The New York Herald Newspaper, May 30, 1876, Page 4

r NEW YORK. The Political Condition of Affa'rs in the Interior of the State. REVIEW OF ‘THE SITUATION. Conkling’s Strength Among the Repub- licans as a Presidential Candidate. toenail TILDEN’S DANGEROUS POSITION. What is Thought of Bayard and Hendricks and Blaine and Bristow. WHEN SEYMOUR MAY NOT DECLINE. ALBaxy, May 29, 1876. Although, technically speaking, the campaign will mot begin untél after the two national conventions shall have completed their work there probably never Was a time just previous to the meeting of the conven- tions when the politicians of both parties were so active and the voters generally so wrought up over the political situation as they are at present in the interior of this State, During the past three weeks I have travelled throug a majority of the Congressional districts outside of New York and Kings counties, and am now able, after the most careful investigation and patient inquiry from all sources likely to be reliable, to give a fair and impartial review of the political field, Itis too often the practice of many people in ‘New York city to rely for their information as to what ‘the sentiment of the voters in the interior of the State is upon the wiid talk of the local politicians in the city, Tt was thie failing that misied #0 many in the campaign of 1872, who, because New York city before the Octo- ber elections was a Greeloy stronghold and everybody appeared to think that Greeley had the inside track, felt convinced that he was certainly the ‘coming man,” while al! the time hisweakness in the country districts was marked and distinct from the very day of his nomi- nation, But sgting is believing, they say, and I propose, therefore, to give you the situation as I have found it, unyarnished by any New York city influence, CONKLING AS A CANDIDATE. I shalt begin first with the republicans, It was the impression among many republicans at the time the Syracuse Convention was held that the vote on the Curtis amendment was irrefragable proof that there was throughout the State a very strong feeling against Conkling as a candidate and that a large majority of the delegates who voted for that amendment intended by their vote to show then and there their opposition to him and of course impliedly the feeling that was entertained for him by their constituencies It was even stated that at least twenty-five out of the seventy delegates wero heart and soul opposed to his nomina- tion, and that no rule having been adopted to compel the delegation to vote as the majority should dictate, they woukl refuse to vote for Conkling. It is quite possible that there may have been at the time some druth in these statements, but frem what I have been able to learn by close observation in every Congres- sional district I have been in there is not now anything like a serious opposition to Conkling. The delegates ‘will vote for him, it is evident, with three possible ex- eeptions, Curtis being ono of them, not only on the first ‘dallot, but they will vote for him heartily on every ballot until there ig no longer any hope of his nqmina- tion, taking it for granted that his failuro to receive the nomination is a possibility. The only reai difference of opiaion between some of the delegates as to Conkling is this:—A large minority of them are opposed to beimg “transferred” to any particular candidate should Conkling’s chances become too slim for success, while an updoubted majority be- Heve that it will be for tho best interests of the party im such a contingeney for the delegation to work as a whole harmoniously together, so that in voting for whatever candidate they do vote for the delegates shail not be scattered and thus New York lose that de- cisive influence m the Convention which should be preserved at all hazards, There is scarcely a man in the delegation who believes in the ‘ transfer” policy, as it is called, in other words, who is willing that Mr, Conkling, failing to secure enough votes to give him the nomination, shall dictate for whom the delegates shall vote. His strongest friends in the delegation deny that there ever was such an intention on ther part, and, this being so, it will be seen that the charges that have been made against Mr. Conkling of a desire to exert this power of transfer are based on nothing stronger than the suspicions of two or three of the del- ®gates who, while not opposed to him, would prefer to fee some other candidate nominated by the party. With the mass€s ot the republican party in the State my observations have convinced me that Conkling is by long odds the favorite for the nomination, Even in those districts where the old feud between Conkling and Fenton raged the most furiously there can be but one opinion as to Conkling’s strength—ne is surpris- iugly strong, Indeed, there is scarcely a trace of this feud lott, and I have found among the warmest advo- cates of Mr. Conkling as a candidate men of influence in their localities who went over to the liverals with Fenton. Here and there it 1s true there are a few re- publicans who express their dislike for him, basing their opposition to him on the ground that he is toe haughty, not a man of tho people, too hard to ap. proach, too lordly and all that, But from the begin- ning ofmy journey to the end I did not once come across a republican who did not assert, though he may have preferred some other candidate, that if Conkling ‘were nominated he would cheertully work and vote for his election, and I will say just bere that I made ita point to hunt up republicans whom I had been told would not vote for him if nominated. As one of the delegates remarked to me when | asked him if thero would be any serious opposition to Conkhing:—“The republicans from one end of the State to the other look upon his nomination as @ matter of State pride. This end of the district (Wayne county), was strongly for Fenton when the quarrel between | him and Conkling was at its height, but the sen- tment is now overwhelming for Conkling, and the republicans of this section, with but a few exceptions, would be delighted to see him nominated, and those who would not would certainly work and voto for his election.” And this is, unquestionably, the feeling in every district among the republicans. It is overwhelm- ing for Conkiing, and in the face of what I have seen aud beard in the interior it is an absurdity for any one to charge that there is a serious division in the party im the State as to the advisability of his nomination, tepecially when the very mex who would prefer, for some special reason of their own, some other candi- date indignantly scout the idea that because they have such a preference they would oppose Conkling, if nomi- nated, Even the delegate whom I found the least friendly to Mr, Conkling acknowledged that, while he personally would prefer some other man, “yet, in det- | frence to the wishes of the very groat majority of the fepablicans in the discrict,”’ he felt it his bounden uty to support him at