The New York Herald Newspaper, October 17, 1873, Page 3

THE CHIEF JOSTICESHIP. A Talk with Prominent Lawyers at the National Capital. | ———. Reverdy Johnson Thinks Conkling Inexperienced. JUDGE “CURTIS TOO MODEST. va Views of Judge Paschal and Ex- Judge Casey. Why the South Should Be Considered. Watninetoy, D. C., Oct. 15, 1873. VIEWS OF REVERDY JOHNSON. The Honoratie Reverdy Johnson arrived at Willard@a on Monday morning, and bas been in attendance upon the Supreme Court, before which teas practised forso many years that his Interest in the appointment ofa Chief Justice must be very‘great, Icalled apon him this afternoon at his parlors, and found fhim resting upon a lounge after the tabors of the ‘day. He was very courteous in his reception, and, jaeeing that he had been dls- turbed from his rest, /1 went at once to the subject in view, and asked: — “Mr. Johnson, yo a have doubtless seen that the HERALD has been : giving of late the views of promt- nent lawyers of the country with regard to the Sppointment of & Chief Justice to fll the vacancy caused by the 0 ath of Judge Chase?” Mr. JoHNsor ;_Yes, I have read the HenALd every day, an 4 have been much interested in this subject, CORRESPO? jpewn—Haye you any objection to give -your views gout it? Mr. JOHY jgon—None whatever—that 1s to say, in Bgeneral way. The position is one which requires great ab’ ry, fine judgment, and,.above all, great experle’ ace. The jurisdiction of this Court is, per- haps, gore complicated and more ‘extended than thato fany Courtin the world, ~~ Cor eespoxpENT—Do you notthink thatit is more com’ pricated now than ever before in-the history of the svuntry? dr. Jounson—Yesa; that is, it has been made so by -recent decisions of the Supreme Court. Ido not bi aieve that the old Ccurt would have had a dis- ® etiting voice to a decision that the Legal Tender ‘ sovwos unconstitutional, both as to contracts @ade.and'to be made, There are otber questions» G00, which the old Court had not to deal with. ‘ CORRESPONDENT—You have heard the names that ‘wave been mentioned in this connection, have you Root? » Mr, Jonxson—Oh, yes. I think I bave heard ‘every cue, » OOBRESPONDENT—I suppose you have your pref ‘erences; Would you object to. stating them? Mr, JoHNsoN—I have my preferences of course, butd would decidedly object to expressing them. All of us.at the Bar are deeply interested in the subject, but we do not feel that we have a right to express individual choice for publication. CoRRESPONDENT—Do you tear that the President will be moved in his appointment by any political ‘pressure which may be brought to bear upon him ? Mr. Jouxson—Uh, no. There has been some talk about this, but really no serious fear, Some of us were solicitous in this regard on account of Conk- ling’s rumored appointment. Conkling is un- Aoubtedly a man of talents and with oxperience would in course of time make a very good Judge. At present he has no experience. I don’t think he ever made an argument before the Su- preme Conrt; at any rate I,never heard him make one, But we cannot.estimate a man’s abilities always before we give him a fair trial. When /Chase was appointed many of us shook our heads with grave doubts and predicted for him a judicial failure, but yet you have seen what an eminent Jadge he made and how deeply his loss ts felt, With experience Conkling would doubtless do well. CORRESPONDENT—what do you think of Judge Curtis for the position? Mr. JouNsoN—We could not get a better mai and Ithink theentire Bar are agreed upon this ‘point, He is a man of the purest character, he has great ability, and he has had all the necessary ex- ypertence to fit him for the office. CORRESPONDENT—Mr. O’Conor has been men- stioned as a proper candidate—how would his ap- pointment be received? Mr. Jounson—That ia a question that | cannot an- «swer. [ only know Mr. O’Conor’s abilities upon gen- ‘eral report, To judge from this he would do very well. I should think, however, he ts almost too old a man toenter upon the duties of the position; he must be over sixty-five. However, it is useless to name individuals as candidates. If we were -searching for fit men we could easily find them on the present Supreme Bench. The Bar is simply de- @irous of having a good man, and we do not fear sthe appointment of an incompetent person. Finding further conversation, except upon the w@eneral aspect of the question, useless, I thanked ‘Mr.Johnson for his kind politeness and withdrew. VIEWS OF JUDGE CURTIS. JIndge Benjamin R. Curtis, formerly Associate “Justice of the United States Supreme Court, ‘whose name has been very frequently mentioned 4n.connection with the appointment of Ohief Jus- ‘tice, is here on busiuess before the Supreme Court. Your correspondent called upon him at ) Ws rooms over the MeRaLp Bureau to get an ex- 1 ‘Session of his views as to who should receive the a, Wolntment. It was a duty of great delicacy, yet, kn wing the simplicity of manner and candor in co; Wersation of this eminent jurist, one-half the bat We might be won in frankly stating the object for, Which I called. The Judge was seated in an easy Chair. Numerous printed briefs of cases of magn ttade were spread over the table in lawyer- like cc Wusion. He is a stoutly built man, short in Stature » With a smooth, round, ruddy face, a spiritua {glow in his features, which are always in repose, : ‘24 an air of quiet, calm solf-possession. In athro; Wf ecclesiastics he would be singled out asa bisho 0 ofa flock. : The rece, ytion extended your correspondent was warm and ratifying. Laying aside a manuscript argument,h ® asked, “of what service can I be to you to-day?” Corngsponi ‘FXT—I called to talk with you upon the subject « ft me Chief Justiceship, You are doubtless awa, "@ that your naie has been men- tioned in thig nection, and I feel that I may speak in referen % toit without intruding upon your private feeli: 1¢% in the matter. Judge Cunris—) ‘or the very reason you have just mentioned Ico Ustder myself barred from ex- pressing any prefe: @nce whatever, for I do not think myself compet. %2t to enlighten the public or the President as to w, 0 should be the successor of the lamented Chief Jus tice Chase. 