Newspaper Page Text
The Savannah Daily Herald.
a W Mason * Cos., PitopiiisroßS.
Saucei. W. Ml Emi.m
UUNNAH, WEDNESDAY, JI’NE 7, laa.
THE ASSASSINATION TRIALS.
The proceedings were somewhat varied on
Tuesday, May 30, by the introduction by
the defeuce of several Rclmjl officers as wit
nesses. The first one offered was the Rebel
General, Edward Johnson.
Ou the proposition of the counsel for the
defence to produce this man for the purpose
of invalidating the statements of the witness
Von Stcinaker regarding a meeting of rebel
officers at which plans for the assassination
of Mr. Lincoln were discussed, and at which
Booth wus said to be present, considerable
discussion took place. Some members
of the court considered the production
as a witness of Johnson as an insult to
the court, he baviDg been educated by
the people of the United States at the
Military Academy of West Point, and then
made use of the acquirements and accom
plishments which they had freely bestowed
upon him in the traitorous effort to overthrow'
their government. Finally, however, the oh
jections were withdrawn, and Johnson was
allowed to testify.- The substance of bis ev
idence was that he knew nothing of such a
meeting as that alluded to by Von. Sleinaker,
uud nevei saw Booth in the rebel camps.
Major H. H. Douglas and Captain Osoar
Heinrichs, two other rebel officers, testified
to the same effect as Gen. Johnson
Jacob who was an employee
in Ford's Theatre testified, that as Booth w»9
rushing across the stage toward the back
door alter having shot the President, he
struck at the witness with his kuile, and im
mediately escaped from the Theatre, that he,
the witness, immediately met Spangler, who
begged Lint “for God s sake” not to tell
which way Booth bad gone.
Emma Harold, the sister of the Harold who
was in the barn where Booth was killed,
testified, but said nothing of special impor
tant.
Auua E. Surratt, a daughter of Mrs. Sur
ratt, the prisoner, testified as to the visits of
Payne and Atzcrodt ut her mother’s house.
Miss Ella Turner, the mistress of Booth,
will be examined next. She is the one who
attempted suicide ou hearing of Booth’s
death.
Several witnesses w ere introduced by the
defence to try to remove in some degree from
her the imputation of disloyalty— they do
not appear to have beeu very effective in so
doing.
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Prospect that It will be put In Running
Order.
We are gratified to learn that, the Direc
tors ot the Central Railroad Compauy hav
ing taken the oath of allegiance, by order of
Major General Gill More they have beeu
placed in possession of the Road and its
property, subject to the control and use of
the military authorities, wbeu necessary,
while remaining here.
We understand that there is a favorable
prospectof the road being put in running order
again, as soon as practicable, as the Compa
ny propose instituting vigorous measures at
once for its repair.
This act indicates the liberality of General
Gillmore’s policy towaids the people of Geoi
gia, and will atford geueral gratification.
THE CHANGE OF COMMANDANTS.
Brevet Major Gen. Birg® has assumed
command of the District. His headquarters
will be in the State Bank, formerly occupied
by Geu. Grover.
Brevet Brigadier Gen. Woodford has as
sumed his position as Post Commandant
and will to-day establish his headquarters in
the Farmers’ & Mechanics’ Bank, Bryan
street, opposite Gen. Birge's headquarters.
Several General Orders from District and
Post headquarters will be found in our ad
vertising columns.
body of a negro found in a box of
.COTTON.
Yesterday the crew of the Lamplighter,
lying near tire coal dock, fished up a large
box floating in the water, containing cotton.
The body of a negro man was found inside,
packed in the cotton. It was turned over to
the authorities. There is no clue as to the
circumstauces of the man’s deuth.
TRIBUTE OF ONE REGIMENT TO ANOTHER.
The excellent band of the 12t1i Connecticut
\ eterau V olunteers, last evening most agree
ably and unexpectedly visited Ihe camp of
the oth New York, the popular Provost
Guards ofthis city, and there regaled the of
ficers and men by discoursing some of their
tmest music. The officers of the 7.'>tli, with
accustomed courtesy, extended the hospitali
ties, called tor oo such occasions, in a most
aident manner; and utter an hour s enter
tainment, the band acknowledged them
selves effectually smoked-out.
The Twelfth Connecticut are a welcome
addition to the troops at tins post, and we
rtirs . otK! ■>' mL.
Sllp.aull love may ever exist between the
ltX»S e^ 1 " W ' sr “" ” f «*
So says auold member w f thp
Several Import*^ crowd
ed out this morning.
