Newspaper Page Text
grhrotticlc anb
WEDNESDAY, - - JOLY 18, 1877.
CROP hbwh.
The friends of the Chronicle and
Constitutionalist in Georgia and
Sooth Carolina will greatly oblige us by
sendiug, from time to time, brief let
ters showing the condition of the crops.
We would like to have a letter once a
week from every locality where the
Chronicle and Constitutionalist cir
culates.
la Flipper black, brown or cream
colored, aay? m 9 m
Ex -President Jeff Davis has a sor
in-law named Hates.
The ex-State Auditor of Alabama i
reported “ short ” SBO,OOO.
Armenia is to Russia what Montenegro
is to Turkey—a hard Dut to crack.
Blue Jeans Williams has lately ex
perienced a black suit of clothes and a
white vest.
The Mechanics’ Havings Bank, of Bos
ton, paid a cash dividend of 40 percent,
the other day. |
Philadelphia boasts of a man who
has been arrested twenty-six times for
beating his wife.
The Jewish Babbi, of New Haven,
Conn., occupied the pulpit of a Con
gregational Church last Sunday.
Gabbiel Netteb, a New York banker,
was the Jewish gentleman who received
an invitation to the Grand Union Hotel
at Saratoga.
The thrilling news reaches us from
Washington that new applicants for
Federal positions will get a large share
of the spoil.
A correspondent of the Tribune
thinks it about an even choice between
death by consumption and a residence
in East Florida.
What a pity the money invested by
citizeus of Augusta in wild cat or doubt
ful securities abroad was not employed
usefully at home.
Authentic tidings from abroad show
that Grant approves Haws’ policy.—
This will be gall and wormwood to the
“ stalwart ” Radicals.
Macon has honored herself by provid
ing for the widow and orphans of the
late A. R. Watson. It is a very rare
case of Christian charity.
The Louisiana papers advised the plan
ters of that State ;to diverisfy their
agriculture. Result: About 12,000 more
acres planted in cotton than last year.
Seven hundred and thirteen Dutch,
Swiss, Norwegians, Danes and English
have just landed. They are Mormons
and will go to join Brother Bbioham
YoITNQ. m , m
The correspondents at the front (front
garret window in New York) all said
Mukiitab Pasha was a fool. The Rus
mans really at the front are of a differ
ent opinion.
LooKiNii Glass wants to “come in” with his
band. Better break him and bring him in
pieces.— Baltimore Gazette.
How would hanging do ? That would
be “holding the mirror up to Nature.”
If yon hunger for that vacant Consul
ship, remember that it is at 9t. Paul de
Loando -a very unhealthy place on the
coast of Afrio.i. Why not give it to a
first class Charleston Hunkidori ?
The New York Herald thinks Ben
Hill’s criticism of the Blaine-Cham
11F.RLA1N fiasco is simply an assertion
that both the Demooratio and Republi
can parties are dead.
Pitkin has brought on as a present to
Butleb a Louisiana Ku-Klnx dead box.
The Wioked One will exhibit this box in
Congress, as a substitute for Morton’s
bloody Bhirt. There is fun ahead in Oc
tober.
A colored man arraigned for forgery
in the Superior Court yesterday declined
to take a colored man for a juror in his
case, though the Solicitor-General had
accepted him. There was not muoh
color line in this.
In 1828 29 Russia was at war with
Turkey for sixteen months before Dibb
lTflcn succeeded in crossing the Balkans
with his skeleton army. At that rate of
progress the oapture of Constantinople
is still remote.
The Liberian Committee at Charleston
reports 46,000 South Carolina negroes
ready to go to Afrioa. They may be
“ready,” but we predict that not 400 of
them will ever cross the brine. It takes
money to transport 45,000 men.
aJcoordino to Gen. Mahone, Vir
ginia’.• debt is $41,000,000. He also
figures jnt a tax deficit of at least $590,-
000. Some shrewd experts in "Fee
nautz” think Gen. Mahone is squinting
at repudiation. He u a candidate for
Governor.
The discomfiture of the Russians in
Asia is attributed to a want of supplies
and that want is traced to frauds in the
commissariat. It is the same old story.
The speculators in the rear are more
dangerous to a oountry than an enemy
in front. "Gold, in its last analysis, is
the sweat of the poor and the blood of
the brave.”
So far as heard from 464 delegates have
been chosen to the Virginia Democratic
Convention that is to nominate a candi
date for Governor. Of these Daniel
has 141, Mahone 89. Fra Lee 67, Talia
ferro 50, Terry 53, Holliday 83, and
23 are uninstructed. Gen. W. H. F.
Lee, son of Gen. R. E. Lkb and oousin
of Frrz, is spoken of as the dark horse.
The Charleston News and Courier, of
Thursday, records the donation of $5 to
that plucky Southern woman, who sup
ports herself and ten children on an acre
of ground, which she wishes to buy.
There are plenty of men in Charleston
who could help that poor and noble wo
man, but they do not seem inclined to
do so. Their spare funds probably go
to Booraboola Gha. What is the joy of
one Carolina widow with ten children to
the so-called conversion of a dirty pagan?
By way of a special dispatch from Co
lumbia to the Cincinnati Enquirer we
learn that evidence has been taken be
fore the Investigating Committee show
ing that D. T. Corbin used the “Phos
phate Royalty” belonging to the State
to purchase votes when running for
United States Senator, and that Corbin,
getting wind of the teatimony against
him, bad suddenly sailed for Europe.
The news comas a long ways from home,
but the statement* are made very cir
cnmstantially.
The dry goods import trade of New
YoTk is stated by the Journal of (bm
inerce to have been $4,338,075 for Jun*>,
an increase of about $500,000 over last
June; $40,858 970 for the half year, a
decrease of $3,400,000 compared with
the first half of last year; and 877,831,-
234 for the fiscal year, a decrease of
$10,200,000 compared with the last fiscal
year. This fiscal year's dry goods im
portation at New York has been the
•smallest for a decade. In 1867-’8 the
importation was 877,254,182, and since
that time it steadily advanced to about
140 millions in 18712, whilst it has
-rtooe as steadily declined. It is sup
posed, however, that the turning point
has been reached, aa both May and
June this year show a larger dry goods'
importation than those months last
year, and at the depressed values pre
vailing in all kinds of dry goods, a dob
lar represents more goods now than for
merly.
MItA.KIHJEYII.LE AND ArLANTA.
We have received from the Chairman
of the "Citizens’ Committee” of Jlil
ledgeville a OapiUPcampaign document
ia the shape of photograph* of the Cap
itol Building and Governor’s Mansion at
that place, and an estimate from Mr.
D. B. Woodruff, a Macon architect,
of the cost of the necessary repairs on
the buildings. Tbe photographs show
what all visitors to Milledgeville have
seen, a handsome and commodious State
House and Executive Mansion, both set
In the midst of fine grounds. The archi
tect puts the toUl cost of repairs to the
Capitol at $9,145. We have no doubt
fbat tbe figures are as nearly correct as
estimates usually are; we know that the
•nildings and grounds sre spacious, val
i ble and admirably adapted to the
purposes for which they were designed ,
and we are wtrmly in favor of the re
moval of the Capital to the old looation.
