The weekly new era. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1870-????, January 27, 1870, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

ifjeMff flew jfe. !5S™B i Krecled tq S THURSDAY MORNING. JAN. 27, 1870. i Cap l I i:i the State, tlie >«M not interfere Tlie XVItli Amendment-Woman Suffrage Official Journal of the United States. OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE STATE. UK.1EKAI. GHAUT, The Pilot who cak and will guide the Ship or State satily theouoh eyeey stork. Tim NEW KllA • Will Vindicate the Psihciples ahd the P0LIC7 0? TEE REPOBLICAH PARTY, AHD SUP PORT its Koxikees, State ahdNatichal. Personal. Hon. Joseph \V. Clift, member of Congress elect Irani the First District, is in tho city. Judge Parrott** Speech. # The Terj able and timely speech ol Judge Parrott, delivered before tho Republicanl meeting Monday night, cannot fail to deeply interest the intelligent reader. We commend it to the carefnl consideration of every rea sonable man in Georgia. Democratic Virtue. Rumors were current yesterday to the effect that a certain—prospective—member of the House had been offered the snug little sum of $1,000 to vote sgaiost McWhorter for Speaker. The money was to be paid upon condition that the member alluded to should obtain bis seat, and after that vote against the Republi can nominee. Support the Nominees. Wo Again urge upon all Bapntilicans the ini porlauco ol promptly anpporting the nominee, of the party. Every member of the party who i< at all aincere in hia ctnviclioni, who is true to himself and the great party whereof he isamember, wiU make it a point to be on band promptly, in older to prove his faith by his works, in matters of this kind. He who proves false in this, is false in ail else that eon. atitntes him a trne Republican. Oi» Ohio Katlllr*—Desperation or the Democ racy. The vote on the XVth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, was bad in the Ohio Legislature late in the evening of the 20th inst., and the Buckeye State was added to the list of thoae Slates which have pronounced in favor of this Republican meas ure. It is mentioned as one ol the tricks resorted to by the Democrats, that a Ur. Hill, Repub lican Representative from Cincinnati, waa tclegiaphed that hia presence was imperative ly required at hia borne, and ho accordingly loft bis place to obey th© summons;but, dis covering the object of the ruse, he took the first train to Columbus; and was there in time to record bis vote on the side of universal jus tice. The vote stood 57 to 55. Snpportthe Nominee*—Be Prompt! It is of the last importance that Republi cans should support the nominees of their party. It ia their duty to do this, and to do it promptly. It is the doty of every citizen to vote for candidates that represent tbs pantezrus of tho parly to'which he may belong ; and when Snell candidates are agreed upon and pot forward by the parly, be who is not promptly on hand in oril.r to vote lor his party candi dates, ia nnwortby of tho confidence of his party. lie lays himself open to anapieion, and should blame no one hot himself shontd he loose east with his party. Man who me Republican, from principle, feel Hiomaolvta nndor as many obligations to vole for the men who represent those princi ples as lo advocate, and defend the principles themselves. In lact, this ia the only practical method i f vindicating and oatabUabing thoae principle*; and the Republican who faila to be promptly on hand, and watch every oppor tunity of voting for tho nominees of bis party, ia gailty of preaching one thiog and practicing another—an attitude which is as inconsistent and nntenable in politic* aa in religion. The State Road. The State Road ia doing an immense bnai- nes*. Over U00 males are among the freight of the last three or four days. Bitterly and justly as Blodgett is atraaed for hie' political sine, hia remarkable business qualities are universally admitted. While he Unde time to manipulate the Legiaialnre, and in fact ia said *n run that machine, (when it rnnsatsll,) the 8tste Road ia aaid by thoae who know, to move along quite os well as it did in the hands f 1 ' a.-W *.,,1 n n Ink" A fhtYIM of bis ''.harp and quick”predecessor.—Athena Banner. Tho above ia an hdneat and daimving trib ute to the business qualities of Uon. Foster Blodgett, the present Superintendent W. A A, Railroad. Coming aa it does from a Democratic jour nal, it ia entitled to doable credit Pitiable Weakness. It is not pleasant to be laid under tho ne cessity of concluding that an opponent is ob noxious lo the chaige of deliberate, willful misrepresentation. Bat, in the face of re peated assurance* to the contrary, certain Democratic editor*insist that an enquiry into the record of members erect to the General Assembly, by the Board of officers, implies a reproach of tho personal character of those who propose taking the new oath! They know, or ongbt to know, that the mere feet of a member elect taking this exhaustive oath, upon hia own construction of its provisions, does uot, necessarily, imply a deliberate purpose to eommit perjury. It has be.n ex- plained, time and again, bow n man might take this oath opon his own construction of the law. without really intending moral tur pitude, notwithstanding the fact that hit con struction may be wholly adverse to that of the officers empowered to construe and execute the set • And yet. in view ol all these statement*, th* factiouists insist that the existence of the Board is an assumption that somebody has commit tod, or is about to commit peijury! If the vi|.er nilt gnaw his file, why. then let him knaw on ; but ull this lashing of themselves into a fury ver imaginary and self-imposed evils, betrays a pitiable weakness op the part of men who ought to know better. Ia a previous article, wo sp. k- of the toc:r- tit-s ol the South concerning ca pital and emi- •ation, and the remarkable remunerative rates ivestmenta in banking, manufactures, agri culture, Ac., Ac., do, and will command. In this we propose to slate the reasons apparent telligent minds why. with Each induce ments, capital and emigration do not flow in upon us—why it is rapidly leaving us. Capital is timid. It is not likely to go very far from home unless accompanied by the capitalist It can scarcely be expected any large amount of Northern capital will be put into the hands of strangers, so far away from home, to use. A prudent capitalist goes with his capital, and keeps bis eye upon it So, if we are to have Northern capital, we haTe got to take the Northern capitalist with it Now, everything that is worth anything coats something, and generally in proportion to what it is worth. We admitted, to have the capital, our willingness to pay ronndly for the nse of it; bat wo overlooked the fact: to have the capital we mast have the capitalist with it; and to have the capitalist we mast sacrifice not only oar prejudices against Northern men, bat we must welcome them and their families, remembering that they are coming among strangers, leaving their pleasant homes far away to take op their abode in a comparative new country, and that they will require not only courteous treatment, bat welcome, and