FROM THF IIVTCKIOR.
[From the M«oon Telegraph, Ist,]
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.
A gentleman just from Montgomery re
ports a favorable condition of tilings iu that
city, when all the circumstances are consid
ered. The principal portion of the Union
forces have been withdrawn, leaving a gar
rison of only two thousaud. The best order
has been preserved, thus far, the military
cordially supporting the local civil authori
ties. {There whs a large amount of cotton
and tobacco stored privately in the city,
which has enabled quite a brisk trade to be
opened, and money is reported comparative
ly plenty. The steamers are running regu
ly on the river.
FIRE IX BOMB, GEORGIA.
For the information of citizens of Rome,
who are now reiugees iu the Southern por
tion ot the State, the Mayor of the city writes
to the Intelligencer that a very seiious tire
occurred there ou the night of the 25fd, by
which the following buildings were destroy
ed : Dr. Farrell s office; Planters Blink Ageu
cy building, Laub’s confectionary stand, the
old Sans Suei bar building, stores formerly
occupied by Isaac Cohen, M. Marks, Sum
ter s old turuiture warehouse, a building oc
cupied by the Judges of the Inferior Court,
and two other brick buildings between that
uud the building occupied by the Odd Fel
lows.
COLUMBUS ITEMS.
The Euquirer says:
Capt. J. C. Lamsou has been assigned to
the charge of all the surrendered effects of
the Confederacy, lie evinces a disposition
to conciliate and relieve the people as far as
bis powers and instructions permit, and gives
general satisfaction by bis administration, so
far. Bnt his ability iu this respect is limit
ed, and we believe that it has been found lie
cessary to restrain the rush for commissary
slores.
Order still prevails here, and it is hoped
that all our people see the necessity of assist
ing to maintain it, and of at once exerting
themselves to provide for the future.
We uuderstaud that no contract has yet
beeu perfected for the building of the City
Bridge, but that the tew difficulties in the
way will probably soon be obviated. The
uncertainty as to the currency has beeu the
chief of these.
The Council has not yet decided to issue
change bills, iu accordance with the wish of
many citizens. The perplexity as to the mo
ney basis is a serious oue iu this case.
it is believed that the amount of coin and
greenbacks in circulation, is iucreasiug, ami
that we are daily experiencing a little'more
relief in respect to » circulating medium!
THE MUSCOGEE RAILROAD.
We learned yesterday that the work of re
pairing this road, between Columbus and
Fort \ alley, is being prosecuted with some
energy. Six bridges in all,were destroyed;
the only oue of magniutdc, being that over
Flint river. For this point anew structure,
already framed, has been purchased, and will
be put up at once. Two of the small bridges
have been repaired, aud the work is going
ahead on others. It is confidently expected
the whole line will be in working order by
the Ist of July.
Avgusta New s.
From tiles of late Augusta papers to the
4th inst., inclusive, we take the following
items of interest :
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
The freight depot of the Augusta aud Sa
vannah Railroad was burned last evening.
The fiames were discovered about half past
eight o’clock, and notwithstanding the great
exertions of the firemen, their progress could
not be stayed until the building was totally
destroyed. A portion of the wall uext the
street fell down. The building at this end oi
the depot, occupied as offices, was only par
tially burned
We were unable to ascertain the amount
of freight in the depot, but from all we could
learn, there was not much.
During the fire oue or two shells exploded.
This, together with the rumor that there was
a large number of this kind of ammunition
iu the building, caused a scattering for a
while.
The loss occasioned by the fire is about $75, -
000—although it would take more than that
amount to repair damages at the present
time. The fire was evidently the work of
an incendiary.
RETURN OP GEN. IIOW ELL COUB.
We are informed that Gen. Howell Cobb,
who was arrested a short time since and
forwarded North, was released upon reach
iug Nashville, and yesterday returned to
Athens.
THE SMALL POX.
We are pleased to learn from His Honor
the Mayor,that this loathesome disease which
has been prevailing to a great extent in our
city focsome time has been, for the past ten
days on the decrease, few new cases being
repotted in that time. It will be observed by
rel'ereuce to the Council proceedings; that a
large number of persons have been vacci
nated.
FARE TO SAVANNAH.
Lieut. G. W Handy, in charge of trans
portation in this city, announces that here
after the tare to Savannah on government
transports will be seven dollars and a half
All persons are now required to pay their
own fare, or remain in the city.
FAST DAY.