1am notacan- didate. That you ean ; Wblish with my fullest con- sent, The duty restingo @ the President is indeed a very grave one, and we al, trust that when he does confer the appointment it Will be one well worthy of the eminent dignity and | treat responsibility of the oMce—one which will g tve universal satisfac tion and inapire the confiden:'6 of the people of the “whole country. ' CORRESPONDENT--You know ‘the President has sai! he would bo glod to hear ‘the views of mem- bers of the Bar as to the man, in thelr opinion, best fittea’ for the position, The President, I am as- sured, would rather read the opinions of those practim 0g before the SapremeCourt:than confer with pola ticians om this subject. Judge (i'RrIs—Please except me from the num- ber, You Will readily recognize, I am sure, the position whic. I ocenpy. {t would be impossible for me to consis,‘ontly express @ preference. Hav. «Ing been formerly a Wwember of the Supreme Bench, and acquainted with. many members of the Bar, 1 could not, with due leference to my own judg. ment and an entire ignor.@ Of personal fealing, single out the fittest man for wit 9Mo9, The rights WEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1873—TRIPLE SHZEr. of choloeSVdlVes Npow the President. He knows, as We all know, tue importance of acting advisedly and of resis'sg all improper influences. ConRxsionpent—This is the object which the Heeszp has in inviting expressions of opinion com nose whose assoctations and practice Guality them to speak reasonably and without prejugye upon this snbject. Judge Cuntis—It is an oMce Waich, { think, no man should aspire to fill; rejther should one lightly form an opinion a8 “9 the qualification of any individual for it. 1 yould not like to be quoted as expressing any CZolce, If I can serve you in any other way (¢ Will give me pleasare to do 80, ‘The m2; .ner in which the Judge declined to give 9.7 decided views was so gracious, at the same time it was so firm, that to pursue the subject fur- ther would Nave been to trespass upon the cour- tesy of a gentieman who appears to be the choice of @ great portion of the Bar for the oMce which had been the subject of our conversauon, VIEWS OF JUDGE PASCHAL, Among the prominent mémbers of the Bar in Washington is Judge Paschal, of Texas, and we give his views and pre‘erences in regard to the Chief Justiceship. Certainly no one has a better right to be heard. Judge Paschal isa quiet man, who has retired from all political strife, and given his whole time to the duties of his profession and the edit- ing of law books, which have a world-wide reputa- tion, Journalists also remember him as an editor who, through overy phaae of his life, never lowered the flag of the Union. To the question as to whom, ag a practitioner in the Supreme Court, he would prefer for Chief Justice, he answered frankly, “Ihave no choice which would probably be re- spected, I have never before uttered a syllable about it; but I have no sentiments to conceal, ‘The appointment ought to be given to some South- ern man, While I oppose the constant recogni- tion of the old geographical fiction which disre- garded all latitude, and based North and South upor the accident of negro slavery, yet it was a fact that no one of the late slave States had any representative upon the Supreme Bench; and yet there are peculiarities of laws in many of those States, particularly in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Missouri, where many of the elements of the civil law and many rights to lands founded upon the Spanish and Mexican systems are still re- tained, with which no member of the Bench since Mr. Justice Campbell left it can be at all familiar. It is a settled rule of the Court to rest its decisions upon the law of property upon the rulings of the local Supreme Court; but it is impossible to follow this rule while one-half of the States of the Union have no Voice on the Bench, At any rate, greater time is consumed {jn the examination of causes from those States than can be spared, since the docket is already crowded in a manner which almost amounts to a denial of justice. “T admit that all this is true; but, Judge, the President might not be able to find the material for a Chief Justice In your section.”” 4 “Selections of men quite as learned as any who have yet been named might be made from the Southern States. It should not be forgotten that Marshall and Taney received their education and legal training in the South, and that the great constitutional questions which have most distin- guished them arose in those States. Andif any one believes that these were isolated cases let him compare the volumes ofSouthern reports with those of any other section, and he will see that very many of the opinions were in no way inferior to the best law learning in the United States. In fact, most of the great causes which have involved the conflict of laws have been solved by Southern jurists,” “There may have been o deterioration among the Southern Bar owing to the events of late years, and the President might not be willing to select trom among those who had made war against the government,” “That is a mistaken notion, There has been no deterioration on account of the war. The very events have caused.a deeper study of national Jurisprudence and a more enlarged understanding of constitutional law, for the field of adversity ts always a good school. And as tn the political status of the Southern lawyers, the war should nov be perpetuated, Tne very position would make any one but a natural extremist conservative; besides (Judge Pasctfaladded, with no little ear- nestness) all the legal talent of the South did not join the rebellion. There were not a few who sharea @ more dangerous devotion to the Union than any Northern man had toencounter. Many of them gave their services, their fortunes and their lives to the Union cause, and it was areproach to the republican party that no one of these had been re- warded. Of course no one Of these expect s0 dis- tinguished @ position. One thing is certains the Southern men who dared to be Union advocates in such an hour were not made of the stuff to ask for official patronage; that is left to the miserable carpet-baggers, who have given so unsavory a character to the Union men of the South.” “The President might be induced to give the appointment to some one of the present asso- clates, and then fill that vacancy from the Soath, ‘The legal magazines have advocated this course, and it seems to be very popular.” - “Several of the Judges have been spoken of, all having about equal merit, and the President's dim- culty would be tne want of a precedent—the fear of an invidious discrimination. He has his own views about the learning ana