The Southern watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1854-1882, June 03, 1874, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextjjY JOHN H. CHRISTY. DEVOTED TO NEWS, POLITICS, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND GENERAL PROGRESS. i.OO per Annum, in. advance. VOLUME XXL ATHENS, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1874. NUMBER 9. the SOUTHERN WATCHMAN 1TUHSDED EVERY WEDNESDAY. rvrnrr of Hroad anil I rail Stnrtt, (np-ltaln.) TERMS. TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. advertising. \ jvertDoment* will be inserted et ONE DOLLAR FIFTY CENTS per square for tbo first inser- »n>i SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS per square for neb continuance, fur any time under one month. For longer periods, as follows: r^, A liberal deduetiou on yearly advertisement!. LEOAL ADVERTISING . Sheriff’s sales, perlevy of 10 lines J500 • • mortgage sales, #0 day* 4.00 Sule*. todays, by Administrators, Executors, or (iuardians *•** Citations of Administration or Guardianship 4.00 Notice to Debtors and Creditors 5.00 Ralet Nisi, per square, each in tertian 1.50 Leave to sell Real Estate— 4.00 Citationfor dismission of Administrator 5.00 << “ “ Guardian 5.25 To ascertain tbo number of squares in an advertise moot or obituary, eountthe words—one hundred being equal to ten linos touares. All fractions are counted as full PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS CARDS, HUAR cons. | A.S. anwis. I noWRLL COBB,JR raiBB, ERWIN A- COBB, I; ATTORNEYS AT LAW, ATIIE.VS, GEORGIA. Office in the Deuptee Building. Dec21 B A X K RUPTCY.—Samuel P. Thurmond, Attorncy-nt-Ljiw. Athens. Gt. O&eton Broad street,over the etorc of Barry A Son, Wiil give spociel attonlion to eases in Bankruptcy. Al io, to the collection of all claims entrusted to his car©. TAMES R. LYLE, • ) ATTonar.r at Law, h e ,.-a WATKimVfLLE, OA. ,T I5 S| OHX M. MATTHEWS. Attornet at Law, Daniolsviilc, Ga. Prompt Attention will befiveu to any business on* nt«ii to his care. Marehl4. XiiLAXllTORR, Wholesale and Retail Dealers, and COMMISSION MERCHANTS, Dupree llall.Rroad St, Athens, Ga are now prepared to store Cotton at 25 cents per ind willndvuoce cash when desired. Oct2S. g^ritultural Department. U'XtiUSll k CLASSICAL SCHOOL, J J For Bovs. cor. Wray and Lumpkin sts., Ath ens, Ha. ap?>—3ia LEE M. LVLK. Prin. T 11. HUGGINS, , holosale and Retail Dealer in DRV GOODS, GROCERIES, HARDWARE. Ac. fehlft Broad Street, Athens, Ga. JOHN H. CHRISTY, tJ Plain ai.d Fancy HOOK AND JOB PRINTER, Broad St., Athens, Ga. Office coruer Broad and Wall stroeti, over the store James D. Pittmrd. tf PAVILION HOTEL, JL CHARLESTON, S. C. This FIRST-CLASS Ilotol is situated in the very centra of the husiuoaa part of the city, and all »top there will find every convenience and luxury that c»n beprocured. Board, per day, $3.00. H. Hamilton, Supt. Mrs. L. H. Butterfield, ) Doc2’2 tf Proprietree*. J CUMMEY A NEWTON, kJ Dealers in Foreign and Domestic HARDWARE, JnneV No. 6,Broad street, Athens, Ga. Q C. DOBBS, Wholesale and Retail Doaler in Staple and Fancy DRY GOODS. GROCERIES, Ac. FebV No. 12 Broad Street, Athens, Ga. TTiMORY SPEER, ljJ LAWYER. ATHENS, GA. As Solicitor General of Western Circuit, will attend the Courts of Clarke, Walton, Gwinnett, Hall, Banks, Jackson, Habersham, Franklin, Rabun and White, and give attention to collecting and other claims in those counties. March 19, 1873. K ELIAS, Attorney at Law, . FRANKLIN. N. C. Practices in all the Court* of Western North Caro linn, and in the Federal Courts. Claims collected in all parts of the State. aplfi—ly Eli I’ARD R. HARDEN, (LatosludgeU. S. Courts Nebraska andlltah, aud now Judge of Brooks County Court) Attorney at Law, uly23 ly Quitman, Brooke County, Ga. T P. O’KELLEY’S U , PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY, Over Williams’ Shoe atore, Broad street, Athens, Georgia. aep3, B f. camp, . Attorney at Law, CARNESVILLE. GA. Will giv> prompt Attention to nil business entrusted Whim. Ue will Attend the Courts of llAbersham, F.stkliu snd Hnil. sep!7—ly. c. ritrLCS. E. P. BOWILL. PEEPLES & HOWELL, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, 30 and 23, Kimball House, ATLANTA, GA. P RACTICE in the Ststeand Federal Courts, and attend regularly all theCourts in Atlanta, includ ing tho Supreme Court of the State, and will argue rate, upon briafs for absent parties, on reasonable terms. They also practice in the Courts of the counties con tiguous or accessible to Atlanta by Railroad, sepll M.W.BIDEN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, U. s. Claim Apt and Notary Pntilic GAIXESVILLB, GEORGIA. *#* Office on Wilson street, lelow King A Bro’s, February 18, 1873. For the Southern Watchman. The Stock Law—Freemen of Georgia, Arouse! It is recorded in Sacred Writ that man was made upright, bnt they have sought out maDy inventions. These words have never been more fully verified, in any ot tho affairs of go vernment, than in the passage of a bill known as tho contemplated stock law, as it cannot becomo a law until it receives the sanction of the people. There has been as yet very little publishedon this subject which hasoomo within tbe knowledge of the writer, bnt nearly all he has seen offered to tbe public, seems to favor tbe law. In tbe remarks which I may make, I mean no disrespect to those who may differ with me in opinion; but I must say, in all can dor, that in my honest opinion, it is the most provoking attack on tbe liberties of tbe com munity at large, that has ever come np before tho public in the form of a law. In the first place, I shall address those who are advocating tho law and seeking its enforce ment, for what they believe to be their own individual interest, without regard to the well being of the peoplo at largo. I design to show that the law is oppressivo aud unjust, and would seriously injuro the great bulk of the community, without beueficiug to