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SAVANNAH i
FRIDAY HORNlNOt
OAtAiinaiJi imiiv/imL/ ivjui L/umv>Aii« r^ii/AJ ULUr<]»li)J!<K. XtV. lODU.
iiu«YeurAf«To-dar>
acting under special orders from Maj.
Gen. W. T. Sherman, wo issued from
this office the first number of the Savan
nah Republican. Our readers cau well
remember the puny little sheet which we
then presented under the title of a news
paper. Our lilliputiau journal was
launched upon a dangerous sea, while
the war tempests raged through onr
land*-contending armies were mooting
hourly in savage conflict, and tho dawn
of peace seemed for distant. At that
time active preparations were being
mado by Gen. Sherman for on exciting
campaign through South Carolina, the
campaign which proved to be the de
cisive one for our country.
Gen. Grant was stubbornly confronting
the legions of Gen. Lee in front of
Petersburg and Richmond, while the
Shenandoah, Florida, aud other Anglo
Rebel pirates swept American com
merce from the high seas, and illumined
the ocean waves with the lurid glare of
burning unarmed merchantmen as they
yielded up their rich treasures to the
savage torch of the pirates.
The Repubtioan, which narrowly es-
incensed Federal soldiery, who succeed
ed in partially gutting a portion of the
office, upon she capture of our city, was,
eaped total destruction at the hands of
after the greatest difficulty, put in run
ning order, the first edition being
printed upon Confederate paper, man
ufactured in North Carolina. We have
before us a copy of that day’s issue, and
wo are somewhat astouished ourselves to
behold the great change that has been
made in its appearance since that event
ful period. The battered aud worn out
type that hod faithfully performed its
mission for many years prior to the war,
and during tho rebellion, had chronicled
alternately the successes und disasters of
the Confederate armies, was scarcely able
to make a legible impression. With
miserable ink, defaced type, broken
press aud engine, surrounded by sfcran
gers bitterly opposed to us,
politically and socially, we started
a loyal newspaper, determined to
yield a full and unconditional support
to Government in its efforts to suppress
the unjustifiable insurrection which was
then being wuged against it.
Finding it utterly impossible to con
tinue the publication of a readable jour
nal with the scant and exhausted ma
terial then in the Republican office, we at
once entered into negotiations for tho
outlay of several thousand dollars necess
ary for the purohase of the entiro print
ing and publishing establishment of the
“Free South,” which was then being
issued at Beaufort, S. C. In January the
sale was effected, and we then removed
the whole establishment to Savannah,
thereby securing one of Hoe’s cele
brated now Railway Presses, a large
supply of newspaper type, nearly new,
which had been used on the Free South
newspaper, and a first class job printing
office. Thus newly equipped, we were
able to start out upon a career of renewed
prosperity, greatly enlarging our journal,
using new and distinot type, fine ink and
good paper, whenever the latter could
be obtained, whioh was sometimes a very
difficult task, owing to the stringency of
the blockade. Since that time we have
expended several thousand dollars in re
fitting our newspaper and job office, sup
plying both with all the modern im
provements in presses type and other
printing material, until we are now able
to boast of possessing one of the mo/it
complete newspaper and printing estab
lishments in the Wouth.
Of the improvements that have been
made in tho various other departments
of our pup^r it does not become us to
•peak, but if a steady and rapid increase
of circulation, and a most liberal share
of advertising patronage, is any indica
tion of public appreciation, wo certainly
have great cause for congratulation. In
a word, we are happy to announce to our
numerous friends that the success of the
Republican under its new auspices 1ms far
surpassed our most sanguine expectations.
With a continuance of this liberal sup-
port, which we shall endeavor to merit
by increasing the value of our paper as
a reliable, loyal and independent jour
nal, pledged only to tho maintenance of
Government, peace and liberty, the ad
vancement of the true interests of our
noble State, the speedy recuperation of
onr wasted energies, and to hasten
the development of those vast resources
which lie within tho limits of Georgia,
we hope to attain still greater success.
In the future, as in tho past, wo shall
ignore cliques of all kinds, expose
political corruption, struggle to promote
a spirit of universal conciliation between
All classes, denounoe political con*
spiracles concocted for the purpose of
usurping or infringing upon the rights
of ths people, at the same time lending
a warm and cordial support to every
msaeuro put forth by honest men for
the benefit of the ftommunity regardless
of their former politic! course.
Wh nu we»y«rfto th« port*. hro
twoe m Um put, w« Mt no omm to w
gret tho oourse wo have pursued during
the lost twelve mouths, in aiding the
restoration of the National authority
over our land, and tho consequent roturn
of poaoe and prosperity. There may
have been times whon, smarting under
the gall of unjustifiable insults and un
merited abuse, we were indisoroet enough
to lose our balance of fcompor aud ply the
lash of retaliation indiscriminately, but
there are two sides to all questions, and
we are quite sure that with a full know
ledge of the provocations thut sometimes
called forth our protests, we shall stand
rolievod from that fliious censure
which many are now so willing to
bestow upon us. Wo have no
apologies to rnako nor no pardons
to ask, but wo solicit impartial
justico from an enlightened public whom
we believe prefer to hear the honest opin
ions of individuals, plainly and openly
expressed where such sentiments aro un
popular, and in tho minority, than to
listen to tho cringing toadyism of syco
phants, who ore willing to sell their prin
ciples to the highest bidder. Truly gal
lant people, and no one can deny that
tho entiro Southern people have not al
ways proved their claim to gallantly, will
spurn those who seek to make monoy in
their midst by self-abasement and hy
pocrisy. Wo have frequently felt it our
sacred duty to tell facts that we knew, at
the time, must prove unpalatable to the
majority of our readers, and which were
sure to bring down upon our heads tho
vilest anathemas, but it will be seeu that
our predictions were not the result of
prejudice or sophistry, and being based
upon the logic of events, they have been
verified.