Bat we are not in favor of jeopardizing
the adoption of the Constitution which
is to be framed by incorporating in it a
clause making either Atlanta or Mil
ledgeville the aeat of government. We
think tbe Capital qnestion should be
submitted to the people at the same
time that the Constitution is snbmitted,
bat as a separate clause, so that the vote
upon the two will not confliot. The
matter should be arranged so that the
voter can vote for or against the Con
vention and inscribe Milledgeville or
Atlanta on his ballot. This we believe
is the best and simplest solution of the
Capital question, and we trnst it will be
adopted.
PRAYING FOR THE CONTENTION.
From the dispatches published in the
Chronicle and Constitutionalist yes
terday morning, it seems that there will
be no paid chaplain for the Constitu
tional Convention. Such delegates as
are ministers may open the daily ses
sions with prayer if they feel so inclin
ed, bnt they will receive no per diem
lor their services. Hon. Joshua Hill,
of Morgan, appears to have defeated the
proposition to pay for prayers by his
bold speech against it. Of course there
will be many pious persons who will be
sincerely shocked at the action taken by
the Convention on this subject. It has
generally been the custom of Legisla
tures, Conventions and Congresses to
have a paid preacher to open their de
liberations with prayer, and many will
think that the blessing of Heaven will
not rest on an assemblage that has de
liberately set these pious precedents
aside. There are two sides, however,
to this as to every other qnestion. The
Convention did not deeline to have pray
ers offered at the commencement of its
sessions ; it simply declined to employ
a chaplain at a regular salary to conduct
its devotions. There are a number of
Christian ministers in Atlanta, and
can easily take it by turns to pray for a
body which doubtless greatly needs
the help of prayer. There are also
among the delegates (though there
ought not to be) a number of
Christian ministers who will draw
regnlar per diem aa members of the
Convention and who can well afford
to pray without receiving additional
compensation. We believe as mneh as
any one does in the efficacy of prayer
and we have the highest respect for the
sincere and upright men who consecrate
themselves to the service of God; bnt
we have no respect for those who seek
to make merchandize of religion, nor do
we believe that the petitions of suoh
false Apostles ever find their way to the
throne of Divine Graoe. Those who
have attended sessions of the Legisla
ture in Atlanta have beard more than
once reports of so called ministers of
the Gospel aotnally lobbying for the po
sition of chaplain at so many dollars per
day. Is it any wonder, then, that right
thinking men should become disgusted
with suoh cant and hypocrisy, suoh prof
anation of holy things, and sboqld re
fuse to encourage a practice which has
begotten one of the scandals of the day?
The Convention will not suffer for spirit
ual food by reason of its refusal to pay
a salary to s chaplain, taken either from
or without its body. There are good
men in Atlanta, ornaments to the pul
pits which they fill, who will gladly
serve the Convention without fee or re
ward, save such as will come to them
through the approval of their own con
sciences. Persons who will consider the
matter oarefully will find some reason
for the aotion taken by the Convention
in this matter.
THE POPULATION OF AUGUSTA.
The publisher of the Directory of 4u
gusta, which has just been issued,
makes the population of AuguatA 23.768
—whites, 15,136; colored, 8,632. We
have no doubt that the publisher of the
Directory and his assistants took the
census carefully, and we have equally as
little doubt that the population of Au
gusta exaseds the figures given by at
least 3,500. The difficulty experienced
in making an aoourate enumeration of
the inhabitants of a city i very great.
In the first plaoe, some oversights on
the part of the oensns taker are natural,
and oannot be guarded against. In the
second place, mistakes are made by the
ooeapants of houses to who® census
taker’s questions mast he *44res§4, In
the third plaoe, a great many ignorant
people do not understand the objeot of
the inquiries, and purposely give falae
replies. Many persons imagine that
taxatioH, t eggre other similar evil, is
to follow in the of the census
taker, and a* they think ih# calamity is
to oome per capita, *h®7 prepare for it
by making the number of peT? oo * 080U '
pyiug their bouses as small as
For these reasons, it is impossible to
get a full enumeration by tbe Directory
system, however oarefully it may be car
ried out. The population of Augusta
proper is fully 27,000. Daring the past
five years the growth of the city has
been rapid and continuous. Hun
dreds of new houses* have been built in
the more thickly populated portions of
the city, while the growth of the out
skirts has been absolutely marvellous.
A ride through the city will oonvince
the most incredulous of the truth of
what we say. Upon the basis of a popula
tion of 27,000 in the oity proper, the
snborbau villages, which aro just outside
of the corporate limits and whioh aro to
all intents and purposes a portion of the
city, will give at least 3,000 additional
inhabitants. We underestimate rather
than overestimate when we place the
population of Augusta and its immedi
ate suburbs at 30,000 sonla. The pros
pect of greatly increasing this popula
tion daring the neit five years is very
encouraging. Manufaeturesinorease pop
ulation more rapidly than aay other
agency and the population which they
bring ia of a permanent and not a shift
ing character. The manufacturing in-
terests of Augusta are rapidly growing
iu sixe and importance aud the city will
ere long beeome one of the great, if not
the great, manufacturing centres of the
Union. The cotton mill now approach
ing completion will give directly and in
directly at least 500 additional inhabi
tants to the city. Several new mills are
in contemplation and will be realities
before the end of the next twelve
months. With magnificent railwa- fa
cilities (six lines of railroad cepfering
here) and one of the finest water powers
in the world, Augusta will aoon’.have a
population of 50,000 souls.
GnscCTfarsHTiAi. evidence in the Gno
m esse points to bribery. If it sen be •
proved that the Oregon Senator was ille
gally efeetod'hooeet Pemoamta will vote
for hie expulsion. Bat just thinfc of
carpet-bag Senators going without in
veetigation,
If Gov. Nicholas, as is rumored,
should pardon Wells and Ahdkssoh, if
oonviated, he would simply damn him
self and not save them from public ob
loquy. It i high time that “dicker and
bargain” should get a black eye. We
want a dear deck for 1880.
GEORGIA’S CONVENTION.
SECOND DAY’S SESSION OF THE
CONTENTION.
TkcPrm/vr Qrli*a-N* Par far Preackers
-Mr. Hill’s ’Hew# *f Political Prayln*-
PwmtJ Obaagaa la the. Leafcrtatare—
Elect laa at Slate Boaoo OSteero hr the Peo
ple— No Commanleatlaa fee the OereAer—
The Neooleea.
[Special to tbe Chronicle and Constitutionalist ]
Atlanta, July 12.—The Convention
met this morning in the Opera Honae,
at nine o’olook, the President, Hon.
Chaa. J. Jenkins, in the Chair.
General A. R. Lawton, of tbe First
District, was elected Vice-President of
tbe Convention.
Parlag the Preacher.
The first thing which came up was a
lively sqnabble over getting someone to
eonduct devotional exercises for the
Convention at the hour of meeting
every morning. The President said
that it was usnal to have the daily ses
sions of deliberative bodies opened with
prayer, and suggested that the Conven
tion appoint a chaplain to discharge this
dnty. Upon this suggestion an ani
mated discnßsion arose as to the amount
of money to be expended in prayer, in
the way of the chaplain’s per diem.
One delegate suggested that tbe chap
lain be remunerated by voluntary con
tributions from the members of the
Convention, on the hand-around-the-hat
principle. Other delegates favored pay
ing the chaplain a regular per diem out
of the funds set apart tor the expenses
of the Convention. Mr. Hill (Joshua),
of the Twenty-eighth District, was
not in favor of paying the preacher for
hia prayers. He said he did not think
praying would do the Convention much
good. Napoleon Bonaparte once said
that in battle artillery well directed
was a great deal more efficacious than a
military mass. He thought that prayer
was peculiary inappropriate upon
political subjects on which the delegates
had already made up their minds,
where there was no prospect that any
opinions could be altered and where no
end could be attained. Prayer was
greatly abused and prostituted in this
particular. Still he had no objection
to such delegates as were preachers of
fering prayers when tbe Convention as
sembled, but he was opposed to adver
tising their piety to the world and pay
ing for it out of the State’s treasury.
