The New York Herald Newspaper, January 17, 1872, Page 8

8 THE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMITTEE, Additional Revelations Corruption. of THIEVERY AND ABUSE OF PATRONAGE Bow Murphy Offered a Man a “Place, with Little Work,” if He Wontd Politi- Hy Support Him. Glimpses of the Process of Har- monizing the Party. Very Little About the General Order Business. ‘Tee Custom Honse Committee met again yester- @ay morning at the Astor House. The session was @ tong ene, and a resolution waa passed, pro- Wiemg that in ‘uture night sessions shail also be ‘eid at the Filth Avenue Hotel. ‘The touowing jeter and afidavit were reed:— Ousrom Houser, NEw Youk. Avrnatsnn's OFeiox, Jat 19, 1872.5 W. A. Buckinowam, Chairman DxAR Stx—I forward herewith the aflidavit of the examin- Ing clerk and verifier, openers and packers who opened aud examined in this departinent the case of goods referred to io the communication of Mesura. H. B, Claflin & Co. to you on the Lith instant. From these affidavits it will appear to your watiafaction, I think, that the case was not robbed this department, an: at the “one dozen silk scar! taken therefrom before it was received here. ery repect- fully, W. W. DOWLING, Port of New York. United States Aporat City and County of New York, jarence W. Mead, be- tux duly sworn, deposes and says that he isan examiner in the Fifth division of the United States Appraisers’ Depart- ment of the port of New York. That on Friday, January 5, ‘ei2, he received on his Hor from the Collector's Department ‘ef Public Stores case marked “40 in triangle, 4 beiow,” No. lector aa having been received by him in bad order, Before having the case pened | calied for the Verifier of our division, The case was ‘@pened in our presence; all the goods were taken out of the ease anc carelully counted and checked on the invoice by the Verifier, and we found that one dozen silk scarfs (lie mark 826) short, at a value of fifteen shilitngs sterling, which fact Jduly reported to the Collector of the Port aud to the repre- sentatives of the tirm of Messrs. H. B. Clafin & Co., the imn- porters of the sai! case, The case was in bad order and had omy sn penrenge of having been tampered with before ns seceipt by the department to which I belong. OLARENGE W, MEAD. Sworn to before me, this W3th day of Jaquary, 1873.—THeo- DORE P. KELLY, Notary Public. This affidavit was corroborated by aMdavits of Henry B. Pardee, clerk and verifier, and George W. Bali ana Patrick Leyden, openers and packers. Mr. H. B, Clafiin then gave the following evi- @ence:—Have done business in this city for twenty- five years; my relations with tne Custom House have generally been satisfactory; think the charges ei the general order stores rather large; have fre- quently been requested to sign petitions against the custom of making seizures of books, but have re- fused on the ground that an honest man has nothing to fear; 1 think the seizures a safeguard. Witness was then questioned in regard to the loss of scarfs in one of his packages, but said he knew mothing about the matter, as it was in the hands of bis Custom House man. fe would like to see the general order business divided among all the steam- ship lines which have convenient means of delivery. Mr. Benjamin F. Mudgett stated he was appointed Deputy Collector in 1862 and remained so until 1872; while in office he heard daily of ofMfcers receiving gratuities for performance of service; merchants bave told him. ever since this investigation vegan, of inspectors making them pay for not sending their goods on immediately to general order; 1t was the frm of Bigelow & Johnson who so informed Bim; the general order means unclaimed gooas, which, when merchants are not prepared to make ‘thetr entries, are taken to the general store; Leet & Brecking nave the whole general order business esars. H. st the North River, which is the chief seat of European importation, The witness went on to state that im Mr. Grin- nell’s time he spoke to Mr. Grinnell, advising him to Pexist the disgraceful system of permitting adven- turers to come on here from Washington and so get al the “plums;” Mr, Grinnell said he snould resist tt; Mr. Rodney J. Mason subsequently informed im that Mr. Louis Dent was to come down on the following Wednesday w the Custom House and urge Mr. urinnell to give the plum tothe parties iooking for it; the demand on Mr. Grinnell was oj the general order cartage and lightcrage to the party: Mr, Mason told him he was one of the party, and that the rest consisted of General Porter, the President’s private secretary, Colonet Lect and Mr. Lindsay; Mr. Dent, Wao is the President’s brother-in-law, came to the Custom House to speak to Mr. Grinnell, but it ap- Peared he did not succeed then; witness was toid several in the Custom House—Deputy Collector ‘iiiams and others—that General Porter came dgown from Washington and visited Mr, Grinnell OM the subject; alver that the Collector gave an order to send the goods to the Bixby’s store, Mr. Bixby having made his arrangement witn Porter, Lect and Jota B, Lindsay; Mr. Bixby told witness hat he patd Colonel Leet $5,000 a year; Colonel Leet was on Generai Grant’s staff at this ume, and remained in Washington in the War Deparunent a fear alter this arrangement; at the end of a year it & Co. got the general order 188, The witness stated further that when he was in Washington, about a year suvsequeatly, General John Cochrane watted on bim and said General Porter would like vo see him; they went together and General Porter said he heard witness had been teling people that he (General Porter) was inter- ested in the New York customs. Witness related uli he knew, just as he hag done to the committee; whereupon General Porser assured him that neituer Bimsel!, Babcock nor Leet had anything to do with anything in the New York Custom House, and ex- biained Leet’s attempt to get the business by means Of te President’s leer; but gald Mr. Grinnell’s reply was wnat he could do nothing for Colonel Leet, as he nad already given tue ,eneral order business .o Mr. Bixvy, for public reasons. 5 nd all this tume, how long receiving $5,000 a year from of the genera order business? A. Some- ‘uubg about a year. PROFITS THE RESIDENT'S FRIENDS ARB MAKING. Mr. Mudgett was next questioned as to the amount Oi business done under the general order system. He said he knew of no more valuable e. The amount of business is euormous, and Stocking & Co. must be making $150,000 to $200,000 a year net proflt—that 1s, over aad above all expenses, The witness, in reply to a question from Mr. Bay- ard whether he thought the omcers make compro- mises in the cases where merchants’ papers are peized, answered, “01 course they do.” Mr. Mudgett deciared he 1s aware that the officers are assessed for political purposes and thatthe prac lice Is sull continued. The payments are, in inmost cases, involuntary, for they know they wound have to quit if they refused. A Mr. Forrest, private sec- retary to Governor Fenton, was appointed Naval OMicer. He was removed vy Geucral Merrit and e' NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JAOARY: 17, 1872.