The New York Herald Newspaper, July 30, 1871, Page 3

The Sage of Essex on Politics, Past, Present and Future. A Peep Into the History of the War of the Rebellion, Batler the Laboring Man’s Champiecn. Bagineering the Lighthouse Law Through the Massachusetts Legislature. A STRONG BID FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP. The Paris Communists Find a Sym- pathizer in Butler. The New York Riots—The Proper Method of Dealing With a Hob. GLoucesTER, Mass., July 29, 1871. After breakiast I went up to “Bay View” and called upon General Ben Butler, 1 asked him if he ‘was ready to grant the interview I nad intended to have two or three days before, He sald he had no objecuon. Carrying down to the point of the lawn bear the shore a couple of chairs, we sat down in the famous tent on the beach in which the General domiciled himself winle preparing for his frst Con- gresstoual campaign, It was from this tent that be Pee Seeeirwe rene ere went io the House of Representatives, As’ soon a8 the teu: was iixed and we had sat down— “Well,” said the Genera!, now you may ask what you please.” “You have no objectlons to my taking down your replies jn shorthand? r . en A En a J On the co: His y, he said, “I would rather ine gist on it, as I prefer my own words to any one’s report {rom memory, especially a3 I find it impos- sible to have cven my carefully considered words correctly quoted by my opponents or critics, as they may choose to consider themselves. I find that most of them seem to prefer to put words into my mouth and then demolish thelr own arga- ments,” “Well, I have seen various criticisms of your course. Suppose I ask first of them?) “Very well,” sald the General. HOW AND WHY GENERAL BUTLER ENLISTED—DEMO- CRAT DIVISION OF {ROOPS IN NEW ENGLAND. Isaid—“A lcading Boston paper charges, in re- ference to aremark you made about another candi- Gate for Governor, that you were an opponent of he republican party even after you entered the army, as Was clearly shown by your attempt to officer a brigade or division in New Engiand exclusively by active members of the democratic party. How is Uhat ?”” “I observed that charge,” said the General, “and itis one of the few that do not arise from deliverate malice, but from pure tguorance of the tacts and cir- cumstances. Tuc first suecess of tne Union arms in 1861 was the capture OF Hatteras, in which I took Part, faving been previously relleved by Major General Wool, in obedience to the cry at that ume that all officers should be of the regular army, I was, as Mr. Lincoin termed it, ‘ontof ajob.’ I said to the President one day in September, ‘I think, Mr. | President, that you are carrying on this war on a wrong principle and 1t Is apparently without your fault, Allour troops are raised by Governors of States and all our Governors are republicans. As a rule they appoint none but republicans to office in the army, especially the line oflicers, although they sometimes iake regimental commanders irrespective of their political opmions, if educated at West Point. The captains and licutenanis enlist the men. However, they enlist only those whom they know, or who have confidence in then.’ (This Was before the day of bounties.) ‘Ihe consequence is, you are getting no democrats into the war. This should be a war for the Union, aud the whole Union, and not a party war, a3 the course that is mow pursued bas a tendency to make it. Now,’ I waid to the President, «I am a democrat; well Known as such in New Engiand, This success at Hatteras has given me some military prestige. I will go to New Engiand and enlist a division for service on the Southern coast, but 1 propose to enlist all democrats, if possipie. There is no surer way to make men interested on our side than to put them into it, especially with epaulets on their shoulders; but 1m order to do that I must have the power of commissioning tne oMcers, Or at least the consent of the Governors of the States to commission such officers as I may recommend.’ Mr. Lincoln said, ‘vatier, there is meat in that sug- gestion, Go to Cameron, consult with him; draw gach an order as will accomplish your purpose and Iwill approve it.’ I said again to the President, “ali your supplies are now drawn from the Middie and Western States. Why not allow a portion to come to New England? Your expeditions are Deing fitted out from New York or from the Missis- sippi River. Give me authority to fit out my expedi- tion from Boston and get its supplies there, 80 as to give my section some of the benefits as well as the burdens of the war.’ Be said, ‘embody that also in your order.’ [came to New Bnglana, saw the gov- ernors of all the States, who all agreed to co-op- erate with me heartily, except the Governor of Rhode Isiand, who avked to be excused, because Rhode Islan’i was fitting out and aiding Bornside’s expedition. Lexplamed to each of the governors my purpose, and uley hearuly concurred, with the exception of Governor Andrew, who thought it would not do to have demo- crats go to the war when [ suggested to him the name of a gentieman high in the democratic party of Massachusetts who had offered to go with my expedition as Brigadier General, and agains! whom he had a personal objection. 1 chose as leading omicers primarily those who had been with me as deieg: tie Chaiweston Vonvention, I purposed to take a leading d emocrat in New Hampshire, but was prevented from having him raise a regiment, although the Governor was wil- ing to commission him by the inflnence of Pres.dent Pierce. My stauif were all democrats, or old whigs, and, indeed, more than nine-tenths of my enlisted men Were democrats, ° OPPOSITION OF GENERAL BUTLER. Tosuch an extent did we carry that, 1 believe Governor Andrew realy thougil that when we went down to New Orleans we should succeed, Inasmuch that he felt it Ms daty to go to the President and nally beseech him to prevent the appoinument ‘as brigaaier genera of the gentioman to whom have referred, When we jeft for New Orleans 1 doubt whether 300 out of my 6,000 New England men Dad ever voted the republican ticket. When I re- darned from New Orleans doubt whether 300 votes could have been found that would not be thrown jor the republican ticket. Li the editor had known these facts he would hardly have imputed, as proof of ‘want of allegiance to the republican party, actions hich were in the broadest and highest sense, and ‘with the advice of tis leader, taken tn behalf of that party and the country. BUTLER ON THE ENPORCEMENT OF THR LAWS. Jsaid, ‘You say that all laws snould be enforced— Mat the Crief Magistrate, under fis oath, has no option about it, As L read your letter he has po might to allow his private judzment of the expe dency of any law to interfere with its execution. Ie that your view?’ “Clearly,” responded General butler, and taking up an evening edition of the Boston Journal, containing Briticlsm of his theory of the duty of a chief executive, he added, “and an argument anat { see in the Journal to-night has Mot changed, but confirmed, my opinions about it. Governer Andrew though! it was bts pone see that the laws were enforced. He Ls Sat his power of enforcing tne laws was seriously impaired by the constitutional provision for the election of sherifs, which took tiem trom nnder his control, Therefore he advocate and, by his great Personal power, carried through the appointment of @ State police, which syould be under the contro! of the Executive and enable him to entorce the laws; and from that time to the present the State police have enforced or permitted to remain not en- forced the laws of the Cummonwealth, a the Governor and Council bave direc Witbin a year 1 am informed that the State con- stables have returned @ large quantity of liquors sewed! by them without prosecuting either (he liquor m ‘turer or the liquor dealers who violated the jaw, amd they have done this under the direction of the Governor and Council, and this has been done i» more +ban ope instance, Sivauiasly enovel, ade We NEW Y however, why the State police was or- famsedy coo am agialatire took away the appoint: Ing power of the 51 police from the Governor, and Commissioners, 80 that one the State Police was in- and advocated by Governor Andrew, and specplly distinguished from mnstitution, has been also aban- doned and the ee a m & great measure Governor and Council, who the people who elect them, aud made dependent on a board of police commissioners, who are in no way responsibie to the people. I agree witn all my mind to tne con- stitutional provision that the “several magistrates and officers of government invested with authority, whether logislative, executive or judicial, are their (the people’s) substituces and agents, and are at all limes accountabie to them,’’ and so believing | su) pose that tne Clues Magistrate is chiefy responsibie to them ‘for the power which they have entrusted to him to execute their laws. His constitutional resignation, being: whe supreme Executive of the Commonwealth, had supposed, notwitistanaln; any argument of this wise correspondent, that it was the duty of the Supreme Executive to see to it that the other officers of the Commonwealth per- formed their constitutional and legal duties in the enforcement of the laws, It 13 clearly somebody's duty io doo. It not the Governor’s whose is 1t”” BUTLER ON THE COMMUNE. “1 did not see your speech at Gloucester. I’ve marked on reading in my notes the dreadful word ‘Commune.’ What did you say about the Paris Commune’ I see that some of the conservative republican payers charge yon with defending and vindicating Commune atrocities and al.’? General Butler replied:—“1 said in substance that the Commune of Paris were fighting for the right of local self-government, and that that princl- ple embodies all republican instirutions; that while no man could sympathize with tneir excesses, yet we ought not to forget that they were fighting Tor luberty, however mistaken; that they represented the people as against an usurped government, and that these excesses even were the acts of desperute men, who had veen refused all erms of capitulation and surrender, and were palliated in vicw of the wholesale slaughter of men, women ani children by the Versailles government, amounting, it ts satd, to many thousands—so0 Many that their execution had to be done by ene worked by machinery, men refusing to do it all, Isaid, aiso, that I thought that ulling down of the column of Napoleon in the Place Vendome by the order of the Paris government might be justified to them in this, that that statue only comimeinorated tho acts of a military chief ot ab arbitrary power, which had built its empire on | the ruius oF republican liberty, THE PARIS COMMUNE AND OUR BEVOLUTIONARY FATHERS. “T might have said that the Commune had the example of our fathers as @ precedent, who, at the beginning of the revolution, threw down a staiue erecied to George Ii, in the Bowling Green, New York; and, worse than the Commune the statue Peng. Je-of lend, tnéy cast ALO ‘ballets and Ot hig own subjects with them. If this be o treason to republican liverty make the most of it.” THE GENRRAL AS A FRIEND OF THE LABORING MAN, “It is charged—you must excuse my plaiuness of speech—that you have never shown any sympathy with working men, although it is said you will now try and get their votes; that you never attempted to alneliorate tieir condition when you were In a posi: ton to at least try to do it, The plain English of this is, of course, that you are playing the dema- gogne; but sullitis just as well to state the case without beating about the bush.” “All men,” replied the General to this dlunt ques. uon, ‘all men Judge others Sy the highest standard thac they have, and they can have no higher standard than thelr own comprehension of the principles of right and wrong and motives of action, Balances graduated to weigh a pound caihot possibly measure a top, Men who know that they themselves would, if they could, play the demagogue, of course suppose that others do as they would do. It is their highest standard of judg- ment; bul a man who has been before the public for a quarter of a century minst haye a record upon most topics of pablic thought. ore than twenty years ago the caynpaign Was fought 1n this State, Which ended in the election of Boutwell, as Governor, and Sumner, as Senator, Af that tlme | was en- aged in advocating the reduction of the hours of favor at Lowell from thirteen anda half hours, which the operatives then worked, to ten hours a day. The Governor was then ciected by a majority; tailing to get & majority of the people he was elected by a ballot of the House and Senate. Repre- sentatives were also chosen by a majority. When a town Jailed to elect on the second. Thursday In No vember there was a new election had on the fourth Monday. -1tso happened in that election that the ten Representatives of Lowell gave the balance of power to the coalition party and against’ the whigs, ‘rhe Governor, and, | believe, a majority of the Sen- ato's, failed of election by the people. The election at Lowell for Representatives Was set aside by the city government because of a miscount in one of the wards—a very frivolous pretext, for which I had tue | Aldermen afterwards Indicted, All the Lowell ! Representatives were _ elected on the ten- hour ticket, so that ‘the labor men held the balance of power. To get rid of that balance of power the Lowell manulacturers committed the in- | Justice 1 have stated, and a new election was ordered {on the fourth Monday of November. Upon that election depended the political complexion of the State, the election of Boutwell as Governor and of Summer as Senator. The whole force of the whig party was thrown into Lowell to carry it. I suppose that the ten-hour movement was then under my lead, because in & room of one of the largest_ manu- facturing corporations in Lowell a placard was posted declaring that whoever voted the Ben Butier ven-hour ticket would be harged from the employ- ment of shat.co \y im S. Rovinson, then a Noted writer the “New York Tribune, was brougit into Lowell by the whig leaders to discuss the pending issues and challenge me to a discussion of the labor questions during that contest. The discussion, however, did not