THE OKEGON AHtiUS. WM.UHKO IVKir SATUSDAV H01NIXO, BY WILLIAM L. ADAMS. Office-Good's Building, Main st. Edito rial Room in lirst story. TF.RMS-7'kt A too i uiU lit furnithrJ at Ftet Vitlkri per Annumor Six Months for Thrtt Vullart. t3T No Sultcriptiont ttreirti for Utt than Six Montht. fjt So pitptr diseonlinurJ until all arrmragei art paid, umru at the oplwn of I hi publither. String ADVKItTI.SlNO It ATI'S. One iiiar (W lina or lew) one insertion, (.1,(10 " two iiuertiuiw, $ I, 00. " tliri'V insertions, j.'i.ni). rai:li miWiUPiil hwortoii, t,0U. Reasonable deductions to Hum who edvvrlwe by the year. Job Printing. Tns MorniKTo or tiik ARGUS ii mm lo inform tho publie llmt lie Inu jiut received Urge stork of JOH TYl'H and other new print ing materiel, end w ill be iu the sjieedy reeeipt of additions auiicd to nil the requirements of ill In. cnlity. UANDltlLLH. POSTICUS. W.AN'KS. CAUDS, CmcL'LAIW, 1'AM I'll LET-WOUK and other Itiikla, done to order, on abort uolice. V. l AU.tllH, F.tlttur aad Proprietor.' VOXu'l. AMI'.HU. HkUKt aemtil of soldea promWeof klao. Itaewe aaaittl ef l.erestu. ami Mure, ami Ktr !:." HI HMf.nir Tilt. "Vive Hollars Veer. oa-noonr pity, oeeoontbiritory, attjrday, march b, isse. NO. 47. For Iht Argtit. License . Prohibition. Lafayette, Feb. 20tli, 1920. editor of the Araui DeahSir: The temperance question being ono of you chosen subjcclsof investigation,! presume I do not iutrudo unwoteoinely upon you spneo whon I ask permission to cnnlinuo tho discussion of tho point in controversy botwoen myself and "Prohibitionist." Tho question of tho propriety of the pro liibitory law is certainly one of importance, nnd in proportion to the vant and mighty consequoncc of a proper decision in a given case, should we see that the principle and reasons upon wnicu it is lounucu are sound, prudont, and judicious. Thnl ''Prohibitionist" aims at a proper Object I have no doubt, (and I thinkj gnv hini full credit on that score in my forme article,) but that he docs so by the proper moans and for good reasons,! am far from being satisfied, oren after reading liischa acteristic and unargumontaiive reply to my former article. Troiiibiiionist says lam "a young not to say timid advocuto of prohibition." Upon what authority ho speaks when he says that I am "young," I surely am nl n loss to guess : but in order !o show him tlmt when an opponent uinkes a forcible ar gument I am magnanimous enough to ad mit it, I acknowledge that if years, months, and days were to be tho measure of the ar gument and reason presented by us re spectively, I have no doubt but t should come out of this controversy my juvenile skin bearing tho marks of an unmerciful excoriation, fur while he goes back thirty five years as but the beginning of part of his life, I can trace myself only back to the full of 1833 by I lit aid of my father's old family Bible 1 Still, while I honor and venerate nge and wisdom, to see the former without that proportion of the latter which long experience is ordinarily supposed to impart, is a thing always lamentable, and my opinion is (and I give it with all the deferenco which youth may be supposed to feel) that "Prohibitionist" is entitled to much compassion on this nccouut. There is a class of met) who, when once committed against any evil, and discover the means of reprobating it, are so impa tient in their zcul to do a good act, that even things that have the most beneficent influence in mitigating tho rigor of the - same vice against which they are warring, if they think that they stand in the way of the adoption of their favorite system, are denounced, vilified, and condemned as in finitely worse than the original evil itself. I am constrained to believe that my old friend "Prohibitionist" is, unfortunately for cause of temperwee, one of this class. Jjejspne, we would suppose, who thinks jt&at.Mftewd .Jictifles the means." my 'M'inid.7; " 1 ill simply re mark that lam just bold enC"gh t0 Bsk r such a law as will prevent the W of in- inttvinalnirr llnnnr na a. hfiverHflre. anQ if friend "P." would not be satisfied with .such a law, and thinks that I am afflicted 'with over delicacy in not demanding the utter and entire annihilation of the artielp, I am very willing to let the discriminating readers of The Argus decide upon the relative correctness of our opinions. , Bullet us now define the points upon which we differ. This is necessary in or 'der to a fair comprehension of our arguments: . 