sympathy, and kindness. Hava we taken this view of it? Have we thus met them ? We have not talked with the first Northern man—and we have talked with nearly all who are here—who expresses satisfaction in this re spect; while on the part of the female portion of the families and the chilren, they feel any* thing bat at home in this nnsympathizing land. Whether this is right or wrong, these are the facts, and for these reasons North ern emmigration and Northern capital bos stopped coming here; for these reasons and others of like nature. Northern emigration and Northern capital is leaving ns. The only question fur discussion is, shall we awake to the facts?. If capital ia worth anything, these facts are worth considering. Northern people may be very peculiar, and very fastidious about their treatment; still these are the facts, and if we want their capital—want their skill—we must, humor their peculiarities, or at least not ignore them. We may have some pecnliar and fastidious traits of oar own. Northern men want more than to be welcomed to induee and satisfy them to leave their pleasant homes, surrounded by their elegant school houses, their costly churches, built by their own hands, in the midst of an intelligent and set tied society, with everything in modem com forts ingenuity can devise, to come to a conn try lacking everything, comparatively. North ern men think, too, (we may think the same of ourselves) they have been brought npin an advanced stage, and superior state of civiliza tion—that their systems of free schools, sys tems of labor, economy, and a hundred other things make up a civilization superior to ours; they believe strongly in the government, and loyalty; love, and hold sacred the stars and stripes, and despise every thing that savors a rebellions spirit; they are benevolent by nature and education ; their sympathies flow out to the poor, and the low, and the despised. They are not only educated to all this, and believe in it, but wherever they are, they con sider themselves less than men unless they freely express their opinions nd without fear endeavor to incnloate their views into the body politic. • 'This is a land of free speech, says the Northern man. *T believe religious ly in a system of political economy different from that generally subscribed to in the South. In it all of life to make money ? To ■ . I oruugtis uij tuoubj Here to make money, and nse it tor the public good, but think more of good government and morals and education sod religion than I do of mon- I have got money enough. God has given me faculties, and positive conviction*. Have I got to bury those talents ns long as live in the South—have I got to muffle my convictions? Do these people believe money in more to me than principle? If it were bread and butter ruly that I wanted, why did I not stay iu my pleasant Northern home, where had enough and to spare, surrounded be every elegance?” Southern men, what do yon suppose is the object of Northern capital accompanied by the capitalist coming South—to increase it alone? You are mistaken. If aach men come here, they will come independently, and if they stay, they will stay independently—they will claim the privilege of talking politics just muob aa they please; of being Republicans Democrats jast aa they please; of belonging to Union Leagues if they like; of laboring educate and christianize, and advance colored as well as whites without fear ostracism; in fact, being in the Sooth just what they were In the North. How long could a man live here and pros per cn this lino with the present state ■ feeling? Now, until all of this is admitted, we cannot have Northern capital and Northern emi gration. Is it worth the sacrifice? If let us make np a new schedule, not, let us hold our peace forever concerning emigration and capital. otb( The of tha exhibitions bor.ld be bo nrrau^&il as to secure the attend* ance of exhibitors at nil of them.- Let oar citizens ponder well tho above sug gestions before blindly or loosely embarking .ny badly digested plan of managing'fairs d preparing fair grounds. The I'owers of a District Commander. Democratic despatches from Washington, and.newspaper comments in this Stale, indi cates great want of information on the part writers av to what are the real powers of a trict Commander under the Recouatrucion acts. We have taken some trouble Lo examine the record of the rulings of the officer* of the government on this point, and now that the tbeu General is the President, Gen. Grant’s record upon this significant question becomes very interesting and important, especially as the President is one who has over been con sistent in adhering to his opinions when de liberately farmed and annonneed. As will be seen by the extracts we publish below, the civil' power of General Terry, a* District Commander under the Reconstruction acts, is supreme, and Democratic gasconade about the “nnconstitntionality” of the Board of Officers, convened by General Terry to in quire into eligibility of members of the Pro visional Legislature under the law, is as use less as their oovert threats of prosecution against the Commanding General and others under the 5th section of the act of December 22d. We give, below, the extracts to which we have referred. Extract from General Grant's Report os Secretary of War ad interim, referring to Re construction, November, 1867: n»\T Site Look*—The 3rUUb Queen at Home. A correspondent of tbo Cincinnati Gazette famishes the folio wing results of an inspection or Queen Vic,: Queen Victoria is short snd stout—so stout, indeed, that fat would perhaps be a more cor rect term. Her face ia fall, round, very large and heavy; month large and lips thin, bat neither impressing you disagreeably; nose rather prominent, but symmetrical in shape, and terminating sharply; head of medium size, frqt looking somewhat disproportionate to her laree face, more* notioeable for breadth at tho . ° .. ... I I I . . *4., , f,.* base than Light, and flat or level on toji; fore head straight ami very finely develop. . I fbinV, bine ; expression unassuming, kind and brotherly. Her hair is quite gray— fthorefor*. I infer. *11 her own. Sho looked to Tho powers of these commanders are both cl7il and military. So far as their military duties are concerned, they are under the same subordination to the General of the army and the Secretary of War. that Department com manders are. In their civil capacity they are entirely independent of both, the General and Secretary, except in the matters of re morals, appointment, and detail, where the General of the army has the awme powers as have District Commanders. * OXX. GEAXT TO OEN. POP*. Washington, D. C., Aug. 3, 1867. I think your views are sonnd, both in the construction which you give to the laws ol Congress and the duties of the supporter of good government, to see that when Recon struction is effected, no loop-hole is left open to give trouble and embarrassment hereatter. It is certainly the duty of District Command* ers to sudy what the framers of the recon struction laws wanted to express, as much as what they do express, and to executs the law according to that interpretation. aiXSBiL on ANT TO GENXBAL POPS. January Cth, 1868. The government under the Constitution the State of Georgia, • • • which said Treasurer set np as a bar to bis compliance with said ordinance, in, by the said acts of Congress, specifically declared, with the gov ernments of other States lately in rebellion, therein named, to be '-not legal State govern ments; and that thereafter, said governments, if continued, were to be continued subject in all respects to the military commanders of the respective districts and tho paramount an ihority of Congress.” 