come off. Mr. Robin- sen, however, desired to make @ speech on that subject at the depot, which so incensed the laboring men that they ran the caron which the speaker’s platform was out of the depot, and Mr, Robinson escape through a window. The “Ben Butler Ten- nour Ticket’? was elected, and that contest secured the election of Charles Summer as Senator, and the rat agitation subsequently of the laber question in the Legislature was made by the Lowell delegation. Tne tollowiug year I was elected upon the same ticket to represent Lowell as a ten-hour man, and in the House of Representatives ten hour legisiauon was had. The workingmen of Lowell | wil have 1onger memories upon my record as a Jabor reformer than my detractors, and | am by no us severed from my eariy couviction on the sub- ject of hours of labor, forced upon me by @ resi- dence from boyhood in a manufacturing city.” THE BALLOT FOR WOMEN, 1 asked, “Would you oppose the efforts of the woman suffrage party to get the ballot for woman? ‘They propose to go into the field ayaimst Mr. Jewell if he ts uomimated, and they are woo much ip ear- nest to be satistied with anything bat a yes or no answer. What do you say—yes, or no‘? ‘Tne Generai rephied:—“Upon that subject I have no new siep to take or thought to express. Conside- rabiy more than a year since one of the leading advocates of the right of women suffrage called on me to express my views upon that subject. [ said to her then that [had not suficientiy examined it to bave come toa conclusion, and that a topic of such gravity ought not to be made asulyject of hasty conclusion, but that whenever | had come to deti- nite opinions | would make them known, | under- stood that the lady (Susan B, Anthony) com- plarned afterwara that I had not communicated my optulons, and therefore that 1 was to be taken to be against woman suffrage. It became oficial duty, however, to exam.ne the question fully asa member of the Judicial Commitvee of the House of Representatives during the Forty-first Congress, and that, too, upon the proposition whether by the con- stitution of the United States the rignt ofsufrage ‘was not already secured to women. Upon the best examination I could give I_came to the conclusion that the constitution of the United States has granted to women the right of suffrage a8 against all State laws whatever. The reasons by which that conclu- sion was sustained are set forth in the minority re- port of the committee, signed by Judge Loughridge and myself, Having found that women held the highest offices and were entitled to vote under the English common law, from which was derived our system of laws, and the best principies of which are supposed to be embodied in our constitution, State aud national, I could have no doubt as to their right to vote, be voted for and oe appointed to office under tne constitution and laws of the Com- monwealth.” ACROSS THE RUBICON. As L rose to return it gecurred to me that the Bos- ton Advertiser and somé other papers had expressed a desire to Know whether the General would ac- cept as final the decision of the Republican State Convention in case it should not select him as the Gubernatorial candidate of the party, so I said, “One question more, I see one republican paper says it would like to have asked you one question— shall] ask the same question’? “Certainly,” said | the General. “why not?’ “Well, it said it would like to ask you what you will doif yon are defeated before the Republican Convention 9”? “IL should have liked to have replied to him,’ answered the General, With a smile, ‘that I have never contemplated such @ contingency.” | Having written down this reply I left the tent and | drove over to Gloucester, BUTLER ON THE NEW YORK RIOTS, I said, *‘A great deal of interest ts feit in the com- munity ou the questions raised by the late riot in New York and the manner of its suppression; have you any objection to give me your view on that question ?"* “Certainly not,’ he said. “T suppose nobody will | deny thatif a procession representng any religion: or social phase of the Ite of the adopted citi- zen before he came here 1s to be permitted to take place In the streets of cities all must be. Ifany onets to be restrained ali must be; but i neither case, the question of the parade or the suppression cannot be submitted for one moment to the decision of a mob. For myself, I goubt whether the streets of cities ought to be used for processions of any partisan character, or on any but subjects substanually representing the whole people and which the whole people take part in. Tne public streets are for the common convenience and necessities of the whole people, ana the occupation of sireets by any considerable processions necessarily, for the ‘time, excludes the use of them by tue remainder of the people. Why should the citizens be thus @xcluded? Processions | upon any recognized holiday and in which ail the peo- ple take part would stand apon @ diferent basta, Labor 1s then supposed to be suspended. 01 course nothing should — prevent any body of men on any ovcasion assembling at their pleasure upon Y OWn grounds, upon any Occasion whatever, to ‘ocate oF oppose any measure or doctrine what: ever, The right of the whole people to regulate such sectarian or party processions by law seems to me to be wo clear for argument. Besides, there seems tome to be a sort of moral treason on the agsem- | Dine of ovr adopted fellow ¢ligepy of amy. RK HERALD, SUNDAY, JULY 30, 187.—TRIPLE SHEET. a= cy Meee d 7 et Rauonanty, whether German, Frencn or {rish, to celebrate events that have happened or are nappen- Ing in their native cor i coming here they declare their intention to me American citizens, ‘They et sever all their Jormer relations when they are taking upon themselves the final obligation. It is that they renounce all aleglance to any foreign potentates whatever, and anything that tends to keep up distinctively foreign organiza- tons i in’ ct opposed to American cituzenship, N can ebject to fondly jobody cherished memories of the fatherland, but the objections are the public expression by public Organizations of interest in the government, In its organization or action, in the fatherland. The dim- culty 1n such persoas and such organizations seems to be steps backwards apd not forwards, looking to the past, not to the present and future, Knt although 1 Rave no sympathy with the mob or with those who in any way pander to them, and believe the sternest and most @fective means should be taken to sup- ress them, I think there was unnec and Fright destruction of life in the late occurrences in New York city, which, with @ little forethought the part of those having the matter in eb: x ht lave weil been averted. In the first place it does not seem to me that any very con- siderable portion of the respectable Irish citizens or Catholics, as such, Were actively engaged in the demonstration, Thelr Church and its teachers and leading men were unanimous against it. Doubdtiess many were brought there from curiosity. Indeed, the exhibition of a military procession itself vends to gather a mob. The fe Ol & regiment