1st. The object is to prevent tie use of liquor as a beverage ; and 2d. Now tbe question is, do license laws tend, to, that object? I affirm they do "Proiitfecmut'; denies 'it. I gaid in my iW artUo tliat I presumed every one knew and believed that tut for the license tax we should have 'three whis ky retail shops to where one fs now found doing iu unholy work. Wetf, if three gallons of liquor will produce more Injury than one gallon sold and drank, I ask, do re not then by adopting the license ys- torn rcduco the evil jut two-thirds ? And nr,t only that, but we havo the license lax besides to aid us in repairing (,0 fur a dollars and cents can repair it) the injury that may result from the use of that one "bird. And not only this, but the dealer's tax enhances the price so that it places it beyond llio reach of muny poor men who might be led into temptation by iu very cheapness and current use thereby we may safely estimate reducing tb amount of tho tales of the remaining dealer. If these are not fuir aud just deduction from a sound premise, there surply is no reliance in facts mid fiuurce. This was hinted at in my first article, yet "Prohibi tionist" did not deign in his reply to at tempt a refutation of it. lie bos asserted to the contrary in two or three paragraph, but in no case has he attempted by fact or reason to sustain his assertion. And we contend further, that just as much us tho liquor truffle is reduced by Ii cens laws constitutes that far prohibition, ami I do not care whether tho monster is crippled (for to kill it wholly cveu by a stringent prohibitory law its strongest friends admit is not anticipated) by ampu tating his different ineinhers or by a theo retical decapitation, it deprives him of power that far, aud amounts to the same thing. Suppose, friend ''Prohibitionist, for the sake of illustration, that you are a fanner, and the owner of a v.-ry fino ox and 1 prosumo you ore both let us sup pose, I say, that your ox, like the bull in the fuble, should gore the cow of your neighbor, and we will have, in the exam, pie, your ox to represent the whisky traffic, and your neighbor's cow the suffering com munity which it afflicts; let us suppose that, enraged nt the bloody and irreparable outrage by which he has lost his favorite r:...n - ii. i i , j. , uruiuie, ynur neignoor snouid lull upon TT T If I- . , be a pretty good prohibitory law f The fact is just this; 'Prohibitionist" wnnta to rxtcrtnina'e the whole trnflio: the license system which we have is in tended to accomplish that object only In part by all-viiiting its worst evils, and be. cause it does not do all that ha wants done he declares in a passion that it does harm instead of good. Well, ho says that the licensed dodgery keepers are in favor of it, especially those opposed to prohibition, and seems to think this fact ought to be a clincher. It is about us good an argument agaiust the licenso system as the opponents of tho Maine law made in that State against it by saying that ninny men who voted prohibit were en gaged in the contraband traffic. A few men voted prohibit that ihey might enjoy the tremendous profits which an exclusive monopoly of tho smuggling business yield od tliein, and those who intend to engage in selling under the licenso law mav favor it for the same reason ; but I hope no pro. hibitionist ever thought of abandoning his plan on such an account J and surely it is no less flimsy an objection against the li cense system, But lastly, "Prohibitionist" says, "your licence law covers up tho evil," and that if only uncovered and presented to view in its naked hideousness, it would lead people to extirpate it in three years. Here we imng ine is truly stated the great and real objec tion of "l'roliibttiomsl" to the system ; and yet I must candidly gay I cannot agree with him Think of it, Mr. Editor 1 Take ofl tho tax, and let us have free whiskv. Let the stinking distillery with its nauseating filth and reeking effluvia be seen snugly nestling below our littlo bill-aide springs. See the streets of our cities lined with dramshops, our publio highways saluted with the sign LATE FROM EUROPE. Russia tloti't Accept the Peace Propositions. your offending property nnd knock off tss,f the grogscller ot every mile, and every norns, Mil ins nose, Dung nis eyes, nnd, wl cross road marked by the shanty of the fine, maim and disfigure him till he could bo scarcely recognized by his owner, would yon, sir, be willing to hozard your reputa tion for sanity by raying that ho was now more ''powerful" than before, as Well as "more respectiiblo" in appearancoll