Cincinnati. ‘The feeling Is gen- tral among the republicans that it nominated Conkling | Willcarry the State against any candidate the demo- crates can nominate against him, although many, | am free to contess, assert that he is not the only New York republican who can carry the State BLAINE AND BRISTOW, In many of the districts Blaino has evidently a strong hold on the voters, and with tho great mass of them I believe after Conkling they would prefer him as a candidate to any other man. But the feeling is wide spread that his uomination would by no means secure the State of New York against such a man as Seymour, and the republican sontimont of the interior is that to succeed in the coming struggle the party must carry New York, Whether justly or not, the impression | exists that if Conkling is nominated, no matter what else may happen at St. Louts, Seymour cannot be in- duced to accept the democratic nomination against his ‘brother-in-law. This impression is not confined to the wepublicans, the democrats being of the same mitid, | and many republicans who appear te have « terrible fear of Seymour as a candidate argue that to put any other man in jolt than Conkling would, for this reason ag wellas many OtLors, bu extremuly bogarde | as it seems to have had on the farming class in the | by the democrats opposed to him In the country to | send powerful delegations to St. Louis to ‘“convince’’ NEW YORK ous, They contend that the democrats have no other | candidate than Seymour who can carry the State against a strong New York republican like Conkling, and that they will not only get a strong man by nom- inating Conkling, but actually put it oat of the power of the democrats to force Seymour into the field. This feeling, then, as to Conkling, im this particular is hurt- ful to Biaine, especially as it is backed up by the sus- picion of many that Conkling’s frends in many parts of the State would be rather lukewarm in his support. Like Blaine, Bristow appears to be well thought of by a certain class of republicans who have an idea that Conkling’s close identification with the present admin- istration willbe hurtful to him. Two weeks ago he ‘was very strong in some parts of the State, but he has gradually been losing strength since then, and strange as it may seem, bis weakness has become more ap- parent since the Fifth Avenue Conference, There isa strong feeling that be is too much thought of by the democrats, and that when they talk about him asthe Dest candidate their opponents could put in the field thore must be some purpose in it not intended for the benefit of the republican party, The fact ia vhere is 8 suspicion that uf not nominated at Cincinnati Bristow would take the nomination of a party made up of re- publicans like those who attended the Filth Avenue Conference and “independent” democrats, or that ho would even accept the St, Louis nomination if tendered to him. Ridiculous as some of these grounds for sus- picion are they have nevertheless already had consider- able effect, But in my opinion the great drawback to Bristow’s nomination in the eyes of the republicans in the State, so far as I can judge from conversa- tions held with the active men of tho party and with voters generally, ia that coming from “the other side the line” he might possibly, if elected, turn outto be another Johnson and ‘go back’ on the party. Itis understood that the republican party, if the party in the State can be taken asa criterion, will hesitate a long while at Cincinnati before they aomi- ‘nate a man who hails trom one of the ex-alave States. ‘There aro those, however, who fear that Morton will transfer his strength to Bristow at the last moment in the Convention and make bis nomination a possibility, but this suspicion 1s laughed at by the Conkhng men, who do no not believe, in the firat place, that Morton | can transfer his support, failing himself to come up to the mark, and that, even if he could, ho would sooner transfer it to Conkling than to any other candidate, THR DEMOCRATIC SIDR, The democrats jn the State are anything but a band of brothers, In all my experience | never remember a time when there was so much pulling and hauling, and such little determination to join hands for the common good of the party. Mr, Tilden has undoubtedly at present a majority of the delegates to St Louis out- wardly in his favor. Thero are buta very few of them in the country districts who openly declare against him, like Walrast and Littlejohn, but it is my candid conviction, from tho way most of them talk, from their manner in talking favorably of Tilden rather than from what they say, that a very largo majority of the delegation is at heart opposed to him. ‘They will undoubtedly vate for him on the first ballot, and if the trong feeling manifested in his favor at St. Louis by delegates from other States the majority will stand by him just so long as they seo that he has a chance of being nominated, But there isa wide difference of opinion among the delegates of the intorior as to Tilden’s being the most available candidate—the candidate who can give the best assurance of success. Several feel certain that if nominated he can be elected, yet there are others who contend that there is such an ugly feeling against him in his own party that his nomination would be a ternble risk for the party to take, as he could not carry Now York, The tide was setting in very strongly for hin just previous to the holding of that conference in this city, where Hoffman, Parker, Allen, Corning and others made known their plans, and which the Heraup gave to the public, but it is not to be denied now. that its effect upon the demo- craig in the country districts who were gradually becoming reconciled to him asa possibly good candi- date has been for him a very discouraging one. Demo- crats who were a few weeks ago willing to stand by him so long as im their opinion ‘he stood a good chance of getting nominated now foar that if nominated the democrats arrayed against him will deteat him in the election by killing him in this State, and thus, to gratify their own spite, loge the nation to the democracy for four more yeara The question is, then, Have the democrats opposed to him influence enough to defeat him in this State if nominated? My observations in the various districts have satisfied me that, in order to secure the election of men te the Utica Convention as iriendly delegates, the Governor resorted to many deyives, and did, through his Canal Board, many things that have exasperated beyond measure many of the active men in the party, and that, in a large number of the districts, he only suc- ceeded in getting the upper hand by the most extraor- dinary display of the powers of the wirepuller, who little hesitates about the means he employs so long as We secures the ends he has in view. There is nota Congressional district north and northwest of New York, with the exception of three, where there is not more or less bad feeling among the democrats against him asacandidate. Yet candor