—TRIPLE SHEET. out, instead of thus Tasning goods into the genera} order store; a gentioman me the other day that as there was with his goods he went down tu see them himself, and th behavior of the to leave no doupt of the later in order to put the things through; my friend was very indignant and at once threatened the clerk thatif he did not have his permn immediately he would report bim at Washington; he then got bis permit, Q. What is the name of that gentleman? A. 1 would rather not say; we do not Iike to get the til will of these fellows; they have power to give us any amount of annoyance. Q But :n this case boldness had the good effect of procuring we permit—why should not it have ine same effect upon bom 4 rascal? A, 1 do not know; chese rascals have great power; tey cun dvlay our goous et their ill-wil he witness was then questioned in regar to the general order business, He thougut thai every bonded Warehouse should be a geueral order warehouse ag well, though all these stores should be on this side of the river, 80 as to avaid ine delay Of crossing the river to. clear the gooas, Christopher Puilman, having been sworn, tcsti- fled in regard to the primary election in tne I'wenty- first wara, in regard to whieh charges mave been made r. ‘Fhompson and others, He thought there had been foul play agaiust bimsell, and that he was defeated in consequence ot it, He then testified in regard to the general affairs of she Custom House as Jolows:—Bribing clerks In the cnn they please; we do not like Custom House is quite as much the faait of the | Merchant as the clerk; ten days alter my appoint- ment a merchant handed @ note over my desk con- taining @ $10 vill; he said, There's a relund due to tis of $110; there hus been a mistake iu our bust? ness;” I rephed, “I receive a salary from the government to do certain duties and | do not ex- peck to make more, but if shis @ buf really n made I will see lo st without the intervention of this $10 Dill;” a clerk Who was near my desk told | ame thar his salary was not hail Of bis income; that clerk ts not now in the Custom House, Q. Is the Collector likely to hear. of this system of bribery? A. No, sir; but lam confident that were 18 & great deal of this business donc—somehimes done, however, | ought to say, toinduce the clerks to take work home at night and thus faciiltale business; such transactions are necessarily secret, but they are a matter of common report, Q Do you think that Mr. Van Clelt would cheat atan election? A. | never saw him cheat; | could not say more than that; 1 thought that the in Spectors at that primary election of September, 1870, defeated me; these luspectors were appointed by Mr. Van Cleit, Q. From what you know of the employés of the Custom House what do you think would happen to acierk if he accused a merchant of an altemp. to brive and the merchant should deny it? A. 1 sup- pose the only way 0! deciding 14 would be by werzh- ing the credibility of the witnesses; IJ suppose that | would depend on the moral character ot the wit- nesses; I should think the chances would be agalust whe clerk. Q. Do you think a New York merchant. would be afraid to accuse a Custom House cicrk of malprac- tices? A. Ido; 1 think small nouses are op- Pressed, while large ones are uot; if a merchant should compiain to the Secretary of the Treasury, even if he succeeded in the case, it would hurt Mim with the other clerks; the clerks have great power tu delay the passage of goods, and in a way that the Merchant could not find 01%, much less ninder; 1 have myseif seen a clerk put an invoice in a pigeon hole ang let it lay there for hours, until a Custuin House broker calied him aside and ‘+persnadea” him to put it through; | think, however, that if a merchant showed himself aetermined to have his rights the clerks would s00n cease to annoy him; I myself, if | were & merchant, would go to the Col- Jector in ten minutes it 1 found a clerk hindermg my business, By Senator BaYaRD—At this primary election you have spoken of was the Coilector present? A. Yes, sir; he Was there aad worked actively; I have no doubt that the Collector mixes in the politics of over districta than that in which he lives and that the clerks io the Custom House hold their positions simply by obeying the wishes of their oficial cnief— tne instructions ol the Collector, Q. Have you any knowledge of money being exacted from Custom flouse officials for political purposes? A. It is gencrally understood that that ig the case; when I was acierk | was asked for money, but rephed that | Knew what to do with i 1 have no personal knowledge of mouey being use: by Custom House people to control # primary; 1 have heard, however, that Collector Murphy gave an ingpector »500 In this last primary election to carry itm his interest; sometimes oiicials partici- pate in elections out of their own district; I vi seen strangers at such elections who have vote By Senator PkatTr—In the particular election you have alluded to you only criminate the imspectors ? A. | was told by a credible man that Collec.or phy wid him that he would rather pay $5,000 than Tose that election. Q. Were you removed when you refused to pay an assessment? A. No, sir; but other men have told me that they have been discharged for such causes; when 1 was clerk Mr, Barney was Collector, who did not take the same interest in politics that later Collectors have done; Mr. Murply offered me sitions; he proposed that 1 should be made Deputy Coliector, and offered to turn out anotwer man to wake a place for me; soon alter ne was ap- pointed he sent a telegram Lo me; at the interview in wis private room be said he had a high estimate of my character, and asked if he could do anytning. for me personally; 1 declined, on the ground that he could not give me an appomtment that wasld pay me to give up business; subsequently, a friend havivg suggested that this Was & Mere political trick, | catied on Mr. Mur- phy aud sat Thad changed my mind and would accept the position of hier or auditor; this was to test his sincerity; he replied that he could not do that for ine, but that be would give me a piace that would not take up much of my me and would not necessitate my giving up my business; I then said that I would not take a place unless | gave the gove erument fall service; 1 did not expect that Mr. Mur- phy would turn the men out ol tne places to make room for ime; I had heard that the auditor was not competent; I think there are offices in the Custom House which I could not take without great prepa- ration, but 1 could fill the place of eiher cashier or auditor, Charies 8, Grant sworn—Am a reporter and cor- Fespondent for the public press; Was in the Custom House as inspector of customs ana clerk in the Ap- praiser's Department; was appoited on the sa of July, 1869, and removed in April, 1870; on Tuesday, zu Of January, 1871, 1 went into the Collector's outer office and met Mr. Perry, @ friend of mine, who had been inspector in the primary election just alluded to; he told me that an arrangement had been made by Mr. Murphy, Mr. Artiur and Mr. Haw, and that if he signeu (he credentials as they requestet he was vo have his promotucn; Mr. Haw had come out of the inner oMice, where the arrangement had been Made and had said to Perry, “it's all right, sign the credentials; Perry had replied, “You have me, then, but { snail not have you;’’ Haw replied, “That ts all right,” Perry also told we that there had been repeating, and tuat tue election had not been a fair aud honest one; Perry also said tO me that certain officers of the associa- tun had named him as One Of the mspectors to Mr. Haw, and that Haw bad appointed him very retuct- any; Perry haa