Well, sir, when we show by couolusivc reasoning that license laws do circumscribe and restrict this detestable traffic to at nst one-third of its original extent, if not more, is it not just as irrational to say that we are giving it "power" and "respecta bility"! But, reiterates "Prohibitionist," n defiance of all this (I present his senti ment in my own words,) you sanction the wrong by giving the dealer the liberty for S50 to fominit it. By no means, sir. I say it is the veriest of superficial sophistry to say that such is the effect of granting a license. Why, my dear sir. sunnose that n the cose of the ox above supposed your neighbor should be presented to the proper egal tribunal of your county, and thut nf- er proof of the maltreatment of your prop erty, he should be fined by tho court the sum of $30, would you say that tho law was making cruelly to animals respectable, giving it its sanction, and your neighbor the liberty to repeat it, because it accepted a pecuniary mulct in satisfaction f I think I henr you respond in the negative. Now the only difference between this example and that of the licensed liquor-seller is, that in the case of the latter he pays his fine iu advance, and thus has the brand of infamy fixed upon his business far deeper than anv mere penal enactment to fine him after he had sold his liquid poison could possibly make it. It is wholly misapply ing the intent of ths license laws to aay tu.it they make liquor selling respectable, when a3 abhorrence of it is the very basis of the system. And how my friend "Pro hibitionist," or o.ny other sane man, can see anything honorable or respectable in the business of ono with whom the law thus deals, 1 am utterly unable to divine. In the name of all that is righteous, when we have reduced by this scheme the hor rors of this traffic to a lithe of its former extent, and because it is not adapted to its total eradication, are we to turn and vilify the very agency by which so much good has already been attained. If we have an other plan better suited to the main end, let us adopt it, but not by decrying those very means through which we may ne ena. bled to do it. "Prohibitionist" denies that the priuci piecf prohibition and the license system is ono and the bids. Suppoa we put up the license tax to ten thousand dollars on the dealer ; I should like to know if Tro. hiliiionitl" would cotaHpit such a one to "soul ond conscience killer" see the com- munityduy by day drawn into these sink of iniquity; and lastly, see the accursed brandy bottle stand daily on the shelf and duiing-tuble in the quiet home of the hon est laborer; let all this continue three years, and the monster will have become such a fort of every man's being that I venture lo say no one would ever think of prohibition, until something like the license system had first prepared the way. It would be like the case of a man who would obstinately reject everything calcu lated lo check the progress of a deadly cancer that was threatening his very vitals, until it had sent its poisonous juices throughout every part of his system, and then hope to cure himself by calling In aid the surgeon s knife and cutting off the of fending ulcer or head, when no nkill Could eradicate the poison of which it Was but tbe mere discharge Still, although my friend seems lo have a great dislike to being called ultra, docs not his desire to drive the people into pro hibition by exhibiting to them the unro strained evils of the liquor traffic give us as unmitigated an instance of reckless ul traism as tho eminent example to which I once compared him has ever done? I am glad that my friend has backed out of his position against the use of wine for sacra mental purposes. I certainly have no ob jection to wine on account of its purity the purer of course the better but he cer tainly did not in his first piece hint that he was opposed lo its use because much mod ern wine was not the pure juico of the grape, although he now intimates that that is his objection. This little newspaper war has probably opened the eyes of even "Pro hibitionist" to some of the errors of an overwrought zeal. Now, Mr. Editor, I am through with this I fear rather tedious ar ticle. I should not have taken so much -pace for the vindication of the license sys tem if I entertained any hope of the early passage of a prohibitory statute. I do not expect one for years, and it is because I look anxiously forward to the time when we will be able lo obtain it that I am in fa vor of keeping the traffic within