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4 CONGRESS. | The Oregon Electoral Question | * in the Senate, CONGRATULATIONS OF THE { Interesting Debate on Telegram Question. THE HOUSE ENUNCIATED. RIS NATION. est POWERS OF | Wr, Hewitt’s Claim that His Letters were | Opened in the New York Post Office, | SENATE, Wasuixctos, Dec. 20,1876 | ‘The Cuam laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of War, euciosing the report of Mayor (, B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, showing | the condition of the work of improving the South Pass of the Mississippi River, Ordered to be printed and lie on the table, Mr. Mircwess, (rep.) of Oregon, presented the joint Tesotutions of the Uregon Legislacure, asking aa appro- priation for @ geological survey of the State, Relerred to the Committee ou Mine aad Miniug, Mr. Wricar, (rep.) of lows, gave notice that on Fri- day morning, immeuiately alter the expiration of tho morning hour, he would move to take up for considera- | tiou the Senate bill declaring the true intent and moan- ing of the Union Pacitic Rurroad acts, approved July 1, 1802, July 2, 1864 aud July 3, 1866. Mr, Hircucock, (rep.) of Neb., introduced a bill eup- plemental tot ci tor the apportionment of Repre- sentatives in Congress among the several States according to the ninth ceusus, Referred to ihe Com- miltee on Privileges and Elections, (It provides for an additonal representation from the State of Ne- | Draska.) ir, WuiGur, of Lowa, called up the House bill to im- prove the law im relation to dower in the District of Columbia, Passed. THE TEERITORY OF PEMEINA, On mapion of Mr. Hivcucock, of Nevrarka, the vote by which the bill to establish the Territory of Pem- bina, and to provide a temporary government there for, was ordered to a third reading and passed on the Sih of August last, Was recousidered, aud the Dill be- ing before the Senate, Mr. Hamlin submitted an amendment continuing in force the present laws of the Territory of Dakota, out of a portion of which the new Territory is to be organized unl they shail be chunged by the Legislature of (he new Territory, Bir, BoGY, (dem) of Mo., oljected to the name Pem- Dina, and suid he desired to preserve some of the in- dian names in the new Territories. Alter some debate, during which it was suggested that the uew ‘Territory be caled Huron, Algouquin, or Ogullalla, Mr. Boy submitted a motion to cuaugo the name of the Territory irom Pembina to Huron, Agreed to. ‘The bill was then read « third time and passed. THe PENSION MILL Mr, Wiypow, (rep.) of Minn., called up the House Jill making an appropriation for the payment of invalid dnd other pensious of the United States tor the t Year ending June 80, -1578, reported from the Commit- Jee on Appropriations yesterday without amendinent Mr. Windom explained that the bill contormed ex- jolly (0 the estimates submitted by the depariment, it appropriated $1,000,500 less thin the bill last yeur, vi account of the decrease in the number of pen- Bioners. Mr. Davis, dem.) of W. Va, submitted an amend- iwent requiring the Commissioner of Pensions to Lere- after staie in bis unnual report the totai amount paid tor additional pensions ond also the annual reduction | in peusions, He quoted frow the report of the Com- | mussiouer of Pensivns and said it Was not sufliciently | clear, Last year, when the Pensions bill was being | @scussed, the Chairman of the Committee on Pen sions (Ingalls) stated that, in his opinion, at least oue- sixth ol the umount appropriated jor pensions was iumproperly paid, on account of trauduient clams, He | . Davis) tuought there could not be too much in- | mation On this subject. The annual pension rotl $25,996,324 69, while the report of the Commis- sioner of Pensions showed that the amount paid out | lust year for pensions was $28,351,509 69. The ex- penses of the pension office in this city were paid by | Appropriations in the logislative bill, and specific sums | were also appropriated tor the salaries of pension | ugebts and examining surgeons. dix. Wrxvom seut to the clerk's desk, and had read a letter irom the Commissioner of Vensious to the eflect that the annual peusion roll was $25,996,324 69, representing the pensions ior one year. amount paid out was $28,351,599 69, nearly $2,500,000 of Which were paid out for arrears on pensions, newly adjudicated cases, and on account of cuses previously Suspended for cause, Other sums were paid lor pen- slow agents’ expenses, medical examinations. 4c, Mx Davis said be could not understand the dis- crepancica between the reports from the Pension Bureau and the Treasury Department. For inetance, from 1860 to 1870 the reports from the Pension Bureau showed an expenditure of $13,000,000 less than the amount reported by the Treasury Hepartment. There | should be some explanation of these matters. The amendment of Mr. Davis wus then agreed to und the bili was passed, Mk. BouTWELL, (rep.) Of Mags., gave notice that as won as the resvlution in regard ‘to the Oregon elector should be disposed of he would ask the Senate to con- dider the House bill to periect the revision of the laws, THE OR*GON ELECTOR, The Senate then resumed the consideration of the antinished business, being the resolution of Mr. Mit- chell authorizing ah investigation as to the appoint wcnt of Cronin Présidential elector in Oregon. ARGUMENT OF MK. ROGY. Mr. Boay, of Missouri, resumed his argument from the point Where ke suspended vesterday. He cou- jended (hat the action of Grover was forced upon him. When the fact became known to Grover that Watts held « government office it was not in bis (Grover’s) power to give him a certificate of election, He (Mr, Bogy) regretted that this case had been premawirely decided in the Senate. The Committee on Privileges aud Elections of this bouy had got. to be & most important committee, No man could put his foot into the Senate vuiil he had passed the ordeal of that commit- tec, und sone men had been putin the Senate who should not have been put in. No man could be a 3 or, whether elected by his Legisiature or not, unless he was also clected by the chairman of tho Committee on Privileges and Kiections—the Senator trom Luulana (Mr. Morton) This committee reminded lim (Mr Bogy) of what is called in modern times returning board,” The Committee on Privileg vd Evections had got to be the great returning board vl the Senate. These returuing boards were a new in- Veution. It was comceded that Tilden bad a popular ajority Of 300,000, but Hayes bad three returning rds; 90 that to cipher the thing down, one returu- ing bourd was worth just 100,000 votes. Me, Mitcwen. said if the returning board in Oregon could carry out its purpose it would be equal to 45,000,000 of people. Mr, Booey, resuming, said a returning board would bave been a useful thing to Robespierre in the duys of tue French Revolution, It might have answered the piace vi the guillotine He (Bogy) was glad that tus Uregon matier had happened. li was a most fortunate thing, as it had compelied Senators ou the other side to investigate all these questions as they should do, The Uregon case bad upset all rgumeut avout a ren cie 11 it bad pot happened there would | ave Uven to end to arguments op the other side about returas irom Louisiana aod Florida constituting « | prima facie case, aud Congress could not go bebind the | wctiou'of the returoing bourds of these States. Now ft was plain that Congress hada right and power to carry Out the sovereign will of the