The New York Herald Newspaper, April 29, 1876, Page 3

WASHINGTON. | Passage of the Legislative Appropri- ation Bill by the House. MPORTANT = POINT «OF ORDER DECIDED. Decision of Judge Cartter in the Kilbourn Habeas Corpus Case. THE BHOGEST STEAL OF ALL THE STEALS. Secretary Bristow’s Connection with the Mary Merritt Case. A WRUEDDLY ACT TO 1 KENTUCKY MBICHBOR. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wasurxorox, April 28, 1876. ‘TER RECUSANT WITNESS HABEAS CORPUS Case— KXLBOUBN TUBNED OVER TO THE CRIMINAL COURT AND ADMITTED TO BAIL-—¥YEELING OF MEMBERS OVER THE RESULT. Jadge Carter, to-day, turned Kilbourn over tothe Oriminal Court of the Dutrict to answer according to law on an indictment found by the Grand Jury for con- tempt of the House. He founded his decision entirely on the law, which prescribes that a person ja contempt ef either house of Congress shall be handed over to the Court to be tried, and fixes a punishment of fine and imprisonment. He refused expressly to cousider the questions whether Congress had power to make the ‘mvestigation which Kilbourn resisted, or whether it had ower to domand that he should expose his private business, and how far, toaid in the investigation. The Judge remarked that if Congress found that the present law, enacted by itself, interfered with its powers to in- vestizate, it was ablo to change the Jaw, or it could re- peal it and fall back upon the constitutional power of each house in the premises, Meantime it was the Court's duty to take the law as it stood. Fow members of Congress have read the opinion to-night and there has been but little discussion of it, The matter has ‘deen relegated to the Judiciary Committee for consid eration. Kilbourn is now under $5,0U0 bail to an- awer to a criminal indictment for contempt under the law. The Judiciary Committee will probably re- Port that the law should take its course. It is said that Mr. Hoar, who votes not to surrender Kilbourn, is in- dignant at the action of the: Court; but it 1s believed that the full and respectful consideration given to the tage by the Court, as well as the grounds upon which the decision is founded, will causo general assent in the House. It 1s, however, certain that of those who voted to give up Kilbourn a considerable number did 90 In the belief that Judge Cartter would remand him to the custody of the House, as Judge McArthur did Irwin at the last session, and there in a good deal of Jealousy among members of both sides of any inter- ference with tho power of the House over its wit- besses Which may becume evident. FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Wasutnerox, April 28, 1876, KEHE PROGRESS OF BUSINESS AND THE PROS- PECTS YOR AW ADJOURNMENT—PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL—THE SEC- TION TRANSFERRING THE INDIAN BUREAU TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT STRICKEM OUT OW A POINT OF ORDER. ‘The passage by the House to-day of the Legislative Appropriation bill is significant of the determination of that body to expedite business, aud the solitary fact of “the passage of this bill is alroady taken to mean that ‘Congress will be able to adjourn, or at least will make an effort to adjourn, by the first or second week in ‘Sane.’ The question, however, is newly complicated by the impeachment trial which is likely to take up so much of the time of the Senate and of the leading mem- bers of the House, who must attend as managers, that the enthasiasm of this evening over the prospect of an adjournment before the dog days may be premature. The element of dolay involved in the subject. of the impeachment trial is not readily calcu- lable, and may defeat all projects for a speedy adjourn- ment. Should the House find eventually that the ses- sion will have to be prolonged into July it is likely that ® recess will be taken to enable the members of Con- gress of both political parties to attend the Cinciongti and St. Louis conventions, which meet only thirteen faye apart. ‘The discussion of the Tegisiative Appropriation bill eccupied forty-five days, the session some days running far toward midnight. Tho chairman of the Committee of the Whole waile discussing it was Mr. Cox, of New York, whose rulings during the lengthy debate were never excepted to. At the last hour—when the House discussed the section transferring the Indian Bureau to the War Department, which section had been tacked on as “rider” to the bill in order to force tho Senate to adopt the measure should the independent bill to make the transfer be defeated in the Senate—the point of order was made by Professor Seelye that the matter was not germane toan appropriation bill. This pomt Mr. Cox gracefully reterred to Speaxer Kerr, who de- sided it well taken, and the section was stricken out. WHY THE NATIONAL BANKS FAVOR THE MRAS- CBE ALLOWING THEM 1O ISSUE A LARGER PROPORTION OF CURRENCY—A SABLE GENTLE- MAN CONCEALED IN THE FENCE. Some surprise has been manifested that the banks Should be so active in urging the measure which pro- poses to allow them to issue 100 per cent, instead of being confined to ninety per cent of the amount of bonds deposited as collateral with the Treasury, when the tendency of late on the part of the banks gener- ally bas beon to take in instead of to pat out currency. Ut turns out, however, thut there is a colored gontie- man im this little proposition whose sable head came to ‘view in the commities yesterday. The banks do not ‘want the law modified to permit them to issue more notes. They really want to be allowed to draw out the ten per cent of surplus bonds which would stand to their credit in the Treasury, and sell them. This 1s the secret of their anxiety, which has struck so many people as being inconsiwtent with the interests of the mational banking busiwess at the present time, THE QUESTION OF THR JUNE YAY OF THE ABMY—-A SIMILAR DEFICIENCY IN THE NAVY PAY APPROPRIATION—HOW THE DEFICIENCIES CAME ABOUT. It turns out that not only is there likely to be no pay for the army for the month of June, but the navy will Probably suffer in the same way. It will be romem- bered that iu June last tne officers and men of the army received no pay from the 15th to the 30th of the Month, on account of a deficiency im the amount ap- propriated by Congress jor that purpose. The same amount was appropriated—§11,400,000--tor the fiscal year ending June 30 next, aud the deficiency forthe Present year is estimated by the Secretary of the Treasary and the ‘officials of the Pay Department at $900,000, Secretary Bristow last month sent a letter to tho House of Representatives asking for this amount, in addition to $500,000 to pay the amount still due trom Tune, 1875, The House Committee on Appropriations inserted the following paragraph in tho deficiency bill :— That the sum of $1,165,000, remaining to the credit Of the appropriation tor pay of the army jor the fiscal year 1874, ia hereby