ability of the Judges whose claims had been argued, butIonly judge from their opinions and previous history, and pre- fer to express no choice.”” “Among the lawyers who have been prominently named, who is your preference 1” “Of those North Judge Curtis is the most fit, as weil from experience as the judicial character of his mind.” VIEWS OF JUDGE Casey, Judge Casey, formerly Chief Justice of the Court of Claims, who resigned the office as unprofitable, when he could make as much in @ single case as he could by sitting on the Bench a whole year, re- ceived your correspondent courteously, on his ex- plaining the objectot his visit, prefacing his opinion with the statement that all he wished to say would be direct and brief, With this understand. ing [ put the question, “T should like to-obtain your views as to the ap- ‘pointment of a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?” Judge Casny—Well, sir, I have very decided opinions on the matter. It is probably neither prudent nor modest in me to express them for pub- Neation; but, as they are honestly entertained, they may be expressed without presumption or offence. If the appointment is to be made from the profession, and not from the Bench of the Court, { am free to say my choice would lie between Judge Curtis and Mr. Evarts. There are some considerations which weigh in favor of each of them. Judge Curtis is probably the more thorough and pro- found common law lawyer; Mr. Evarts is the more versatile—has probably more general culture, more political experience and is younger in years, Mr. Evarts, too, isin full sympathy and accord in his views of public policy with the ruling party at this time, Judge Curtis, I believe, is not entirely so, Both are gentlemen of the purest and highest character and lawyers of the most eminent ability. Either would adorn the place, But, notwithatand- ing the precedents appear to be the other way, I would preier to see the Chief Justice taken from the Bench of the Court, In the present condition of things there are four or five Judges on the Bench, in the full vigor of manhood, with years of experience in that Court, thoroughly conversant with its rulea and precedents—serving, as they have, in their high places with great honor -to themselves and acceptance to the profession— and in fall sympathy and accord witn the President and his party in their political nd constitutional views and opinions, I am de- cidediy of the opinion thas the appointment should be made {rom their number, This would create a, vacancy op the Bench and enable the President to give an appointment to the South. Two or three Prominent names suggest themselves—Hon. B, H. Bristow, of Kentucky; Hon. Thomas Settle, of North carolina, and Hon, Thomas J. Durant, of Loutstann. The frst two are young men ar 3s markaple vigor and ability. The last named, Mr, Durant, would bring to the position, in addition to high egal and iiterary a eee @ thorough knowledge of civil aad eontinental jurispruaence. The Ju who is pre-eminently & man of be pene, returned my @fternoon with a ich oF it wean etmea to oa ie 4 Sb ah Seale APOLLO HALL, ‘Tammany Will Not Unite and the Apol- los Become Belligerant, The County Convention of the Apollo Hall Demoe- racy was held last evening in Irving Hall. On the motion of Mr, Hincken Mr. Julius Wadsworth, of the Twenty-first ward, was nominated as the per- manent Chairman of the Convention, Alter being unanimously elected Mr, WADSWORTH was escorted to the platform, and on taking the chair said:— It is with feelings of pride that I find myself called upon to preside over so many of the demo- cratic voters of this metropolis, We are honest laborers for the democratic party. We are called together to-night with a common purpose, namely, to wrest from the hands of an unworthy and corrupt wet of men, known as the Tammany Society, the reins of political power, and to again turn them over to the people, in whose hands they should rest. I shall not farther occupy your time, The Convention is now organized and ready tor business, The credentials were then called for on the motion of J, M. MCCLENNAN, alter which the en- tire roll of 518 names of delegates was called. —- SAMUEL G. CouRTNEY, a3 chairman of the com- mittee appointed to confer with Tammany Hall, reported the utter failure of all negotiations, He read the letter from Tammany which appeared in the papers of Wednesday, and his reply, which was published yesterday. Mr. Courtney then harangued the Convention for nearly an hour, which concluded his report. ‘The Conference Committee was, on motion, con- tinued until the 24th inst., at which time they will ve ready for final report, The Convention then adjourned, to reassemble at the same place on Friday evening, Uctober 24, The call for a mass meeting to ratify the Utica nominations was circulated, The meeting is set down for the 18th inst, FOURTH SENATORIAL DISTRIOT CONVEN- TION, The Fourth Senatorial District Convention met last night at the Seventh Ward Hotel, in Madison street, for the purpose of nominating a Senator, but they didn’t do it, The roll was called and the name of John Fox suggested for Senator, The moment the name Was mentioned it was apparent that a strong op- pperon party was in the field. The names of mothy Campbell and James Hayes were freely canvassed and many made by the various parties interested. When it came to a question of a vote the wards in favor of Fox showed a disposition to withdraw. The opposing wards objected to any nominatton being made by acciamation, After a great many bitter speeches, the Seventh, Thir- teenth and Fourteenth wards, counting 64 solid votes, withdrew from the Convention, declining to vote for Fox. The Convention was even then going to nominate a Senator; but Judge Hogan, in an able speech, held that the question should be submitted to the Tammany Hall General Committee. An ad- journment was taken amid general contusion, FIFTH DISTRICT SENATORIAL DEMOCRATIO CONVENTION, The Fifth Senatorial District Democratic Conven- tion held a meeting last night at Adriatic Hall, Hud- son and Barrow streets, at which they appointed ® conference committee to confer with outside organizations. The meeting then adjourned to meet on Wednesday, October 22, Shortly after the adjournment the conference committee were waited upon by two delegations from the Apollo Hall Convention and a German democratic reform association, tor the paebeae of assisting them to carry the district. The