through the streets of any town would attract a crowd around them, espectally if the miii- tary are supposed to be about to do onything, such as a review, or to suppress a riot. Now, some 6,000 or 8,000 of the military of New York were centred in a particular portion of New York city, where they attracted @ very large crowd of people, It is the history of all mobs, which are generally led by the burglar, the thief, or the pickpocket, who does so in part by the hope of plunder. At the beginning take one selected hundred men out of any mob and 1t will cease to be a riotous one. Called together by curiosity, if any of the mob are hurt it’s become sympathy. Now the proposition was to allow the Orange procession to march a ven distance down the hth avenue without eing molested. Why not, then, have cleared the Eighth avenue by the aid of the police and military for that distance, then have placed cordons of mili. tary across the streets entering into the avenue in that space, and keeping everybody out; piace in sus- pected houses, if any, 0 few guards to prevent as+ sauits from houses and the procession might have marched without a single life being lost and the object effected much better tuan it was done by bloodshed,’? on BUTLER IN NEW YORK. When, in 1864, I was in charge of the city of New York during the election, I attribute largely the quiet of the city to the fact that there was no miit- tary seen in it, although everybody knew that there was plenty and that it would be brought to bear in apy disorder, THR MILITARY CRITICS. I think that the conduct of military officers in cominand was not to be commended. ops ought never in time of peace wo be marched Grou be streets of @ city with loaded muskets, When it be- comes necessary to fire upon the mob there will always be time enough to load the guns, and that point of time should always be reservea for clear- Ress and reflection by the officers and to beget steadiness among the men and to allow the mob, if they will, to disperse. Then there would be no firing without orders. To give general directions to fire at houses wheyever they are at- tacked, and houses containing women and chil- dren, can hardly be ynstiflable orders. If not, then the soldiers fired without orders, As faras I can learn by the newspapers—and very little is to be learned trom thelr accounts—the fring began by a captain of the Eighty-fourth being knocked @own, and as he rose up, per- haps maddeped by the assault and withont reflection he cried out ‘Fire!’ Firing on the mob began and was continued ina desultory manner. Many innocent persons always lose their lives when a mob is fred on tn the crowded strects of a city. Whoever lets loose a minie ball with a range of 500 yards has no Knowledge of its execution in a mov, I observe in Major Geueral Shaser’s account of that mob he says:— ye testimony is abundant to show that long before the troops retaliated firearms were discharged and tissiles of all kinds thrown at them from the sicewalks, wiudows and id ft was not until an officer of the Eighty-fourth ck down by a missile thrown from a housetop, one of the men shot in the head, another received a flesh wound, two of the men of the Ninth had been Killed outright, a number wounded and three of the Sixth wounded, that a & fire was opened npon the mob, It isthe opinion of ‘the most experienced oflicers of the police force and of the mill- tary present that the troops did not tire any too soon, but that in a very few minutes more it would have been dificult, if not impossible, to overpower the mob, and that the lives lost at Eighth avenue and Twenty-fifth strect saved the sucritice of a much greater number at some other point. “do not object,” continued the General, “that the military fired too soon, but that they did not tire under the orders of their superior officers or a careful consideration of the question on the spot. [ object to the word ‘military’ retaliation, The mili- tary have no retaltation in case of ariot. They are there to execute the law ws a stern duty and in the most forcibie manner, not to retaliate and slaughter. Tney are the arm of the law and execute its bidding when, after the tullest consider- ation, Its command 18 given. In time of peace no man’s life 1s taken by the law except alter certain legal forms, implying deliberation and judg- ment, are complied with. How can, then, the indiscrminate slaughter of innocent and guilty persons be justified on the ground of retaliation by the military? The Sheriff would not be justified in executing his prisoner one hour sooner than his warrant authorizes, even if bis pris- oner should mmuke Upon him a most violent assault. When the instant came and cool judginent ap- proved, then tne mob should be dispersed in the most effective manner possible, and should be made ty feel that 1t was not a battle between them ana the soldiers but a contest between them and the law.” RUNNING NOTES—POLITICAL AND GENERAL. A New Yorker, just returned from he White Mountains, says that. so far as hotel accommoda- tions are concerned, the “Tip Top” House had bet- ter be “tipped up and toppled over.” The Selma (Ala.) Times advocates the attendance of Southern delegates to the National Democratic Convention and says:— If we do not attend the Convention the people of the North will attribute it to motives which will be as discreditable to us as@ people of sense as they wilt be unjust. It would be used upon the hustings in every Northern State that the South 1s still rebellious, and would do more to keep up the fever heat of the honest, though misiuformed Northern masses, than almost any ting that we could do, The editor of the Albany Journal says “New Yorkers like to be robbed." He probably “knows how it ts himself.”’ Governor Hoitman is expected to deliver the address before the Schuyler County Fair, “None put the brave deserve the fair.”’ Ex-Governor Holden, of North Carolina, is men- tioned as the editor of a new republican paper about to be started in Washington, ‘ The Democratic State Central Committee of Indiana have adopted a resolution unanimously recommending Thomas A, Hendricks as the demo- cratic candidate for the next Presidency. The Chicago 7ibune thinks that the prospects of the democratic party are not very flattering. “Hope told a flattering tale." Mount Hoffman is situated between Mount Clay and Mount Madison, in the White Mountains. Be- tween Clay and Madison @ mountain labored and brings forth a pretty big mouse. An exchange says Governor Hoffman is at the “Revenue” House, in Boston, on his way to New Hampsnire. There are a good many hotels in Bos- ton, like those at the watering places, that do not yield a revenue to their proprietors. The “Revere” House is probably meant, ‘The Seneca Falls Revetwe (democratic organ in Seneca county), 18 pitching into the democracy for its canal policy. The poor (?) democracy seem to bq catching it everywhere in this State. The Boston Post is having a whisk with “stump- tail flour.” Many poor people are stumped nowa- days to get flour of any sort. Itis stated that Bret Harte is paid ten thousand dollars a year to write where, when