a great ex tent oven those who are its strongest advo cates. It is a settled principle of Republican Go vernments, that all laws should be founded in justice aud equality, aud any law which may be passed for the exclusive benefit of one class of the people, to tho utter ruiu of the other, must be unrighteous aud unjust. I contend that this law is intended to profit tbo free- bolder alone, and can in no respect benefit those who aro not. This is as plain as tho nose on a man’s face, and I challenge my op pouents for successful contradiction. Show mo a person owniug no land that will be ben efited by this act, and I will show you a leaf that the breeze nover shook. When the Au thor of naturo formed tbe earth from chaos, aud created man andanima'.s and placed them upon it, it is plain that ilo intended the earth at large as a pasture for animals, aud to them lie gavo every greeu herb for meat. It has been discovered by botanists, that each class of animals have their peculiar diet in the vege table kingdom. Tho herbs which are eateD by some, others wifi not touch. The horse, the cow and the sheep all differ in taste, some taking tbo refuse of others. The goat, it seems, takes tho refuse of all. This proves that the mountains and valleys, the hills and tho wide- extended plains, were designed by the all-wise Creator as a pasture at large, which they have continued to eqjoy up to tbe present time, only during the time that Noah had them penned up in the ark. Is it not passing strange that al'tor a lapse of more than six thousand years, during which time tbe custom of stock run ning at large has been handed down from geu oration to genoratioD, some have become so wise and sensitive as to discover that it is wrong—even roguish—for stock to bite a bunch of grass on laud other than that of their own ers. What preposterous folly ! Can auy man prove that a dime has ever been taken from bis pocket by slock running on his land, out side of bis enclosures? If this can bo proven I would like to bear the argument. I think it is only used as a pretext. It is said by some that stock running on land is an injury to it, by treadiug the soil. I admit that a number of stock turned into an enclosdre wiil injure it for a time, by treading the soil too much, and for this reason: the pasture land must go up if all tbe stock are to bo turned upon it. Very soon it will become worthless and unfit for vegetation, and the pastures must be changed. As to the treading outside, it is but compara tively little, owing to tbe vast quantity of land over which they ramble, and uever will effect any perceivable injury to it. Who would have thought, that after so many ages of stock pas taring on tbe broad earth, such a plea as this would have been offered f Truly, ‘ man was made upright, but they have sought out maDy inventions.’ I will now refer to tho origin of the alleged necessity of the law, and some may tbiuk it remote from the subject, but I think I shall be able to show that it originated in the cause to which I allude. It is well known by all ob servers, that tbe practice of most farmers in tbe middle counties of Georgia, for many years past, has been by no means calculated to save tbo woodland or improve the soil. Farming operations havo been conducted on the ex hausting system. The general effort was to cut down the land as rapidly as possible, in order to make cotton, to get money, to buy ne groes, to make more cotton, to bay more ne groes. This was the state of things in Middle Georgia for the last sixty years, perhaps, pre vious to tbe war. It may be said, that it was tbeir privilege so to do. Who doubts it f But men often abuse their privileges to their own hurt, and this is ono of the eases. Now, if the consequences should stop there, nobody cares bow soon they may have worn out tbe land, nor how the proceeds were disposed of; but unfortunately for poor men and women of tbe present day, who do not happen to ha bond holders, the effects are beginning to tell sadly on tbeir rights. The law is not yet in farce ; still, they suffer in anticipation of the coming] 1 Aalnmitv. JOBS B. KSTRS. MADISON BELL. ESTES BELL, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, GA JNESVJLLE GEORGIA. ILL praetic in tfie eoua ties computing tbe West- *’ urn Circuit, end Dawson and Forsyth counties of the Blqe Rji]ge Cironit. They will also practice in the Supreu.e Court of Georgia, and in the United States Court at Atlanta. mrnyU A. A, EDGE, Boot, Shoe and Harness MAKER, sprint—iy WATKINSVILLE, GA JAS. L. LONG, M. D. Surgeon, Accoucheur aud Physician, (Office at Mr. Thomae Shea Is’ Store,) Ggoq Hope District, Walton co., Ga, (jfferr his professional services totheeilisens of the iHtfolindtog country. *pg27 Livery, Feed & Sale Stable, ATHENS, GEORGIA. ®ANN & HEAVES, PROPRIETORS, WJLL Wound at their old etsnd, rear Franklin Housebuilding, Thom,a street. Keep nlwsye "s, * 00 ^ T*rn-o«ts and earefnl driver*. 5. c* well eared for when entrusted to oar onre. htook on hand for tale at all times. dec2S—tf WALTON HOTEL, MONHOE, GA. Iwould i©spectrally infora travelers of ih. Ijbllo generally that ho Lee taken charge *lrcom d jipetre jto f>t <ffs to make ~ B.B.ADAIR, D.D.SL GAINESVILLE, GA. unco, tjoutbsa,: oornsr Public Square. mar27 calamity I now pass on to tbo next principal cause— I mean the late war and its effects. Tbe ef fects of tbe war are demoralisation, inhuman ity to fellow-men, selfishness and a desire in mea to build themselves up on the ruin of others, pod lastly, tbe abolition of slavery, the great death-blow to tbeinterestaof the South, [t is plain to every observer, that tbe worn-out condition of Middle Georgia, together with tbe freedom of the negroes, were the causes of tho application for tbe law. Had tbe war never taken place, and matters continued as they were fifteen years ago, a stock law never would have been thought of; but, so soon os this mighty change has swept over tbo