compels me to say that in a majority of cases the opposition to him grows out of the disappointment of men Who either wanted to control certain canal appointments or who failed, or whose particular friends failed, to secure the places they wanted or to hold on to the places they had. TILDEN’S WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH, It is, doubtless, the fact that men looked upon as the Governor’s friends have acted so tyrannically in overriding the wishes of @ majority of the party in certain portions of the State in the distribution of patronage and have resorted from time to time to such questionable methods for controlling the vote and securing the support of men devoted to the Governor's political ambition that there is, right and left in the ceuntry districts, a feeling among democrats of the bitterest hostility to him as @ candidate; but at the samo time I have found that the democrats who are 1m nowise interested in the patronage question or who never had anything, directly or indirectly, to do with the Canal King consider him, next to Seymour, the strongest pessible candidate thatcan be nominated, There is, too, a strong feeling in his favor unmistakable | im its sincerity, awong farmers and others, who, as a Tule, have not for years voved the democratic ticket, and who consider him a man who means what he says when be preaches reform and who are ripe anyhow for achange. This is somewhat offset by the attitude of many democrats, who believe that his reform policy ‘was only a sham and intended from the start to advance ; his own political fortunes. The opposition frou all | sources to him in his own party in the State is, doubt- | less, a very serious one, but there are those who think it is an open question whether, if nominated, he will not gain even more than he may lose by the opposition of embittered democrats from that class of the voters who will apparently be quite numerous at the election | this year, and who will vote for a change of adminis. tration anyhow so long as the opposition candidate has aciean record. As proof that they have some ground for their opinion I will say that, while some of the most bitter things I have heard during the past fort- night against Mr. Tilden were said by democrats, the warmest words of praise camo from men not politi- cians, who have been republicans since the war began, | One thing bas undoubtedly strengthened him in tne country, and that is tho opposition of Tammany Hall, Certainly, if st has the same effect at St. Louis on the | delegates from other States favorably disposed to him | State, the chances of his nomination will not be much | damaged by Mr. Kelly’s opposition. But, after all, there are two things which have not failed to make a strong impression upon me while travelling through the State, and which, to my mind, will not strengthen | Mr. Tilden at St. Lou One is that everywhere tho republicans, especially those who are very active in the Conkling interest, seem to desire his nomination as much as they dread that of Horatio Seymour. The other !s the extensive arrangements being made delegates trom other States that he cannot carry his own State, and that therefore it would be suicidal for the party to nominate him, The anxiety of the re- publicans to see him nominated is of itself suspicious. Either they believe him naturally the weakest candi- date or they and the democrats opposed to him are in partnership already, and understand one another's. plans thoroughly. Taking everything into considera- tion and looking at the situation of affairs impartially, Just as I bave found it in the various districts I havo | visited, Tam candidly of the opimon that with the bitter feeling now existing against Mr. Tilden among members of tis own party it would be a hazerdous thing tor the St. Loais Convention to nominate him unless it becomes satistied that he can be elected with. out the aid of New York, Ip a Presidential cicction | party lines, gay what we will about the people's desire for a change, are pretty closely drawn, and it would be the height of folly for a party to base its hope of car- rying any particular State for its eandidate, when there ig a serious division in the party 1m that State as to his availability, upon the support he will get from the op- posite party. 1f nominated, judging trom what I have been able to learn throughout the State, this would bo HERALD, TUESDAY, M the exact position of Mr, Tilden so tar as the State of | New York is concerned. BAYARD AND HENDRICKS, - Ex-Governor Seymour is, as 4 general rule, every- where regarded as out of the field, but as I have already said, many of the leaders in the country feel certain that, if Conkling is not nominated at Cincinnati, be could be forced to take the St. Louis nomination. Sey- mour ig unquestionably the first choice of nine-tenths of the delegates to St. Louis from every country dis- trict, and if his brother-in-law ts not nominated at Cincinnati it will not be a surprise to many of them if he should be nominated by one of the Western States, ‘That nomination would, in the opinion of every demo- crat I have spoken to on the subject, be carried by acclamation, The man outside of New York who is evidently the first choice of the democrats is Bayard, of Delaware, Although Hendricks has many friends, what seems to operate against him 1s that he belongs to an “October State,” The dolegates and others who are anxious to do the wisest thing for the party at St. Louis believe that if he were nominated the adminis- tration would concentrate all its force in Indiana, backed by moncy in abundance, in order to carry the State, so that the cffect would be disastrous upon*the | other States. For that reason apparently, more than anything else, the country democrats in this State do nottake as kindly to Hendricks as they otherwise would, This fear of what an October contest in Hen- dricks’ State would bring about the following Novem- ber is an unfortuvato one for him. COMPROMISE CANDIDATES. The democrats are so intent upon their Oght for and against Tilden that, beaides looking upon Seymour as @ strong probability aga candidate, they talk but littie about a compromise candidate. Church is here and tuere spoken of, but his nomination underany circum- stances doos not look very probable, as tho Canal Ring ‘are too open mouthed in their advocacy of bis claims. Nut so with the republicans) In many quarters there ig a decided opinion that Blaine and Conkling may cach Prove too strong for the other’s good, and that their personal hostility to one another will do much in a close contest to endanger the chances of both. The strong Conkling men will admit of nosuch probabllity, but many republicans contend that in such a caso New York State might be assured for the republican party by giving William A. Wheeler the second place on tho ticket, with Hayes of Ohio, or Washburne, THE NEW EDITOR. Brooklyn Arqus:—“Mr. Marble’s successor, Mr. ‘William Henry Hurlburt, 18 a gentleman admirably cal- culated to maintain the high