We have opposed many men aud
measures sustained by the majority of
our people, while the cause of our opposi
tion has invariably jbeen attributed to
partisan feelings so stubbornly, that no
argument of ours could persuade many
to think differently. We have nothing to
recant in this respect, but will simply
ask thoso who seek to traduce us, morally
and socially, on account of our political
Houtiments, to look at tho register of
events aud see how far we were out of the
way in our reckoning. Wo have endured
the obloquy and contempt of those whose
good will wo should highly esteem could
it be purchased save at the price of
hypocrisy und humiliation ; but we pre
fer to let time teach our enemies their
errors rather than play the part of a
toady for the sake of popularity and gain.
We mean to continue urging tho
Southern people to discard tho udvico of
those unscrupulous politicians aud dema
gogues who seek to teucli them through
the influence of a servile press that sub
mitting to the stern decrees of fate, ac
cepting tho arbitrament of the sword,
yielding a cheerful submission und
support to tho laws of our restored coun
try, is degrading and humiliating. We
slinll favor no reconstruction built upon
injustice, nor udvocate any measures
which are calculated to estrungo our peo
ple and re-produce that element of sec
tional hatred which has bean the founda
tion of all our difficulties. We intend to
continue talking plainly on all subjects
and striving to produce, by all honorable
means, that substantial reconciliation
which can only exist in a homogeneous
race such as wo are. Neither can we,
while extending the hand of cordiality
and promising to sustain aud support
the white race, utterly ignore the necessi
ties of* tho colored people and refuse to
lend them a helping hund. It is part of
our province to do all in our power to
ameliorate and educate these people, in
order that they may become useful mem
bers of society, for we still contend that
without tho negro race are assisted by
tho white man, and elevated fram their
present condition by Christian philan
thropy, there can be no permanent
peace, no prosperity, and certainly no
justico. In doing our best to teach tho
ignorant blackman his duties as a freeman,
we are advancing the true interests of
the white race. Whatever we do to
instruct the uneducated blacks must ne
cessarily promote the welfare of the
whites, and though there may bo many
so full of tho rancor and prejudices of the
past that they will find it difficult to
agree with us on this point, still wo are
willing to leave time and stubborn facts to
convinco them of their mistake.
Wo crave no patronage which is to be
secured by the wholesale abuse of tho
Southern people, and tho constant raking
tip of all those deeds which we want to see
buried forever in the grave of oblivion,
neither do we desire that kind of popu
larity whioh can only bo gained by mis
representing the Northern people and
abusing the Government.
W c hope so to act in the future that
each sheet from our press will go forth
as joyful messengers of peaco aud good
will, and as harbingers of that content
ment, wealth and permanent unity which
God intended should forever dwell
among our people. We have no
wish to see tho Wounds of civil war, now
so rapidly healing, torn open afresh by
the cruel knife of fanaticism. The
8avannaii National Republican will
advocate magnanimity towards all who
show a willingness to conform to the
wishes of the Government, believing this
to be the only means by which the un
happy breach can be narrowed, a na
tionality fostered, and a fraternal spirit
of brotherly love inculcated, so that our
Union may iudoed bo a Union of hearts
as well as of bunds.
Illumination.
To-day being the firat anniversary of
our paper, wo have concluded to observe
the event by illuminating the Republican
office this evening from roof to cellar.
The excellent band of the 12th Muino
Regiment have kindly volunteered their
valuable services, and will aid us in cele
brating our anniversary by discoursing
soma fine mtuflo in front of our establish-
t.
Hlood vi. Labor.
The Staunton Virginian, commenting
on Southern prospects and the polioy
which tho South must pursue in order to
seouro a full development of all her re
sources, says :
“ Whsl the South now requires, in our
humble judgment, is utility. Tlut wo novor
woro a practical people, in a trait in our pust
character; that a race springing, m did the
S coplo of tho South, from cavaliers, should
avu mado hut poor mechanics, manufacturers,
and tradesmen, is not surprising; it was but
natural. But that in mechanical, manufac
turing, and mercantile pursuits, together with
an additional outlay of energy in agriculture,
miiHt tho South look to find hor future pros
perity, greatnoss and natural supremacy, is a
practical truism too important to bo ignored or
discarded.”
We have not been educated in tho bo-
lief that tho pooplo of any section of this
country were by birth or any other
natural gift entitled to claim superiority
over the rest; but it is a question of so
little importance that wo do not oaro to
clap logic over it to have it settled cithor
way.
By referring to the dobaton in tho
English Parliament as far back as 1705,
in which Mr. Pitt, Mr. Granville, aud
other prominent stateman of the day,
took part, it will bo seen that our
worthy forefathers woro styled adven
turers without any distinction whatever,
os to the colonies in which they may
have settled. Suoh evidences of gentle
blood an numerous enough, but we fail
to discover any other.
Thera is tho best of good senso in
what the Editor says about the necessity
of this infusion into tho Southern charac
ter of a more practical utility. Hitherto
circumstances have tended to degrr.de
labor in the minds of our people, an d no
ono is so blinded by prejudioo that he
cannot see its sad effects. Wo
must elevate it to its right ful, dig
nified position, if we expect to approxi
mate to that agricultural nip.l manufac
turing greatness which wo all hope in
time to attain. When we have tho no
bility of labor, we will not be greatly
troubled by tho nobility of blood, but wo
will have that which is a hundred fold
hotter and more profitable, a happy,
contented, prosperous people.
Tl»e minatrcl Failure.