signed the credentials on the sutn December; It was altogetner anusual tur the cre- dentiais of an election to be held over in that way; they are always signed on the night of clection; made much the same statement that he did to me, have the names of three other parties to whom Perry Q. Do you know anything about the Custom House controling the last two State Conventions ? A, | was at the last Syracuse Convention; there were about sixty Custom House officials th im cluding the Collector; the result showed thas they succeeded in controlling the Convention, Q. What about political assessments? A. ] know that &@ Man Went round With a list for subscriptious; on Lag tigers 1 was requested to pay, and 1 did so. Qe you know of Custom Louse people control- ling primaries with money? A. I have been tol tat Mr. Murpay offered Mr. J. W. Thompson to carry @ primary in the Twenty-Orst ward in interest; It was carried by carrying strangers to the primary irom other districts and allowing them to vote; there is no doubl that che Castum House 1s used for political purposes, aud that fdeiity to party is @ much more important qualification for office than ediciency; ia the State election of 1870 Colonel Bliss aud @ nUInber Of Custum House oNiciais acted as United States marshals; Colonel Bliss was “run- ning the macnine’’ in the interest of Ledwith; tne conduct of some of the Cas*om House people at the subsequently appointed to tne Post Office by per- | eo order of Postmaster Jones from President ‘ant. Mr. Henry ©. Lake, having been sworn, was, aftcr | few pretiminary questions, allowed vw testify lo the facts alinded to in General Palmer’s evidence, He gave the following testimony:—I communicated the information that General Palmer gave me as Lo the character of Mr. Thompson, and the corrupt roposition nade by the latter vo the solicitor of the urer, Mr. Mansfield; Generat Palmer's mes- sage, | understood, was, that While the General was appraiser Thompson told nim “you havea very \ucra- Uve office,” snd went on to expiata how 1 might be made so by an arrangement with the merchants, and offered wf be were allowed co stare the proliis; J was appointed weigher about the ist of May, 1969, and held tue position until the ist of January, 1871; I was removed uuder Mr. Murphy; | never knew any cause for removal, such a8 Mhattention or incorrectness in business; | was removed to make room for another man; four of us were removed at that time; I was a republican, as I explained to Mr. Boutwell, when I was in Wastington; | had at vari ous times more or Jess men unucr me—some#ues thirty; tue men were appointed af the instance of Collector; assessments were made for political suppose they were made by the State 1 pever knew of men beng tug, but 1 have been told by be removed if they aid not of but one case where threatened for such @ ing mem are removed with- ined, though someumes f 2 to the Cnston Bave known a man w House and get the reasons for his dismissal; uly judgment has been that tue force of laborers with tie 1 too Jarge; 1 think the Custom House Dusmess would be very much better done if it were conaneted on the same principles as those which @ private firm; J think there are more weighers yan necessary; I have estimated the money wasted 1m this way at over Sity-seven thousand dollars; in- stead of nineteen weilmhers, as at present, T think #ix Would be enough to eMcently transact (he vusi- ness, Henry Shaw sworn—Do business in Greenwich stree! an importer of Irisi linens; I have greas trouble with my goods, owing vo their being pur away in the generai order store in such a contused fashion that we cannot get at them; the embar- rassment (rom Ubis cause 14 very serious; the steaine ere Oui Lo wive Ue longer time Wo get our DErmibe himself to make these arrangements | Syracuse Convention was very disgraceful; I refer especially to the men who guarded the door, com- posed of tne captain of the night watch; they cilbbed several people severely. Q. ‘That was exerting @ very positive influen A. Yes, sit, especially in the case of Mr, Lampric! Who Was very badly hurt with @ loaded can nad previously heard mr. C. 8. Spencer tell the captain bh ae watch to go up and take possession of Q. Did you ever make an application to Mr. Murphy for an oiicer A. Yes, sir, at his own request, and at another ime a recommendation was made by Genera! Arthur and others in my behali. Y Do you mean toat if an assessment is Not paid @ man is turned oul’ A. Well, thas 19 pretty mach about the music that is circulated about the lime of election. William H. Decamp sworn—Aam a lawyer; was in the Custom House as ao entry cierk in the naval ofice from Ist of August, 169, tl Uctover, 1870; I Was detailed to attend Lo the collection of duties on ine baggage of passengers; | caunot say of my own knowledge that bribes are received ny inspectors; | the imspectors would examine the baggage and bring dutable goods ito our office; 1 was removed Jor politica! causes only, so tar 481 Know; soon aiter Mr. Murphy was appointed Collector he sent word to me to call upon him; on meeting him he stared that he meant to do what he could to harmonize the party in the city and State, and desired wat bygones should be bygones, and desired turtuer vo consult with myself and otver republicans about this; the subject of the conversation was ciuefy tne ‘selection of delegates to the s.ate Con- vention; it was known that | was and had deen a Irtend of Senator Fenton; | was president of the diauict assoctation in the ‘Iwenty-second ward; names were talked over, and we agreed fually npoo three gentlemen to send to the Convention; this was contrary to the usual practice of leaving Unis maticr to the district caucus, but We yleided to Mr. Murphy's desire to have the pames fixed upon m his office; There were at that time three repubucan factions— the Twenty-second street, tne Twenty-third street and the Twenty -elghth street or Andy Johnson com- mlitees; | belonged to the regular one—the Twenty- second sireet; all tree coalesced, the Twenty- ing six and the other two associ legates each to @ special committee; anizAtion Was eifected; the result of Wiis was that there were feventeen out of the twenty- one Assembly districis in which ihe Twenty- second — street gf dommated. The witness then entered into @ minute explanation of the squabbles and irregniarities that occurred, detaii- ing the swamping Of the Twenty-second street com | mittee by the entry of unauthorized persons | through the windows, and tracing Stas ne ac quisition of power by Mr. Murphy, the cons, | sane division of the party, He continued:—W,aen ir, Murphy was appoln:ed Collector I had oysposea bis contrmation by getting up his politic, records bier he said, “Let bygones be bygones” 1 don’t a he referrea to that especially, Yat to all mat- ters in dispute between the two patties; we only harmonized op the delegates to the Convention ater @ great deal o1 discussion; two or three months afver 1 had been removed by Mr. Murphy 1 was given ap office in the Fire Marshal's Depart- ment by the [olice Headquarters; 1 did not apply Jor it, but it Was given tome; there were four Pouce Conmmissioners, two republicans and two democrats; the Mayor is now an ex-officio member as well. The Committee tpen adjourned, REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE, TASS . The “Custom House” Party in Council—The Report oo Contested Seats Not Yet Keady. The