The New York Herald Newspaper, January 27, 1874, Page 5

CONGRESS.| Senatorial Ire Over the Imputa- tion of Extravaganee, PINCHBACK’S UNCERTAIN SEAT Louisiana Affairs as Viewed from Both Sides. BILL DAY IN THE HOUSE. Mr. Orth Presents the Indiana Plan for Financial Relief. SENATE, WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 1874 PETITIONS PRESENTED, The Cnarm laid before the Senate a petition of the Importers and Grocers’ Board of Trade of New York, suggesting various amendments to the cus- toms Jaws. Referred to the Committee on Finance, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, (rep.) of N. J., presented a petition trom Dr. David Maury, Horace Capron and other American citizens residing in Japan, praying the United States to remit the balance o! the Japanese indemnity fund, to be used as an eduoa- tional tund. Referred to the Committee on For- eign Relations. Mr. CONKLING, (rep.) Of N. Y., presented a petition of Seth Green for certuin moneys due him under | the treaty between the United States and Vene- zuela. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, Mr. MorrIL1, (rep.) of Me., presented resolutions of the Portland (Me.) Board of ‘Trade asking fora modification of the Bankrupt law, which was laid on the table. Mr, BOREMAN, (rep.) of W. Va., presented a peti- tion from citizens of his State in regard to the bridge across the Ohio River at Steubenville being in bad condition and oostructing navigation. Re- + Serred to the Committee on Transportation Routes, PENSIONS FOR MEXICAN VETERANS, Mr, LoGan, (rep.) of Ill, introduced a bill grant- {ng pensions to the survivors of.the war of 1846-47- 48 with Mexico. Relerred to the Committee on Pensions. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, Mr. BoGy, (dem.) of Mo., from the Committee on Public Lands, reported favorably on the House bill to confirm certain land titles in the State of Mis- sourl Passed. Mr. EDMUNDS, (rep.) of Vt., trom the Judiciary Committee, reported further amendments to the Bankrupt law, Orderea to be printed and laid on the table, Mr. ANTHONY, (rep.) of R. I, from the Printing Committee, reported uniavorably on tiie motion to Print the petition making charges aguinst the gov- ernment im the District oi Columbia.” ke said the Memorial made various Churges against public Officers, but no proof to sustuin them had been submitted. it had not been the custom of the Senate to print memorials, aud he saw no reason why an exception should be made in this case. Mr. THURMAN, (dem.) Of Ohio, said that at the proper time he would subi to the Senate a proposition to appoint a committee to investigate, ag the petitioner's asked, and would present their proof to sustain toe charges. The conimittee were discharged from further consideration of the motion to print, and tie memorial was laid on the table. SENATORIAL EXTRAVAGANCE. Mr. MorRILL, (rep.) of Vt.. introduced a resolu- tion instructing the Committee on the Contingent Expenses oi the Senate to consider the expediency of exciuding from the stationery room ol the Sen- ate all articles except paper, pens, envelopes, ink, pencils and mucilage. Mr. MORRILL said the charge of extravagance in the matier of stationery iurnished Senators had been spread throughout the land, and when he ound that charge endorsed by such a respectable paper as the Boston Advertiser he thought it was time to take some notice of it. Every Seuator Knew these charges of iraud were untrue. The Btationery and newspapers received by senators came out of the allowance of $125 per annum to each Senator jor that purpose. He read from the Advertiser that gold toothpicks, wedding envel- Opes, card cases, &c., had been iurnished to Sena- tors, and said he supposed that Senators could get what they pleased out of thetr aliowance, but could in no case exceed the sum of $125, fixed by Statute, Again, it was not taken into considera- tion that the entire Senate Wing of the Capitol, office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Secretary and en- grossing clerks were supplied from the stationery room. ‘The whole (rant had been lumped together and divided by the number of Senators, the amount thus ascertained being t iorth as thé quantity recetved by each Senator. ‘or instance, it had been inquirec what Senators did with eighty-two pounds of sponge, when it ‘was well known that this sponge was used for cleaning the floors and marbie steps around the Capito. It had been turtoer charged that Senators were iurnished with car tickets. All knew how untrue that was. He thought it best to crush this fruitful source of scandal, and have the stationery Toom supplied only with necessary articles, Mr. MORRILL, of Maine, said lie had never re- ceived any of these fancy goods, and he did not propose to give up his regular allowance of station- ery on account Of false charges, . MORRILL, Of Vermont, thought it best to have the stationery room so conducted that there would be no room for these charges. Mr. MORRILL, Of Maine, said his triend from Ver- mont, by his argument, was giving force to the theory that this st.te of things did exist. Mr. Howe, (rep.) of Wis., said it Would be impos- sible to have the stationery room or any other room about the Capitol so conaucted that it would not be lied about. Would the Senator from Ver- Mont guarantee that the stationery room, even it conducted as he proposed, would not be lied about? Mr. HaMLIy, (rep.) of Me., referred to the fact that each Senator was aliowed $125 per annum, by law, tor stationery aud newspapers, vut a Senator could decline those articles and take the money if he desired to, He liad never done so, but if he Chose to do so it would be nobody’s business, The resolution was agreed to. CONDUCT OF DEBATE. Mr. MorRRILL, of Vermont, submiitea a resolution instructing the Committee on Rules to inquire into the expediency of reporting an additional Tule, declaring that it suould not be im order tor any Senator to be interrupied while speaking, ex- cept ior the correction of an erroneous statement Ol act or. when called to, order. Reierred to the Comuittee on Rules, - BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. BUCKINGHAM, (rep.) of Conn., introduced a bill to secure to the Episcopal Mission Board cer- tain Indian lands in Minnesota, » Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. MITCHELL, (rep.) of Oregon, introduced a bili to create an additional land district in Oregon. Relerred to the Committee on Pubitc Lands, PACIFIC RAILROAD REPORTS. Mr. Hircuocock, (rep.) of Neb., introduced 9 Fesolution directing the Secretary of the Incerior ‘to furnish the Senate with copies of the reporis of the government directors of the Union Pacifio Railroad jor the years of 1872 and 1873. ‘the reso- @ution was agreed to. WILMINGTON HARBOR. Mr. BAYARD, (dem.) of DeL, _ neuron a petition from the Wimington Board of Trade asking for the improvement of the harbor of Wilmington, Del. Referred to the Committee on Commerce. FOREIGN COINAGE BILL PASSED, The House bill granting authority for coinage to ee executed at the mints of the United States ior doreign countries was taken up and passed, AN OFFICE ABOLISHED. Algo the House bill to abolish the omice of First Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue. AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKRUPTCY BILL. The additional amendments recammended by ahe Judiciary Committee to the Bankruptcy bill re. late mostly to matters of detail involved in th amendments already reported. The following, bowever, are new and