The managers of tho theatre having
engaged the Ethiopian troupe whioh ap
peared lust evening, upon representations
made to them that they were first class
artists, with sorrow witnessed their
lamentable failure, and they have
very wisely nnnu’Jefl tho engagement,
substituting fclio legitimate Sliakspea-
rian drama for miserable negro vulgari
ties and exaggerated burlesques. Wo
hope this is tho last time the boards of
our theatre will be disgraced by negro
performances, for we but speak tho wish
es of our bes'v citizens when we discoun
tenance suoh vulgar exhibitions as gen
erally characterize tho performances of
itinerant negro minstrel troupes. Give
us the legitimate drama, gentlemen, oi
elosothe doors of your dramatic temple,
for we want no more niggerology on the
stage.
TRIAL OF BAZAWAy B. LAMAS
U|pHK A lUlH't'ABV «:«.MHIIS-
Slow, K.HDEFHA,JI>IN<; THK
v. n. oovnnsnENT.
Further Important Evidence Against
the Accused.
Another Batch oi' Interes
ting IjottreB From Vari
ous Parties-
The Ramification* of the geutHFlracy,
Ac. Ac. &o.
TII1UD DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.
A CARR.
Mr. G. B. Lamar, in conspiring with
his nephew, having used my namo as
Agent of Messrs. JCrwiu A- Hardee in con
nection witli certain transactions
which he is involved, I feel that justice
to Messrs. Erwin «fc Hardee aud mysolf
demand that I should state,
First. That if a single bale of cotton
has been shippod to that firm, belong
ing either to Mr. Lamar, or to the United
States Government, or niovod by any
one purporting to bo the Agent of said
firm, it was done contrary to either their
or my instructions, and without either
their or my consent, knowledge, or ap
probation.
Secondly. That in making purchases
in Southern Georgia and Florida,
Messrs. Erwin *V Hardee constantly
cautioned their A gouts not to touch a
single bale of cotton to which any sus
picion was attached, and to which the
titles worn not perfect, aud they were
informed by their Agents that tho above
instructions were implicitly obeyed.
Thirdly.' That Messrs. Erwi^a Ar. Har
dee have received during tho past five
months, heaw consignments of cotton
from Houthffn Georgia aud Florida
aud, if at any time the Civil or Military
Authorities desire to know the names of
tho shippers, I am authorized to state
that their books aro at the disposal of
duly appointed inspectors.
Regretting exceedingly that my name,
as Agent of Messrs. Erwin A Hardee,
should have been usod by Mr. Lamar
in connection with tho matter now
undergoing military investigation, I
still consider it my duty to make th' 3
foregoing statement.
Jxo. 8. Danmkl,
Savannah Dec., 2fith, l8fi.j.
A VARIK
At a rneoting of tho priigenger* per Murra y’s
Lino, steamship Virgo, from New York, I* «c.
28, 1805, Mr. W. Tracy Eunice, of Bonto n,
was called to tho Chair, and Mr. W. N. V« I-
leati, of Savannah, was requested to act . as
Secretary. Tho following resolutions wei
offered nnd adopted :
Resolved, That wo commend tho steam sl»»
yirgo to all travellers fur her sea-going qi vii
ties and superior accommodations; Capf;aii
k. M. liulklcy, her gentlemanly cominan der i
for his courteous bearing nnd superior ab iliiy
ns a seaman, ns oxperionced by uh during the
present ad verso trip from Now York.
Resolved, That the subordinate officers, i sxcii
and all, havo endeavored to emulate tho
ample of their worthy Captain in his effort, far
the comtort and well-being of those entru.l «d
to his chargo.
lUsolved, That tbo.io resolutions bo publishi *1
n tho Savannah papers, und a copy furnishe d
tho Captuin.
, W. N. Valleau, Seofetarv.
Un board steamship Virgo, Dec. 28, 1805..
QUICK 8Ai.ES AND SMALL PROFITS,
AT t09 BROUGHTON STREET SMYTHE
A CO. OPENS TO DAY . Luporb Assortment
of First Cbm Hour Furay 0 |„ g
Reported Expressly for the National
Republican.
Savannah, Deo. !29tb, 1866.
This romnrkablo trial is not only de
veloping tho most startling evidence of a
deliberate and well planned conspiracy
by the accused, in connection wjfch oth
ers, to defraud the Government of cotton
of an immense value in the aggregate,
but is also exciting public curiosity aud
attention to-au extraordinary extent in
its astounding developments nnd dis
closures. Tho demand for onr paper
containing our verbatim report of eaoh
day’s proceedings of the caso, lias boon
so great that we have been uuablo to sup
ply it, notwithstanding we havo printed
extra editions.
Wo furnish this morning in fall the
proceedings of yesterday’s session of the
Uourt, tvs follows:
Hon. Albert G. Browne sr., was called as
a witness, sworn and testified as follows:
Mr. Browne, you will state your name
aud official capacity.
Albert G. Browne, Supervising
Specinl Agent Treasury Department
Fifth Special Agency.
Please state to tho Commission what
you know about abandoned, captured
confiscated cotton in this district, and
your action in regard to the sumo.
In August last—about the first of Au
gust—I roceivcd from General Brannan,
an order to Colonel Kimball, command
ing the Sub.-District of Altanmha, to
turn over to mo all tho cotton—
The Defence Was that order in writing ?
We object to parol evidence of its con
tents.
It was, sir.
Have you got it ?
I have, sir.
The witness hero produced an order,
which was read to the Court us follows:
li'jcAi>yi AaTERR District op Savannau, j
1st Division, D*i*’t of Gkokoia, >•
Savannah, Aug. 9, 1866. )
To Col. W. K. Kimball, Commanding Sub-
District of the AUamaha:
Colonkl—You will tom over to United States
Treasury Agent, Mr. A. (1. Browno, or such per
son as he may dirent, all oottou And other ?oi/.od
property iu the possession of tho United Staton
troops at Thomasville, or any other point within
tho limits of your command, except such a* you
are satisfied belongs to loyal citizens of tho United
States who havo taken the oath of allo^iai'eo ami
who do not come under any of the exceptions ol
the President's Proclamation of May 29, 1866.