room devoted to the selling of soda water, ginger pop and like drinks tm Apowto Hall during the many terpiscborean gatherings that make this Place their headquarters im the winter time | was last might crowded to excess by the | Members of the Republican Central Com- mittee to hear reports and transact such other Dusiness as this important political body would Daturally have brought before them. The delegates Were oui in force. Like a tidal wave they over- whelmed the limited capacity of the room, and scores were compelled to stand up, packed together closer taan sardines, As this is the Custom House representauve administration element in the city there 1s much de- pending on their efforts to harmonize the republican strife that exists and threatens evil tothe party hereabouts, Prominent among those who occupied the higher seats in the synagogue were General Arthur, Collector of the Port, and Charley Spencer. Mr, Hugh Gardner, the tempo- rary chairman of the committee, presided, and John J. O’Brien and George W. Lyon acted as secretaries, At eight o’clock the committee was called to order, but before proceeding to business a& member, not unlike President Grant im appear. | ance, struck dismay into the heats of many present by moving that smoking be pfohibited during the evening. He asked if there was not a rate of the committee iorvidding the } practice during ther deliberations, and xf there was none | he hoped the general parliamentary rules govern- |; Ing such cases would be adopted, The room | Was small, the ceiling low and many had sensitive | lungs. ‘Tne poisoned air was enough, but the smoke lutolerable, Chairman Gardner didn’t know of any | rule, oither of committee or of One general in its | character, that would bear on the case, and seemed disposed to think any trifling with this dear :uxury of man was a little too muct of a good thing. But the smokers were defeated, and in a short ume the room became somewhat pleasanter. ‘The roll was gone over, when the report on con- tested seats was called for. The chairman of this | important sub-committee said that it was yet ine | complete; they desired still further evidence before they coull pass upon the rignts of the different delegations, and at present would only report prog- ress, Mr. LAMPHEER desired to say that the utmost har- mony had prevailet im the committee, and no pray, the same pleasant state of affairs would con- inne, Mr. LosstER moved that when the meeting ad- journed it should be until the first Weanesday in Fevruary. Mr. SPENCER wished that the time of adjourn- ment mene hot be so indefinite, It was his earnest wish, and the wish of every fend of the admin- istration, that the various contesting delegations ‘would settle their differences among themselves, and not bring them before the general body. 1t was most important at this time that personal feelings should be buried for the common good. He there- fore moved that the committee meet two weeks from last night to hear the report on contested seats, which was carried. ‘the body then dispersed, after providing to obtain a larger room for tuture meetings. THE KINGS @OUNTY DE) There was a stated session of the Kings County Democratic Generai Committee heid last evening, ‘Tunis Morocco Algiers Bergen, ex-Member of Con- gress, in the chair, The hall, which is on the third Noor of the building corner of Montague and Court | streeto, was thronged by an unusually large andi- ence of ward politicians, It was understood that a | test case was to be moved, or in oiher words, that a | new move would be made of an unusual revo- lutionary character. The interest centred upon the action taken by tne General Committee upon a pro - | test entered by the dissatistied members of the de- | mocracy of the Twelfth ward against the three in- spectors of election, who are returned each year in satd ward. A petition was presented from Super- visor Sheridan and several others asking the com- j Inittee to appdint three imspectors of elec tion for the ward mm place of. the elected officials, A motion to that effect was made, and upon a vote being taken tne Chatr decided that the yeas had it. Great confusion ensued, amid which Commisstoner of Charities Mr. Thomas Foran moved that the matter be laid oa the table, Carried, He then moved that the room be cleared of those who were not members of the committee, Carried. The committee then went into executive session, and a numerous and dis- satisfied element walked off breatuing their “vows ol getting square.” POLITICAL MOVEMENTS AND VIEWS. Speaker Blaine’s Election of Journal Urging the Re- rant and Colfax. Avausta, Me., Jan. 16, 1872, The Kennebec Journal, formerly edited by Speaker Blaine, and presumed to reflect bis wishes, contains a long editorial this morning warmly | urging the renomination of Vice President Colrax. ‘rhe Journal asserts that Maine will send a unani- mous delegation ior Grant aud Coliax. The Pennsyltvani Senator Wallace, of the Pennsylvania Legislature, wrote a letier lateiy to the President of the Young Men’s Jackson Association of Pitisburg, in the course of which he said:— The immluent dangers that threaten the republic In the re-election of General Grant should impel us to sink all numor objects in the effort to avoid them. ‘To save the government 13 our first duty. One of the greatest means to this great end 1s the preserva- tion and pertect discipime or our organization. Its thorough tainimg aud energetic action are idis- pensable prerequisites to a victorious contest. Ardent devotion to the fundamental doctrines of the constitution is its bond of strength, and it could not ve silent when they are im jeopardy. Millions of men rally to its | standard because it is and ever has been true to these doctrines, and danger to linerty, distraction and division would inevitavly follow its disband- ment, Wille the constitution lives ‘he democratic party can neiiner sleep nor die. The certainty of tms fact serves to demonstrate the necessity for that breadth of view and progressive spirit that shall fad the pracucal means to unite in a harmo- nious and irresistible whole those masses of men Whose opiuions on the graver issues of the dav are identical and whose desires lead to tne accomplish. ment of the same great object. Miscellaneous, A despatch from Augusta, Me., (January 15) to the Portiand Argus states “that it is reported on good g@utnority that the disagreement existing between Speaker Bialne and Senator Morrill as regards the Pension Agency appointment here has been amica- | bly settled. General Seldon Conner, 1t 1s said, is to Dave that position, and Mr. Franklin Drew, the other contestant, is to have an auditorship im Wasi- ington.” General Grant and General Logan nave become reconciled’, and Logan converted, Vice President Uolfax has given up smoking, but he still “smiles.” Jobn Hall, the West Virginia member of the Na- tional Democratic Executive Committee, bus re- signed, in a@ letter, in which he says:—‘l would greatly prefer to belong to some liperai conservative and progressive State organization, that In name, at least, was not chargeable ether with rebellion or proscription, if such an organization existed.”” Mr. James G. Cooper, for many years connected with the press of New York and Brooklyn, has been elected, by acclamation, Clerk of the House of Rep- resentatives of Colorado, ANOTHER POST OFFICE ROBBERY. Yesterday afternoon Detective Gaylord