important First—An amendment providing that in cases of voluntary bankruptcy no discharge shall be Granted to adcbtor whose assets shall not be equal to thirty-three per centum of! the claims roved against his estate, upon waich he shall be Rabie ‘as principal debtor, without the assent of bis creditors in number and value as prescribed by the existing law. This repeals the provisien =m now requires fifty per centum of such as- Bel Second—An amendment providing that in com- puting the number of creditors who shall join in a forage to have a debtor adjudged Lert es cred- ‘lors Whose respective debts do not exceed $250 shall not be reckoned as part of the requisite pro- Portion of one-lourth of all the creditors. Bat if there be no creditors whose debts exceed the said sum of $250, or if the requisite number of creditors holding debts exceeding $260 fail to sign the peti- tion, the creditors having debts of a less amount #hall be reckoned tor the purposes atoresald, THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL. Mr. Logan's bill provides that @ pension of $8 per (mouth shall be-given to each honorably discharged Rurviving officer and -enlisted man, including muitia volunteers o1 the military apd naval ser- Mena Rad Eoie tee ae one in the war with Mex. lov, and w le surviving unmarried of such officers and soldiers, ¥ “ied oneal Bile were introduced as follows:. By Mr. STEWART, (rep.) of Nevada—To provide companies in ‘erricories Of the United St being the General Incorporation Login parked bill thi <i to May, 1872, trow tha penate Gonlinisteo bn Rallroaas, and subsequently amended and re- rtea by the Senate Committee on Public Lands Rise year. Referred to the Committee on Railroads, ‘Also by Mr. STBWART—A bill relating to public Jands in Nevada. It proposes to accept the propo, sition of the Legislature of Nevada to relinquish the right of the State to the sixteenth and thirty- sixta sections, under the School Land act, pro- vided the United states nt to Nevada, in lieu thereof, 1,000,000 acres of public lands, to be here- alter selected, for school purposes, Reterred wo) the Committee on Public Lands, | By Mr. SARGENT, (rep.) Of Cal.—To forfeit to the | United States the lands granted but not patented to the Placerviile and Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, the grant having expired by limitation. Reterred to the Committee on Public Lands, PINCHBACK’S SEAT. The morning hour having expired Mr. Morton, of Indiana, was recognized by the Chair. Mr. McoCreery, of Kentucky, raised the point of order that he was entitled to the Moor to address the Senate on Louisiana afairs. ‘The CHAIR overruled the point of order, Mr. MORTON moved that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the resolution in regard to sealing Mr, Pinchback as Senator trom Louisiana. Mr. STEVENSON, (dem.) Of Ky., raised the ques- tion of order that when the Louisiana matter was last before the Senate bis coHeague (Mr. McCreery) Was entitled to the floor to address the Senate on that subject. He did not see how he could be de- prived of the floor now, ‘The CHaik overruled the point of order on the pane that the Senate did not adjourn while the uisiana resolution Was pending. Had the Sen- ate adjourned while tt was pending, the Senator trom Kentucky (Mr. McCreery) would now be en- tutied to the floor, : Mr. HAMLIN, of Maine, offered an amendment to the motion whick the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Morton) a lew days avo gave notice he would Make, to the effect that Mr. P. B, Pinchback be allowed to take his seat bn the Senate, upon taking the necessary oath, and that the Committee on Privileges and Ejections subsequently consider the grounds upon which 018 seat 1s contested and re- port to the Senate. ‘The Chair ruled the motion oat of order, the mo- tion of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Morton) being to recommit, and therefore was entitled to precedence. Mr. MORTON said he had not yet formally enterea his motion, but had oniy given notice that he would do so. ‘The CHAIR then ruled the amendment in order. Mr Morton then reviewed his argument ol a few days ago as to the validity o1 the Keliogy gov- ernment, and the legality of the Legislature elect- ing Mr. Pinchback, and the federal government being bound by the decision of a state tribunal on @ question Of State law or of the State constitu- tion. Ifthe government of the Unites States as- sumed the rignt to go behind the decision of a Stace tribunal on such & question there was an end of State government, Siuce that argument he said he had received information charging Mr. Pinchback with procuring bis election and of conduct in con- nection with his election which, if true, remdered it improper jor him (Mr. Pinchback) to have a seat on tis floor, He (Mr. Morton), having a due re- ard ior his duty as @ Senator, did not teel at iberty to withhold that iniormation trom the Senate. Had he withheld it tt would have been an assumption on his part that Mr. Pinchback should. first be seated and that the vestigation should be made aiterwards, He thought it his duty to vring the information before the Senate, and iet the ques- tion devolve upon the senate whether Mr. Pinch- back should be first seated and then invesiigated, or whether the investigation should be made first. He, therefore, moved that the credentiais of Mr. Pinchback be recommitted to the Committee on Privileges and Elections, and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and be Instructed to investigate as to the couduct of said Pinchback in connection with said evection, Mr. CARPENTER, (rep.) Of Wis., (Mr. Thuriwan in the chair) said he desired to submit sume remarks | on the Louisiana question. It would be impossible jor hum to do so to-day oa account of a severe cold, He therefore hoped that alter the gentleman irom Kentucky (Mr. McCreery) closed, the question would be deferred till Wednesday in order that he might address the senate, Mr. MOOREERY, Of Kentucky, said all were equally interested in the perpetuity 01 our republican tusti- tutions, and where houesty was the Pareoae it was not the policy Oi one party to apply harsh epithets vo its adversaries, D0 Matter how much their opin- ions might be condemned, He knew he would be upable to do justice to this important subject or meet the expectations of Senators. In these days of barefaced impudence it was jeariul to contem- plate the condition of affairs in Louisiana, When tae trouble first Originated in that State the Senate of the United States had re- sponded to the general alarm by instructing one o! its ablest committees to inquire into tne State government tnere, whom constituted, &c. That committee had worked faituully, and a mass of testimony was collected which threw light upon the subject; but now, when the time comes fur its use (producing the volume of testymony), the Chairinan tells us it is useless, He (Mr. McCreery) could find nothing in history, without going back some 2,000 years, to equal the humility of the gen- tleman. ‘ihe contents o! that volume oi testimony should be upon ihe memory of every Senator here, as it showed the true condition of anairs in Louisi- ana. He argued that it was too late now to talk about a prima sacie case alter the proof had been heard. The evidence had _ been taken, and would satisfy the minds of Senators of the existence or non-existence Of @ legal State government in Louisiana. He thought that there ever was a case analogous to the present one on the American Continent or anywhere