The Weekly Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • Page 1

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APRIL 30, 1878. NO. 62. i. ffi Mk 111 ill I BT P.

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three i COVNXX LITEB. -4. Correspondence of the OasEavsa.) Lesoib, April 20, 1878. MissKSi Everybody I sup 4DIT0KUL CORRESPOSDESCB. ever, in the afternodh, where there was a perfect jam, there was a grand display of NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE.

it I il in Correaponileaoe of The Obsrvxb.1 i i New York, April SO, 1878." A'triend has favored me with the1 Wlt- i From oat wc WASftrferoN. April 2. uftr ful purposes whatsoever, to an amount not exceeding ia the whole the aggregate amount thereof then in circulation ana in the Treasury; and the said notes; whether then io the Treasury or thereafter received, Under any act of Congress and from whatever source, shall be again paid Out; and wben'agaih returned to the Treasurer they snail notr be cancelled or destroyed, but shall bo reissued from time to time with like qualities; and all that part of the act of January" 14, 1875,: entitled ri act to provide Tor the resumption of specie pay-jaenls." authorizing the retirement -of (eighty per ceutum of United States notes, is hereby repealed. 11.. pose enjoys a little fun occasionally, and there is perhaps no cheaper way of making it than that chosen by Josh Billings but you will notice the reason his takes so well is because it is general, not made at the expense of a class.

It is pretty hard for you to laugh heartily at a joke when you are made the butt of it but let it go. The Superior Court for this county has been in session here the past week His Honor udge Cannon presiding there was no business of much importance before him, what was on hand he disposed of by Wednesday evening. Our folks are a quiet, law-abiding people, Indisposed to litigation. The state docket was very light. One man and brother was sent up foe two years for being too fond of his neighbor's chickens about Christmas, and one or two cases of fornication and adnl- ortr Wca a all 1 Rtnr.v hast tn i4aal Fire in Warrenton.

Special to The Observer. Wabbsnton, April 24, 1878. A little before day the alarm of fire was sounded and citizens rushed into the streets and discovered the whole roof of the Norwood House, a large frame built hotel, in flames. The house was entirely destroyed and very little of the furniture was saved. Mr.

Norwood lost nearly all of his private furniture and the entire ward-robe of his family. Mrs. Leonard Henderson escaped from the burning building in her wrapper, with her little nephew, losing her jewelry and all her valuables, and her clothing. The origin of the fire is thus far a mystery. Very tittle wind was blowing, and that from the southeast.

This, together with manly efforts, saved Wad-dell's store on the corner, which caught repeatedly, and which, had it burned, would have destroyed the entire business part of the town. The store-house north of the hotel was burned, the little frame house between that and W. 8. Williams' dwelling was pulled down, and his house saved by great exertions. THE FIRE CHANGES ITS BASS.

The fire leaped across the street to the stable on the corner of Dr. King's lots, and soon that and the Masonic building adjoining it were wrapped in a sheet of flame. THE EPISCOPAL CHCKCH CATCHES. The Episcopal church next caught on the roof, but brave men were there, and though there was little hope of saving the sacred building, still the men worked on, the flames and. smoke and great flakes of fire blowing over and on and around the church; and while these efforts were being made on the roof and side, the cry was raised "the steeple is on fire." It is a tall structure, and on the very top, at the foot of the cross, the fire was breaking out.

It was a dangerous and difficult place, but, soon there were men of both colors on the scaffolding and in the steeple, rapidly passing buckets of water up. It was soon conquered though they had to remain for some time pouring water on the steeple and roof to 7 prevent a constant breaking out. At one time there was so little hope" of saving the church that the organ and windows and every thing that could be moved were carried out, and it seems that nothing short of Divine interposition saved it, as the wind veered just a little as the heat from the other burning buildings was at its height. THE GREAT HEAT. Great balls of fire were carried a distance or more than 300 hundred yardi The Methodist parsonage took fire more than once.

A large brand of fire fell in the yard of Mr. J. C. McCraw, and the Rev. Mr.

Purefoy had a tree in his yard to catch on fire. Both of these residences are quite a half mile distant from the central point of the fire. GOOD OEDEE AND GALLANT CONDUCT. No disturbances occurred and men and boys of every age and color vied with each other in discharging their duty. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the colored men for their behavior, especially the colored Fire Company.

INSURED, ETC. The hotel was insured for $11,000 none on the other property destroyed. Wash Springs, Madison C.t April 20th, 1878. The mall arrangements bet wen here arid Raleigh are even worse than stated iq my last letter. Two nights in the week we get no mail at all from any point East of Henry, that is to say, on Sunday night we get no mail at all, and on Tuesday we get none from beyond Henry, there being no mail on the Western North Carolina Rail road on Sunday.

So that we get here practically five mails a week instead. of seven from Raleigh, and those delivered on the night of the fourth day How we do need a railroad through our North Carolina mountains. But speaking of mountains, I have lost very much of the feeling I used to have about mountains. When a lowland boy gets through with the course of reading that usually falls to his, lot he has a vague idea that "the mountains' is a delightful place, filled with romance and poetry and where nature can be seen in all her grandeur and beauty. Crags and cliffs and peaks and cloud-capped summits, snow capped, I and cloud piercing summits, (rugged is a good word too), sound firstrate and take a youngster off his feet in a moment.