arrested 4. Reilly, who nas for some years been Assistant Superintendent of the foreign mail department of the Post Ofice, on a charge tof purloming moneys from we through nis hanas. The colust said to be folly ap evidence against Bim 1% Jor tis convicuon. He was taken before the Ui States Commissioner and committed. THE STATE MILITARY A:@OOIATION, At Albany yesterday the State Military Associa tion—a sixieentn wheel to @ lively one-horse buggy--met in selemn session, As usual, they thought out nothing, suggested nothing, did noth- ing. Colonel Church delivered an address, full of Wise Maxims and useful hinis, which the associa- ton listened to With respect, | It ws expectea that When the association adjourns the National Guards oF tha stare wil he more helogged than eves | “THE PARSONS ON FISK. The People on the Parsons—Spicy Correspond- ence on the Sermons of Sunday—Unchristian Christiane—The Charity That Suffereth Long and is Kind Lacking in the Pul- vits—Fisk No Worse Than Other Men—A Small Mark to Shoot At. WILLIS RISES TO EXPLAIN. We published on Monday a sermon from a Metho- Gist minister which was in many respects remark- able. Rarely have we seen it equalled in bitter- Ress of spirit or boldness of expression, and when, ag the preacner acknowledged, Christianity and humanity demanded that he should tread highly and speak gently, he grew fierce m his “denunctations and defiant in his abuse of the dead. James Fisk is dead, and the snows of Vermont cover his newly raised grave. He cannot reply to the slanders nor can he be affecied by anything good ur bad that may be uttered agamst hm or in his favor, But his friends and defenders dive, and they are many, and their number has greatly increased within the past week. The Rev. ‘Mr. Willis has, perhaps, more than any other minis- ter of the Gospel wno last Sunday preached upon the dead ¥isk, helped toward this result, The nu- merons letters which we this day publish will give the public sume faint idea of the value of such dia- tribes as Mr. Willis’ in forming or changing the general character of the community. There is in society an innate love for fair play, and winle it con- demns with equal severity the assassin and the DEPAMERS OF THE LATB COLONEL FISK, it does not either intentionally or by implication de- fend or applaud Dis vicious acts, which have been made the basis for sensational discourses, Our correspondents, who embrace both sexes and all classes, have but one sentiment in common in Yegard to the pulpit utterances of last Sunday. Men and women, Christians and sinners alike note the lack of charity and Christian sympathy mani- fested by the ministers. While they unqualifiedly and vehemently condemn the murdered mun, they touch the assassin very lightly, if at all, How un- like the words ef some of the parsons who preached about James Fisk were the last words of Mr. Fisk him- seul, who hoped that he might live TO SAVE STOKES FROM THE GALLOWS. We think that any impartial and unbiassed judge will see herein more of the spirit of Christ than they will tind in the productions of the pulpits. some of our correspondents very pertinent ask of the parsons the same question Which the Saviour ibropounded eighteen hundred years ago to a self- Tighveous crowd, who wished him w pronounce judgment upon an unfortunate woman—“Let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone,” It does seem to us that something of this spirit Would better become the Christian ministers wan the wholesale condemnation of Fisk in which-they have induiged. One of our correspondents is so religiously indi¢- nant as to demand a public meeting to condemn such pulpit sensationalism, which 18 contrary to the spirit and teaching of Camst and His Aposlles, Another writer thinks that if the ministers spent More time in secret prayer in their closets they would be more charitable toward the erring, whether living or dead; that they mistake their calling who think the peopie want or are pleased with any such teachings as theirs—made up of slan- der and vituperation of the dead and and opening the wounds and adding to the sorrows of the liv- ing. ‘This writer thinks, also, that clergymen are probably guilty of crimes against God and society as great as Mr. Fisk’s, While Mr. Fisk’s vices were kaown and blazoned throughout the country, his virtues were known only to his Maker, tlimself and tne beneficiaries of his bouaty. The very last check drawn by him was for a poor family whom he had bdefrientted oft and again, unknown and unseen by the outside world, A Western correspondent does not think that vitu- peration and DEFAMATION OF RVEN GROSSLY WICKED MEN form any partot Christianity or of the duty of a Christian minister, Neither do we; and we fully agree with him that the maugnity of language used against Mr. Fisk 1s enough to make one shudder. But we submit the letters themselves as fair ex- Le of the public mind upon the latest seasa- tion. Below wili be found aso the substance of an in- terview with Kev. Mr, Willis, who acknowledges that his only sources of mformation regarding Mr. Fisk’s character were newspaper reports and second hand testimony from perhaps interested partes. he HERALD has Irequentiy condemned clergymen. {or their IGNORANT CONDEMNATION OF PERSONS, and things with which they might have become acquainted, and of which, mm common justice, they ougnt to have known something before tney spoke or else have held their peace, Mr. Willis thinks 1b was sufiicient excuse for hin nocto have “preacned as much to Mr. Fisk as he did about him,’ that “mr, Fisk kept himself where no minister nor Christian gentieman can sately enter.” Hf that is so it is @ sad comment upon the respectability of the Christianity of the present day, which is wasting its energies and destroy- ing its power. Not such was the religion taught by Christ nor the example He leit to His Church, Adulterers, thieves, swindiers and men and women guilty of every crime with which Mr. Fisk has been charged, and of many more which have not been Jaid at his door, were not too low for the Saviour’s notice, and the world to-day finds a hinge upon which to hang a hope of mercy even for a Judas or a Barabbas, But Christian mine isters in this city in the nineteenth ceatury can scarcely accord even this to poor Fisk, Lack of Charity Among Ministers. To THE EpiToR OF THE HERALD:— ‘Will you allow me throvgh the medium of your valuable paper to say a few words relative to the remarks made by different ministers on tne jife ana character of the late James Fisk, Jr., last Sabbath ? Alter carefully reading them over I was surprised to see so little charity exhibited by men calling taem- selves followers of Christ. They can teli nothing of his late career in lule that the public are not already inormed of, therefore tiey might better have em- ployed their time and eloquence in preaching the Gospel, thereby following the example of their Master, who said, when the guilty woman was | brought up for judgment, ‘He that is without sin, Jet him cast the first stone,” and again, ‘A multutude Of SiCS shall be covered by CHARITY.” P. S.