In accordance with the recommendation
of President Johnson’s proclamation and the
order of General Molineux, Commandant of
the Post, Thursday, Juue Ist. was observed
as a day of humiliation, mourning and fast
iug. All the business houses amt manufac
turing establishments were closed, and a
Sabbath-like stillness pervaded the city.
Brief religious services were held iu most
of the churches.
STEAMER SAVANNAH-
The Savannah made the trip from Augusta
to Sayunuab iu twenty hours. Passengers re
port seeing three dead bodies, two negroes
and one white man just below the wreck of
the Governor Troup.
SEIZURE OF CONFEDERATE PROPERTY.
General Molineux has given orders to
Capt. Petit, chief of military Police at Au
gusta, to institute a search, through all stores
uud houses, aud to seize all Medical Stoies.
Government Tools and parts of Machinery.
Government Clothing aud O. M. Stores of
all kinds-
Government Commissary Stores, Powder,
ranapee, and Fire Anns for which no per
m other articles of a suspi
cious.nature.
Timely notice was givdd to the inhabitants
of tills City, to restore to the United States
authorities, all articles of every description,
which belongetl to the ‘so-called’ Confederate
States, or their Agents at the time of the sur
render of General Johnston.
MARKETING.
Farmers aud Market tueu, in the adjacent
country, will be afforded every facility to
bring their produce to this post, and will be
permitted to take out. for the use of their
families, articles received iu exchange, or
which they have purchased
[Correspondence of the Savannah Herald.]
OCR NEW YORK LETTER.
To the Editor of the Savannah Herald:
New York, Juue 2, 18fi">.
A Great Step
towards a railroad iu Broadway lias been
taken. Singularly enough it is an indirect
one, for all the direct schemes to that end
have failed. - The last failure was of the un
derground project, which after having gone
successfully through both branches of the
Legislature, was vetoed by the Governor.
His reasons therefor were well taken, the
main one being that the time allowed for the
completion of the roads,five years, would ren
der it a great evil to the people of the city'
from the liberties allowed the company to
tear up the street, and displace the gas aud
water pipes for so long a period. This bill
will probably never be heard from again.—
But we are nevertheless fast verging to a
Broadway railroad. A few mouths ago there
was an enormous number of oumibusses ou
the street; now there are but seven lines in
the whole city, of which three run to the
South Ferry, one to the Wall street Ferry,
one to the Fulton Ferry, and two to the Jer
sey City Ferry; more tlmu twice that number
of lines have been withdrawn, having been
bought up by the new lines of street railroads
which, have lately gone into operations.
The purchase of the old “Knickerbocker”
line owning eighty stages, by one of the
railroad companies created a sensation
among people up town, and not a little in
dignation aud hard swearing has been man
ifested thereat. The Knickerbocker was an
old established and favorite route, which
had steadily resisted the gradual increase in
the rate of fair, aud invariably kept its pri
ces below the other companies. Doing an
immense share of the travel, it is no won
der that its withdrawal occasioned a marked
display of feeling, more particularly as the
car route which takes its place hardly
touches Broadvtay at all, (merely (Tossing
it at Bleecker street) aud only extending as
high up town as Fourteenth street, while
the stages had been in the habit of carrying
passengers about a mile further north. The
other lines of stages are missed, but not so
much as the Knickerbocker. The rest of
them are doomed, however, for the uutuber
left is not enough to accommodate the
public, and before two years have passed
over our heads, (perhaps much sooner) a
radro&d through our magnificent Broadway
is inevitable ou the ground of sheer neces
sity.
Fire Department.
A majority ot the Supreme Court Bench
of this district of the State has declared the
new paid Fire Department law unconstitu
tional, only one Judge (Clarke) disseutiug
horn the opinion. The members ot the new
commission continue to hold regular meet
ings, however, aud arc industriously pre
paring to push forward their operations as
soon as the controversy can be settled. The
case will go to the Court of Appeals, which
meets on the 13th inst., when a final decision
will be giveu in the matter. The Board of
Commissioners have, it is known, secured
enough men to properly man the department,
while some of the old volunteer companies
have signified an intention to continue doing
their best at fires, however the controversy
may be ended, and expressed a desire for the
successful establishment of the new system,
heartily wishing that the paid department law
may be endorsed by the Court ot Appeals,
and that the old department may pass into
history as having completed its work.
Crime.