people. Mr, Monroy, (rep.) of Ina, said recurning boards Were nota new invention, They were ax old as the constitutivn of the United States There was not a ip this Union which had not authorized one or persous to count the votes aud ceruly who was lu some States—as in Lousiana—these boards | bad diseretionary and judicial pow i of the returning boards in some States by the laws of | the State were mode tual In Oregon the Governor | Ment of the Senator irom Uregon (Mr. Mitchell) ae. Liveres 0, aud said that Senator dared the domoerutic Senators on this floor to speak their | Views on this subject The democrats on this Loor Were not te be dared by anyboay. They, like the peo- | ple of this country, dared to do right; dared what they thougtit was j Mr. Mircunit, (rep) of Oregon, inquired if tho | Senwtor trom Counecticut would dare, in justice to | himself as a Senator, in justice to his reputation as a | lawyer, Say that Crouiun was elected st | | had no discretionary power, vo judicial power, He hod po power to count out # [raudulent vote, In Louisiana the Returning Board bad broad judicial power. It may have made a wrong decision; he would | hut discuss (hat question now; but the Governor of ised powers Bot given him by the laws oF | ARGUMENT OF SENATOR KATON. | Mr. Earox, jem.) of Conn, reterred to the argu- | | elector, apd that the Governor of Oregon was right im issuing & certiticate to hit Mr. Earow said if the Senator (Mr. Mitebell) would ‘wait wntil be bad coucladed bis argument he would see there would be no necessity ior the question, Resuming, Mr. Eatos said be would not count &® vole which be believed to be wrog to elvet the man who had triumplauily been elected President by the American people. He did not re the advantage of avy wrong in this canvass of Senate. He argued that every vallot | was Ho more than a blank pieve of pa- per, and the Governor of Oregon, taking that view Of the case, saw his Way clear to give Mr. Cronin tue certificate, as every vote given for Cronin was a proper, Jegul vote. By a strict constroction of the law ol Oregon the certificate of election to Cronin was right aud proper, aithough be (Mr, Katou) thought the Guy- | He thought the geutiemna | the rate to Florida; | President, | fegully constituted Louy, and th | viving them, doubtless for the purpose of deterring | then promptly met by, him and completely refuted | Mr. Morrison on that subject tuiled to inform the House of the name or Dames of the person or persons who re- Jused to produce papers or telegrams, or the cireum- iT | stances under which the refusal bad been mado, | Koes on to say: NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. : ernor should have certified to the election of two men, aod ouly two men, He (Mr. Eaton) would not vote to place ia the Presidential chair the caudidate of the democratic party on the vote of the eieetor in | Oregon. The poliical stomach of the Seuator from | n (Mr. Mitchell) seemed to be disordered now by mutter, bat it could stand the garhe Carolina, Louisiana and Fiorida, He'| (or, Eaton) hoped his friewds = on tho | civer side of the chamber would * stand | with him and retain the purity of elections through. | out the country. He then read the recently published | letier of John J, Long, the republican candidate for ouisiaua Legislature, declining to accept the seat awarded to him by the Returning Board on the groaud that he had been fairly defeated by Mis democratic op- ponent, and, resuming bis argument, said a single witness lik ed down ‘a dozeu aflida. | Vite. Long said there was no intimidation in De Soto parish; Latthe Sepator from Obio (Mr. Sherman) de- clared ‘there was, in conclusion, Mr. Eatou argued that the representatives of the people could not alford todo wrong, The President of the United States bad been quoted as saying be would deliver over the oltice to Hayes if he Should be declared to be elected, the President bad nothing todo with it, lt would not do to talk about enforcing anything. The good sense o! the peopie of this country would see that justice was done. Mr, Earoy also argued that the President of the Senate had no more right to count the votes tor Presi- nt than oue of the Da ‘The President of the Senate, he said, Was not the president of the joint cou- vention upiess chosen by the joint couvention for that yosition, , Mr. SukeMax, (rep.) of Onto, said be was not im- formed that ythe Returning Board bad rewurned Mr. jong as elected to the Legisiature trom De Soto partsn, leaped before be came to the stile, He then referred to affidavits of intimida- tion in De Soto parish, and, resuming, said that the will of the peopte of Orego: tuirly expre: in favor of the Ht cieclors and ne was entitled to Mr I Florida, Mr, Suraax said he was perfectly willing tu apply | but these shings are governed by | the jaws of the State, Oregon bad her laws and orida hers, If Governor Hayes should become satis- vd that he had not a majority of the legal votes of Florida and Louisiana he would not accept the office of {f \wshould be clear that Governor Hayes had not received that imwortty be (Mr, Sherman) | not have hun accept the oflice, Mr. Sherman then argued that (be Louisiana Returning Board was o | it had nut been | shown tbat the Board made a talse return. Ho sad | that he did not desire to see Governor Hayes buve tho | beuetit of any wrong, apd be wus saticlied that he spoke the sentiments of Governor Hayes when be said if that gentleman should be convinced that the Returning Board of Louiiaea or Florida acted wrong he would muke no cltitn to the office of President of the United States. There Was an aosence of uny proof that these boards had acted wrong. AS the returns from those States uow stood they were just as much entitled to be” counted ax the returns from New York or Obio, aud he could show trom evidence now before the Sevate that the vote of the State of Louisiana in fairness sbould be counted for Governor Hayes. Mr. Buxseipx, (rep.) of K. 1, said be intended to votetor tue amendment submitted some days ago by the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Bayard) 48 a substi+ lute for the preamble io the resolution, but in doing so he did vot want to be placed in accord with his friend | Irom Missouri (Mr. Bogy) He (Mr, Burnside) was not | Teudy to cast any vole or make any remarks which | would cause anybody to believe that he entertained the | opinion that Governor Grover, of Oregon, acted in an honorable manner. No one could convince him that Grover was a bigh toned man, but be thought a pream- bie (o @ resolution of the Senate charging guilt betore an investigation bad been made was undignified to say | the least, He hoped to come out of all this trouble feeling conscious that every yote and act of bis to set- tle the question had been houorably and conscien- ciously given Pending discussion, Mr, BoGy presented the petition of Joun S. Marmaduke, of Missourt, for the removal of his political disabibities. Referred to the Commit. tee on the Judiciary. ‘The Senate, at four o'clock, went into execativo s sion, aud when the doors were reopencd adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasuincrow, Dec, 20, 1876 Mr. Woon, (dem.) of N. Y., rising to @ personal ex- planation, referred to the Washington Republican as having published false and calumnicus charges against him; the most of which, he said, referred to busines, transactions which took place thirty years ago, and Which were then refuted and retracted by their