Such resolutions as the one offered pay
ing a ohaplain a regnlar per diem were
stereotyped, common-place and stale,
and he thought the divine ordinance
would be more honored in the breach
than in the observance.
The resolution to appoint a chaplain
was not adopted, and the Convention
will have to do its own praying, at least
for the present.
Rule* Adopted.
The Committee on Rules appointed
yesterday reported rules for the govern
ment of the Convention, which were
slightly amended and passed and three
hundred copies for the use of the del
egates ordered printed.
Proposed Changes in the Legislature.
Mr. Collier (John), of the Thirty-fifth
District, introduced a resolution for re
modeling the Legislative Department of
the State government. It provides that
the General Assembly shill be divided
into two Houses and shall consist of one
hundred members, elected from dis
tricts composed of contiguous counties,
having regard to population; thirty
Senators and seventy Representatives.
The Legislature ia to meet onoe in two
years and the members are to have a
salary of $l5O and actual traveling
expenses going to and returning from
the Capital.
Mr. Bass (Nathan), of the Forty
second District, also offered a resolution
on tbe same subject. It provides for
biennial sessions of the General Assem
bly, commencing on the first Wednes
day in November, 1878. Each Congres
sional Distriot is constituted a Senatorial
District and two Senators are to be
elected from eaoh distriot, the present
Senators to hold office until their terms
expire. The House of Representatives
is to consist of seventy-five members, to
be elected fronS as many election dis
tricts, eaoh election district to have a
population of 15,788.
KlecClog Sima HHe Officer-. |y Ike People
Mr. Niabet (R. B.), of the Twenty
eighth District, offered a resolution in
regard to the selection of State House
officers. It provides that the Secre
tary of State, the Treasurer of
the State, the Surveyor-General
and tbs Qoiuptrolley-General shall be
eleoted by the people at the same
time and in the game manner aB the
Governor.
Under the rules these resolutions were
read and referred without debate to the
appropriate committees.
No Communication to the Governor.
Mr. Reese (W. M.). of the Twenty
ninth District, made a motion that his
Exoellenoy Governor Colquitt be notified
that the Convention is organized, and
ready to receive any commnnioation from
him which he might be pleased to make.
In making the motion Mr. Reese stated
that it was highly probable tbe Gover
nor might have some valuable informa
tion to impart to the Convention.
Mr. Jenkins (C. J.), of the Eighteenth
Distriot, (the Vice-President being in the
chair) opposed the adoption of the mo
tto#. fje said that while he had a cor
dial respect for the Governor of the
State, such nottfioatiqp ?s tjmt contem
plated by the motion was entirely out of
order. The Governor had now o more
to do with the People's Convention than
a member of tbe judioiary or the legis
lative department of the government.
He had ordered the eleotion, called the
Convention and announced the result,
and his dnty was fully performed. We
should avoid bad precedents. This is a
Convention of the people, through their
delpgat#?- and has no connection with
State afiairj,. ff §Jt any time we shall
desire information PW r.e?pectfully
ask him to communicate it to us; other
wise there is no more reason to oommn
nioate with the Governor than with any
other State official.
Mr. Reese’s motion was laid on the
tfblP by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Williams (S, L.t, of tfie gleventh
Distriot, offered a resolution filing the
per diem of the members of the Conven
tion at $3 per day.
Mr. Tift (Nelson), of the Tenth Dis
triot, hoped that the $25,000 appro
priated by the Legislature for the ex
penses of tfes Convention would not be
exceeded.
After pome dissuasion ttje whole ques
tion of the' delegates was lfd on
the table until Monu-J-
A resolution was adopted thm the
Convention would meet daily at 8:30, a.
m., and adjourn at l, p. m. No after
noon sessions aa yet. The committees
have not yet been announoed.
THE FIRST DAY’S SESSION.
Immense Crowd Prevent — A Gaaklig St-ene
—Great Expectation*—Gaerry and tbe
Rebel*—Jenkins’Speech—A Short Neanion
Demanded—The Committee*—Deaf Dele
gate*.
t Correspondence ChroaiAisM ConstitutionaUsi.]
Atlanta, July 12. Large bodies
move slowly, but the ease and celerity
with which the Georgia Constitutional
Convention got under way is not a little
remarkable, dad in all the clumsiness
of an unwieldy popular assemblage,
with no rales to guide, and but few
precedents to follow, this delegates gre
gariously assembled and when the
noonday hands of the Gapitol
dock were in conjunction one of
the largest crowds ever gathered
within the building were in attendance
to witness the Corliss machinery in its
initial labors. No standing room oonld
be procured, the reporters’ tier being
packed with aepribee and “some in au
thority," while the galleries resounded
with the ham of an expectant crowd of
ladies and gentlemen. There was some-'
thing majeetie in the very assembling of
the Convention, by whieh Georgia was
to wrest an organic law from the debris
of a puny and bastard instrument, con
ceived in Reeonstruotion, born of Re
publicanism, and abnormally developed
by a progressive people, '‘High expec
tation" enthroned himself in the very
as though the witches of fraud were
about to unbosom themselves before this
multitude of wise counsellors and patriot
ic men. Before them the reins of govern
ment seemed to slacken, and the bonds
of all official authority to quiver under
their tread. Indeed there was some
thing absolute in their power which
waa reoognixed by sll, and their omni
potence seemed gloomily gra fs. Jot a
few of the credulous, in fact, looked to
see the delegates show their authority
by dragging Gov. Colquitt and his re
tinae up before the assemblage and
forthwith, while others MnideuSy 1 ex
pected to behold the Qpera sonse
lifted bodily from its hinges and trans
ported upon t£e shoulders pf the wire
gra&s) flaiBTW in t&e direction of the
ancient “halls of our fathers.” Jlnt
■wishing of the sort ha* happened.
Vesuvius gives no rambling sounds;
tee offioe holders have aa yet no reason
to quake nor Atlanta to turn pale ever
the Capital. Hie immortal 193. every
one of whom is a “bigger man” than
Oov. Colquitt, are quiet and dignified
and give no evidence of heroio effort.
General Guerry, of Qaitman county,
being called to the Chair aa temporary
President, made a short speech, dwell
ing particularly upon the anti-rebel
phases of the State Constitution. Gov.
Jenkins, eloquently introduced by Geo.
Lawton, and unanimously elected Chair
man, spoke substantially as wired yon
yesterday. Your correspondent, how
ever, his been enabled to proenre hie
speech entire, and presents it this morn
ing, as revised and corrected by the dis
tinguished orator himself, for the
Chronicle and Constitutionalist. As
yon see, it was in tone eminently conser
vative. Indeed, it was a matter of general
comment that the Governor did nut touch
upon the fact of his having been de
posed from office ten years since,
when civil government was overturned
by Federal bayonets. But we are rather
of the opinion that he was right in al
lowing the dead past to bury its never to
be resurrected dead.