Tho cotton aud other property claimed by persons
whose loyalty you aro oouvincod of (on ;<ullieiunt
proof of ownership,) yox will turn over to thorn.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedieut scr
vant,
J. M. Jilt ANN AN,
ll-evet Mnjor Genera! U. S. Volf., Uonmiauding
First District. •
Witness continues: To turn over the
cotton iu his possession. On August
fifteeuth, Colonel Kimball did turn over
that cotton to me. I have here a state
ment of his to that effect.
Post Thomasville, Ga-, Aug. 15, 1865.
Having, in obedience to orders of Brevet
Brigadier General H* D. Wushburne, taken
possession of certain warehouses containing
cotton, at thyp Post, some of which I had rea
son to believe was the property ot tho so-called
Confederate States, or of some corporation
Authorized by them in violation of the laws ot
the United States, or of some individuals
whose property, by existing laws, is subject to
confiscation, 1 hereby, in obedience to orders
of Brevet Major Geueral Brannau, command
ing let District of Georgia, turn over and de
liver Jo A. G. Browne, E.iq., Supervising ripe-
Cinl Agent Treasury Department United
States, uli of said cufcon in my possession,
custody and control, at this Post, belonging to
tho iritate of North Carolina, tho State of
Georj io, G. B. Lamar, President of tho Ex
porting and Importing Company of Goorgia,
and to G. B. Lamar, whose property I am in
funned, is subject to confiscation, amounting in
a ll to bales, to wit: bales supposed
to belo.ng to tho State of North Carolina,
bales supposed to belong to the State of Geor
gia, bales supposed to be tho properly of
G. B. Laraar, President of the E. and 1. Co.
of Georgia,, aud bales supposed to be the
property of G. B. Lamar. 1 also turn over
and deliver to said A. G. Browne, Agent ns
aforesaid, — • lbs. iron, lbs. lead,
lbs. wool, &c., seized as Confederate property
at this Post.
Wm. K. Kixiball, Col. 12tb Maine,
Commanding Post.
The document; was offered aud ac
cepted in evidence, and it was in tho na
ture of an invoice o«f cotton.
The Court to Witness. You will now
proceed?
The Witness. You will . per
ceive from the nature of tho
•ouee, that it was impossible for me
to give any thing more than a memo
randum receipt, as tho cotton was
stored in various warehouses, and it was
impossible to get at it or take it out to
obtain the marks, weights, Arc., in con
sequence of its being in tiers of eight
or ten bales (l$2p. In fact it was impossible
to ascertain some of the marks of sumo
of tho bales, much of the cotton having
fallen to pieces. This was the eiuse in
tho warehouses, particularly tho jane
near tho camp ground. There were
large quantities ot cotton atrored about
in different places on the line ol' the
Hail Road, within twenty miles around
there, and also on the road towards Al
bany, over whioh cotton, guards were
placed.
r l1te Prosecution Did you go to the
warehouses and sheds named, aud per
sonally tako tho cotton into your pos
session ?
Yes, sir. Tho most of it, not all, I
did all in the town of ThomaHville and
the immediate vicinity. I'lnado the at
tempt to go out of town, and rode some
•distance, but my health failed me, and l
was obliged to nreturn to Thomasville.
Finding that I was physically unable to
attend to the duties of mv olfleo, utter
a great doal of thought and deliberation,
I made an agreement with Mr. WjUjaia
* K. Beard to take charge of tliis business —
I mado a contract with him to do so.
X 'Ills is my contact with him, whioh I
pt, rpose to submit to the Court This
cot (.tract I submitted to the Secretary of
the Treasury, and it roceived his
approval.
T) UJ contract wm hers road.
Treasury DkI’ARTUBNT, 1
Fifth Speoiul Agency, V
lbom»»vill«, Ga., August 10,1806. )
This ciTCUes that I have entered into an agree
ment with Wm. A. Beard, ot New Bedford, now
doing business at riuvannab, to oolloot, rebate
whon nocpssury, transport, and deliver at Jaok-
nonville, Fla 1 , or at soino eligible shipping port
in Georgia, all cotton which has been turned over
to me by tho military commander, Ool. Kimball,
or to which the United Staten Government have
.claims, within the Military District ol Alt&maha.
said Board agreeing to place naid cotton at sum
shipping port or ports, at the earliest praotica
ble period, and for which he is to receive in lieu
of nil expenses incurred, one quarter part of the
bu'oA of cotton ooilooted, robaled and trunsportod.
This to be in full of ull demands. This division
to be mado at Thomusville, and under the direc
tion of Iho Hupoi vising Special Agent, i^d iu
hie nbaunce, of the Military Commandant or his
deputy. And tho said Heard further agrees to
indemnify the Uuitod States Government lor all
claims und damages whioh may accrue from any
neglect on his port, or from any oxpenvo in
curred in collecting, preparing and transporting
said cotton.
(Signed) Alubiit G. Bkowns, [Seal I
Superv’Dg Special Agent Treas’y Dep't.
' W. A. Bbard, [Seal.]
Witness proceeds—It will bo seen that the
Secretary approved of tho mime by this letter,
written by him to mo.
A letter from tho Secretary of tho Treasury,
lion. Hugh McCulloch, approving of the
contract which tho witness had made with Mr.
Beard, was here read.
TllBASURr DbI'A iitiikh r, l
September, 1 Oth, 1805. )
Bin:—Your lottor from Thomasville, Ga., 20th
ultimo, hasln-on reoolved, in whioh you report
your reasons for making u contract with W. A.
Board, to collect, proparo for markot and deliver
in Savaonnh Government ootton for tho compen
sation of 25 per cont. thereof.
The amount allowed seems extravagantly
high, hut iu view of tho excessive charges for
freight, charged on boats and railways, ns re
ported iu your loiter of the 15th instant, which
the contractor has to boar, the contract is ap
proved aa reported.
lloppecifully, II. McCollocii,
Sooretaryof the Treasury.