But I have outgrown it in fact I have an intense disgust for the great mangy looking things when I think what a barrier they have been to the improvement and settlement of this section and the advancement of the interest of its people. It is piti able to think of the years they have had to wait and have still to wait to get the most ordinary facilities for transportation. Just think of women, white women at that, bringing corn for sale to the stores for miles in bags on their backs and then to get only forty or fifty cents a bushel for it, and this in the heart of the great, the civilized, the christian, the en lightened people who dwell on the God favored section, called the Atlantic slope! And all because of our grand magnificent mountains in this our beloved Switzerland of America (Heaven save the mark) How well I remember the feeling of pride I used to have as a child when I was told that Bishop Ives said our mountain scenery was equal if not superior to that of Switzerland; that settled it, for was he not a Bishop and had be not been there But stock in mountains and scenery and nature and grandeur and crags and cliffs and all that sort of thing has gone down with me very much since that day. wish, however, that every man woman and child in the eastern part of the State could come to this Switzerland of America and see the obstacles in the way of their Drethren, and that must be overcome before prosperity can ever reacn them; for if this could be done there would be no more trouble about finishing the railroad, and that, too, in a hurry. The people of Eastern Carolina would not leave their brethren of the West to fight their battle with nature unaided.

But cost what it may, these people must be put upon something of an equality with their brethren in other sections of the State. Not only their own interest as a section, but the good of the State as a whole, demands it, and demands it imperatively. When that is done eastern people may en joy the scenery, but until then it seems to me they could find time-only to deplore the hardships of their fellow beings and fellow citizens. And now the country is to be again flooded with talk about the filthy Beecher-Tilton scandal. In every nook and corner, no matter how remote, into which a news paper goes, the scandal will be more or less discussed.

No mountains, not even those in the Switzerland of America, will be able to stop its progress. Of course' Mrs. Til-ton's confession throws no new light on the matter, nor does Mr. Beecber's renewed denial In making the confession, Mrs. Tilton is doubtless but paying the price her husband demands shall be paid before taking her back to his bosom, and in making his denial Bxechxb is but adding another lie to the many he has already told and sworn to since this disgraceful scandal became public.

But what un blushing cheek it must have required for the man gravely to talk about throwing into the balance his "well known and un impeachable life long The impudence of the thing is sublime. But this of Bbkchxk's is not the only good thing that has been aaitl Tweed's last won la were quite as good. He had tried to do good, but had had bad luck, and then the "guardian angels. Can it be possible that any man who had led the life that Twsbd had, and knowing that he was then dying, dying in jail, could give, utterance to such talk? If it be true, what has become of the dreaded power of the great King of Calmly and peacefully he passed away, and conscious too. talking not of hell and torment and punishment, but of good efforts, if not good works and guardian angels who were ready to bear' him to the land of pure delight where saints forever dwell Amazing grace! is not such a death bed a strange spectacle The man was not an unbeliever.

He did not disarm death of its terrors by believing that no terrors existed, but upon the ground that because he had tried to do good and had bad bad luck, guardian angels were then holding out their hands to him I. And yet this man is or was the great thief and robber of the age. Bad luck We shall have more respect for it hereafter 'than ever before. Of course life at the springs in the winter does not give much promise of excite ment, yet quiet as it is here and remote from the world the time passes pleasantly and rapidly in the regular routine of an in valid's daily life, the chief end ot that life here being to bathe. proprietor is now busy getting ready for the approach-, ing season, and every warm day gives hope of some new arrival, which of course gives additional, interest to coming in of theWks.

Whether I abiuVlike the place better when filled with pleasure-seeking, happy rjeopleTTthan, Its present' solitude, with nothing" to break the mono tony of the never ceasing sound, of the" river femains to be seen. At present am rery comfortable and every thing is very pleananti B. the most1 beautiful spring audi doubtless the bonnets on which they I uiuumwi were new aiso a am no juage oi such things. Dr. Rylance's vsermon, at SV Mark's, was one, of the most forcible and eloquent I remember to have' heard.

It was on the Resurrection, of but specially on the doubt of Thomas, and Uhe gentle manner in which the. master dispelled his apparent' infidelity and conviction and confession. The preacher thought that there were many such cases of incipient doubt in this age of Infidelity as well as at all times, which 'needed not denunciation, but the same gentleness, to remove. But I will not do him the injustice to attempt to report him. 1 Strangely enough the Editor of the JoxtrmUof tyhnmert been Vinter-lewed" by 4 World and Induced to tell all about a "perpetual motion" machine, which was brought to him in 1852, bv the inventor, an old New Jersey man, about eighty years of age.

After describing it, the inventor left it with the Editor for two or three or four weeks, during which it was seenby a great many people, and during all the time it kept going. Finally the old man called and took it away, for the purpose of exhibiting it, which he did, at ten cents a head. This, says the editor, was construed to be an offence against the laws of New Jersey; he was arrested on the affidavits of two scientific gentlemen, and was brought into the court-room with bis The scene was described to me by an eye-witness as a most dramatic one. The old man stood there silently confronting his accu-sers before the judge, and listening to the charges against him. He was a man of very few words, and when the charge had been made, and the judge had sternly asked him what he had to say in reply, he answered slowly, while big' tears ran down his cheeks: "May it please the the only thing I have to say' is, it does go round." The Judge was touch displeased at this persistency, and spoke very severely to the old telling him that he ought to ashamed of himself for '-thus denying what the scientific gentlemen had said.

They had declared that there was a spring in it, and that it could not go round without a spring being in it. "And I myself Know that it could cot go around without a spring, he The old man listened silently, and when the Judge paused he said again, 'May it please the ourt, I have been studying and working on this thing almost forty years, and all I can say is that it does go around and there is no spring in We will soon settle that, said the Judge. You say there is no spring in it and these gentlemen swear there is one. Bring an axe. An axe was brought, and, in spite of the old man's pitiful pleading, they split the machine into splinters.

I don't understand what authority they had for doing it, but they did it. And after they had done it there was a great silence, for there was no spring in it, and it had gone round by its own weight. One by one the people who had interested themselves in bringing the charges walked out of the court without a word, and at length the Judge said, You are The old man stooped down and picked up the fragments, and Walked away. He went home, and a little while after died broken hearted. "It requires a pood deal of courage," continued Mr.