8eelioa 11 of said supplementary act of July 19th, provides: “That all the provisions of this act, aud of the acts to which this is sup plementary, shall be construed liberally, the end that all the interests thereof may fally and perfectly carried out. It is clear, from the correspondence between General Pope and the Treasurer, that the proper administration of the military recon struction acts requires the removal of said Treasurer, and the appoIntz~cnt of some per son in his stead. n.-2er section second of said supplementary act of July 19th, who will re spect the authority of Congress, the Oiders military commanders and the Ordinance of the convention under the same. * GENERAL GRANT TO GENERAL ORD. Washington, June 23, 1867. The law, however, makes district comman ders their own interpreters of their power and duty under it. and in my own opinion, the At torney General, or myself, can do no more than give our opinion as to the meaning of the law; neither can enforce his views agniust the judgment of those made responsible for the faithful execution of the law, the district com manders • • * * GENE RAX QUANT TO GENERAL POPE. Washington, June 28. 1867. Major General J. Pope, Atlanta, Go.: Your dispatch of yesterday received. En force your own construction ol the military bill until ordered to do otherwise. The opin ion of the Attorney General has not been dis tributed to district commanders in language or manner entitling it to the force of an older; nor can I suppose that the President intend ed it to have such force. the GZNEXAL OBANT TO GENERAL HAWLINS. Relay House, Maryland, June 30, 1868. To General John A. Raiding : Instruot General Buchanan that the Goy- ernmeDt of Louisiana is provisional, and the Lieutenant Governor is bound by the decision of the District Commander, right or wrong, whilat it remains so. With this record freely sustained as it is the law, we would advise our anxious office seeking Democratic friends uot to bnild their hopes too high upon their own construction of a General’s powers as a District Comman der! The Fair Ground. In the management of agricultural and me chanical exhibitions, as well os every other business, experience is a great teacher. The alleged failure of the annual exhibition of the State Agricultural Society at Ma- eon lost fall, shoald make the citizens of At lanta wary of any illy digested plan of an ex hibition at or near the city next fall. Like every other enterprise in which money is made or lost, agricultural and mechanical fair* must be well managed, and to secure their proper and faithful management,it is questionable if the in volving of ibe State or city in the n«k of their success or failure is judicious or wise. When ever a State or municipality incurs a heavy risk in their management by furnishing the whole, or a large part of the capital to snp port them, fair* ore almost always a failure.— Wherever and whenever fair* are gotten np by joint stock companies or assaocisiion*. they have bean almost nniformly a success. When a State or city famishes the capital atock iu this business, inasmuch as no individual or association of individuals are interested in the profits, loose mansgeromit, waMe and reckless expenditure result. When stockholder* ri»k their capital in the business, their interest stimulates them to economy where economy i» necessary,and liberality when liberality is pro- motive of success, and compels intelligent, jadicious and equitable regulation* ip all the departments of the business. The3© remarks are founded npon the history of agricultural exhibitions in this country; and this history is well worth looking into before the Mayer epd Council of Atlanta blindly em bark in the business of “running” a fair here next fall. The shrewd buslnaa* men of Atlanta would do well in !<• iv into tin* snljvct a* ;t matter of individual interest aud profit, as liongh her actual i well one having an important bearing upon n ha* a brightest | the general interest* of the city, h joint stock inch dinuer-wine j company should own, hold and manage fair grounds in the vicinity of the city. Such a company can mako an aonuAl fair here a auc- even though it should be independent cf William Cullen Bryant has been tendered, | the Slate Agricultural Society. Atlanta is a great central thoroughfare, and cn if there were a dozen other exhibition* * scarlet hue, indieath drinking, which is vvuh her, and some i don’t restrict herself very regnli ■t jile say she • stimnlants. ! and declined, the appointment of Ump the Mexican Claims Commission. The Savannah Advertiser says that Judge Erskine has about disposed every live cose on the docket of the Fed eral Court. Fhe National Woman’s Suffrage Conven tion, w hich has been the topic iu Washing- for the lust few days, derives iu chief im portance from the fact that many of the ablest aud most influential meu of the nation, representing both Church and State, and both political parlies, were identified with it The movement is evidently gaining in popular i.ivor. Throe years ago, it was an object of derision. Now, it is recognized as among the legitimate topics of discussion by both states, men and divines. Men who ridicule the movement, carefuly refrain from committing themselves in opposition to it. When asked about their opinion of the “womun question, their stereotyped reply is, “Ah well, let the ladies vote if they want to"! Mrs Stanton and her associates say they do want to vote ; and, to make their want tangible, propose a XVIth Amendment. This question, like most others, has two sides. In one aspect of the case, it seems legitimate and proper that tho feme sole who pays taxes in her own name, and bolds prop erty in her own right, should participate in the Government which she is called upon thus to snpport. The widow lady who pays taxes npon a farm worth twenty thousand dollars, may not vote; but her carriage driver or gardner or overseer, who owns nothing but bis head, may vote and otherwise partici pate in the direction of the Government— This does not, and never did seem to accord either with reason or justice. On the other hand, it does not aocord with our popular con ception* and estimate of tho female char acter to see ladies dabbling in the muddy whirlpool of partisan politics, attending par tisan mass meetings, mixing themselves np with party juntas and caucuses, and other wise presenting themselves for participa tion in the rough and tumble political strifes, intrigues and squabbles which character ize popular elections the world over.