bounds which will insure its success. I have been induced to be thus lengthy too because many prohibitionists Lave been led by indiscreet advocates, as I think, to adopt the same superficial view of the li cense system as the one I have been conn batting, with what success I leave the read er to judge. J. ft. M. 2"" The berk of a tree sod the bark U a dog are considerably alike. One ie furintd oa the boajh, and the other od tho bo wow principle. By tho arrival of the America nt Halifax on the 10th Jan., and the Africa at N. Y., on the Slid, wo have dutes from Liverpool to the 5tli and Oih of the sune month. Peace Xegnllalloat. There is nothing new of an official char acter with respect to the peace negotiations, but there is evidently in quarters Well-informed, a growing impression thut mnltcrs will not terminate in a sulisluetory manner. Count Nesselrode has addressed a circu lar note to the representatives of Russia, at the chief Foreign Courts, dated St. Peters burg, Deo. 23. In this note it is stated tlmtP.ussia accepts the third point relative to tho neutralization of the Black Sea, iu the following sense : That Turkey's right to closo the Straits be maintained ; that no ships-of-war be admitted iu tho Black Sea, excepting those of Bussia nnd Tuikvy; that the number of ships to be so main tained be mutually arranged by Russia aud Turkey, and that it be ratified by direct, special treaty between these two powers, without the interference of other nations. This interpretation the Allies consider to be inadmissible. Le NorJ publisbcs an analysis of this cir cular. The circular owns that the desire expressed by the Emperor of the French at a public solemnity in favor of a prompt and durable peace was at the same time, and still is, the dearest wish of the Empe ror Alexander. Referring to the Vienna Conferences, the circular casts upon the Allies the blame, of having rendered them abortive. So long as his enemies resolved to substitute force for the spirit of justice and conciliation, the Cznr was obliged to remain silent ; but as soon as ho heard that his enemies were disposed to take up again tho negotiations of pcaco on the basis of the Four Points, bo did not hesitate to come forward frankly to meet those pacific dispo. silions, nnd to seek frankly a possible solu tion for the third point. Affairs In tbe Crimen. Gortschakoff reporls Deo. 10th, two bod ies of Cossacks defeated a strong squadron of Gen. Vivian's Anglo-Turkish cavalry near Kertseh. Tho English commander and 47 men were taken prisoners. A letter from Kamicsch of the 25th Dec. in the Austrian Gazelle, says : "According to tho latest accounts from the Crimea, the Russian troops have been reinforced by a regiment of the Guard and by tho Radotzky regiment of Hussars, formerly stationed at Odessa." It is theroforo evident that no watit of provisions is experienced by Prince Gort schakoff. A loiter from Odessa to the 21st Dee., in the Austrian Gazette, says large bodies of troops are marching from the Crimea into Bessarabia. ' There is not, however, any intention of evacuating the former, as their places will bo filled by other troops from the reserve and by the militia. Gen. Gort. schukoff will, it is said, be replaced bv Count Osten Sacken. The former will re sume the command of tho troops on the Danube. The Allied gun boats which remained at Kinburn have been frozen in, and all the efforts made to release them have been hith erto fruitless. The Muscovite party are striving to su persede GortsohakofI by Mouravieff in the rimea. Mcnschikoff is appointed Milita ry Governor of Cronstadt. Asia. Oincr Pacha has relurnod lo Soukoum Kaleb, renouncing his intention to attack Kutuis at present. The Russian General Susloff took possession of the defiles of Hassan Kaleh as soon at Selim Pacha re- trrated to Erzeroum. Tho greater part of the Russian army will winter at Knrs. Intelligence from Constantinople of Dec- 24tb states that many persons had already quitted Erzeroum, fearing it would be at tacked by the Russian army. Thry had sought refuge at 'frebizonde, 1'he Invulide limit publishes a procla mation by Uen. Mouravieff, calling the en tire population of (merlin and Mingrelia to wage a war of extermination against the enemies of the C"s. It is this measure which is supposed to have induced Orner Pacha'i retreat. fcesita. The Czar has ordered the commanders of Finland, in tbe Baltic- Provinces, to re port means of defense to the frrand Coun cil of War in seshion at St. Petersburg. Contracts are advertised for