Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE WEEKLY OPINION, BY W. L. SCItUQGS AND J. B. DOUBLE. OFFICIAL FAPBB FDB THE COOBTIE* OF Biker, Bildwin, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Chattooga, Clayton, Cobb, Bade, DeKalb, Fayette, Forayth, Fulton, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, HarraUon, Heard, Henry, Ja*p«r, Lee, Monroe, Murray, Newton, Paulding, Folk, Spalding, Sumter, Upson. Coi.. .1. 1*. I’aiirott.—Tho flection *»! thU able and patriotic gentleman to tlu> position of President of their body, reflect* credit upon the Member* thereof, and gives promise of an harmonious and highly creditable session. Col. Pahhotr has never been an extremist. He Is a man of line attainments; is a native of an adjoining Smthcrn State, and Is thoroughly identi ties with Georgia. Secretary of tiii* Convention.—It "’ill be seen from our report of the proceedings tlds morning, that Mr. P. M. Siikhiley, of Home, lias been elected to this important oiliee. Mr. S.U eminently lil ted to tlm position; and we congratulate the members upon a selection by which they have demonstrated their appreciation of true merit. Relief!—This is one of the most Impor tant questions that will be brought before the Convention. The right of a primary body to act 111*011 the question. In some way, is admitted, and the demands of the people will have to be considered. W e learn that several measures looking to ite- licfwili be presented at an early day, but of their nature little lias transpired. De velopments will be looked lor anxiously and speedy action expected. We publish a communication this evening «>ii the subject, to which we invite attention. In considering propositions for Relief delegates should bear in mind a clause in the Federal Constitution, made, it would seem, with special reference to the weak ness of fallen humrnity. and designed to forestall revolutionary measures, such as are ever agitated in times like these.— Whilst it lias been customary in all coun tries to provide some measure of llellef af ter the close of protracted and cxiuisting civil wars, these measures should not he such as to destroy public faith, and thereby break down the barriers to Anarchy. It is a question of the greatest delicacy, and should be adjusted with a view not only to present emergencies, but so as not to de stroy conlldenec in the future. ‘•What is It.*’—We have been asked. What is the platform of the Macon Con vention ? Wo confess, frankly, that we don't know. We have been unable to sec anybody who did know; and we have some doubt as to whether the Convention itself, or the delegates then ;.., know. They don't know, I*.? uiso they don’t know yet 1 rhut the State Constitutional Conven tion \* going to do. They will oppose \vl f that body proposes—no matter w I until something is proposed .1 !»■• nothing to oppose, lienee tl 11 Ignorance, yet, of their own plu They might have proposed Hornet g; we believe some “respectable white man” did propose something, but it was voted down; it was bad |»olicy—bad policy—because that very something might be identical with the something to he done by the < onstitutional Convention, lienee, they have no policy but opposition; no plat form except opposition—opposition to eve rything which does not originate with themselves; opposition to everybody, who either cannot or will not pin their political faith to defunct leaders, and sing peans to obsolete theories. They seem to l*c a party of leaders without followers; an organiza tion without any specific object, and they have a platform without Principles. Taxation.—If the wisdom of the Con vention, now in session, can devise some plan by which the assessment and collec tion of taxes can bo cheapened, that body will deserve the tlmnks of the people of the State for all time to gome. An old plan ter remarked in our hearing, the other day, that it required an expenditure of four dol lars tQ get pne Into the treasury! Tills is too, nearly true, ami it is also a fact that there arc many who think a great deal of the machinery of our revenue system can bo dispensed with. We hope soldo ,of the Delegates will look into the matter, and at least lay the result of ids investigations before the Convention. •‘Reluct.*—In addition to a second com- t znnnlcation on this subject, wo lay before our readers this evening, the view* of Ex- • Governor Brown on the same point. Both communications respond to a popular sen timent in Georgia, and one which the Con vention cannot afford to disregwff. We therefore, commend both to the csreftil • consideration of the members, and to *11 concerned. Gov. Brown treats the subject In Iff* • usual bold uud practical manner. There It no mistaking his position. As intimated yesterday, the question of •* Rollof” is a delicate one, and should not be made the occasion for revolutionary measure*. Another Bin.