face of things in Georgia, and tbe slaveholder has loot the involuntary services of Coffee and Sambo, he has set his wits to work to oempei his poor fellow-man to bear, in a measure, the burden of bis loss, by procuring the passage of a law to force him to become tributary to him for pasturage for bis stock t or keep qo stock at all. It is alleged that it costa a great deal to fence np the farms. Admit that it does, for the sake of ai-gnment; what is that to tbe poor, who are not landholders t Do yon expect them to bear tbe harden of yoar misfortune, by being timed with tbe expense of hiring pas tures for their stook ? The scarcity of timber is complained or. This is worthless as an ar gument, as there is yet a great deal of forest land; and besides, there are thousands of acres of land now standing in second forest, with a heavy growth of yonug plno upon it, sufficient for fenoing purposes; and any lot of land which Is so far exhausted as to render it impossible to get timber sufficient for fenejt is hardly worth paying tax for; but qvfin , that case, tbe hedge and dU^u' might be re sorted to. 1 ‘ ’’ The writer Is a freeholder, but if I owned ten thousand acres of land, I uever could favor such a law—believing, a3 I do, that it is un righteous and unjust, and would eventually become a nuisance to every class of tbe com munity, as I shall attempt to prove hereafter. It is aristocratic in every feature, as none bat freeholders are allowed to petition for it, and those who are not, cannot petition against it. This plainly proves that it is the landholder alone it is intended to benefit. Now, I will ask, has tbe man who owns no land at all no right in the country ? Ifao.be owes nothing to tbe government, and should be exonerated from taxation aad all public duties. Bat to the reverse, he mast bear the public burden. Lock at the late war. Were they exonerated t By no means. What class of the community was it that was instrumental in bringing on tbo war f Was it tbe poor of the land ? Sure ly not. It was the wealthy, who were con tending for their slave property. Now, it is very true, that some of those men fonght brave ly on the battle-fields, bled and suffered; but many sought exemptions and remained at home. Tbe ‘ wool bat boys’ were called upon to tarn oat and fight, and those who did not willingly volunteer were bunted up by tbe conscript officers, and dragged from their weep ing wives and children, to die on tbe battle field, or to languish neglocted in a hospital till death relieved them of tbeir sufferings; and among others, their widows and orphans are to be the sufferers, if you succeed in enforcing this law. It is not my intention to give a moral lecture on this occasion, but let me suggest to you to be cautious how you tamper with the rights of tbe poor and needy, the widow and the orphan. Their Redeemer is strong, and sure as tbe word of Eternal Truth shall stand. He will stand np to plead their cause. Hear tbe words of Solomon, the wise King of Israel, on this subject. They read thus: ‘ If thou seest tbe oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at tbe matter, for He that is higher than tbe highest regardetb, and there be higher than they.’—Ecclesiastes, 5; 8. But I must pass on to other points. Since tbe abolition ot slavery, it is not necessary for farmers to fence np more than one-half the land they formerly had enclosed. Any farmer who owns land, may manage to get enough under fence to answer bis purpos es. If you cannot fence it yourself, lease it to freedmen and let them fence it. Fence less land, put it under a higher state of cultivation, and it will pay you batter. It will be a difficult law to enforce over a people who have been accns- torued to liberty; and crops planted outside of enclosures will be liable to injury from un ruly stock, by breaking out of pastures, cattle will be more liable to get over a tense out of a dry pasture into a corn field, than tbov would be to got over the same fence into tbe field, out of tbo woods. Tbe gentlemen dar kies, when riding in tbeir buggies to ebureb, (for they are great buggy riders) would per baps take across your eorn field for a near cut, anil then you would want a double-barreled shot gun. Should you come up with him, what then ? You might throw lead at him, but you could not touch him with tbo law under the provisions of the stack law bill, for though the bill protects farms from the depredations of stock, it dees not prohibit persons from pass ing over your land. If there is any law to that effect, I have never seen it. There being only surveyor's lino between the counties, tbe stock of 0D6 county will pass over into another aud if stock belonging to a county where the law is not in force are taken up and impound ed, the laws will conflict, and you cannot com pel the citizens of another county to abide by your actions. It will be tbe cause of constant litigation and strife, and private injury will be douo to stock and fences. It will cause ani mosity between neighbors, and fences may be burned or thrown down for mere malice and vexation. It will cut off the means of keeping stock from persons in'towns and cities, as it would be almost impossible for all of them to procure pasturage for their stock, especially such as havo no land of their own, and would be extremely inconvenient for them to drive to aud from tho pastures without getting into farms; otherwise, they would be compelled to stall up their cattle the year round, or keep none. It is contended by some, that by fencing up the stock farmers would have the opportunity of cultivating tho best spots of grouud, which lie scattered over tbeir land, and that they coaid rent to freedmen without the cost of feucing. To this I answer, that on the other hand, the disadvantages attending the law will overbalance those advantages. They have conjured up, in imagination, a paradise on earth, under tbe blessings of a stock law; bat