— If woman would have influence in shaping the legislation of this country and in elevating mankind, there is, it would seem, ample oppor tunities (still unimproved) for the exercise of this important mission within the precincts of of the drawing-room, the nursery and the fire side. This influence ia all powerful, because it is legitimate; and she who educates and moulds the character of the voter, is greater than the voter himself. THE MILITARY COMMISSION. A.TR.O-'CnMIE; 3ST1- BY ATTORNEY GEN. FARROW, FOR THE PROSEVL'lIOy. i by Georgia ,n Connecticut. Wc find the following editorial notice of Goorgia matters in tho Waterbary, Ct. Daily American, of the 17th; “Brjant, the apparent l**der in the malcouUnta the Georgia Legislature, t» a carpet-bagger, who, dur ing the war rose to the rank of captain of a negro reg iment. At the doee of the war ha waa appointed an agent of Fzaedmen'a Bureau, and was, for a time, ex tremely obnoxious to the Southern people, with whom he now eeems to affiliate. Governor Bullock is also a Northern man, who went South a short time before the war, aa an agent of the Adams Express Company. He remained South during the rebellion and rose to the portion of Superintendent of the Southern Ex* preoe Company, which waa the name token by the Adams in the Southern States, on the opening of hos tilities. Officers and employees of this company were exempt from draft, and Ur. Bullock did good aervice to loyal men, whooe business relations made it impos sible for them to leave tho South, by giving them lluyuu-nton Ihoexpres* business. He was always regarded with suspicion* by the rebels, snd on the Union forces taking possession of Augusta, he waa the Qrst to welcome them. He waa noted fpr hia elegant hospitality to tfee pa}on officers, and was l£e only man In the city who had the courage to fsorksaly avow hia sentiments; which be did by placing a picture of Lin coln. surmounted by the old flag. In his parlors, and by taking active part iu assisting the Federal authori ties. He VM noted tor a large-hearted benevolence, and L»a integrity was gopo!Qerpa ll)©W Prltwn Discipline. Among the names justly honored by civil ized man, are Howard, Carlo Borromeo, Clan- dins Bernard, and SL Vincent de Paul. They visited the captive and mercifully administered to his wants. They touched the hearts of the humane by their appeals to society for an amelioration of the sufferings of the convict “Vengeance is niine, saith the Lord.” It is not the prerogative of society to bo treat the convicted criminal as forever to’ destroy hit capacity for usefulness in this world, except those rare cases in which capital punish ment is au acknowledged necessity. The trne intent of punishment is to pre vent crime. Yet, notwithstanding the activ ity of the friends of reform in prison discip line daring the last half century, the an locking of the secrets of many of the prison houses of the present day would shock the sensibilities of the least humane amopg ns. The causes of the failure of our peniten tiaries to meet in praotice the humane expec tations of their projectors are various. Some times the laws regulating them are miserably defective and erroneous. Sometimes the ava- rico of lessee* sacrifices humanity to gain. Sometimes the keepers, wardens and other officials in charge of the prisoners are misera bly deficient in many of the qualifications ne cessary to a faithful and successful perform ance of the duties ot their positions. Agina, Legislatures are too easily satisfied with suits and exhibits, which make no demand upon the publie treasury for the support of the prisoners. Moral results and reformatory means are overlooked in the study of cash bal ances. In the present century, two systems of peni tentiary discipline have been adopted in the United States. Tbs solitary confinement sys tem, adopted in the Eastern Penitentiary at Philadelphia, on the recommendation of the Society of Friends in that eity, has proven a failure in this, that the extreme solitariness of the prisoners provokes to a fearful and fright ful extent, hopeless mental insanity. The Auburn system, most generally in use, has proven a failure in this, that few leave the walls of the prison after a term of service bet ter men than when first incarcerated. On the contrary, they are oftener more determined to wage war on society and are better prepared to do it, because while in prison they have learned better bow to commit, and to conceal crime from their associate convicts. The great defect of this system is indiscriminate association of the inmates without roference to degrees of guilt and docility in the re ception of moral training. For, notwith standing the surveillance of guards and over seers daring the day, and the solitary confine ment in their sells at night, tho prisoners do find opportunities to form acquaintance with each other, and in such institutions, where sufferings and hardships are experienced in common, the boldest and most hardened wretches soon acquire a prestige and in fluence over their fellow prisoners that can work evil and evil only. As, in cur lunatic asylnms it is found neces sary to classify the inmates with reference to the peculiarities of their disease, in order that they may be successfully controlled and treat ed; so in our penitentiaries where, in theory, it is proposed to reform the moral delinquents that infest society and intrade upon tbo rights of the community, it strikes as that there is a lamentable mistake committed in not proper ly classifying the prisoners with reference to their degrees of guilt, aud susceptibility to successful reformatory treatment. These thoughts upon the interesting sub ject of prison discipline are suggested by the reading of a circular letter, now before ns, Signed by abont eighty respectable officials, of prisons and houses of refuge, and commitiee- Atlahta, January 22, 1870. To Brevet Major-General Huger, Brevet Brig adier General Haynes, Major Henbt Good Vfcxow, Board to inquire into the eligibility of R. R. Donalson, of Gordon county, to a -j*eat in the Senate. lithe office of “Road Commissioner' office created by law for the administration of tr^lFiieral law, or for the administration of justice? It is an “office”— It is a public trust, aud the person who per forms the trust,is appointed by public author ity. Road Commissioners were appointed by the “Inferior Court.” They held their office two yoars. It was their duty to appoint over seers of the several roads in their several dis tricts, and to apportion hands, that is, to di rect on what particular roads the persons liable todorosd duty should perform duty; and this they were required to do every year, was their duty also to apportion and assign to any citizen, who desired it, a certain quantity o! public road, which said citizen, his slaves aud employees, subject to road duty, should keep in good order in lieu of regular road duty. Road Commissioners were also required, after every road working, to hold a Court to punish, by fine or imprisonment, any person wJ>o failed to comply with the law in ap pearing on notice to work the roads. They were required to keep a book, numbering each fine, etc. is office was therefore created by law. The road laws were general laws—applicable over the whole State, and it was the business