immense qunntlrs of artillery and stores. New rifle regiments are being enrolled. Emancipa lion is offered as a bribe to serfs, while some of the restrictions Imposed by Czar Nicholas on the nobles have boon repealod The publication of the Austrian Concordat is prohibited in Russia, lest it should cause religious discontent. The Czar has also issued a decree con ferring on peasants the right to possess lauded properly in Poland. Personal serf dom is to be replaced by annual payment. Three years ere allowed for tho execution of the decree. From Sweden tho accounts aro very war like. Military and naval manufactures work incessantly, and the judications are that in accordance with the secret article of the treaty, Sweden will openly tako the field with the Allies in tho spring. The Danish government is reported to have consented to tho establishment of do pots of stores for tho English fleet nt Suol, the fleet to rendezvous there in April. Grand Conacll of War tm Parts. The London Post says that in the course of a few days a general Council of War is lo be held at Paris, at which England will bo represented by II. R. II., the Duko of Cambridge, Sir Richard Airy, and Sir Har ry Jones, together with Admirnls Sir Ed mund Lyons and Dundas. Tho object of this Council ia to collect, to interchange, and to consider all possible information with respect to tbe war. discussed, but toted tube impossible. His army, when uear Kutuis, was fur two days without supplies, on account of river fresh ets, nnd being unuble to advance he deem. cd it prudent to return. Seventy shlis are loading at Constantinople iih supplies and munitions for Sotikoiiin Kule. llulim IV cha has arrived nt Erzeroum, where rein forcements aro ga'hering. Gen. Williams arrived nlGumri In good health. The grossest peculation and mis management took plnco with the provision ing of Kara, and what littlo whs dona was entirely due to the exertions of Gen. Wi). liams and llio foreign officers. The garri son behaved nobly, nnd maintained disci pline to the lust. ; Tho commission appointed lo inquire in to the state of affairs ill Asia, and the coun cil of war In session nt Constantinople do not positively express disapproval of Omer Pacha's strategy, but tho adoption of a new plan of campaign implies a censure on Lit conduct. Flank diversions a-o now given up, and all efforts will be directed o tbu defense of Ei zerotim nnd Tiebizonde. At present tho ground is covered with snow, and for two mouths to come thero can be no operalious. FROM WASHINGTON. Tub Advices by the Africa. The intelligence by this arrival consists merely of an extension of the previously prevailing peace rumor. Nothing definite is yet known from St, Petersburg. Spec ulations continue to bo contradictory. lutorviews had taken place betwon Counts Nessclrodo and Esterhazy, but the main questions at issuo had not been discussed. The expectation from Russia it neither a refusal nor acceptance, but such a modified counter proposijien as may give rise to ne gotiate and delay. On tho oilier hand, the Palmerston Cabinet must meet Parliament early in next month, with a decided an nouncement either of peace or war. As regards France, rumor reports the tone of tho French Government as again more war liko ; but this feeling may be increased or diminished by tbe decision of tbe Allied Council of War about to open its session in Paris. Russian preparations to continue the conflict are on a larger scale than ever. Briefly, the hopes of peace havo received little or no confirmation. Ono of the five celebrnted dry docks in die Kurubelnain suburb of Sebastopol, was demolished by tho French engineers on Sat urday, the 22d Dec, at 2 o'clock P. H-, by the explosion of mines. The destruction of the dock was fully accomplished, the blust having almost instantaneously reduced the massive fabrio into a ruined and confused heap of stones. The French Minister of Finance has raised the interest on treasury bonds one por cent. It is inferred from this that there will not be another French loan for some time. In London, on the contrary, rumor asserts (lint the Chancellor of the Exche quer contemplates a loan for 30,000,000, or $150,000,000. It is stated iu a despatch from Berlin that the members of the grand Council of War, atSt. Petersburg, are chiefly engaged on tho question relating to the fortifications of the strategic points of the empire. The fortifications of Kiew will be finished be tween this timo nnd the end of the winter. The Russians had increased their fortifi cations