reappropriated and made available from and after the passage of this act for the following purjoses, numety:—To pay the sum of $500,000 oF so mmuch thereof as may be necessary tor pay of the army trom June 16 tw June 80, 1815; and the remuinder of the first above puined sum shali be available to meet any deficiency for pay of the army for the current fis- cai year, ‘This paragraph was passed by the Senate without smendment, alter having pasted the House, and the bill jwelf 1s now tn the bands of « conference committee. Tbe balance avaliable for this year, alter paying the amoum due tor June, 1875, 14 $666,000 only, and this @il bo stil further reduced by « ruling which will “or loss. Should the President insist upon hts order it NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, shortly be made which will materislly increase the amount to be paid to officers for actual expenses while | travelling om duty. The estimate for $900,000 deficiency was figured as closely as possible by the Pay Depart- ment officials, and the explanation of the enormous Ancreage over the deficiency of last year, when the ap- propriations were for the same amounts, is found ir the jucrease known a8 service pay or “longevity” for oili- cers and men. The amount to be paid in June will not probably be for more than ove-half the month, and will come very hard to many officers who were obliged dur- ing the past year to sell their “June pay, 1875," vouch- ers at a loss of from 15 to 30 por cent discount In the navy it is believed by persons who are familiar with tho state of affairs that thero will also be but half pay for June next. Nearly the whole appropriation of {$6,250,000 bas already been drawn {rem the Treasury ‘upoa requisitions, and while there may still be consid- erable amounts in the hands of pay officers of the navy at the various offices and navy yards and on vessels in commission there can scarcely be a sufficient amount to complete payment of over $1,600,000 required. Last year it was currently said that the entire appro- priation for the “pay of the navy” was exhausted some time prior to June 30, but the payments were completed by a system of ‘borrowing’ from the appropriations for the purchase of provisions and clothing. The fact that so large a number of vessels are now in commission, farm excess of the number at any previous period since 1866, has tended to iscroaso the expense by giving “‘gea pay’? to a very large number of officers who would otherwise receive only “shore duty” or ‘waiting orders” pay. Notwithstanding this Secretary Roboson distinctly told the House Committee on Naval Affairs recently that he had plenty of money for the year and would not ask for a doliar for deficiencies, and no csti- mates for the Navy Department were therolore included in the letter of Secretary Bristow. CABINET MEETING—THE QUESTION OF SENDING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES, ‘There was quite an extended discussion to-day at the meeting of the Cabinet in regurd to the executive order forbidding heads of departments to furnish original papers to Congressional committees, but as Secretary Bristow was engaged before Smith Ely’s committee no conclusion was reachod, and action was postponed until next week. Itis believed by the democratic membors of Caulfield’s committee that the President ‘will, in this instance, respect the necessities of the committee and recede from the order. The democrats argue that the papers, being in the custody ofa clerk of adepartment while they are being exammedin the committee rooms, are guarded against danger of injury ig not improbable that a resolution will be offered in tho Howse formally requesting the papers required by Caulfield’s committee, THE PHILADELPHIA MAVY YARD INVESTIGA- TION—AN EXPRESSION FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. ‘The chairman and two members of the House Naval Committee stated to-day that, while they bad not ex- pressed any opinions nor given out any information in regard to the calpability of this person or that in con- nection with the irregularities of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, still the evidence which they had taken when printed would show that of all the ‘‘steals”’ which had been examined in the investigations the “gteal”’ at the Philadelphia Navy Yard would provo to be the biggest. The arrangements mado by the De- partment and other officials in connection with the transfer of the site were simply of an outrageous char- acter from the fact that a piece of ground which one of the committee said was seven inches under water was taken for that which was eligible in every respect. GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES. Wasuusaton, April 28, 1876, SECRETARY BRISTOW AND THE MARY MERRITT CASE—THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE COM- MITTER OM EXPENDITURES IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT—NO PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION WITH THR CASH ON THE PART OF THE SKC- RETARY. The Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury De- partment (Mr. Smith Ely, Jr., Chairman), began,to-day the investigation of the charge against Secretary Bris- tow in regard to the release of the bark Mary Merritt. Secretary Bristow, Solicitor Wilsonaud other officers of the Treasury Department were present. Edward E. Johnson, of Milwaukee, testified that he ‘was attorney for the owners of the bark and petitioned the Treasury Department for s remission of the for- feiture of tho vesser; “he” cans» to Washington, when Senator Carpenter introduced*him'to Secretary Bris- tow in the presence of Solicitor Wilson; he had some conversation with the Secretary and the Solicitor about the remission of the forfeiture, in which the Solicitor said he was in favor of the remission; secretary Bristow declined to have anything to do with the matter, on the ground that he had formerly assisted Messrs, Feland and Evans, the attorneys tor William L. und Stephen E. Trice in the case; the Secretary also said he had been suddenly called to Philadelpbia that afternoon; the witness did not see him again. The wit- ness, in further progress of the investigation, said the bark was released on bis petition, as be supposed the Felease was signed by the Cvart, Jadge Cate, who introduced in the House of Repre- sentatives the resolution under which this investiga- tion 1s conducted, asked the witness if he did not tell Judge Hubbell, of Wisconsin, that Secretary Bristow had aid at that interview that he (Bristow) would leave the department for u fow days and let Assistant Secretary Conant fix up the case. The witness replied that ho never made any such statement. Ho might have told Judge Habbell that Secretary Bristow said he was going to Philadelphia, but it had nothing whatever to do with the pending case, and tho Secretary did not tell the witness anything about going away tor that purpose. In reply to