Stone after a pause, "to tell this, for I know how It was ridiculed then and how it will be ridiculed now, but I was never afraid to speak, and I know this story to be true. It happened, I think, in 1852, and there were accounts of it printed in the Journal of Commerce at the time, but our files were all destroyed afterwards when our office was burned. I do not remember any of the names, nor do I know how to put you in the way of finding the records, but I remember the facts perfectly." The poor old inventor lived too early and died too soon. If Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, who also resides in New Jersey, had made his speaking instrument thirty years ago, probably the wiseacre of a Judge would have broken it to pieces and banged theinventor. II.

LETTER F1IOJI ORANGE COUNTT. Correspondence of Thi observe MoirsTAijf Crkkk, April 18, 1878. Messrs. Editors: Leaving Durham a few days since on the Red Mountain road bv vrivate conveyance, yourVorrespond- ent wended his way peacefully over the mountain hill to within four miles oi Red Alountain, where he is at present quartered. I his is one or tne nnest to Da ceo grow ing regions in the State, but the farmers have become so discouraged at the extraordinary low price of the weed that nothing like as large a crop will be planted this year as has been heretofore, and consequently the grain crop will be much larger.

Many of the leading planters have destroyed their plants, and are putting corn in their tobacco ground; many ot them say they will make manure of last year's crop rather than sell at the present prices, and yet Durham, wmcu is oniy ia miles from here, pays as good prices as any market in the Slate. Some weeks ago Mr. Nelson Rue, an aged and respected citizen of this county, committed suicide by drowning in Flat river near Mangum Mill. He ma been suffering for some time from aberration of the mind, produced it is supposed, by financial embarrassment, and bad previous ly made one or more attempts. On one occasion a rope was found which he had Erepared for the purpose ot using ms uie, idden in a hay stack.

He left home on Monday morning and not returning to dinner, and knowing the condition of his mind, search was immediately instituted and his body was found in Flat river Tuesday morning. Mr. Rue was upwards of 70 years of age. He leaves an unmarried daughter who kept house for him, and it is feared she will lose her mind in consequence of this sad affair. factory is situated on Little river, ten miles northeast of Durham and about seventeen miles southeast of and is owned by Mr.

S. W. Holleman. Mr. Samuel D.

Clinton, the gentlemanly and efficient superintendent of the works, seemed to take Great pleasure in showing us through the various departments of the factory, from the ginning room where the seea is ffxen from the cotton to the ware rooms where the (roods are folded and prepared for the market. There are now in operation about spindles and 43 looms, employing 65 operatives and Droducintr about 1.000 yards of goods per besides an im mense number or sacks ror grain ana nour. The plaid domestics manufactured at this factory are said to be the finest in the South. The operatives seem to be in good circumstances, neat and tastily dressed, and some of them very handsome girls, though 1 am told that the wages paid them are quite Bmall There are some twenty or thirty very neat little residences within sight of the factory occupied by its employees; one store and postofflce, and several workshops of various kinds. Mr, Clinton informs us that he will soon have a good-sized ma chine shop of his own in operation, to be run uy steam.

TBS OB3XBVKB is here, as elsewhere in the State. as the Jeadine patier in1 North Carolina, which nq one will now pretend to mttonnon tvxmrf 1 was in session this week, hut as I suppose your gigantic.rePreentatJTe who ia the Best as well as the lanreatBews paper correspondent in North Carolina, Is ui attendance, a wiu any uuuuug. -1 Truly yours, BniJoNia.1 A.L.Klrt. c. TUESDAY, APRILS.

1878. TUB FEDERAL IX COMB TAX. Just now the bondholders and, money-princes, who gobbled up fortunes during Xhe war, and their newspapers, are saying all sorts of ugly things against the income tax and those who are insisting upon its being collected. It may be natural that they should be unwilling to pay their fair share of the national burden, but it is unjust. 1 England collects twenty-nine millions on incomes, and she is confessedly the best governed country In her finances, and the truest to the proper principles of a well-studied political economy.

Her statesmen have developed methods to collect this tax, and it seems to us that we could apply them here. Our great staple, tobacco, might and ought to be relieved of part of its load of taxation, by taking a share of the surplus incomes of those who could pay without feeling it. ABOUT WORDS. Words are things. But this is a free country and we wholly believe In the right of every man to be his own dictionary.

Mr. Mxrriam who makes dictionaries at Springfield, Massachusetts, told us some years ago that for the last batch of 'new words and definitions he paid 5,000, and if a Massachusetts yankee has the right to make words and meanings to them we shall never fail to uphold the right of a North Carolina Editor to do likewise. We did not know that our friend of the Wilmington Star had gone into that business, or we should never have dreamed of suggesting that the Star was unkind in stating that Messrs. Jabvis, Worth, Kknan, Engex-haed and Scabboeocgh had received more votes' than Governor Yakck because "their very obscurity shielded them from the attacks and antagonisms that were arrayed against Governor Vance. His attention once called to it, our friend explains that when he said they were "very obscure" people, he only meant that they were "much less prominent than Gov.

Vance." We state the fact with great pleasure, which is not lessened by the exceedingly courteous and good-tempered manner in which the Star explains itself. To save such mishaps in future, for we do not like to disturb the placid temper of our friend, will he be kind enough when changing the meaning of words, to advertise the fact in the Star which so bright ly shines for all The right will never be disputed by The Observer. ABOUT FIGURES. We have always doubted the truth of the proverb that "figures cannot lie." In- deed, on more than one occasion we have modestly advanced the opinion that' the proverb is a lie and that figures do more lying, or can be made to do more than any living being. It is now made plain to us that we were right in our speculative statement.

Our respected cotemporary, the Wilmington Star, some days ago stated that in the election of 1876 Gov. Tildks beat Gov. ANCand his associates on the State ticket. A lot of figures filed away in the State Capitol, in accordance with the laws of North Carolina, say that Gov. Yanck and his associates beat Gov.

