The New York Herald Newspaper, April 30, 1875, Page 3

/ LOUISIANA. Extraordinary Powers of the Governor. HOW THEY MADE A LEGISLATURE. Tampering with the Ju- ‘diciary. HOW THE RING HAS RULED. FRANKLIN, La., April 20, 1875. ‘The constitution of 1868, under which Louisiana was reconstructed, and which is still in sorce, is in some respects a sufficiently harmless looking dnstrument, For instance, it pretends to give the people the election of almost, but not quite, all their, local or county officers; it pretends to Mmit the powers of the Legislature and of the Executive; it even, like many other State con- stitutions, forces the people to elect the judges and the subordinate Scate officers. But while thus apparently popular it gives to the Governor the exclusive power to appoint and remove all the oMcers concerned witn the registration of voters, the conduct of elections and the counting of votes In every parish of the State, and also the S@ppointment and removal of all tax collectors— efficers who have also an important part in the assessments. And, having thus given into the Governor’s control the purse aud the voice of the peopie, by one or two inconspicuous clauses this instrament enables an adroit and unserupu- ‘ous Governor and Legislature to deprive the peo- ple of even those powers and remedies which are spparently secured to tiem, and withoat which free government becomes a farce. in fact, this ponstitution, as it tas been applied by legis- atures and governors and construed by Stave judges since 1868, provides all the machinery Deeded jor the party in power to perpetuate it rule forever, in spite of the will of tne people. EXTRAORDINARY CENTRALIZATION, First—The Governor appoints and removes the Registrars of election and their assistants all over the State, and the decision of these oMcers is final | and conclusive as to the right ofa person to vote, The registrars appoint the local supervisors or comuissioners who conduct the elections. And as New Orleans is largely conservative the Mayor and Sieritf of that city are prohibited, under | severe penalties, from bolding or interfering in | “any election whatever,” that work beimg given | tothe metropolitan police, whose officer pointed by tie Governor. Second—The Governor appoints and removes the tax coliectois all over the State; but in New Or- leans he appoints also the assessors, Third—He appoints the officers of the metro- politan police paid for by the city of New Orleans, And this body, so controlled by him, 18 constituted & metropolitan brigade, which he may send into amy part of the State to make arrests, and a steamer is provided jor this purpose. Fourth—He appoints the Board of Pablic Works @f the State. FUth—He may, whenever he deems it necessary, Sppoint and commission as an extraordinary force & chief constable and as many depaties as he thinks necessary in any parish of the State, and these have, ex oficio, power to make summary ar- Fests, The chief consiabie is paid $4 a day. Swth—He 1s, of course, Commander-in-Chief of @ ap- the State Militia, and appoints and commissions | ite officers, Seventh—The constitution empowers him to fill All vacancies in office throughout the State. Under | this apparently harmless clause he, in effect, con- trols even the lowest local offices in the remotest parts of the State, such as constables, justices of the peace and parish surveyors. In the 1ast num- ber of tne Louisianian, the oficial gazette of the State, I find tue following examples of the exer. cise of this power:— APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR. ‘The following appointments were made by Gov- ernor Kellogg yesterday :— Parish of Orieans—A. W. Connog, assistant su- pervisor of i sogeasnes Of tue First ward. arish ehitocnes—Harry Percy, parisn surveyor, Ye W. 4, Boult; R. E, Hammett, jus- fice of the peace of the Third ward; F. L. Grapye, constable; F. Jennings, justice of the peace of the Futh ward; 8. M. Cramps, constavie; L. Van Scnonbruck, fastice of the peace of tne Sixin Td; M. L. Ba constable; James E. Turner, tice of tne ee of the Seveuth ward; Wil ob, constacie; A. KR. Vowden, justice of the ace Ol the Kighth ward; J. C. Bush, constable; | Vieune, jusuce of the peace of tue Mash vParish of East Baton Rouge—Charies G. Pages and Kober: Morris, clerks to the supervisor of tration. h of Ciaiborne—Cnar.es S. Blackburn, Ly ago of registration; L, M. McCormick ana B, Blackbarn, clerks. Pansn of St. Mary— Richard Brooks, constable of the rhira ward. Parisa of Sabine—R. A. Forbis, Justice of the ace oF the Fourth ward; S. Whatiey, justice of he peace of the Ninth ward; Jaw:s laray, con- stabie of the Fourth ward; 0. Seuter, constable of the Ninth ward. Parish of Laiayette—Hugh Wagner, justice of She peace of the Secona ward; Joseph Lecoux, bonstable of the Secoud ward, Vice C. Doucet, who jailed to qualily; Vincent Bertrand, justice of she peace of the Firs. ward, Vice Aired Leck, who jailed to qualify; Galbert bienvenu, cons Ole oF the Third ward; Juies D. Boudreaux, constavie of the Fourth ward, vice li, Theall, Who failed to qQualuy; Alexander Bulond, inspector of weights alu measures. penoer 4 of Winn—Sam Peace, justice of the pepe} John Patton, constabie, Dr. J.J. Finney was comuussioned as @ member 1 toe Board of Heaich, FAVORITISM AND ITS WORKINGS. A more thorougbly centralized government France did not lave under either Empire. Nor have these great Powers beeo hesitatingiy used. Offices have veen « ultiplied to an extraordinary degree, and at every new creation the Governor | ad the appointment or a favorite. New parishes (Countics) were t.rmed by the diviston of old ones, | and in every case the Governor appointed all tne @Micers, Juuicial districts have been rearranged and new enes iormed, and the Governor made nis friends or allies Judges. A trick became common by Which officers elected refused to qualify, and thereiore the Governor flied the artificial vacan- ¢ies With men who could not nave been elected. Finaliy, $0 careiul have the leaders in this con- Spiracy been to mainiaio their iofluence and their creatures in toe pettiest offices thay the members | 3 ot the | Jocal school boards, and degrade the schools vy | while f | of the Legislature are uscally mem @aking the teachers tueir political tov) have been in-@ome petty Villages of fifteen nun- dred or two thousand innabitaats which bave not for sour or five years been allowed to put in office the toWn officers they elevted, but aiter each elec Hon the rest was di thus created Were flied by tae Guveraor CREATING NEW