questions by Secrotury Bristow the wit- neas said there was no charge of ireud against the vessel; that the whole ground of forfeiture was on points in the Reciprocity Treaty aud nad nothing to do with smuggling. The Secretary road the following from the resolation directing this investigation:— And thereupon one of tho for the owners of said vossel applied to said B. H. Bristow, Secretury of the Treasury, tor a remission of said forforure, to which said Bristow replied thet be would do nothing himself, but his private secretary could fx it up, and the suid attorney met bis private secretary and bad the forfeiture remitted. Tho Secreiary asked the witness (presuming he was the attorney alluded to) whether there was any truth in that allegation. The witness replied it was wholly untrue; the Secro- tary never said any guch thing to him and he never saw the Sceretary’s private secretary. Secretary Bristow—Did I not tell you that I had ren- dered some iriendly assistance to Ferland and Evans, without fee and not ss an attorney, and therefore de_ clined wo act in the matter, but while | could not act 1 believed that every petitioner bad a right tobe heard? Witness—I do uot recollect that as the precise lan- guage, but it was to that effect, Secretary Bristow—Did you ever make any arrange- ment with me in the presence of Sonators Carpouter and Wilson, or in the absence of either or both of them, that I was to leave the department and let some one else Ox 16? Wituess—No, sir; it is false in every particular. Secretary Bristow—Did you over know any person inthe Treasury Department to have anything todo | with this case in an improper capacity ? Witness—No, sir, not one, Judge Hubbell, iormerly United States District At- torvey for Wise2nsin and until the spring of 1875, tes- tiled that his frst view with Mr. Johnson was twenty days before final remission of the fine; Jobnson had called on him to ask whether he bad ro- ceived any communication from Washington to rangement for the release of the Mary Merritt; Joun- son reported he had just returned from Washington nd iound things there very favorable, and thut Secro- lary Bristow was going to Philadelphia and would leave the Assistant Secretary to remit the fine or release the Mary Merritt; the witness understood Jobnson to say thts to him more than once. The Chairman—Did you understand Johnson to say that Secretary Bristow was going to Philadeiphia, with a view that the sctilement might be made auring bus absence’ Witnese—I do not give my understanding, but what Mr, Johnson said; Johnson wid me such rotuiement ‘would not be made ualess I should give my assent. ‘The witpess then produced copies of correspondence between Bluford Wilson, Solicitor of the Treasury Do- | partment, and himself in relation to the Mary Merritt mm the summer of 1874 and the terms of compromise, ‘These did not moet with the concurrence of the wit | j | | ‘eas for the reasons stated; but finally he gave his oon- Sent and went into court and filed the warrant of re- mission, The judgment was satisfied, and thus ter- minated his connection with the case. In the course of the examination Secretary Bristow asked the witness whether he did not know that the Predecessor of the present Solicitor, Mr. Banfield, had gone carefuily over the ground, and said that the of- fenco charged against the Mary Merritt was mercly technical? The witness replied that he recollected something of 1t Secretary Bristow asked the witness, who testified that he was throughout opposed to the remission, by what process he changed his mind? The witness ro- Plied, because he was assured that the department was Prepared to make the remission, and thus arrest fur- ther legal proceedings, and because he thought it would be done anyhow; he had nothing whatever to do with the remission of the forfeiture further than give his assent. He was pressed eo bard by Mr. Young, who was almost frantic, and who had an interest in tbe Feauit, thas be yielded, not wishing to stand in the way of his peighbor, Secretary Bristow asked—Was not this your principal reason, that the customs officers, as informers, should have their moieties? The witness replied that was so in part, They had sold their moiety claims absolutely to Mr. Young, Doring the further examination witness said he was interested in the settlement to the extent of the two per cent he received on the amount of the judgment. Secretary Bristow referred to the statute to show that Judgo Hubbell was not entitled to receive such Per cent, bat the Judze took a different view of the question. Judgo Hubbell remarked that in regard to the decis. fon in the Mary Morritt case by the Court and tho ac- tion of the government upon it, he had never written a word or caused anything to bo written or published further than what appeared in his own letters, Ho had seen some allusion by the Secretary of the Treasury as to having been removed from office, Ho held the office of District Attorney four anda half years and was removed by the President, If the Secretary of the Treasury know of any act of his that was in violation of law or intentionally wrong, au opportunity should have been given bim to defend himself, but this was not afforded, He had previously informod Solicitor Wilson that he did not care to hold the office, the compensation being in- sufliciont, and was told by Wilson, in the presence of foveral other persons, that there were no complaints aguinst him, A few days only after this conversation he was cuspended. Secretary Bristow, in view of the statement just made, dosired to make one, Representative Bright suggested that the Secretary be first sworn, Secretary Bristow remarked that, in view of what the witness had just said, it was bat common fairness that he should bo allowed to make astatement. Representative Bright rephed that the: withess were made underoath, and thal thos” ot the ati, _ pwersifled us to seem chaotic. | APRIL 29, 1876,—TRIPLE SHEET, SPAIN. + Peculiarities of the People—The Causes of Their Non-Suceess, Ex-Queen Isabel and Her Event- ful Career. MYSTERIOUS PRODUCTION OF A ROYAL FAMILY. Sensations, Intrigues and Scan- dals of the Capital. CHARACTER OF THE YOUNG KING, Mapai, April 12, 1376, Spain is the most unfortunate country in Christen- dom, and all on account of the ignorance, stubbornness and extrome conservatism of ita heterogeneous popula- tion, Almost their only points of resemblanco are in the defocts which insure narrowness, foster supersti- tion and retard progress. SPANISH IDIOBYNCRASILE Apart from being @ very mixed race (there are the Basques, occupying the region they give their name to, the Modejars, a remnant of the Moors, the Gitanos or Bypsies and the Spaniards proper), the poople are tn- | vonsely and literally provincial, each man’s sympathies and patriotism being restricted to his province. They talk and vaunt perpetually of their country, though they seldom consider sny one