under the sun. IfMr, Kellogg had received @ majority of the votes he was Governor of Louisiana; but if he had received a miuority, and had been seated in his ottice by @ tederal judge, backed by the army of the United States, then he was ao intruder and had no rignt to be there. The Senator from Indiana Mr. Morton) had paid a glowing tribute to tue ellogg government; but he (Mr. McUreery), never having had bis attention called to the exceliency of the institution, Was taken by surprise. He thought it an instance of defence in advance of the attack, Those enamored with the Kellogg ad- ministration lived jarthest irom its infinence. elites on the floor and in the galleries.) gain, the Senator 4(Mr. Morton) had spoken of the decision of the Court beng final. None knew better than the Senator himself that it was essential that the Court should have jurisdiction. He reviewed the testimony taken last winter at some length, and the work of seating Mr. Kennard on the Supreme Bench of the State so hurriedly, which he said reminded him of the old Indian running the gauntlet, with a lick and a kick atevery step. He argued that the su- preme Court of Luuisiana had expressed itsell fa- vorable to the Kellogg government betore it was called upon to decide, as it was true, as James F, Casey, the Collector of the Port, iniormed the Pre- sident, that the Supreme Court was known to be in sympathy with tne republican State govern- ment. He would not have attempted to mislead the President, and this jact showed that the Kellogg government was recognized by the Court before it was a government. The Senator from Indiana attempted to supporv his case by argumeut. He (Mr. McCreery) would attempt to overthrow it by facts. If he fell in this cause it would be for the sacred rights of a down- trodden and oppressed peopie, who would remem- ber with gratitude the leebie efforts of himself in their behalf, He contended that the Fifteenth amendment to the constitution had been violated in the Louisiana election. He did not desire to in- voke support nor to provoke opposition, but there Was @ sentiment Oo! demoralization im the popu.ar mind now. Confidence had given piace to distrust. ‘The arm oi industry had been paralyzed and _ society was shaken to its very foundation. Among scenes like these the peopie would be inspired anew to see the Senate of the United States rising up above party prejudices. Here was an opportunity pre- sented of meeting the views of those inclined to right. The examination and cross-examination of Witnesses bejore the committee has laid the lacts belore the Senate. To give some idea o1 the search- ing Character oO! that Investigation he would men- tion that the chairman asked the Hon. Samuel Armstead if he could read and write, aud that juestion was in view of the fact that Mr, rmstead had received @ considerable num- ber of the votes cast jor Secretary of State of Louisiana, That was a nice question to ask an eminent divine and Christian politician. (Laugater on the floor and in the galleries). Had @ federal Court exclusive power over ali questions belonging to the State? By the law of May 23, 1870, the right to institute suit ina federal Circuit or District Court had been given, providing tne ques- tion was one of denial of the right to vote on ac- count of race, color or previous condition of servi- tude. The denial Oi suffrage to the biack man would defeat an election, but @ denial of the same fright to the white man wouid lead to no such cousequences. (Sepsation.) Tne campaign 01 1870 in Louisiana opened auspiciously for those making efforts to overthrow the repuvii- can party in Louisiana, They were encouraged to stana up to save their homes, their altars and their firesides from the carpet-bag beggars who. were driving commerce and prosperity irom tneir doors, ‘bhe republican party Was inflamed vy dissension, They bad two conventions and two tickets, and deicat was inevitable. The United States Marshal for the Siate chartered a steamboat, and, after taking on board several barrels ol whiskey, hams" and choice edibles, gallantly sailed up the Mississippi on his — electioneering tour. Then followed the grand receptions of that gushing character only found among high-pressure faaneet m very doubiiul districts. (Kenewed jaughter.) A boatload of orators had never ap- peared on those waters bejore, but that did not succeed. The cratt soon began to wear a disnevelled appearance. The orators began tu look like buccaneers—(great laughter)—and alter a Tetrospect of the Canvass as far as it had gone Why this sudden they decided to turn back, change in the tactics? It was to obtain these false and fraudulent affidavits to overcome the legal election, and it was aiter the retarn of the steamer tnat they sailied forth with blank atidavits and money to ov- tain by bribery and forgery the statements re- quired. From the day that Marsnal Packard’s magnificent propeller returned to New Urieans those orators who had made the iorcastle sound witb their eloquence wandered off in vairs to ob- tain these fraudulent aMdavits, I a man heard a" pistol shot it was argued that the nig- gers were to be deirauded. Bg quoted jrom the testimony before the cominitiee at Jength, and contended that there was no settled pian to burden and obstruct registration. On the other hand, the object was tu make it as gen- eral as possible. The election in Louisi- ana was probacly the most orderly, tair and quieé election heid ttre for twenty ‘ears, The regi Lab 1 ie larger = than ior years, but im many parishes re was & great ineiease on the democraye sige sad & corre ding decrease of the republican strength. The radicai ticket failed to receive the uniteu sup- port of those formerly acting with the party, and sometiing must be done to balk the demo- crate, (Again reading from the testimony.) He argued tat it was attempred to show that the negroes had to go so tar to vote, He would give an illustration:—A_ portion of the ed River where there was a great bend some fo ty mites around came back within our miles of the point where the bend commenced, the neck of land being ouly four miles across, Tie negroes, to vote, must go all the way around by water, and, thereiore, lost five days in going to and returning from the polls, it beins lo- cated at the upper side of this neck of laud. Were white men subjected to the same inconveniences? Certainly nut, They took the direct ine across the neck of land, went to the lls, voted and were nome again before inner. Great laughter on the floor aud in he — galleries. He next spoke of the judicial proceedings, and aske: wt State aiter state was to be stricken down by these iLiegal judicial decisions until darkness and dexpot- ism spread over the land? There was no telling how much of the peopie’s money tn Louisiana had been expended in depriving them ot their rights, Mr. MCOREERY quoted irom the testimony as to Carter fulding Jacques to his bosom when he came with the furged altidavits, and exclaiming, “Jacques, you are @ hell of a fellow |”? (Lauyhter.) The Cuaik (Mr, Carpenter) stated that any manilestation on the part of persons in the gai- leries, either of approval or disapproval, was @ Violation of the rule oi the Senate, and upon its repetition he would order the galieries to be cleared, Mr. McCREERY resumed and said, the constitu- tion o! the United States guarantees to every state in the Umon a repubiican torm of government, and the people oi the State should not be disturbed in vheir = republican institutions, Whether the enemy came irom abroad or irom within the borders of the State he must be met and put down by the federal government. In conclusion he de- nied that tne State of Louisiana bad a republican form of government, and argued that steps should be takem to protect her against fraud and corrup- tion. At the conclusion of Mr. McCreery’s speech Mr. SHERMAN moved that further consideration of the motion to recommit be laid over till Wednesday, and the Senate resume the consideration o1 the resolution reported irum the Finance Committee, So ordered. EXECUTIVE SESSION, At three o’clock tue senate went into executive Sessi0h On motion of Mr. Sherman, and alter some time the dvors were reopened and the Senate adjourn d. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASAINGTON, Jan, 26, 1874, BILLS INTRODUCED. Bills were introduced and referred, under the call of States, including the fullowing:— By Mr. BURLEIGH, (rep.) of Me.—To redeem legal tender notes and to regulate and establish the currency. By Mr. ScovMAKER, ((lem.) of N. Y.—To condemn the property selected as a site for the Brooklyn Post Oitice, } By Mr. NEGLEY, (rep.) of Pa.—Granting pensions to soldiers of the Mexican war aud their widows, By Mr. ARCHER, (dem.) of Md.—To regulate pro- motions in the staif of the Marine Corps, By Mr. PLatr, (rep.) of Va.—For the establish- ment ofan Exchequer, By Mr. GUNCKEL, (rep.) of Ohio—To repeal so much of the act of March 3, 1873, as provides that Representatives elect to Congress may receive their compensation monthly irom the beginning ol their term until the beginning of the tirst ses- sion of Congress, As the law now stands members receive their pay lor nearly nine montns beiore they are sworn in or perform any duty, Also a bill to amend the act establishing national ceme- teries 80 us to make the provisions O1 said act relating to headstones, &c., applicavle to the cemeteries of the National Home lor disabled volunteer soldiers, By Mr. Oxru, (rep.) of Ind.—To grant a pension to the widow of James L. Orr, jate United States Minister to Russta. THE INDIANA PLAN OF FINANCIAL RELIEF, Also to provide a national currency for the re- demption thereof in coin, and tor the redempuon ol circulating notes heretolore issued by or under the authority of the United states. Ths bill embraces what 1s known as the “In- diana plan of financial relief,” and is recommended by petitions, numerously signed, irom the citizens of two-thirds of the counties in tnat State, and provides for the issue by tae Unitea States of $2,000,000,000 o1 cir- culating notes, to be Known as “United States gold bond notes,” of various denominations, which are to be held in the Treasury as a reserve, and exchangeable at par for any o: the outstanding bonds of the United States at the pleasure of the holder. They shall circulate as money and be re- ceived and paid out by the government in like manner as national bank currency now is. ‘hat for the purpose of expediting such exchange de- positaries are to be established 1m all the leading cities of the United States, under proper saje- guards. That the interest accruing on all bonds thus surrendered to the government shall be re- tained by the government, and shall, with fiity per centor the coin accumulated in the Treasury not needed for paying interest on the public debt, con- stitute a sinking lund, alter it reaches the amount of $400,000,000, for the redemption of the gold bond notes issued under this act. REDEMPTION OF BONDS AND CURRENCY. The bill further provides that any national bank may surrender its bonds now on deposit in the Treasury and receive gold bond notes to an amount which, when added to the notes heretofore re- ceived by such bank, wi.] be equal to the par value of such bonds, aud such bank may at any time surrender its notes and receive in exchange the gold bond notes under tiis act, and woen this is done such bank is relieved 1rom the redemption of its notes or from holding any reserve; but shall in all other respects exercise its rights and privileges under the Banking act. Any naiioual bank jailing for two years to surrender its bonds now on de- posit shall redeem its currency in gold. The out- standing legal tender notes shall be redeemed at the Same time the redemption of the gold bond notes is commenced under this act. OTHER BILLS, : By Mr. SHANKS, (dem.) of Ind.—Providing a labor ureau. Also repealing the act granting lands for railroad purposes in the Indian ierritory, and establishing @ United States court in the Indian country. Also for a survey by the army aud navy en- gineers of a ship canal from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, near Catro, Lil. 3y Mr. BURCHARD, (rep.) of Ill.—To provide for the importation of sugar beet seed Iree of duty. By Mr. BLAND, (em of Mo.—To Incorporate the Eastern and Western isfortation Company. By Mr. FIELD, 0! Micnigan—To repeal the stamp tax on bunk checks, druggists’ prescriptions and lucifer matches, By Mr. MILLs, (dem.) of Texas—For the removal of all troops in the Southern States to the West- ern country, as protection against the Indians, also to repeal all laws authorizing banking asso- ciations. By Mr. LuTrrert, (dem.) of CaL—To prohibit contracts for servile labor. Aiso to let the lands granted for a railroad, from Foisom to llacervilie, revert to the United states, By Mr. Cons, (rep.) 01 Kan. (at request)—To in- corporate the Colorado Canal Irrigauon and Land Company. By Mr. CROMISE, teed) o! Neb.—Declaring lands purposes liabie to State taxa- granted for railroa tion. By Mr. Hays, (rep.) of Ala.—To furnish army ee for the relief of destitute persons in the jouth. By dir. G. F. Hoar, (rep.) of Mass.—To prevent the payment of interest on national bunk deposits, By Mr. MERRIAM, (rep.) of N. Y.—Restricting the rejunding 01 customs duties. Also to prevent United States officers from re- ceiving money beyond their fixed salaries. CENTENNIAL BXHIBITION IMPORTATIONS, Mr. BECK, (dem.) of Ky., moved to suspend the rules and pass # bill relieving from the payment of duty all articles sent trom foreign countries tor ex- hibition at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Mr. Dawks, (rep.) 01 Mass., and others suggested that the bill was too loose in its provisions, and Mr. Butler, Of Massachusetts, suggested (dert- sively) to limit the extent of any one person’s im- portation to 500 tons of one article, Under the new rule adopted last week requiring motions to suspend the rules to be seconded by & Majority, the question was pat, but there was no second, the vote being 54 to 102. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EXPENSES. Mr. POLAND, of Vermont, moved to suspend tne rules and adopt @ resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the legal rela- tions existing between the federal government and the local government of the District of Co- lumpia, and the exact character of their muvual ob- ligations in regard to municipal expenses; and Wuether some accurately defined basis of expendt- tures cannot be prescribed and maintained by law. The rules were suspended, and the resolution adopted—yeas 159, nays 72. PETITIONS AND REMONSTRANCES, Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. Y., presented two remon- strances ot the hat manulacturers of New York city against any further extension of the Wells patent. Mr. KILLINGER, (fep.) Of Pa., presented the peti+ tions of more than 1,000 workingmen and manu- fecturers irom various parts of Pennsylvania, pei § the repeal of the ten per cent reduction of duties on imports passed June, 1872, Also pe- Utions instructing the Committee on the Listrict of Columbia to inquire and report whether ad- ditional legislation 1s necessary to secure the com- fort aud convenience of travellers on the Washing- ton and Georgetown Railroad. Adopted, RAILNOAD LANDS FORFEITED, Mr. PaGg, (rep.) of Cal., moved to suspend the rules and pass a bill, which, he said, had received the unauinous approval ot the Committee on Pub- lic Lands, declaring forieitea to the United states all lands granted by Covgress in 1866 or a railroad from Folsom to Placerviile, Cal, The grant ONE expired by limitation the rules were suspende and the bill passed, TREASURY DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS, Mr. GARFIELD, (rep.) of Ohio, offered a resolu- tion authorizing the Committee on Appropriations to insert @ section in the Legislative Appropri- ation bill repealing al) laws that authorize per- manent and indefinite appropriations to deiray the expenses of the loan and Treasury notes or other paper issuey of the United States, aud re- NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. quiring the Secretary of the Treasury hereafter to submit detailed estimates ol appropriations re- | quired to defray such expenses. Adopted, A'so @ resolution to regulate estimates and ap- prcpriations and to fix the number and compensa- jon of customs employés, Adopted. SUPERVISOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE. Mr. YOUNG, (dem.) of Ga., offered a resoiution in- structing the Committee qn Ways and Means to inquire Whether there is any necessity for the con- tinuance of the oiice of Supervisor of Internal Revenue, Adopted, BANK OFFICERS IN CONGRESS, Mr. BUCKNER, (dem.) of Mo., moved €o suspend the rules and adopt a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasury to turnish imiormatioa as to members of Congress who are shareholders in national banks, ‘The resolution was rejected, two-thirds not voting in the aMrmative—yeas 146, nays 96. The House then proceeded with the WES? VIRGINIA ELECTION CASE without coming to a vote upon ft. Tue House, at twenty minutes to five o'clock P. M., adjourned, SCHISM AMONG PRESBYTERIANS. Trial of the Rev. E, B. Smith Before the We-tchester Presbytery—Found Guilty and Deposed. “ The trial of the Rev. E. B. Smith before the West- chester Presbytery on the charge of creating a schism in the Presbyterian Church by adopting certain doctrines and practices of the so-called “Catholic Apostolic Church’? was resumed yester- day morning, in the parlor of the Young Men’s Christian Association Hall, corner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue. The room was full, Half a dozen ladies occupied seats at the rear, A life-sized portrait: of Queen Victoria, Wearing a crown, but having what par- ticular significance in that particular place it would be hard to say, smiled benignantly down on the array of presbyters. At along table, under the Queen's portrait, sat the Moderator, Mr. Sawyer, the oficial whoin the Presbyterian gov- ernment presides over Presbytery proceedings, In his neighborhood sat THE COU)SEL FOR THE PROSECUTION and for the Church. One was alayman and three were oiiciating ministers, Their names were Rey. J. Aspinal Hodge, of Hartford; Rey. Dr. Smith, of Yonkers; Rev, Mr. Mudge and Mr. Wells, lawyer, of Peekskill, The body of men present to hear andtry the case, asa jury might try it, appeared to have a deep interest in the arguments of both sides and @ capacity to decide the question with intelligence, Rev, Mr. Smith began the proceedings of the day by producing his defence, which was A LONG AND ELABORATE REPLY to all the charges and specifications made against him. It took a little over an hour to read and was Teally an eloquent and persuasive document, AS it wouid be impossible to give anything like a synopsis Of itin the brief space allotted to this report, suffice it to say that he responded seriatim to all that was embraced under THREE CLASSES OF COUNTS or charges. One class he denied in toto, as having no force whatever to hold him amenable to breach of doctrine or discipline. Another class he held did not come under Presbyterian standards, and consequently he was not supposed to be commit- ting error when he took his stand by certain doc- trines which the true spirit of Presbyterianism sanctioned. In regard to the third class of charges, while he admitted their application to lis formula of belief, he believed they Were not antagonistic to PRESBYTERIAN STANDARDS. The propositions he denies sre embraced in the first class of charges, and are as follows :— ‘That the writings of the so-called apostles of the “Catholic Apostolic Church” are a co-ordinate au- thority with the words of God in the Scripture. That the sacraments become affected by their own virtue and the virtue of the administrator aud tne change of the elements in and by conse- cration, That the so-called apostles hold supreme au- thority and inspiration and the sacrament of ex- treme unction, POINTS OF UNCHALLENGED DOCTRINE. As the following do not come under and are not denounced by Presbyterian standards Mr. Smith held they did not invalidate his ministry in the TALS Church, and were questions jor indi* vidual faith and choice :— Processions, exercises, church of the supernat- ural gifts, fouriold ministry, auricular confession, absolution, bowing at the name of Jesus and the use Of the sign of the cross. The tollowiug, as what he avowed he believed, Were not antagonistic to Presbyterian standards :— Baptism «nd regeneration, Christ assuming the fallen human nature of Adam and the Lord’s Supper. THE MAIN POINT of Mr. Smith's argument was that he was in har- mony with the Presbyterian Church, whicn was in harmony with the polity of the apostles, but what he wanted was the polity of the apostofic days restored, In this he could see no error, for if the Church believed the apostles he could see no objection to the same Church following their methods of thought and teaching. ARGUMENT FOR PROSECUTION. The prosecuting counsel did not deem {t neces- sary to-cover the wide field of theological inquiry which all the foregoing suggests. They confined themseives to pointing out that the “Catnolic Apostolic Church” being a separate denomination, as its doctrines and practices showed, it could de- mand no allegiance from a minister o! the Presby- terian Church; and the minister who in- sisted on remaining within the Presby- terian communion while holding the pre- cepts of another denomination not recog- nized by the standards of Presbyterianism, and also aumitting the supreme authority of the so-called apostles in the other denomination, was guilty of schism, and not qualified to retain his place. Noth- ing was said against the character o1 Dr. Smith. That, it Was admitted, Was above reproach; but in reaching out for discoveries in theological science, which the Charch had not recognized, they said he committed error. THE VERDICT. After the room was cleared, and none but the presbyters and counsel remained, a discussion en- sued on the merits of the evidence produced against Mr. Smith and the arguments pro and con. A considerable time was spent, and finally it was resolved by a unanimous vote that Mr. E. B. Smith be deposed frum his functions as a minister in the Presbyterian Church. The reverend gentieman had previously proclaimed his intention to appeal to the Synod, THE ESTHETIO IN RELIGION. The Fine Arts—Their Nature, Necessitics, Effects and Relation to Christianity— Essay by Rev. George Lansing Taylor Before the Methodist