OFFICRA. As an GXampio of the way sucu mattors w @avaged Shreveport will auswer—the better be. CHuse it les ta @ region Waere the Whites beon accused of discontent with tae repaviloan ul Simpio ao economical city government, The = a Teceivod @ moderate salary, the Common | cil Were unsalaried, In 1stl the Legiviavure pesca upou the pil 4 new charter, whica put it io charge of @ Mayor ond four administrators, Gil salaried, al) provided wWito clerks and Witn oMce contingen’ ibe Governor Was auchoriacd WO appoins 1 officers and to Gi ali Vacancies | Guidi 1473, and they Were autvorized to laste bonds Bd dispose of them “for the best IUterosta of the city.” ‘Iney seem to have issued uot only bonas but efi, Had this fei to iorty cents oa the dollar | atlaet, To the spring of 1874 the admsnisttators proponed to issue bonus to Lie amouat of $100,000 to Wupruve the Streets, A tax, had beeu formed, and, having defeated this pro ject, they Ofored the Mayur to undertake the same work which had been proposed, and do it to hus satiation, I they Were allowed to raise money On | taX recep'a irom citizens, Permission being given, sey cid toe Whole work tor $86,000, Yue police Wes demo Mliged by veing paid in depreciated serip; the taxpayers askeu the Mayor to disonatge ti6 Poles, Glu BOtbOsIAe SH Wusalaried LITiZéu® par lloWed andthe Vacancies | Sureveport delore reconstruction vad a | ‘8’ AseOCiacion | _NEW YORE HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL trol; and this, too, was done, and the city became | at once orderly. In the fall of 1874 a conservative clty government Was chosen, ana the scrip stands to-day at 90, But this is not ail, The new cbdarter was passed in 1871. In 187% the Legisiature inco1po- rared the Shreveport Savings Bank ond Trust | exclusive rignt’? to erect works, supply the city with water and gas, and to run a ferry across the river. Now, at that very time Shreveport had already a Well established gas company; a satis: factory ferry had long been in existence | and was a source of revenue to the | city; and for waterworks there was no need, The company was to pay for all its privileges the petty sum of $500 a year. Now, then, among the incorporators named in the statute which gives these * exclusive rights,” [find ©. C. Antoine, then and still Lieutenant Governor; William Harper, State Senavor; 8. A, Hamilton, Tax Collector; Frank T. Hatch, Supervisor of Registration: M. A. Waish, the appointed Mayor, and George L. Smith, member of Congress. Tne | story 1s completed when I add that the incor- porators were not merely endowed with ‘ex- | elusive rights,” but also allowed to transfer them to other persons uni:paired, HOW THEY TAMPERED WITH THE COURTS. | No ruler of a civilized community ever pos- sessed greater powers than the Governor of Loutsiana under this constitution, It gives him actual and direct control of whe whole of the e!ec- | tion machinery and of all the officers who handle the taxes; and, indirectly, he has had the ap- pothtment of almost all the local or parish officers of the State, a8 well as of the judiciary; for when not serve the purposes of the corruptionists who controlled the State, If no other way to remove nim offered, the Legislature was ready to create a new parish, or @ new judicial district, or @ new court, and to put in a serviceable person. Here example :—The constitution provides that all dis- trict juages shall be elected by te people. Orleans has a strong conservative taajority and elected conservative judges, and, this being m- convenient to ihe rulers of the Stave, the Legisia- ture of 18jlereated a new tribunal, called the Eighth District Court, and authorized the Governor to appoint a judge to hold until the next election. Now, in 1872 Mr. Elmore, conservative, was elected to preside over this court. Thereupon the Legisla- ture, a8 soon ait met, abolishea both this and | the Seventh District Courts, to both which conservative juages had been chosen, created tme “Saperior District Court,” authorized the Governor to appoint its judge, to hold until 1876, and vested im this court, so organized, exclusive jurisdiction of all preroga- tive writs and the trial of all actions in which tae ttle to any office—State, parish, or municipal—was involved. Another act of the same Legislature authorized the removal of cases where the office of judge was contested in any part of the State | to this Superior District Court of New Orleans. Again, the criminal jurisdiction tn the parish of | Orleans was formerly vested in the First District Court of that parish, In 1872 a conservative, E, Abell, was elected Judge of this court, In 1s74 the Legislature deprived this court of almost ail its im- portant powers and gave them to anew tribunal, called the “superior Crimina! Court,” and wis was specially vested with exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of violations of registration or election laws, and the Governor was directed to appoint a | judge to hold office until 1876. Now, remember that the radicals, who thos created tlus court, were proved beiore the Congressional Committes to have made 5,200 faise registrations in New Or- leans alone in 1874. Or course, having their own court, no one was punished for this, Again, by the charter of New Orleans, the police magistracy of the city was vested in certain “Re- corder’s Courts,” whose officers were to be chosen by the “Administrators” or Common Council of the city. But tne people elected in 1872 @ con- servative board of adminstrato:s, and these chose conservative recorders, Thereupon, Act No, 95 of 1873 was passed oy the Legisiature, whch abolished the Recorders’ Vourts, created in their place metropolitan police courts, and gave the Governor authority to appoint the magistrates to preside in these courts. In other parts of the State the same trick has been repeatediy played of legislating an ob- | noxious—that is to say an Nonest—judge out of | Company, and gave it for flity years the “sole ana | ajudge or other officer elected by the people did | thus enable its Governor | is an} New | | Velocipede, 40, I875.