Tildes rather more than one thousand votes. But the Star adheres to its statement and there can be no doubt that the Star is entirely correct. Q. E. D.

TUB METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE. A claim is before Congress which sure ly ought to be paid. When the Federal army occupied Nashville in 1862, it took possession of the "Methodist Book Concern." then the largest publishing and printing-house south of New York except the Government printing office at Washington. They not only used its building, but its presses, printing materials, and paper in the execution of blanks, for the army. The owners, who allege that their loss was over $400,000, brought their claim before Congress, and the Senate committee, this session, made two reports on it the majority recommending that $150,000 be paid in satisfaction of the claim.

The minority, on the ether hand, reported that it was the property of ene mies, in an enemy's country during the war they are not entiled therefore, to any compensation. In conclusion, they ent- deavored to provoke northern hostility to the bill by saying the government is now unable to pay pensions to those who risked their lives in defence of the Union, and it ought not to pay the losses of those who were on the Bide of the rebels. Among those who urge Congress to pass this bill are Bishops Simpsoh, Ambs, asks, Bowman, Morris. Mkeeill, Pick and Haven, of the Northern Methodist Church; the General Conference of the Colored Methodist Church, four State Legislatures, 100 colleges (northern and southern), 120 Governors, Judges, scores of northern Methodist ministers; prominent Catholics, Israelites, and leading citizens, in fact, of all religious creeds and parties in every section of the country. Its friends say no claim could be more just and none ever came before Congress more strongly backed.

Messes. Mkbbimon and Ransom will next week call up the bill appropriating $10,000 for the survey of a ship-canal route from Norfolk, to Wilmington, N. C. This is to avoid the dangers of Hatteras and ultimately to become a part of the great line of internal navigation by which tt ia rmnnaoA tl MUinHt lllA ffvmnth Of the Mississippi via the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and a caul through Florida with thA tml nf tha Northern lakes. Of course this work will have to be done in sections, and it will take years to complete It Tha laMinni flrvt In.

imTVtrtanCB are those which are to enable ships ia stormy 1 A I .1 weatner to avoia roe aangen ui uic awui Carolina and. New Jersey Ah organ of the tobacco trade 'asserts that the toDaccn consomea annuauy, about 4,000,000,000 pounds, could be made into a rou two lncnea in aiamever, uwouia flnished busraess to-day was the Blair re solutions. Miun motion to to. the Committee of the Whole for the purpose otUblingAvaarmit and evoked a very fee- Die response. be ronton to icier ta the Judiciary Committee was -next submitted and carried bv decisi ve vote.

Now what? said your correspondent to Proctor' Knott, its cnairmtm. i- A euiien- shake or tne that smay Tmean. :s.nvetbiog or. nothing I TBS BIVXBi ASDjHABBOB BIU- t- jWhen every expedient to kill a roea: ure Is exhausted mob rule is invoked. That was the resort to-day td 'defeat the' River and Harbor1 appropriation' lhe mt-mority was strong enough to order the yeas, and nays on the dilatory mo tions.

raesc, exhausted. there was a yell from every part of the House, and' the wildest contusion prevailed, Points of order parliamentary inquiries, reading of rules came from a dozen throats at the same time. The vote was taken, resulting in a da-; eisive majority for the bill Cox, of New xorav who lead the opposition, then pre sented a protest signed, by a number of members against the passage or the mil under ofihe" previous ques tion. To suppress Cox and his protest was the work of au hour's furious voting. The speaker Unally rrited the protest in order when Rogers, of Texas, appealed from the decision of the.

Fending that motion Butler: moved to The House adjourned, ana thus, a number of Congressmen.1 who it "was hWiced were in lull dress, to-day, j-were enabled to run over to Balumore to Ysee Cox's protest come up tomorrow as unfinished business. The feeling among some 'Southern 1 and -Western men was quite bitter -against Cox. very conservative member thought the protest was adding insult to an attempted injury to the 'Another said "it is the work'of th- miserable, petty dema gogue that has figured preeminently in this Congress," another said just as ,1 said, the, other day when" the1 adjournment resolu-t tioh! was up; the Democratic parry needs purging. 1.1 tOt Ueorgiai said 4this bill and the posUiuice appropriation bill is all the South will set at this session of Both biHsheip us materially, and are the best legislation that Has been done for the boutb ior many years." Three members from Mississippi, Ten nessee and Missouri were toikintr over the action of fhe House!" Mississippi said be got for his vote. Tennessee put his figures at 9 10, W0.

The Missouri man, and a most excellent, representative he is, it was patriotism in me. beating his manly breast in the region of the pericar dium, "1 got nothing." i Vance was looking sour, General said your corfesponoVwit, that biU don't seem to go down well with you. What's the matter? 'Well, it don't suit me a bit. I lose the French Broad appropriation. Though I somewhat expected that after the ambiguous report made by the engineer.

His suggestion to delay the work until the railroads were finished did the work. He regrets now making such a report. But his regrets don't Help tne matter, regret exceedingly the delays but it can't be helped now. 1 he worn will be done. The project is entirely feasible and will work great results for Western North Carolina.

Waddell deprecated the unwise policy of dribbling out the appropriations for the ummgton harbor. "iJut, said be, 1 am thankful for $80,000 from this Congress. Yeates was absent to-day, having been called to Baltimore by the sudden death of bis mother-in-law, Mrs. Scott. KOTXS.

Butler failed to a vote on his frac tional currency bill to-day. the House re- lusiug uy a ut-isjvc ujajyiiLjr iu Buspeuu the rules. The House Agricultural Committee Sat urday agreed upou a bill to regulate the transportation of live stock, which requires the stock to be unloaded seven hours out of every twenty-four. While unloaded the stock is to be fed. There is a proviso that the stock need not be unloaded if the cars are such as to admit of the feeding and watering being done without unloading.