author, Those transactions which were thought to have oc- curred since that time had been proved equally false and without foundation. These tacts were known or should have been known to the parties who were ro. him from the performance of his public duty at this juncture, He had, therefore, arisen to say that every allegation in these publications affecting his. public integrity was void of foundation; that the charges were origi” nally made for the purpose of blackmail; that they were without his yielding to the money demands made upon him. They had been revived ince then by pohticat and personal enemies for objects obvious to every one. He sent to the Clerk’s desk and had read a letter from Mr. Spofford, the librarian of Congress, contradicting one of the statements against Mr Wood. THE IIS NATION, The Srxakwn stated that he had infortdation that there was a gentieman in the city who was the bearer to the people of this country of a communication from the Irish nation congratulating the American people in this their centennial, Mr. Hotwas, (dem.) of Ind., thereupon rose and asked unanimous consent to offer a resolutiog, reciting that Mr, J. O'Connor Power, M. P., had been depated to represent to the people of the United States the congratulations of the Irish nation on the centenary of American independence, aud referring the subject of his mission to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with instructions to report what action should be taken in the premises. Mr. TowskND, (rep.) of N. Y., suggested to Mr. Holman tue use of the word *ipeople” imetead of “‘na- tion. . M HoLMaN expressed his opinion that the term , and he hoped that the “nation”? was not inappropriat objection would not be pressed, Mr. TowNsxNp—I do not object. the resolution at any rat Mr. Hotmax—There is a sense in which the term “nauion”” is properly applied to the Irish people. Mr. Hoax, (rep.) of Mass,—What is the rational au- thority of the Irish poopie f Mr. HoLmay—The communication comes from that portion of the Irish people who now reside within toe limits of Ireland. ‘Their representative 1s deputed by them asa people to express their congratulations on the close of the tirst century of American indepen- dence, Mr. Hoar—In what mode is the deputation made or authenticated Mr. Hotaax—That is one of the subjects proporly referred to the Committee on Foreiga Aflairs. Mr. Hoar—the resolution makes the House allege as @ fact that this gentieman bas been depued by the Irish nation, Now, 1 18 proper that if the House 1s to assert tbat fact it should know it, The gentleman who offers this resolution docs not, as I understand, know iu My question 1s, Who deputed 6h What is the national authority? Suppose the Irish nation should say mext week, ‘We did not depute him,’’ what evidence is there that they did? Mr. Honwax—The technical point raised is clear enough. Mr. Hoar—Say, “said to be deputed,” Mr. Hormax—Dut inasmuch as the term “nation”? may be used synonymously with *‘people,"’ | trust that the resolution wil! be adopted in its present form. The objection not being pressed the resolution was adopted. Mr. Terny, (dem.) of Va, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the bill for the payment for certain tinprovements on the land now embraced in rf Fort Cameron military reservation, Usab Terri- tory. Passed. Mr, Baxnine, (dem) of Ohio, Chairman of the Mill- tary Commitee, reported buck adversely the bill vetoed | by the President restoring Captain Bdward 8. Myer to the active list of the army, The question was put, “Shall the House pass the bill, notwithstanding the President's veto?’ It wae cided in the negative—yeas 1, nays 197. THE TELEGRAM QUESTION, Mr. Lyxpx, (dem.) or Wis, from the Judiciary Com- | Mittoc, ade A report on the subject of requiring the production of telegrams before committees of the House, The report siates that the communication of IT am in favor of House bas papers aud tei wet to compel the production wins material to the Inve efore the cournittes, to produce such quired should be answer. wit if any witn Teiuses to appear be duce any bouxs, papers of telegrams in his posession or uuder his comtrol when required, the committee should wittess and the fact ng to such refusal for the action of the House, ue t whenever a wi to be given by him ro with or prevent ho commit interlore with, or pt oreudeavor to prevent such wit crams required by t to the tlouse, suet person sal! wr ul the House to auawer for a Ureach of the Rouse. tro, (dem.) of Onto, a member of the com. offered the lollowing as an additional resolu. privi- Jesolved, That the subpanas issued by House committees commanding trlextais, books, papers and other documents 4 seribe them with such con ordered to to (he n the gen hear as may be charged with the inquiry shail a such description when, aiter having deteru: have reasonable ground to believe that telegram: Verial to such inquiry, they shall be igaurant of th to sucht telegram oF thelr contents or dates, but scription tint willenable such telegrams to be identified anil be deemod sufficient, | made by Mr. Mr. Kyort, (dem)oi Ky,, Obairman ef the Judi- leriug & com rivileged nm itted by than 4 communication made whatever; that ti» House bas pow ander the hand and seal of it som to appear before any cou: Authority to examine witne: pavers, and bring with him such books or papers, whether tho pavers be telegi#ph imessages or ather, for the inspec: tins of sich committer, as such committee way decia ‘necessary to the investigation with whieh such committee may have been cuarged, and that such committee may order and dire. fore it to produce to wl whesher suclppaper be a telogn may appear Po be in bis pos which sueh committee may dedi ry to th xation with which it may have veeu ¢ nd that any Person ov whow such subpwna shail have been served who shall disobey the sane, ving appeared as a witnens, shail disobey the order of such eommittee to produce an 4 book of paver which be shall have been ordered by suc! cuminiitee to produce, shall be brought to the bar of the House, on the report of the fhets by the committee, to an. ntempt of the authority of the House, and under the facts may require. any persov who shuil prevent or attempt to t any person who shall huve been subpanaed to appear any committee of the tl from 64 appearing, or , oF from producing shall have been re- ppt to prevent any jore auch cominit- tee, shall,on the report of the committee of all the fucts, be brought to tue bur of the House to auswer for coutwmps and dealt with as the law under the facts may require. ‘ ‘Mr. Lyxpg moved the previous question, and it was nded. Suggestions were made by Messrs. Hoar, of Mat chusetts; Gurfield, of Obio, and Conger, of Michig: to lot all the resolutions be printed ana their consider: | ation made a special order for to-morrow; bat such Suggestions were not and Mr. Lyyv8 proceeded to support of the report of the commitice. He yielded to Mr, Hurd, who stated — briefly the reasons of which he desired the adoption of the resolution offered by him, the principle of which was that what he called “drag-net subpecnas” should not be issued and all private telegraphic correspondence of persons subjected to examination. Mr. Lyxpx then resumed bis argument and qmoted ! im support of the position of the committee the action | of the English House of Commons iu the famous case ¢ Duke of York for th against » sale of army com- | missions, where a banking house was required to pro: duce the bank