their countryman (paisano) who is not a native of the neighborhood they themselves were born and reared in, The Castilian (be regards himselt asthe only true Spaniard) knows Hittle aud cares less for the Andalusian; the Andalusian has no community of feeling with the Galician and the Galician looks upon the Basque as an alien. The common people, who as a rule are suporior In ebaracter to the more intelligent classes, have a na. tional bond tn theirjadherenco to the Roman Catholic faith and in thoir-Jealougy of and hostility to foreign | influence and interference. It is this which makes them so strong against invasion, and it is their exces- sive provincialism which creates and fosters inter, necine strife, Like foreigners to one another in ordi- nary times, distracted with inner dissensions, thoy band together and oppose most obstinately any ox- ternal foe. Loyalty to their sovereign was once nearly as firma source.of union as the Church itself; but of late the Spaniards have been unable to agree upon a sovereign, and, moreover, politics here have grown to be so di- There aro, among mon- } tender fire, King, havi 2o son, repealed (March 11880), Salis'iaw lntroseoed by huh ¥.. and fT: Ee cifepring of his is Buccessor, thus excluding Don Carlos, who, by that law, presumptive. and halt later, and the child leabel was proclaimed queen, Don Carlox wok up arms to sustain his cause, and gained many adherents. The ecctesiastical authorities and conservatives (Moderados) sided with him, and the party of the Queen.became identitied with the liberais (£xaltados), while the Queen Mother, who had taken the titie of Regent, guaranteed a constitution to Spain, EMBITTERED. ‘The contest grew very bitter, as civil contests usually do, Isabel beimg supported bythe greater part of the people, and the Cyries deciding that Don Carlos aud 18 heirs should bé excluded from the throne furevel Peace baving been conciuded in the summer of 1839, Don Carlos fled to France. fhen Espartero acquired reat power and opposed the government Ministerial changes, insurrections, abdication, dictatorships fol- Jowed, and eflorts were made to get possession of the perscn of the young Queen (later iu her lite there was eo trouble in doing so), who had ber majority advanced eleven months by the Cortes, and was put upon the throne. Intrigues, changes und crises continued, how- ever, for they ure inseparable trom Syfain, and will con- \unue, probably, to the end of the century. ‘AN UNNATORAL MAMILAGH, By the contrivance of the Duke de Montpensier of Louis Philippe, of France, Isabel was married on her sixteenth birthday to her cousin, Don Francisco de Assis, Duke of Candia, and son of the Infante, Fran- cisco de Paula, brother of Ferdinand Vil. 1 Duke de Montpouster, ‘who had for wite Isabel’s sister, Mana da Luisa, bad carefully selected for bis sister- pouse whom he and everybody else uld or could become a tather. Tho a8 plain enough, since the failure of the iidren, which was a foregone conciu- sion, would make her own offxpring beirs to the thr Isubel, as may be inferred, was not long in discover- ing her husvand’s conjugal untitness, te was as in- comperent menfhily a8 cofporeally; and, naturally chagrimed and indignant ut the trick that bad been put upon her by the Orleans jumily, she resolved to have her revenge. Her form of revenge was, doubtless, sweot; for it was strictly in accordance with her pas- sionate inclinations, She 1s alleged to have said, will show Louis Philippe and lus tanuly that I can ft children, notwithsiauding the peculiarity of the mun who is legally my lord, very wo:nan has a tighi trom nature to be her own judge under such circumstances and also her own executor.” ‘Shs made no preteuce of loyalty to her husband, She gave great scandal to court circles here trom her open firtations—to name tt mildly—with suck men as she happened to jancy. ISABRL IN YOUTH, Isabel was so very pretty and attractive at that time Queen to hay } that sue could have nad no nveu to go begging lor woo- ers Sue was plump to a point of voluptuousness, gtaccful in her movements, fail of animavon, Mer dark eyes wero very oright wiih intelligence, high spirit and Her biack hair was abundant, her mouth Sensuous, but well shaped and osculatorily’ seductive. She talked well and ber manners wore engaging. Moreover, she had a degree of impudenee, not Ww say audacity, which {s capuvating to meu in any young and comely woman to whom they are not reluted vy blood or marriage, No one who sees her wow, or who hud made her acquaintance atter she was thirty, would believe this portraiture correct. The beauty of Isabel, like that of go mapy Spanish women, passed with her youth, A homeler, legs regiual woman than she hus Deon for the Inst ten yoars 11 would be bard to find, Shvis more than uninviting. She is positively ro- puisive. Her fuce is extremely coarse; ter tiguro very gross She looks moro hka one of the rude washerwomen who make a laundry of the Manzanarcs—when there chances to be any water in its bed—tban a princess of royal biood. Her Viood, however illustrious, must be extremely disor- dered, tor her complexion is usually covered with put. ple blotches, and her whole apprarance and demeanor convey the impression vf the gross epithet the Mad- riteniaps were wont to apply to her in order to dis Archists, the old Bourbonists, the Carlists, the | [{MBIAls Wore sont tbel me Catholic. thought the ger ‘} Isabellsts, the Alfonsists (the last two ap- |” ECCRATRIC MATERXITY, paige G peor for the time united); then thore are | Sho did not become 2 moitior until pearly four ¢ Chairshan (i) ‘ years alter her nominal marriage, and then the Bright's: reasre A he “ Jthe republicans, Uberal and conservative, and | Voi ie ory was, so, little pleased with, this 7 Hy) the camisados (the shirtless), as they are desig- | dreary capitul (he must have been an Infxnta witness was made |) ify '\ { should be made In tip 9 = Another member ¢/ (95 9) ment of the witness 4,” ing to do with the exi iy) * Representative Brig”) 41) chat, if tho gentle- man wished his stat’) ent tof go on the record, he must make it under oat, and on this he would insist, Representative W. B. Williams remarked that the statement of Judge Hubbell should be excluded trom the record, and so the committee agreed. Secretary Bristow expressed the hope that the com- (3 ea Waits Ly Well bbe Bday mittee would not misunderstand him, So far as he-was_ 4 concerned he did not want his statement in'reply'fo go. on the record. He could take care of himself outd The committec then took a recess until five o’plock.