The bill also forbids discriminating rates and exhorbitant charges in transporting An effort will be made to make short work of (be Blair resolution on Monday by laying it on the table. ijy agreement between the ot tne respective committees the" appropriation committee will give way to the Committee of Ways and Means to take up the tariff bill Mr. Kobbins has the and in a carefully prepared speech will address the Mouse on "itevenue WHY A BUNCOS! BS MAS WANTS THE MOTTO i i To-day Vance offered the folio wiog paper and moved Its reference to the Com- i 9 miuee on uoinage, eiguts anu in ensure a. The Speaker of the Hoese received a similar paper from the memorialist and ex pressed the opinion that old fellow's head is level on that question. lhe suggestion 1 strikes s'.

Alexander Stephens with force and it may. result the pro-posed change? M1 -v I Appii.15, 1878. Hon. Robert B. Vance: Sib: In: noticing the silver motto: "In God we urge and desire that this motto be changed, for this reason: God implies power, force, to press, The race is not to' the swift nor the battle to the earnestly begnand propose for the benefit of this nation that the motto read this way: In God's Name we Trust; His name is most excellent, and His name, through faith in' His name, hath made this man strong.

To him that overcometb. I will write upon him my new name. God reneweth His promise by His name Jehovah, "and 1 appeared unto Abraham, 1 unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, bv the name of God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah was 1 not known to thee." the motto would simply say "In self -subsisting we trust; let us not depend on our power, nor our riches, nor or But by the grace of theMostUieb." uodnamelrom lenan. (the South Africa.) and the Holy One from Mount "raran, ornament, beauty.) He warmalnthewin, refreehei in the breeze. Glows la the stars, and blossoms In the trees.

I wish this read openly in both Houses of Congress. And 1 will engage that some one of your body-will understand its true meaning, and most cheerfully sanction the change. ltespeciiuuy, Little Pine Creek, N. C. It was not in order to read the -paper aloud, but it was treated with the distin-guished-ooaeideratioa a reference to a commltteeu j.

r-; Wi i. i-M 'ApriT 23187-4 Vbor-hwi nnfratitiito for the resumption repeal bill, by the reported from the -Committee as UVUl bu 'CTCUfkWj mollis, a substitute --for the' House' bill ln tha ronnmntinfi firrfvtripa that rom and after; ftS passage' Vnited. States nntM shall he lb' ravittent for the four per centum fcopaa how authorized Dy law to oe issuea ana pp ana alter vu-; tnfor I. sMd notwi be receiv able for duties on Imports i and sa'd notes in, the volume in existence" cio. the pas sage of this act shall not be cancelled nor hoarded, but-shall be re-lsstied, and they may oe used ior iunaing ana an oiner iaw ing 'A Paper on Old Times in Wilming ton, read before the Historical and Literary Society" of that city, by ray old friend Col.

James G. Burr. Amongother curious things, the following startling incident is related "In the summer of 1833. the Temper ance Society of Wilmington published the proceedings or one or their meetings In which thev stated that there were thirtv- eight regular day drunkards in the town. 1ms publication caused intense reeling among those who were at all addicted to dissipated habits.

Some of those met together on a Sunday evening and after ini- bibing pretty freely and Indulging in reckless remarks, adjourned to meet again-on the following Sunday, but the next Saturday found two of their number in the arms of On Sunday, the day they had desecrated, they were borne to the grave. On the next Saturday, another of the number died and was buried ou Sunday. While at the grave and commenting on the singularity of these deaths the question waaasked, "Who will die next rwm," one laughingly responded. "And who will follow you?" He named the individual who stood near him. On their return from' the grave of their deceased associate, they stopped at a drinking saloon and as the wine cup passed freely around the subject of Saturday's dying ww again taken up.

He who had volunteered came forward and said he would die on the next Saturday. His ofler was accepted and he was called upon to select a man to follow him the next Saturday and he chose the one he had before selected, who agreed to it. Just as they volunteered, so they died The first went home, in a day or two was taken sick and on Saturday was dead. As soon as it became known that he had died on that day, his companion who had agreed to follow him on the next Saturday was taken to his bed. lie made the strongest promises of reformation, offered all1 be bad in the world for life, life, only life.

But it was to late be bad made a covenant with death and the grave and they claimed him for their own. When the rising sun on the ensuing Saturday broke upon the town, it shone upon him sinking in death and ere it reached its zenith he was a corpse. Un Sunday the iunerai ben again tolled forth, as they bore him onward to the grave. These remarkable occurrences created much excitement at the time, and were regarded by many as a direct exhibition of the awful providence of God as manifested in the particular identity that marked the circumstances of their demise, they all dying on Saturday and being buried on Sunday." Col Burr says the descendants of many of those parties are now living in Wilmington. Of course the facts, strange and startling as they are, are beyond con.

traduction. But what shall we think of the follow ing paragraph in his exordium "I propose on this occasion to give a few sketches of incidents in those days loag before railroads were thought of or pin-backs invented when people attended to their own business and meddled not with their neighbors and when our women, God bleu them, allowed nature full scope for development and required none of the appliances of modern art to embellish their charms." My excellent friend, was there not a slip in the tongue here Not to mention rail roads and pinbacks, what age of the world, not to say or Wilmington, was it "when people attended to their own business and meddled not with their neighbors," and tvwhen our women allowed nature full scope As it is an established fact that history repeats itself, that, as Solomon says, "that which hath been shall be," the world is interested in know, ing when these things were; that we may be assured that they will be again. Was there ever a time when there was truth as well as poetry in the old quoted line, "Beauty unadorned 'g adorned the most." Naw York, April 22, 1878." A queer character died here a few days ago George W. Blunt, aged 77, for many years Commissioner of Pilots. He ab horred profanity, and kept in bis office a tin box in which he required every man who swore in bis presence to deposite a dime, the proceeds being applied to some charitable purpose, it is related that he himself was the largest contributor, giving from two to five dimes every day for an equal number of "damns." His box was crammed for a while, but the pilots learned to take their luxuries in cheaper regions and of late a dime, except it was from Mr.