accounts of Mrs, Clark, oe whom such sales were made. He thought thet the Honso should not trainmel the exercise of its own discretion by any rules whatever except the rules wel! establistfed by parliamentary law. He was, therefore, opposed to the amendment offered by Mr. Hura. Mr. Ksorr spoke in delence of tho resolution offered by him, as being iu plainer and more unmistasabie terms (han the report of the committwe, The oniy di Pp sane was, us to the umendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hurd) He though: the House ought uot to adopt it, as it would be tantamount to an expression by the House of a want of confidence 1p its committecs, Mr. MoCxaky, (rep.) of Iowa, a member of the Ju- | diciary Committee, argued in favor of Mr. Hurd’s | amendment, aud remarked that it was inconceivable that a case could occur wherein a commitgee would e able to describe the papers which it required to FY be produced so tar as that resolution prescribed a de- | scription, Mr. Woop, of New York, favored the report of the committee, and opposed Mr, Hurd’s amendment as being tantamount to a defeat of the Louisiana mvest- gation. He said that any restraimt or curtailment of the powers of the committee would be a failing short of the duty of the House, aud the House would stand belore the world as failing to execute its powers, Mr. Hooke, (dem.) of Miss, spoke in favor of Mr, Knott's substitute, which he preierred to the report of the committee, as being more fully and explicitly ex- pressive of the parliamentary law on the subject. SPEKCH OF MR. GARFIELD. Mr. GaRFIELD, (rep.) of Uhio, said that if the House aflirmed the ductrine suggested by Mr. Knott—namely, that there is no diflerence between telegraphic com. munications and oral communications—it would ouly need another similar step to swailow the last possibie protection which the American people had against the invasion of Congress of all their privacy. step would be to dectare that the post office was to be put on the plane of the telegraph. The telegraph was agreat institution, grown up within the last forty years, unknown to old law writers, and was, ext to the post oflice, more the custodian ot all public and private secrets thin any institution ou earth, Every day hundreds oi thou- sands of persons intrasted the most sacred affairs of their private life to its condidence, and now it was pro- posed thatthe whole machiuery of the telegraph should be put down to the level of an oral commun:ca- tion. All that was wanted was to seize the telegraph Operator at apy polnt and make him bring in his ban- dle of news to ap inquisitorial body, which would then fish out whatever evidence it wanted to tind. ‘here never hud been an Angio-Saxon Jaw in avy part of the Anglo-Saxon world that would permit so great un invasion of private riguts as that. Besides destroying the telegraph as a great instrument of commerce and business it would break down in the ininds ol the people that security of law which they bad enjoyed i this coun- Ury for so many generations There never bad been a Congressional investigation the objects of which were sufficiently important to warrant so great a change in the laws of the country, It was bevter that every thief should go ‘‘unwhipped of Justice’ than that the old protective muchinery of the law should be destroyed in securing his whipping. SPERCH OF MR. HRWITT, Mr. Hewigt, of New York, subscrived to the doctrine Juid down by Mr. Garfield a# to the protection which the law throws around the post-€ilice; but the law threw no such protection around telegraphic comma- nications. He had reason to believe, however, that the law should give that protection, aud be would bo glad tosee it given, He had good reason to think aiso that the protection which the law secures to citi- Zeus 4s to communicgtions through the post vflice was more ofa delusion than was generally supposed. Dur- ing the !ast month his attention hud been called to his own letters passing through ihe New York Post Oilice, and, according to his best iudgment and that of ex: perts, they were frequently, if not yenerali opencd in the Post Gifice ‘and reciosed by the use of mucilage, the steam used being apparent on the envelope. He bad, of course, 10 means of proving the fact, but he was ready to submit his letters to the judgment of experts, and he thought it would be found that the post office protection was not such us good citizens would hke to have or guch as had come from Apglo-Saxon institutions, If there ever had been protection given to telegraphic communication its violation bad not come from the democratic side of the House, but had been initiated by a di Unguished ‘republican from Mussuchuseus in the Jamous impeachment trial of President sohnson Gir, Butler). It had also been violated by committees of investigation sitting during tho prescut Congress, avd notably by the committee of investigation which went to the State of Mississippl and irsued a ‘dragnet subpa@na” for all the telegrams that passed t9 aud trom Colonel George, of that ie. So that while he subserived to ashe doctrine that private communications of individuals should be pro- lected he wished to say on this occusion that there was bo purpose on the democratic side to prevent the telegraph from being opened freely on both sides, and be thanked Heaven that there was no communication bearing his name that was not willing and would not be glad to have publi id he had already authorized the President of the West- ern Union Telegraph Company to produce every tel- egram bearing bis signature, (Applause on the dem- ocratic side.) Mr, GarrreLD suggested that it was the duty of the gentleman (Mr. Hewitt) to ask for an inquiry, and be (Mr. Gurield) would assist bim in it Mr. Springer, (dem.) of Il, thought that there was no difference between telegraphic communications and the accounts of a banking hous and ithad been the rule to examine the banking ac- counts of various persons, notably in the case of An- drew Jobnson during the impeachment tial. The telegrams were necessary in the present case, in order to get at the botiom facts of the election in the three Southern States. Gentlemen on the republican side held that the House had nothing to do with the bottom Jacts; that all that was to be done was in the hands of the presiding officer of the Senate, who was to count the Votes and declare who bad been elected, and that the Senate and House had nothing to do with the count; but he (Mr. Springer) maintained that the coun- try had a right to know the jacts in regard to the elec- j tion in the Southern States. Mr. Hoan, of Massachusetts, regretted that, in the grave question of tho constitutional authority of the | House, the gentioman irom New York (Mr. Hewitt) should have seen fit to give & partisan ture tu the dis- cussion, If that gentleman's communications throug! office bad t dealt with us he suspected jo be made of that fact was not to throw it into & grave constitutional discussion, That gentleman should rise and demavd Investigation, and, no mat+ ter whether it was a republican or a democratic com- munication which had been tampered with, he must know that he would find abundant support on the re- Publican side of the House to bring the ufender ¢o punishment. The discussion having closed the question was first taken on Mr. Hurd’s resolution, which was rejected— Yeas 94, nays 122, The question was then taken on the substi offered by Sr. Knott, and it was adopted by a ri: vote—12: to 51. Mr. PLatt, (rep.) of