before five years are past, should they succeed in enforcing it, this paradise will become a pur gatory, and those who are now drinking down the stock law doctrine like cordial, will vomit it np os deadly poison. Instead ot begging for its benefits, they will pray to be relieved from its curses. The bill itself provides for endless litigation among neighbors and friends, and it will be a continual annoyance both to the taker up and the owner of etock. Let ns look at some of the provisions of the bill. Tbe third section of tbe bill declares that, if any animals shall commit a trespass, or damage, or be found on the premises of any other person than their owner, whether en closed or nnenclosed, and whether sneb ani mala wandered from their owner in the eonnty in which the trespass was committed, or from another county, it shall be lawful for the own er of sack premises to impound each anima’s and retain them until the owner of such stock shall make fell satisfaction for the damages, including costs and expenses. It is plain to see that this section will conflict with tbe pre sent State law in regard to fences. The pre sent law allows every raaq the right to tarn oqthjs stock whenever he pleases, and will rotect him in that right nntil it is repealed, .’he citizens of one county cannot be compelled to abide by the action of those of another, but every tab most stand on its own bottom. Section fourth says : * Should any animals be impounded under the provisions of this act, it shall be tho duty of the impounding party .to give them ail necessary feed, caB and at tention, for which he shall have compensation and he most also give notice to the owner, of tbe fact of the impounding, in twenty-four hours: and if not known or ascertained within three days from the taking up, the animals shall be disposed of under the provisions of the estray laws. The proceeds of such sales, after the payment of legal costs, inelnding adver tising, &o., shall bo applied first to the pay ment of damages sustained by tbe aggrieved party, including compensation for feed, oare and attention.’ Now, is it not plain that this prooess ot law amounts virtually to a conflsca tion of the property! Stock straying {Torn their pasture at night might watfder for sev eral days wittyWt being impounded, and many irsqtw do not know the cattle of their near- jt neighbors; and if the owner could not be found in throe days, they most be sold eetraye -, and after this process of law is goi through and expenses paid, there would bs little left to the owner, bosides depriving him of his stook. Bat now comes the principal litigation nteu- tioned in the bill. Section fifth declares that if any person shall, under pretext of this act. unnecessarily or out of mere vexation,Take u? and impoand any animals, or after having taken np and impounded such animals, shall fail to give the notice required by thiq gt to estray them in case the qwn&r is not known or ascertained within the time prescribed by this qo$, of. shqll fail to give the proper care or attention, as herein provided, or shall injaro or maltreat such animals, such person so^offead- dictment and conviction before any oaurl hair ing jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by fine or imprisonment in the common jail, in tho discretion of the presiding Judge who shall try tbo cause—tbe flue not to exceed $100 and the imprisonment not to exceed one month; and in addition, shall pay to tbe owner of snch animals double the amount of damages actu ally sustained by a violation of this act. Thus we sec that not only the owners of trespassing stock, but tbe takers np, are liable to be ag grieved by this law. Some may contend that snch cases will never occnr, hat law is law any way yon can fix it, and if this law is to be so rigidly enforced against tbe owners of trespass ing stock, why not enforce it with equal rigor against the taker up, who may fail to comply with the provisions of.the act! Litigation will incite malice and hatred, and the law wiil be poshed to tbe extent, I guess, that some of our high-minded citizens would feel very cheap going to jail, or paying $100, and that in con sequence of impounding stock. The sixth section says, that in case of dis agreement between the taker up and the own er of animals as to the amount of damages sustained, or tor expenses for care, feed and attention, the complaining party may apply to a Justice of the Peace in the district, and if no Justice in such district, then to tbe most con venient Jnstiee in another district, setting forth the amount claimed, and such Justice shall issue a summons, as. in other suits, re turnable in five days, requiring tbe claimant of snch stock to appear at a time therein named, when such Justice shall proceed to bear evidence and give judgment against snch claimant for such damages as shall appear just, inelnding tbe expenses of feeding such stock and all legal costs, which shall be enforced by levy and sale, as other judgments, and pro- vided that a special lien shall attach on the animals for the payment of such judgment, superior to all other liens; and provided, also, that if the judgment shall exceed fifty dol lars, tbe defendant may appeal, as in other cases; provided, farther, that in case of any litigation, as contemplated by this act, it shall be lawful for the owner of sueh stock to give the complaining party a bond, with security, to pay all damages and costs which may be recovered against him in such suit, and there by recover the property, that in case of dis agreement between the taker np and the own er of trespassing stock, (now, is it not reason able to snppose they would naturally differ?) what else could be expected t It is too often the case that men differ in plain cases, where both sides of the contract is fully specified, but where feelings of ani mosity have been aroused, and the owner of the stock believes the claim of his adversary is not founded