leary, alluding particularly to one of his publications as a work “that would do honor to the most celebrated name.” Mr. Yelverton, afterwards Lord Avonmore, said that “his works might be placed on a footing with those of the finest writers of the age,” adding, “they originated from the urbanity of the heart.” Another eulogist calla Father O'Leary “a Moliére when he laughs, a Locke when he reasons, a Tully wien he writes, a Tillotson when he exhorts.’ It is not sur- rising that there should be a demand for new edi- tons of the works of soeminent a writer. To the on elegant edition 1s appended an interesting loereD ay of the witty, great and good friar, com. | jled from the large work on ‘The Life and Times of kev. Arthur O'Leary,’ by Father England, brother to the late Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina. FIRST PRINCIPLES OF POPULAR EpreATion AND Pope 110 Instruction. By 8. 8. Randall, Superinten- dent of Public Schools of the city of New York, New York: Harper & Brothers. This unpretending volume embraces the results of an experience of nearly thirty years In the practical | administration of the systems of public instruction | W in the city and State of New York. It ts appropri- ately dedicated to Henry Parnard, LL. D., Com- missioner of Education of the United States. The concluding chapter on the “Objects, Means and Ends of Education,” 1s particularly interesting as embody. | ing the strong convictions and clear ittustrations of | the most competent judges and most un- exceptionable witnesses, accompanied by the most tndubitable and well attested facts, show- {ng demonstratively the intimate connection which subsists on the one hand between education and virtue, honor and usefulness, and on the other | between ignorance and vice, crime, destitution and pauperism. The author is amply justified in asking if itis not clearly and unquestionably shown that the highest and most direct interest of the whole community, and of every individual sompoetes. it, demands that the education of its youth should not only ve free and untversal, but that no pains should | can, if you will, redeem our district from _~ CITY POLITICS. The Seventeenth Ward Democracy. Last evening an immense gathering of the democ- racy of the Seventeenth ward,numbering several thou- sand persons, congregated at the coruer of Firstave- nue and Ninth street, under the auspices of the Seven« teenth ward Tammany Hall Democratic Committee, to ratify the nominations of Seymour and Blair and to raise a banner bearing the portraits of the candi- dates, Long before the hour announced for the com- mencement of the proceedii @ large crowd agsem- bled at the rendezvous, which, throughont the even- ing, presented a lively and animated appearance. Bonfires burned brightly in ali directions and illumi- nated the surrounding buildings, every window ot which was crammed with spectators, A miniature pyrotechnic exhibition, together with the strains of a band, tended considerably to enliven thi business. The greatest enthusiasm was displayed, terrific cheers be any criterion of sincerity and ap- proval. The banner, which is handsomely con- structed, measures thirty-five feet by forty-five feet, and is prominently suspended across the street, latform from which the speakers addressed the au- lence was erected in the street and was surrounded by several variegated lat At half-past seven o'clock the meeting was called to order and presided over by Mr. John H. Harnett. The Secretary read a lengthened Ist of officers, who were received with rounds of approbation, Mr. J. Rogers came forward and delivered one of his characteristic speeches, alluding to the generai topics of the day and giving the republican party a severe verbal castigation, Mr. J. W. Chanler next addressed the andience, by aszerting that the men pre- |.anq after a few preliminary remarks dilated at cone siderable length upon the goeation of negro suf: frage. He earnestly submitted that Congress was endeavoring to make the negroes not the equals but the mastefs of the white race, He adverted in strong terms to the acts of reconstruction, contend. ing that under radicai legislation the country was slowly drifting into ruin, Under any circumstances he considered the negro had no more right to vote than the red Indian, There were two reasons why the republican party maintained the negro, oné being through religious fanaticism .and the other for seif-aggrandizement, It was useless to talk of religion unless the white race were undisputed masters of the government of the United States, Mr, T, J. Creamer followed in a lengthened aren, in which he reviewed the policy pursued by the re+ publican party in recent years. He pointed out ‘what he considered the danger of negro supremacy, and argued strongly against negro suffrage, con; tending that such @ movement was suggested by nothing more than religlous fanaticism. He con, tended that under the rule of the democratic party the country had always been Prien Bas and happy, while that'under the republicans had been charac terized by uncertainty and civil war. Th conclusiot he called upon the meeting to give its earnest sul port to tha democratic candidates during the ensue ing campalgn, ) es 0 ie ars, Sullivan, Stern, Levi and others also deliv- eréd brief addresses, after which the meeing quietly disperse - 5 “ae RA cthoaga ‘ Thirteenth District Grant and Colfax Club. This club held its regular weekly meeting last evening at No. 206 Eighth avenue, There were eighty-two persons present, Major John A. Mecks presided and George W. Alexander acted as seere+ tary, After an carnest call for signatures to the roll Tsaao J. Oliver addressed the assemblage. Ho said that just’such meetings as the one he had the honor of addressing would work wonders in the Presiden. tial contest, He could talk quietly and assure them that all was going on gloriously. Day by day dis- contented democratic papers were hauling down the Seymour and Blair flag and raising the Grant and Col- fax standard, There was nothing to fear on the part of the republicans but apathy, and with that ‘obiite. rated the boasted 90,600 ar eth of the democratic party in this State would dwindle to less than halt of that amount, The breathings of the late rebel leaders of the South were in themselves sufficient to infuse such enthusiasm into Northerners that they would en masse go for the ticket the club present espoused, Mr. Oliver regarded the election of the republican standard bearers