standard of the paper. A ripe scholar, a man of the widest observation, a skilled and indefatigable journalist, one of the most gifted writers that the press has ever developed, a wit, humorist and philosopher, it will not be his fault if tho World does not more than hoid its present place in the van of American journalism.” Danville (Ky.) Advocate:—‘‘Mr. Manton Marble has sold the New York World newspaper to Mr, William Henry Hurlburt, who has long been associated with him, and who is one of the most brilliant writers con- nected with the press. His articles in the World have been amoug its most pleasing features,” New Albasiy (Ind.) Ledger-Standard:—“Mr, Hurl- burt, who succeeds Mr. Marble in the control of the World, bas been ior many years connected with the per, and is a brilliant and successful writer. Whether fe will make any change in the general conduct o! his journal will be judged rather by its tuture than by any- thing in the past, as the predecessor of the present manager was alone reflected in its columns; but Mr. Hurlburt was one of the best known writers on the paper. We certainly wish tho World success, and trust that it may continue the representative and exponent of sound democracy.” Charleston yy C.) Journal of Commerce:—‘‘The New York papers all give a deservedly gracious welcome to Mr. William Henry Hurlburt upon bis assuming the editor. ship of the World. Ho is ove of the most accomplished scholars and graceful writers in American journalisin, and will unquestionably maintain for the World the high reputation for ability and scholarship which it gained under Mr. Marbie’s management. Mr. Hurlburt) ig, we beliove, a Charlestonian by buth. He was for along time on tho editorial staff of the Times, under Raymond. Fora number of yeara he has been ou the editorial staff of the World,” Boston Courier :—**Whatever may have been the cir- cumstances attending the transfer of the New York wets from the control of Manton Marble to that of Wilham Henry Hurlburt, it is certain thatthe latter gentleman is amply qualified for the position now occupics, £ Quixotic attempt to carry religion into all its depar ments M juriburt has been prominently connected with it, and his brilliant pen has shown to equal advan- tage in the editorial and correspondence columns. He is an accomplished scholar, a trained and versatile writer, a vigorous thinker and a polished man of the world, With Ris world-wide literary roputation, his acquaititance with mem of affairs at home and abroad and bis journalistic knowledge and experieuce, it will be strange indeed if he does not increase the estim: tion in which the World lus long been held asa paper written by gentlemen for gentiemen.” Washington Capitol:—‘The purchase of the New York World by Mr. Hurlburt is an event in American journalism that creates much comment. Sir, Hurlbert is a pen-driver who for many years has given his brain w the building up of other men’s prosperity. Known only to a few admiring friends, bis able articles bave gone into a common stock his iden’ was lost in the name of the ‘or. Whe! Mr. Hurlburt will succeed control of a journal he has done so much to make popular and influential remains tobe proven, He has our best wishes, whether’he cares for them or not. He would make by a change from a democratic organ to an imdependent journal. This excitement over a Presidential election may for a time benefit the partisan press; but the people are weary of such, and in the long run independence is the winning card,” POLITICAL NOTES. “Blaine and Tilden are ahead.” Kansas wants both Blaine and Bristow. Murat Halstead:—‘‘Wheeler, of New York, is'too ell known to be the unknown.”’ Illinois State Register:—‘‘Morton’s friends at Indian- Apolis claim three of the Illinois delegates as his sup- porters, but nobody knows who they are.”” Old William Allen:—‘‘The East, sir, has become a mere ornamental margin of the mighty West, and is but a pigmy dictating to or bullying a giant,” Harrisburg (Pa) Telegraph:—‘‘Nearly every step taken ty the democrats sinco they secured control of tho present House at Washington has been a blunder.’y IUinois State Register: —“The Republican State Con- vention has had one good effect at least. It has in- duced the Governor to construct an entirely new speech,’” : e Cleveland (Ohio) Plaindealer:—“Every mail brings to us from Boston and Washington some circular im reference to the life and record of Benjamin H, Bris- tow, now a prominent candidate for the republican nomination for Presiaent, Indianapolis News:—‘Ot all the men prominent for the Presidential nomination Mr. Bristow is the only one who is not seeking it and whose friends trying to ‘set up conventions,’ “fix del every possible way secure his selection. If he is nomi nated it will be by the sheer force of popular will,”” Detroit Free Press :—“The opponents ot Governor Tilden in New York may scheme as they will, may en- deavor to create diversions, or to make use of some prominent New York State man to play of against Tilden; but the action of conventions which have been held in the West, South and East show that there is a strong sentiment all over the country that Samuel J. Tilden is a good man to lead the reform army in the approaching campaign.’’ Chicago Post and Mail:—‘'The Indianapolis Journal says that:—‘The real straggle at Cincinnati will be be- tween Morton and Blaine.’ That is what they all say. ‘Every captain placed the name of Themistocles second to his own.’ But what would the Journal say to a pre- diction that Morton will not bea real candidate at Cin- Cinnati—that like other favorite sons he is to havea complimentary vote, and then his strength is to be transferred to Senator Conkling?” Charleston (8. C.) News and Courier :—The larger number of the influential Southern newspapers have in- cated their preferences tor the democratic nomination for President. Mr. Bayard is advocated by the Balti- more Garette, and the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel and Savannah News oppore the nomination of Mr, Til den. Per contéa, the Richmond Dispatch, Whig and State, the Petersburg Post, the Louisville Courier- Journal, tho Memphis Appeal and Ledger, the Augusta Constitutionalist, the Mobile Register, the Columbus (Ga) Snquirer, the New Orleans Picayune and /emocrat, and many others, are ardent advocates of Mr, Tilden’s nomination. Everywhero in the South, a8 weil as we can judge, the determination is to settle ‘on the most available candidate, and to climinate preja- dice and personal likes and dislikes from the diseus- tion” “WORLD'S” BLAINE'S THIN DEFENCE, [From the New York Sun, May 29.) Brother Blaine’s story regarding the North fic Railroad job in which he was engaged, and which ‘we exposed on Saturday, reads‘smoothly, as do all bis | explanations of his railway speculations while he was Speaker of the House ef Representatives. But, hke the others, it is tricky and utterly unsatisfactory. Biaine’s Boston frienda, so he says, desired to make asmall investment in Nor.hern Pacific, and to oblige them and the Hon, R. D. Rico, his Augusta neighbor, who was Vice President of the road, he undertook to play the part of broker, Inasmuch as the’ road was one chartered by Congress and living on its bounty, the virtuous Brother Blaine would not for a moment have thought of investing in it himself, That. would have looked bad. But, fond of his Boston friends, he used his information concerning a definite interest which was for sale, and which had been brougnt to his atven- tion, “with very glowing and extra’ it accounts of its prospective profits.’ So he was obliging enough to tell these fri ft his of so @ chance to put their money where it would earn them ‘“apleadid’’ returns, He was careful to do this contidentually, and trusting in his word, and of course understanding his unex- | ampled o unities to know all about a road char. tered by gress, they did not hesitate to put $25,000 in bis bands ‘in trust,” to buy into so temptin, speculation, Blaine took the money, but the glowing accounts of the prospective Urpaaes proving delusory, he was obliged to return it, with interest. The bargain was not what Blaine had represented it to be, * Though as Speaker he bad a first rate chance to | find out all about the road, and was in a panties to ge! favors from its managers, zr they, perhaps uninten- tionally, misied the simple Blaine that time, They could not transfer the property as they bad proposed to do, Now, Bluine says his connection with the affair was “ofa purely friendly character.”” Undoubtedly it was, He always works his speculations of this sort through friends, who would be surly and selfish indeed if they did not make their benefactor some sort of return for ging to them such real or supposed mune! But why was the Speaker of the House of resent- atives, ata time when this Northorn Paciflo Railroad was in the way of asking favors from Congress which Brother Blaine could do so much to enable them to se- cure, operating as a broker in its ¢ How camo he to have so supposedly fat a chance offered him? Why was he chosen to negotiate an important sale? If he was jealous of his integrity as the head of the House and a logislat On matters touching the vital interests of this road, why did he consent to act as a negotiator of ‘a definite interest’’ they had for sale? ‘he answer to these questions whi every man of sound sense and knowledge of affairs will give 1s this:—Brother Blaine was bec gos | to make a little money out of bis power and influence as Speaker of the House of Representatives, did not dare to a) pear as personally interested in the Northern road, but he worked through his friends. The transaction should speedily send James G. Blatne to join that company of Congressional martyrs of which Schuyler Colfax is the head centre It is altogether disgraceful to a legislator, and a stain om theman which unfts bim for the nomination at Cin- cinhati for which he 1s 80 restiessly working. ANOTHER “FRIENDLY MOVE.” _ Boston, May 29, 1876. The following letter, which was given to tho press to- night, oxplaing itself;— sy Pe Hon. James G, BuAine:— sacaop rads trite My Duan Sik—t havo read the charge against you in the New York Sun of Suturday conceruing the Nortn cific mattor, and your reported. remarks in gard theret It is due to you that I should say that I considered your action {n that matter was simply from & disposition to doe friendly act; that you had no uniary interest whatever in the ‘trans- Action, and it was id by tho parties in interest that on woul you become Pucifie shares. Your le, und I am sur- no account personally interested In the North conduct was perfectly fair and hon prised that any. one see anything in it to complain of " or to criticise. As the whole transaction literally ended without accomplishing anythin; ‘as the. party proposing to. sell. the North interest delivered it, and those ing mon raceipted it “back — again terest without the slightest deduction by you for commissions of expenditures It seems to ne vory absurd to never mal ee rence to shall give this letter to the pub- lic, us I think such @ statement Is due pa from myself. Re- spectfully yours, LI8tia ATKINS, THE TARIFF. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE ON THE MORRISON BILL—MB. EXLLEY ON THE BEAUTIES OF PRO- TECTION AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF FREE TRADE—MR. CHITTENDEN, OF NEW YORK, IN BEPLY-—PROSPECTS OF THE MEASURE. Wasutxatoy, May 29, 1876, In the House to-day, Mr. Kelley, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, addressed the Commitice of the Whole in opposition to the Tariff bill. He said it was impossible to discuss a tariff bill without speak- ing of the ingredients and result of the manifold in- dustries of meq; but in what he was abont to say these would be merely incidental, as his theme would be, “Qur country: the means of maintaining its unity, increasing its power and endowing it with perpetual youth.” He charged that THE LATE WAR was one of the results of the prevalence of free trade, and quoting the opinion of a distinguished Southern writer, showed that it had been the policy of the coan- try, under Southern domination, to keep our ships and workshops beyond the Atlantic. In consequence of this policy, he said, the South bad sent its cotton to Liverpool for a market, the West its into feed those who wore and spun the cotton, and the Pa- cific coast its gold to buy bh of the food and fibre woven into cloth to clothe the American The North and South were thus aliens to each other in trade; there were no through lines of railroad running North aud South; we were like cloth with only warp, no woof binding it together, and we fell apart of our own weight, BENEFITS OF PROTECTION. Protection would lead to the development of the ricultural and mineral resources of the South, which, said, ond those of the North or of England, and, if devel |, would make us the workshop of the world, binding the people together in the indissolable ties of trade, friendship and consaguinity. The railroads running from northwest to wsouth- eastand from southwest to northeast, following the water courses of the country, would be the woot that would make us really one and ldsoparable, In response to Mr, Morrison’s allegation that excessive protection had prostrated our industry, he quoted extracts from his own (Mr. Kelloy’s) specenes of 1867 and showing tnat be had predicted this prostration as the inevitable result of the attempt to resume specie pay- ments by contracting the currency, and claimed that the trade and INDUSTRIES OF ENGLAND, with her free trade and hard money, were more pros- trate than ours. Failures both in commercial circles and at the Stock Exchan; ‘m that country had been numerous, and for greater amounts than in this coun- =< a ete tone referred to bon —— 4 icy, illustrat Many pages of the official tari which had caused to be translated. He showed that her exports and ours increased, white that of iree trade Engiand were steadily fulling of. He claimed that ‘THE FRENCH COMMERCIAL