N. Y., then asked unanimous consent to offer & resolution for an imquiry into the | charge made against the New York Post Ollice, but objection was nade by Mr. Luttrell, of California. ilig were then jatroduced and referred as follows:-~ By Mr. Mints, (dem.) of Texas--To reorganize render more efficient the administration of the Ni Department. Mr. Lang, (dem.) of Oregon, trom the Committee on Public Lands, reported a vill tor the rule of desert in Caiiiornia, Ordered printed and recommit- ted, FUNDING LEGAL TRNDER NOYES. Mr. CaitTENDEX, (rep.) ot Y., asked leay troduce and have referred to the Bavking Committee, Dill for funding legnl tender notes, but objection was Holtman, of Ladiana. ‘The bill is as jollow: V herons the legn! Leader notes of the United States, when issued, were, by @ provision of che uct authorising them, dable ai the option of holders inte bonds or the United States Dearing six per cent anneal interest; and whereas but tor such provision for funding ne the Secretary ot house of Cougi nd wherens t vol roved Janunry 14, 1875, to provide tor tie re- win of its iegai tender notes arier the Ist day of Junuary, 1879 coin payments th the manner y the aforesaid of Congi withdrawal from circalation of & cons! The next | United States must, like all other debtors, public er / vate, provide tor wud pay all its hooest obligations to the | extent of its means aus resources or be discredited and dix- logsl tender notes aves whenever preseuted by the holders thereof, . oupom or tof the original Legal anthorized by this wet therefor, dollar to Londs of the U he Unite ates in th provided. that the bonds able in gold at the expiration ef torty years from the Ist day of January. 1577, and bear interest at the bie for depusit in nkinys purposs for bonds unver the act shall be destroyed under suet lations as the Secretary of the Treasury may peeserive. The conference report on the bil! to provide for the | expenses of investigating commitices was made by Mr. Holman of lidiana; discussed and agreed to. ‘The House then, at ten minutes past four o'clock, ad« | jouraed. | SANCTITY OF THE MAIL, POSTMASTER JAMES INDIGNANTLY DENIES THAT MAIL MATTER WAS OR COULD BE TAMPERED WITH IN THR NEW YORK POST OFFICE. Postmaster Jamos was culled upon yeaterday after- noon by a Heap reporter, whose purpose it was to Interview him on the charge which Congressman Hewitt had made in the House of Representatives a | couple of nours beloro, that his (Hewitt’s) letters had been tampered with, having beemopened by steam be- fore they reached their destination, The Postmaster had just received information with regard to Mr. Hewitt’s speech. He indignantly repudiated the pos- sibility of letters being opened, Mr, Jaines displayed some excitement when the sub- ject was broached by the reporter, and said that he could not believe that Mr, Hewitt had made such en accusation against the New York Post Office. H “Tam confident,’ said Mr. James, “that Mr. Howitt would never make such a statement, No man would, unless he was a fool, which Mr. Hewitt 1s not Mr, | Hewitt has, on several occasions, expressed himself as | an admirer of the system we have in force here. 1 as- | sure you that acnarge like that would be simply absurd. Such a thing as opening a letter in the way | described could not be dove by an employé of this | departinent gniess he left some evidence of his act; | and if avy man was cangbt in an attempt of thav kind he would be sent to prison by railroad, [am here | postmaster lor the people, not as a partisan oilicial; and what I bave to do, and’ wnat I try to do, ia to get | inand gend out mail matter as quickly as’ possible. A good name is better thun riches, and {i can’t afford to bave mive assailed, [ have just sent a telegram to Mr, Hewitt, and hopo 1 will soon receive a reply.” Mr. James here showed the telegram to the reporior, saying that be bad sent a copy of it to Congressman | Viaut, who was on the Post Otlice Investigation Com- miltteg, The despatch reads as follows :— ‘) THK POSTMASTER TO THR CONGRESSMAN. Hawirr, House of Representatives, Washington, n the flour of Congren terongh this oflice are oF hi ing your hands, Do you cba thatit ix or has been actually or probably done in’ this office jease supplement your charges with » motion fur avestization, as I pronounce such an accusation Abaglutaly false. I. Le SAMS, Postin THR PENALTY POK ILLEGALLY OPENING LETTERS. Mr, James then called the reporter’s attention to the section of the Revised Statutes relating to the ob- struction of correspondeace, which reads as fol- lows:— Any person who shall take uny letter, postal eard or packet, although it does not contain auy article of value or evidence thereof, out of a post office or branch po: office, or trom a lettesor mail carrier, or which hus been in any post office ur branch post olfice, Orin the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered td the person to whom it wa directed, with # design to ab- struct the correspondence, or pry I of another, of shall secrete, embex troy the sume, shall for every such offence be punish thw fine of not more than $500, or by Imprisonment at hard labor for not more than one year, or by both. WHAT SUPERINTENDENT GAYLER SAID. The reporter then asked Mr. James if he had ever known of an employé of the office bavingopened a letter by the steam process, Tne Postmaster saia he had not, and usked Mr. Gayler, who was present, the saine question, saying, at the same time, that Mr. Gayler could give all the information desired regard- ing the system employed in the department. Mr. Guyler said that be had pever known of such an in- have sometimes been embezzied,’’ said Mr, Gayler; ‘*but in such cases it has invariably been proven that the thief has been aware that the person to whom the letter has been addressed has been in the habit of receiving money and the letter has been purioined with the hope of obtaining the cash. When this has been done the letter has always been destroyed, whether or not the opener found the desired con- tents. Mr. Hewitt, as L understand it, does not claim that his letters have pot been delivered, or that they have been delayed, but that they have been opened by steam before ueiivery. To accomplish this, the person who would undertake to do it would be compelled to conceal the letter or letters in the distributing room in the presence of a large number of employés, as well as a special agent, and this would be a very dificult mutter to succeed in, Alter he had secured the letter, he would have to take it away to open ft, and run a double risk of being detected in putting it back when he had pos- sessed bimself of its contents, it such were his pur- Pp It would be hardly possible tor the person to place the ietter tn time for the mail in which itt should have gone, and, if 1t did not, the time mark on the envelope would be evidence of its delay. We placed a special letter box in the Everett House for the benefit of the democratic commtttee, as Well as one in the Fifth Avenue Hotei for tne accom- modation of the regublican committee, and when I made a request of thy democratic committee to send their matter im us early ag possible, in order that it would not crowd usin the afternoon, they cheerfully acceded. Ina word, our relations with Mr. Hewitt ad I cannot whic has been attributed to him. He may bave said u some of his ters and democratic documents had been opened belore they reached their destina- tion; and, by the bye, it was said some time