* ~ Represcntative Bright then left his seat, near ono of the table and passed, to Secretary Bristow, who was sitting at the other end Mr. Bright was somewhat. excited, and Jeaned over to talk to the Secretary, who did not seem to be pleased with the unceremonioas visit, The conversation wasin an undertone, xag- gerated reports prevail of the character of the dia- logue, but it is said by a gentleman who overheard the remarks of Mr. Bright that it had no reference to the pending questions, This little episode was of brief continuance, and the parties soon regained their calm- nese. On the reassembling of the committee at five o'clock Secretary Bristow recalled Mr. Johnson, who testified that ho gave Judge Hubbell a cheek for $300, or two per cent on the amount of the $15,000 remitted in the Mary Merritt case, The moieties to Custom House officers were paid out of the gross sum, Judge Hubbell, was also recalled and claimed that he was] entitled to the woney under the law as the warrant of remission required all costs to be paid) He made no agreement with Johnson, and it was possible John. son came to him on the part of Young. Secretary Bristow said the law of 1871, under which the claim was made, applied alone to revenue cases and such claims was actually paid into the court, Judge Hubbell regarded it as a revenue case, and treated the remission of the money asso much money paid. Secretary Bristow asked witness whether he pub- lished or authorized any statement with regard to the pending cage, and whether he gave any information to Jadge Cato, The witness answered he bad nothing to do with instituting this inquiry. He said to Judge Cate he did not know why he was summoned as a wit- ness, for whathe actaally know of this case was a mat- ter of record. He would profer not to repeat what Judge Cate said unless it were insisted on, ‘lhe Chairman remarked he took it for granted that vhe conversation between members of Congress and witnesses were not subjects of inquiry. He so decided, if that was the pleasare of the committee, W. Evans, of Kentucky, formerly a law partner of Mr. Feland, spoke of their connection with the Mary Merritt case, aod gave a history of the vessel. He said he came hero in the epring or summer of 1873, in order to secure the remission of the forfeiture of the vessel, General Bristow, having romgned the office of Solicitor General, wwe at that time in Poiladeiphia engaged tm railroad business as an attorney. He staied to General Bristow the object of bis errand and offered to gi pensation, General Bristow declined to take a fee, but said he would assist them in presenting the matter fairly to the Secretary of the Treasury. ro allowed only when the money | ' i | t him part of the com- | Secretary | Bristow introduced him to Mr, Banfield, the solicitor, | and was infurmed it was the policy there not to grant y remission of forfenure omg» Itigation. Next year the attorne; ted bad sustained Judge Druminond’s Ly court below forfeiting tho They filed ao petition for ao gees 1 vessel of the case with Secretary Richardson who, unt a hearing could ve bad, directed the suspension of auy proceedings In the Mary Merritt case untii tur- ther orders. Mr, Bristow'’s conduct in the premises was merely an uct of kindness, he baving declined all or any compeusation, and was merely serving his Ken- lucky neighber, General Bristow, when he assist the attorneys, said that the Secretary was required to contine himself to the certificate of the Court alone. He did not argue the facts of the case. The Judge in that cuse said distinctly there was no wilful negligence ortraud, The witness then read several lewiors ud- dressed tohim by General Bristow, by whieh it ap- peared that latter hud no professional connection with the cas very caretal to have th clearly and explicitly understood. Witness re! circomstances attending the seizure of th whieh was for a supposed violation of law, and the Judgment ot the Court was for a bond of $15,000. James Murray, concerned in the vessel, owed Willian L. and Stephen EF, Trice, who were part owners, $10,000, The witness was their counsel knew that they vever received one dollar of their money. he witness, in answer to a question of Secretary Bristow, reper that the jatter never had any under- standing, Or agreement, or intention, s0 faras hokvew, of reeviving any money for advice im the case. Gen- eral Bristow emphatically dectined to bave anything \o do with a tee. Secretary Bristow called the attention of the witness to that part of the House resotut tigation in which it is sad that “on for the ow: of the Mary Merritt applied to B. Bristow, Secretary ot the Treasury, tor a remiasion of the forfeiture, to which said Bristow replied th y uid ix it up, and the said attorney met bis private tary and had the lorieiture remitted,” ne} in the extract read certainly does not apply to hin, ie ‘was not the man, IMPROVED CONDITION OF AFFAIRS OM THE TRIAS BORDER, citizens on the Kio Grande, The latest advices to the Wor Department represeas affairs in a better condi- would do nothing himself, but his private secret ‘The witness replivd that the mention of the attor: The committee adjourned until to-morrow morning. There are no late reports of outrages upon American tion, ‘he Supreme Court | | “2 | entirely recovered from 1 | | | ju | | | | Dated, who are the most radical of Communists, the fiercest and most violent of agrarians. The pelitios of the country aro as different as the people, and they are likely to continue so, despite pres- ent appearances, The existing tranquillity is merely a Jal, Don Cartos bas quitted the country, and the lists are declared to have been put down. So they ha been temporarily, bat they will riso again (their leader has announced that he has by no means surrendered his cause) when they find their opportunity. 1t would be well for Spain if they were effectually suppressed; F it the traditional policy of Church and | are wholly reactionary. aie alnhy POOR SPAIN, “Ope cannot help wishing that some good might como which seems to be the sole country of Europe earns nothing and forgets everything. It is mourntul to think*how little she has done for civiliza- tion iu the past 300 years. Ferdinand and Isabella are | almost the last sovereigns who were of benefit to her and the world, Even Charles I, (Charles V. of Ger- many) hurt more than he helped her, He abolished } the principal rights of the towns, and restricted the | powers of the Cortes, The vast wealth which Cortes’ conquest. of Mexico and Pizarro and Almayfo's sub. jugation of Pera and Chil! had accumulated Charles | ‘wasted in nisaujust wars, and be Surdened the land | with taxes. Philp Il by his bigotry and tyranny crippled indepenéente and weakened the State, while the despotwim Of the Anquisition crushed Protestant. | ism and the remainder of the Moors and Jews. Nearly all of Philip’s successors were either imbeciles or ty- rants or both, and so the condition of the country has | steadily gone from bad to worse. No wonder the people incessantly repeat, ‘Poor Spain! poor Spain!” She ts poor in truth; bat they might make her otherwise if they would discard their | provincialism and rise above their superstition. They seem incapable of taking any broad or intelligent