not at all problematl- oa, but only the result of a little hard work, “¥ Mr. Isaac Dayton followed in a similar, but little more eloquent stratn, dilating upon the enormities of the Southern people, questioning their integrity in the preservation of the Union. One or two moro local speakers addressed the meeting, when they ad- journed with cheers for the republican ticket, The German Democratic Gencral Union Com. mittee. This committee met last night at Schmenger's Hall, Dr. William Schirmer in the chair; Louls Hennett, Beoretaty. After arranging Yor speakers to go into the interlor of the State and making some further Paneer ay for the campaign the committee ad- The German Grant and Colfax Campaign Organization. Last night, at 23 and 25 Third avenue, this organl+ zation met, with Dr. Friedrich Schuetz in the chair. ‘The only matter of interest which transpired was a motion by Dr. Hoeber that the “Hebrew Grant and Colfax Club” be not recognized as such, he ert that the religious denomination of a person ae not to be thrust forward as an element in politics, After a very sharp ‘and at times somewhat heated de- bate, Dr. Hoeber’s motion was lald on the table and the committee adjourned. KINGS COUNTY POLITICS. Seymour and Blair Meeting In Brooklyn. There was a very large concourse of citizens as- sewbled at a democratic mass meeting held last evening at the Wigwam of the Constitutional Union Association, Fulton avenue. Mr. D. P. Barnard pre- sided and made a few remarks, in the course of which he referred to the unusual interest evinced by the people in the approaching election as giving promise thus early tn the campaign of a democratic victory. Thé republican party had had the power of iving peace to the country, but had failed signally in their work of reconstruction; they had entailed an additional burden of taxation upon the people in maintaining a standing army in the Southern States at a cost of $69,000,000 a year for the purpose of in- timidating the white man. He remembered the time when an administration was overthrown be- cause it had expended $18,000,000 upon the army and navy. ‘Mr. William C, Dewitt was then introduced and was received with applause, He discussed some of the elementary principles of republican government, and held that the great issue to be decided was whether we sliail have a return of a republican form of government or be changed to an imperial monarchy. The intelligence of the voting masses waa the sole life of our government, and he re- viewed the progress and wisom exercised by our forefathers in its establishment to carry out that grand object. ‘The policy of the radical party in power was rapidiy tending towards centralization, To gain thelr se!fish ends the republican party pro- posed to introduce four mililén African votes Into the ballot box, and thus give the benighted and ignorant negro @ weight tn framing the laws for the government of the Caucasian. The speaker con- tinued tn an eloquent strain, dwelling upon the ts- suea of the present canvass, and upon concluding took his seat amidst rounds of applause. Other spenkers followed and the meeting adjourned at a late hour, Grant and Colfax Meeting. There was a well attended meeting of citizens of the Twenty-first Ward Grant and Colfax Boys in Bine Campaign Ciub hela last evening in Myrtle avenue, near Marcy avenne, Captain Charles B, Tobey ‘ho presided at the meeting, was chosen President; R. W. L’Hommedien, Vice President; M. W, Willcott, Treasurer, and Captain John ge n, Secretary of the organization, A spirited address was made by Captain Hiram Smith, and Captain Flavin was authorized to represent the club in the central organization of Kings county Boys in Blue. NEW JERSEY POLITICS, Democratio Convention at Morristown=Nomi- nation of Colonel Philip Rafferty, of Patere won, for Congress. ‘The Democratic Convention for the Fourth Oon- greasional district of New Jersey, comprising the counties of Passaic, Bergen, Sussex, Morris and all of Essex except Newark, assembled at Washington Hall, Morristown, yesterday. The convention waa called to order at twelve o'clock, and Jacob Vanatta vaz appointed chairman, in the appointment of secretaries, vic ents and committees one de- legate was chosen from each county. fhe first ballot stood as follows!—Phillp Rafferty, | 130; J. Truesdell, 6; Abraham Hewitt, 2. The nomt- nation of Mr. Reverty was accordingly made by ace clamation on motion of Judge Simonds. The come mittee appointed for the purpose lef the hall and brought in Mr. Rafferty, Who said:—Mr. Chairman and gentiemen of the Convention—I know not in what words to thank you for the honor and, I would say, the responsible trust you tmpose onme, You have, by your vote, made me your standard bearer in the approaching contest, and I augur certain victory from the harmony which has characterized your assemt I will bear your standard to the capitol of the nation and there deposit it. My voloo shall ever be raised on the side of the constitution, the laws and the union of the States. The issues to be decided by the next Congress are the most momentous ever submitted to the Legislature of the nation, and it behooves us to trainple down every obstacle that would impede our mareh to victory. Yous be spared to render it thorough and complete; not | iisrepresentation, and I onmy part promise so to {n intellectual instruction merely—not in the mere | communication of knowledge or the advancement of | science, however comprehensive or exaited—pnt, together with this, in that early inclination | act that when called on at a future day to render ar | Sccount, of my atewardsnip to my constituents, shall not be found wanting. ‘Theotore Randolph, democratic nominee for Gov and that assiduous development, discipline and cul- tare of the affections, the principles, habits and conduct of life which Christian'ty incuicates, which a sound and enlightened moral sentiment re- = which reason and philosoplty alike dictate, wi ia every consideration aining to the wel- of our common humagit mands, improvement of soc! 7s the aivance. ¥ imporativeiy de- ernor, and ex-Governor Price also ad treased the meeting, The following gentlemen were named the district committes for the next convention: | RB. Edsall, & Corneliaa Liedecker, Berger James Brady, Essex; Kobert Hamil), Passate, and | Joha W. Jackson, Morris, The convention Ww: marked by the gi t order and decorum, and th prevailing Impression was that the district Wil @ivg | a large democratic majoriy. | |