of these officers to superintend its enforce ment, to see that it was executed. There were two of them required by law to be appointed in every district iu the State, and their duties were prescribed by a general law, applicable to the whole State. They there fore administered, superintended, overlooked, seen to the execution of, acted as the agent minister, or administrator of the genersl laws on the snbject of roads. They were the official machinery by which the general road laws of the State were administered. force the judgment of their Court, by levying upon and selling property, and such judg ments have the same liens, Sections 668 and 669, as other judgments and claims according priority in the distribution of money. Sec tionals. Mr. Donaldson having admitted to the Court that he held the office of road commissioner for series of years previous to the rebellion, and having also admitted to tho Court that he held that office during the rebellion for ncveral years, and also gave other aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States, the condu- siou is irresistible that he is ineligible to a seat in the General Assembly of Georgia. Re spectfully submitted. Hknbi F. Farrow. Attorney General, aud George S. Thomas, Attorney for Contestants. of Georgia. It would not be worthy the name j GEORGIA LEGISLATURE. of government if it did not employ its power SPEECH OF HON. JOSIAH R. PARROTT, DELIVERED AT THE REPUBLICAN MASS MEETING, AT SCOFIELD'S HALL, Monday Evening, January 24th, 1870, In truth, however,, '/Road Commissioners” were not only the administrators of general laws, but they held offices for the adminis iratiou of justice. They are, in other words, Judicial officers. They held Courts, gave judgments and inflicted punishment for the violation of the Road law*. They wore, fact, a “Court" provided for and contem plated in the Constitution of tlie State. By the very terms of the Constitution of Georgia, .they formed a part of the “Judicial” system of the State. That Constitution, in force from *89 to 1861, in the article devoted to the “Judiciary,” provides for these Courts, os a part ami parcel of the “Judicial” system of the State. That Constitution, article 3d, section 39, says: “The Superior Courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all crimi nal cases except for violation of the Road laws, which cases shall be in such judicature or tribunal os tho General Assembly shall provide.” The General Assembly, by virtue of the above clause of the Constitution, did provide and establish, as the judicature and tribunal for the trial of criminal cases for the violation of the road laws, the Road Commissioners Court A road commissioner was, therefore, not only an officer for the administration of a general law, but an officer for the administra tion of justice, to wit rror holding a court to try criminal cases—that is, to punish men for violating the general laws of the statute known as tho road laws. It is no answer to this to ■ay that, in this sense, an overseer oflhb roads is an officer. That is not the question. The question is as to. a “Road Commissions; there is not .. single deihmion of au officer" that he does not come up 1 Captain H. C. Cook, formerly stationed at Oglethorpe Barracks in Savannah, with his command. Company E, Second United States Infautrv, passed through Augusta, on Tnes- day, en route for Columbia, South Carolina. The people of that city, says the News, are fortunate iu having Captain • Cook as their post commandant. Ha is a good offi ser a k-vrr .n-, i*.-. !..-r.y LcijuaintrunVH u this city will tfiiiljf/. Congress for conference on the subject of pris on discipline and reformatory treatment, to assemble in Cincinnati, daring the autumn of the present year. We are glad to ohrouicle this movement, and hope it will sufficient ly attract public attention, and so arouxe the interest of the Iriends of humanity, as to se cure valuable practical results. Grace Greenwood** Lecture. the Sava On Saturday evenic_ buk of Mouday, a negro by tho name c rry Smith was nhot by pjtrtjes vet unknown he ball took effect in the back and came ou in front, near his right shoulder. This affiri occurred on t^s corner of ALeri-orn and Jlai ris street*. The wounded man was can ie. to his home, aud his wouiids are reported t be of a serious nature. No odubt curiosity to see and hear a noted authoress led many through the in clement weather last night to the lecture given by Grace Greenwood, at Lincoln Hall. Those who attended saw a fine, matronly-looking woman, apparently! aa much at home upon the platform as in the library or drawing-room, Her sub ject, -Hu d^ors, 11 was a dissertation— partly lmmoron3 and quizzical, portly grave and serious—upon the duties, the pleasures and perils of married life. AU seemed to feel that it was as pleasant to hear as to read the good things of the lecturer. Some of tlie infelicities of mar ried life were well hit off, particularly the old-time antagonisms between husbands, wives and mothers-in-law. “Adam was the only man who never had a mother-in- law,” said the speaker. The }vas large and appreciative,'and frequently 1 8ecu applauded the hits aud sarcasms of the j ed t< sneaker,— Washington Republican, 16U\ Ho performs a public duty; he ia appointed by public authority fora^^fiiffte time, snd bis duties ate to-aaministcr' i>oYku triig|r—that a law applicable to the whole Staf*—and he j also administer* justice—that is, he holds' a ; Fdlov>Coantri/men : Wo have been convened to-night by the call of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican parly, for the purpose of taking counsel together a* to the best coarse to pursue for the tacoetis of the great National party, to which we belong, and to hear addresses from some of the most able members of our organization, as well as the purest and best citizens of Georgia. In my judgment, it is good for us to be here. This large assemblage of honest, ear nest men, convened in the interest of the peo ple of Georgia, inspires us with new hopes for the well being of our party, and the Con tentment and prosperity of every citizen. It is highly gratifying to every patriot pres ent to know, that the object of this meeting, and of the party to which we belong, is, to do good and nut barm; to persecute no one; to proscribe no one for bis political opinions; to advance the interests of peace and quiet— There are no causes for reproach to those pres ent because they do not propose to deprive any mau of any legal right, or any political right, because he cannot think and act as we do. It is not a part of onr creed to ostracise those who differ with us. It ia not our wish aud not a part of onr teachings to punish men for their political opinions or to shed the blood of thone who do not vote as we do. We do not propose to override snd trample under foot the laws of the land; but we do propose to have those law* executed so that every woman and child in the State may feel per fectly secure under the protecting care of the government. On all political questions men ought, in n government like ours, to act ac cording to their honest convictions; and thus acting, the government must protect