A Few Weeks Ago We Cited The

siug liepuhlican to a statutory provisión giring oity councils authority to extend the time for the oollection and return of taxes. And now we are in want of a little light from the Bepublican. Will it point U8 to " the laws of this State " which "require an annual publication of the proceedingi of the supervisors ? " The Texas State eleotion was beid on Tuesday, and the retnrns read Tery much like the reported ballotings in a serie of Democratie caucuses. The majority is estimated at 50,000. Texas is perhaps the best governed and most prosperous State in the South, and the other Southern States will increase in prosperity as they come under Democratie control, The bill appropriating $1,500,000 for the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia passed the Senate on Friday last as it carne from the House, by a vote of 41 to 15. The yea vote was, Republicana, 31 ; Democrats, 10 ; and the nay vote, Democrats, 11 ; Republicana, 4. Senator Christiancy was " paired," but would have voted yes had he been present, as did Senator Ferry. An Independent Greenback State Convention was held at Indianapolis on Wednesday, a soft money platform adopted, and a State ticket nominated, headed by Ilon. Franklin Landers, the irrepressible member of Congress from the Indianapolis district. We hope that Mr. Landen will aecept the nomination, and then the Democrats of the House will no longer be held responsible for bis vagaries. Senatob Edmunds undertook to get Pinchback taken up and disposed of on Wednesday, but his friends objected and the motion was lost by a vote o' 30 to 33. Mr. Ferry, a Pinchback backer, was paired with Senatoi Oordon Messrs. Anthony, Bumside, Christiancy Cragin, Kelly, Mitchell, and Robert son, were absent. This vote would in dicate the admission of Pinchbac whenever a direct vote is reached. The trial of Gen. Babcock (privat seoretary) is still progressing at St Louis. The case was opened to th jury in behalf of the defense o Wednesday, after which a number o witnesses from Washington were pu upon the stand to prove Babcock's goo character. The President's testimon; was taken before Chief-Justioe Waite at Washington, on Saturday last. I was mainly a sworn " oertincata o oharacter." Blaine's finance speech has falle like a wet blanket both upon the coun try and his party. A few journalisti toadies sound its praises ; but its al tempt to shirk party responsibility for depreciated currency showed a disposi tion to falsify history that cannot b defended, wbile bis failure to mark ou a remedy, or put up]a guide board poini ing the road to specie payments, give evidence that talk is cheap, and tha oheap talk is his ." best holt." Giv Blaine a chance to make one mor speech and he will have found his leve It will not be that of the statesman. It IS much ea8ei to cali ñames tban to answer arguments, and so the Detroi Post seeks to break the force of Mr Springer's speech on the Diplomatic anc Consular Appropriatlon bill by oallin. that gentleman "Dirty Springer, " Nasty Springer," and "Bawdy Spring er." Now it will puzzle the delicate refined, and astute writer of the Post' criticism to point out a single sentence in the speech of Mr. Springer warranting either of the epitheta quoted. We have the " Congressional Record " before us, and know whereof we speak. By the way, if the speech of Mr. Springer was bo disgraceful, why did Mr, Monroe (Rep.), an opponent of the bill, ask the unanimous consent of the House for an extensión of Mr. Springer's time? Eeveedy Johnson, of Marylancl whose death ia recordod in another col umn, occurring under singalar an( painful circumstances, was one of the biest lawyers, jurists, and statesmen in the country. He was bom at Ann apolts, Md., in 1796, removed to Balti more in 1817, and has ever since residec there. He entered publio life in 1819 as State's Attorney, since which he ha served long and well in various honor ftble and important positions, including the Attorney-General's office, in the United States Senate, and as Minister to England. Before the breaking ou of the lebellion he labored as a member of the Washington Peace Conference in the interest of compromiso, bat tha failing threw his great influence anc power in favor of the Union. As a constitutional lawyer he probably had no superior. _ In the Housb on Mouday Mr. Harrison introduced " a bilí for the repeal of partt of the Besumption act, and for the purposo of preparing a way for the resumption of specie payments, and for the resumption of specie payments." This title sounds well enough, but how Mr. Harrison can expect that specie payments will be resumed under the provisions of his bill, provisions which authorize a new issue of legal tenders as fast as National bank circulation shall be withdrawn, is more than we can see. Cougress cannot constitutionally authorize the increase of the legal tender circulation to the amount of a single dollar, and, had it the authority, the inorease of such ciroulation would be the indefinito postpoaement of the day of specie resumption. If the Government cannot provide for the redemption of the present issue of legal tenders, by the oollection of a gold reserve equal to one-third their amount, how will it manage an issue increased by the retirement of bank ciroulation to give place to new legal tenders? Mr. Harrison and his associates in Congress ought to understand by this time that more greenbaok i the fool's way to specie payments, eren if they cannut be made to recognize the oonstitutional obstacle.