views | of government or affairs, of anything, indeed, They | are warped with stabbornness, corroded with conceit. | Fancying themselves to be tho first nation of Europes, struggling under adversity, they are really a third-rate | Power, and they owe their inferiority to causes they | can easily remuve. BTAGNANT CONSERVATISM. The position of Spain is all the more pitiable because there 1s no need for it whatever. Sae refuses to march | in procession of progress; she shuis her eyes to preg- | nant facts and vows that the facts do not exist, Steeped in poverty she has the tneansat band of becom ing rich. In her soil are mines wuich, if properiy worked, would lit her to prosperity, yield bur educa- tion, inspire her with energy aud ambition, transform | her destiny. | What country in Europe has such mineral wealth as she? She has goid, silver, mercury, copper, tin, iron, | zine, coal, vismuth, cobalt, calamine, antimony, sait- petre, sulphur, alum, sult, alabaster, marble, jasper | aud many semi-procious stones, The quicksilver mimes at Almaden, richest known, are extensively | worked; so are the iron mines in the Basque proviuces but the ee are oitber neglected or inad } quately manag Gold was once found in considera. bie quantities in Asturias and Galicia; silver 18 abun. | dans im whe Alpujarras and the Sierra de Lujar and coal ih the Sierra Morena and Asturias; but no effort is wow made to procure them. The | natives are 100 devoid of enterprise to work the mines thomselves and they are unwilling that foreign. | ers sball work them with uny prospect of protit, i Anuinber of attempts have been wade by French, | Germau aud English companies to this end, but they | have been ubundoned because the people have thrown 60 many obstacies in the way. The chict impediment is ‘superlative provincialism already mentioned. | Not unly every province, but every part of a provine would lay sume tax upon ore or coal in its pass: through the country, and consequently the ore or coal | would be rendered too expensive to pay for tuking it | out, When the matter was complained of, when th hown that such « course was in direct oppos: he national interest, the answer would bo ‘That may be very true, But the tax bas al- nb levied, and the cusiom cannot be changed. ’’ whole spirit ot Spain ts contained in this reply, All that a Spaniard wants for justification of duing auy- | tuing or everything {s that it has been done, Nothing weighs so much as thet § The past is more than vener- able here—it is sacred, and binding on the present and fuvure, He abhors novelty or inpovation of any kind above aught cise. His most benignant wish is: —"'May nothing Hew happen to you,” which is one of the stock — Of friends at parting and totally aud essentially Iberian. EX-QUKEN IRABEL ‘The Spaniards—the Mudrijeniaus at least—are in bigh spirits just now over what they believe to Le the end of the Carlixt insurrection; tor Don Carlos bad ew sympathizers iu Castile. They appear eutireiy willing jut @X-Queon Isabel should return nere; she is duly and she will be welcomed po doubt as the boy Kmg. They drove her from the oight years ago, and there was no op- position to expulsion from the country. She was so odious ior a lung while that they would have killed hy had recroased the frontier; and now they have Indeed, she is 1 be 1s quite another ques. rather liked. How tong «he tion, Ihave never heard any one more bitterly de- nounced thaa I have ber in wh cupital. She seem to have been better or Jeay bad than m sat of their so reigas, too, 1 do vot mean mora:ly—for she cann be qui | duty of taste), that, after glancing at it several times, he reured in aversion from Madrid and the world, The following yeur Narvaez was removed, and suc- ceeded by bravo Murillo, whieh event Isubel cele brated, eight or nine months ilater, by presenting a daughter to the court, The next Noveniber (1857) sho had another son, who is the present King Aliongo, und tn December, 1858, a second daughter, thus seeming to make amenda Since then she has had three more children, the lust born, I think, more than tea yours since, She 1s now forty-tive. AX ASSASSIN. In 1852, while on her way to church with ber first daughter, still ah infant, one Merino, a fanatical priest, ‘attempted to assassinate her, She was slightly wounded and the attack was turned to account by the conserva- faves, who caused the dissolution uf the Cortes aud the adoption of divers repressive measures, INSURRECTION, Subsequently soveral {iberal generals were banished whereupon Duice and O'Donnell, at the head of a civil an military insurrection bere, succeeded in tablishing a hberal government, Once more Maria Christina led to France; the Queen proclaimed an amnesty, re- called exiles, opened a new Cortes and legalized the sale of Church property. Thea came revolis, coups d’ét the fall of old Cabinets and the formation of new ones, changes of constitution, contradictory uud reactionary measures. Isabel tried her best to set ber suis to popular breezes, until, in September, 1865, sle was rudely deposed by general consent. She bas often de- clared that she tailed to keep her throne im cou ot her cacnest desire to dischargi and beneilt her subjects. She is not remarka- id she bas not much talent ol the governing order, but those in a position to kuow speak of her us aimiabie, benevolent and patriotic. Necessarily very much in the hands of her and often the victum of bad counsels, there is every reagon to believe tbat she tried to act for the good of the nation. Her chiet offences were againat the sev- enth article of the Decwoguo (im the Ruman Charch), and such infraction is innocent ot political consequences Her exumple iilustrates the extreme difficulty, 1 not the impossibility, ot regulating the alfairs of Spain sat- isfactorily. What pleases one part of the nation offends another. Wotie Castile approves Cutalonia rebels; the measure that Toledo covets Cadiz abhors, aud so on—disharmony and trouble without end. KING ALFONSO, who will not be nineteen until next November, is al- ble for intellect, most too young lor auy one to determine of what stuff . © is composed. The powers behind the throne claim that be bas an excellent mind; that be shows capacity far beyond his years, They have tried to make hum appear to the best advantage in the late civil war, and have, on the whole, manwuvred quite successiully. ‘From other sources I hear that he 1s rather weak | and commonplace, and that be will never be other than , Q puppet. There are many unpleasant rumors touch- — jog him, which may or may not be trac, He is a well- looking youth aud appears to understand the art of ( concillating the poople. He ts very fond of his mother (ue may bestow 4 doable share of aflection upov her, since Le is by bo means certain of his father), and her invitation into Spain is believed to be bis act. I ques- tion if the act be sagacious, because she had so stormy @ reign