There is in the Convention a eoutrol
ing element who favor a prompt as well
as thorough dispatch of business. The
importance of their work is evident to
them, bat while the reverse is true, it cer
tainly does not hold that "he who labors
long labors well.” The ex-Governor en
joined brevity and celerity in his open
ing address, aDd his injunction will
most probably be followed. While debat
ting upon Matt Dews’substitute yesterday
afternoon a motion was made to postpone
the matter of determining upon modes
of reviewing tbe Constitution until this
morning. This was, however, strongly
opposed by General Toembs and Mr.
Matthews, and the procrastinating policy
fell through, nor will it speedily be re
vived. Occasionally some technical
brother clamors for the yeas and nays,
but those who hold up his hands are
few and far between. This morning the
Chairman will appoint his committees,
thirteen iu all, nine members (one from
every Congressional District on each) to
report upon specified sections of the
Constitution, as wired j esterday; mean
while the Committee on Rules are busy
with their work.
In drawing for seats the deaf men
made a gallant spurt to be allowed to
choose beforehand, and though the hu
mane element of the assembly sided
with them the afflicted statesmen were
finally compelled to cast lots with the
rest. In fact, the number of deaf men
proved so large that the sound delegates
would be hopelessly crowded out. Fact
is, we think the deaf men should have a
chance and if the Capital is removed
every one should be at the head of the
column with a speaking trumpet and a
loud amanuensis at his elbow. The 18th
Distriot delegation are upon the outer
row of seats.
Minor Matters*
Atlanta is wonderfully exercised
over the Convention. The people,
however, we apprehend, will finally
sit upon her case. •* * * *
Speaker Bacon and other noted gentle
men are attending the sessions. * * *
Mr. Josiah Sibley, Major Ganahl, J. K.
Evans, Esq., and Lieutenant J. J. Co
hen were in the city yesterday. * * *
The obituary editor of the Constitution
floated like a weird spectre into the hall
yesterday. This literary sexton seemed
to take savage delight in witnessing the
gyrations of his victims whom he has
lately so industriously and lugubriously
" gathered in.” P. A. S.
GOV. JENKINS’ SPEECH.
Reappearance Iu Public Life of tbe Dtlin
guished Georgian—President of the Count)*
tutlonal Convention Full Text of Hi*
Speech, a* Contained iu the Author’* Manu
script.
We have assembled to execute a most
important trust, oonflded to us by a no
ble constituency, and involving immense
responsibility. Government is indis
pensable to society and to progressive
civilization. It exists among the na
tions of the world in various forms, ac
cording to their varying ideas of expe
diency. In absolute monarchies the
will of the potentate is the law of the
subject, and in him abide sovereignty
and government. Snoh a state of socie
ty necessarily precludes all idea of limi
tation or division of powers. With us,
however, widely different ideas of social
polity obtain. We hold that sovereign
ty belongs of right to, and must abide
in the people. But, inasmuch as a peo
ple so numerous, dispersed over a ter
ritory so great in extent, cannot in the
nature of things govern aggregately, the
neoessity is imposed upon them to dele
gate to selected members of the body,
for limited periods, the specific powers
of government. And, as it might en
danger public liberty to delegate to the
same individual, or any number of in
dividuals, even for a limited time, all
those powers and functions, which seem
to fall easily and naturally into the clas
sification—legislative, executive and ju
dicial—the expedient of dividing and
limiting them has been adopted.
Now, it is apparent that for suoh a
social polity two distinct bodies or sys
tems of law qro qeopssajry—one of a per
manent abiding oharaotpr, emanating
directly from the people, creating instru
mentalities or bodies of magistracy for
governmental purposes, providing the
modes and times of their appointment,
prescribing their terms of service, and
delegating to each class its proper func
tions and powers, denominated funda
mental or oonstitqtiqnal law. The other,
enacted by one of the bodies of magistra
cy and subject to be changed or abolished
by them, regulating the conduct of men
in their mutual relations, defining and
protecting the rights of persons and pro
perty, and providing means to carry on
the Government established by the peo
ple, denominated statutory law. Al
though the fundamental law should be
in its nature abiding—seldom subjected
to ohange—in the progress of events, in
the onward march of civilization, expe
rience may demonstrate to the wisest
people the necessity of changing the or
ganization op the mode of appointment
or the tenure of ope of #JI pr the bodies
of magistracy charged with the govern
ment of the State—of enlarging or cur
tailing the powers of one or all.
Numerous and cogent reasons might
he assigned, showing the absolute pro
priety of modifying at this time the
Constitution of Georgia—some drawn
from the authority by which, and the cir
cumstances under which, it was con
structed and adopted ; others suggested
by inherit defeats of t]je instrument.
But here and now this would be super
erogatory. The Legislature having
submitted to the people themselves
whether they will or will not convene
for the purpose of framing anew their
Constitution, they iu their wisdom have
determined that they will, and have
deputed us to frame one, and submit it
for iWr‘ fidPßi.4efaf.ion. It would be
equally inappropriate for t&e qq phis oc
casion to attempt even a sketch of such
an instrument as would meet the exig
encies of the times. In the discharge of
this great duty you will, with such
formalities as you may devise, hear sug
gestions, compare views, endeavor to
harmonize conflicting opinions, and
then digest weighty matter of yonr
earnest lucubrations; But f triist you will
raoeive kindly a few general sugges
tions, sotfi? of which, if adopted, will, I
think, facilitate the great work upon
which yon are entering, narrow the
field of inquiry, and promote conces
sion and final agreement.
First, then, State
at large, the grand fjody politic, should
be regarded parqmoqnt to locaf con
siderations. The last, ,coining into con
flict, and persisinsfly adhered to, some
times defeat reforms tar mors important
than all the antagonizing interests.
Second, The essential diffe enoe be
tween constitutional and statutory law,
already alluded to, should be kept
steadily hi yiew. There are principles
inherent to Rep*blipan government in
dispensable to Briefless. *re acts
which government (as distinguished
from sovereignty) shontd be eommand
ed to perform; and there are acts to
which government might be tempted by
the argepey of ill-digested public opin
ion, but whV*** traced to final results,
imperil public' wej/are, and which gov
ernmaut should be proJtnbued from do
ing These propositions are not stated
as covering the whole ground, but for
illustration, and these and such like
matters lie properly within the pale of
constitutional law.
Again • There are matters of law
whufc revolve no great fundamental
principle, whi/ek impend upon considera
tions of expediency, . °° t .
ever-varying circumstances, and wuich,
being tested, often caU for speedy
amendment or abrogation. There is
such a thing as legitimate tentative
legislation, and experiment dis
poses errpr, repeal or ftOd.igcation
should be prompt, easy and inexpen
sive. Bv leaving <?nt of the fundamental
l“w proSs. either Oratory or pro
hibitory, which it should nontatn, too
great latitude is given to legislative dis
cretion, and the omission to do what
should be dons, or the doing of what
should not be done, may entail irrepar
able injury. By including in the funda
mental law matters which are proper
sub-eots of statutory regulation yon
ma/ render fte assembling of the people
in Convention too /request, and bring
the Constitution itself into contempt.
Both these extremes should be carefully
in a progressive age,
but progress is sometimes in a wrong
direction j sometimes too rapid, §gin *t
times, in pakidhlar interests, unduly
accelerated by the adoption of meas
ures inimical to the general welfare.