committee agreed to holda meeting on next Tuesday evening, at the Univer- aS y Buvaing, for the purpose of conferring to- gether, SIXTH SENATORIAL DISTRIOT CONVENTION, The Sixth Senatorial District Convention met last night at Fortuna Hall, 250 Second avenue, but after some desultory discussion adjourned until ‘Tuesday next without making too nomination, The Convention appeared to be much split up as to the nominee. SEVENTH DISTRIOT SENATORIAL OONVEN- TION. The Tammany delegates to the Seventh Senato- ial district met last night at their hall, corner of Eighth avenue and Thirty-fourth street, for the purpose of organizing. A full representatton of the delegates was present. Mr, Daniel J. O'Connor Was moved to tue chair, and made a few remarks, Routine business was then transacted, and a Con- speeches were ference Committee was appointed to confer with other organizations and agree upon a choice, con- sisting of the following:—Michael pus eeeneey, from the Eleventh; Bryan Morgan, from the - teeuth; M. J. Power, from the Sixteenth, and Rufus Bodge, from the Eighteenth, The Oonven- tion then adjourned. . EIGHTH SENATORIAL DISTRIOT OONVEN- TION. The Eighth Senatorial District Convention met last night, with Thomas McCellar presiding. Every member of the Convention had either aspeech or a resolution, longer than himself, to deliver, and in reference to hearing them an adjournment was liken until Wednesday evening next, REPUBLIOAN STATE OOMMITTEE, The Republican State Committee has made its headquarters in parlorsI and K at the Fifth Ave- nue Hotel, and will hail from there for the remain- der of the campaign. BROOKLYN POLITICS, The Democratic Assembly Conventions. The Democratic Assembly conventions were held Jast night in the various Assembly districts, when the following nominations were made :— Dists, 1—James F. Donough. 2—Adjourned to Thurs- jay. s—Michael Coffee. 4—Tneo, N. Mulvin. Dists, 5—Adjourned to Monday. 6—John Raber, Fred. Kalbfeiseh. 9—John McGroarty. The Liberai City Convention. The Liberal City Convention met at Sawyer's Hall, Fulton street, corner of Jay, Brooklyn, last evening. Mr. Charles W. Godard presided, and on motion of ex-Assemblyman James R. Allaben the democratic nominee for Mayor, John W. Hunter, was unanimously endorsed by the Convention, The Liberal County Convention. The Liberal County Convention, composed of nearly the same set of delegates as composed the city, met immediately afterwards, Mr. J. W. Pickett, of the Sixth ward, presid The entire demo- cratic county ticket, With the exception of Justice of Sessions, was endorsed, and the Convention then adjourned, Every ward in the city was represented and considerable enthusiasm prevailed, KINGS OOUNTY ASSEMBLY NOMINATIONS, ‘The republicans of Kings county have completed their Assembly nominations, Frederick Cocheu, of the Thirteenth ward, was unanimously nominated for Assembly by the Seventh District Convention. Mr. Cocheu, who is President of the Grand Street and Newtown Railroad, has served one term in the Legislature, and was formerly a Deputy United States Marshal. In the latter capacity he renderea excellent service to the Revenue Department b; ferreting out lilicit whiskey stills in the Fifth ward. Inthe Eighth Assembly district George C. Ben- nett has been nominated for Assembly. Mr. Ben- Nett, who was an active member of the “liberal’’ repuolican party last year, represented his district in the House in 1871, NEW YORE STATE NOMINATIONS Krnaston, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1873, The republicans to-day nominated Henry 0, Con- noily, of Kingston, for State Senator in the Four- teenth district, and Robert A. Snyder, of Sanger- ties, for the Assembly in the First district of Ulster county. ¢ The democrats of the Second district have nom- inated John D. Winfleld for the Assembly. MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1873, The Republican Convention which met here to- day has renominated Senator Madden, BuFFALo, N, Y., Oct. 16, 1873, The Republican Convention of the Fignth Judi. lal district, aiter over thirty batlotings, with three candidates, nominated Hon. John L, Talcott, of Buffalo, Which nomination was aiterwards made unanimous, A NEW YORK CONVIOT TO BE HANGED, Avsury, N, Y., Oct. 16, 1873, Michael Donohue was sentenced this morning by Judge Rumsey to be hanged on the 10th day of De- cember next, for the murder of a fellow convict at Auburn State Prison on the 22d of May last, ~~ TES KILLED BY A PALL. John Cassidy, a man twenty-four years of age, died in Bellevue Hospital yesterday from the Hinchey are 2hSty Stee tt y at a fall while Ce over s An inquest will be held - WASHINGTON. The Samana Bay Company Asking for American Protection. OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE. Important Internal Reve- nue Decisions. Wasnrnaton, Oct. 16, 1873. The Samana Bay Jobbers Demanding the ‘Moral Support” of the Govern- ment. Fabens, the reticent St. Domingo diplomatist, Secretary of the Samana colony, and confidential adviser of the President and his Secretary on all matters pertaining to the epread of the American flag in West India waters, is here. Kindred spirits are also gathering under the protecting shadow of the White House. Dr. Howe is here, who, as one of the United States Commissioners, surveyed the island two years ago, O'Sullivan is here, In fact the roll cali of St, Domingo speculators, foreign and domestic, might be called, and a ready ‘Here!’ heard allalong the Ine, The restless spirit of the Dominicana, it is said, rebels against American encroachment, Fabens is Secretary of the Samana Bay Company, whieh holds a valuable franchise from President Baez, and hostility to the grant is anticipated. The revolt is led by a powerful rival of Baez, and threatens the Samana Bay Company, not only with destruction of their property, but with expulsion from their franchise. An appeal is to be made to the United Stutes for its “moral support,’? a8 the presence of war vessels was characterized during the debate in the Senate in 1870, and govern- ment protection is confidently relied upon. The State Department does not see how the ald can be extended diplomatically, for we have no Dominican Minister. The Navy Department cannot undertake to protect our citizens who invest in farms and plantations m foreign lands, unless Congress will increase the navy. Besides, since the St. Domingo job was first projected corner lots and whole squares of ground