that her presence here may incite new disson- sions, I can scarcely think that Isabel cared particu- larly to leave Paris, where she bus lived very com- fortably and bad « remarkably good time in her way. She loves the French capital, and after staying there erght years it is hardto decline on Madrid, I would much raiter bo a boulevardier there than « secure oc- cupant on the throne here. DECEPTIOUS PRACK. Asecure occupant of the throue! Can there be any such thing op this side of the Pyrenees? I confess ny scepticism. The Spuinards feel very tranquil just now, and those ] have wiked to ure confident they have on- tered upon a long reign of pence. Would 1 could be- lieve iti But the whole history of the country shows that the word peace belongs not ly in the Span- ist dictionary. [he nation is devoid of the elements— homogencousness, intellige nd breadth of spirit— which constitute peace of any permanent kind, and 16 cannot rationaily be hoped for unwl they are at last measurably assured. Before this year 1s out I venture to predict that new tumults, new demands, new cban; ol ministry, new dissolutions of the Cortes, will moch in vogue as ever, and that the country will @ 118 normal tone of general distraction. hen 3 all has been at least part nal and lasting barmony sately built apon. GERMANY. WAGNER'S NEW OPERA, ‘TRISTAN AND ISOLDE” — THE COMPOSER HONORED BY THE COURT AND THE PEOPLE—CRITICISM OF A HOSTILE PRESS—THE HOLY ALLIANCE OF THK GREAT EMPIRES—BISMARCK, GENERAL OF CAVALEY— POLO AND RINKING. Brawix, April 11, 1876. Richard Wagner, after a stay of nearly threo weeks in Berlin, Jett this evening for Baireuth. The recep~ ton accorded hint was very satisfactory for the cele- brated composer. HONORED BY THE COURT. The imperial family and court especially en- deavored to render his sojourn here agreeable, All disinclination feit by His Majesty toward Wagner, revolutionist, who m 1848 fought vefure the barricades of Dresden, has entirely disap, peared. Excesses of youth have been sunk tn oblivion | © pain ly oducated, and not till then, can inter- | be expected and the future be | | defended on ethical grounds—although the Spaniards | are very lenient to the morals of ther prinves and | princeswes. Isabel used to say that her unpopularity | uruse Irom her yood heartedness; that she was deposed because she reused to be tyrannical, It is ansafe to say why any Spaniard was ever liked or distiked by the Spanish, It is questionable if they | know why thomselves, They are well nigh as Ockle as they are obstinate, They will applaud a man to-day for what they would have torn uim to pieces yester- day. . When 1 was hore in 1869, Prim was virtually Dic. tator, and appeared to bo generally esteemed and loved. ‘The next year he was assassinated and nobody seemed to regret it, King Amadeus was approved for atime, and then became odious for pe ofieuce of his. Espartero, Marra, Christi fam § bot Ph ov rand of Rng on night an ir day again. fortanes of Spanisa leaders and princes vary here like the temperatare. 1 have often beem asked what the Spaniards were fighting tor, and | believe Americans generally have given up Spanish poltics in despair. They do not appear to know even how Isabella ever bappened to be on the throne, She is tho eldest daughter of Fer- dinand VIL and bis fourth wife, Maria Christina The na, Narvaez, Serrano, Cas. | Pera i# & mockery against morality. Even those have had their day and } parts of the opera of acknowledged merit are at- by the great deeds of the man. Less friendly, how- ever, than the heads of society have the members of the press proved, A HOSTILE PRKSG, The critics of afl large Berlin papers, chiefly adherents of the Verdi and Moyerbeer schools, cannot sympathize with the heroic sounds of the “music of the future.” A representation of “Tristan and Isolde” {n Berlin for the first time the other day again afforded thom ample opportunity of venting their dislike of Wagner, They accuse him of coarse senstality, and assert that the whole tendency of the Dimself about the Jealousy of several spiteful ‘The success of the opera at the first performance tremendous. Seven times in succession was Wagnet called tor and literally overwhelmed with flowers and laurel wreaths. At the end of the representation Hig Majesty sent for Wagner to his box, to express perw sonally bis gratification at the opera. On this cocastom) tho Emperor renewed his promiso of being present, uf hw health permitted, at the representation of the “Nibelungen” in Baireuth, Many other princes hav@ equally signified thetr intention to attend this musical festival 4 GRAND OBJECT ACCOMPLISHED, The pecuniary result of this grand the building of a private theatre for representa tion of his works, for which Wagner has sacrificed a ne Inconsiderable portion of his own property, is thad assured. The Emperor, who graciously contributed the net proceeds of the first performance of “‘Tristag and Isolde” in Berlin, amounting to more than $6,000, toward Wagner's theatre in Baireuth, was one of the first to purchase twenty-five of the so-called patron tickets. To the holders of thesa tickets belong also the Sultan and Khedive of | Egypt, each having subscribed for tem In all probability the attention of these two Mobam medan princes to Wagnoi nterprise was directed by the Ottoman Ambassador in Berlin, Aristarchi Bey, a ardent admirer of the gifted composer. ‘TAR REPRESENTATIONS IX BAIREUTS, The representations in Baireath will accord with thq programme shortly to be published, and will take plac¢ from the 13th to the 16th of August A general re: hearsal, at which the King of Bavaria intends to be present, will most likely ensue a week previous t@ this, At present seats aro still obtainable The Wagner Association at Mannheim, founded by Mr. Heckel on the Ist of June, 1871, immodiately’ after Richard Wagner's address to the public, per~ formed no little service toward the consummation off he building. This association, on the principle of which all other Wagner associations have been formed has already collected a sum of $10,000 It hag just arranged a lottery for the advancement of the ume dertaking, in which 6,513 tickets of admission will be drawn so that every ninth share wins, These tickets, costing each $7 29, were quickly disposed of. The difficult question as to how so small a town as Baireuth can accommodate its probable numerous visitors hag been finally solved by the inhabitants placing 1,300 beds and the hotels 400 at their disposal Asa matter of course no great pretensions must be made to comiort, Foreign interest in this Baireuth enterprise is not ces vivid than in Germany. From the United States, es- pecially Boston and New York, Russia and Great Britain, and even France, where an appreciation of Wagner's music daily increases, numerous petitions for tickets have been received. THE CAST. Tho principal parts are tntrusted to the handg of the moat eminent