Blunt pocket, had rarely dropped there in. It is related that a prominent yacht- owner entered Mr. Blunt's office one day, and while conversing with him swore. Mr. Blunt demanded bis 10 cents.

An explanation followed and the 'yacht-owner retired, apparently very indignant, but with out paying the fine. Mr. Blunt was surprised next morning at receiving a check for $1000 as a "swearer's contribution" to the charities to which the swearing box was devoted, the "Pilots' Charitable Fund" and the "Pilots Benevolent Association." He was a great smoker also, but no one more earnestly reprehended the habit. In his old age be slapped the of a Broadway loafer who insisted on smoking in a stage full of women. This person there; upon said that if Mr.

Blunt were not so old he would "lick' him. on," cried the old man. with the light of battle in his eye; but the adversary stuck by his ODjecuon. i ms reminds me oi an incident which occurred near Fayetteville in the old day 8 of stage travel. A passen ger commenced to smoke in a stage where there were ladies, when "Big Hugh Campbell" a well known character, who will be pleasantly remembered by th'eolder citizens of, that ancient town, quietly took the cigar from the fellow's mouth and tossed it into the.

road. The man seemed inclined to resent it, but Big Hugh said to him that he bad better behave himself or he would pitch him out after the cigar. And as it was quite apparent that he could and would do so, he was not required to execute his threat. Xa my short walk down Broadway to get my breakfast yesterday morning, whilst, the chimes of Grace Church were pealing forth in honor of Easter Day, two undertakers' wagons passed on their way to as many desolated homes, where, doubtless, the beautiful summer day outside was unheeded, and all was gloom and sorrow within. To think that there are nearly a hundred such cases in this city every day ought to' make us alj sober, if not sad.

When I resided in Brooklyn and had occasion to, come to New York on a Sunday afternoeon, there were always from three to six funerals at the ferry. But familiarity breeds, if not contempt, indifference. That which is a daily spectacle grows to be au unheeded one. Easter, like Christmas, is increasing in observance. Formerly, the religious and social, respect for both, above other days, was cob lined to the Episcopalians and Ro man Catholics.

Of late, many churches of othet denominations, notably the Metho dist and Baptist have paid respect to. both the days of birth jand by reli gious services and, by, noral decorations: and it may safely be predicted that before many years the. habit wiu be unl versa! throughout the country. How much Of this is or, will be owing, as! some pagers are uncharitable'' enough to' Insinuated to I the fashion, the, ladies, have of sporting a i -C i il "i uuuuct uu XKiBbcr, uiejr way otuiwrcr. But in fit.

Mark's, was crowded in the there was no noticeable dis-' play of that sort. At St Thomas's how SKNATOU MKHKIMON. Uorrespondence of Thx OESXKrKB. Wilmington, N. April 22, 1878.

MkssbS. Editors Having expressed an opinion, in a recent phort communication aaaressen tayou. so piainiy, as mongnt, that be who ran might read, I would be sar-1 prised at the tone of the anonymous writers who have attempted a defence of Judge Merrimou, did I not know that gentlemen who have utile to say sometimes use a great many words. This is on the princi- Flejdoubtless that many words fill a bushel have charged without a particle' of personal feeling, that Judge Merrimon, in accepting the position of United States Senator at the hands chiefly of republicans, in opposition to the wishes of the demo cratic party, did, betray, the democratic rty to which he professed allegiance. iea any Sound democrat deny the charge? If so, let him show that Judge Merrimon is to-day a senator of the United States from Uorth Carolina by the suffrages Of the democratic majority in the Legislature.

The'burden of proof rests with him. The brilliant career of the Senator since he took his seat, if it ten -fold more lustrous than is claimed by the Senator's special admirers is 'not such' an argu ment in favor of his re-election as overrides the manner of his election. Yet it is the only logical argument in bis favor. Chanty is the noblest oi the virtues, but is it charity to approve flagrant treason Is it right to reward- a man who scrupled not to disorganize the party Is it. safe to give such a man another opportunity for the display of bis peculiar abilities 'J But one says he doesnT; believe that Judge Merrimon resorted to trickery and treachery in order to secure his nomination.

Facts are more eloquent and forcible than words. Apy person who was at all conversant with public affairs at the State capital during that winter knows that certain things were done in secret by a few members of the Legislature Whose choice for Senator was Judge AI S. Merrimon, that were warmly condemned by the party press throughout the State and by good party men generally. The papers were full of it it was the talk in all public places. If no coalition was made with Republicans, why have leading Republi can newspapers and politicians condemned Judge Merrimon's present record as a betrayal of trust? Again, it is said in extenuation by those who have the sagacity to condemn the course pursued by Judge Merrimon, that he himself, whatever his friends may have done, did not enter into any coalition with Republicans and that bis conscience at least is clear of offence.

There is a max im in the law books, that he who docs any thing by his agent does it himself, lie who shares stolen property with the knowledge that it was stolen is himself pat ticeps criminis with the thief. Judge Merrimon is an able man, but he sits in a place to which he was not chosen by Democratic votes. His ability is neither here nor there in the discussion raised by this correspondence. he was Lord Chatham, the duty of the people of this honest old State would be just as manifest, and in all probability would be just as faithfully performed at the proper time. Gentlemen: If tuerenave been nrebrands cast, I have not been the first to scatter them but for the manifest purpose of the immediate friends of Judge Merrimon to secure his re-election by the Legislature to be elected this year, 1 would not have written a line.