Preachers. The ordinary routine of discussion of religious topics by the Methodist preachers at their weekly Meetings was varied yesterday by an elaborate and very meritorious essay on fine art in its re- lation to religion, delivered by Rev. George Lan- sing Taylor, of Hempstead. Mr. Taylor is a man of pure esthetic tastes, high literary culture and a poet of no mean order. He had been previously requested to prepare an essay for the meeting, and that which he read yesterday was one that probably not @ half dozen of his brethren could analyze or justly criticise. He be- gan by defining what he meant by fine art. Without the esthetic, he thought, we could have no true conception of God, who 13 purely and sublimely msthetical, as is shown by His creation of man and placing him in the most beautilul landscape garden in the universe, planted by the Almighty hand. Deprived of the wsthetical faculty, We are deprived also of appreciating God in the highest and truest esthetical sense, in which sense He is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely. Mr. Taylor here named what is included in fine art—poetry, music, painting, sculp- ture, &c. He referred to what art had done for mankind, and remarked that what it cannot tell the historian and the critic may despair of. Mr. Taylor traced the progreas of fine art Lael = historic times through patriarchal and modern times, and enumerated works of art in painting, sculpture, architecture, &c., which stand to-day ag MONUMENTS OF THE PAST AGES and inspirations tor the present and the fature. its universality is shown by its monuments, which have beeu found or which exist in all parts of the world, from Mexico to India ana from Iceland to South America. Mr. Taylor dwelt extensively on Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Koman art. "The latter, he remarked, added Jitue to what the Greeks had given to the world, Mahometan art is incapabie of being reproduced. It is the most romantic the world has ever seen. Speaking of music and architecture, and their relation to re- ligion, he remarked that Christian art created music. The oratorio is as much the product of Christian thought as is the cathedral in which it 1s read or sung, Christian art waked the anthem of redemption, and with it the highest forms of ws- thetic art, Mr. Gaylor showed oy comparison how art among Greeks, Romans, &c., was localized, While Christian art is universalized, This Was apparent by putting the names of Homer, Virgil, Plato, &e., beside those of Shakespeare, Milton, Wesiey, &c. These latter will still rule the world after the name of England ts forgotten. Mr, Taylor passed on to the value of painting, and cited Tweed’s dread of the influence of tue pic- torial caricatures against nim as being more dam- aging than anything that the press could have written against him; for the man who could not read an editorial could read the story in the cart- cature. On the value of art in Hey tate life how valuable, he suggested, to shipbuilders vo-day would be A COPY OF NOAH'S ARK be bine wp men would fre for it! Bohl ns able also to architects woul ainting o' 1e Tower of Babel or Solamon’s Temole! He did net 4 | know but some of these dave the hidden treasures of ages may be brought to lignt and the teoth and | eleventh chapters of Genesis receive @ commen. | tary of which we can have no conception at present. Great works of art, he re- marked, outlive their own histery, How many have asked during the ages past why were the pyramids built, and what is their history. They have stood for ages, monuments of arciitecture and inspirations of strength to many aman. He spoke ot the original purpose of works oft ue art. and remarked that creation was much more poWerlul than possession. Creation makes the creator. He then turned to art in this coun. try, and said that America needs a development of fine art, Our alternative, he remarked, ts that of tae overgrown hog—expansion or death. We need an wsthetical inspiration. It will refine our | thought. No country 18 richer in fine art concep- | tions. He referred to Powers’ “Greek Slave” in scuipture and the “Heart o! (he Andes” in painting | as plaeing America 1n a high rank of art. But he was grieved that our artists did not create rather than copy. They wave @ purer inspiration for it here than they can tind anywhere else, and give us an Olympiad of Greek culture and he velieved we should outshine all other countries, America must rear her own great masters, aud American artists must keep American art here, Hitherto America bas studied the art of the past rather than de- veloping that of her own, True art is not taught in America. We have a litule dabbling in oil and water colors, but no school of art. A step in the right direction has been taken by Syracuse Uni- versity in the establishment of a college of fine arts. Art cuiture must prepare the way lor art itself. Mr. Tay.or opposed any patronage of im- berfect art. Americas needs art and we saould say she must and shall have it. WE NEED A RACE OF ARTISTS, and we should prepare the way for them. Dr. True wondered why Mr. Taylor had omitted. Hebrew art; why he did not include dress in his enumeration. He (Dr. True) did not think there was anything in the Bible against dress, but against excess in dress. He thought the Hebrews had art when the Greeks and Romans were eating acorns. Mr, Dickinson saw no evidence in Hebrew litera- ture thut they had any art except that ol poetry and the music that was sung toit. Their mono- theistic ideas had crowded everything else out. Mr. Dickinson entered his protest against those wishywashy, sentimental feminine figures and creeping vines on canvas which are introducea into our show windows and Sabbath schools under the name of fine art painting. Dr. Curry being called for remarked that he had had many hard things said of him, but this was the unkindest cut of all to call him out to criticise fine artoran essay on it. He was pleased with the essay because it went beyond his own depth and conception, Dr. Crooks, of Belfast, being also called out, did not favor the introduction of fine art in our churches, Its tendency ts to foster superstition. The church architecture that he preferred 18 that which brings preacher and people nearer to each other and nearer to God. Dr. Foss announced that the Carasco-Pronier fund here amounts to $10,000, and in Geneva, Switzerland, to twice that sum. The memorial to Pastor Cook, of Paris, amounts to $550, A committee of seven was appointed to gather up scattered records of the preachers’ meeting from its institution to the present and to concen- trate them in some piace in the mission building, PIGEON SHOOTING. A Good Day‘s Sport at Deerfoot Park— Match Between Humphrey Hartshorne and Edward Charm of Brooklyn— Hartshorne the Winner—Two Interest- ing Sweepstakes. There was rare sport for the pigeon shooting fra- ternity at Deerioot Park yesterday afternoon, as a match between old Brooklynites and two sweep- stakes were decided, hbirst on the list was the contest between Mr. Humphrey Hartshorne and Mr. Edward Charmon, friends of more than twenty~ five years’ standing, and, having “handled guns?” together from the time they were young men until the present period, the interest in the event was something more than is ordinarily observed, and hence the spectators that congregated at the place of shooting were intimate with one or the other of the principals, and the excitement, in an agreeable way, ran high on botn sides, The agreement between these gentlemen