—I would suggest that on next Sabbath the ministers take for the subject of their remarks the tragedy lately enacted by their brower minister in England, Perhaps to him they wili extead CRARITY, Rev. Mr. Willis Auswered. To THE EpiTorR oF THE HERALD: Please give insertion to answer to Rey. J, T. Wil- is. Ina sermon published in Monday’s HeraLp the reverend gentleman asks “a hinge to hang a beam of blessedness for the deceased Mr. Fisk.” “The hinge to hang @ beam of blessedness’’— Fisk’s dyiug words of forgiveness to his assassi “Doctor, 1 hope I may live to save Stokes from the gallows.” God never fails in His promises, ‘Forgive and ye shail be forgiven” are the words of Holy Writ: hence his saivation and ‘the hinge and the beam’ Jov Fisk. NENA. Some Questions by a Woman. To THE EpiTon oF THE HERALD:— While so much 18 being sald on the subject of the late tragedy, can you spare a little space for the side of charity? Wehave all been taught to look upon our ministers as examples of Christian charity, but the sermons published in Monday morn- ing’s HERALD dispel ali such belief in some, at least, of our so-calied Unristian minisers. If those ministers feared s0 much the cxampie set belore the young, why did they not deliver their sermons during the lie of James Fisk, and make an attempt to reform him they considered so depraved? Does Christian religion teach us to drag belore the world alt a brother's errors, while his virtues are left un- void? Wouid it not be more Christ-like to speak of the good he has aoney Alas! tor the rarity OF buman ebrity «uder the sun! Had Colonel Fisk given $1,000 occasionally to some Chien or missionary soviety, instead of be: stowing it on private cnarities, be unknown to the world until his death, there could not nave been enough said in his praise, Whatever ts Jauits may have been, there would have been extenuation jor them. Are there not plenty of men in our midst to-day, and among those who say the most against hin, who have as many sins to answer for as he ever had, and ossess, periiapa, iewer virtues? Are they an beter because they give @ few dollars to the Chure! make Je a needy Object It will do the ‘world more good to hear of bis virtoes than of few sins. I trust the Rev. Mr. Willis thou; he Was teaching & good lesson to his flock; but how evuid he, after preach! sO uncharilable a fermon, re the words, “Forgive us our t — we forgive those who trespass against us?’ A WOMAN, A Membes of Mr. Willin’ Speaks. TO THE EpiroR oF THE HERALD:— In looking over the columns of your valuaple paper this morning my atvention was called to home of the sermons preached in several of our chy churches, especially ,im the Seventeenth street Methoulst Episcopal Church, by the Rey. J. & Wil- Mis, Mysel veg a Member of achurch. and poe Congregation + sessed of fine feelings to humanity and also to the | erally where tan pees upfortamate James Fisk, Jr., }ask the commanity ae i ane us 18 a probanly reason at large will they suffer the ministers of our gospel | that Mr. Fisk Was a worse man than hundreds who, Churches to ascend their pulpits and scandalize and | live in our midst to-day. {don’t think he was ridicule the sleeping dead, that cannot speak for A WORSB MAN THAN opp flagranuy tn. Rather lek, there be a ie ne cur sister | YOURE Men more perniciously than Wis con/rersy: Churches sa it et hore Gane thew yee ! 1knew Mr. Fisk only from newspaper report and with our young, old eee maida ed of the land, [ | 0m the testimony of members of my congregation: if there is" on r or individual in our | Wo Were eltuer employés or associates of Nis. . midst that is periect ae wichout sin, let him come | for their sakes 1 deem it my duty to warn them of forward and cast the frst stone, christ said there | Mis example. 1 should have considered him a smalt« mark to shoot at were it not for this fact. Iam uot. is none perfect, no, not one. And now, my sincere | 4 )over of sensationalism, as the HERALD editor Intl- Pele pyle ge the mare EArt’ mates, anu rarely induigéin such sermons But ut : James Fisk, Jr, the deceased, has gone to a just Preach trom the Bible | must take up be God; one that 18 only able to judge; the judge of al CB@racters of public men whose lives have passey ‘the | into history. Mr. Fisk was a public man and a bad ‘man, and his life and character are now mat | ters of current history, and | have a right to draw such lessons of warning and reproof from them as L | may for the benetit of the young. My own life has been a battle against my inclinations and 4 Cole tinuioas effort, by the help of Divine grace, to make: &@ good man out of a bad one, T think the community were, m a sense; as much to diame as Mr. Fisk lor what he was. He found society and circumstances ready to bis hand aad he j used Shem lor nis owo unnoly agurandianusen’. 2 en | But, as I said in my sermon, this comm is A Stinging Rebuke. | in a turmoil trying to undo the evils which ir. Fis ° To THE EpiTor OF THE HERALD:— | ana the meo ol his stamp have brought upon us. In reading the sermons of Sunday last in the ere ee GLITTER OF THELE LIVES acts Ni werlul and pernicions effect HERALD of Monday on the character of Fisk I can- ~ meg rig not only upon the young men of this city, but in Not resist the impulse to ask the reverend divines a | other parts of the country also, and they cannot be few questions, as their remarks were very un- too strongly condemned. The pulpit and the press charitable. Do they think our Divine Master would | shouid strike bands in this work and ouuse — @ common foe. ave defamed the character of the dead? Would Mr. Willis again rejerred ‘to the 8 ertitom hey, if they followed in the footsteps of a k and Hwratp’ tl nial, Which, he said, he considered on the whole fair lowly Jesus, have done so? Has He not His enough, but he thought in some particulars was 1n- Divine Word told us that of faith, hope and charitj ‘ clined to be too severe On him. any he believed in the greatest of them ls charity’ {cr charity suifereth | #8 speech, and considered that he himself, being & long and is kind; -chari erreth not, charity public man, the HERALD had as good a we Vaunteth not and is not puffea up, but beareth ail criticise ani dissect his ermon as he (Willis) = to and hopeth all things. Where 1s tneir criticise the lite and character of James (Maas the worst side of a man’s life, no bright side? For shame ! A Yasine arstscone. {| A REMARKABLE BANK. SIEGE. prota the earth, and it is God that is able to change heart of man in the twinkitng of an eye, Let the ministers of the different Churches read and reflect on this grand subject, and rather let them pray for the repose of the soul of the dead Colonel Fisk: that he may Test aud peace jor his soul with his God in that bright world above, tn that haven of eternal rest that is bevond the skies, where all malice, sin and sorrow is done away with and Curist is all, and inal, Amen. A CONSTANT READER OF THE HERALD. re i” Could one of everand Could they nave thrown t ‘stone, thus ing their freedom from sin or wrong-doing? Nu, i om sir; I protest now Are we not prone to The Run on the Third Avenue Savings Bank: 9 evil, ge as ether ie fy apa a Slow Payments but Slight Decrease in Num- i on iS periec' not let e dear at reat Why not let the God to waom ne bers Yesterday—Growing Suspicions of as gone is Judge Dan we not let his soul res: rei with his Maker? Or do the reverend divines tnink Its Insolvency—A Detailed Exhibit the God of our universeis not competent to Know of the Bank’s Affairs Demanded. and judge tne world He has made, but would re- quire the very efMicient aid of the divines to aid im 1n disposing of Hisown? Can we not leave his sins, his virtues, his shortcomings to Him who 4s able to Know and judgeall things—to Him who has told us to judge not lest we be judged? We have heard of his sins, of his manifold vices and orf Is going astray, but do we hear of his virtues? No, not of one. But @ vampire of a thousand tongues proclaims all the shortcomings, without one redeeming quality. Have not ali natures some re- deeming qualities? I think so, I ask, what will be the impression left on the majority of lis teners on Sabbath last? Why, one of indignation bee many a silent invective against the sel!