TREATY with England had not indicated a tendency to tree trade, and showed that many intelligent Englishmen regarded it as a game between Cuevalter aud Cobden, which the former played on the principle of -‘Heads I wing Tiils you lose.” In support of position he quoted lai from a volume by Sir Edwara Hail Evan. He concluded by denouncing the bill as a vast meshwork of incongruities, which if adopted would extrpate all establishments for the pro- duction of drugs, chemicals, paints and colors, pros- trate all other branches of industry and add seriously to the general depression of trade. APRECH OF MR, CIITTENDEN, Mr. Chittenden, of New York, was tho next speaker. He commenced by saying that he had no musty to support; but he had had thirty years of expertence m an honest business, from the rushs of which he bad had tho good fortune to escape without any discredit. It was no eCxaggeration to say that the commerce of the country, especially the forcign commerce, was in ruin. The country was chained by the jegal tender madness and by a prohib- itory tariff If the present tariff were continued the foreign trade of the country would be extinguished. TUR PRNDING TARIFF BILL ‘ had many good features, but the things that were most needed in it were most conspicuous by their absence, He complimented the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means for his courage and intelligence in recommending a tax on tea and coffee, and he predicted that the revenues of the government would never again be adjusted to its expenses until a tax were imposed on tea and coffee. He belived that @ tariff bill could be tramed in six lines that would re- store hope for despair nnd that would give courage to thousands who were now strag- ging desperately to preserve something from wrecks of foreign and domestic commerce. ‘That bill should provide a tax on tea and coffee and re- duce all other duties temporarily twelve and one half or tifteen per cent. Such a measure would work no in- justice or detriment to any interest and would in- ‘tantly form a basis for reconstructing the commerce of the country. Mr. Kassox, of lowa, asked the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means whether he intended to bring the Tariff bill to a vote at this session. Mr, Mornisox, of Llinors, replied that he would like to brit _ bah an early vote, and that it would depend ont iness of the House whether he would do so, He did not now anticipate that it would be voted on. He himself would yield to the Appropriation bills, and if there was time alter they were disposed of he would ber hoes on the pro bill 40 ein de i ir, BuRcHARD, of Iilinots—It wil su ‘on the length of the session. i a tg ‘Mr. Morkisox—Very mach. Mr. Kassox—That still leaves tho question very Much in doubt as iar as the business interests of country are concerned. 1 do not believe it will to bring the House to an agreement on a tari unless it be red under the direction of a joint com: ie House and Senate, as was at the last There is yet time to | provide tor such a committee to take testimony | aad cousiger the fully during the coming vaca- } Hon, Tho matter then passed over without action, this | speeches to read from and no personal ends or theories | iM embracing such a complete revision of the tari, | AY 30, 1876.~TRIPLE SHEET. THE STEWART WILL Mysterious Movements of the Turney “Blood Relatives.” LEITERS FROM THE “SPIRIT LAND.” Three Wills Left by Alexander Turney Stewart. What Surrogate Calvin Has To Say About the Case. Nothing that has appeared in the newspapers of late has created such general excitement as the story that Certain parties, claiming to be relatives of the late Mr, A. T. Stewart, were about to contest his will When the statement was first mado public thero was a maui- fest inclination upon the part of every one to doubt it, but now that tnese socalled ‘blood relatives” have banded themselves together for a common purpose, and have, moreover, retained shrewd and talented counsel to plead their cause, the story can no longer be regarded as a rumor, but as a fact. THE CONTHSTANTS, The contestants of the will are the members of the Turney family. It will be remembered that the full name of the deceased was Alexander Turney Stewart, and these parties who claim that in the disposition of his estate they wore left out entirely ‘in the cold” are firm in their belief that they can prove their relation- ship beyond the shadow of adodbt, One of these, Mr. George W. Turney, of No, 77 Chatham street, who scoms to be moat in earnest in pressing tho sult, and who is perhaps better posted in the genealogy of the family than the others, says that there are nine Turneys in all, somo of whom reside in Now York and other: ewhere The following are the names of those interosted in the sult:—George W. Turney, Cath- erine Turney, Samuel Turney, James Turney, W. H. Turney, Augustus M. Turney, John H. Turnoy, Lucretia Turney. suceRcy. It is a very difficult matter to secure anything like a satistactory explanation of the manner In which these Turneys are about to proceed in court or to surmise how they propose to establish their peculiar claims, From the time of tho dept of Mr. Stewart they have operated'with the,greatest caution and secrecy. It is not dificult to find thelr whereabouts or to secure an interview with them, bat when approached they behave themselves in a very curious manner, and so adroitly do they évade the inquiries that one is sure to leave them no better posted in reference to the particulars of the proposed suit than 1f he had net seen them at all. Indeed, so strangely do they answer all important questions calcu- lated to throw light upon the grounds for their pro- cedure that ono would imagine they did not intond a suit and that the story was a mere sensation, were it not owing to the fact that three well known Jawyers bave for many days past permitted their names to be repeatedly published ag® the special advisers of the family, This statement, undenied by the lawyers in question, shows clearly that there is to be a suit and ‘that an attempt is really going to be made to break the will THE LAW IN THE CASE, Admitting that the Turneys are actually what they style themselves to be, *‘blood relatives’? of the de- ceased merchant, and taking for granted also that no three respectable and clear headed lawyers would identify themselves with a case that did not have some foundation in fact, it may prove of interest to review the law on this subject, Theroare only throo grounds upon which a will may be proceeded against :— First—It_ must‘be shown that the party who mado the will was unduly influeaced ; or, Second—It must be shown that ho was mentally in- competent; or, Third—It must be shown that the will is not executed in the form prescribed by law. Therefore in proceeding with their suit the Tarneys ‘must establish one of these three iacts. They cannot pro- ceed simp!y upon the ground of relationship, for our law affords every one the right of disposing of his property to woom he