in justice or righteousness, is it not reasonable that he should stick out to tbe last cent ? Then tho complaining party, no matter how urging bi3 business may be at home, must leave it and go off and hunt up a Justice of tbe Peace and Bailiff, and, perhaps, there is no Justice in his district, for in many districts in Middle Georgia there are no of ficers, bnt be must go till he gets one, if he has to travel twenty miles, a court must be held, and the Justice proceeds to hear evidence and give judgment for supposed damages and cost; and provided, that in ease of any litiga tion, as coutemplated by this act, the owner of stock may replevy tbe same, as in case of prop erty under attachment for debt. A pretty state of things, truly, to be bronght about merely to gratify the avarice of a few aristocratic men, aud selfish too, for the prin ciple is selfish and narrow contracted. Would it not be much better while they aro banting up officers and making preparations for court, that they should be cultivating their crops un der fence and nntonebed by stock? Which, I ask, would be tbe most profitable, and which affords the most pleasure ? And after be re covers damage against his neighbor it will not restore bis crop, and, perhaps, it is too late to plant it, and the land must lie uncultivated.. Having glanced at some of the provisions of the bill, I now procosd to some other points which I desire to notice. I wish to call your attention to the fact that by enforcing this law yon plaee your own premises beyond yoar con trol. If tbe country is thrown into a public farm, your crops will not bo secure from the depredations of stock, and besides, yon would not have tbo privilege of turning yonr stock upon yoar land to pick up the wastage. Sup pose about harvest time there comes a storm and blows down your grain flat on the ground, there it must lie and rot. Yonr stock cannot touch it. That is a clear loss. If yonr farm is enclosed, then yon ean turn in the stock to >ick np the waste grain, bat under the stock aw, yon lose all. Thus you will find the dis advantages to overrun tbe profit of cultivating your land without being enclosed. Tbe whole sum and substance of the stock law rests on this po’nt. The people are unwilling to fence np their old plantations. They need not plead disability, any man wbo is able to own a large lot of land, is able to have as mnch fenced as will answer bis purposes for cultivation. It is contended by some that it would be tbe best plan to improve stock, admit it, but would it be right and jnst to saddle down this law on the community merely because yon wish to improve your stock t It is your privilege to fence up pastures, keep up your stock, and improve them, that will not interfere with others rights. Even the Railroad companies have taken a pull at this subject. In tbe judgment of tho writer, these are tbe last men on earth who ought to part their lips in favor of a stock law. Their object, it seems, is to avoid the risk cf paying for a cow or hog which may accident ally be caugbt on the road aad killed, wbieh accident very often results from tbe careless ness of the hands employed on the trains, bat after paying snob expenses they are making enormous profits, aad could better afford to fence np tbeir tracks tban to compel every man in the State to fence up their stock to keep them from the road. No family can lire comfortably without stock. This law virtually cats off tbe stock to, perhaps, less tban one- half the present number, as there are thou sands of persons (I mean in the State at large) who now own stock, that coold not keep them at all. Already we are depending on the West for males and bacon. And what a state of things may we not expect under this law t— Families will become strangers to milk, bat ter, and beef, also, pork and mntton, for they will never get any hog meat except what ba con they can bny, and that, no doubt, will be mnch higher tban at present. Already we pay high for shoes, boots, and all woolen goods. If the stock are eat off uem the country, prices will greatly advance. Seme will say, sow clover and raise pastures for yonr stook. To this I answer, a large land holder may raise pastures for his stock, but for a man ownini no land to go upon the land of another am fence up pasture, aad break it np, and send West to get the seeds of clover, or other grass es, to raise pasturage, would seem to me a very heartless and expensive job, especially if he has to pay rent. Rather than undertake this, most persons would abandon the idea of stook, and poor widows coaid do nothing in that taken away, and will yon sit tamely still and suffer them thas wrested from yonr hands ? I think yon will not. I believe yon will not.— This is one of the effects of tbe late demoraliz ing war. That war which has torn asunder the heartstrings of thonsaifds, so to speak, and left them to monrn in unavailing sorrow, and, instead of sympathizing with snch and seeking to relieve their sufferings, they are seeking to add to their miseries by the enforcement of this odious law, which will cruelly deprive them of their liberties and oppress them. Voters! come to the rescue. Stand up shoulder to shoulder for yonr rights. Speak through the thunder of the ballot-box en the first Monday in July next, and proclaim to the world that Georgia stilt intends to be free. One of the People. dieatoc: The following is worth a year’s sub scription to your paper: Pat China berries aroand the bills, or scat ter them in rows, as you would cotton seed, and no cat worms will trouble the yeang plants. We have tried with eminent suceess. Besides, China-berries are as good fertilizers as cotton seed and cost much less. If they could be crushed or coarsely ground, so much the better, for then they would not sprout, and would give out their enriching properties much sooner. fried Ipuellang. Sweet Potatoes. A correspondent of the Southern Cultivator, who signs himself ‘ Bolton,* famishes the fol lowing letter on the caltare of this important and mnch neglected crop: Much is being said in tbe agricultural pa pers on every subject except the sweet potato, vriiicb I think is one of tbe most important crops raised Sooth and a crop that has been shamefully neglected. I shall try in a few words to give yon my plan of growing them which I think will give any of the readers of the Cultivator suceess, it they try. In tho first place, I select for bedding just such potatoes as suit my taste, viz: rather large and of smooth skin, of tbe pure’yellow yam. To pre pare tbe bod I spade up sufficient space, which should be of rich, mellow earth, and raised several inches high. I then put on good layer of stable manure, then rich earth about one inch thick, then the potatoes, about } inch apart, then rich earth- again, finishing with a heavy coat of manure. As soon as the potato begins to sprout, tbe tep-coatingof ma nure should be taken, off, and more earth well pulverized pnt on. In the next place, I select land of a dark color—where there is bat-little or no red clay. About the 25th of March I plough this land 10 inches deep, breaking it broadcast. Wbeu the potato slips are large enongh for planting, I prepare my rows, by laying off 4f feet apart, and plowing from 12 to 14 inches deep, and I am careful not to bave a high bed as was tho custom before tbe war, and is now with many planters. In cultivating tbem, tbe first ploughing is done with a bull-tongue, which is put- in the ground as deep as a good mule cau puli it; thou I hoe well, and keep the grass ont all the year. Tbe next ploughing is done with a turning plow put in the furrow made by the bull-tongue, throwing the dirt to the potato, and this plow ing continued until the middles are broken out, and ever afterwards cultivated with sweep and boe. As to gathering—after the first frost if the ground is not wet, I gather my crop—haul the potatoes where I expect to bank tbem, and if the weather permits, I let them lie ont three or four days, in piles of about ten bushels each ,—taking care to cover tbem at night, and tearing down at every morning. This pro cess is continued till the potatoes cease to sweat, and then properly banked away, where they will remain good for twenty months. Many wait till several frosts have fallen. This plan, I think, is arninous one, as I be lieve all of tbe sap of tbe vine makes back to the potato as soon as tbe frost touches it; in which case yon have a water]’ potato to eat till they all rot, which they will do, no matter how well yon put them up. The low bed3 re tain the rain, while the high-drawn up beds become as dry as powder, and are never wet two inches deep by the heaviest rains; therefore, plough deep, and low beds will make yonr potatoes. I made at the rate of 540 bushels per acre last year. THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART. There is a love that speaketh, But is not heard aloud; Its sacred language breaketh Not on the busy crowd. ’Tis heard-in secret places Its sorrows to disguise -, ’Tis writ in anxious faces, And meditative eyes. It ever comes to render Kiud thoughts when fond ones part; Its tones are sweet and tender— ’Tis the language of the heart. No art of man can can teach us This secret speech of love; Though here its tones may reach us, They echo from above. ’Tis heard in gentle praises, In pleadings soft and weak; It tells in silent gazes. What lips could never speak. A With strong electric fleetness, J Us holy breathings start. No speech cau match its sweetness— The language of the heart. Having' given a few hints to the advocates of the law, I now, in conclusion, address those who may have taken no stand in the matter, and, perhaps, are undecided. Tosuchl will say, the crisis is near at hand, tbe time is near when yon will be called upon to decide whether S i will maintain ynnr liberties or desert tbem. e people of Georgia should ever be jealous qf their rights. Wo should remember the toil, the sufferings and dangers our forefathers en dared for liberty's sake, the great struggle of the Revolution they sustained to preserve the liberties we now enjoy, and which we are now called upon to vote away. For eight distress ful years they contended with a foreign foe, and hand to hand, in arguments of bloody eteel, they plead our cause, or faced the can non’s moc.th. to guarantee to' their posterity the rights of man. People of Clarke and Walton counties, tbi3 address is to you, I know no other counties who have yet applied for the law. Will you maintain yoar rights, or will you vote away those liberties so dearly bought I with blood ? Step by step our liberties are ( The Stitch in Time. There is no branch of business to which the old proverb of ‘ a stich in time eaves nine’ ie more applicable than to faming. A little re pair iu a fence, a hedge looked after in tbe proper time, may save a crop from being root ed np or trampled down by stock; or tbe lit tle repair thus early made will prevent a great er deterioration in the farm inclosura. A dol lar’s worth of labor to-day may save ten month hence. The same principle is applica ble to farm buildings. One loose board soon begets another, and one nail driven in time, may save a half day’s labor if delayed. Then we may carry the same principle into crops. Early planting in properly prepared beds pro duces early crops; early vegetables bring good prices. It is the people who plant late who can never make any money on vegetables sent to market. He wbo takes a stitch as soon as the slightest rent appears, is sure to save time and money in the end, so the farmer who avails himself of the earliest good weather to prepare his land and plant his crop, will save time and money. He works while others are working. His crops will be shewing the green spronts above the surface of the ground when the seed of others is jnst being settled in the soil. Thus, he gets ahead of