-conceit of man, Physician, heal thyself; cast out all impurities and Proneness to sin betore ye judge the dead. Why not let the memory of the dead be as carefully handled as we wouid wish the memory of our own beloved ones, sinned they ener 80 deeply? © STAN! READER. What a Methodist Thinks. To THE EpITOR OF THE HERALD:— Sir—I have long been a reader of your excellent paper, and up to the present time have never replied or taken any notice of any article; but Mon- Gay’s paper contained an article with the subject of which the public at large are so familiar, in the per- son of the late Colonel Fisk, Jr., and coming as it does from the Christian pulpit, that I cannot hold my peace, so take up my pen in delence. I think if such ministers as on Sunday took upon themselves the rignt to slander and apuse the ‘lead lion” nad entered their closets and implored High Heaven to them in their Christian duues on that noly Sabbath the reply would uot have been “Go and ex- Pose all the faults of the much-talked-of Colonel Who lies in yonder newly-covered grave, where he ts powerless to defend himseif.” 1 think that ministers who have been guilty of such acts have Mistaken their cailing; for it is their duty to preach the Gospel and not to publicly expose the sins of a dead man. He ought to be eu:ogized for ie good he has done and nis wrongs buried with m. What I think of such ministers is, that the world is, perhaps, blinded by the Cnuren to faults that may be as dark and black as those referred to in the | person Oi the aead “Prince,” but because they are not known tothe world they walk on vbelore their | flock us being very Innocent. But to such I feel a strong inclmation to say, can you ‘cast the first stone?’ | have long looked upon munisters as nothing more than men; [ think such scandai from At three o’clock yesterday the twelfth Cay of the: Tun upon the above bank ended, with no better prospect for a cessation of hostilities than when the first charge was made, on the 2d of January, by & | frightened but well behaved mob of several hundred people, whose hard-earned savings were locked up. there, When the doors were opened yesterday there were TWO HUNDRED AND TWELVE depositors about the building, 111 of whom had been admitted at the side door on tickets, fifty-one Without tickets, and about fifty were without, braving the storm and cold in anticipation of getting in. The interest clerk, Mr. Seaman, took the paying teller’s desk, and slow progress was: made, the average for the first two hours being about eighteen payments per hour. Mr. Seaman ‘Was subsequently replaced by Mr. Weeks, who, for some time, paid much more rapidly, andthe latver Portion of the day the active manipulator of FEDERAL CURRENCY, ‘Mr. Spenser, served the people quite satisfactorily: and courteously. During the tive hours of the day, from ten to three o’clock, sixty-nine ‘persons! were paid and about twenty-one extra books, making ~ total books pata ninety, or at the rate of eighteen per hour for the entire day. ‘the rate of payments _ the previous day was twenty-one per hour. When © payments stopped there were NINETY-THRER PERSONS UNPAID, and tickets being issued to them the gentlemanly: Actuary, Mr. Tuthill, mounted @ chair and an- nounced that they would be admitted by the side door at half-past nine to-day. As there were eight extra books the payments to persons holding tlckets to-day will ve 101, As certain unenterprising. papers persist tn declaring that the run has ended, the above figures are given that the public may not be deceived; or, to make it more comprehensive, the numbers are thus accurately detailed ;— Admitted on uckets issued on the 151 Admitted without uckets yesterday... ‘Total admissions yesterday =} i ae any human person is too bad. What are the leel- | Paid during the Gay........ 69 ings ef his friends who mourn bis loxs—j ust as —_ much as any of us would were we to lose our rela- | Unpaid, and tickets issued for to-day......--. 93 tive—when their eyes trace over such lines as came from the mouths of some of the ministers yesterday in regard to tueir late relative ? Lhope the day 13 not far distant when men will be willing to look only upon the better qualities of men and become blind to all evil. ‘the supject of this article it ts well KnowD has done much good io | the world with his money, and many to-day mourn his loss who would have suffered for bread If it had not been for hus helping hand. Many of bis chari- ties were hidden from the world, but his faults were not, ‘This was one of lis pecultarities, and we have no business to comment on it now. I hever knew Colonei Fisk, Jr, personaily, bub | know of many instances where he hus done good, and T honor his memory tor them, aud will only say, Jet the grave cover all his 1aults; let them be setuled by his Maker, A METHODIST, Among those who besieged the institution yester- day were many persons who had already drawn thelr principal and now RETURNED FOR THEIR INTERRST, President John H, Lyon circulatea among them, and iniormed those who were after interest that they were acting unfairly m crowding the bank aud “cutting out”? those who for days had valuly endea- vored to obtain their principal. The result was that many reured trom the lines, but about flity remained without during the day. The class of depositors yesterday in attendance indicated men and women of large means, and. many of thei withdrawals rau up into the Lhou- sands. Among them was Mr. James Faegly, who has been in the Ime almost daliy since the 2d, and yesterday left with his money and the remark, “Don't speak of my perseverance. This is tne twelfth day I have been after my money, | bave got it, and an satisfied.” A number of the with- drawals yesterday could be better caicuiated in ounces than in number of bills, and one or two reached into the Veen ‘The feeling of the depositors continues to be one of NON-CONFIDENCR IN THE INSTITUTION and its stability. This has been increased by the failure of the trustees to come out manfully and suc- cincuy detail the character of their securities and their actual value on the market. Some depositors, More intelligent than others, whisper the bellef that some of cheir savings have been invested in depreciated Southern stocks; put these surmises cannot be verified except by the trustees. ‘Tne run upon the bank has been the most remark-* able that has ever occurred in ths city, and uf the trustees prove their solvency and their right to de- serve the confidence of the thousauds who save, A Western Man on the Parsons. To THE Epitok oF THe HERALD:— Inave read tne HERALD for a long time, and it 18 generally on the side of justice, and strikes the’ chords of the public heart preity often. The HERALD has taken the conservative ground between violent condemnation and extravagant praise of Fisk, I know the people in the West, and tne HERALD's view of the character of Fisk Will be that of tne public mind and heart. We bave had the opinions of the most learned and unlearned divines and of many of the best writers of the New York press. A Western man’s opinion may not be uninteresting to the HERALD readers. If you desire to rain @ principle ch of the money r w find i and disgust men with it, carey it to.aa extreme; be | Uc or thn! Nae ee ie GRATES Look Wie bigoted, be fanatical, be monomaniacal in advocat- | pecome one of the most substantial in the city. ing it, and the vest part of Bumanity will turn irom it with loathing and disgast. 