and what ne please. This is one of tho “tricks that are dark,"? CONNECTICUT. — A Boiler Explosien in Killed. ‘Thursday evening last the steam boiler in Mr. F, E, Colburn’s fish of] works at Clinton exploded with terrific force, instantly killing the engineer, Mr. A. M. Barlow, of Deep River, and the fireman, @ man named Austin, who is supposed to belong in Scranton, Pa, He had been employed but a few days. His body was found near the ruins, dennded of clothing und with the head blown of. They presented a most horrible spectacle. Appearances indicated that he was blown through the roof. The body of Mr. Bar- low was found about twenty feet from the building, under a pile of lumber. His head was split open from the top of the forehead to the base of the skull, and the face was badiy burned. Mrs. H. K. Post, who happened to be oe the building ab the time, Was struck on the shoulder by a prick and seriously wounded. Mr. Colburn, the pro- rietor of the works, had a narrow escape, he hav- ing Just previous to the accident gone to the dock, a short distance off. ‘Tne force exerted by the explo- sion was very great, the débris of the batiding bet blown a great distance. It 1s thought the ex- Josion was cansed by turning water into the Bouter alter the water in it had got too low, Clinten—Twe Mon MARINE SURVEYS, FORTRESS MONROR, July 29, 1871. Captain James B, Philips, United States Marine Corps, and party arrived here this morning, to make asurvey of the Elizabeth and Nansemond Rivers and Take tida) observations of the currents 12 Uap. ton Bonde Jor tae bgneiis of commerce, WASHINGTON. Important Action Relative to the Tax on the Borrowed Capital of Bankers. Appointment of Commissioners Under the Treaty of Washington. General Sheridan’s Views on the Indian Question. WASHINGTON, July 20, 1871, Appointment of Commissioners Under the Washington Treaty. Information has been received here that the Biit- ish government has appointed Mr. Gurney, the Re- corder of the city of London, Commissioner on its Part under the Treaty of Washington, The Presi- dent, it is known, bas appointed as the United States Commissioner Judge Frazer, of Indiana, The third Commissioner is to be appointed by the United States and Her Majesty conjomtiy; but in case the third Commissioner shall not have been so named within @ period of three months from the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, then he shall be named by the Spanish Minister at Washington. It is thought here, however, that no such contingency will arise, as Mintster Roberts, unaer the treaty, will designate the third Commissioner only in the event of tho failure to.do so by the United States and Great Britain, The recent telegram from Madrid stating that he had been authorized to exercis? the functions of the third Commisstoner Is prematvre. The Commissioners under the treaty are to meet at the earhest convenient period after they have been respectively named, to examine and decide all such claims as shalt be laid before them on the part of the governments of the Untied States and Great Britain. 1t has heretofore been stated Vhat the British government has appointed, as its agent or attorney under the treaty provistons, Henry Howard, to present and support the claims on its be- half and to answer the claims made upon it, and to représent it generally in all matters connected with the investigation and decision thereof. The United States government has just appointed on tts part for simular purposes Mr. John 8. Hale, of New York. None of the arbitrators to meet at Geneva have yet been named. Tae Tax Upon Borrowed Capital of Bankers. The announcement to-day by Commissioner Pleasonton, that the provisions of the Revenue law should not be construed to impose a tax upon bor- rowed capital of bankers, and instructing assessors hereafter to assess the same upon the basis of the capital owned by bankers and employed by them in @ banking business, created surprise among those acquainted with the history of the subject. Uom- missioner Delano, shortly after his appointment, decided that the tax of one-twenty-fourth of one per cent should be assessed monthly upon the capital employed in the business of banking, whether by bankers or brokers—that is, beyond the average amount invested in United States bonds, This exemption, however, applies only to national banks, During the spring and summer of 1969 the New York bankers and brokers opposed most strenuously the ground taken by Mr. D 0, but were finally compelled to yield and comply with the order to pay the assessment made on all borrowed capital used in their businéas transactions, Under the present rul- ing of Commissioner Pleasonton claims for refund- ing the amounts already paid will be filed, and that will bring the matter directly before the Secretary of the Treasury, who will refer the construction of the sections of the act bearing upon this tax to the Attorney General for tis opinion. Judging from the tenor of previous decisions emanating from the De- partment of Justice, Attorney General Akerman will decide that Commissioner Pleasonton’s construction of the law 1s incorrect and that the tax should be assessed On borrowed capital. The public will then be treated toa repeuliion of the order of May 16 last, wherein Pleasonton was overruled in his opinion of law authorizing the collection ofa tax of tWo and one-nolf per cent on dividends, interest on coupons, &c., for the last five months of 1870, It appears that the increase of revenue from the tax on bankers during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, when the order of Commussioner Delano to collect the tax of one-twenty-fourth of one per cent on borrowed capital had been in operation chroughout the year, was $1,084,394 1a excess of the amount collected during the previous fiscal year. The entire amount of this tax collected during that year was $4,419,911, of which the Collection districts of New York city paid nearly one-tenth, Of the increased collections during the year 1870 it is safe to say that fully $750,000 was from the tax on borrowed capital, while the ciaims tor refunding wilt probably exceed twice that sum. General Sheridan and the Indians, In forwarding to the headquarters of the army a letter from Lieutenant Davidson, of the Tenth United States cavalry, expressing the fear of a war between the Cheyennes and the Kiowas, General Sheridan endorses it as follow: Much of wha; you hear may be set down as Indian talk. Itis wellknown on the Plains that the Kio- Was are the most cowardiy, and at the same time tne most noisy and troublesome of the tribes. Ido not anticipate any hostility from them, nor do I vhink they canget any special sympathy from any of the other Indian tribes. If the agents will only hold out stifly so the policy that when the Indian commits a crime he must be punished, the Indian question Will soon pass into a thing of the past, The Ivterest on the New Loan. The checks for the quarterly interest on the new loan will be mailed on Monday to all parties holding registered stock. The checks are printed on violet colored paper, containing localized fibre, the