over Inkermann, and had unmasked new batteries on the lefl of the Tchernaya Accounts received at Berlin from St. Petersburg, of Jan. 7, are announced to us "less and less favorable to peaco." The preparations for defonce aro prose cuted with an energy and expense almost incredible. Tho appointment of Prince McnchikofTto tbe command at Cronstadt is merely an indication of tho predominance of the old exclusive Russian party. He will be under the surveillance of Admirals Panuitine and Nowosiukv, with the assist ance of the best officers lately at Sebnstopol. Tbe Sound Dues Conferences, which were to have been opened on the 2d Jan. at Copenhagen, have been postponed line die. Asia Mlaor. Omer Pacha hod arrived at Batoum. The fall of Karn hag rendered him onpop- ular at Constantinople, ond his recall waej Withdrawal of l.ol. nu-bardsoa Xouttaa lloafef t'.ol. Orr, by the Democratic l'.a cus. Tits Latest Ballot. Tho latest re ported ballot for Spenker by mail took place on the 23d of Juuunry, and resulted as follows i ONE IIUNUnED AND TWFNTV SRCOND BALLOT. Banks, l0 Richardson, 05 Fuller, 30 Campbell, 5 Porter, Cobb of Alabama, Williams nud Pennington, 1 each. Washington, Jan. 23, 18C0. The with drawal of Col. Richardson, to tako c fleet after to-dny, created n profound sensation, and members manifested considerable rest essncss nnd then the refusal to table Mr. fust's resolution was nnother indication that nil was not right. Mr. Richardson spoke as follows pre vious to hi withdrawal: He was sincerely dosiroits that the House should bo organ ized. It has been intimated, here and else where, that there may bo an election if himself and other candidates should retire from the contest. The gentlemen with whom he acted would bear testimony that the position he occupied Is not of his own seeking, but was one from which ' ho ' was anxious to recede, to relieve the House from embarrassment. He' Wbuld, if possible. withdraw his name to-day. ' An early adjournment was' tlia consc quence, immediately on llio heels of which, Mr. Jones informed members that a Dem ocratic caucus would be held In ten mili ums from that time Iu tho Representatives' Hull. Tho galleries anil lobby were clear ed, nnd they immediately proceeded to business. VariotM propositions wero pre sented ; the plurality rule tinder certain contingencies namely, in case Banks wait withdrawn the propriety of making no nomination, etc., all which were withdrawn, and Mr. Orr unanimously nominated, still adhering to tho principles enunciated In tho first caucus. Tho Democrats will be disnppointed in their hope lo gain by changing candidates. . The national Americans held a caucus this afternoon, and resolved unanimously to whom to I'uller. 1 he defection from their ranks, if any, will bo very small. At the Republican caucus this evening the speaking wus nil ono way in fuvor of Banks. Banks against the world, is the unanimous sctitimoiit, so far as manifested among the Republicans. Withdrawal op Richardson A Xew Nominee Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, was unanimously nominated by the caucus in Col. Richardson's stead, The nomination will weuken Orr. Mr. Rust, of Arkansns, proposed that no nomination should bo made, but that any man who had constant ly supported Richardson bo voted for as policy dictated. The lurality rule, as I mentioned Inst evening, was considered in caucus by tho Democrats, nnd rejected forty-seven td thirteen. It is lost, unless supported bv tils' Republicans. Will they go tho proviso which kills Banks I Their caucus to-night says no. I lie contemplated violation of good faith has been abandoned. Tim American caucus has re-nominated Mr. Fuller, so the triangular fight goes on lor I he present. VtT The new volumes of Macaiilnv's HWorv of KiikImhI are entirely occupied with the reign of William nnd Mar. The author emir riowu harder than before upon Perm, the Quaker. How Masslss ass Maui. The common node of grinding- children'! marble ia s eurioue imtimce of ainiplii'ity in machinery. A number of tne chips, broken to a tuit.ble size, are put together in a tin bos and fattened to tbe run f waler-whetl,and there led to j-rind Ihtuurivea into thape. fy It i with nationi as with iudirideale, three who know the leaat of others, think tbe hiphenl of themwlveii; for the whole fumily of pnde and ignorance are iucotluous, and mutually begot each other. ' !; ?. V ail I "I I .. t., ' ";;, Hi ;''!"ll A! ..'''i'M V': A 'Ml h't't . I ':!' II 1 i ; II.'. !!! 'I . H.,l Id i) 'I i ;;t' '. i H I iil