The doctrine generally maintained as to
Legislatures of the Sovereign States of the
the American Union, is that they may
make all laws, which they shall deem
neoessary and proper for the welfare of
the State, and which shall be consistent
with the Constitution of the State and
not repnguant to the Constitution of tbe
United States. Indeed snoh a grant of
power is incorporated expressly in the
constitutions of most of tbe States. It
is so in that under which we live. Now
reonrriDg to the spirit of progress before
alluded to, and comparing tbe legisla
tion of Georgia in the early days of tbe
Republic with the scope of that of this
day, it will, I think, be found that the
Legislature has in the recent past dealt
with the resources of the State, which
are the pockets of the people, in a way
never dreamed of in that earlier day. I
may mentioa as an example the pledg
ing of the public faith and credit in aid
of private enterprises. These are often
undertaken without means adequate to
the end, and credit is relied upon to
supply the deficiency. Asa question
between borrower and lender, it may
well be left to their discretion; bnt wheu
the latter demands and tbe former snes
for State endorsement it assumes anew
and startling aspect. Barriers against
such legislation were deemed unneces
sary iu tbe time of slower bnt Burer
progress. It may well be considered
whether they are not now essential.
The proposition that in a popular
sovereignty the education of the masses
is a consideration of the highest mo
ment cannot be disputed. There are
often measures proposed in advance of
legislative action which have been advo
cated, and their opponents and tbe peo
ple are called upon to cast their votes
for or against those measures by voting
for these advocates or their opponents.
But as many of the people as are not
sufficiently educated to weigh argu
ments pro and con, vote in the dark,
cast votes by personal favoritism only,
which, nevertheless, count in making
up the majority that passes for sover
eign judgment upon grave measures of
state policy. It is sometimes said the
education of the masses is immaterial,
because in every oountry, in every age,
grave political matters are originated
and carried oat by a few leading and
highly cultivated minds. We may grant
this to be so. Still, two answers may
be given to it as a practical proposition.
First. In popular sovereignties those
leading minds must be plaoed in posi
tion to act by the suffrage of the masses,
and if that suffrage be oast without re
ference to the theories or the proposed
policies of opposing candidates, the
ballot decides no principle, and is in
effect a nullity. A muoh lower standard
of education will suffice to understand
measures originated and explained than
that requisite to originate and ex
plain them. But there must be
to some extent mental invigoration
and enlargement by educational pro
cesses—there must be instilled into
the mind some general political prin
ciples, by which the soundness of theo
ries or measures proposed may be tested.
And that individual who has not been
educated to this point, aud it is not a
very high one or very difficult of attain
ment, is unprepared for the exercise of
the sovereignty in whioh he participates.
Therefore the State is in duty bound to
take measures whioh will place suoh
limited education within reach of the
masses. [Applause.] If it be true that
reliance must be bad at last upon a few
leading minds, it will not be questioned
that those minds require a very high
grade of education. They must be
worked up to suoh vigor and grasp of
thought, and furnished with suoh stores
of knowledge as will enable them to in
vestigate and understand and elucidate
the most difficult problems of political
science. And how is this to be obtain
ed ? Only in the higher institutions of
learning—in those designated by the
comprehensive title of universities, so
oalled, because they are supposed capa
ble of teaching everything that may be
learned. I lay it dowu as a self-evident
proposition, that every people claiming
to be sovereign, and duly exercising the
attributes of sovereignty should, and
must, if true to themselves, have such
an institution. [Applause.] Take
Georgia for an example. How else is
she to be provided with those leading
minds, who are to guide the masses
through the intricate processes of gov
ernment ?
Well, you say that heryonths must go
for this education to and become the
pupils of universities in other States of
the Union or in foreign countries ?
Reflect, that they may there receive
teachings incompatible with our ideas
of good government. But look at the
proposition in another point of view.
Reduce it to its last analysis, and what
is it ? Just this, that the sovereignty of
Georgia must remain forever under the
pupilage of other sovereignties. Is this
compatible with the dignity—is it com
patible with the honor of the Empire
State of the South ? Will it be said
that Georgia has now an university ?
Yes, she has an university by name, but,
trust me, it is iu an embryo state. Its
trustees have been earnest in their en
deavors to expand it and give it the
body and the appliances of an universi
ty. But it is a most mortifying fact that
the means are wanting. Witnout more
liberal endowment the object oannot be
accomplished. [Applause.]
My Used belief is that Georgia will
not be true to herself until she shall
have provided an ample endowment for
common school and university educa
tion.- I know and feel the burdens of
the people at this time, and I know and
feel that with the heavy losses of prop
erty they have sustained, and with the
tremendous financial depression which
pervades the country at this time, im
mediate and fqll endowment of these en
terprises is not to be expected. But I
believe that a system can be devised by
which these great objeots can be accom
plished within a few years, gradually,
without increasing the pecuniary bur
dens now resting on the people, and I
think you will agree with me that the
great object is worthy of the most se
rious consideration. [Applause.]
I utter no caution against class lega
tion or discrimination against onr citi
zens of African descent; I feel a per
fect assurance that tfyere is no tpenjber
of this bofjy who WQqld propose quph
action, aud if there was be would soon
find himself without a following. That
portion of onr popnlation are coming to
see and will soon realize that those who
onoe occupied a different relation to
them fully reeoguize the ohange that
has elevated their civil status, and are
in truth their best frieuds. [Applause.]
It is unnecessary to speak of our
Federal relations. These are created
by and well defined in the Constitution
of the fjnited Statgg. right-minded
men see and know that Georgia is
observing striot fidelity to them, and
therefore need make no new pledges,
assume no obligations upon that Con
stitution. Entirely outside of these re
lations Georgia has a reserved sover
eignty and a government to maintain.
This is the precise field of our labors,
aud there is in it scope enough for the
grandest intellect and tbe most ardent
patriotism. Limiting ourselves to this
sphere of action, keeping steadily in
view as our polar star the reserved
sovereignty of Georgia, looking to the
enlightement of her people, the develop
ment of her resources and her steady
progress in civilization, let us endeavor
to frame for her a Constitution whioh
generating of a remote future shall re
gard as the palladium df thejr sacred
liberty and their unbounding prosperity.
I tender you, gentlemen, my most
grateful acknowledgments for the high
honor you have conferred by plaoiug
me iu this chair. I shall be most happy
if, at the conclusion of yonr labors, yon
feel no regret at [bp fllffiise J°R have
made of a presiding Officer. " More than
a quarfer of a century ffias passed since
I have had any experience in snoh a po
sition, time enough to forgotten
muoh of the limited parliamentary
knowledge I may then havs acquired.
I can not, therefore, promise you great
effioieney or taet in discharge of the
duty devolving upon me. I can give
you the most positive assurance of a de
sire and purpose, as far as in me lies, to
be always" right 1 , impartial, just and
courteous, You can aid me much,
gentlemen, and economize time and
money by gtriotly observing the roles
you may adopt for your own govern
ment, and condensing whatever of argu
ment you may feel 'inolihed to ojfer to
your aneoaiates, as far a® may he com-
sppsp of dqty.
THIRD DAY OF THE CONSTITU
TIONAL CONVENTION.
What Was Done Yesterday—The Chaplain
Question Asain-No I’ny lor Preachins
six Committees AppolPted-Thelr Compos!
Matter Introduced—Numerous
Changes la th Mints Government Proposed
—State’s Right*/ '' ' ■
[Special to the Chronicle and Constitutionalist .]
Atlanta, July Is.—The State Consti-
Ocnyentiop assembled this
morning, gt half-past eigfit .o'clock in
the Opera Rouse, tfie President. Hon!
Chas. J. Jppjpna, in the (3hair.
No Par for Praela*.