ago that Governor Tilden made a similar accusation. But it ‘was found on investigation that His Excellency excul- pated this office from any blame m the matier, Our special agents would know it any such practice were carried out, and I would prosecute a man for such an offence much quicker than for stea tug money. If such an assertion has been made,” con- cluded Mr. Gayler, “f deny it, positively and in toto, ridiculous.” In this declaration he was heartily joined by Mr. Yeoman. Up toa late hour last night Postmaster James had received no response irom Mr. Hewitt. EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY, ALBANY, Dec. 90, 1876 Govornor Tilden has granted the following pardons, ail of which were petitioned for by court oificials and leading citizens :— To Edwin Perry, sentenced in Kines county April 20, 1876, for lite in Sing Sing Prison for murder in the second degree. To Jobn Savage, sentenced in Albany county January ‘14, 1875, to three years in Clinton Prison for assault | with intent to do bodily harm. To Clark Nichols, sentenced in Livingston county November 17, 1875, to one year and six months in Au. Duro Prigon for grand larceny. To Sanford H. Gerst, sentenced in fade county March 16, 1875, to two years and six months in Auburo, Prison for assault witb mtept to kill, Yo Harvey M. Tingley, sentenced in New York Mareh 7, 1576, to one year and six months in Sing Sing Prison for forgery in the fourth degree, The Governor has restored to citizensh!p the fol. ns Benjamin Adams, of Essex county; Martin Reebe, of Erie county; Jonn Corcoran, of Erie county; Ea- ward Hayes, of Ovondaga county; Ambrose Borgeron, | alas Thomas Purdy, of Albany county; Thomas | Reiley, alias Lawrenve Bagley, of New York; Rich- | ard Murphy. of Ontario; George Mink, of Oneiwa; | Jeremmb Harris avd Joseph Hogau, of New York; theodore Tyrer, of Erie county; David Houseman, Richmond county; Patrick Dooley, of New Yo Franklin D, Clary, of Frankiim county, Hitehsie, of Ricvmond county. The Governor has commuted the following sen- tences:— Of Albert Pease, sentenced im Westchester county, November 26, 1861, for lite, tu 3: Sing Prison, tor Tape; prisoner was afterward transierred to Auburn Prisep; tence commuted to twenty-five years and | nine months, subject to the legal deductions tor good | conduct. Of James Flynn, sentenced in New York, February 15, 1876, to three years in Sing Sing Prison, for grand | larceny; senteuce commuted to two years and six beh at Soi nd to éhe jegal deductions for good con- duct. je was charged with having stolen old clothing jount of $42 from his father. a and Jobo 10, 1876, to three Prison, and years and #ix months in Sing Sing terward transforred to Clinton Prison, for grand jarceny; sentence commuted to six months actual service. CONNECTICUT WESTERN RAILROAD. i Hantronn, Dec. 20, 1876, An adjourned meoting of the bondholders of the Connecticut Western Railroad was held here to-day, Alter a long discussion @ resolution was passed asking the directors to get the consent of the stockholders to a plan of reorganization by which preferred stock be issued to the bondholders as coliateral tor their bonds, the stock to be given up if the road is thrown into the hands of @ receiver; preierred stock to ve entitled to all earnings up to se" vp the common stock to have a divideud, and ouly preferred stockholders to vote at the meetings. To facilitate ¢ the holders of bonds—of wach re $3,000,000 oul—are requested to send their names to Caled J. Camp, West Winsted, Conn, THE HOWARD MISSION. Tho annual mooting of the Society of the Howard Mission, No, 40 New Bowery, was hold yesterday | Person of Elizabeth, and that of “Harold” 18 to ex- | Governor General of Ludia,” in the following words :— | Here fougin, hore tell our Norman slander'd king. | A sea of blood—we are drown’d in blood—for God TENNYSON’S NEW PLAY. Hano.p, A Drama. By Alfred Tennyson. James R. Osgood & Co. Whatever Tennyson writes at once arrests the atten- tion of the literary world. Poe aeciared him the | poblest of living poets. RK. H. Horne said that the Jove of Tennyson was the test of poetical appreciation. These may be exaggerated estimates, yet it ts true that be is one of the greatest of modern poeta, and far more | than any other cuthor has influenced the style of modern ve: He bimseif derived his pecatiar | methods trom Wordsworth, and the light of Words- worth shines through him upon the world like the sua through a stained window, the same essence, yet changed in its manifold colors, Of late Tennyson has not displayed his lyric genius nor his full Boston: power, His ‘Idylls of the King” were unques- tiopably great, yet were without the deli- cious charm of “Lochsley Hall,” ‘Mariana,’ “The Lotos Eaters,” and the profound thought of his | “In Memoriam,” while bis “Queen Mary” was com- paratively a failure. Now comes bis *‘Marold,” a poem in dramatic form, which is better than ‘Queen Mary’—in this respect, that it was not written for the stage, but for the reader, and thereiore has a better treatment—that is, a more poetical treatment of the subject, The advance sheets of the poem have just reached us, and, though the form is one in which Ten- nyson never couia excel, the work {s rull of strength, and there are many beautiful passages written in his |. t from @ mound, but which is too long for quotation, and the drama closes with the ficld of the dead, a night scene, where Edith and Aldwyth seek for the body of the last of the Saxon kings, and Edith dies besides Harold, Willam the Conqueror ends the tragedy with this grand tribute to nis fallen enemy : Wrap them together in a purple cloak and fay them both upon the waste seashore At Hastinus, there to guard the land for which He did torswear himsei(—a warrior—ay, And but that holy Peter fought for us, | And that the false Northumbrian held aloof, And save for that chance arrow which the saints Sharpen’d aad sent against bim—who can te! ‘Turee horses bad I slain beneath me: twice 1 thought that all was lost. Siuce I knew battle, And that was from my boybood, never yet— ‘ No, by the splendor of God—have | fougnt men Like Harold und bis brethren, and his guard Of English Every mun about bis King Fell where ho stood, They loved him: and, pray God My Normans may but move as true with me To the door of death. Of one selt-stock at first, Make them again one people—Norman, Eaglish; ‘And Engitsh, Norman ;—we should have a band Yo grasp the world with, and a foot to stampit . . Fiat. Praise the saints, It is o' No more blood: 1 aw King of Engiand, so they thwart me not, And I will rule according to their laws, From these extracts the reader may form an opinion of the work, which tf it be not equai to Tennyson best, 13 certainly not unworthy of his gonius, Few lyrics are introduced, and these not of remarkable merit. The drama is faithful to history, and will be, we believe, received with more favor than ‘Queen Mary.” * THE BALTLE OF TRENTON. later siyle, The purpose of “Queen Mary" was to show the triumph of Protestantism in England in the hibit the downfall of the Saxon rule in Engiahd. j The story closely follows that of Bulwer’s novel of “Harold, the Last ot the Saxon Kings,” dealing with the same period and incidents, It is gracefully dedi- cated to “the Right Hon. Lord Lytton, Viceroy and Alter Old World records—sucb as the Bayeux tapestry and the Roman de Rou—Kdaward Fre 's History of the Norman Conquest, and your father’s Historical Romance treating of the same times, have