pleases, tint then, that they proceed upon the first id—namely, that Mr. Stewart was unduly influenced if making bis will Undue influence gvouid pavurally, nay, must necessarily, come from the person who receives the residuary es and inasmuch as the greatest amount of Mr, Stewart’s property was given to Mra. Stewart, the undae influence must have been exercised by his wile. This certaimiy seems im- probable upon its face, aud when it can be shown clearly and distinctly that Mra. Stewart knew nothing whatever of the nature of the will until it was read in the supposition appears simply ridicu- | lous. It is hardly reasonabie to suppose that they will proceed upon the ground that Mr. Stewart was men- tally incompetent, for his competency can be too clearly proven, and the will, as it stands to-day, shows: that it was éxecuted in the form proscribed by law. Here, then, are given the only methods of procedure that are recognized by Une of “these three ‘vhings must be conclusively proven by the Turneys be- fore they can interfere with Judge Hilton by setting the will aside, + THE PAPERS TO BE FILED, Sinee then the case, as the publicginderstand it, ap- pears so utterly bopeless. There must be, either in imagination of in fact, something with which the pub- Hie w unfamiliar. In other words, there is a mystery involved which all the Turneys retuse to ret though it seems very singular that a lilo so openas that of Mr. Stewurt, and a document so briefly and concisely written as his. will, could be surrounded with any- thing subtle or mysterious. He left his property as many others who died before him have done—the ma- jority to his nearest reiative, his wife, and liberal por- tions to those who had proven themselves true and trustworthy 1 his ser Yet, despiie ali those cir- cumstances, the attorneys of the Turney tamily have for weeks past been quietly gathering together their facts, whatever they may be, and it will be only a little while before they will file their papers in court, AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW. The readers of the Hexatp understand already how Judge Hilton regards this threatened action against his Interests, for several statemevts upon this poiut nave recently been published in these columns, It would be unnecessary to review his opinions now had he not yesterday, in a long conversation with the writer, | given utterance to some very surprising facts, of which | the public in general and the Turneys in particular are | wholly ignorant, | “+L assure you again,” said the Judge, “that the Tur- | neys have no ground for action. It is‘only by esta- Dhabing one of three facts that a will can be proceeded against.’’ Then the Judge discussed the law of the case in precisely the same manner as given above, “fvery one who Knew Mr. Stowart,”? he continued, “any one who ever held intercourse with him; nay, any one who has simply looked from outside upon his business carecr, can cicarly see that he was a man who conid mot have been unduly influenced, while an attempt to show that he was insane, or that his mind was im any way affected, is simply | preposterous. Of course the will is drawn up in legal form. Mr. Stewart had, of course, the right to give his property away as he pleased without consulting anybody, and certainly he was not required to consult all these so-called blood relatives whom he never know, and with whom he never had the slightest intercourse. How would he have been able to ascertain who were ce ones—whether they were the old women 2 kak oF the old gentlomen in Chathain street? ANOTHER WILL, “Now,” continued the Judge, ‘1 will tell you some- thing which neither the Turneys nor their attorneys koow. There is another will that Mr. A. T. Stewart made prior to his final one which has not been destroyed, In it his property is distributed as in his last vy residaary estate being given solely to his wite, , Mr. Stewart always had a will, he wrote many, but every one of them was written after the same form. Since I assure you of this, please tell me how there could bave been any ‘undue miluence upon the part of any one, or any de- fd of cng Rep part of Mr, be art himselt. jow suppose, simply for argument, that the Ture: Pitot 9 in breaking the tinal will, then they would have to break the one written previous to it, and, in fact, would hgve to contend against every will that he made until ere destroyed. The would be a hopeless one, as you can easily see, and the result aimed at could never be consummated, SPIRITUALISM. « “This is alll care tosay upon this subject, for I have another of deeper interest to the public than this pro- lawauit. I regurd it as one which @ great paper like the New York Hxnatp should e: Hero (catching up a huge pile of letters), I have communica- Uons which are not only disgusting, but are really pro- fane, ‘They are addressed to Mrs. Stewart by spirivual- istic mediums and purport tocome directly trom the Jand of spirits. They are all signed A. T, Stewart, ard purport to be written by him through the different me- diums. Let me read you some.”’ Hereupon the Judge opened a letter and read. In itMr. A. T. Stewart, through the writer, berated all ‘those friends of Mrs, Stewart whom she best loved and who, while Mr. Stewart was alive, were bis most truat- worthy assista wed that they deceived him during life, aud begged In God's name, to abandon all of them at once and take new Iriends, the uames of | whom he gives. The language used is cold and thereat ed to prey severely apon a woman's | ening, caic mind” Follow my advice at once,” says the letier, Pb lepers and. Ye ptt} bat mo in wi 10 gs It you do you will yaer inere 2 ous hour here jan in a life time of 9 “Now these Judea, “of course, i 5 = Ee i & i! id {3 cut Hu g Hy BH ff 1 i : +f guardedly they act. Dost office mark and was andoubtedly have every reason to beliove that it WRITTEN HKKE IN SRW I will tell you my reason for thinking so. derstand, of course, that Mrs, tion to these spirit letters, but L me I soe of course, make any reply to them, Please jce wi bi the Bali course of a week or so a letter, written hang and by the name , ia delivered senger at the door of Mra Stewart's private | 5 ifs f np town. Now this clearly shows that isa od system used in the ‘vanemiasion of these Testers, and thatthe mediums of one city doa deal of business by the aid of assistants and lerates re- siding i another, Iam overrun by these disgusting letters. I receive more than a dozen a day, ry are wicked and diabolical in their designs, and Theil whole wnt ig to Re vs to secure whole intent is to swin: money by tho meanest kind of fraud.” AT THE COURTS. After a diligent scarch through the eh courts yesterday no trace of uny proceedings in rela. ton to the ele we spo. be oun, ire ware no papers se! or 81 yy any ting yesterday, and the matter of a disputation of the will left by A. T, Stewart was t ‘more as a joke than a question of serious import. The courts not developing any movements o| County Cierk’s office was next visited, but no paper could be found there. Tne HexaLp reporter ther called upon Surrogate Calvin and questioned him ia to tho matter, “Have you any knowl of proceedings being tne yy the Ime already ? ledgo stituted or begun against the will left Alexander Turney Stewart, which you have admitted to probate #?” “I have not’? “Has there been any action taken bofore ou in re gard to the will,.n any shape or mauner¥’ “There has been nothing before me, All I know in reference to the oe of any effort being made ta. sot aside the will is what I have scen in the nowspa- rs, I know nothing officially in regard to it.”