them, however humble they may be. Those who belong to the Republican party, profess to believe that this organization con trols the powers of the country in which we live. We believe that this is the only or ganization with which any man can align himself, which has both the power and the will to give protection to life, liberty and proper ty in this country. Other organizations pro fess to have tho will to do the people of Geor gia good. We all know they have not the power to do so, and as they have no power to benefit us, and have not the ghost of a chance to get power in any reasonable.time, however good their intentions may be, we are forced to conclude we cannot in any event be beoefitted in any way whatever by joining those powerless organizations. We have learned by sad experience the ifolly of follow ing men who can do ns no good, and throwing up our hats aud shouting for leaders who have always led their deluded followers to defeat and degradation. It ie useless for a starving man lo beg bread frO^v one who has none, and wbo has no means of getting any. It is equally useless lor suffering Georgia to cry for help to the defeated, defunct, so- called Democratic party, when we know that organization 1m* no power to give us any help, „ . , if its lenders were willing to do so. Tfcepeo- court for the trial and punishment of persons ... j . ,, , ... .. . L r of Georgia have called upon that party for bread*'and a stone has been given in every who violate the Road Laws of the State. The Code of Georgia, sections 660 Ad CC9, calls tlxi adjudication of the. commissioners “judg ments,” gives them'the same lien on property- as other judgments, calls the processfa., and declares that no property stall be exempt from them, and in this respect they were, by the laws, made of higher dignity than the judgments of the Superior Court. The act of 1865 and 1666, page 23, authorizes the com? missioner* to issue warrants for the arrest of defaulters, aud directs the defaulter to be brought before the commissioners to abide the judgments of the same. It is true this last is a^la'e act, but it shows what is undoubtedly true,'’that the Legisluthre considered Road Commissioners as persons holding a court provided for in the Constitu tion for the administration of justice. ’Why is not the tribunal authorized by the^Constitu tion and laws to punish men for violating the road laws, as much a court of justice us a court for the punishment of persons who violate any other general law ? The office of Road Commissioner wus created more than half a century ago by legislative enactment, (Cobb’s Digest, page 947,) in pur suance with the Constitution then ot force. (Cobb’s Digest, page 1121.) Aud the present Code (section 697) recognizes them as officers. The new Code did not create the office, but recognises it as an office previously existing, and enumerates its duties. What are those duties ? Those duties are: To appoint over seers of roads; to apportion the road hands; to hold a court to hear and determine upon all cases of default or other violation of the road laws within their jurisdiction; to issue execu tions and other process against thereonvicted: irtsta- »» os reiuge, ana commute- to 8eo that ftU M offending lh men of wnon. nometie. eollmg for » N»Uon,lf Ioad Jawg „ a indiclcd befora “b?superior Court in all cases where that court, aud uot their own court, has jurisdiction; aud to keep & record of all the business of their court.. If any overseer under them neglects his duty, it is their duty—secticif 674—to see that be is indicted before the Superior Court, .where he can be fined or imprisoned, at the discretion of the Court If any person changes a road without authority, or obstructs it. $c.. be is liable to indictment and a fiue of one thonsand dollars,—section C89—and it in the duty of the Road Commissioner* of.the district to see that he is indicted. The road laws—sections 740 to 753—require that rail roads shall do certain things at all crossing”, and if tl^ey fail to do as rfeqnlred, the Super intendents thereof are liable to indictment, and it is the duty of the Road Comtnisbiouers to see that they are Indicted Having given a general outline of their da ties, the next consideration i*. what are their powers? They have power. Section 658, to summon before their Court all defaulting road hands and to try them, and have po-ver to fiue them, or lo iuiprjfeop t]»-un jit thp dis- **' Court. Tirey ha >i) 66f5,(o issue wairaiitHof iw aiiv lawful Constable We insist that that party uot only lacks but -that those who control it have no wi/t.\o do anything that will give us peace, order'--and protection. Alt the teachings of these would-be wise men of that mis-named party in the South seem to produce lawless ucss, yigtence, disorder and destruction ol every inler«i*£! which society was made to fos ter and protect. • As Georgians, we feel it to be our interest andou- duty to aligd ourselves with, and be- j come a part of, that great organization that 1 controls the forty millions of people that in habit this country, and nil their vast interest*, l.ecnuse wo know it can and will do ns good. There are other equally potent reasons why wo should not. link onr fortunes with the op position party iu Georgia. This party has notouly uo ability to benefit, bnt all its an tecedeuts prove' its want of wisdom and its utter witmt of correct principles. That opposition which has assumed the once powerful title of democrat, appears to havo no fixed idea—no motive for action, ex cept persistent, unreaspm»ble, unprofitable, and unavailing opposition to the authorities of the Government under which we live. The course of that party induces the belief that if the Democratic party were in power at Wash ington, and really and in good faith endeav oring to execute the laws of the United States Government, this, heterogeneous mass of men ot all shades of. political opinion, calling it self tlie Democratic party of Georgia, would oppose the rulers of the nation, thongh Dem ocratic„ because they dislike the Government. We deem it unsafe to act with a party which seems to be based upon hatred of the Govern ment that CQUtrols us. ll !* asserted, upon authority that we have no reason to discredit, that many men have b* e« murdered and otherwise maltreated in Georgia, because they belonged to the Repub lican party. It haa become evident that the opposition party will use no measures to pre vent these outrage*, but either ailently or otherwise encourage their repetition. We know that this outrageous disregard of law and human right must lead to tho most direful consequences. History and experience teaches us that this coarse must lead to nparphy, and that no quiet map will remove into our State thus infeated; that oor labor will remove from onr fields, and that general distrust will seize our people, and univer«al woe will cover oar old Commonwealth. We are sure the power of the Republican party of the nation is now employed and will be employed to suppress this lawlessless, aud that in this party is our only safety. All good governments protect the lives, the property, apd liberty of t^oir subjects. 7.( Merico, Cuba, Spain, or any other power mur- dem a for the prote«.