Albert G. Ilrownc, Esq., Sup'f/ Sjxcial Agent,
Tort Ruga l, S. C.
Tho witness goes on—My health was such
that I was obliged to give up at once, nnd go
to Savannah for tho purposo of going North
Upon arriving at Hilton Head I somcwhnt rc
covered, and feeling it my duty, although ad
vised by friends to tho contrary, I proceeded
to Florida. At Fernandina I utterly broke
down, and wns obliged to be taken on a fitter
to the Collector's office. I learned at that
timo that Mr. Noyes had already advised my
friends to come nnd take me home, nnd had
sent for my son. Contrary to the advice of my
friends, I ordered myself to bo curried to the
boat again, nnd proceeded to Hilton Head,
taking tho first transport for New York, nnd I
know very little of tho business since thut, un
til a few days ngo, aftor my return. left
the buxines* entirely with mv son, who was ap
pointed by tho Secretary of tho Treasury to
act in my place.
I will here oiler a copy of my letter to the
Secretary concerning Mr. Beard’s contract.
The leiter in question was read in court.—
it alluded to the contract mado with Beard,
who was to rebale cotton, Slc., and was to re
ceive one lalo out of four for his services and
expenses.
Thomasville, Ga., Aug. 26th, 1865.
lion. //. McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury :
rim—1 Imvo previously informed you of the
luantily of cotton found here and of its condi
tion. It h, in my judgment, absolutely acces
sary to have it put in order and shipped inline-
diufUy or much of it will disappear; so soon os
a guard is removed from a quantity of cotton
it disappears. Tho whites charge it on tho ne
groes, which is preposterous, for although
they m»y pilfiy^in small quantities, whore are
their mule tennis, a chance of storage and other
conditions2 They are probably tho instru
ments in tiio hands of other and greater
rogues. The military authorities have, I learn,
arrested a Major Uily, of the late rebel army,
for cotton stealing, and I have heard it charg
ed on a Col. Styles, of tho laic rebel army,
that he is a cotton stealer on a large scale.
From nil I leurn, many of these people are
stealing Government cotton, and also from
each other. In view of these things, und of
my i tier inability to attend personally to all
this business, und yet fully able to supervise it,
1 have agreed with Mr. W. A. Beard, a man
who comes very highly recommended—a refu
gee from Virginia, who abandoned nil his pro
perty there in April, 1861—to tnkc charge,
collect, re-ropo, re-bnlo nnd re-bag all cotton
which may como into my possession. This
cotton he is to deliver in "Savannah, and for
which he is to receive twenty-live p3r cent., or
ono bale in four, to bo judged of in tho divis
ion by myself ,or by Col. Kimball and Major
Hastings, the officers here. 1 believe this ar
rangement iho host, under the circumstances,
that could have been made, und trust it may
bo approved by you.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Albert G. Browne,
Supervising Special Agent, Treus. Dep’t.
Oross-oxamloed—Did you not say you only
took personal possession of tbo ootton in Thomas-
ville aud its vioiuity—how f*r out of Thomasville
did you take possession of the ootton ? About 20
or-16 miles I should think.
Did you not receive a telegram from the Troa-
Aury Department at Washington suspend pro
ceedings with referonoo to the ootton you had
seized, utter you had placod some of it in tho oars
lor shipment'! No, sir.
Were jou acting as Troasury Agent in Goorgia
In November last? No; I was ill in Maasaobu-
setts.
Did you over tako por;onal possession of any
cotton on Spaiuo’s plantation in Brooks County *
1 did Dot.
I5y whom was upwards of 200 halos of ootton
placed on tho cars at Thomasville in August or
.September last, and nndor whoso orders was it
taken oil' and ro-storod? It was placod thereby
my orders; n man named Cabell came and assert
ed that ho was Treasury Agent; I never saw the
man; I only understood that he camo.
Do you know of your own knowledge by
whose ordorn it war taken off the oars ? I do
not.
Did Lntnar show you the oath of allegianoo bo
had taken lo the United Stato;, and at whQ^time?
Yes, two days after tho ooonpatioa of Savannah
by tho foroes, ho showed it to mo. I may observe
I did not rend it. lie said it was his oatli of al
lowance, and asked mo what I thought of it, and
I rep do i that I thought ho Lad committed one
more aot of porjury.
Had you when you went to Thomasville any
special orders from tho Secretary of tho Treasury
confining you to tako only tho cotton of tho late
Confederate States? I beliovo not; I have no
recollection of anything of the kind-
Tho crosi-exaniination then closed.
Batihell, the doteotive, was here recalled.
Counsel for the prosecution (handing a doc
ument to tho witness)—State whore you got
that document.
WitneBB—From the Clerk of the Superior
Court of Chatham county.
Counsel for the prosecution—1 will read
this document. It is the incorporation of t)io
Importing and Exporting Company of tho
State of Georgia. It is introduced merely for
the purpooo of proving that such a Company
was in existence.
Declaration of Gaza way IJ. Dimar and other
citizens'of the State of Georgia, to obtain a
Charter for “The Importing and Exporting
Company of the State of Georgia."
State or Georgia—Countt or Chatham.
We, Gazaway B. L .uiar, Charles A. L.
Lamar, John C. Ferrill, Joseph Burke, Abra-
l)iiin A. Solomons Marmaduke Hamilton,
Edmund Martin, Augustus S. Jones, tioorgo
C. Freeman and George W. Wvlly, citizens
of the State of Georgia, do deela'ro that we
havo formed an asaociHtioa for tho encourage
ment of direct trado with foreign countries,
und that tho purpose of such association is to
curry on tho business of importing and ex
porting goods, wares and merchandise, from
And to foreign couutrleu, in veskcls. propelled
by steam or sails. That wo dosire to ho in
corporated by the name and style of “The
Importing and Exporting Company of the
State of Georgia” ; that the amount Qf capital
of doing business of raid association, whon in
corporated, is to be in the city of Savannah,
county of Chatham, nnd State of Georgia.