The aotion of the Convention yester
day in refusing to adopt a resolution
providing for the employment of a ohap
lain to open the daily sessions with
prayer caused a good deal of excitement
among some few of the faithful, who
were greatfy scandalized by the defeat
of the measure. Hon. Joshua Bill’s
speech was the general topic of oonversa- j
tion after adjournment, was heartily com
mended in some quarters and as harsh-.
ly criticised in others. It was generally
ejpectpd that n effort would be mgde
to-day to rescind the vote of yesterday,
and expectation was not disappointed.
After the reading of the journal, Mr.
Wright (A. R.), of the Forty-second
District, moved a reconsideration
of bo much of the same as re
lated to the action of the Con-1
vention yesterday on the resolu
tion offered providing for the ap
pointment of a chaplain. Ur. Wright
made a short speech in support of the
motion to reconsider. He said ft was
an old and time-honored custom for
such bodies as this to have such an offc
eer as a chaplain. He thought the mem
biers of the Convention certainly needed
the prayers of the righteous. The ex
pense wonld be very small and certainly
would not involve the State in bank
ruptcy, as some of the members seemed
to apprehend.
Mr. Hill (Joshua), of the Twenty
eighth District, renewed his objections
to the measure. In a matter like this
he said he was decidedly opposed to”
giving any one denomination the prefer
ence. He contended that all sects
should be fairly represented.
After some debate the motion to re
consider was finally laid on the table.
Six Committees Appointed.
The President stated that he had
appointed six of the thirteen standing
committees and announced them as fol
lows. The committees consist of nine
members each —one from each Congres
sional District :
Committee on Bill of Bights—lst Dis
trict, Jno. Screven; 2d, J. L. Seward,
Chairman; 3d, J. L. Wimberly; 4th, W.
A. Little; sth, Eli Warren; 6th, F. C.
Furman; 7th, Jas. Brown; Bth, H. K.
Casey; 9th, S. Q. Howell.
Committee on Legislative Depart
ments—lst District, H. H. Perry; 2d, J.
D. Knight; 3d, T. M. Furlow; 4th, H.
Buchannan; sth, J. Collier; 6th, W. A.
Lofton ; 7th, L. N. Trammell; Bth, B.
Toombs, Chairman; 9th, Joshua Hill.
Committee on Executive Department
—lst District, W. K. Gignillat; 2d, T.
L. Guerry; 3d, R. W. Anderson; 4th,
Porter Ingram ; sth, L. J. Gartrell,
Chairman; 6th, J. M. Pace; 7th, W. T.
Wofford; Btb, J. D. Matthews; 9th, C.
J. Wellborn.
Committee on the Judiciary—lst Dis
trict, A. B. Lawton, Chairman; 2d, J.
A. Davis; 3d, W. S. Wallace; 4th, L. H.
Featherston; sth, N. J. Hammond; 6th,
T. G. Lawson; 7th, W. K. Moore; Bth,
Wm. M. Reese; 9th, Aug. Reese.
Committee on the Elective Franchise
—lst District, N. McLeod; 2d, J. B.
Twitty; 3d, 'J. H. Respass; 4th, W. I.
Hudson; sth, F. D. Dismuke; 6th, J. C.
Key; 7th, A, R. Wright, Chairman; Bth,
P. C. Hudson; 9th, R. D. Wynn.
Committee on the Militia—lst Dis
trict, A. G. Smith; 2d, B. F. Burnett;
3d, J. C. Ellington; 4th, D. R. Render;
sth. J. H. Hunt; 6th, R B. Nisbet,
Chairmat ; 7th, T. G. McFarland; Bth,
W. H. Mattox; 9th, Oliver Clark.
The Capital Question.
Mr. Ingram (Porter), of the Twenty
fourth District, offered a resolution in
relation to the location of the seat of
government. It provides that the Leg
islature at its next session shall deter
mine the question of the location of the
State Capital, subject to ratification by
the people at the ballot box. The reso
lution went over under the rules.
Election of Jurors.
Mr. Gibbs (T. A.), of the Twenty
seventh Distriot, offered a resolution
providing for a change in the manner of
selecting grand and special juries. The
resolution went over under the rules.
Taxation of Corporations.
Mr. Tuggle (W. O.), of the Twenty
seventh Distriot, offered a resolution in
relation to the taxation of corporations.
It provides that all corporations, except
religions oorporaiions, shall be taxed at
the same rate as individuals. The reso
lution was referred under the rules.
Prohibition of Taxation.
Mr. Tuggle also offered a resolution
prohibiting the State government and
municipal governments from levying a
greater tax than one-half of one per
cent. Referred under the rules.
Election of Judges.
Mr. Russell (Waring), of the First
District, offered a resolution in relation
to Superior Court Judges. The resolu
tion provides that commencing in the
year 1880 the Judges of the Superior
Courts of the State shall be elected at
the same time and in the same manner
as county officers are eleoted. Referred
under the rules.
Religious Freedom.
Mr. Respass (J. H.) of the Thirteenth
Distriot, offered a resolution providing
for securing freedom of religion to the
people of this State. Referred under
the rules.
Railway Discrimination..
Mr. Dismuke (F. D.), of the Twenty
sixth District, offered a resolution pro
hibiting railways in this State from
making discriminations in their rates of
freight and fare. Referred under the
rules.
County Affairs—i.qan of Credit.
Mr. Mynatt (P. L.), of tho Thirty
fifth District, offered a resolution in re
lation to the management of county af
fairs. The resolution provides for the
eleotion by the people of five Commis
sioners in each county of the State, who
shall have sole and exlusive control of
all county matters, local legislation, etc.,
except the granting of charters.
Mr. Mynatt also offered a resolution
prohibiting the State government and
municipal governments from loaning
their oredit or issuing their bouds in aid
of any private corporations. Both reso
lutions were referred under the rules.
Clinuges in the T.egislntnre.
Mr. Warren (Eli), of the Twenty-third
District, offered a resolution in relation
to the Legislative Department, It pro
vides for biennial sessions of the General
Assembly. The Legislature is to consist
of twenty-five Senators (eleoted from as
many Senatorial Districts) and of
seventy-five Representatives—three to be
elected frog} each Senatorial District.
The pay of momhers is fixed at four
dollars per diem and the mileage at five
cents per mile for each mile actually
traveled. Referred under the rules.
Our Form of Government.
Mr. Casey (H. R.), of the Twenty
ninth District, offered a State’s Rights
resolution. The resolution declares as
a fundamental principle that this gov
ernment is a union of States. Without
States there can be no Rnion. State’s
Rights arg indispegsablg tQ our poiiti
oarintegrity. Referred under the rules.
Mr. Casey also offered a resolution on
the subject of the taxation of polls. It
Erovides that a tax of one dollar shall
e levied on the poll of every voter for
educational purposes and that a tax of
two dollars be levied on every poll for
the purpose of keeping np the public
roads of the State. Referred under the
rules,
' Against State Aid.
Mr. Little (W. A.), of the Twenty
fourth District, also offered a resolu
tion against the doctrine of State aid.
It provides that the State shall never
become a joint owner of or stockholder
in any private enterprise. Referred under
the rules.
After (lie iini'eniiy.
Mr. loosely (3. H.), of the Thirty
first District, offered a resolution pro
viding for the abolition of the Agricul
tural Bureau, the Geological Bureau
and the State Board of Health, Refer
ed under the fqjea,
FOURTH DAY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
‘ ’ CONVENTION.