One day last week a struggle was observed
on Broad way, between a boy and a roughly
dressed man, which as it occurted near a fruit
stand, was supposed to be for some article
the boy had stolen from the dealer in rusty
apples, musty oranges, and terra alba confec
tionary. The mau was seen to seize some
thing trom his antagonist and leave, the boy
remaining and blubbering like a whipped
schoolboy. When questioned, the lad re
vealed the pleasing fact, that he was a bank
messenger, and been robbed of several hun
dred dmlars. This too in opened day, aud
the police quite convenient. The robber es
caped and has not been discovered. Still
more audacious than that, was a garroting
affair, which occurred last Saturday night iu
a respectable boarding house, in Tenth street;
two ruffians entered the room of a Mr. San
ches, about 8 o’clock in the evening, the
house being full of people, and while one
drew a dirk aud pistol to preveut the victim
from alariuiug the other residents, the other
robbed bim, of his watch aud chain valued at
SBOO, ami $270 in greenbacks, aud seventeen
doubloons. Tbese fellows too escaped,
leaving Mr. Sanches insensible aud there is
no clue to their whereabouts.
Astartliug development was made before
one of the police courts the other day, being
no less than a villanous plot to forcibly ex
tort the sum of $13,000 from A. T. Stewart,
the dry goads millionaire, He was to be en
ticed into a carriage aud detained uutil be
signed a paper giving the principal conspira
tor the sum named. A man named Errick
Nassau, pietending to be captain and lmlt
owner of the ship Victoria Melville, figures
as the criminal. A person named James
Donahue, to whom it is alleged he divulged
his plan with the expectation he would takp
part in it, having given information to the
police. The complainant says Nassau told
him he had brought from Ijjujopp a cargo of
iron for Mr. Stewart, wlp> bat) sped him for
five tons short; that Mr. Stewart wauled to
beat hint out of lfis ship, aud us Mr. Stewart
was a rich wan he formed au idea to get
money from him. Donahue wan to hand a
letter to Mr. Siewart on the evening of the
i»th of May, us he was leaving his house or
going into his club, while Nassau was to
have a carriage handy into which Mr. Slew
art was to be enticed and taken to Nassau’s
loom, and there obliged to sigu a paper giv
ing to the latter $13,000, and kept there
until the money wus obtained from the vic
tim’s cashier. The tool was to have SIO,OOO
as his share, but probably thought it insuffi
eient, and peached. NaSsan is in the Tombs
awaiting trial.
Tlie Sabbath School Children,
Os Brooklyn celebrated the 30th anniversary
of the Sabbath School Mistion of Brooklyn
last week by the usual exercises in the differ
ent Churches, and a procession. Somethin"
like twenty thousaud ot the little ones joined
in the latter, accompanied and marshaled by
their teachers. They presented a beautiful
sight, and attracted an immense number ot
people to interest them. These gala days
are “white stone” ones in the lives of the
children, and in after years are remembered
with delight. I well recollect the splendid
floral processions which were gotten up an
nually by the Warren street Chapel of Bos
ton on 4th of July morning, aud with what
pride the cbildreu attached to that institution
turned out with baskets of dowers in their
hands, aud marched to the “common,” where
the flowers were sold, realizing a very hand
some sum of money yearly for the benefit of
the Chapel. Why such a thing has never
been arranged here I have never been able to
understand, for it would be the means of
enticing thousands of children from vice and
misery to the Sabbath School, where, if no
thing better is done, they can at least learn
the lesson of good morals, so necessary to
enable them to become good citizens iu after
life.
Style
is everything, and for variety it is thought
New York can just now beat the world. Os
course the reader must understand the re
ference is made to style of dress. We have
it here iu maguificeut proportions of
amplified skirts to the straight-backed
antediluvian mode of looping petticoats
which seenr as if about to trip up the
wearers. We have the gray and brown
dresses of secessia in large numbers.—
The contrasts on Broadway are indeed strik
ing—the Wall street dandy in kids, pateut
leathers, sugar-loaf hat, hob-tail coat, no
collared vest, aud pants terminating iu a near
approximation to a peg-top, mostly of a flue
grey cloth, marks the unshaven southern re
fugee with cadaverous countenance, som
brero hat slouched over his eyes, ragged
jacket of course, homespun, pants of no parti
cular cut, and big muddy boots or army
shoes look a little outre. With the ladies the
vaiiety of styles is dazzling to behold, and
bewildering to poor devils on small salaries
with ambitious wives. The trimmings on
dresses are perfectly unique and really Mo
saic, partaking, iu their kaleidoscopic ef
fects on the promenades, of the character
istics of the Greek alphabet and the inscrip
tions on familiar tea-chests. Some of the
trimmings remind one of the scolloped edges
of a graceful gondola, while others fret the
eye by a perfectly bewildering twistification
of embroidered skirts, eminently suggestive
of the horrible contortions of a strand ot en
raged earth worms of great longitudinality.