—Mr. Johnson’s last bid for the nomination to the Presidency on the Democratic ticket, is his nomination of some three hundred military officers— mostly of low grade—to civil positions. •Should the Senate refuse confirmation, Mr. Johnson will raise the cry of “poor sol dier;” should the Senate confirm the np- p»intment, he will then point to these sc- Dissenting.—Assuming that General Grant will be the candidate for the ljext Presidential term, a couple of New York papers arc quarreling over the relative merits of Gov. Fenton and Senator Mor gan lor the second place on the ticket. Whereupon the Fred. Douglass organs raise a howl for that eminent son of HAm; and one paper In Western New York has gone so far as to hoist tile names of Ulys- sas S. Grant ahd Frederick Douglass for President and Vice President In 1808. Another organ in the Interior of Ohio Iti- i*M* that the African lawyer, John 31. Langston, should occupy the second place 011 the ticket with General Grant. Porkey as a Commentator.—The pres ent sayings and doings of Jno.TlV’. Forney, of the Wa-hlngton Chronicle, possess no significance beyond the fact that lie seems to lie about the only man north of the Po tomac, in the confidence of Gen. Grant; and consequently the only editor, outside of Georgia, who I* prepared to speak un- dcrstaiidingly conccrlng Grant's political status! Under these circumstances, the advoca cy by him of a universal negro Franchise Act, to lie enforced in nil the .States, may or may not foreshadow the policy of Gen. Grant. Why not? Forney says Gen. Grant Is a “good enough Radical” for him; and then. In the very next breath, he asserts that “no true Radical can oppose” a measure looking to tho universal enfran chisement of tho black race In all the States. PitorosED Change in tiik Hkcokhtjiuo- tion Laws.—The bill introduced in the United States Senate, bv Mr. Wilson, on Thursday last, provides that so much of the -several nets relating to reconstruction as required a majority of the registered voter to determine any election or the ratifica tion of constitutions burned by corv •.ion* elected under the present provisl of said acts, is hereby ri jtealetl; and at any election which has been, or my liereafte lie, held for conventions or ratifications of constitut ion* framed thereby, 11 majority of the votes east at micli elections shall de- rmlne the result C35T The address of Col. Parrott speaks for itself, it is moderate yet firm In the positions assumed; and cannot fail to oinmand the support of the Party and the respect of its opponents. It will be a source of bitter disappointment to the Op position. They wero longing for some thing better, vindictive and Impracticable. Instead thereof, they find something just tho reverse. Let us hope that (he entire proceedings of the Convention may port in spirit with tills admirable address of its President. In a short editoaial in the 3Iobile Advertiser, intended ns an argument against the ratification of the new Constitution of Alabama, the word “villain,” occurs six times; “scoundrel” four times; and other epithets of similar elegance and import are strewn all through it. Such arguments arc very effective, ami do much credit to tho learning and taste of the “ decency party. Modest.—After announcing to the world, week after week, that it .should opposoom/ and everything proposed or done by the State Constitutional Convention, one of the .Macon papers presumes to adviso that body what it should and should not do! Veriiv, if impudence hath a limit, this Macon editor lias readied Its remotest bounds. There is no accounting for the modest assurance” of some people. £37* The Washington Star states that Major General S. A. 1111 r Unit, Commander in-Chlef of the Grand Army of the Re public, ha* issued an order for the assem bling of a National Convention of the Or der at Philadelphia on the 15th of January. State Conventions will be held to elect delegates to the National Convention. Personal.—Wo had the pleasure of a call this morning from I). G. Cutting, Esq., editor of the Augusta Republican. 3lr. C. is in attendance upon the Conven tion, and will remain in our city Rome days. Sir. C. C. Carpenter, the efficient Super intendent of the Lookout Mountain Edu cational Institute, honored our sanctum with ids presence yesterday evening, lie ref timed to Chattanooga to-day. E5F*W 0 observe that a largo degree of ,tho “worth, virtue, and intelligence," represented at the Macon Convention, is stopping In this city. Object: to see what tho State Constitutional Convention going to do; and, if a success, to make early applications for office. Tub Tennessee Leglislatcre.