have so rapidly improved in Washington as to make it unnecessary to seek for fortunes in distant climes. ‘The influence which the St. Domingo speculators are relying upon has been concentrated in rows of three and four story brick dwellings in fashtonabie parts of Washington, so that dividends from the banana.crop, the yield of the copper mines, or the product of the green pea patches in and about Samana have no longer any attraction for the extraordinary plenipotentiary who first proposed annexation to Baez. The Import and Export Trade of the United States, 1872 and 1873, The following is a synopsis of montbly report No, 12 of the Bureau of Statistics, which is now in press. It contains the statistics of cur foreign trade for the months ended June 30, 1873, and the twelve months ended the same, as compared with the corresponding periods of 1872:— Fite Apes To Ex Periods. Papert, yates porte Month ending June 30, 1873 $49,314,797 $46,215,053 $3,149,101 Y Month e1 80, 1872 82,18Q527 42,519,444 1, 906,562 Twelve m - ing June 30, 1873.. 63,410,007 578,988,035 28,148,481 Twelve monthisend- ing June 80, 1872.. 64,333,768 501,285,871 22,769,749 The amounts of the toregoing, which consisted of specie and bullion and of merchandise, respec- tively, during the twelve months ended June 30, 1873 and 1872 were as follows :— pore ede Foreign Ex- REM Anam Imports, 7?” “Fatues. "ports. pecie al My 187: ses ene 73,905,546 $10,708,028 Merchandiser idi.. tainues Sess tse 17,445,453 7,700,904 IS Roles odities remaining in the warehouses of the United States June 30, 1873, Was $77,046,679, as compared with $122,211,206 June 30, 1872, Making allowance for the difference in the warehouse accounts the imports for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1873, are in excess of the domestic and foreign exports combined, in the sum of $100,887,818; while for the same period of 1872 the exeess of imports over exports was only $62,397,039. The values of the imports and exports carried in American and foreign vessels and in carsand other land vebicles respectively during the twelve months ended June 30, 1873 and 1872 were a8 follows i— Ex Diced Foreign Import. Values. ‘Exports, 5 Senn $174.536,456 $103,110,634 $9,455,096 Foreign vessels, i813 471,803,595 478,236,854 16,679,032 Land vehicles, 1873 17,070,043 7,780 —_8,014,305 Auerican vessels, 1872 - 177,286,302 161,819,860 6,722,402 416,783 $81,620,692 12,311,355, 17,088,681 «6,279,187 po A comparison of the above table shows that dur- ing the year ended June 30, 1873, more than seventy-three per cent of the total trade by water was in foreign vessels; and for the corresponding period of 1872 the value of articles carried in for- eign vessels was about seventy-six per cent. As some four or five months will elapse before the annual report on commerce and navigation for 1873 {8 printed and bound it is the intention to farnish further details relative to our foreign trade from the advance sheets of monthly report No. 12. Important Internal Revenue Decision Affecting Patent Medicine Venders, Upon @ question as to whether certain medi- cines, the packages of which are encased in a wrap- per, the directions upon which are alleged to have been copied verbatim from a work claimed to be a dispensatory, now and hitherto in common use among physicians and apothecaries, and not sold under any other guise, are liable to tax under schedule ©, it is held by the Internal Revenue OMce that if medi- cine 18 put up in retail packages—packages that are intended to be sold directly to consumers— accompanied, each package, with this wrapper, that the style of putting up is similar to that of putting up patent or proprietary medicines in gen- eral, and, therefore, they are liable to the stamp tax. The Commissioner further says that where the medicine is accompanied with all the direc- tions as to the time when and the manner in which the article is to be taken, and the article is put up by the maker, manufactarer or compounder with @ view of giving such specific diréctions directly to the patient, no matter from what sources such directions and such infermation are obtained—from the experience and observation of & physician, from{medical books or otherwise—the style is the same and it is similar to the style which the makers and venders of patent medicines adopt, as witness the thousands of such articles in the market, and the labels, handbills and wrapper which accompany them, The American and Mexican Claims Com. mission having named Sir Edward Thornton to act as umpire, he has accepted the nomination, provided his government will consent to his acting in that capacity, which consent he has asked. Meanwhile the Commissioners are engaged in the examination of cases for adjudicatio: The Railroads and the Mails, A table, in course of preparation for the annual report of the Postmaster General, shows that by the recent readjustment of the pay on railroad routes for the year ending September 30, 1873, the amount of annual compensation to all ratiroad companies has been increased $228,823, being now $1,015,508 per annum, The readjustment is made on fifty-seven ratiroad routes, Six hundred dit ferent railroad companies receive pay for carrying the mails, The aggregate length of the Jelroad service in the United States is now nearly’ 68,000 fuiles, and i8 increasing at the rate of over 5,000 Intles per annum, °° The Tax on Spirits and Tobacco. Numerous telegrams have been received by Com- Missioner Douglass from distiliers, asking, as a matter of relief, that the tax be not collected on such spirits as remained in warehouse for one year; but the Commissioner has no authority to postpone its collection, ag the law reauires the tax to be paid at tne ena of the year or atotner times as 16 Is withdrawn for the market. The same rule applies to tobacco im bonded warehouses, The Internal Revenue office is now conducted at an expense oF $2,000,000 per yeas lees than under former laws. Tne Commissioner i# sxtisfied with the law as it is, and therefore will make no important recom- mendation to Congress concerning it, The Export Stamp Section of the Inter- mal Revenue Laws, The Attorney General hav received a letter from the United States Attorney in the Eastern district of Virginia, stating that the Circuit Court of that district had decided in favor of the constitution- ality of the export stamp section of the Internal Revenue laws of 1868 and 1872. He further said that the case upon which this decision was made will probably come up in the United States Su- preme Court. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The annual report of Superintendent McCartee, of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the Treasury Department, has just been made to Sec- retary Richardson. It states that the Bureau has delivered during the year completed and perfect bonds, notes and other securities amounting to $580,244,300, and 224,440,745 customs and internal revenue stamps, amounting to $131,694,472, besides sundry other work for the various bureaux of the Treasury and other departments of the government, All this work has been accomplished without the loss of a note or stamp, or a sheet of paper or any portion thereof. The attempts at imitating the government special or localized fibre paper have beep unsuccessful thus far, CASHIER PHELPS' TRIAL, Arguments on the $15,000 Draft at the Police Court Examination—“The Vice tim of Unfortunate Circumstances.” ALBANY, N.Y., Oct. 16, 1873. Charles H. Phelps, the defaulting cashier of the State Treasury, was brought from jail to the Police Court to-day for examination. His manner was nervous and downcast. Mr. A. Chapman, of New York, one of his counsel, appeared in Court with him. To the inquiry if he was ready to go on with the examination Phelps responded in the afirma- tive. District Attorney Moak informed the Court that the draft aileged to have been stolen had not been secured yet, and asked a postponement to some future day. Mr. Chapman responded that the defendant was here ready to answer the charge against him and could in fifteen minutes show is innocence, Justice McNamarra said the District Attorney, if making tbe application in good faith, should have the opportunity to secure this important testimony, ‘The District Attorney said he wanted fo show that the draft had defendant's signature. If he could do that the fact of tne grand larceny would be es- tablished. Mr, Chapman replied that the draft would prop- ilar his signature, as all such drafts did. . Chapman suggested that Mr. Raines, the State Treasurer, who was present, should take the stand. He desired to ask him ‘a tew questions, after which it would readily be seen that the charge of stealing the $15,000 draft could not be sustained, His client, he said, was the victim of unfortunate circumstances, but he was mot guilty of the ofence here charged against him. He spoke in this vein at some length, extolling the defend- ant’s character, and insisted that the defence was entitled to the proof that crime was compnitted or else a discharge trom custody, Mr. Moak replied, saying it would be shown that the defendant had passed under two or three fictitious names within the past six months, In this city he gave a check for a horse he had purchased under another name than his own. Althougt nomi- nally a clerk, if it were shown that he entertained the intent when he obtained the paper to stealit he was guilty of grand larceny. He (Mr. Moak) desired the paper in question to show that when he obtained it he intended to commit a felony. ‘After further colloquy the case was postponed until Satnrday, and Phelps was remanded to jail. Upon the application of the State Treasurer Governor Dix has requested the expert and reliable accountant, Mr. Warren, of New York, to make an examination of the books of the Treasurer's OMice, with the view of ferreting out the extent of the thefts, The State Treasurer has been ia communi- cation with the various nty treasurers {or sev~ eral days, and is accumulating the draits forwarded yy them. He will soon be able to trace every dol- lar of the money. IRISH CONVENTION AT ST. LOUIS. Sr. Lovis, Oct. 16, 1873. The Irish Convention met soon after noon to-day. Several amendments to the constitution were offered, the most important of which was one to establish an Emigration Bureau in New York, with @ branch in each State, the secretary of the union to reside in New York and superintend the buat, ness of the bureau, After considerable discussion the matter was reierred to the Committee on Immi- gration. The Convention this afternoon went into Com- mittee of the Whole on the immigration question, and there was a very general opinion expressed in ten-minute speeches, Mr. Hogan, of Missouri, believed the best way to inaugurate the movement for the benefit of Irish immigrants was through the Irish Catholic Benevo- lent Union, and that that union should devise & plan of operation which would meet the great need they were considering. He vividly pictured the condition of the emigrant In New York and other large cittes in his struggle for a@ bare subsistence, and advo- cated the establishment of a bureau through which the newly-arrived Irishmen and also those who had been in the country some time could be helped to cheap lands in the West, upon which they could make prosperous and happy homes for themselves, and take maintain rank among the best citizens of the nation. Mr. BUTLER, of Kansas, proposed that informa- tion regarding the soil, climate, &c., of the Western States should be collected and printed for distribu. tion to the Irish in Ireiand and to those already here, and that means be provided to assist them 1n obtaining lands and homes of their own. Judge DwykrR, of Dayton, Ohio, proposed a standing committee of five ‘on immigration, to whom all matters touching immigration shall be referred, and who shall have full centrol of the Matter; obtain from all available sources in the Western States, particularly those through which great lines of railroads run, all information relating to the climate, productions, general re- sources of the country, price oi land, &c., and pub- lish it in available form for distribution. Also con- sult railroads and ocean steamship companics regarding passenger and freight rates, Make best for transportation, &c. He _ further proposed that imm ts should be under the ey of the Union during transit from the seaboard to the point of reagan and that the seal of protection of the Union shoul be placed around every person under its charge, and any imposition or ill-treatment practised any company upon immigrants pany should be followed by the instant withdrawal of patronage. Mr. McDonovGH, of Missouri, said:—It is not the Irish in Ireland who most need the aid of this union, but those already in America living in the streets of the great cities, those who are employed on railroads, canals, public and private