artists, I will mame among others, Manaun, Betz, Hill, Mr and Mme, Vogel and the Mmes, Materna, Lebmana, Lammert and Von Reichenborg. The Milanese M. Scaria has retired on account of his high emolumenta not being granted. The negotiations with Mmo, Mak linger, who owes her present position principally ta Wagner, nave also been broken off, her husband’s dee mands being, to say the least, exorbitant Shortly be fore Wagner's departure trom Berlin he completed the festive march composed for the opening of the Centennial, ‘The march, the motto of which, “Only he deserves lite’ and freedom who daily struggles for it!” taken from the second parts of ”” is grander thau the Imperial March, and of won strumentation. After a powerful eee ‘o has introduced a genoral pause of sever: . the interval of which can be tilled up bye salvo of guns. " For this single march Richard Wagner has received $5,000, in gold, while for his entire **1,0- hengrin,’? some twenty years ago, only a small sum was paid! It is interesting to learn that Wagner never sends his own manuscripts to a publisher, All bis compositions are copied by his pianist, Mr. Joseph Wientawski, who, by long practice, bas acquired a handwriting as like to Wagner's as two peas, a circum. stance which will probably give to many dispureg after the master’s death. a His TTAB OF WORK, ae ‘agner composes generally only in the mot ing, immediately after breakfast, When be ree tires he is at home for no one. He is now occupied with the composition of ‘Parcival;”” (he hbreito has been finished already some time, and is ae ignated his most poetical work. Besides this, th aster bas an Indian o} “Buddha,” in work, | dramatic sketches of whi re scarcely perfected. THE HOLY ALLIANCR OF THE NORTHERN KMPIRER, The “holy” alliance between the three Northerm Empires has just been strangely ilustrated by a very painful occurrence 1m Vienna, not only causing great gensatiOn in the Augtrian capital, bat also im other European States, A foung Austrian chasseur officer, Baron Erit, enjoying very high protection, and som: time ago attached to the’ Geograpbical Institution Vienna, has, by intimidation of foreign military plente potentiarics at the Austrian Court, sold, tor very solid remuneration, to the governments of Russia and Ger many some highly important military secrets of b country, The treason has been brought to light by t | Freuch Ambassador in Austria, who had got informa | tron of tho transaction, and considered it nis duty te officially wara the Vienna Cabinet The you r, | lately et m grand train and maintaroiog @ mistrosa | whose prod)gal habits finally drove him to crime, wad arrested a fortnight ago in Geographical In- stitution and conducted to the military prison, The governments of Germany and Russia, bee fore the world #o firmly allied to the Austrian Cabinet, bat who fraudulently obtain possession of their most secret plans, declare, as a matter of course, their inplete ignorance of the treacherous affair and dis- | avow their military plenipotentiaries for having acted without their authorization, To suppres» as much as pose | stble the felat thence arising the two Northera Powers have immediately recalled their agents and commanded them to give, eventually, no evidence inthe case. The ‘summons of the Vienna District Court to these two gen- Memen—Major Count Fink Von Finkenstein,commander of the Prussian sharpshooters, at present in Bet nd the Russian Colonel Wolostwon, accord: to state. ments, severely il! in Florence—have remained disree garded, It ts doubttul whether the above namod officers will be able to continue in active service altos such an abuse of confidence reposed in them. The docu. ments transtorred by Baron Erlt to the two Northern Powers are said to bo of eminent importance to Ause tria, Some assert that these papers are a comprehen- sive cartographic sketch of the whole Danube terri. tory. Othors declare even that they aro a plan of the movitization and organization of the Austriag Army in case of war, Both sovernments ar¢ said to have paid considerable sums ot these documents It has already been officially Proved that on one day alone re ‘The affair will mS hand Lo bowe' } | | | | | | | Baron ceived 8,000 roubles, fences id liee, ‘Cerany 08, Hossa, ends an ought to be ashamed of in sucha fidious betrayal of their THK POLO GAME—HOW THR KROLIGH OFVICHRS WIL. 12 1VRD, The visit of Ei eayairy officers in Berlto, im vVitea here to instruct their German colleagaes 10 ap is pleasantly anticipated. The committee consiste the Duke of Ratebor, President of the Berlin Union Club, the German Jockey Clab, which tasued the invite tation; the Prince of Saxon-Welmar, the Duke of Ujast,’ the Britis Ambassudor, Lord Odo Russell; Major Getoral Beauchamp-Walker, the British Militai Plenipotentiary; Senator Godefroy, the Imperi Master of the Stables; Herr Vou ach and Cot Wilamowitz. The game is to take place om the 3d, = and 27th bt on ee ae pen the —_ racks, near Moabit, The English participators goests or the Union Club, and are lodged in the Hotel de Kom In Ostend a saloon carriage has beeq placed Their polo ponies will be shipped via Hamburg. In Low aboot forty gentlemen don have . their intention of profiting by this journey, ims 4 Lancers and officers beionging to the cavalry, and from roginenta, such as the Filth and Twellth the Scots Greys, Several civilians bave also an- nounced their names, who, nevertheless, will be aa to bear their own expenses. Besides the game of polo, OTHER ATHLETIC SPORT, in view. On the 21 spring faces will tak gar with which this time a Leng 4 race ip con nected, On the 22d, 24th and 28th of May there will be pigeon shooting. At Conrt much interest tm aim played in the game, and ibe Emperor, as well as the Crown Prince and Princess, haye undertaken the aro u f these sports, It ie ‘the h- of German and British officers will lexd @ More intimate acquaintance and alliance of bot! armies, BISMARCK'S ARMY COMMISSION. Tho Emperor, on the occasion of his bit baw ted Lieutenant Genera! Prince B: Gen- eral ofthe Cavalry, the highest military office Bis. offi attain, General of corporations. On the of ro. jwbinent of @ German Empire, Jeneary, 19, 1871, Bismarck was Meutenant raised in Vorsatijes to the rank of and yesterday, after a iapso of five years, to that great snecess England and France ‘a similar source of am@zement In. i tacked by them. Wagner, who is already accustomed to the enmity of the press, is but little affected by 10 houtile expressions, “TRISTAN AND ISOLDE” —RECEPTION OF TAB SEW OPERA. Ho may certainly be satisfled with the applause awarded bin Priatan and leolde’ last week. without troubling building of the first Kerlin rink, situated at the of the — Tice, ot area beeae Strasse, 1m t ‘gare, patent ice will be poured down workmes, material sont frow Loudon pepe Tor the purpose, roling skates will be furnished secording ayatem, As in England, (he rimk Sree