Wlint IViu Done Yesterday—The ((oillC>l<:> ,1
Houreiae Comt—Number
o( furors—Hussion* ant| Number of Mem
jtert ot 1 (be Legislature-Sinking Fund In
tlie State Debt—Committees Ap
pointed.
Atlant.4, July —The State Consti
tutional Convention assembled this
morning at half past eight o’clock, in
the Opera tfouse/tjie Resident, Ron.
Chas. J. Jenkins,‘in‘the Chair.
Jarora in Justice*’ Court*.
Mr. Polk (Jas.), of the Thirty-Fourth
District, offered a resolution providing
foriuriesin Justices' Qonrts when de
ni added; also, a 'resolution praetieally
restoring Inferior Courts, The resolu
tion was referred nnder the rules.
The Pay of Receiver* and Collector*.
Mr. Fontaine (Francis), of the Twen
ty-Fourth District, offered a resolution
reducing the percentage of Deceivers of
Tax Returns -nd Tax Collectors as the
aggregate amount or taxes increase in
particular counties'. This resolution
went over under the rules.
The State School Commissioner.
Mr. ti nderwood (T. <J.), of the Thir
ty-second District, ‘offered a' resolution
to aboljsh the office of State School
Commiasiiiuer, the tjo?e*po|r fend State
Treasurer distributing the educational
fund without compensation. Referred
under the rules.
Hometoead Exemption.
Dr. H. R. Sasey, of the Twenty-ninth
District, introduced the following,which
went over nnder the rules:
Each head of family or guardian or
trustee of ' a family of minor children
ah.ll be entitled to a homestead of
realty to the value of 82,000 and per
sonal property to the value of SI,OOO,
both to be valued at the time they are
set apart and upon a specie basis- Said
exempted property thus valued Mid set
apart shall vest absolutely and in fee
simple in the wife and minor fchild or
children, free from any debt, save and
exoept for taxes, the purchase money or
any portion thereof.
No waiver from anjysouroe or for any
| consideration shall Sold good against
said exempted property, or aty portion
of it, aud any legislation by the General
Assembly, which, shall seek to subject
this exempted property to any debt,
judgment, dteciCe or exemption emanat
ing from any Court shall be invalid,
save and exoept it be for the class of
debts above enumerated and specified.
It shall be the duty of the General
Assembly, at the first session after the
adoption of this Constitution, to pro
cure by law the setting apart and valua
• tion of said exempted property, together
with snoh other laws as shall give full
end complete protection and security to
the same, for the sole use and benefit of
said families as aforesaid.
Mr. Boyd (Wier), of the Thirty-Sec
ond District, offered a resolution that
the exemption laws of 1868 be replaced
by prior laws, amendable by futnre leg
islation.
Mr. Ingram (Porter), of the Twenty
fonrth District, introduced a resolution
allowing an exemption of two thousand
dollars in real estate and personalty,
with power to sell and reinvest during
the life time of the parties interested.
Mr. Whiddon (Green), of the Ninth
District, offered a resolution allowing a
realty exemption of fifty acres of agri
cultural land, with five acres additional
for each minor under sixteen years of
age.
Mr. Edge (P. W.), of the Twenty-first
Distriot, offered a resolution providing
for a homestead exemption of two thou
sand dollars in realty and one thonsand
dollars in personalty (specie), descend
ing to the heirs at law and sold for re
investment or distribution.
Mr. Tumlin (N. J.), of the Thirty
eighth District, offered a resolntion
allowing the waiving of the homestead
exemption.
Mr. Key (J. C.), of the Twenty-eighth
District, offered a resolution exempting
realty to the value of fifteen hundred
dollars and personalty to the amount of
five hundred dollars, with fifty dollars
additional for each child.
Mr. Twitty (J. B.), of the Eighth Dis
triot, introduced a resolution providing
for the continuance of the present home
stead exemption. Referred.
Leave of Absence.
Mr. Sibley (George R.), of the Eigh
teenth Distriot, was granted leave of
absenoe on account of important busi
ness.
The Public Printlog.
Mr. Little (W. A.),' of the Twenty
fourth District, offered a resolution
providing that the public printing be
let annually to the lowest bidder, the
Legislature prescribing the details.
Hieunai Sessions of the Legislature*
Mr. Mobley (J. W.), of the Twenty
fourth District, offered a resolution pro
viding for biennial sessions of the
Legislature which is to consist of a
hundred members, twenty-five Senators
and seventy-five Representatives, who
are to receive four dollars a day, and the
session not to last more than thirty-five
days; the salary of the Clerk of the Sen
ate to L e two thousand dollars, and that
of the Clerk of the House to be three
thousand dollars.
Mr. Wallace (W. L ), of the Twenty
third Distriot, offered a resolution pro
viding for eight State Representatives
from each Congressional District. Both
resolutions were referred.
Mr. Wynn (L. J.), of the Thirty
fourth District, introduced a resolntion
that eaoh county in the State shall have
one Representative in the General As
sembly, the Senators remaining the
same as at present, and providing for
one session of the Legislature every four
years. Referred.
Mr. Howell (D. B), of the Twelfth
Distriot, offered a resolution to preserve
the Senatoral Districts and allow two
Representations to each District. The
resolution went over under the rules.
Imprisonment of Debtors.
Mr. Winn (L. J.), of the Thirty
fourth District, offered a resolution im
prisoning debtors failing to surrender
property not exempt from levy or sale by
State laws, until compliance. The res
olution went over under the rules.
The Franchise.
Mr. Chambers (J.), of the Twenty-first
District, introduced the following,
which went over under the rules:
Qualification of Eleotors—Each Elec
tor shall have registered his name as
elector in the county in which he offers
to vote.
Oath Required—“l do swear oiat I
have not received, nor do I expect to re
ceive or give, any money or anything ot
value by which my vote or any vote is
effected, or expected to be (fleeted at
present election; that I have paid all
taxes required which I have had oppor
tunity of paying for the year next pre
ceding this eleotion; that I have not
given or promised any reward by which
to influence the free judgment or right
to vote, of any elector at this eleotion.”
No person convicted of treason, felo
ny or larceny or embezzlement of public
funds of the United States, this State or
any county of the State,shall be eligible
to offices of honor, trust or profit.
Seconds as well as principals shall not
hold office or vote.
All qualified voters shall be registered
by the sheriff and deputies in each
county. No person shall register who
has been convicted of treason, embezzle
ment of public funds, felony, malfea
sance in office, crime punishable with
imprisonment, bribery or luroeny, or
who shall be idiotic or insane.
.Supreme Court Judaea.
Mr. Mynott (P. L.), of the Thifty-fifth
District, offered a resolution providing
for the election of five Supreme Court
Judges, the Governor filling vacancies,
by the appointment qt the first election
of one Judge for one year, one for two
years, two for four years, and two for
six years, and thereafter all to be elected
for the term of six years. Also, a reso
lution authorizing the Legislature to
create or abolish any courts. Both reso
lutions were referred.
Mr. Howell (S. G.), of the Thirty
fourth District, offered a resolution pro
viding that Supreme Court Judges shall
hold office for four years, at fen annual
salary of SI,BOQ.
Mr. Rarrqw (Pope), of the Twenty
seventh District, offered a resolution
providing that the Supreme Court
Judges be appointed by the Governor,
and that they hold office during life or
good behavior.
Mr. Underwood (A. F.), of the Thirty
second District, introduced a resolution
abolishing the Supreme Court, lyhich
went over under the rules.