- “TRIPLE quired, for we could stand it no palais «when | We drove out the parish Judge and other rascals our (axes had got Up to seven and ning-tenths per cent on a high valoation, and we coneladed that we might as well stop there and refuse vo pay any | more taxes,’? said the citizen of another parish. Nor are even ths highest judicial officers of the State untainted, In the North Louistana Raliroad case tho Supreme Court of the United States, in its decision delivered last winter, said :— A property upon which had been expended | neariy 2,000,000, together with a large stock 8ub- Scription, a large grant of ‘is and considerabie Vanle property, Was bougat Jor $50,000 by the very persons who defeated a sale tor & much larger price, and the porchase money was re- tained by themszives, * ” * It is lmpossivie to | characterize tuis agreement as anythivg ese than & gross fraud, its obvious purpose was to remove competition at the saie, lt was @ Nagrent breach of trust on the part of Horne, and it was @ tran in Ludeling, witn kuowleage of the trust Horne had undertaken, to persuade lim to violate bis instructions and sacrifice the inter. e518 Of bis constituents, limsel! becoming a par'y to the violation, * * * And it is further or- aered, adjudged and decreed that the sale made by Joun Y. Lugeling and his assvciates, and the adjudication of the Sheriff to them, togetner with the Snerims deed tw them, be declired to be | fraudulent and yoid, and be set aside and can- | celled, and that a perpetual injunction issue com- manding them and ail the deieudants to refrain irom setting up or claiming any right, title or in- terest under said sale or under satd deed, &e. Now, the John T, Ludeiing, here dectared guilty of fraud and breach of trust, is the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, ap- pointed by a republican Bovernor, and is allowed by the Legistature to retain his .seat on the Supreme Bench of the State in the lace of these terrible words of the United States Supreme Court. Public and politic cal demoralization could hardly go further than | this, Considering the character of the men with whom he acts be was tne rignt man tn the right | piace,and it was bat part of a general system | when “fLudeting, Oh. J, decided in 1870, in a case brought before his Court, where it was attempted to upset an act of the Tegisiature on the ground that it was procured by bribing tie members, that “courts are not permitted to go behind an enrolled, duly authenticated and promulgated public statute to inquire into the motives which may have in- deoced the members of the General Assembly in enacting It, ‘Therefore evidence teading to estab- | lish bribery and corruption against the members of | tneGeneral Assembly, which, Is alleged, procured its passage, iy not admissioig.” HOW THEY MAINTAINED THEIR POWER. Federal State and parish oficers have panded together to maintain tuemselves in power and Nave used the ignorant fears of the negroes to help | them. Toey called to their ald every man unseru- | pulous enough to take part with them. By alarm. | ing the blacks, by false revtatration, by arbitrary arrests and threats of arrests just before tne elec- | tions, by cheating in the feturning Board, by tampering with the courts, by debauching the Legisiatare, by monopohzing offices, they | have persistently prevented the honest people of | the State irom securing honest government. See here an exampie:—A young fellow, a white man, | in the present Legis!ature, came hither from New | York #1X years ago, 80 far an adventurer that his | first occupation was to teach boys to travel on the He was presently engaged as a sub- ordinate clerk in the Legislature, and when that body adjourned he went to Mississippi, where, the Legislavure of that State being still in session, | he was also employed asa clerk. In the fall he returned to New Orleans, where Warmoth, then Governor, made him Supervisor of | Registration and Election in an up coun-— try parish where he had never been or lived, After the election he brough: down the returns, wnich, by @ coincidence not at all re- | markable in this State, showed him to have been unanimously elected to the Legtsiature from the parish where he had mapagea the registration and election, Two years later, in 1872, he did not | receive the republican nomination, but, noways | pendent candidate, | until just before the election. The returns showed omMce by creating a new district, thus giving the Governor the appointment of | one or even several new judges. Take | Judge, bis personal friena, protected him by | neglecting to draw a jury. (This was so common atrick thata law was finally passed which com- peliead the drawing of juries; but this law is evaded, for no jury was drawn in the place ‘vu which 1 write this at this term of the Court—peopie tell me because the Parisa Judge was afraid that if aGrand Jury met it would indict him for a gross misapplication of trustfunds.) However, tn Natchl- toches the case went before the District Jadgeand @ negro jury, Who gave a verdict for $40,000. Thereupon at the next session the Legislature broke up the Judicial District, and the Govervor one instance as an example:—In the parish of | Natchitoches, in 1872, tue Grand Jury indicted a | parish officer for embezziement. The Parish | appointed to be Judge of the new district, which | included Natcvitocbes parish, that Parisi Judge who had corruptly protected the embezzier of public funds, The Judge (Myers) has deen drivea out of the country—so ne tells me; reputanle citi- | zens of the parish accuse nim of beiog concerned | in empezzling the scooolfand. The Tax Collector, | | Boult, also driven from puolished a8 @ defaulter im the last Audi- | me report, and acknowledged that ne had, while Tax Collector, been gaged in partnership with the democratic member elect of Congress in buying up depre- | tor’s ! | clated coonty Warrants, which the county must | redeem at par. Both Myers and Bouls continue to | hold offiee, and the condition of adairs in the | parish may be gathered from tue following details, which were confirmed to me by several citizens as | existing in 187 District Judgs Myers was also | treasurer of the school fund, and continues to ve, thougn he bas not oeen in the county since last duly. the Scbool Board, His son, William Boult, was Deputy Tax Colector and also Deputy Parish Treasurer—two offices one of which ought to be a check on the otner. A negro “police jury’—a visore—appomted aa illiterate parish tri rer, David Boult, was Pariah Judge. PLURALISTS. Nor is such a state of things uncommon. Belore the Cong: jonal Committee appea:od oue Green, of Lincoln parisa, and in answer to questions ad- mitted that he was State Senator, one of bis sons ‘Tax Collector, another Parish Judge, ana a third Supervisor of Registration, Of tae members of | the present Legisiavure some are parish judges, | some tax collectors, one ts Assistant Secretary of | State, and a consideradie numucr are charged by | ther constituents