same as im ‘the legal tenders and fractional currency, The wording on the face of the check is as fo!lows:— Funded loan of 1881. Interest at five per cent. Treasurer of the United States, Assistant Treasurer, or designated depository, pay to or order, in coin, —— dollars, for three months’ interest due on registered stock, and Charge amount in general ac count with Treasurer United States, On the back of the check ts the following eudorse- ment:— This check is berable on presentation, properly endorsed, at the office of the Treasurer at Washing- ton, the Assistant Treasurers at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, New Orleans or San Frau- cisco, or the designated depository at Buffalo, Chi- cago, Cincinati, Louisville, Moblie or Pittsburg, A vignette of President Grant ornaments the left of the check, The subscriptions to the new loan during the past week were less than sixty thousand dollars, Disiilleries Held by the Government. An article having been published in many news- papers the effect of which creates a wrong Im- prission as to the number of distiileries now held bythe Internal Revenne Bureau ou purchase at saes on distrain, and as to negotiation for the pos- sewlon of the same, the foliowing statement of fats taken from the records is pub- lihed:—The government now holds cightecn tacts of reat estate bid im at such sides since February, 1869, to secure taxes that emid not have been otherwise colhected, of which noe are distillery premises, No negotiations are ging on with speculators or others for the pos- spsion of this property, but it is held subject to rMemption by the former owners or to lease or sale i the manner provided in the statute, Internal Reveuue Decisions. The Commussioner of Internal Revenue has de- ided that imported perfumery may be sold in the friginal and undroken package, as entered at the ftustom House, without being stamped; but when de original package is broken and the smaller ‘ackages are taken therefrom the botties contained a the smaller packages must be stamped before they re sold or offered for sale. In regard to stamping & arrel or gallon bottle of Cologne water to retall tom, the Commissioner says the law does not au. dorize such a practice. The law requires the stamp ) be aMxed to the bottie or other enclosure in which ve article is sold and delivered, even though the bttle or enclosure may be furnished by the pur- daser. In reply to a letter from a citizen of Baltimore, in ration to raspberry and other syrup the Commis- syner of internal Revenue says that syrups are ble to stamp duty under “schedule ¢,” aud tne amount or tax on a single package depends upom the weight of the package witn its contents. A package weighing two pounds or less, requires & one cent stamp, and an additional cent for each additional pound or fraction thereof in exceas of two pounds, whether the package ts large or small and whether the vessel is furnished by the pur- chaser or not. Treasary Department Decisions. The Treasury Department has decided in a letter to the Collector of Customs at Erte, Pa., thatthe penal tonnage tax imposed on a vessel for a vioia- ton of section twenty of the act of July 20, 1568, does not become & charge on the gooils brought into the United States in apparent violation of the same act and section so far as to make the prepaymeht of that tax acondition to entry. The tlabilities of tne g00ds to forfeiture and the vessel to the tax are dis- tinct, though the lability of the vessel to the tax depends upon the liability of the goods to forfeiture. Tne Department has alsodecided that a protest and appeal are not necessary in case of imposi- tion of a fine by a Collector of Customs as a ground Jor the remission of the penalty. Uniterm Tax on Tobacce, For several years past the manufacturers of to- bacco have urged a uniform tax on all grades of manufactared tobacco, which has been steadily opposed by the plug manufacturers, When Mr. Delano was Commissioner of Internal Revenue a large delegation of the American Tobacco Associa- tion called upon him and presented arguments in favor of an uuiform tax. The objection raised against it at that time was that It would unsettie business, and the Commissioner refused to agree to the views of the delegation. Commissioner Pleason- ton, however, is convinced that a uniform tax, based on the mean of present taxation, would be both justand equitable, and will so recommend in his annual report to Congress. Orders for the Seizure ef Smoking Tobacco. Commissioner Pleasonton has issuea orders to Supervisors of Internal Revenue to seize a certain brand of smoking tobacco classed as lable to a tax of only sixteen cents and manufactured in North Carolina, This tobacco has been extensively sold to dealers in New York, Philadetpnia, Baltimore, Washington and Richmond, and an examination of it shows that it is llabie to a tax of thirty-two cents. Supervisor Pregbrey, of Virginia, to-day seized several lots in this city. Leoking After the Smugglers. A large proportion of the bay rum of commerce is made in this country, according to statements of ‘rreasury officials, from the bay oil, which is dis- tilled from the leaves of the bay and imported from the West Indies. The duty on the article is so high—$32 a pound—as to induce constant efforts to smaggle it into this country. It 1s found by Customs oMicers on nearly every vessel coming from the West Indies, and special Instructions have been issued by the Secretary of the Treasury to Collectors of ports to rigidly enforce the laws against smug- glmg in every case where this article 1s found on shipboard, Reorganization of the Savannah Custom House. pr, George H. Stone, late Auditor in the Chicago Custom House, has veen appointed Deputy Collector iu the Savannah Custom Mouse, under Collector Robb, vice Wellman, the defaulter, who was <is- missed from that position. Mr. Charles H. Town- send, of the Customs Division in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, has been ordered to assist Collector Robb in reorganizing the force em- ployed at the port, and has also been tendered the position of Auditor in that Custom House, Award of Contracts. It is understood the contract for the vasework of the new State Department building nas Leen awarded to Messrs. Bodwell & Co., of Maine, and the contract for granite for the superstructure to Ordway & Co., of Virginia. ? German American Association. A meeting of German citizens was held last night for the purpose of forming a German American So- ciety which shall, in all essential particulars, agree with the programme laid down by the Germans in New York. The association is not to be tormed simply for thé purpose of promoting political inver- ests and to protect Germans throughout the country, but to diffuse German social characteristics and German intelligence. The Weekly Financial Statemen: The receipts of fractional currency fur the week amount to $295,300. The shipments were:—Notes, $634,981; national currency, $715,104, ‘The Treasury holds in trust as security for national bank circulation $361, 760,559, and for public deposits $15,766,500, National bank