works, and who are abused, insulted, degraded, and in mavy metances treated like dogs by thoge over them. He favored some plan by which the condition of these [yin could be bettered, and by which they could be assisted in obtaining Iand and placed in & position where they could become independent and useful citizens. Judge Daxy, of St. Lonis, also pictured the sad. condition of large numbers of the Irish in cities, and said the great need was some plan to provide means by which they could be induced to leave the great centres of the en adopt agricultu- ral pursuits. He favored incorporation under the State law of Irish societies in different cities, raising funds by contribution or assessment for the purchase of cheap lands in the West, the building of houses, and providing the necessary means to start the ily in their efforts to make homes for themselves, Mr, HaGGgRTY, of Indiana, advocated the forma- tion of stock com es on a plan similar to the building sssociations in different parts of the coun- wy, which would furnish money for the purchase of lands, buildin, of houses, partially stocking of farms, for which moderate interest would be ae @ mortgage on the land being taken for Messrs. Whiting, of Philadelphia, Gleanon and O’Connor, of Virginia, and beveral others expressed views similiar to those above mentioned. Alter the consideration of several unimportant Matters @ resolution was adopted for the comumit- tee to wait on His Grace Archbishop Kenrick and Bishop Ryan, offering them the homage of the Con- vention and asking their blessing upon the pro- ceedings of she meeting, alter which the» Conven- lon yurnéd, ~~ DELTA KAPPA EPBILON, Viston, Pa., Oct. 16, 1678, ‘The twenty-seventh annual Convention of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity has been in session here during the last two days. Three sessions r don Wednesday snd anotner session this Morting, To-night a ‘pablic entertainment will take place, Whitelaw Reid arrived here Fea ts day and will preside at the entertainmen' Mr. Wayne McVeagh will deliver the oration. 8 Unveiling a Beautiful Monument at Poughkeepsie. AN ORATION ON FIRE, The Entries and Programme of Prizes for To-Day. POUGHKEEPSIB, Oct. 16, 1875, The city is fast filling np with firemen strangers from abroad to participate in the two, days’ fremanic gathering. The exercises to-dayt consisted chiefly of a parade of the Poughkeepsie’ Fire Department and the unveiling of the Fit 1 men’s Monument at the Cemetery, All the come panies assembled in Market street at one o’cloc! P. M., and, with bands of music, marched to t! cemetery, followed by thousands of people. Upem the arrival at the spot where the monumen' stands, the solemn exercises were opened with’ prayer by Rev. J, 0. Beecher, when Mayor Eastd man made 4 brief address and drew the veil frons} the monument. Hon, B. Platt Carpenter was then introduced and delivered the oration as follows =« « MR. CARPENTERS ORATION, ' Guntiewen oF ax Fine Derarraxxt—The monument unveiled to-day is dedicated to the memory of you pax decessors and former associates who have sed ro } earth. It beara tomremony. to the nol ot living that the I{ving honor the worthy dead, adaring ‘the’ rock, it ll stand at all times a connecting link be- tweem the past and th are, ou the services, the sacrife iT roism of these who have returned to dust, and ingpii 16 iz you t even nobler eforts with its assurance that your liv shall not be forgotten. The propria: of its érection obvious, In all the records of philanthropy there can bet found no public benefactor who yields so much time and experiences so much toll unrécompe: as the fi man—none entitled to honor or heartier gratitude than! he. The soldier, batthng for a nation’s dignity or| the retensions of a dynast, ma: be =m celebrated in song of ma rity the historic page by the brilllancy of individual daring. More irequentlys; _ however, his powers are exerted tor uc roteetion of mankind, The soldier achieves rough carnage aud desolation, bat whene| ism is displayed for liberty and: the. eleva. 8, entitled oI t distinefion tl ever his hero: Ay tion of mankind he is, perhaps, en: the highest appellation in the catalogue of human honors. Yet often is war oppressive and unjustifiable and so often} the valor of the soldier exhibited’ for tyranny and -oppreasion’ that the world’s greater debt ap« ars to be due to the fireman, In war one of the con- sting parties must necessarily be at fault, and the that follow must result from haman infirmity or human depravity. The fireman wages not warfare against his’ race—none against property—but with his name is’ associated the Idea of vigilance, alacrity and protection, {eis his province to protect iif and property, against: the rayages of the fiercest element, and he never ceuaes from duty—never from what ht ag 18 The public man who An unequal contest ce of an angry God. 8 and engraits upon the laws of his country some measure of progress or amelioration, reaching be- yond the comprehension of ordinary mortals, is worthy} ot high rank in the list of benefactors; we term him. the statesman. ‘ ‘Within a short time, in our own land, we have seen the; Queen City of the West laid in ashes, and tnat weal:h. city of the East, almost the first the morning sun shit upon, severely crippled by fire. Even the best organ: ized Fire Department cannot always subdue the flame that is borne upon the hurricane. In our own city sleep! would hardly be disturbed by threat of invasion,; and the abproace of pestilence would cause oDl; Greater care in diet, but when at midnight the peals of, the fire bell first vibrate through the alr every inhabi- tant springs in terror trom his bed, and before he knows. in which direction to look tor danger he hears the = man’s raliying cry and the engine at play upon the flames. His instinctive terror is instantly dispelled, and, With "a (confidence in you. which “he ‘would not’ repose in himself, he anks God that we are Dlcssed with @ prompt, vigorous and, trustworthy: Fire Department, Atsuch times your merits are appre- ciated, and a (eb, regards its protectors with becom gratitude and affection. That feeling is not dormant ai other times, and if aroused to proper activity the reward of the imithiul fireman would not be limited to the con- sciousness of duty performed, but the substantial prefer- ments of lie would le within easier grasp, while fame Je yar be more accessible through avenue of his calling. ‘Guxtzewns—You