—Two bills of more than ordinary significance have passed tht &lfd reading In the lower House of the Tennessee legislature. One enabling all cltlsens to sit on Juries and hold office without regard to race or color; the other esUMfshlftg a commission to ex amine claims undff the “Loyal Indemnity Act,” preparatory id presenting them to the Federal Government hr payment. OTA self-constituted member Of the Lnnatic Convention, recent?? hi settfoi? at Macon, has returned to his port iit Augus ta, as wc sec Rom tho unusual quantity of fish market reports and bad grammar in one of the “decency” organs of thfttf city. CIT* Went. General Sherman arrived in Washington on tho 7th. and accompanied by General Grant called upon tho Presi dent, and the* three were closeted together ! a considerable length of time, it is under The Convention.—The barmontus man ner In which the ConstltutlonaLConven- tion has completed Its organization, and the high character and efficiency of it* officers, augers well for its future. The members of that body seem very little in clined to respond to the dcslro Rom cer tain quarter* for ra*li and Impracticable measures. They can well afford to disre gard the canting of those who essay to provoke them to vindictive measure*; ami If they will persevere In tfils course, the Opposition will soon be at 11 fearful dis count. Let them now prepare and adopt a Constitution under which the people of all classes can live in peace and harmony, and there will lie no trouble about its rati fication by tho people. More Raids.—The bond holders and Shoddy ites of Gotham, have captured G oral Grant. They have held a meeting, read a set of Resolutions previously pr pared and adopted ina counting room 011 Wall street, and palmed off their bantUn, as tho “expressed will of fifty thousand voters.” This done, the manipulators huv fallen out among themselves, and each is now.enguged in exposing the trickery anil duplicity of the others. This latter part of the play is unfortunate. We have been waiting with some degree of impatience for some “authoritative” outgiving in 3Ir. Forney'* Chronicle, to see whether General Grant considers him self a prisoner at the hands of tho fStoek Exchange. A similar raid was made upon the Gene ral in Philadelphia, a few evenings since. Certain gentlemen there, who hud “axes to grind.” under the. Inspiration of an aspi rant to the Vice Presidency, made a flank movement upon the Union League, har nessed it up and rode it Into iIio'Uiiaxt encampment. Both these movement* are pretty rally understood, if we may judge from the tone of the press in both loculi tic Alar for Poor Humanity.—Among the most disgusting exhibition* of the weak ness and depravity of poor human nature, I* the obsequious court paid certain mem bers of the Convention during the past three day*, by oiliee seekers who have been mivparing in tlioir abuse of the Recon struction movement, it i* bud enough, ill all conscience, to see parties who are identi- 1 lied with the movement, sacrificing their manhood, and u hatever of self-resp-et they may lay claim to, for a little subordinate (Misitioti at the hands of their own party. Ihu o see men who have aspired to excel lence in the ranks of the oppositloi, seek ing menial position* in that* 4 Menagerie” wherein, according to their ethics, no “decent white men” can sit, excites our profoundcst pity. Cutting it Fat.— 1 The published pro ceedings of tho Macon Convention report the names of seventeen gentlemen a* being present and having registered there as delegates from Jasper county. Gentlemen from that county inform us Unit hut tiro were present—BIcssr*. Broddus and Prit chett. Were the other delegations made up the same way ? iir Among tho other eminent qualifica tions of Geo. II. Pendleton for the office of President of the United States, is, that his grandfather once assisted in arranging the preliminaries for a duel! The Democrats prove from tills premise, that lie is of “hon orable” parentage, ami a lit representative of the “Chivalry.” £37" Secretary 3IcCu!!och has transmit ted to Cougress a statement of tho utnoiiiit of revenue collected on distilled spirits, for the fiscal year ending June, 1807, from dis tricts. Tho total amount reported as re ceived was $28,200,204 31. Rather Broad.—The latest burlesque of tiie season is. tho Macon Telegraph quoting the Savannah “Republican” ns a Republi can's opinion of tho 3Iocon Lunatic Con vention. Senator Sumner’s Views of Wine and Sunday Laws.