These are only the trimmings—elaborate,
costly and expensive—ot all colors, of all
widths, ot all values. The dresses them
selves frequently are of less expense than
what is put on them, and the mode seems
to be a mixture of the queer color of last
year with the shades of nankeen mixed
mixed therewith. Then the bonnets—all !
oh! —aren’t they splendid ? aren’t tiiey airy?
aren’t they fine ? Do they not become every
sweet lace they add beauty to ? Such loves
of bonnets! If there are any bachelors
areund, they must give up all ideas of single
blessedness or keep away from our metrop
olis. •
Thorough Workmanship
Is generally commendable iu all the me
chanic arts. Such thoroughness in the mur
der line as was evidenced iu Brooklyn a few'
days since will, however, not strike the pub
lic in that light exactly. An Italian, be-
be one of a gang of counterfeiters,
was found, with a big wound from a slung
shot, a hole through him, made by a pistol
bullet, and his head severed from his body.
Either of the above would have answered
for any mau, but his murderers wished to
make thorough w’ork, and they did it.
Oue Thousand Homeless
Families are endeavoring yet to find residen
ces in Brooklyn. The surplus population
weie entirely uuable to get houses on the
first of May, and there are now actually
stored, iu warehouses in that city, the house
hold goods of over one thousand families who
were obliged to break up house-keeping, and
take refuge iu boarding houses. This is a
siugular fact, but it is nevertheless true.
Our Musical People
Are quite exercised over the recent harmoni
ous splurge of a week’s melody in Boston,
and are agitating the subject of organizing a
mouth musical hegira next fall ou a grand
scale. It is contemplated, among other
things, to concentrate, all the grand musical
talent of not only this country but of Eu
rope, to carry out the scheme iu a style com
mensurate with the ideas of the projectors,
aud many of our leading men have signified
their willingness to subscribe heavily towards
defraying the necessary expenses. A large
buildiug would have to be erected for the
purpose, but that would soon spring up with
little difficulty. Vive la musica.
The Interest
manifsted four years ago iu the rapidly pass
iug column of southward bound patriots will
probably, ere another month expires, be
equalled by our community in welcoming
home the remains of those regiments whose
last thoughts of home remind them of the
cheers they received as they left the Man
hattan shores of the Hudson river. Our
volunteer militia will turn out by regiments
aud do escort tor the returning laurelled
braves. The effort to have a big review here
will probably be renewed, but a questiou
asked by a sententious fellow a lew even
ings since, that “suppose you take the boun
ty pimpers out of your New York regiments,
what would the review amount to numeri
cally ?” brought down the commendatory
applause of the wbole of one ot our up
town clubs. Tbe vets, those who have
borne the bruut, tougbt the battles, buried
their comrades on bloody fields, and now
come borne, shall haye oqr hearts’ thanks.
Tya<le with Suvuiimih
is really looking lively, it we umy judge from
tbe arrivals from your port. The fiue steam
er Port au Prince arrived this morning, with
lull files of tfie Heralp, to which we all look
for the latest and most important uews from
that section of the country. Much interest is
felt in all that pertains to the State of Geor
gia, hereabouts, and that \Vo soon shall greet
her star, as again one of the old galaxy, is
beyond doubt
Ex-tlov. Brown,
has beeu paroled, and is allowed the liberty
ol the purlieus of Washington. This is not
relished much by some people, but undoubt
edly thft President and Cabinet, have suffi
cient reasons, lor their leniency in this case.
Gen. Sherman.
is the lion of this city at present TTo j
jlcr. W,.do*i.y. aid SiKya Lv'E
eavmg uext Monday for CindnS
his future headquarters. Crowds gree? him
and rend the air with acclamations at eve£
step. every
The National Fast,
in honor of President Lincoln’s memory was
generally observed throughout the coumre
oy a total suspension ot business. Church!.',
w'ere all opened and memorial discourses
preached by the eminent divines throughout
the land. In Boston, Charles Sumner de
livered an eulogy. 1
War Correspondents,
now find their peculiar avocation gone
many ot them are resting from their la’bori
ous and dangerous duties of the past ibur
years. Mr. Oscar Sawyer, of the New
bade U 9 good-by last week
and is off for Europe. D?ok Colburn, of the
World, is on a roaming expedition through
the South. Others are here waiting ft
something to “turn up. ” ®
Two Magnificent horses
were recently shipped on board the steam
ship Europe, for Havre, consigned to that
quoudane rebel Minister to Frauce Tnh«
Slidell. The Government officials did not
know of the fact until after the steamer had
sailed. They are said to have beeu presented
to him by some of his admirers of the August
Belmont and Ben Wood stamps.