are voluntarily charged wtth the most important duty that can devolve upon men. Through your own conduct you can attain nest measure of popular respect, as already you have earned ep Which you have taken to yourselves and of abil Heres ie kipoe oa Pele A to-day is equa! one of res Honey to Your vocauon. “You have erected. a ‘monte Inent that shall ‘commemorate not ouly the vires ot the departed, but also your own. It is, therefore, @ solemn, but nevertheless a pleasant duty, that we now Berturm, Though not ous of its purposes. that monument, 49 bealititul in design aud so perfect in execution, long fF ebow garth SeNcept thnk their period, SF GRO meatuwor. ir per! the f°RUt' be characterized by modern illustrations, it Spears to. have been carved with the practical chisel of & Phidias or @ Praxiteles. You have capped it with a that almost breathes. ou have embossed it with symbols indicate plainer than words the purpose, of ite erection. | You ave inscribed upon it a motto, “Duty on sb, Reward In heaven,” which tescies alike to the high estimate which you had formed of the character of your deceased rethren, and to Chant own determination, through faith aud fidelity, to choose that goo! part which shall not be tuken ‘away 2 le monument, tombs in adorning 0. many and signitys union % death, shail tead to effect among the ere I living as compiete unit; as th already of purpose. Ifjealousy has existed, it shall be succeeded by Iaudable emulation—if emmity has ever been provoked, it should continue no longer. Working together in the pursuits and aspirations of life with the same zeal that you eviuce in protecting the property of a city, you cannot fail of @ success commensurate with your merits. Butthe simple act ot this day's devotion 48 more inspiring than words. Another addition hag been made to the sacred treasures of this enclosure. A charm has been given to the sepulchre through your work of honor and picty. Upon your bei titul offering is inscribed a volume of history which cen- tunes hence shall be consulted ‘or a more accurate Knowledge of the customs of our time. Above all you je a valuable contribution to the sympathy and affection of the age. Surely this must be to you an bour of pride, as in the solemnity of the scene you witness the complete dedication of the monument to ihe memory of the volunteer fremen of Poughseepsie, and feel, in com- amnuning with the hearts of those about you, that the ser- vices and virtues of the Dreman are appreciated and name duly honored. At the close of Mr. Carpenter's address the pro« cession filed slowly out of tle city of the dead and marched back to Market street, where it was dis- missed. THE MONUMENT, The monument is a beautiful piece of workman+ ship. The base is of Quincy granite, five feet six inches square, and upon it is @ base of Italian marbie, of which material the entire monument is made, This base of Itulian marble is four feet square, and upon it in bas-relief is the inscrip- AOR LE NOON IERE TEDL TE bb TELE: DUTY ON EARTH, REWARD IN HEAVE! ONION IE COIO REEDED POLETERE DEDEDE DOLE ODOD: The die is upwards of three feet square, restin; on the marble base, and is most elaborately carved. On the south face is a steam fire engine, on the east the time-honored hand engine, ou the north a hose carriage and on the west a hook and ladder. truck. They are allcutin high relief, and to the firemen at least are a very attractive feature ofthe monument, Next above the die is a plinth, and upon this is the si five feet six inches im height and two feet two inches square. The front of the shaft is ornamented with a shield, the form and details of which are similar to the sri he e ine nished to the Fire Department by the city. scription upon the shait is as jollows:— ALONE POLO EOLON DOL IE LOLS: ERECTED BY THE V NTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, 1873, APACE LEOE NEE APEDDELO DELILE DE EEDOLE DO EOOONE EOE The inscription is tastetully a! aneed and artis! cally executed, around a fire hat and trumpet, A projecting cap, two feet six inches aare, com- pietes the monument, upon which stands the statue of a fireman six feet in height, in full fireman’s dress, with trumpet regting on his right arm and in his left hand, which hangs listi by his side, is hia hat. He stands as mourner among the graves about him, with bared head bowed and with @ sad expression of countenance. The entire height of the monument ts twenty feet. At three o’clock this alternoon the steamboat Nuhpa, of Hudson, arrived here, having on board Hoysdrat Steamer Company, No. 8, and Evans Hook and Ladder Company, with bands, all of Hudson, The Gloversville Band and Colt’s Band, of Hartford, have also arrived, To-morrow is the grand tournament day. Tho first prize is $300, for steamers, and the second rize, $160. The first prize for hand engines is 250, and the second prize, $150, ‘he prize for hose companies is $150. No engine will be allowed to compete for a unless belonging ta a rej ‘ly organized company. In the trial of mers each machine to draw its own water and play a horizontal stream through 200 feet of hose, using suctr nozzle as each company may direct. Hand e es are also to draw their own water and play @ orl= zontal stream through 200 feet of hose. Hose companies wiil ran feet, make connection with. hydrant and lay 300 feet of hose. follews Hoyadi at ateamer Ro, 8, of Hud. are as t—Hoysdrat 61 . a “sy Com any, No. 1, of Hyde Park ; Pocahon- 0, 1, of Rhinebeck ; ixcelitor, Bt 4, of ston; Columbia, No, 1, ‘of Peekskill; Stamford, No. 4,, Of Schenectady } Hudson River, No. 1, of Coxsackie ¢ Washington, 6. of Hudson; Excelsior Hose, Hose, of Coxsackie; Hose \da in the grand morrow. The contest for the will take he march will consume One hour's time. An im- ete DEATH OF OLOUD, THE OARSMAN, Philadelphia some three months since to row to above Plaquemine. was is boat in an almost exhausved “ SH Kingston; Cornell of Rondout; Ever Beads of Hote enelay Cota mbia Hose, . 1 eeeekeKil} Stanford Hose, of Schenectady. ‘There will be ten ban ‘Eastman Park, commencing at noon. The: place at iiwill move at eleven o'clock A. M., and mense concourse of people is expected from abroad. Naw Orteans, La., Oct. 16, 1873. * Joseph C. Cloud, the oarsman who started from this city by canais and rivers, died on Tuesday, jast, five miles Cloud ! sour te he Ocep ae Gee next genauiion shows that he had been safferi thw termed “heavy shakes” for route eanre before ip