With sharing the emoluments | og Office holuers Whose appointments they have can aed. the complaint i# universal that the officers charged with the exeoutionot the jaws are not | only imeMictent, but corrapt; that justice is not only Gqaied, bus openly sold, and in many Cases the people bave, after vain femoustranees, taken | tus jaw iuto their own bacds, In Vermilion | parien, jor iustance, on the prairie lands of wWhied stock raising is the oni: wusiness, the | ownors of attic, alter long endurance of theft, openly told the Governor thas uniews they were | protected by the courts they Would hang oattio thie’ by Lyaca law, aad os no remeay dame they presentiy did Dang between twenty aod thirsy mm, some White and some colored, “i | have seed a Diatriot Attorney, uppointed by the Governor, sel our & case Lor aa iittle 8 $10," Gediared & lavoring man With whom 1 conversed, and thé story Was Ceodrmed to me by eral citizens of the parisn Whom dasked, Oas Of the prominent ciiizens of tae pariah ul Rapides | said to me, “We have bad goiter protection nor | Justice for years. Mactors became so bad suac even the pegrocs got tired of bad wovernmentand | degan to Vote With Os, Wo had no intimidation att it e@CHOA, Dedduse it Was mot hocessary’ Mut Wo would Dave Invmidated if it had bewn fee the parish, stands | Dr. Boult was Tax Collector and member of | | body which is the equivalent of our county super- who caade this Boult nis depaty. Another son, | j discouraged, he onnonnced himself as an inde- On bis Way to the parish, however, he was intrusted by the State Com- Mittee with the republican tickets jor the parish Voters, and it was discovered tuat bis name and that of a democras were mysteriously placed on these tickets, ‘'nereupou tne negroes threatened to lyneh him, and he returned to New Orleaus his defeat; buc the Returning Board seated him, regarding bim probably as too useful a man to leave out, Iam told that he found it necessary to call in the nelp of the last Returning Board also to seit bim im the present Legislature, HOW THEY MADE A LEGISLATURE. Such cases were so far irom rare here that the Legislature of 1569 was made up almost entirely of supervisors of registratioa and colored men, Warmoth, the Governor, selected as registrars a | large pumber ef men leit in New Orleans after the war, and remaining there witbout regular employment, These were sent into the country parishes to register the voters, and they so impressed the negroes with their official power and dignity, that a@ majority of them were rewurned to the Legislature /rom parishes whica they had never seen until they went there to su- periniend the election, The negroes were dragged in a8 & matter of bargain; they nad wit enough to demand a shace of the aonora. The Legislature so | elected sat sixty Gays, at a cost to the state, for per diem, mileage and contingents, of $900,000. Eaci, member is said to have received $7,000 for the session; and it is related that a single com- | mittee of the House had eignty-seven clerks, who | were pald $10 a day eu Some account of what the reconstructors did and did not | must reserve for another letter. CHARLES NORDHOFF. MILITARY AMENITIES, } eterna H & LETTER FROM GENERAL BEAUREGARD TO THE GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE—A REVIEW OF THE DAYS OF THE WAR. i New ORLEANS, La,, April 23, 1875. | Dgar StkR—Your /avor of the 18th inst. has been received, enclosing the ‘orm of an invitation adopted by a general meeting of the soldiers, sail- ors and citizens of Chicago to be sent “to all who recognize the American flag as an emblem of na- tonality, Undivided and idivisidle, to attead a grand reunion of all the soldiers and satiors of the United States, to pe heid at Chicago, May 12, 13 and 14, 1875,” snd inquiring how much truth there is in the remarks of a certain Geueral fFraok Sherman, who odjected to the invitation being sent to me as “he was notin favor of extending an invitation toa man who had said he was in favor oj siooting ail prisoners taken under the American fag.” I had hoped that the passions and enmities occasioned by the late war were repiaced oy kindlier feelings, but It seems tout th ore hearts still rancorous enough to be over anxious to stir agaia inoe dame the dying embde:a of tho war, 1a thia section of onr country snch exhibitions Of ADIwosity are Coniued to those Who during the War were inrthest irom thé enemy, gatherig op the spolts in the wake of the contending armes, Is not this General Frank sherman one of those Gespicabdie characters? Not vom apy Tegard for sucn windy declamn- tion, no? for the man meaa enough to sok to suca hase pavaening to popular passion, bat out of ree Speet to myself Aud 10 that cause Whose high and holy porpos@ history .Will como day viadicate, I will very briefly Rad frankly siate the postion took io. regard to tie conduct of the Jace civil war Qs COncernod federal prisoners, After tae bartic Of tho fret Manessas, whon it was reporred that the ioderal government refased to recognize COn- federate prisoners as “prisoners Of War,” that, | Ghriatien hero and able soldier, Geooral Thomas J. (stonewall) Jackson, Aud mysel’ adtooated that the Confecerate governmert should thea proclaim & ‘war to the kuife, itber askiby ner granting quarter, Wo, moreover, thoagnt that the Wae Would therevy come sooner to on ena, | With lesa destruction, Aaaudy, of ilfe and property, Wo thought wiso twat such @ mode of warfare Would tasp.re greater terror in the armed invaders | Of our G01l wad reduce greatly tao DUMvEr Of army jollowera, buMMers, &c., WhO Were for Ine Curse of all armed tavasio Subsequentiy, wi Sederal: a penetrated | certain portions of tae Bonth, and developed a | ayscem of Warfare in their opéranons io Lower Qa, Missiedippl Gnd Virginia, abd the losmous: | oo able RO of pS) * and Commpbia and the | destructive march of Generil Sherman through Georgia and South Carolina, whose track was marked by smoking rains and blackened ¢ im- neys; to the suggestion of General Halleck to destroy Charleston and sprinkle salt on tts site that not even grass should grow thereon, to which General Sherman replied, that no salt would be needed, a8 one of his most reliable corps formed the right wing of Mis army and that it always did its work thoroughly; to the devastating march of General Sheridan through the Sbevandoan Vatley, relative to which he re- ported to tue General-in-Chief of the United States armies that “a crow fying over the country would have to carry its own vations; but he did not say what became of