was that they should each shoot at twenty-five birds, Long Island rules to govern, 21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary and 1X oz, shot. The sum of $100 a side was posted, and minor bets regarding the number that each would Kill consecutively were made, which naturally intensi- fied the interest. As each was to ‘fiud, trap, and handle” for the other, the principals used extra- ordinary efforts to obtain lively and strong birds, and itis but fair to say that these e/forts were crowned with success, as the pigeons were among the best seen this winter. Mr. Hartshorne selected Mr. Walton as his judge, and Mr. Charmon picked Mr. Wingate to look 5 nounced corsets as an abomination and told of the weakness of the New England women of to- day in not being able to nurse their children, She also believed that Curistianity and morality were conducive to health, and closed by giving notice of @ series Of four lectures, wherein she snould dis play her “mannikin” and “skeleton,” with sugges- live hints and instruction such as sne deemed her audience might need. At tne ciose of the speak- er’s remarks the dollars were handed up to the Jady freely and tickets given in returo, BRET HARTE ON “AMERICAN HUMOR.» Bret Harte delivered his lecture on “American Humor” last evening in 4ssociation Hall, it being | One of a course of lectures given under the aus. Pieces of the Mercantile Library Association. The hall was well filled by an intelligent and apprecta- Uve audience, Charles S. Arthur presided, and introduced the lecturer to the audience, Among those on the platform were Wilson G. Hunt, William Remsen, James Boorman Johnston, 8, R. Comstock, Alderman M, C, Ely and other prominent citizens, be If there is anything in the world of humor that {s intensely sui generis it is what is technically termed “American Humor.’ It has no counterpart in any other quarter of the globe, It 1s indl- genous to our soil, Its boisterous phase springs literally out of the wilaerness—from tne back- Woods of the West, rather than from the more refined and cultivated circles of the Rast. To the latter are we indebted for the more genial phase of American humor—the merry lines of Oliver Wendell Homes, for example, or the once pithy, pungent and spicy newspaper paragraphs of Colone!Green, of the Boston Post, who with the late George D. Prentice, of the Louisville Journal, was one of the fathers of the sparkling phase of American journalism—little gems of wit and satire, encased, as it were, in settings of kindliness and common sense. While in the West the broadest humor is encouraged, in the East, outside of cer- tain charming circles, it is dangerous to be funny, Plainly speaking, there is more blarney than humor in the Plymouth Rock of New Englana, which has been not inaptly termed the “biarney stone of America.” To go back a couple of cen- turies, some people might think there was some- thing excruciatingly fanny—torturing a joke at the stake, as it were—in the treatment of the Quakers and witches by the early Puritans. But the run of the thing, if any, was all on one side— the poor victims could not realize exactly “‘where the laugh camé@ in.” Besides, the treatment of these unfortunate creatures was not purely a stroke of American humor. The idea was bor- rowed {rom abroad—from England—Smithfield, perhaps—just as we nowadays import the London Punch or Judy or Fun, or any other of the so-called funny papers of the British metropo- lis, But, passing from this unpleasant theme of an unpleasant era, we come to the epoch when American humor is @ recognized teature in all genial and social cote. ies, when such humorists as Mark Twain, Artemus Ward, Josh. Billings, Petroleum V.Nasby and many others of less note but of equally lofty aspirations for posi- tions in the temple of Comus, have brought into its present shape .the fabric of American -humor, much of it being quarried from the rough in the primevai funny formations of the West. Mr. Harte commenced by asking i! there was such a thing as American humor, © He then ceeded to mention tie different English wits of the last and present century aad compared them with those of America, He affirms that the fashion of true humor never changes—merely conforms to the age and condition of a people. The first efforts of American humor were in the Yankee dialect, the efforts an English- man, Judge Hahourton, author of “Sam Slick.’? Slavery in the South was the meansof much national humor and pathos. The disciples of burnt cork and Foster’s melodies, “Old Folks at Home,” &c,, were cited as illustrations, He dwelt at length on the productions of Lowell, . Orpheus C. Kerr, the Danbury News man, Petro- Jeum V, Nasby, Artemus Ward (of whom he said that he was accepted in England as a representa- lve ofthe American illiterate aborigines), of Wash- ington Irving, Cooper, Colonel Thorpe, of Texas; Sut Lovengood (whose humor ran over in practical jokes), Judge Baldwin, of Alabama. He relerred to the case of John Phwnix, of the san Diego Herald, who, being left in charge of the paper, struck out into anew field, upsetting politics and everything generally by bis humorous articles, Of Mark Twain he said that he stood alone, as the most original and thoroughly American representative of American humorists. The Jecture occupied about three-quarters o1 an hour in its delivery, and terminated so abruptly tnat. some Of the audience thought it was @ second edition of Charley Browne’s (‘‘Artemus Ward”) old lecture of “One Hour in Africa,” with not a word about Africa in it. But pernaps the reason that there was so little interesting matter in the lecture about American humor may be ascribed to the fact that the lecturer considered the field too after his interests in a similar capacity; while Mr. Robert Robinson accepted the position of referee, Mr. Edward Madison loaded for Mr. Hartshorne, and Mr. M. Warren Birdseye for his opponent. At the filth bird Charmon ted Hartshorne one bird; at the tenih the latcer led his adversary one bird; at the twentieth they stood—Hartshorne, 12; Charmon, 10, Then the betting became very Spirited, with Hartshorne the 1avorite; but Char. mon killing all his birds from that point and Harts horfe missing two, they stood even on the twenty- flith, having each’ scored fifteen, Ine te being shot off, three birds each, Hartshorne killed the first and second, while Charmon missed the first, wien the former was declared the winner, amid much bilarity. The birds were of a superior class, and the “chaff between the contestants o1 a nature to provoke considerable merriment. Following the maich were two sweepstakes, each haying nine entries, The conditions were | three birds each, $5 entrance, Long Island rules to govern. Mr. Wingate was referee in both cases. ‘There was first, second and third money in eacn— $20, $15 and $10. In the first sweep Messrs, ‘Thomas Broadway and ‘‘Mose” Stephens divided first and second prizes, while the third premium fell mto the hands of Messrs. Lot, Ireland, Furman and “‘Haven.’? The first and second prizes of the second sweep were divided between Messrs. Broad- Way and ‘faylor,” and the third between Messrs, McMahon, Lot and McFall. Good order Was preserved; but if Superintendent McMahon will, in the future, prevent the reckiess “pot hunters” and all of their ciass that invaded the track yesterday from entering the enclosure he willdo himself and pigeon shooters in general much service, ‘The following are SUMMARIES, DEERPOOT PARK, NEAR BROOKLYN, L. L, JAN. 26, I874—PIGEON SHOOTING.