—In a correspondence of the Westllche Post, of St. Louis, from Bloomington, Illinois, the following anec dote is told of Senator Sunnier: On the evening of October 21, Charles Sumner lectured in Bloomington, and the hall in Scliroeder's Opera IIoiimc was filled to overflowing. On tlii* occasion 31 r. Sumner gained many friends, e»|ieciaiiy among the Germans, on account of his im partial criticism of the temperance move ment. Over a bottle of Catawba wine, shortly before the lecture, he gave his American friends the following account of Ills change of views: 1 was educated a strict Puritan, ns you were. Twenty-six vears ago 1 visited Germany, «nu s, ny first Sunday In Alx-la-Chapclle. tnt of German. 1 hardly knew how 1 the day, when a crowd, moving In dti direction, at tracted ray attentle. .ollowed the mul titude ana found m> w . in an open space. On a little hill some happy old men were playing on some musical instruments, and on the grass children were merlly playing. Everybody was happy. I was completely charmed, and asked myself the question. “Why cannot Americans enjoy the Sabbath In a similar way?** From that hour my Puritanical coat was too small for mo: ft Bplit* and since that day 1 have had bright er and broader views of things. Then Mr, Sumner praised the wine that g rows oil the banks of the Moseland. the blue, as wcllasths remarkable sobriety of the Inhabitants# After I hod that fatal encounter with Brooks, and here the Senator showed the old scars on his head, it was German air and kJerroan wine that cured me. If my countrymen could visit Germany, and be come act, ulantetl with the inhabitant* and tlicii custo. tlons it guru lug temperance and Sunday lot Cotton.—Cotta n i* dull um! but little loing. Lust event. and tlii* niorulnji Ez*Osr« Brawn an « Belief Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 10,1807. lion. J. It. Parrott.—Sib: Incompliance with your request, I reduce to writing the substance of my remarks during our con versation upon the subject of relief to the people of Georgia. The war has resulted lu the destruction of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property In the State, to say nothing of the destruction in other States, 3Iueh of tlii* was destroyed by the action of the Confederate Government, but much the larger part of the loss grew out of the abo lition of slavery by the Government of the United States, and by the action of the State under the dereliction of the Presi dent of the United States. Tim*, the property in the hands of debt ors with which they expected to make payment lnt* been destroyed by the gov ernment. Thousands of honest, prudent men who contracted debt* prior to the war. which bore u very small proportion to the projterty owned by them, have been im poverished by the war, ami if forced to pay these debts in the condition of the coun try. they must be turned out of doors with their families homeless and penniless. This i» neither equitable nor just. Sueli debtor* have not involved themselves by profligacy nor bad management. They acted prudently and judiciously when the debt* were contracted, llad not their property been destroyed by the govern ment. they would have made payment and had ample mean* left. The war, for which they were no more responsible than the creditors, has caused the government to destroy their property without compensa tion. In such a State of tiling*. 1 hold that it I* right that the loss lie divided between debtor and creditor, and that stay law?, .ml homestead laws, and any other law which may be necessary to divide the lo by induelrg creditors to compromise settle on reasonable terms, are rlgiu principle and sound in policy; and neglect to pass them is a dereliction duty on the part of the representatives tho people. 1 need not refer to tho bankruptcy ai ruin brought upon us by the fall of cotton to lc*s than half the price expected by our planter* when they made the expenditures necessary to raise tho present crop, see and know tho result. They cannot meet present liabilities, much loss pay debts contracted prior to. Or during the war. They are obliged to have relief. It is said that our Supreme Court will *0011 declare the stay law unconstitutionpl ami turn loose the sheriffs upon our peo ple. If so, property will change hands very rapidly from tiie people to the few specu lators who may have money; but very little money will be realized by the sales to go in extinguishment of the indebted ness of the people. Should such be tiie case, I see but one safe remedy, and that is, in the formation of the new Constitution of tiie State, to deny to all courts and min isterial officers, in this State, for a reasona ble time, any Jurisdiction to enforce any contract made prior to the end of tiie war, by Judgment, execution, or otherwise. IT tliis should be characterized 11* an extreme measure, I reply the emergency is an ex treme one; and the public good a* well a* the jwace of society demand* the applica tion of the proposed remedy. In one class of ease* 1 would make the denial of jurisdiction perpetual. 