the old men, women and children who then itved in that Jertile valley ! With regard to the mortality of prisoners on both sides, the Wasbington Union (radical) of October, 1868, contained the following article:—“In reply to & resolution ofthe House of Representatives calling upon the Secretary of War tor the pumber of prisoners of either side held, and that died during the war, he makes the toilowing report:— Number of Union prisoners South, 26,010; died, 22,695. Numoer of Confederate prisoners North, 200,000; died, 26,435. That 1s, two of the former out of every twenty-two aud two of the latter out of every fifteen.” Comment is here unnecessary, in view of the conuition and resources of those two sections of country, 80 diamecricali$ opposed to the one practised by the Confederates when they invaded Maryland and Pennsytvania under their great commander, General R. E. Lee. When I saw the | emaciated forms and wretched condition of our returned Southern prisoners I again advocated the hoisting of the black flag, wuling at any time to forfeit my life in the deadly struggle. Notwith- standing these views, | always treated my prison- ers with humanity and proper consideration. I had the fortune of taking Many thousands of tuent at Manassas, Shilo, Charleston, Drury’s Blut, Bermuda Hundreds and Petersburg, most of waom are, f suppose. still alive, and can and certainly woutd testify vo the fact, Alter the latlor Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, L granted to the garrison the same considerate terms which | had ortered pbefpre the attack. Througa my intercession the federal surgeoos and ministers of the Gospe) taken at Manassas were released, withous exchange, by the Confederate government. ‘ihe Gay aiter that battle oue of the federal oficers, whose frieuds [ knew in New York, applied to me for a small loan for himsell and friends, which | furnished at once from my private junds. 1t was fulthfally returned. Shortly after the battle of Shilok I sent, under a cartel, a certain number of able-bodied federal after, returned an equal number of convalesceuts from St. Louis to Fort Pillow. mand there refused to receive them, because sev- eral oftnem were just Irom a smailpox hospital. General Halleck fatled afterward to make good the exchange. At Charieston I authorized admiral Dahlgren — to send supplies of clothing, &c., to the prisoners we had taken trom him, These supplies were scrupuiously issued to them. At Bermuda Hundreds, in May, 1864, when pass- ing in iront.of a large body of federal prisoners, who had gallantly aetended a position which I considered indispensable to us, 1 took of my nat to them, and they answered this salutation with cheers, ‘Terribly as I desired the effects of tne war to fall op all armed invaders of our country, I wanted exempted from them the non-comoatants—that 1s, the old men, Women aad children, and wished also that private property, nos contraband of war and not needed by the contending armies in the field, should be entirely protected irom seizure or cestruction. Sucn would have been my course had I penetrated with an army into federal terri- tory, unless it were in strict retaliation for mate- rial departures by the federal forces trom this civilized mode of carrying om the war. I remain, dear sir, yours most truly, G. T. BEAUREGARD.. To His Excellency Governor James D. PorTgr, Nashville, Tenn. LAW OF NATIONS. QUESTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED IN AN INTERNA- NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE, NEXT | SEPTEMBER. An important meeting of the International Code Committee was held last evening at the Gramercy Park Hotel, The ovject of the meeting was to arraoge a programme for tae Conference of ths Association for the Reform and Codification of the Law of Nations to be held at the Hague, Holland, the first week of September mext. A large num- ber of Gistioguished gentlemen were present; among them were Rey. President Theodore }). Woolsey, Mr. D. D, Field, Rev. Presiden: F. A. P. Barnard, Judge C. A. Peabody, Dr. J. B. Miles, Rev. Drs. Prime, Fieid and Osgood; Cnanceilor Pruyn, and others. President Woolsey was called to the chair; Prof, Homer B, Sprague was chosen secre- tary. Mr. D. D. Fieid submitted the following series of questions and propositions for discussion at the said meetiug of the Association for the Reform and Codification of the Law of Nations :— NO. 1—PROPORTIONATR REDUCTION IN THE ARMA- MENTS OF EUROPRAN NATIONS. a practi am Karopean nations: — What is the arma by iaud and sea of the nation fo wnicn you belong. and what also according to your fufor: mation are those of thi «aropean nations t What proportion of sa. ‘annament an the case of gach nation do you consider necessary to ite internal security ? 3. What proportion do you consider necessary to its external security ? 4& Do you consider itdesirable that there should be a Priportionate reduction in toe armaments of cnropean pation’ @nd whatever may ve your opinion will you give the reason of itt & Isa Proportionate redaction practicable, and if so, to What extent? 6 By shat methods may sucha reduction be accom- pis ‘The oficer in com- | | ble, to preser' NO. J-PORMALITINS AND DELAYS THAT SHOULD BE | REQUIRED OF NATIONS BEFORE , ENGAGING IN OFFENSIVE WAR. Questions enbmitiet to statesmen, jurists awd others, in oder to obtain thesr opi o ons upon the practicabinty generai treaty, binding nations to observe certain d deiavs bevore beginning uftensive wa opinion, possible to luduce the princi world to agree upon certain formali fore commencing offensive war, and, you give the rea: ossible will rou You think may ns ott? 2 Ifyou think such an agreomont specity (ue orinalities and deiays whic be seomred ? 