circulation outstanding this date, $319, 384,679. Internal revenue receipts to-day, $417,165; total for fiscal year to date, $13,383,390. NEWARK'S OLD STORY. Auother Elopement—What Beer, Beauty and Turtie Soup Accomplished. Newark ts nothing if not sensational. I[t 1s a mat- ter of fact that never within the memory of the most ancient mhabitant haue so many genuine sen- sations been crowded into w single month of the town’s history than during the present month of July. On the second day it was the scene of a not to be found, perhaps, in the entire annals of American criminal jurisprudence, This was tie South street murder. Less than a week afterwards the country was startled by another terrific affair, the frightiul disaster on the Newark and New York itail- road, resulting in the death of five human beings. Just eight days after that the intelligence was flashed far ‘and near that @ poor old man pamed Rattery was roasted alive in his own house, This, as the HERALD stated last Sanday, subsequently turned out to be, if the verdict of a coroner's jury ts to be relied upon, a murder of the foulest character. besides, there ts on the record one or two serious afirays, one of Which may yet turn out a homicide. THE VERY LATEST SENSATION, the particulars of which leaked out yesterday, is an elopement. The facts appear to be as follows:— Last fall there came to dwell in Newark, from fully realized the “fat, fair and forty” ideal. She had a strong eye to business, and opened a refreshment saloon in Camfleid street, in the rear of ex-Mayor Peddie’s large factory. Ou her “opening” might she gave a “blowout,” In wien choice lager and mighly seasoned turtle soup were the chief ingredients. She drew a large share of custom, and among the habiiués of her place was AN AMOROUS TRUNKMAKER, named Charles Greiger. The latter possessed a wife and afamily of three pretty children. These re- sided on Clinton Hull. Latterly 80 assiduous was Charles in his attention to the widow's place that his fellow workmen began chafing him on the so ject. They swore he was in love with the widow, but he said,e "fut! tat! It's ONLY HER LAGER THAT T LOVE." Be that as it may, it 13 an ominous fact that Charies was Very much away from home when he ougnt to be there. Last Friday morning his wife appeared at Peddie’s factory in quest of her husband, who, sie said, had not been home all night. Nether had he been at the factory since noonume the day betore. On going over to the widow's it was found that she, wo, had disappeared. Her place was entirely deserted. The impression, therefore, 18 that the widow and the fasctuated Charles know @ good deal more about their indt- vidual movements than anybody else. In short, it is more than suspected that they are now some- where together enjoying love, lager and turtle soup to their hearts’ content. ‘The detectives are on the qui vive. SATURDAY NIGHT ASSAULTS, George Bennett, of No. 9 New Chambers street, was found last evening wandering about near lus residence, bieeuing profusely from three severe cuts in the nead, He was taken to the Park Hospital, where his wounds were dressed, and he was then taken home. He refased to inform the police in what manner he had been injured, but it was after- wards learned that he had been beaten about the head by his wife with a bottle. Last ev Catharine Gilmartin and John Bray, botn residents of 83 Baxter street, became involved in a quarrel at their residence. A iracas ensued, during Which Catharine struck Join on the head with an axe, inflicting an ugly scalp wound. John had his wound dressed at the Franklin street pottce station, where Catharine was accommodated with @ cell for the night, John Taber, of i21 East Porty-fifth street, quar- retled with Charles Alten, of 88 Allen street, ana dunng the fight which resulted Alten stabbed Taber in the abdomen with a pair of shears, infict- ing a slight wound. ‘Taber was taken to his hoine and Alten was locked up. TWO MEN CARRIED OVER NIAGARA FALLS. BurPALo, July 29, 1571. Alexander Lovelot, a French Canadian, residing with his family on Navy Island, and Edward Bo- gardus, of Chippewa, in attempting to cross to Navy Island, at twelve o'clock on Weanesday night, were carried over Magara Falls, On Friday the remnants of their boat were found below the falis. The boules have not yet been found, Lovelot leaves a wife and three cauldren, tragedy the parallel of which, in many respects, 1s | Alexandria, Va., @ widow named Hoeness, woo | — THE “MINNIE FRENCH” MYSTERY. “A TALE OF TWO CITIES.” How Unsophistieated Young Girls Are Roped In and How They Are Not. WITH ONE MORAL. A Visit to an Uptown Female Boarding House. TWO TAL ‘The sad death of Minnie French, alias Virginia Rockwell, by her own hand, a few days ago, as an- nounced in these columns, Las, from the beauty, the social position and accomplishments of the young woman, attracted more than ordinary attention ta her case. ‘The assumed air of mystery whicn sur- rounded her parting moments and her dying deciar- ation that she was @ stranger in whe city and had been taken in, and that the cause of her guicde should go to the grave with her, did but heighten the curiosity aroused by her rash act. Dr. Walter R, Fleming, of Weat Thirty-first street, who has been frequently called to attend patients in Mrs. Heatn’s Louse, in the same street, and wha was promptly called in to attend Minnie French, ia strongly of the opinion that Minnie and her sister were strangers in New York, and that they were taken to Kate fleath’s place without any knowledge on their part of the character of the house. The story, ag told by the dead woman and her sister, Is A STRANGE ONE IF TRUB. bat there are many weak points about it which hardly admit of 1is acceptance as trath. Minnie was certalpiy a beautiful woman in every respect physically, and one whom it is easy to believe would: have had numerous suitors for her hand and heart, and the tale turns as usual upow disappointed carly love, which begot moroseness and melancholy, @ shrinking from fashiopable society the subsequent growth o! despair aud development of insanity, which ted her on many occasions before to attempt ner own destruction, Those symptoms had been noticed and carefully watched by her mother and step-father, her own fatter having died while she Was quiie young, who took every possible means to Counteact if, ‘Phey privately summoned Jrom New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Rochester and other eities tne best and MUST EXPERT !HYSICIANS acquainted with brain and nervous diseases to at teud the young woman at her home in Goldsboro, N. C. One of those medical gentlemen, who took her to bis own home wad family for better treat- ment, it is sald wrote to her mother that Virgima had something the matter with her; wat ne dido’t know she was such a wicked girl, and that he wad glad she was going to Saratoga, &c., all of which is not in the remotest degree lixe the produce tion of an intelligent physician. It can ve readily belleved that she was the leader of fashion im Goldsboro or in Charlottesville, in botn of which cities It is said she resided aud that