<iou of its own citizens aud its own friends. We prefer the Repaid *vuty,because wo are satisfied that if it s-sc It in establishing its power in Georgia, emigre in a will cease, immigration will greatly Increase,* capital will flow in, aud our State become populous, rich and prosperous. Our lands will be doubled in value, our resources be developed, and coufldence be restored amongst all classes of our people. How can we make our party successful?— Not by dissan*ions and divisions in our own ranks, but by unity aud harmony. A faction may break off for a time, but it will not suc ceed. The President and Congress will not recognize a faction, however true its members may have beeu to the Republican party.— The united body will bo recognized as the party in Georgia. Afawmerf, acting alone or co-operatiog with the opposition for tem porary success; will have no influence with the authorities of the Government It the Republican party acta in Conven tion and nominates candidates for office, these candidates should be supported by ev ery member of the party. Bolters seldom (succeed, but generally come to grief. We shoald go iuto conventions and use all honorable means to have tho best men selected as candidates, and if our individual preference shoald not meet the approval of a majority of our party, we should yield that preference for the good of th » party and of the country. No party ever succeeds well if this course is not pursued. The history of all parties in this country sustaius this position. We have only to refer to the final overthrow of the Demo cratic party by its divisions at Charleston in 1860, to convince every one of its truth. It is common in all countries, and at all times, for politicians of opposing parties to denounce each other; such is the case now in Georgia. The orators and writers of the op position in Georgia have exhausted their vo cabulary in abusing the Republican party. This is to be expected. We are accustomed to it. and we can bear it. Let no man be in fluenced by the wholesale reckless abuse heaped upon a*. It is now reacting against its authors. The people are tired, wearied and sick almost unto death of tho uninterrupted stream of vituperation whioh has submerged the country for years past. They want rest. They want some remedy. The opposition propose to give them neither peace, rest nor remedy. The physician who is constantly telling his patient that he ia sick: that fevers burn him that pains rack him, and that death is at hand, and proposes uo remedy that cools not the fevers, that soothes not the pains, and does nothing to save the life of his suffering pa tient, cannot succeed. He will not have many patients. Such a physician is the Democratic party in Georgia, and this party must tail control the popular mind longer. Some Republicans for personal reasons, and othsrs from honest difference of opinion, may persuade themselves that they may gooff from their party for a short while, or upon-some minor question, and return. Let them not de ceive themselves. When they once separate they are gone. Crimination and recrimination will follow, and the gulf between the factious member and tho party will soon become im passable. Such is the history ol those who split off. Cooper, Colquitt and Black left the old Whig party on a single question. Toombs and Stephens went off from their old friends and many others, of whom honorable mention coaid be made, havo done likewise, and none ever got back. None of them ever did well afterwards. They found flatterers and tempo rary supporters, but they never found earnest, warm-hearted confidence of their allies aud true friends. Such change does "not g-snerally carry with ii«the idea of honest, conviction, but creates distrust. If any will go from ns, let them go iu peace, with a full knowledge of what they do, and the ruinous consequences to themselves, but never let it be said that we have driven any one from our party. It has beeu aaid that a few saplings have yielded to the storm, but onr for-at still mains green and grand, and ready to stand against a thousand such blasts a* hare recent ly blown upon it. Bnt a few years since, a President of the United States,with all the patronage and pow er of that office—a Republican President with a Republican Cabinet, headed by the most powerful organizer of the old free soil party, deserted the Republican party, aud the world was astonished to see tho party, despite this great defection, march on to victory. These enemies and disorganizes now remain sad ev idencct; of disgrace and defeat, whilst the party they tried to break down is stronger than before. Such, we have reason to believe, will be the case in Georgia, should any of our friends leave us and unite with their ene mies. YTe must remain united. We must select good msn for office, and elect them. After they aro elected, we mast see to it that they do their duty. We must hold our publie ser vants to a strict performance of the trust posed in them. This is good party policy. This is the proper course for patriots to pur sue who have the interest of the country at heart By this course we shall be sustained by a majority of the people of Georgia. SENATE. Monday, January 24, 1870. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order at 12 noon by the After prayer by tbo Her Wcaley Pretty- man, the journal was read and approved. Mr. Harris said that ns there was nothiug before the Scuate, and he understood the House would adjourn, he moved the adjourn ment of the Senate until 10 a. m.. to-morrow, which was carried. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by tho Hon. A. L. Harris, Chairman and Clerk pro fern., at 12 clock, noon. Prayer having beeu offered by tbe Rev. Mr. . W. Francis. ^ , , The ChairmaQ then directed to be read the following order cf His Excellency Governor Bullock, endorsed by Major General Terry: Atlanta, Gat, January 24,1870. Pendiug^a decision as to the right of tain persons to Hold seats in tho Houge. Representative*, Under the reconstruct acts, whose cases have been before a BoaA of officers; and that qualified members, wb are absent from the city, aud not expecting an organization to-day, may have an oppor tunity to be present, it is Obdsbbd, That the Clerk, pro Um., after making announcement, and giving ample time lor suoh persona a* desire to to do, to take the oaths prescribed in the “act to promote the reconstrnciion of the State of Georgia, shall declare a recess untill Tuesday next, January 25tb, at 10 o’clock, a. m., at^wbich time it is believed that the House will be pro pared to enter upon the election of its officers Rufus B. Bolukk, Provisional Governor. 0- M in >ling Hhadq'ks Military Distbict or Gboboia.T' - Avlanta, Ga , Jan. 24, 1870. f Pending a decision upon the qualifications of certain persons, wh » are alleged to be inel igible to seats in the House under the Recon struction Acta, and for the other reasons 8~t forth, I approye of the foregoing order. Alfred H. Tbbbt, Bvt Maj. Gen. Commanding. Messrs. Hayward Hughes, of Twig^v ctmu- ty, and R. W. Carpenter, of Pierce, availed hemselvea of the opportunity offered, aud subscribed to the required oaths. The Chairman then declared tho H**use iu recess until 10 o’clock to-morrow tncruiup— SENATE. . ^ Tuesday, January 25, 1870 The Senate met parsuant to adjournment at 10 a. ic., and was called to order by tl»*| President. After prayer by the Rev. Wesley Rrct<y- mau, the journal was read and approved. Mr Campbell moved the adjonrnniMil the Senate until to-morrow 10 a. M., win li was carried. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. UORXnO SESSION. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and waa called to order by the Hon. A. L. Harris, Chairman, and Clerk pro ten., at 10 A. M. Prayer having been offered by the Rev. C. W. Francis, , The Chairman directed to be read the following order of His Excellenoy Governor Bullocc. approved by Major General Terry : Atlanta, Ga , January, 25-1870. Pending a decision as to the right of certain persons to hold seats in the House of Repre sentatives, under the reconstruction acta, whose cases have besn before the Board of officers, it is Obdxbbd; That the Clerk, pro tern., shall declare a recess until 3 o’clock, p. m., to day. Rurus B. Bullock, Provisional Governnur. the Head’qrs Military Dibtrict op Gbokoia, i Atlanta, Ga., January 25, 1870. { Pending a decision .upon the qualification* «.»f oertaiu persons who are alleged to be incligUil" to seftts in the House, under tbe reconstruc tion acts, I approve of the foregoing order./]: Altbbd H. Tabby. Br’t Maj. Gsnr r old itruc- M ' r - I The Chairman then, in conformiF foregoing order, declared the How until 3 o'clock this afternoon. // t AFTERNOON SESSION.- ' The House met again at 3 r. u., when the Hon. Mr. Harris directed to be read the fol lowing order of HU Excellency, the Governor, endorsed by the Major General Commanding: Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 25, 1870. Upon the expiration of the roceaa to-day at 3 o'clock, it U Ordered. That the Clerk pro tom. declare nn.□ vVnfit 1A nVInAlr i .. . t ClniraudcancewvA Singular Experience Tho Auburn Advertiser publishes th« following statement, with the remark that from its knowledge of the gentleman by whom the account is given, it is prepared to give entire credit to it: “Some time ago a prominent citizen of Auburn was in the city of Chicago, trans- acting business connected with his manu facture in this place. One evening, after an active day’s work, feeling somewhat fatigued, ho retirod to his roam at the hotel earlier than usual, and made his customary arrangements for the night, bntjnstas he had composed himself for sleep he experienced a .singular sensation, and heard a voice, apparently very near, and as plainly and distinctly, as thongh it issued from the throat of a human, pro- nouneiug the words, ‘Your mother died to-day,’ and with the words came an as surance that the announcement was too true to doubt it, Be arose in the morn ing after having passed a sleepless night, and made immediate preparations for a journey homo. As ho started for the depot, he met a boy with a telegraph dis patch in his hand, and calling him to his side, he asked if the message was not for him—giving the name—and sure enough it was from his family, confirming the truth of tho announcement of the unseen informant, that his mother had di n! tho day previous at Auburn. He had re ceived no intimation bnt that sho was en- oying her usual health, nor hail there jecn anything to excito in the slightest degree his apprehensions for her stfely, until tho occurrence of the incident re lated.” Tb thou5uu«1 bales of Savannah on Saturday, j o ^ht befo li* Qou} tbo juilguipi: vhole \rn * rt-ady f* *vo*i{ Tin* being th I in Georgia U aatipu* to Uio citi- t-xjtortfil than < i r Hu a *ful Co Ibut Ibiil Goi «r. IbuugL b, The Savannah Newa of Monday says: On Saturday morning *h* day through freight train of the Central Railroad waa thrown from the track by running over a cow. Sin care were considerably daniagod. In consequence uf this accident, tho pawwng.r train wre de layed abont two hours. reeess nntil 10 o’clock, a. m, Wednesday, th. -Cth instant, at which time an election for Speaker will take place. Burra B. Buixocx, Provisional Governor. IIiUDQ'u MiuTiax District or GaoBon, > Aiuxii, Ga., Jan. 25,1870. ) The postponement ordered, is made solely for tbe purpose of enabling the necessary or ders, consequent opon the proceedings ot tbe Board convsned by General Order No. 3, from these headquarters, to bt prepared. Then, orders will be rendy by to-morrow morning, and uo farther delay will take place. Annum H. Tzbrt, Brevet Msj. Gen. Commanding. The Chairman then declared the Horn*, in reoees nntil 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. * a i:3| Mlftcellaneons. Ohio has 23,000 more boys than girl Tho Bank of California paid n tlividi of §600,000 last year. The profit of the richest gold California last year was 3340,400. The streets of Huntsville, Ala., ing illuminated with gasoline. i The Seth Thomas Clock Company (Litchfield, Corns.) made 124,000 'clocks, last year. The distillers ol Lexington on the be- Centncky will meet at. th inst. A Connecticut iiventor has taken out u patent for paper coffins. ,000 ponnds of tobacco a., daring- tho year- There were 6,ll. sold in Danville, ending October, It is estimated in London that tbe /ties- at the opening of the Saoz canal have S2 s JLK l $„Y icc . ro y t * 10 enormous figure ol' •#,600,000 gold. Philadelphians havo green peas, bid. they cost two cento apiece. A Tennessee sportsman lately killed filty-two pigeons at one shot The Cleveland Grays, a company ore i men soldiery, lately gave an exhibi f drill on skates. ■ A one-legged skater is^thesensaiion oledo inst now. . _ • . . y 1 Toledo just now. A oonplo of Nov chartered a stowm ’ tients abont Flor; 'doctors m tb fake their pa- ida this win A man in St. .Tos.-ph, Ho., got his life insured for §1,000, a day or two*since, and straightway went and committed sui cide. A Utica paper advertises fox a boy “who is not older than his mother nor wiser than his Maker.’’ Kota ipp:,-apriates tn its Fire Department thirteen bmulrcl dollars annually, payable qunrterly.auil to be appropriated to the 1 oiloiv- llumbow Fire Co., No. 1. City Fire Co., No. 2, *500; No. 1, $100; Chiel Kugi- t Kngint-t-r, each, $50. $500; Mi llooll and Ladder new, $1U0; Asianti Small pi York. is gaining gr id iu Ne In Memphis a bride of two days ad« a divorce because on tho morning after nuirriago ho refused to send her breakfast up to her room. At Colntnbus, tho other day, several young ladies refused to bo baptised after a colored man had been let down into the font by the pastor. Mr. Dickens says that his confidence is nil bestowed npon people with a big P. This -otelndes Thompson, who nsee a small p. At a funeral in a Brooklyn church, the other day, six ladies had their pockets lucked. One of the victims was robbodp while looking at the corpse. A Gemma philosopher predicts that tho zodiacal light will soon condense into,a second moon. The salary of tlie Treasurer of Penn sylvania is only §1,700, yet the Governor says “there are bnt few men who liaio held the office, however poor they ni?5' have been when they took charge of «. who have uot become rich.