If there has been personal bitterness it has not been in my heart, nor has it found expression in a syllable that I have reluctantly penned. On the heads of those who bold that recent party ser-viceXwhich service Gen. Scales or any other able man in oui party could have rendered, even without the special incentive tua: may. nave existed iu the case of Judge Memjnon, viz to wipe out a stig ma) is tantamount to every other consid eration, on the heads of such, I say, let the responsibility for the use of severe lau-guage rest. Cickeo W.

Haebis. LEfTEII FKOA ANSON COUNTY. rcorresponflence of The Obskkvsh. Wapksuoko, April 22. 1878.

Messrs. EniTOKSi The regular Spring Term of the Superior Court for Anson convenes this week. His Honor Judge W. Moore presiding. He has not put in an appearance at this writing, but is expected on the train from Charlotte to-day at 12 whither he went from Union county.

Solicitor Pemberton is on hand with a pretty full criminal docket, being already 72 cases, with a fair prospect of running up to 120 Of the 73 cases now entered a are for murder; 21 A. and 1 F. and 5 and 17 for lar The civil docket contains Od cases, one of which, from the array of legal talent must be of more thai ordinary it. is a. u.

iiomesiey vs. Ehas Cohen, originally brought in Gaston County several years ago, and from time to time has been removed from county to county, until it has reached Anson, where it is expected to be tried at tne present term of the court. Messrs. Daman Pembertbn, Shipp, McCauley, Ashe Bennett appear as counsel for plaintiff, and Messrs. Wilson Son, Hoke and J.

S. Pemberton, fcr the defendant. On the criminal docket, there is a case somewhat novel in its character, and almost without a parallel in America: Thomas H. Wom-ble, of Anson County, was indicted by the grand jury at the last term of the court, as an "accessory beiore tne iact oi auiciae; or, other words, it appears that he bought or procured strychnine for one Elizabeth Bussing, who took it and died from the effects of the dose. There is no case like it that ever occurred in North Carolina, and only two cases strongly anilogous that are mentioned in the books.

One of these occurred in the Stale of Massachusetts, the other in England the One in this country was this: a man was convicted of a felony and sentenced to be hung while confined in jail awaiting lhe time for execution, at his solicitation, a friend prociued for him a rope, with which he hanged himself committed suicide the man who procured the rope was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. The one in England was a parallel case. 1 suppose tins case, ine oartv is convicted will no doubt go to the Supreme Court, as there is no precedent in this State, and, the presiding Judge may not vush to take the responsibility of passing sentence of 'death upon one in such a case, especially1 wheo those who preceded him on the circuit differed in their opinion pf tha The case is set for Wednesday. it comes up will. keep your readers-posted as the trial progresses 3iU :,) ottin A-f Leigh.

ToBACOOi is about t0 eat Up Sil me lOOacco pinma, auu expect it' would be a good thing for our tobacco farraars if they succeed, provided Km mab-or thnir work of mn. 1 i. 1 1- i .1 era! May be the loss of, one crop would. Cause pilUCB tu au auwj a pojiug jwiui. with.

Our Supreme Court seems to think these are matters of not much consequence, especially if it is not found out it will be well for the morals of the courtry if the offence if it is an offence don't increase under their ruling. Tell your correspondents to keep cool on the subject of the Chief Justiceship and leave the way open behind them so that, if they find their position untenable, they may retreat safely. Either of the eminent fentleihen spoken of would make a Chief ustice of which the State might justly be proud, and we would very much dislike to see the controversy grow so shot that the friends of the one would not -support the other if he should be nominated; and some times, the best talent of the country is lost to it by just such controversies. We up here are all in favor of Judge Schenck, yet if the present Chief Justice should get the nomination, much as we dislike some of the late decisions of the court, we will support him cheerfully and heartily. The people of this county are unanimously in favoi of Col.

Geo. N. Folk, of our town, forCircuit Judge of this this 8th District. There are few abler lawyers in the State than Col Folk a remarkably close student diving deep into his books at all times, when not professionally engaged. Li M.

McCorkle, of Catawba county, and Alphonso Avery, of Burke county, are also said to be candidates, both of them good men and good lawyers. A convention will meet at Hickory some time in May to make a nomination. We have a remarkably early spring, the most so of any since 18C5. Fine prospect for fruit of all kinds that we grow up here. Wheat is looking well and is early, some beginning to head.

We have been busy the past week planting corn nearly all of us will finish next week. C. LETTER FIIOITI WAKE COUNTY. Correspondence of The Obskrver.I Wake N. April 22, 1878.

Messes. Epitoes: Please allow me a little space in the columns of your paper for the purpose of calling the attention of the tax payers of the State of North Carolina to a matter, which I think is of great importance, for various reasons. 1st. We find it is hard to collect the fixes which are levied for -the support of the various Institutions of both State and County. 2d.

There are enough taxes levied to meet the necessary expenses both of State and County; but when they are not collected we find that both State and County are in debt. Consequently the assessment for the ensuing year has to be heavier, which gives hoc iaj a gicnb uuiupiaiui. uy people, of high taxes. Notwithstanding the high taxes, the Legislature is unable to make the necessary appropriations to sup port tnose cnariiabie institutions, tne Asylums for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, and for the Insane. I see from the report of the Treasurer of the Insane Asylum for thA rpar pnffinir "Mr 1 RT7 that tho-T pensesfor thesame were $17,115.95, which left a small balance of $2,092.16.

I find from the Superintendent's report that the building and fixtures are needing repairs, and there is a considerable number of patients from different' portions of the State that cannot be cared for properly for want of room. rr-i 3 Aiiese j.usiuuuuua iieeu aoaiauuiue uuu lb is my honest opinion that in the present depressed condition of the country financially, the people are unable to bear heavier taxes and survive. I also think that if the taxes returned as insolvent were collected, there would be no need for an increase of taxes. I see from a published sheet, that the sheriff of Wake for 1876 asked to be relieved of $3,223.38, which the said sheriff returned as insolvent and made affidavit before the probate judge that he was un able to collect the same. How those who fail to pay their taxes have the same protection under the laws, the same benefits from the charitable institutions, and the same privileges at the ballot box that those do who pay their taxes, and I don't think this is right.