1 refer to note* given for slaves. A sold B a slate in 1.800 for $1,000. mid took his note. In 1805 the government took tiie slave from B and made him free. If A hud kept him the government would have done the same. A ha* lost nothing but the hi/e of the slave for the time B held him. Tiie equity of the case require that A give up B’s note, and that B pay him hire for the time lie used the slave. Insert In the Constitution of Georgia n provision that no court shall ever enter tain jurisdiction of or enforce any contract, the consideration of which was a slave; but the courts of this State may entertain suits for the hire of slaves, and the work is accom plished. Tiie Courts then (tho Judge* being sworn to support tlii* Constitution) ean never give judgment on thb note, or en force any execution on such judgment; but they may compel B to pay what the Jury may find he is Justly due for hire. In nddition to these measures, I think wise stntcHinunsliip and sound policy re quire an enlargement of tiie homestead al lowed by law to each family. Till* should lie ineor|>orated into tiie bill of rights as one of tiie most sacred provisions of the Constitution. Each family, without regard to race or color, should be allowed to hold one thou sand dollars wortli of land, of which they may have become honestly possessed as owner, together with the dwelling house and all neceasary out houses, the value of which should not be counted In estimating the value of the land, imleaa in a city, town or Incorporated village, the Improvements on which are worth more than the usual average of dwelling houses. Thlaahould be held sacred to tho family, and free Rom levy and sale under any Judgment, execu tion, or other process Issued by any court in this State. The calamities of tin ir Justify till*, when applied to p:i* dehtedness, In much tho larger el cases. No injustice could result from of ftiture Indebtedness, as in would give credit upon the faith of .t a matter of public policy, It should . - mend Itself to every one who realize* u.e present condition of the country. Slavery uiitc. ueimnn-; • * , ■ .... . ttood that General Sherman will write up rt.c Um.leney «« , »«.'«■'** at reasonable prices, small farms to those who cultivate the soil, but who are not now Interested In (t os owners. This would attach our people more firmly to their present homes, and Induce others to settle among us. Population Is the true wealth of a State. We have vast resources to develop. We need more labor and more capital. We should so frame our Constitution nml laws, and so regulate our conduct as to invite both. He who brings capital, or muscle and nerve, into Georgia to aid In her de velopment, mid conducts himself a* a peaceable citizen, I* her friend, no matte where he was born, or what lie I* called. If you adopt a liberal homestead law, securing the home to the family, no matter how 1111 fortunate or profligate tiie husband and father may be, you Invito men of means to leave States which have not en acted such laws, and Invest their money in land in Georgia, where they would have an assurance of a home for themselves and families during life, and for the widow and the orphan when they are gone, no matter what misfortune may betide them. There should also lie a reasonable ex emption of personal property. Before closing. I may remark, that sever al of the State* of the Union have greatly enlarged tlielr homestead laws within the last few years. Some exempt as much as tlirce thousand dollars. It I* matter of just congratulation that the humanity of tiie present time repudiates the barbarous laws of past ages, which not -only incarcerated the husband for debt, without any charge of fraud on Id* part, hut turned the wife and children Into tho street* helpless and beggars, whenever the husband from any cause made engagements he could not meet. Trusting that the (Convention over which you preside, may act wisely and promptly •11 this important question, 1 am. very respectfully. Your obedient servant. Joseph E. Brown, uEOKUIA STATE COKVEXTIOIY. THIRD DAY. Wednesday, Dec. 11,18(57. Convention assembled, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Wesley Pretty man. when the .Tournnl of the proceeding* of the two first days was read, anil after correc tion. approved. Upon a call of the roll 142 delegates were found present. Mr. MADDOX attempted to mnko a personal explanation, by referring to a conversation he heard upon the streets, which lieconsidcred reflected upon himself and other members who had served as Registrars, for one of the votes cast yes terday. The Chair, however, called him to order, saying that the Convention could not take cognizance of matters occurring outsldo. Mr. TRAMMEL!