—Match Of 25 birds each, $100 aside, Long Island rules; 21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary, 13 02. show H, Hartshorne—4, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, i, 1—Total,’ 255° Killed, 15} missed, 10. E, Charmon—%, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0,0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1—Total, 25; killed, 153 missed, 10. SHOOTING OFF THE TIE, Hartshorne—1, 1—2, Charmon—0, 1—1, Juage for Hartshorne, Mr. Walton, Judge tor Charmon, Mr. Wingate, Reieree, Mr. Robert Robinson, Time ot shooting, 1h. 16m, SAME Day.—Sweepstakes, three birds each, $5 entrance, Long Island rules, 21 yards rise, 80 yards boundary, 144 02. shot; $20 to the first, $16 to the second and $10 to the third, ‘T, Broadway—l, 1, 1—Killed, 3, M, Stephens—l, 1, 1—Killed, 3, S$. Lot—0, 1,.1—Kilied, 2. “Dr.” Ireland—1, 0, 1—Kilied, 2, Seth Furman—1, 0, 1—Killed, 2 Mr. “‘Haven"—0, 1, 1—Kilied, 2 W. Birdseye—1, 0, 0—Kilied, 1. R, Robinson—0, 0—Killed, 0: Mr. “laylor’—0, 0—Killed, 0. First and second money divided between Messrs, Broadway and Stephens, and the third between Messrs. Lot, Ireland, Furman and “Haven.” Reteree, Mr. Wingate, j SaME CONDITIONS.—Sweepstakes, three birds each, $5 entrance; same conditions and division of money as beiore, roadway, 1, 1—Killed, 3, Mr. “Taylor’’—1, 1, 1—Kulled, 3, Wilham McMahon—1, 1, 0—Killed, 2, W. McFall—, 1, 1—Killed, 2, 8. Lot—1, 1, 0—Killea, 2, Mr. “‘Haven”—0, 0—Killed, 0. W. Birdseye—0, 0—Killed, 0, “Dr.” Ireland—0, 0—Kulled, 0, Mr. Creamer—0, 0—Killed, 0, First money divided between Messrs, Broadway and “Taylor,” and the third between Messrs. mc- Mahon, Lot and McFall. Referee, Mr. Wingate, A LECTURE T0 LADIES, An audience, composed of between 300 and 400 ladies, assembled in the chapel of the Church of the Strangers yesterday afternoon, to listen to a lecture given by Mrs, Susan Everett, M. D., of Port- | land, Me., who desires to tell the New York ladies how to eat, sleep and live. The lady is a very ‘pleasant spoken M. D., with dark hazel eyes, very white teeth and a profusion of dark hair. She was dressed tn a rich black moiré silk, devoid of overskirt, but with plenty of soft lace at the wrists and throat. She claimed that women need not be sick, She believed that God intended we should live long and be happy, and said that if women lived as. they should live—ate, drank and slept as they ought and might—a greater and better race of humanity eet be given to the world, as the mother stamped intellectuality and moral worth upon the unborn infant. She believes in increase of population, and assured the women that they only did their duty in adding to the sta- tiscics of the city. She alluded to the fact of some diseases having increased jourtold, among which she classed paralysis, epilepsy and so on, A Quaker lady in the audience looked up from be- neath her modest bonnet with inquiring eyes and eveaker de @ selfaauatied air when the barren (as he intimated) for profitable gleaning. ID TRANSIT. An Approval of and Add.tion to Mr. Minton’s Plan. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— My letter to you of the 2ist was despatched before | was aware of the invitation extended in your issue of the 20th. The practical merits of my plan and its obvious admirable adaptability to the pressing want of your citizens cause me to re- gret that it should have been forwarded just at a time when it appears only as one among a multitude, thereby not engaging the attention it might otherwise have received; still if merits ex- ist they will undoubtedly be noticed. Since read- ing the proposition of Mr. Church lam more torct- bly impressed than before with the conviction that the elevated road—no matter how ingeniously con- trived to be a sort of multum tn parvo—should not be thought of. It is out of ali reason to assume that } a screeching engine, with its long train of cars, can be run at a comparatively slight ele- vation over a densely thronged street, at any such speed as the people require, without causing numerous accidents; moreover, it would destroy the appearance of any street, no matter how ornamental it mignt be made. In a few years the public would gladiy pay a large amount to have the whole thing removed trom the street. Besides accidents will occur in spite of all precautions on the railway itself, and imagination can hardly picture the effect of @ train plunging off the track into the multitude below, to say nothing of the predicament of its own passengers, Mr, Minton’s idea is excellent, inasmuch as his road would be out of sight, only I would go a little further, 80 that in place of having the top of the engine smokestack six feet above the streets, as he has, sink the whole concern six or eight feet lower than he proposes, and thereby avoid all injury to buildings and occupation of private property, save our 200 bridges, Save raising ali the cross streets, avoid all noise, and save eighty-five per cent of actua! cost upon his estimate, giving a road fully as convenient to the passenger, at, of course, a lower fare, the last but probably most popular con- sideration of them all. In a densely populated city no elevated railroad in tull view can be built that will aot be public Duisance, if @ high speed 18 called for; and il a bigh speed 18 not called for, stick to the old horse railroad or extend the plaything now existing in Greenwich street, I shall read with the greatest interest any further communications on this momentous subject, «but Will hot trespass on your good nature again in the shape of a jetter, 3 G. R. NASH, Civil Engineer. NORTH ADAMS, Mass., Jan. 26, 1874, Avenue Railroads, To THe EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— ‘The undersigned, @ eonstant observer of all the various theories and different plans for rapid transit advanged by the numerous publications for the last Several years, has, from a personal ex- amination of several architectural designs for ele- vated railways, cable transit companies, &c., &c., formed an opinion from all these various sources, that the only safe, economical and popu- lar mode of such a transit would be to devote one avenue on each side of the city fora double track, to be sunk eight feet below the surface, and bridged at every cross street. A double track could be made to occupy only about 22 to 25 feet in width of the street, and, as stated, eight feet in depth, walled on each side with a handsome railing three or four (eet in height. This mode wouid leave enough room for a carriage way on each side of the track, and a bridge over each cross street Of the full width of the street, without any elevation, could not tnconventence traffic and could be made to have a very handsome appearance, AS @ station would be ne- cessary at every three or four blocks, it would, no doubt, increase the value of property on such @ thoroughfare by diverting so much notice and consequently trade, So much am | convinced that such ao enterprise Would prove financially a great success that 1 am willing to invest $100,000 to help it being constructed provided a suitable any objections "wo thie plant saints Menten ce ty is plan I shoul le ta Know What the objections are, b . MILITARY NOTES, A general court martial will convene at tha “Rendezvous,” Nos. 7, 9 and 11 West Thirteentt street, at eight o'clock P. M., on Thursday, Feb ruary 5, 1874, or as soon thereafter ble, fo) the trial of Colonel Andrew Staut, ine sixth i. G. S oath regiment, Second brigade, First aivision, N.Y., and wie such otber oMcers as may be bro