In witness whereof, wo havo subscribed our
naiyoH to this Declaration this eleventh day of
'“no, in the yoar of ouf Lord ono thousand
;ht hundred and sixLy-thrso. ^
Signed t GaZiVay B. Lamnr, J. Burke,
Marmaduke Hamilton, Geo. O. Froemun, Geo.
W. Wylly r A. A. Solomons, Aug’s Seaborn
Jones, Jno. C. Ferrill, 0. A. L. Ltfmar, Ed
mund H. Martin.
State of Georgia, Chatham County.—Per
sonally appeared (la/.away B. Lamar, Presi
dent of the association called “Tho Iinpor ing
nnd Exporting Company of the State of Geor
gia,” who having been duly affirmed, accord
ing to his religious belief, deposcdi and onith
that the amount of capital actually paid in and
employed by said association is two hundred
and fifty-six thousand dollars, paid in cotton aa
below, which said cotton is worth tho sum of
two .hundred and fifty thousand dollars at its
present market value, the name being more
than ten per cent, upon tho amount of the capi
tal of said association.
Gazaway B. Lamar,
President I. and E. Company.
John M. B. Lovell, Notary Public C. C.
1,418 bales cotton, 730,088 pounds, valued
at #250,425.70, besides other properly.
Filed June till), 1803.
Wm. II. Bulloch,
Clerk S. C. C. C.
Recorded June 11th, 1863.
State of Georgia, Chatham County —I, Wm.
II. Bulloch, Clerk of the Superior Court of tho
County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify
that the writing in the foregoing two pages
is a true and correct copy of the declaration of
Gazaway B. Lamar and others to obtain a
charter for “The Importing and Exporting
Company of the State of Georgia,” as recorded
in County Records, Book V. V. V., folios 410,
411.
Given under my official signature and seal
of office, at Savannah, this twenty-seventh day
of December, A. D., eighteen hundred and
sixty-five.
[seal] Wm. II. Bulloch,
Clerk S. C. C. C.
A. G. Browne, jr., examined—State your
name aqd occupation. A. G. Browne, jr.,
acting ns Supervising Special Agent of the
Fifih Treasury Agency, under an appointment
from tho Secretary of tho Treasury, during the
disability of the Supervising Special Agent
by sickness-
When and under what circumstances were
you so appointed, and whon did you cn'er into
the performance of your duties? On tho 6th
of October, at noon, in Bostofl, Mass., I
heard that my father was tick, perhaps dead.
I started that night for Port Royal, nnd on ar
riving there £ found he h id gone North under
medical advice, crossing me on my way down
l delayed my return, to visit Savannah and
Charleston. On going back to Hilton Head
to return North I received the following tele
gram from tho Secretary of tho Treasury, en
closed to me by GeneraUVan Vliet from Now
York, appointing me to succeed my father :
The American Telegrakh Co., ^
Dated October 7lb, 1865. >
Received at 145 Broadway, Oct. 7. y
To A, G. Browne, Jr., care General Van Vliet:
You aro hereby authorized to succeed your
father as Supervising Special Agent for iho
Fifth Agency. Execute nnd forward proper
bond for fifty thousand dollars.
Wm. E. CllANIiLEIt,
Acting Secretary Treasury,
I roceived that on October 21er. 1 had learn
ed through tho agency't ohiel olork thut thero
wa*> a Urge quantity of enttou precariously situ
ated iu Souiavroateru Uoorgla, for which (he
agency was resoousible. llo told ino, also, that
Gon. Brannau desired the agency office to bs re
moved to Savannah tor in:>ro ready communica
tion between iho military and the agency, con
cerning thij property, aod thougH that I should
stay and attend to it. 1 did so. I raunvoi tho
otlice to 8av.iou.ih. 1 consulted with (ioccrtl 1!
oatl concerning the nruporty, and on tho 21st of
Oct. I started myself from Savannah (or Thoma?
villc. On tho ollioial filosof tho agency, before
leaving, I found this letter from the Secretary of
the Tronaory:
TaBASUitr Dkpautmknt, Sopt. 27,1865.
Albert (}. Jiroione, Esq., Sup. Spec. Agt.
Treasury Department, Tort Royal, S. C.—Sia—
Application is frequently main tome for the
sus^nmon of proceeding', in reiitionto, ortho
rostWutlon of cotton claimed an the property ol
certain corporations or organizations, entitled
“Exporting and Importing” Companivi.
similarly named he.ctoloro existing in the late
so-called Confederate States. 1 have, so far, de
oliued to act as requested iu any of those cases
but the frequeney of the applications, und the
magnitude of tbe interests involved, seems to
render necessary some general rule for the gov
eminent of agents in the premises. From the
titles, woll, us from wbut is known of tho
operations of those Companies, it is evident that
they were mero auxiliaries t > tho so-called Con
federate Government iu its efforts to subvert and
overthrow the Government ot the United States;
und that the property owned by them was usod
and intended to be used tor that purpose, though
individual gain may iu some instances, or to
some extent, hove actuated their managers.
From tho very nature ol things, uud the circum
stances by which they were surrounded, that
must huve^een the prime object ot their ex
istence.
Whenovcr, thorofore, any property owned oi
claimed by ore of there blockudo runuiug com
panics is found within your agenoy, you will
tako chargo and treat it as property whioh was
used to aid the rebellion, and tiioreforc belonging
to tho United States by tho right of captnro,
keeping, in all cases, tho record required by Rog-
ulajon i, Sorios of July 29, concerning captured
and abandoned proporty. This is intendod tc
apply only to such property of tho olass n imod
as mdy havo boon collected and kept together a«
tho proporty of such companies, nnd is not in
tended to authorize agents to search for on differ
ont plantation , uod to suizs small aud scattore i
lots, said to have bean purchased for or by suoh
companies, but which bos not been collected by
them in distinct lute, and so hold.