tbe weeds, and his plants are up and vigorous befor the weeds get a chance to choke them; hence, his labors all through tbe crop season are less than those of his neighbors wbo did not early delve and early sow. Tims it is that the stitch he took in his soil in early time saves him fall qine ere the year is over. He who early sows will early reap, hence, again, he eaves in being able to get labor before it becomes high-priced by the great demand from the many farmers and, we might add, that with his grain all garnered, the thrifty farmer can then' show bis generosity by assisting his more dilatory friends. But it is especially la the-case of farm tools that this old maxim shines ont to its greatest strength. No ono thing so much detracts from the profits of a farmer as to have farm imple ments in bad order when they are wanted. A loose bolt daily becomes looser, and one broken nut throws a double strain on some other, hence, to care for all the points, and to ever watch that no part is out of order, weak er defective, should bo the first and constant eare of a farmer. An apparently little defect if unattended to becomes slowly, it may be. but sorely worse, until the implement is worth less. A cold neglected may cause consump tion 5 a loose bolt unattended to may cause breakage of the mowing machine which will entail serious loss. Cut Worms. Says a correspondent of the Farmer’s Yin An Innocent Granger. A farmer, we will call him Smith for short, lives in Madison county, and would bo known at least by reputation, to many of our readers were bis right name given. Bnt the incident we now relate, though coming to us in a relia ble way, was known to fow outside of hie neighborhood. Farmer Smith lived in a qui et way, and supposed to bave accumulated something ahead besides having a pretty good farm. After his second son bad been married about a year, he concluded to settle near the old man’s, if bo could rent a place. Hearing of this, Mr. Thompson, again we withhold the true name, thought there might be a chance to sell a Certain place on pretty fair terms. Mr. Thompson was a money loan- , and nothing suited him so well as good in terest ; backed by good security; and he was moreover generally considered a pretty shrewd trader. He rode over to see old man Smith, but the farmer 6aid be did not feel able tobuy, he mignt buy on a credit if the price was low enough and the interest was not too high. His son “ Jakey,” ho said, would bave to pay for the farm himself if the trade was made, but his son was a good farmer, and, bo thought it would, be all right, at least the land would be there, and would be good for what remained unpaid if bis son should fail. Wbat seemed to startle tho bid fellow was twelve percent, interest that Thompson wanted. Finally, however, after a great deal of talk, the price was agreed on at twenty thousand dollars, ouo-fifth cash, and notes at one, two, three and four years, with twelve per cent, interest from date for the remainder. The contract was drawn, and they were about to sign, when the farmer suggested that if he shoald at any timo get any more money than was due oa the notes he wantod to be allowed to pay it and conut off the twelve per cent. Tbe position eeemed reasonable enough to Thompson, and he could not object to its in sertion in the contract, and so tbe document was signed in duplicate. Tho deed was to be ready, the notes drawn, and the first payment made on tho following Saturday. When tho time arrived, both were punctual ly on hand, tho first $5,000 was paid, and the notes were ready forsignature. ‘ Mr. Thomp son,’ said farmer Smith, “ I’ve been thinkiug about the interest, and it seemed skerry, so I thought I’d gotber in some little money I bad out, and pay part of it, and"—pulling from his breast-pocket a roil of money—“just count that.” The money was counted, and with twelve per coot, off, the first note was paid. When Thompson had pocketed the money again Smith said: I’ve got a son livin’ in Mis souri, Mr. Thompson, and as soon as he heard I was buyin’ a farm for Jakey, he sent me a little money," pulling a roil from his right side breeches pocket, “ aud so whatevor it is we’ll credit it on the next note, if yon bave no objection.” Again the money was counted, and with the twenty-four per eent. ofi, jnst paid the note to a cent. “ Well, that’s lack," resumed tbe old man ; and now, Mr. Thompson, tbe old woman has been selling right smart of batter and aigs, and some chickens now and then, when they come ’round the country a buying, and she told me this morniu’ that I better take what she had, and maybe it wouldn’t come amiss. A roll was produced from tbe left aido breech es pocket, and when counted, just paid tbe third note after thirty-six per cent, was de ducted, and Thompson said not a word Smith seemed to bo considering for some min utes, and then, raising bis head, as though a sadden thought struck him: “ You know my darter Sal, didn’t yet Leastwise you’ve seen her. Sal was a fine gal. About five years ago,at< hog-killin’ time, one o’ my hands tnok sick, and what did Sal do but turn in and help us, and, I tell you, she could sling a hog across her shoulder equal to ary man on the ground. Well, yon know, Sal married year before last, and her husband, Bibbell, yon know Hibbell, is doin’, they tell ine. as good a grocer business as any man m Kirksville Jakey, he went over to see Sal and’Hibbell tbe other day, and they was talkin’about this hsra interest business, and Sol says to Hibbell, says she—" “ Nevor mind wbat they said^ Mr. Smith; broke iu Thompson; “ jnst hand over the mon ey you were going to say they sent you.’ And sore enongh the old man produced still another roll from some secret pocket which when counted, proved to bo the exact amount necessary to pay off the last note when the forty weight per cent had been duly taken off. a He, She and They. HE. He was yonng, he was fair, and he parted Us hair, like an average beau, in the middle; he was prond,.he was bold, but the troth must be told, he played like a fiend on a fiddle.