The taxes should bear equal on all, and when levied should be collected, on all alike. This can only be accomplished by proper legislation. Therefore I "would suggest that the Registration act be repealed be cause the registration act as it now stands puts the registrar and the people to a deal of trouble, and yet does not prevent fraud, from the fact that the registrar is dependent upon an individual statement upon affidavit of a great many who claim to be registered. I would therefore suggest that the Legislature substitute a cheap "Seal Act" which will not cost as much as the regis tration books and the registration, besides dispensing with a deal of trouble to the poll holders, and that the election law be so amended as to require every man to present his tax receipt, which alone will entitle him to vote, and that the poll holders be required to stamp the same with a seal (to be furnished by the County Commissioners) giving the name and number of the precinct and date of election. Which in my humble opinion will not only stop fraud, but will be the means that will enable the sheriffs of the various counties to collect a' large portion of the insolvent taxes, as a man hates to be deprived of his privilege at the ballot box.

Ia order that no man be deprived of the privilege of the ballot box, let all those who are exempt from taxes on account of age or other causes be required to get a certificate of the same from County Commissioners which will serve as a tax receipt. And further, there is a great loss sustained, in many instances, by State and counties, by defaulting collecting officers, sheriffs and others. I would suggest that there be a law passed requiring said collecting officers to settle with the county commissioners quarterly for the first three quarters of the year say, on the first Monday in April, July, and October, and monthly for the remaining quarter, the first Monday in November, December and January. And in the event the said collecting officer fails to comply, let the chairman of the county commissioners be empowered and required by law to suspend him from office until he does comply, and that the coroner take the place of such officer until he is reinstated'; and in case there be no coroner, the county commissioners shall appoint a man to fill the vacancy of the suspended officer. And that the county commissioners be required to settle with or deposit in some bank, to the credit of the State Treasurer, the amount of State taxes received by them, in like manner.

In case of deposit they shall notify the State Treasurer of the same. If the chairman of the board of county commissioners fall to comply with the requirements of law, let him be guilty of attusdemcanor, and punishable byjfine or imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the court. U. FROM THE DABK C02SX8 Wa. PERSON lOt'STV LETTEK.

Correspondence of The Observer I Roxboko, Pkksos N. April 20th, 1878. -Messrs. Editors Your paper forever. Higher and higher time in the estimation of the Conservatives of Person I county.

i The farmers 'are discouraged about to? bacco plants. The flies or something of the kind have damaged a large number of the largest plant beds. But oats, wheat and corn are like the little coy's ben that he set on nity eggs, just spreading uiemserves. The fruit crop will be splendid, unless we have a very late frost. The impression which Judge McKoy made on this people will not soon pass away.

The Solicitor was compelled to be away, but Mr. J. A. Long, of Yancey ville, acted in his place. And by the way he stands a splendid chance of being the next Senator from Person and Caswell counties.

As this is Caswell's time to send a Senator we think J. A. Long the man to occupy the seat so ably filled by Hon. John W. Cuningham.

And if Person is called on for a Senator let her have one in the United States Senate in the person of Hon. Montford McGehee. But let it be thoroughly understood that Person will sustain the regular nominee and stand squarely on the Democratic platform. Cms. LETTER FBUn CUKKITUCK.

Correspondence of The Observer. Cubeituck, April 16, 1878. Messrs. Editors Your correspondent signing himself "General makes suggestions truly sensible. Amen say and if the politicians would stop their inveterate folly of displacing or trying to displace efficient public men to make places for new and untried ones, the better our laws would be, the more satisfied our people would be." There is no man the State unless he be some politician anxious for office who desires to change either one of the public servants mentioned -in the letter.

We don't want any better Chief Justice than Smith, can't get a better Governor than Vance, never had nor will we ever get a better Senator than Merrimon; so let them be in their respective offices, and let the Convention managers keep their hands off. The people like them as they are, they can't be improved on. I never wrote for papers, but when I see a sensible artiele like "General Welfare's," I feel there is some brains left in the land and I like to hold out my hand to him. Ctkritcck. LETTER FKO.TI HALIFAX COUNTS'.

i Excewive Railroad Cbargea. Correspondence of The Observer, LrrTLSTOJi, N. April 22, 1878. Messrs. Editors: Items of local freight are just now of interest to the public.

Believing that every sufferer should publish his grievances, permit me to state mine briefly. On February 23d there was shipped me a car load of 19,000 pounds of bacon from Chicago to Weldon at 55 cents per hundred. I asked a reduction of local freights on the R. G. R.

R. but the request was refused, and 18 cents per hundred pounds was charged me from Weldon to Littleton, a distance of twenty-two miles. Contrast this with 55 cents from Chicago to Weldon. Yours, E. W.

Letter from floera County Nleaiu Maw Jiui Burnt. Correspondence of ThbObsebvee. Cabthaob. April 22, 1878. Messrs.

Editors I learn that the Steam Mill at the Cagle Gold Mine, Chatham county, was destroyed by fire on Saturday last. The fire occurred from a defect in the furnace. accident will necessarily suspend operations for a while. Loss not very considerable. Yours very truly, CCMcC.

"SSXapt. W. S. Norment, of Robeson county, at the request of many friends from all parts of this Judicial District, composed of the counties of Brunswick, Columbus. Robeson.

Bladen. Cumberland. Harnett, Moore, Johnston, Richmond and Anson, will be a candidate before tneuon vention when called, for a nomination to the orace of Solicitor lor said AJistnct. April 14-dlfr-wtd..