been | mainly helpful to me in writing this drama, Your father dedicated his ‘‘Harold’’ to my father’s brother; | allow me to dedicate my ‘Harold’? to yourself. This is followed by an introductory sonnet with the title “Show Day at Battle Abbey, 1876.” To a certain extent it expresses the moral of the drama:— A garden here—May breath and bloom of spring— ‘The cuckoo yonder from an English elm Crying “with my false egg | overwheim ‘The native nest;"’ und fancy bears the ring Ol harnoss, aud that deathiul arrow sing, Aud Suxon battle-axe clang on Normau helm, Here rox the dragon banner of our realm O garden biossoming out of English blood! O strange hate-bealer Time! We stroll and Where might made right eight bundr ATS BLO; Might, right? ay good, so all things make tor good— But he and he, if soul’be soul, are where Each stands {ull face with all he did below. ‘Tho play opens in the King’s palace in London aud in a very striking manner, A comet is seen shining through the open windows, and the court is discussing what the portent—‘“the grimly-glaring, treble-bran- dished scourge’’—isto England. King Edward theo enters, and thus interprets his vision and the ct tial sign:— ‘i In heaven signs! Signs upon earth! signs every wher Gross, worldly, simouiacal, unlearn They scarce can read their Psalter; and your churches Uncouth, unhandsome; while in Norm: ry God speaks thro’ abler Voces, as He dwell In statelier shrines. I say not this as being Half Norman biooded, nor, as some bave bold, Because | love the Norman better—no, But dreading God's revenge upon this realm For narrowness and coldness, And I say it For the last time, perchance, before I go ‘To find the sweet refreshment of the saints, T have hved a hfe of utter purity ; T have builded the great chureh of Holy Poter, IT have wrought miracies—to God tho glory— And miracles jn My name be wrought Hereufter. 1p tought the fight ana go— I see the flashing of the gates of poarl— ‘And it is well with me, tho? some ef you Have scorn’d me—ay—but after Iam gone Woe, woe to England! I have had a vision; ‘The Seven Sleepers ia the cave at Ephesus Have turn’d from right to left, To this Harold characteristically replies:— My most dear master What matters? Let them turn trom left to right And sleep again. The first act ends with a charming love scene be- tween Edith and Harold. aud a plot of Aldwyth, the Queen of Wales, and the rival of Edith, against both of the lovers, In the second act we find Harold in Nor- mandy, In the power of William Rufus, who has claims tothe English throne. The danger of opposing his will is pointed out to Harold by Walfnoth, one of the minor characters, and its consequences thus de- scribed :— And deeper still the deep down oubliette, Down thirty feet below the smiling day— Iu blackness—do;s’ tood thrown upon thy head. And over thee the suns And the lark wings, th And men are at their m 5 And woo their loves and have forgotten th And thou art upright in thy living grave, Where there is barely room to shift thy side, And all thine England hath forgotten thee; ‘aud he our lazy-pious Norman King, With all his Normans round him once again, Counts his cid beads, and hath forgotten thee, Harold is finally constrained to swear to help Will- jam to the crown of England, but breaks that oath upon his return to England. King Eaward di od Harold becomes king. The Saxon priests absolve him trom bis oath. Beiore he dies Kdward prophesies ot the fleld of Senlac, where the Saxon power was over- thrown by the Norman, The dialogue is 100 fine to omit, and we quote it entire:— ALDRED, ! your priests ai And signs on earth! Knowest thou Senlac hiil? Haroun, T know al} Sussex ; A good intrenchment for a perilous hour! ALbRED. Pray God that come not suddenly! There is one Who passing by that hill three nights ago— He shook so that he scarce could out with if— Heard, heard— Haroto. The wind in bis hair? ALDRED, ’ A ghostly horn Blowing continually, and faint battle hymns, And cries, and clasbes, and the groans of men; And dreadful shadows strove upon tre bill, And dreadiul lights crept up trem out the marsh— Corpse candies gliding over nameless graves— Haroip. At Senlac? . ALDEED, Senlac, Epwarp (waking). * Senlac! Sanguelac, . Tho Lake of Biood! Sticaxp. This lightning before death Plays on the word—and Normunizes too! Haxkowp. Hush, father, husb! Kpwarp. Thou uncagonical fool, Wilt thou play with the thunger? North aud South ‘Thunder together, showers of biood are blown Belore a never-ending blast, wad bias Against the Llaze they cannot queuch—a lake, Has fill’ the quiver, and Death has drawn the bow— Sungueluc! Sanguelac! the arrow! the arrow! [Dies StiGaNd. It Is the arrow of death in bis own Leart— And our great Councti wait to crown thee King. The fourth act, full of fine passages, inciudes the battle of Stamford Bridge, iu which Harold was vic torious, and the fifth brings us tothe tatal feld of Senlag, where the prophecy of the dead Edward js ful- filled, Ina vision befure the battie the prediction is repeated by the King:— Son Harold, |, thy King, who caine before ‘To tell thee thou shouldst win at Stawntord Bridge, Come yet once more, trom where | am at peace, Because | loved thee in my mortal day, To tell thee thou shalt die on Seniac bill— Sanguelac! Other spirits re-echo the warning, and Harold, starting up, with battle axe in hand, utters the follow- ing noble words :— My battle axe against your voices. The King’s iast word—*‘the arrow! I die for Engiand then, who What wovier? men mu Heoeoyt tall into -- bave done bo man wron, ‘owti; Ff broth ‘Art thou so auger’dy Xi acti Fain bad | kept thine caridom in thy hanas Save for thy wi'd and violent will that wrench’d Ali hearts of freemen irom thee, | could do No other (han this way advise the king Against the race of Godwin. Is it possible That mortal men should vear their earthly heats Into yon bioodiess world, and threaten us thence Unschool’d of Death? Thus then thou art revenged— 1 lett our Kugland naked to the South ‘To meet thee in (he North. ‘The Norseman’s raid Hath belpt the ign | and the race of Godwin Hath rain’d Godwin, No—our waking thoughts Suffer a stormmless shipwreck in the pools Of valien slumber, and wrise again Disjointed: only dreums—where mine own self Tukes part against myseit! Why? fora spark O! sell-disaain bora in me when | sware Vence! I shall die lived tor England— PREPARATIONS FOR COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON. Treytos, Dec. 20, 1876, The commemoration of the centenmal anniversary of the battie of Trenton on the 26th ini nd a similar commemoration of the battle of Princeton on the 3d of January are two events of unusual State importance, to which the eyes of all patriotic Jerseymen are at the Present time turned. One was the “turning pot of the Revolution,’ and the other marked an epoch in which “the situation ot the American army aftor the action at Assunpink, or Trenton bridge, was ex+ tremely critical. ”” Both events aro to be celebrated by sham fighta, Already the arrangements for the frentou commemo- ration ure nearly Huished. General Truax, a veteran of the late war, is to Eepresesy Genoral Washington, ‘The Continental army will be composed of about 1,000 men, and the Hess! of about 500 men, fighters, not inciuding the outposts, The former will be made up of citizens, divi nig thirteen companies, and the latter of the Seventh ‘ \ regiment, State militia and cavalry and artil- lery mpanies, Lieutenant Louis ©. Gasson, ot tue Seventh