— Barring bis voice, be was everything nice, and bis heart was so loving and tender, that he al ways turned pale when he trod on the tail of tbe cat lying down by the fender. He clerked in a store, and the way he tore off calico, jeans and brown sheeting, would have tickled a calf, and made tbe brnto laugh in the face of a quarterly meeting. He cut quite a dash with a daring moustache, which be learned to adore and cherish; for one girl bad said, while she dropped her proud head, that ’tnould kill her to see the thing perish. On Sundays he’d search tbe straight road to cbnrcb, unheeding the voice of the scoraer; and demarely he sat, like a young tabby cat, with the saints in tbe amen corner. He sang like a bird, and bis sweet voice was heard fairly tugging away at long metre; and wo speak bat tbe truth when we say that this youth could ontsing a hungry mosquito. SHE. She was young, she was fair, and she scrambled her hair like the average belie of tbe city; she was proud but not bold, yet the troth must be told, the way she chewed wax was a pity. Barring this vice, she was every thing nice, and tbe world admired her bustle; and tbe Athens bo^s, being calmed by tbe noise, walked miles to hear it rustle. She cut quite a swell, did this wax chewing belle, aad men flocked iu crowds to meet her, but she gave tbem tbe shirk, for she loved tho young clerk, who sang like a hungry mosquito. So she hemmed and she hawed, and she sighed and she “ chawed,” till her heart and her jaws were broken; then sbo walked by the store, while be stood at tbe door awaiting some love token. She raised up her eyes with a mock surprise, and tried to enact tbe scorner -, but, to tell tbe truth, she grinned at tbe yontb, wbo loved tbe amen corner. THEY. • • • They met—alas! what came to pass was soft and precious; they wooed, they cooed, he talked, she chewed. Ob, how they loved, good gracious! They bad to part, he rose to start, her grief can now bo paiuted: these are tbe facts; she swallowed hor wax, then screamed, then choked, thon fainted.— Her pa appeared; her beau, quite scared, pushed out to get some water; tbe watch-dog spied his tender hide, and bit him where he “ onghter.” The tale is sad, tbe soquel stern —so thinks tbo youth thus bitton. He sings no more, as of yore—be gave that girl the mitten. 0 FINIS. She pined apace, her pretty face looked eleoder and dejected: her father kind, but somewhat blind, beheld ber and refleoted.— His income tax he spent for wax; she smiled and called him clever. Sbo went to work, for get the clerk, and chewed in bliss forever! Maxims for a Yonng Man. Never be idle. If your hands cannot be nsefnlly employed, attend to tbo cultivation, of your mind. Always speak the truth. Keep good company or none. Make few promises. Live up to yonr engagements. Keep your own secrets if you bavo auy. When yon speak to a person look him in the face. Good company and good coversation are the very sinews of virtuo. Good character is above all things else. Never listen to loose or idle conversation. Yon had better be poisoned in yonr blood than yonr principles. Your character cannot be easily injured ex- copt by your own acts. If any one speaks evil of you, let yonr life be so virtuous that none wiil be'i“vo him. Drink no intoxicating liquors. Ever live, misfprtunes excepted, within your income. When yon retire to bed, think over what you have done daring the day. Never speak lightly of religion. Make no haste to be rich if you would pros per. Small and steady gainsgive competency with tranquility of mind. Never, play at any kind of game. Avoid temptation through fear that yon may not withstand ic. Save when yon are young, to spend whan you are old. Read some portion of the Bible every day .— Counsels for Life. ■ Tonics for Women. Nothing makes a woman age more rapidly than overwork—tbe regson, probably that American women fade so soon. Sunshine, mu sic, work and sleep are the greatest medicines for women, who need more sleep than men. Their nerves are more sensitive and they are not so strong, exhaustion from labor or pleas ure takes place sooner with them tban with men. Never permit yonreelf to be roused out of a deep sleep in tbe morning. In fact, one shonid never be wakened. The body rousps of itself when its demands are satisfied. Take a warm bath occasionally before going to bed —at least once a week. Retire as soou as you feel sleepy in tbe evening. Don’t rouse your self and go to work* You need rest then, snd will pay, for the trespass-on yonr physical na ture the next day it you disobey. Please Stop my—What! We clip the following sensible hints from tbe Baptist Watchman: * Times are hard, bu siness is doll, money is scarce, retrenchment is a duty—pleaso stop my*—whiskey t * O, no; tiine3 aro not hard enough for that. But there is something else that costs me a large sum of money every year, which I wish to save. Please stop my’—tobacco, cigars, snuff f * No, no, not these; but I must retrench somewhere, please stop my’—ribbons, jowels, ornaments aud trinkets? ‘Not at all; prido must ho fostered, if times aro ever so hard; but I be lieve. I can see a way to effect quite a saving Thompson pocketed the raouey, wentfWaight in another direction ; pleaso stop rav’—tea, coffee and unhealthy luxuries ? ‘ No. no, no, not those,! must thlnkof something olaSRj AhggSMvjB to the court house, aeknowledged the deed, 11 have it now. My paper aosta $2 a year; I and handed it over with only this r<ima((|c: Lmst save that!. Teat will carry uio through “ You are the grandest old rascal 1 ever saw Jjjjj^Wtoauic easily. I believe iu retrenchment —Lexington (Ky.) Gaiette. MBpcouomy, especially iu brains.’

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Southern watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1854-1882, June 03, 1874, Image 1