As operations under this letter aro Hmitod to
large lots colleoel together, it id mnr.itost that
their shipiuant would bo attended with
but littlo uxponso, mid contracts fur tho collection
and transportation of such cotton should not bo
mado with privato parties as aro authorized
other caces.
Very rcpoctfolly,
II. MoUnLLOCitf
Secretary of tbo Treasury.
Before I left I also addressed to tbo Secretary
of the Treasury, lottora stating mygooeral views
and purposed eonooroiog tho ootton ut Thomas-
vilio and ltd vicinity, on the basis of suoh
information as T bad tbon boen able to obtain
oonccrning it. Until October 21st, not bavingox
pectod to tako charge of tho ngonoy business, I
had not acquainted inyrelf with Us papors, and
as I then removed its officio to Savannah, packing
up its papors and left for Thomasville betnre they
were all unpacked, I was only imperfectly ac
quainted with Ibo tenuro of this cotton then and
suoh acquaintance with it came only through tuy
father’s clurk, who, from tbo period of my first ar
rival, had occasionally come to me fur consulta
tion nnd d rections conuorning the agency busi
ness. Those letters were ad follows :
Port Koval, S. C,, Got. 21, 1866.
lion. Wm Ghantller, Asst Secretary of ths
Treasury,
$iu: I baVQ had the honor to-d iv to receive (for
warded lo me by General Van Vloit, from New
York,) your telegram of October 7'h, authoriz
ing me to succeed my father ae Supervising Spo
ciut Agent of this Agency. 1Jliving roasoue lo
believe, from communications which I received
Ironi Florida, that hit father, in (he discharge of
his duties there, had been seized with malarial
fever and wus dangerously ill, if pot dead, 1
loft Boston for this port, on October 6ih, and
sailing from New York, on October 7ih, urrived
hero on Octobor Pith. Upon arrival, I learned that
ipv father wns brought up from Florida, very
weak aud reduced, but convalescing, aud Imd
gone North by the steumer from here of October
7th, und that there was reason to bulieve that by
the change of climate ho rnuy recover Lis health,
nr.(I be uble ogaiu to return here. Therefore,un
til bo shall return, 1 shall, as I havo done since
my arrirul, give attention to his duties, assum
ing authority by virtuo of your telegram to do
so until that timo, but not longer, us he still
holds bf.1 commission, and will, T trust, be able
soon to return to its duties.
As there is muoh busiuess of this A^enoy in
ooonootton with property tobs turned over by
the United Stated foio-a iu Southern Georgia, 1
o be,
rasped,
Mr.
to ho employed by uh will*be tho suth of two |, aV6t ut t i, 0 , a quost of Maj Geo. Branneu, ooiu
millions of dollars, and that we ilcstra to be maotfldg Htriavuuuab, aud afteroonnultadou wi»h
incorporated fur tho space aud
yesrs,
ms ot dollars, ana mat we iv un tnaaoing utnavauuati, euu sueroonnuita'iou who
jorated fur tho space aud tsrlu nT Aflftj . Mr. CuIhoo*, Agout ter the 8tb Agency, whioh ip-
, sad turn ltd ptinolp*! #«<» apd f U«t 1(MfW?
retutfi. fhavetha*hr.ii"
With
jjfl ^ u «t obedient servant,
Agenojf
, Savasnau, Oe.. ()cl 2s l
TrJL l u?y: Mo0 * Uoek > ^%'V t&
Sih-I have the honor to rei.ortlarther as fo'
lows concerning the captured cotton hrtwll
Doctortown and Thomaiville, *nH tn “
of the latter pluce, concerning which emu V
Brown., Snpvi.tng Hpeci.l ^
Department undo: date ot ,H-.\ r„: ,. r r.'b
other dates, l!n
Tho delays interposed by the miliUrv h.- H
. larters of this Department to the dvh\ i'y -
cotton to tbe Treasury authorities Heom
to have come to an end. On October
Sampson, Asst Mpeo. Agt. of tbis Ai-er. . |,
I despatched torittvamiKii tor tin* ..
ceived from Gen. Braunnn, cjoud j,„ . ’
military District, a c : ,y ot u.t orde, m ( ,
riteedman, dated Oc‘. 12 h, directing him to ‘.A'
over that cotton, and Gen. Brannon, nt A‘a
timo, requested that the Central Otlice „» .V,'
Agency might be removed to Savannah fAur-a
convenient communication with hii, concern A
it, as well as lor convenience in receivin'"’nilJ
shipping it.
’biaciiy lying outside or the F./Lh - g,. aC7
boundaries, although it is (he chief |'._rt of'exnnrt
of the products of that Agency District, I r0 n
suited Mr. Uullicot, within whose Agency lim n
riho 8th) it does lie, and with bis concurrent- I
have accordingly removed that office here, uul
established it in u building convenient to ’0on
Braunan's hoadqonrters.
1 also at once notified Mr. W. A. Beard tbo
contract with whom for putting the coii n imo
condition for transportation, bringing it to t ie
railroad lino and transporting it also from
Doctortown to Savannah, was approved by the
Department under date of Sept. 16. und h • at
once proceeded to the district where the p
erty lies, with laborers and the necessary cu-
terial. ^Communication with Doctortown being
at long intervals, I have ns yet received no re
port from him since his arrival there. I have
never seen this contractor and know nothing of
him personally, but the accounts I receive hero
of his energy, encourage mo to expect »j prompt
an execution of his work as the difficult 1 of
the condition of tho cotton and of tran:-p..na
tion will permit.