she was de~ votedly attached to her mother, But that a fond mother would allow her daughter, under these cir- cumstances, to travel alone to all the fashionable watering places o1 the North and to engage tn tha whirl of giddy life presented at those places if hardly supposable, aibett a fictitious Dr. Jones if credited with having recommended this course, Bui to meet this embarrassment and the apparent neglect of the parenis for permitting her to ba burtead by other hands and other means than thetrd iuisfurther stated that her mother was too ill to come North ayd her step-father was absent from home, and 1 thereiore devoived upon a friend of the family, Colonel Maynard, of Charleston, 8. G., to come on aud attend to her. But how «id Virgiuia Rockwell, alias Minnie French, get to | MADAME UEATI’S BAGNIO of the place? The ‘Minnie and her sister or without knowing the chara explanation 1s Uius given, step-sister, Grace Archer,gcame hither, as has veen stated, perfect strangers. ‘Iney put up at the St. Nicholas Hotel, bat ihe noise and bustle of trbad. way alfected Minnie’s brain and nerves, and day—July s—tle sisters ordered « carriage and took a drive 1m Central Park. The driver was, of course, an obliging fellow, as are most of his crati, and n@ pointed out all the objects of Laterest in that charm- ing retreat. When they were about to return ta the city they very naturally as! Jehu i he could not take them fo a quiet boarding house, where Virguia might escape the noise of the public thoroughfare. ‘The amiable Jeuu at once suggested Kate Heath's, ana the youg women ordered him to drive there. ‘They entered that piace on the evening of Saturday, July 5, and og Monday, the 10th, Mingie discovermg the character of the house, though* pertectly pure and muocent herself (hic), couid not dear the degradauion, aud i @ moment of loneliness shot herself in the left breast. ‘The costly und magmificent furniture of the honse deceived the young Women at first, but, ag the friends say, ibe girls kept themsieves isolated from every oue in rhe house, There can be no question that the deceased woman was reared io the life of luxury, aud waa highly educated. Her manners and conversation and everything about ner indicated tits, She spoke French, German, Spanish and Italian, it ts said, witb Quency. But why shoald sack a highly edu» cated and INTELLIGENT PERSON COANGE AER NAME? And why did her quondam stster change hers gicet eader ‘The reason ts that Minnte or Virginia, as tue leases, designed to take her life before she left nd that she did not want ber friends, and ly ter travelling companion, to be disgraced by a suicide of thelr name, Bunt it seems cuat this reason dtd not wetgh very muctr with her atrer she had fired the fatal shot, On Mon- day, July 10, she Was Laken to Bellevue Hospital and placed in ward uy, where she was visited daily by tivo young inev, Who Went early and stuyed late, and who were addressed by both the young women in terms of ¢ it and great itarity. How came they so well acquainted witt two strangers ? | Lt was eight o'clock In the cvening When te unlor+ tunate creatut adinitied to Bellevue, accom~ pamed by her assumed sister, WhO gave her name as Grace Arce They were both very iady- luke, and Grace was remarkably diMident for one coming trom a brothel, so much so as to attract tne attention of the aumable Warden brenuan, tha nurse and the attending physiclan, At ker request Mi. Brennan telegraphed to a Mr. Archer, Rich mond, and, though sending the desparch in such | a vague manner, recetved a reply making ingairy whether Minnie Freuch was under his care and what was her condition. Tis despatch was signed “Richmond,” and when th was shown to Grace sue appeared to be very indignant, and told Warder Brennan that he need not reply to it. But he did, and a gentieman caine on, Whom the young woman addressed as Robert, DUCKY DARLING LOVE, and such like extravaguni terms of affection. Tha excitement consequent upon taking so Mang wounded persons to Bellevue on the day of the not, July 12, mterie with her rest, and a request waa made that she might be provided with a private room. — sut as there 13 no suck room th Bellevue for. patients a screen was placed around ber bed as the next best thing that could be done, and on the fol- jowing day she Was removed to the boarding house kept by Mrs. Emma Benedict, at 130 Bast Twenty-seventh street, where she limgered until the 25th instant, when death ensued. She had here the constant attendance of two Protestant miuisters and ber male menage and sister, aud everything that could be done ta make her last hours comfortabie was done. There was n0 saving of expense for anyuung that was necessary. Iusiead of glorying ip her suicidal act the unfortuaae ian declared while in Beuevue that she had never before attempted self-desirac- tion and that she now greatly regrevied her act, and if she recoverca she would at once return home., She was buried in Greenwood and “her secret’? was buried with her. How much of @ secret she care ried away Will appear in the sequel:— A HERALD reporter called at the house of Mra, Heat, at 117 West Tuirty-first street, yesterday, to inquire as to THE TRUTH OF CERTAIN STATRMENTS made in the newspaper reports as to tie mode by which Miss Rockwell, or “Minme French,” hi found her way to the sheiter of titts establisument. Mrs. Heath was irank and communicative in refer. ence tO Miss Rockwell, and evidently spoke the truth, — Itis to be regretted for the sake of the romance in this story that Mrs. Heath should be so well able to dispel ang attractive allosions tn this direction, for dispel then she certainly does. When the sister of Miss Rock- well called at Mrs. Heath's to arr for board for herself and her “sister” there is no doubt she knew tne character of ihe house. She saw visitors there and knew that their visits were not on the side of virtue. instead of ‘Minnie’? being so shocked the circumstance of finding herself tu a house ill repute as to throw the balance of her over, and thus to cause her to take her life, the was that “Minnie” met, by appointment, and the night with, a well Known gumbier at thi house on THE ONLY TWO Niamrs that she stayed ihere, and the night previous to hes shooting herself, Mrs. Heath named another house uptown of a siiilar character to that which sne superintended, where Minmie had stayed for months,. and gave the reporter the address, im order that ha might Dave tuat statement confirmed. Both the de ased and her sister were evidently famillar witht New York and the ways of its dermi~ monde, Both girls had lived in house of prostitution in Richmond, Va, the address of this house was also given to the porter, with the mame of the lady who presides over Malus ie oe that that lady will testify that “s 4 3 10r years pursued a “mua ye P prolesstoual VICIOUS INDULGENCE. There seems to be some doubt at 117 ag to th educational acquirements ot “Minnie,” and al ‘ether the ‘mystery, romance and sensatiol ction” meits like the baseless fabric of & vision fore the hard, matter-of-fact story which Mrs. Hi tells with # reainess and a candor that is qwuthful.