#, of Whitfield, moved that the Secretary be instructed to record the names of delegate* voting In elections, and who they voted for. Adopted. Objection wa *“»dc to the election of a Sergeant-nt-A» the Convention de cided on divlsi vote of 78 to 30, to proceed with th >n. Tho names of 31. J. Hinton. Jannmpbell. 3f. S. Prin gle, 1*. O’Kceie and Pat. Fitzgibbon were nnnounccd y as candidate*, and upon calling the roll 3Ir. Hinton received 80 vote*; Mr. Campbell 5 votes; 31 r. Prlnglo 10 votes; Mr. O'Keefe 38 votes. 3Ir. Hinton having received a majority of all tho votes enst was declared elected. 3lr. COSTIN’ said that his friends had, thu* far, been exceedingly liberal in grant ing all tho offices to tlielr white friend*, hut that It was shout time to stop, os he thought it but fair that the colored wing of thr Convention should have the balance of the spoils to be disposed of in the selection of Messenger. He, therefore, announced the name W. H. PeLyon, of Richmond. A number of other mures were also announc ed, when the Secretary proceeded to call the roll, with the following result: W. II. Do Lyon received CS votes; W. W. Boutwell, 7 votes; W. Atkin*. 10 votes; W. II. Kimbro, 7 votes; Mr. Willingham, 3 votes; 31 r. Love,2 votes; Mr. Tollison, 3 votes. There being no choice, a second call was ordered, which was had, and announced to have resulted as follows: W. II. DcLyon, of Richmond, received 70 votes; Win. — At kins, of Morgan county, 07 votes; W. 11. Kiinbro, of Butts county, 3 votes 31r. De- Lyon was declared elected. Tiie election of Messenger being next in order, a call of tiie roll was ordered, result ing os follows: 3tr. Campbell received 79 votes; Mr. Brewster 50 votes; 3Ir. Winn 7 votes; 31r. Munday 8 votes; Mr. 3Ioree 5 votes. Mr. Campbell wot declared elected. Mr. BLUNT offered the following reso lution : Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed bjr the President to draft rulea or order fbrihlt Convention, and to have them printed aa early Vs possible, and that the names of the delegates to this Conven tion lie printed with t. rules. A motion was made 1 .intend, by adopt ing the rulea of the Convention of 1805. Mr. DUNNING obieeted. He waa un willing to accept tiie regulations of other bodies to control this Convention, and sug gested that this body was competent to prepare it* own rules. Tho motion was Inst. ^ Mr." BRADLEY moved to amend tho iiicndmciit by adopting tiie Rules of the Massachusetts House of Representative*, which, he aald, were prepared by Hon. aleb Cushing, in 1855, adopted by tiie i- abolished. The large landed aristocracy. popular Legislative branch, and had never tate Is broken down. The old plan- been altered. He doubted whether they , t . . , . , mminitndpd locltnt’.im must be abandoned. Wo could be Improved, and urged their adap tations u evidences of 1.1s purpose to give j the report of tho Indian Commission, and morning the t c 1 !? , Uvhte e country into small t met*.! lion. Roth amendments were lo,t and the armv officer. U.cir ft.ll .hue of civic hon- j that 1.1.1,h entirely in relation to j from a ,,,1 W..al0.'. *»"' ««■ ‘,"“7™'IIIllmu! I soil out original ro.olut!on mlopta.1. I this matter. I house Tiie Chair appointed 31e*srs. Blunt. Waddell, and McCoy, tho Committee pro vided for. 3Ir. BULLOCK, of Blchtnond,, offered the following resolution: Resolved. That a committee of seven ho appointed by the Chair to wait on Major General Pope, commander of the Third Military District, mid inform him that in obedience to General Order No. 8ft, till* Convention D now assembled and organ ized. and to Invite hi* attendance upon the Convention at 111* pleasure. A delegate moved to amend by striking out the word “obedience” and Inserting the word “compliance.” Amendment ac cepted. and the resolution as amended adopted. The Chair appointed the following com mittee on the last named resolution: Messrs. Bullock, Miller, Turner, Co-tin, Ash hunt. Trammell, and IVliitely. 3Ir. DUNNING, after considerable dis cussion on the question of allowing Re porters of papers the customary privileges, offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved. That bona fide Reporter of the Press lie allowed seat* in this Convention, provided they do not misrepresent the member* on the action of the Convention. 