In conversation with General Brannan since
my arrival here, he advises me that Ik* ins
renson to believo that very extensive schemes
to defraud the Government of largo quantities
of cotton lying in the district referred to, are
on foot, by claiming that aa private property
which is in reality the properity of the Lamar
Exporting and Importing Company: and he
mentioned that Mr. G. B. Lamar hiin<-.*lf has
gone to Sonth-wostern Georgia for the .-up-
posed purpose of asserting privato cliims to
cotton there. In confirmation of this informa
tion, I notice tho fact that Mr. G. B. Lamar
has submitted to Gen. Steadman, commanding
tho tho Department, a list of the cotton of iho
Lamar Exporting and Importing Compunv,
which list Gen. S. appended to his order to
General Brannan to turn over the property.
This list God. B. has transmitted to Colonel
Kimball, commanding tbo sub-disiriet of t .e
Altamaha, where the cotton Her, und ther.fore
I havo not seen it, but it arJcnowledges far hxs
cotton as belonging to the Exporting Coiii/i vy
than the observations of mg Jailor, during '/i>:
extensive tour he made in that DiArict, tnyjtl
indicate. It was in that tonr that mv father
contracted tho beginning of the malarial fever
which prostrated him at the beginning of this
month. His observations being pejvonal,
thero are few memoranda of them among my
papers hero, nnd 1 therefore hope eagerly fur
his speedy restoration to health and return
here, as of much pecuniaryrrJ'raportanco to tho
Government, for it seems clear that it is the
intention of private parties to absorb, and cla n,,
and cause to disappear ull the cotton in that re
gion over nnd above the amount speeijicd in the
list given by Mr. Lamar to Gen. SttcJman.
In. viow of those facts, I shall gu personally to
the District in question, by the earliest possible
conveyance, whioh will bo probably on Tuesday
next. Thoro is no mea-s lor me tores- h Doctor-
town before then, unless by horseback over tho
ina-ihy interval between here aud there; hut a
steamer is oxpoet'!-! to lenvo hero on Tuesday,
freighted with material for Mr. Hoard’s work.
I earnestly dosire to bo able to reach there
earlier, as Geo. Brannan urges strongly on tua
tb© importance of my presence thoro, but I eo
no possibility of doiDg so.
I shall have tho houor to report further upon
my return from that rogion.
I havo tho honor to remain, with much reqeot,
your obedient sorvant,
A, G. Brow.is, Jn.,
Aoting as Supervising Special Agoat during
tho disability of Hon. A. G. Browne* by sickaeii.
Treasury Dkiwiumknt, I
Nov. 14. 1805. [
Albert G. Browne, Jr., Esq., Acting Super
vising Agent Fifth Agency, Savannah, Geor
gia :
Sir—I havo received your letter of tho 28’h
ult., giving a general report of your ob*ervationi
in oonuietion with captured and abaudoael pro-
perty.
Beyond gonorally approving what you baro
dure nod propose to do, as therein ria'eJ, s reply
to the letter docs not soein necosssry, except in «o
fnr as it relates to tbe cotton olaimod by Mr. L .mar
as tt o property of the Imporriug and importing
Company. In regard to this ic is only necessary
to say that I dosiro thst the instructions upon
that subjeo:, transmitted to your father under
dato of September 27, phall bo fully carried out.
A copy of thut letter was transmitted to Mr. L*-
u ar tor his information, and ho has since been ad
vised, both by letter ar.J telegram, of it* tenor
and the polioy tho Government propanci to pur*
suo in relation to property of that elan- ,
I hope, therefore, that every effort will be mad
by you und othor ngeots to socure to tbe Govern*
merit ns much of it ns possible, aod to forward
the same to Now York, ns previously instructed,
without unnecessary delay.
Respectfully,
II. McCuLLOCn,
Secretary of tbo Treasury.
In tbe afternoon of November 1st at Doctor-
town, on tbe arrival of tho train from Thomas-
vilte, I met for the first time with the contractor,
who arrivod by that, train bound for Savannah*
In order to report to the agouoy oonoern|ng tue
difficulties ho had encountered in removing the
ootton. He told me , .
Thu defence hero objected to a iy riateuioatsoi
the contractor, Board, being introduced on tae
gronnd of hearsay evideuoc, as tho party liiut*
self could bo placed on the stand.
The prosecution waived the point, and,
Tho witness continued. Ho made to ma cer
tain statements, aud showed mo certain paper*,
which induced me to writo a lot'or to Genor
Brannan, tho original of which I hav> here:
Treasury Department, 1
Fifth Special Agency, Doctortown, Ga., >
Wednesday Evening. Nov. 1, 1805. }
To Major General./. M. llrannan, commanding
First Division Department of Georgia;
General—I arrived hero this Hfiornon ,
bout making the passage with great dtmeutt),
owing to the low stsgo of water.
1 learn hero on authority which I deem rr *
worthy; that Mr. G. B. Lamar has lnmrp.W
every possible obstacle at his comnuud to o
struct tho officers and employees of tan
in iho* duty and work of collecting, recdting
nnd forwarding the captured property •
comes within this agency’s charge. Mr. •
the contractor engaged in re-baling am
warding the cotton which has been turnou t
to mo, reports to me that on Saturday
wftB interrupted in that work b r th ®
upon him of a writ by the Sheriff of T
county, who was accompanied by
which writ was sued out in ih° nauie c •-
Lamar, President of the Exporting a
porting Company of the Sla, t 0 , of
charged Mr. Beard with fraudulent!J d■ P j
G. B. Lamar, President, ic., a* tforj ^
the cotton the former property of
puny, which has been turned 0T ® r J® “ierning
military authorities, and m work
which, as contractor under me, * n “ •, •
ihorifcv, Mr. Beard was then sogjl*
Sheriff', urged by persoual appeals o •