3. Do you ‘hink Recent to bring about a general ement ot the princip 11 natlos requiring any on of ag them woleh considers itvelf acgrloved Ww state in wriing ite grievances, and submit thi ment Not only to tne nation complained of. but to agreement, 4nd to wait a certain time alter commencing Bostiities, and tt you do. what Jrould you have provides for such tormaii ave? NO. S—ARBITRATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES. aeations submitie? to statesmen: jurists and others in corer ty obtad their opinions apou ? ie sia ot gstablishiry a schowe 0: 1 arbitration tor the setuemont of javrnational disowes L dah, Prous, opinion. pesitite to inuace the ean es and de- nations ét the worla (0 agree upon hie Hon Tor the gettiement of controvers: ee Hatons, may be your opinion, Wal you give tha oh nf Jee ty such an aareomens possible, Wil you heme which id Fecommeans. win raid ‘as You Wina Desesaty ws practical op eratjont 4% in what manner would you endeavor to bring about such an aureewens? ‘NO, 4—PROGKSSS MADS DUBING THE Last YeaR TOWARD A KECORM AND CODIFICATION OF THB LAW OF NATIONS: Questions submitted for the purpose of asecrtainiag the progrere made sinog the iat eon(erence of the asiveia- Hon loward the reform ond oodideation of tne law ot a iad 8 im favor ot international arbitra. during hw period by the lecisiaive Permeipal awtoorives of any, aod 1 19 9 & tn HOS Of International Ly pened ove Guirod wuriig thin period) and 1.40, please. fo speotty {hom and sais the ciroumstanices uinlér whion way uee ht wi ony advance ti Pape op seiien Lt Pine @ure ing the past Your in favo interna. Tonal AFbitrMGOOy And i you thing sual an vadvanee has Taken PlKd, Will You avd tie reasons tor your opimont KO. bymCOLLIBIONS AT BBA PR bre! weduitied to jUriste, shipowner! maeters of Od others, Ii ofder (0 obtain their oumions ton Mine bess Wwethids 0; Dreventiug, a4 laf 4s possibie, couisi0u8 And fing (he Feaponsbity upon thé saucy parties ‘when they cveur, Bat, 18 your opinion soald be the dest means of capt niee tiie Chauces of Goliinons at sen ? #00y, aid 1 MOY What, Change 10 the rules of nayi+ Baiion destrapie + ? HOW far iy it desirable and practicable to de: Lites of prvsuee for Vesvsis Moving in opponte ditwc: | igh Ubon parijenlar veredee * io joi baat QA course Would You tec. ounimond a fixiug the. Fesponsibility Gpoa the par par Fg "a recommend the 6: stand! si autds Yor We idvisiiganon ol suet ue ‘SHEET. and ifso, how wonld you have sich tribunals consti- tuied, and what should be thelr methods of procedure Btlem: receiving these questions are re- y requested to favor the association with ADsw hereto, and Lo send su fo the General See etary, Dr. James B. Miles, OF Koston, Mass., or to G Th. Beerlaerts Van joxiand, LL. D., Advocate, Honorary Secretary 9 Hollsad, No, 9 Koningéunegrocut, fne Hague, oland, ‘The General Secretary (Dr. Miles) was requested to meet the council of the association in eurly iu Juiy to compiete arrangements, Nhe iollowing gentiemen were appointed deie- gates to attend the meeting at Tue Rague:—Pr dent Wooisey, Hoo. D. D. Fieid, Rev. Dr. H. M. Wield, Judge C. A, Peabody, Hon, Alexander H. AP. Sprapen, Natnau’ Appleton, Prolessor Walker, ton, Amusa Waker, Hoo, nish Barritr, Hoa, Wiliam A, Hubbard, Rev, Thompson. President Woolsey, Mr. Field and Mr. Millis Were apporated @ sup-committee authorized to wad to the list of delegates, K uo forthcoming meeting at The Hague wilt be of espe gives if his earnest support. A NARROW ESCAPE. PS ET A CARGO OF SALT IMPREGNATED WITH AR- SENIC—HOW THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE— FACTS OF THE CASE. On Marca 2 the ship Niagara, chartered by Hen- derson Brothers, owners of the Anchor Steamship | line, saiied from Liverpool, Captain McParlane, She had a cargo of salt and arsenic aboard—1,960 sacks of the former and 100 barrels of the latter, besides some other mercuan- dise, principally ceemicais, The sait was stowed in the hold of the vessel and securely packed, the arsenic bemg in that space of the sbip known as “between decks.’ ‘The Niagara was « stanch under command of vessel, having once been a Cunard steam- smip, and 18 considered o fast sailer. On this oveasion, however, aimost from the outset of the voyage, bad weather set in, and a few days after leaving port the vessel was met bya feightful hurricane, which laid ner on het beam ends, tore many of the sails to shreds and at leagth caused the foretopmast to go by the board. In tois emergency the horror of the situ- ation was added to by the fact thas the cargo, in pari, suifted, the barreis of arsenic breaking away aud at every luret of the shtp rolling about with- Ont ahy possibilty on the part of the crew, ocen- pied, as tt was, with the fate of che vessel itself, to right matters in the held, Relting abont from aide to side many of the barrels broke open and scat- tered their contents about the deck. ‘The hatches Were battened down, but this was not enough to “prevent some portion of the buge volumes ot water from getting through the interstices and partly wetting what had been scattered about, It was with infinite anfticulty that the vessel Was at length righted atter the storm had | prisoners to General Halleck, who, several weeks | BPA ed, GON ARO DEVS RG: OD. REt: FOF AmN te, cargo in the meantime having been fixed tu place, but what had been spoiled swept away. The Voyage continued pleasantly tor some time longer, until the 24th, when the ship met anotuer storm, only les3 devastating than ine first, Here again there Was some trouble with the cargo, out noth | ing to compare witn the frst time, and only some | arsenic was lost Irom the barrels which had been | more or less damaged betore, much attention to, and, tue saip paving | Weathered this second gale as safely as | the first, she arrived in tue port of New York | on April’ 4, bearing the marks. however, of her | cattie with the elements. Ihe arrival Oi the ves- | Sei had been auxiousiy awaited bere, and the salt | Was broken lunmediately and sent by tue parties | tO whom it was consigned to the West, some | reachiog Chicago and Cincinnati. Captain Aic- Farlaue, busy with other duties, did not remark uuything as singalar in the anidading until sev- eral days aiter some of tne sale had been un- packed wud seut away. He then remarked that wauy of the sacks of sait appeared to ve coated With & white powder, “between decks” algo bad a consideravle quantity |or the same. it struck him thas this could not be salt, and therefore must be arsenic. So he communicated his | suspicion to Messrs. Henderson, the consignees of Une Magara. ‘They Lumediately, 1earing a disaster, put themselves in Communication with tie coo- signees of Lhe salt, of Wuom there were a number, aud these gentiewen proceeded to tne ship and eXamined .oe condivon ol altars, They came to the conclusion that tae suspicion of tue Captain regarding the contamination of the arsenic migat possibly be true, as lt became evideut to to them tuat the white powder which coaed the sacks and lug ubout tne decks was noctsait. Under | these circumstances it Was decided to call in tue | service O1 a chemist WhO Would reporcon the mat- ter. In the meantime telegrams | by toese geutiemen to ail the persons . whom tue salt had been sent not to Use it under any circumstances until tur- | ther imtormation was obtained. In eacn case | these telegrams Were received before the sait, ‘and what might nave beea a se10us calamity was averted. rfolessor Voremus was then called Qyon and asked to make an examumation, WHAl PROFESSOR DOREMUS SAYS. Professor Doremus, iu conversation last night | on the sugject, satd taat he compLed with the in- Vitation and went On board the Niagara. Captaia McFarlane was Very courteous aud showed him torvugh the vessel. He visited the “’tweea decks” and then the o0la and saw bow the acci- dent had happened. It Wes natural eaouga, and ia such Weather could not bave been very well prevented. He saw @ good deal of the arsenic powder lying around on the decks also noticed =the coatta, ont sacks of salt. Ho told the gentlemen who employed him chat he would put # veto on tue use of the salt until a thorough examination could be made 01 the salt luside the Sacks, to determine Whether it fad been contaminated or not. He thereupon took the salt to fin javoratory und ex- amined it caretuliy. He found in tne specimens what oe considered arsenic, scattered torougn especially that portion of the sait woicn hi near the outside, 4 peen It existed in quantit sal. rows for ediole purposes, thor nov is a quesuon But it might vave done ossible danger of this, however, pe. in w: % a tine quality, Asiton grea ioss had be a taned “oy 73 Scolaent. fle supposed that a poritom of it would | possioiy bave beea good, ou. he could not tell What portion, aad therefore had to cundema the whole, It was uot @ total loss, however, a3 it migat be used for several purposes besiaes edi- @ Shins, for imstaoce. [¢ can only ah taken as. 8 Misiortune im wWeica nobody is to arr ‘ne > Slagara now lies at pler No. East River, topmast is still missing, Almost ali the been moved out by this time, but full pre- cc. ations taken that by ho possibitty the porsoued sait of any portion of it caa be used fc purposes for which it was Orst destined. opie to Whom it Was sent were aiterward Jd ol Its dangerous Giaracter and some of it iready been senc pack. SERIOUS STABBING AFFRAY. he would bot answer. ‘Tuere Was no the use of tue salt bad veen aut iy A BOY DANGEROUSLY STABBED IN THE ABDOMEN WITH A PENKNIFE. A stabbing affiay, which may result fatally, oc- curred Lo Jrons of No, 476 Hudsou street last night> it appears that Jacob Simmons opened a liquor sa.o0n and policy shop at tue above number yes- terday, and the place was visited by a numoer of irienas o1 the proprietor, Wao thronged the store at afferent hours, Attracted by the crowd, several boys, among whom was Sam- uel Miller, aged ijoortecn e iaing | wt NO, 64 Barrow street, ass boracod at abOUS Hai-past seven o'clock, al Josepa Simmons, 4 lad diteen years oid, a brotaer ‘yetor, me our of ore Muley oreadon ensued, in Ww. ck the tuce With his cencoed hand. Ibe lated by drawing from his pocket a ap od staoving Muli the abdomen wita infictiug @ deep ana di WHICH he Mute Lie cape, Saken uy lis ends to ve Nut ho wo he stated the cireumseten bss vesivence and Dr, O'Neil sammoned toatiend tim, Tae latter, on OXaWinssioa, predouaced the Wound a very Gan- merous of, and Obe Cyat mipat Fosulc in Captain Kenuedy prompuy detailed a dew te arrest Yuang SinMons, and tue jatter was, & long S@efoh, ound ana taken iMty cust dy. brothet dacub 4 pO.1ce aa uis policy Wat VO.y P@Licent abou Bnptuing He was lo | OF ation tnyu THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC. The charter of the American Coll of Music has passed both houses of the Log re and Dae JUS received the Governor's sigaature. Governor Tilden's great jateres: in toe iostitation Induced him fo siga thie bulla preference to many oth that were jatd beore him, A HeRaLO ropresontas tive bus had the privilege Of rexdiug the pill, Whien 14 an excell one eo far w tue remains to be done now out tu wilow he was “us aitair, Teanng to way up toawait toe resus a en Wi 4 Que-ted to servemalrdouga they have not been spoken lo Yot—are pretty mMuca decided up: ‘10# neXt Move Wil Le to gs gd Oe Way FOB! ASSN ed O! UNE T he Tight mon will be putin nae rignt p! Bud will follow, tig a o ve an KI $260,000, and gives the ssets contin, the deures OF answers e:ther | London | imnortanes, since tue King of Holland , This Was not paid | and tat the floor of the | were sent | a S0UN Q8 the frst step is taken toe ners | 3 — AMDREMERTS i —s H THE DAN BRYANT BRX EFITS, The ever-generous people of New York gave yao terday anotuer proof of tneir kindly and charitable character, by making the benefit performances or gavized for the children of tne deceased Daniel Webster O’Brien, betier known a3 Dan Bryant, an overwhelwing suecess. All the leading theatres of the city gave matinée performances im aid of the Bryant family; and, without exception, they were literally jammed. Few of the houses ever see such aauiences gathered within tneix walis as were brought togetoer by the benefit tes. timonial, The merry faces and gay dresses of the | assistants gave but little indication of the sad oc. ' casion of the assembiage; but the good done was none the less real because it was done cheerfully The vari | 8nd with a spirit of light-nearteaness, | 0US theatres had prepared strong attractive bila | with a very laudable spirit of rivalry, but so great ; Was the rush for places that the chief theatres: be- | came uncomfortably filled. THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC. | he oul at this house inciaded Mr. Fitz-James | O'Brien's comedy of “A Gentleman from Ireland,” “Yankee Help” and Poole’s comedy “Simpson é& vo.’ Under the direction of the genial Joon Brougham overything went off smootniy, and che immense audience that filed up every available nook im tne great house were kept heartily | amused. Mr, Jonn Brougham played Gerald Fitz- maurice in O'Brien's clever comedy witn his wonted happiness. In returning thanks to the public for their generosity in coming to the ald of | Dan Bryant's family he suid:— I have but little tosay to you, ladles and gen- | tlemen, upon this occasion—Words are poor in- terpreters of the heart's langaage, Nor could any- | Ming be satd im the way of etlogy, tor your share in this work of comprehensive venevelence, be youd the simple tact t at thie moment tie Sitgultancous Gemonstracions are transpieing That Wiilenable New York lo do, waat 1 has often done before upon similar oceasions—to tare the place of a tatin to the jathe kdb to mitigate im some degree the cruelly sudden stroke of ill 1ortuue which deprived a surrewing aud beipless tamily of its breadwiiner—eveu iy the fall hush of his manbood, the very meridian of jusitfe. The conception of toese acts of huwanity is grand; it 18 eXceptional; iw one single sea vence—It is Amercaa. Tere. 1610: Other. ane wonity in tie World where it would be at aa likely to be done, aud there is no place m America wheie it could be acconiplisned so thoroughly, earaestiy and conscientiousiy a8 here 1a thls Cig es. May Heaven bless you sor it! ide neaven has blessed you, as the very imsptration Which causes you to respond With such abundant hverality to every demand upon your syupatty must bring with it that glow of inward happl | Ness Which always accompauies the periormance of a generous und humane action, It ls the most supreme quality of that mercy which Falleth as the gentle dew trom heaven Upon the place beneath. 