regiment, who ts secte tary of the Committee of Arrangements, saya the sham fight wiil be the most successful of any such event that was ever witnessed in this part of the country, After the military celebration a meeting will be held in Taylor Hall, when un address guituble to the occasion will Le delivered by Judge Buchanan, The Philadephia “City Troop,’’ one of tne oldest mil- Mary organizations in the country, and the Washingion Continental Guards, of Princeton, will take part in tho sham fight. The Princeton celebration also promises to be a | splendid affuir, The Seventh regiment and companies of the First and Third regiments, State militia, will participate, JERSEY JUSTICE, FOUR BURGLARS SURPRISED BY THE POLICE AND SENI 10 STATE PRISON FOR A LONG TERM. Tnyxtox, Dec. 20, 1876. Judge Buchanan, of this city, who presides in the Court of Special Sessions,’ is determined to deal out Jersey justice in a rigorous manner to all burglarious rascals when brought before him. A few weeks ago a batch of night marauders were surprised by Police Marshal Brown and a cordon of police while they were in the act of breaking open a safe in the office of Mr. Heath, coal dealer, in this city, A few days after- ward one of the culprits, named Stryker, was sen- tenced to five years in the State Prison, and yesterday three nore, named Henry Steward, John Williams and James Taylor, were sentenced-Steward to vight years and the others to five yeurs each in the State Prisun by Judge Buchanan, ‘Tay‘or made a eontession, which disclosed the piot concocted by himself and coufed- erates, He said that Stryker led him into the matter, and that meetings wore held at the house of the Jor the purpose of forming the burglarious scheme, Steward told him that if tho sa! 8 broken the money would be divided. Willams said Siryker was the leauer of the gang, and’ he told bim that Mr. Heath kept $4,000 in the safe, and thatil all would help to break the safe he would give them $60 for their troubie, They are all negroes exeept Siew- ard, who said he came from Philadelphia. For the purpose of getting into the County Jail Joha Darcy and Wm. Glancy stole a counterpane Valued at $5 from one Charles Cubberly. ‘They pleaded guilty, but Judge Buchanan discharged thein, ying that the Court would not accommodate them with winter quar- ters at the expense of the county, bat that if they were brought before him again they would be sont to the State Prizon. ATLANTIC CABLES. 7 REPORTS REGARDING THE AMALGAMATION OF THE TWo caprs rowPANTKR. We have received the following from the Direct United States Cable Company, taken from the money article of the London Times, of Tucaday, December Wi * f Several circulars have come into our hands dealing with the proposed scheme tor amalgamating ‘the two Atlantic cable companies. They indicate that the pro- posal meets with considerable opposition, as well it may, and some statements taken from one of then may be interesting to D reet Cable shareholders, In giving these extracts it should be said that the opposi- tion willrequire to be very vigorous and well organ ized indeed if itis to carry the day against the con- trollers of the ‘Globe Trust,” who, acting together and pom sing power over a considerable amount of the irect Cable Company’s capital, can practically defy any loose, rambling attempt to beat them. The preseat receipts of the Direct Company from messages have during the three months, aver- aged at least £187,000 per annum. The expenses of management and the rents paid to government and otherwise for special wires and the maintenance of the Faraday at Halitax, do not in the aggregate exceed £55,000 per annum. Alter deducting £7,000 for interest on the deventures, the company is at the present moment earning a net income ‘oFe138,000, suf. ficient to place ten per cent of the income to a reserve fund and to pay a dividend at the rate of nine per cent per abnum tc the shareholders, The Direct Company 1s tuking twenty-six per cent of the whole traffic of (he Atlantic, although its capital is not twenty per cent of the aggregate capital of the two companies. It is easy, therefore, to gee ut the present tariff of 3a per word the results are both absoiutely and comparati' beget tothe Direct Company. In the prospec: tus which w: issued on the formation of the company un estimate of gross receipts of £157,954 was put forward. The result obtained has thus ex- ceeded expectation, and fs due partly to the efficient management of the company, partly to the superiority of our cable, and ina great measure to the support. y given to tne company by the public. If consequence of its independent position and the benedt which t public has derjved trom the reduction of tariff, Mr. ‘8 that the shareholders of the Direct Vom- puny bh sulfered {rom the competition. The oniy suffering as far as | am aware of the Direct Company bas been that its cable has on several occasions been broken suddenly and by violent means. Itis true that the cable remained salely at the boitom of the sea dur- ing a whole season before it was used for telegraphic purposes; itis true also that no attempt has been made to break our cable while the Faraday has be stationed at Halifax, but I should myselt have hesi- tated to ascribe the misfortunes which befell our cable in the autumn and winter of 1874 and 1875 to competition, PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY. David P. Holton, M. D., secretary of the American Philological Society, delivered a free lecture last even- ing m the small lecture room, Cooper Union, on “Nomenclature Particularly Genealogical Notations,” The Rev. Aaron Lloyd, president of the society, occu- pied the chair, The purpose of the lectureg was to lay before his hearers a system of genealogical nota- ton by mea radial charts. He that gouea- logioul writers found a difficulty in presenting thew ideas to their in Car ap ie proper order is members of large families, 80 as to present a clear account of their his. torical relationship. Genealogy had been decried as a complex and obscure science vecause of the defective systems of nomenclature used by its professors, The lecturer exbivited during the eveniog a number of ra- dial charts, aud in the course of his remarks explained the method of recording, in a succinct and pleasing form, the genealogical tacts incidental to a large fam. uly. « ly most a GOOD FOR MR. HANNON. Jobn G, Hurst, who who was charged with attempting to blackmail 4s to shoot Sr, Michael Hannon, of No, 12 Rutgers street, Wus arrested yesterday by Officer Fallon, of the Nineteenth precinct, and held for trial, It 1s alleged that for several weeks past a number of men repre senting themselves as government officors have been in the habit of entering merchants’ offices, and al accusing them of defrauding the luterpal Revenue partment, offering to compromise matvers on paid $50 or $100, In some instances the parties cused, It is said, have paid tribute, On Monday @ man called on Mr, Hannon, aod after accusing him of ae frauding the government demanded $60, Mr. Hannon’ pete pay, when the feliow drow a revoiver and suid bRwould shoot him if be didnot Mr. Hannon afternoon, and the following Board of Trustees elected :—A. 8. Hateh, George 8. Page, J. F. Wyckoff, Sanlord, y W. Baidwia \ peep wy rors Watson ‘Then follows a magnificent passage in which the bat. Ue ie secon through the eyes of Kdith, who witnesses Tau tuto the street and raised an ramen fired at him, Harst bas been identified by Mr, Hannon vusiter,