? “Would any such proceedings—to set aside the will OF contest it provisiona as to tion of property left by the it be it before you ?”’ ba Bardly think they would, As the case stanus an; such would be first instituted? in the Supreme Court in the form of an equity suit, If, now- ever, any proceedings wero taken bolore mo it would probably be done by the presentation of objections te the probate of the will.? “No such objections have yet been presented ?”” “None whatever,’’ A RETICENT LAWYER, it having been bruited about that Mess¥s, Bartlett, Booth and Root, mace ot Park row, Wall and Pine streets, respectively, been retained by the .Turney family, who propose to conteat Mr. Stewart's will, a HeRALp reporter was despatched yesterday to asczrtain what these gentlemon had to say in regard to the cuse, ‘The two last named gentlemen could not be fo bat : (okt conversation was held with Mf jartlett:— “I have been told, Mr. Bartle(t, that you have been retained by the Turneys in the matter of the Stewart will; am I rightly intormed?” “As regards that matter I prefer to say as little as possible at pri ” “Will you not counsel in the case?” “I shall only say that I have been spoken to regarding the subject, and I havo it under my consideration,’? “ rou have not positively decided to accept the 09? “T will not say that I bave.”? “Is there nothing whatever concerning the matter that you can communicate!” . “There is nothing j . It would be entirely unprofessional for mo at this stage of the proceedings hpricot bcc wale ing ley the case.’? wORTER—I hope you will not think me impertinent but I desire, if possible, to get from some Tespoasiels authority the grounds of the contest by the people who are said to bo your clients, ‘I must say again that, with all due courtesy to the press, I must decline to converse on You must see yourself t] couns and not the news| “Wall you say, sit, whether or not the contestants’ case will prove one??? “I cannot answor bye ‘but I will say that I will have nothing to do with it unless it is; 4.um very particular Lundertake, and probably accept only about one out of every ten cases that are offered to me.”” ‘It was quite evident by this time that Mr, Bartlett would say noth! was desired, so the reporter BOARD OF EXCISE. ‘The long delayod chunges in the Board of E: ‘were made yesterday alternoon, at a meeting of the Commissioners. The following are the names of the inspectors removed :—Wllliam K. Davidson, Thomas J, Wendover, James W. Graves, Joseph Forbes, William A. Robertson, Albert M. Newburgh, John K. Terhane and Simon Meyer. Tbe other Cr ey removed were:—Jacob Waller, application clerk; Frederick Delany, registry clerk; Louis G. Frankau, messenger, and James Z. Jacobs, janitor, ‘The followmg appointments were made:—Casper C, Childs, clerk to the Board; Edward Donohue, Jr., ebtef clerk; John Rourke, application clerk; John At Weith, complaint clerk; H. J. Koerner, Timothy J. Donohue and EF. C. Thatcher, Generat Clerks; ¢. 8. Storms, registry clerk; James Daley, messenger, and John Sexton, janitor. The appointmeut of inspectors to fill the places of those removed was referred for the present. ANTI-EXCISE AGITATION, The Committee of Agitation appointed at the Cooper Instituto mass meeting on Saturday last met at the Staats Zettung office yesterday. A temporary organization wag effected and Sixtus Ch, Kapfl was chosen chairman. An Executive Committee and Committee on Grievances were appointed: They received a dozen affidavite complaining of the brutal acts of the police on Sunday before last. The committeo was composed of Major Sauer, Harry Cun- ningham and Fritz Hollender, A Committee of 1 zation wasalso appointed. Its members are William Yuengling, Conrad 31 Cc. R. Townsend, Michael Hahn, Gustav Lauter and General Ubi. Twelve hundred dollars were contributed toward a fund to defray the nses of this committee in taking measures te to justice the parties who are held responsible tor the alleged outrage on a en jast. The rooma formerly occupied by the Mul Benoit Savings Bank will be the headquarters, TAMMANY AND THE EXCISE, The committee of five appointed by the Executive Committee of Tammany Hall to draft rosolations de~ Bunciatory of the enforcement of the Sunday liquor law met yesterday afternoon at Tammany Hall and: after some private business had been transacted, de- cided to present a sories of resolutions to the General Committee, which.will mect on next Thursday evening at Tammany Hall, Mr, Joho Kelly was present at the BOARD OF POLICE. The Board of Polico held a meeting: yesterday and adopted a resolution directing the Superin- tendent to enforce the law against fast driving, and holding him and the inspectors responsible for strict compliance with the order. Otficer Parker, of the mounted 8q was dismissed from the department for being absent leave. To-day will be observed as a legal holiday at the Cen- tral Office by a gencral cessation of business, MUNICIPAL NOTES. The City Chamberlain yesterday reported that last week he received $859,190 04, made payments amount- ing to gasee.t00 v7, and on May 27 had a balanes of oane Ms ey aatidiy signed warrants amounting te $283,087 Ca og acount of city debt due June 1, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ‘The members of the New York Academy of Sciences held a meeting at No, 64 Madison avenue, Mr. J. 3 Newberry presided, and tho society listened to twa in- H.C, Bolton “On Determiza- the Arabians of the twelfth N. Martin, “Notice of Re- Earth's Axis —————_____,_. AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, On Thursday evening next, June 1, Mr. George Ken nan, of the Russian American Telegraph Expedition, ‘will address the American Geographical Society at Steinway Hall, upon “Dog Si Travel in Kamehatka = Wereasirn Siberia" "tho paper promises to be A RIVER ACCIDENT. Yesterday, when the ferryboat Morristown, of the Hoboken and Barclay street ferry, was crossing th. North Riv @ ran into and capsized a small boat with two young men in it, The engine was reversee immediately, and the Morristown backed, a Indder beimg lowered at the same moment, but it was fully twenty minutes belore ihe iwo men could be yor on boa: There is no douvt that botn would have bees drowned liad they not been ex} the fact of the small boats not ogee dnd ot the Morristown wi means provided by tbe ferry company for meeting such an emergency aro quite inadequate. jay whether or not you are one of the.