1t is thrice blessed ; | at Diessots, him that gives and lum that takes’ | It would be superfluous to add one word to the utterance of the great poet of all time, who ine | Variably said the best things that could be said | Upon all sudjects and upon all occasions, | Mrs, Barney Willams received quite an ovation for her periormance in “Yankee Help’’—one of those happy caricatures, robust and mirth-pro- voking, which amuse without offending, Mra, Jon Drew and Miss Rose Massey made their ap pearance i “Simpson & Co.,’’ with Miss Morant, | Mrs. G. Fawcett Rowe, Mr. MacKay and others, The second and thira acts of “L’Ombra” wert given by members of the Maretzek Opera Com- , pany. The performance was brought to a close by a grand musical entertaiument by the Bryant’s Minstrels, The mingtreis did not appear until | six P. M., but the people waited and gave them @ | most enthusiastic reception. WALLACK’S. | This favorite house was yesterday filled to its utmost capacity. Tue entertainment consisted ot Smiith’s comedietta, “A Happy Pair,” in — Miss Ada Dyas and Mr. H, J. Montague appeare: The piece 18 admirably sutred to bupiing, out yor Ad best qualities of both artists, and furnished a de- lightful hall hour’s entertainment. It was espe- claly enjoyed by the ladies, who made up the immense majority of the audience. They e dently thought the picture a good one, and we: no way chary of their spplause. rents] little piece Was followed by Sieridun’s immortal comedy, ‘fhe Rivals,” ta which Mr. Gubert as sumed his favorite rdle of Sir Antnouy Abdsolat | | | and Mr. wis Played the part of Sir Lucu OT rigger. fhe play Was presented with that completeness id odmirable characterization wuicn dis) es the efforts of Waliack’s com pany. BOOTH'S. Tom Taylor’s suceessful drama, “The Ticket-ot Leave-Man,”’ was revived at (uis house yesterday for the occasion of tne Bryaut venefit, remark. ably strong cast was procured inrough the kimd- | hess of numerous volunteers, many of whom bad created their roles in this country. Mr. \d Mra. ed in their origimai characters, as Emily St. Evremond, Mrs. ¥. 5. Chanfvaa appearing as May Edwards. Tne play was well presented, and heid the auaience ia atrention by its strong dramatic interest. Every Seat in this house was Oiled, and pouoes, who were unable to obtain seats heroically re- mained, preierring to stand in tae alsies rather than miss the periormance, EUM THEATRE. 3 ee wave & matinée per- Jotie Parfumeuse” for the Brvant testimonial, Which was largely attended. Al Nardyon, Gaudon, De Beer, Kolletz, and Arrigott, were in (De Cast, and a most enjoyable entertain ment was furnished. OLYMPIO THBATRE. The merr formance ol A rewarkably strong bill Was offered ai Lh 4 house and proved very attractive. it Sy “Bad Boys.” “fhe Comancnes,” “Tie the Kitenen’” the military pantomime called “Tae Recruits.” The house was av-oimtely jammed. THEATRE CuMIQUE. Under the direction of wr. Josh Hart im meose bill Was prepared at tdis house, With the resuit of packing Ir to its utmost capacity. Harte a and Hart, Rickey and Barney, Miss Jenoie jaghes, Miss Adah Kicnmond and Miss Kitty O'Neil ¢ wptributed thelr speciaities to the amuse ment of the public, PARK THEATRE. mieriss of Mr. Mayo'’s periormagce i this coarm ing drawa; aud thongh It has not met with the amount of pudlic support it deserves there cap be no voubt that its day OF popularity will eventu ally arrive. aud people Will be surprised to dis cover beanties (bey are blind to now. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, The 'Friscans gave # very successful encertaie ment fur the benefit of thelr deaa comrade’s isi and thoagh there were no novet featares intro. ducea the atrraction proved suticieat to draw s gvod audience. | BOWERY THEATRE. | The old Bowery Was not to be left behind wher the cause of Charity Was in question, 80 & strony aud attractive bid Was jurpisbed lor the delecta- tion of the “b’noys.” “Snowbird,” a rose Eve | “The Wite of Mantaa”’ and ti | “Rovert Macaire’ were presente for the occasion wie iscatcayated th t th benefits tis calcalated that the un ne day reauzed the sum of Ars ag ite Jae reinros were to be had ap to s ‘iat (0. DOUF Iasi night, Wita the additional junds to be realized outside of New York, the tw Dac sryant’s jamily may be — upon At least his chtidren will be goats Trude assxults of wan may congratulate themselves on havi yormed this great act of charity yesterday. MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. At the Park Theatre “Davy Crockett” will be Withdrawn with this week. To-might Mr. Frank | Mayo Will receive @ benedt, ana if his claims are properly recognized there will be a crowded house: “Davy Crockett’ will be given at a matings op Saturday, as Usual. The complimentary dramatic performance for the beneflt of Mr, M. A, Kennedy occurs at tht Brooxiyn Academy of Music this evening, “Uhé Honeymoon’ aod “The serioas Family" will be periormed, she affair is likely to be & great sno cess, Docause of the popularity of Mr Kennedy aod the staadiog of rhe gentiemen woo have ten: dered him the benefit, among whom are Mayor Hunter and other weil snown officiais, THE LATE MRS, CONWAY. ‘The citizens of Brooxivn received the announce ment of $16 death of Mrs, Saran G, Conway, tue Actress and manageresa of tae Brookiya Theatre With OXpressions Of deep regret, Plaga were dis Played wt Naif mast om many bulidings and al the | theatres in toe city were dfaped im mouraing bie wil of the a ‘orn by mee Who ia only twei Slaton nd ty ite 1s leit to ber daugitor Mi oy. In her Will che deceused ex; her cnivuren shoald itve Tosetaereth ederivk suai t become of ‘Stes | should occupy ger piace tu eeting OF of ‘wef eeu | Mon wih be Held in the Park Celok Fils @.terhoon to take Betion IB to the deucn vi Ard, Cou war, ha otbara See