1 believe in the prin- ciples of Christianity, and practice a few of them; but 4 do not think they saucuon vituperation or frenzied defamation of even wicked dead meno. The unorthodox world is only too ready to catch at every fauit of Chrisians and Christian- ity, and noid that up to derision and ridicule, But when Christian ministers endeavor, by almost insane zeal, vodrag peopie into the paths of virtue, by holding ap as an exampie of sin and sinners the character 01 4 man who was known to have some virtues, und speak of him ip language too violent for a mol leader or a pothoure politician, 1 think they furnish arguments and objections to themselves and their move of teaching more pow- erful than could be accumalated by the most subtle Inteslects and ave eee ies of atneism or deism. The defenders of Mr. Fisk’s character seem to rush ito the same violent extreme that the other parties do in aeiaming it. One represents him as @ concentration, a personification of all sinfulness and moral degradation, and the others present him as # paragon of ali manly qualities and slur over his vices, This violent and prejudiced deience and condemnauon Of ® man’s iife ana character does not appear just. 1 have spoken with men o/ refinement, culture and morality, who, if & word was said in condemnation of Fisk, were angry and even personal in their language, and CursMan ministers, claiming the guidance of the Spirit of Love, make many of those who believe Chrisuantty shudder at the violence, Inyus- tice and even maijignity of their language. 1 have read the HERALD more or less since Fisk appeared upon the arena of the New York world, and must say, Jrom the knowledge of Fisk thus gained, that he was a man of powerful and positive character. He was @ man Of great virtues and great vices. He deserves, and it 18 the right of the community to de- maud, an acknowledgment Of nis gigantic business capacity, Ms generosity and his courage; and so- clety demands that his vices, his unscrapulousness in business operations, and disregard ot tae inter- ests of others When his own were tnvoived, be con- demned. Hold up, for the consideration and warn- ing to young men, his vices and his death, and tn the name of the chartty of Christ and the intelli. gence and justic the age let Christians and min- asters and the press give him credit for courage in acuion, & progressive and public spirit and a warm and generous heart. Let the press and the pulpit— the great moral teachers and moulders of public opiniou—be just to each other and ail men if they expect loretain their infinence over an intell! and reasonabie community, MIDsOU ‘This can only be done by FAIR AND HONEST STATEMENTS that it 1s the duty of the trustees to make, an@ failing, the duty of Bank Superimvendent Howell to insist upon securing. ‘Lhere are strange stories told by the friends of the bank regarding the Tarrytown property, which the trustees in their statement reported in the market at $1,600 per acre, It was stated on Monday to a HERALD reporter that the trustees had rermed pool to buy it, but on taking legal advice they tound themselves debarred by the iaw, and the oferto —— purchase finally came from Mr. Warring, partuer of Mr, Uarison, one of the trustees ana counsel of the bank. Mr. Harison, on bemg referred to, most emphatically contradictea this story, #0 far as nis law partner 18 concerned. As the trustees and all the attachés of the institution, with the exception of Messrs. Owen, Lvon, Green and Corneil and De- tective Leal, avoid the report it was yesterday Impossible to learn whether property hau been sold. ‘The police, under Captain Cameron, Sergeants - Rooney, Groo and Randall, 4nd Roundsmen Schutz aud Philip, are dally in attendance, protecting the depositors from roboery and preserving order. Cap- tain Cameron’s men have been #0 Completely ex- hausted by continuons duty that details from other precincts dally report for duty; and ag there is a bare probability that the run is likely to continue, the Captain is considering the propriety of asking the Commissioners to rent a building io the neigh- borhood temporarily and establian @ sub-precinct of police, where the men can be lodged and fed unis the end comes. FRANKLIN'S BIRTHDAY. The Ceremonies at the Uaveiling of the Franklin Statue To-Day. To-day , Franklin’s birthday, the Franklin statue, in Printing House square, will oe unveiled. The ceremonies promise to be very interesting. The Rev. Dr. Prime is to preside, and the statue will be unvelled by Professor 8. F. B. Morse. The present- ation speech will be made, in Mr. De Groot’s name, by Horace Greetey, and in behalf of the press and printers Charies C. Savage, President of the Board. of Trustees of the New York Ty pograpnical Socity, will receive the gift. Tne general committee hav- ing in charge the ceremonies request newspaper establisuments and employing printers to allow their employés time to attend the celebration. In the evening a banquet will be given at Delmonico’s, at which will be preseat prominent newspaper men and distinguished invited guests. WISOONBIN, An Estoppe! on the Efforts of the Chippewa. Indian Investigating Committee—Amending. the State Constitution. Mapison, Wis, Jan. 16, 1872, Tho Senate this morning recetved a message from. Governor Washourn vetoing the bill passed to en- able the Chippewa Indian Investigating Comm)’: 9 to compel the attendance of a witness, on tie ground that, the terms of a majority of the commit- tee as memobcrs of the Legisiature having expired, Ww ° DEFENCE, ‘The sermon of Mr. Willis on the character of James Fisk, Jr., was 90 remarkable as a pulpit pro- ducton, ami created such a sensation in reiigious circles and eisewnere, that a reporter called upon the genueman yesterday to ascertain his sources of ustormauon regarding the lve and character of the man about whom he had uttered so many and such ward Usings, Mr, Willis declared that he had no per- sonal knowledge or acquaintance witn the late rall- rows magnate, and had he ever come in contact with him or with the eaitor of the HERALD, who criti- cea bi #0 severely he Would utter his sentiments just an treely and fearlessly as he bad done on Sun- in sald persons were mere! rivate citizen: “ay, ‘The editor had. stated that if he (Willis) ors could have no such power ihe ont ‘atvempted. 4 preached as much to Mir. Fisk ashe did about him | confer, in the Assembly a joint resolution was tne “Prince of Erie’ might have been saved from his vicious course of life and prepared for his untimely end, “But,” remarked Mr, Willa, ‘Mr. Fisk and the men of Dis class keep themselves gen- offered for an amendment to the constitution, pro~ viding for ninety-nine members of the ‘Assembly, to be elected for two years, and thirty-three members of the Senate, to be elected for tour years, and als@ lor biennial sessions and cumniauye voting. .