That Bloodhound,
belonging to Major Ways, of Richmond
which was used to hunt down escaping
Union prisoners, is now in New York and
was intended as a sort of show, but the an
nounced determination of many of our citi
zens to shoot the brute at sight, have caused
the thing to he kept out of the public view
Many soldiers there are in this vicinity who
would go a long way to get a shot at him.
The Meeting at Montgomery, Alabama.
The citizens of Montgomery and the State
at large assembled in public meeting at
Montgomery, on the 11th ult. Col. George
Reese of Chambers, presided. The commit
tee appointed to prepare the business of the
meeting, reported a set of resolutions, and
two letters, one adopted by a majority of
the committee, and the other by a minority,
to be presented to President Johnson. Both
the letters are appended :
The following letter, adopted by a majori
ty of the committee, to be signed by citizens
and transmitted to His Excellency Presi
dent Johuson, at Washington, was submit
ted to the meeting :
Montgomery, Ala, May 11,
To His Exceltmey, Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States :
Sir The undersigned, citizens of differ
ent parts of the State, respectfully request to
be informed, if your Excellency, as President
of the United States, will permit the Gover
nor of Alabama to convene the Legislature
for the purpose of calling a convention of the
people, in order to restore the State of Ala
bama to her political relations with the Unit
ed States. We believe this the most speedy
method by which a result so desirable cun
be accomplished, aud that it will impart a
degree of moral force to the act which might
not be secured iu any other manner. If this
course should be inconsistent with the views
ot your Excelleuey, we respectfully request
that you will appoint a military Governor for
this State from among the most prominent
and influential loyal men of our State, uud
invest him with such authority as may en
able him to call such convention for the pur
pose proposed.
We have been in no small degree encourag
ed in addressing you this communication by
your receut enunciation at Washington of
the principle that the States which attempted
to secede aud permanently sever their con
nection with the Union, are to remain States
still, and arc not to be lost in territorial or
other divisions.
To forever put an end to the doctrine of
secession ; to restore our State to her former
relations to the Uniou, tinder the Constitu
tion and laws thereof ;to enable her to re
sume the “respiration of her life-breath” in
the Union, is a work in which wo, in good
faith, pledge you our earQest aud zealous co
operation, and we„hazard nothing iu the as
surance that the' people of Alabama will
concur with us with a majority approaching
almost entire unanimity.
With which have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your ob’t serv ts,
After the reading of this letter, Col. Brad
ley presented a minority report submitting
tbe following letter to the President at Wash
ington, as a substitute for the letter present
ed in the majority report:
Montgomery, Ala., May 11, 18C5.
To his Excellency, Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States .-
Sir— The undersigued citizens of different
parts of this State, respectfully request to be
informed if your Excellency, as President of
tbe United Slates, will permit the Governor
of the State to convene the Legislature for
the purpose of calling a convention of the
people in order to restore the State of Ala
bama at the earliest possible day, to her po
litical relations with the United States. We
believe this the most speedy method by
which a result so desirable, can be accom
plished, aud that it will impart a degree of
moral force to the act which might not be
secured in any other manner.
We have been in no small degree encour
aged iu addressing you this communication
by your recent enunciation at Washington,
of the principle that the States which at
tempted to secede and permanently sever
their connection with the Union aie to re
main States still, aufl are not to be lost in
territorial or other divisions. To restore our
State to her former relations with the Union,
under the Constitution and laws thereof—to
enable her to resume again the respiration of
“ her life’s breath’’ iu the Union, is a work
in whiee we, in good faith, pledge you our
earnest and zealous co-operation ; and we
hazard uothing in the assurance that the peo
ple of Alabama will concur with us, with a
majoriiy approaching almost entire unanim-
ity,
We have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
Col. Parsons moved to lay both letters on
the Clerk’s desk, and that every member ot'
tbe meeting be invited to sign one or the oth
er, as lie may prefer, and that both be sent
forward to President Johnson, as an expres
sion ot the views and sentiments of this meet
ing. Adopted.
Among the prominent names of those who
took an active iff the meeting, we »or
tice those of Ex-Gov, Shorter, Col- M. A.