31r. BLUNT ofibred the following reso lutions, which (after u statement was made that the lower branch of Congress bad al ready acted upon the question Involved.) were laid upon tho table: Resolved, That in view ol tho atllicted condition of the people of Georgia, csjkj- chilly of tho agricultural and laboring classes, which is greatly aggravated by tlie recent depression in the price of our prin cipal cxjRU t, this Convention does rcs|*ect- fully, hut most earnestly, request the Con gress of the United States, a* a measure of |M*lP-y, conciliation, justice and humanity, to nqieal the special tax on cotton, the re- |H-al to operate on the crop of the vear 18*58. Resolved, That the Chairman of till* Convention bo directed to forward a forti fied copy of these resolutions to the ProM- dent of the Senate and the Siieaker of the House of Representatives ol the United Mates, with a request that they he com municated to the bodies naiiicd. Mr. HOPKINS offered a resolution, which, after being amended, was adopted, inviting Generals Pope and Sibley, with their respective Staff officers, Governors and Ex-Governors of the State of Georgia, and Col. K. Hulbert and Staff, to seats on the floor. A resolution was offered as follows: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Con vention ho directed to dispatch to Provis ional Governor Jenkins, requesting him to forward, lor tiie use of tids Convention, two hundred copies of the proceedings of the Convention field In Grorgia in 1805, and the Constitution adopted by that lxdy. Mr. SAFFOLD objected to the resolu tion In this form, because be did not be lieve so many copies could to obtained at the State Capital, and a compliance with the resolution might involvu a large outlay for printing. Ho suggested that the reso lution be so amended ns to request the doc uments named to he forward, if they could be cuiivcuieiitly obtained, and the amend ment being accepted the resolution pre vailed. Mr. BRADLEY offered a resolution as follows: Resolved. That no person i»o allowed within tho bar of this Convention, unless invited by a member. Messrs. SAFFOLD, COSTIN’ and DUN NING severally objected. It was claimed that the result would l>e to crowd the hall and render it Ini possible to transact busi ness speedily. Mr. Dunning moved to amend so that no (ktsoii 1>c admitted “un less invited by tiie Convention.” Amend ment adopted. 3!r. Turnor moved ns an additional ainmvndment that tho Chair* man of tho Convention he granted the privilege of inviting visitors to scats. Tlii* wn* adopted, and tho resolution ns thus amended was passed. 31 r. DUNNING suggested that perhaps the Convention had not elected all the of ficers a majority of tiie delegates thought necessary. The office of Chaplain was not tilled, and he proposed that tiie Convention proceed to elect a Chaplain, and presented tiie name of Rev. Wesley Pretty man. A motion that the Convention proceed to elect a Chaplain was carried. 3ir. SAFFOLD moved to adjourn until 10 o'clock to-morrow. Lost. Several unimportant motions were made and voted down, when tiie Convention de cided to proceed at once to nn election; and upon motion ltev. Wesley Prettyman was elected by acclamation, without a di vision. Adjourned until 10 o'clock to-inorrow. Society in Washington.—Tiie Wash ington Star says: Tiie wife and the daughter of Gen. But ler have arrived in Washington for the season. Miss Butler will he remembered as having graduated with high honors at tiie Georgetown Convent a year or two ago. Members of Congress seem Inclined to bring their home circles to Washington, very sensibly, and more than half the sen ators and at least one quarter ot the Repre sentatives have their wives and femfllet with them In Washington this season. A large proportion of the Senators keep house, but the Representatives, from tiie more transient nature of their residence here, generally take ftimlshed lodgings. A Foot Race.—Just before going to press the arrest of a negro on Broad street, near the bridge, created no little excite ment, and gatticrvd a large number of per sons together. The negro, it was said, had committed a theft In tiie store of 31 r. Co hen, Whitehall street, from which place he was closely pursued. iJtctcctivc Starnes attempted to halt him In hi* flight, and a* tiie negro would not heed the warning, Mr. S. fired upon hint, but missed hi* mark.— Just before the negro approached tho bridge, (and as ho did not like to violate the city ordinance by going over it faster than in a walk) lie came to a hall, and was arrested.