C *P,W CWV*-,
Mr. Donaldson, (J. E.), of the Eighth
District offered a resolution abolishing
Connty Courts and Commissioners and
providing for the trial of certain crimi
nal and civil cases by the ordinary, the
Ordinary andCounty Solicitor to be elect
ed for two years, juries, save in criminal
cases, to be reduced to six m e h- The
resolution went oyer under the rules.
Public Expenditure*.
Mr. Johnson (W. G.), of the Thirtieth
District, offered a resolution providing
that an accurate statement of receipts
and expenditures of public money shall
be attached to and published with the
laws at every regular session of the Gen
eral Assembly.
JJuror^
Mr. Creep (J. R.), of the Seventh Dis
trict, offered a resolution decreasing the
number of jurors in civil cases to six,
and grand jdrors to thirteen. Referred
under the rules.
Mr. McFarland ( P. G.) of the Forty
fourth District, offered a resolution
providing that the number of grand
jurors be reduced to tfiiijtcen, and
traverse jurors to seven, litigant to pay
the jurors their jp ttr (frem, Referred.
A Silking Fund.
Mr. Mathews (J. D.), of the Thirtieth
District; offered a resolution providing
that the net earnings of the State and
Macon and Brunswick Roads be njfede a
sinking fund to pay tkfi bonds of the
State, save a thousand dollars to be ap
propriated to education and other pur
poses. When these, with the Memphis
Branch, are sold, the public debt to be
liquidated with the proceeds. N° debt
now held valid to be invalidated in the
future. No State or corporation to issue
bonds to pay dajpts. Referred.
Five Committee* Appointed,
The President stated that he had ap
pointed five more of the thirteen stand
ing committees, and announced them os
follows. " The committees consist of
nine members each,“one from each Con
gressional District. • Fleyeo'
have now iBRMWM'v .
Counties knJ'Cotinty J|. M.
Mobl'dV, Warring Russell, B. R.‘ Ste
phens, M. N. Mcßae, J. T,' Sneuse, T.
A. Gibbs, Safflnfll Rawlins’ W. G.
Johnson, Andrew Jackson.
Public Institutions—B. W. Harris, 8.
F. Keller, J. B- Ureeoh, David Sapp, L.
M. Tye, E. B. Rosser, D. B. Hamilton,
Adam Johnston, A. F. Underwood.
Finance and Taxation—T. J. Sim
mons, L. J. Warren, N. Tift, D. B.
Harrell, L. G. Willis, A. D. Hammond,
J. W. Robertson, Miles W. Lewis, Wier
Bovd.
Homestead —P. L. Mynott, J. M.
Guetrard, . L. Williams. Wik,
L. T. Logins, 8; Cf'Grier, N. J. Rumlm,
Qeo. FT Pierce, Pope BarroV
Amendments to the Constitution—B.
F Thorpe, David Goff, O. P. Swearin
ger, John T. Glover, A. C. Mclntosh, J,
T. Coney, J. CL Fair, G. F. Bristow, B,
A. Camp, J. T. Johnson, J. C. Dell, J,
E. Donaldson, Isaac Stokes, 8. M. An
brey, J. F. Newell, B. L. Warthen, W.
T. Day, L. J. Winn.
CROP PROSPECTS.
Condition of tho Crop. In Richmond.
I CorrespondenggghrdNjpie and Constitutionalist.]
Richki NDsOo., July 11.— The crops
have suffered the last ten days for want
of rain. The yield of corn has been ma
terially reduced tat the drouth. To-day,
however, we have been favored with; re
freshing showers, and everything is
looking better. Colton is doing* well,
too mach grass in many places being the
only drawback. Tho melon crop is al
most a fuilnre; vines fast dying at the
roots. The pea crop is very promising,
though not as many planted as should
have been. Sugar caue in some locali
ties very fine. Ground peas promising.
W.
The ('fop. in Edgefield County, S. C.
[Correspondence ChronicleandConslilutionalist.]
Elmwood, S.C., July 11.—Politically,
we almost feel like anew people since
we have got the reins of Democratic gov
ernment in our own hands. Every good
Democrat rejoices that we have driven
scallawags and carpet-baggers out. No
where in the surrounding country is a
scallawag or carpet-bagger in office to be
found. I cannot give as cheering a re
port of the crops as some of yonr cor
respondents do in the Chronicle and
Constitutionalist. Wheat averages
about three-fourths of a crop, it being
generally heavy, the grain well matured,
free from smut and cheat. The oat crop
on many plantations was nearly a failure;
the severe Winter killed it out’; the acre
age was large, but not more than a half
crop will be made.
Corn and ootton are generally very
small and fully ten days later than last
year. A few farmers are not through
chopping out their ootton yet, and the
grass is as high as the cotton. 1 im
agine a farmer must feel very much dis
couraged wheu he gets so far behind in
the grass. There have been many grassy
crops iu this section of conntry, bat
most of the farmers are getting pretty
well through with their grass. There
was no necessity for there being so
much. The people are not energetio
enough. They don’t push and shove
things through. Franklin’s maxim is a
true one—“ he that by the plow would
thrive himself must either hold ordrive.”
There are a good many men who have
laborers that do not hold or drive either.
They say go on Tom, Dick and Harry,
and depend on their management to
carry on the farm, and when they go to
harvest the crop they don’t get muoh.
The result is a short crop aud not much
to begin the new year with. Some men
say the freedmeu are working better
than heretofore. I do not think so by
the grass I see about in the fields. I
know they don’t work any better for me,
and in fact not as well as they worked
the first three years after the war. We
have had plenty of rain since the rains
commenced falling in June, but many
more days will pass by before we will
begin to need ratu again. Observer.
Condition of tile Crops in Ji-fleroon.
[ Correspondence Chronicle andConstituiionalist. ]
Bartow, Ga., July 12.—Crops of corn
and cotton are poor in all this section,
with few exceptions. The oat crop was
quite a failure owing to the severe
freezes last Winter and the dry Spring.
The wheat orop is muoh better than an
average, aud there will be a large area
planted next Fall. Fruit crop good ex
cept melons. Health of our county
good beyond a precedent, aud some few
of our citizens are learning to econo
mize; yet the masses, white and black,
like to spend faster than to make. A
disposition to buy something good to
eat, to drink, to wear, to drive a fine
horse and buggy, to ride on a railroad,
to visit places of amusement, to smoke
flue cigars, chew fine tobacco, throw
away old clothes and buy new ones—ail
tend to keep us poor aud miserable.
Onr young men, now poor by the result
of war. spend five dollars where one was
spent when their parents were well-to
do in the world. “An Old Man.”
Cropo in Jefferson, Hurke and Richmond.
\Jefferson News and Fanner.]
A short trip, which carried us through
a part of Jefferson, Burke and Rich
mond, caused us to take notice of the
crops on our line of travel. For the
most part the cotton crop is farther be
hind than Professor Janes puts it. He
says the crop is two weeks behind. Tn
all the sections we refer to they are three
weeks behind. We speak of cotton. A
great deal of it is in grass. The rains
were sudden, and continuing for two
weeks, the grass grew very fast. Some
of it looks diseased and hard, and tho
smaller proportion of it looks well and
green and growing. Corn is too spind
ling, and a good deal of it has wanted
work. Once stunted it never gets
over it, and there is a great deal of it
stunted. Fruit seems to be abundant.
Liee on cotton are doing a great deal of
damage in Jefferson county. Rain is
much needed.
THE COTTON TRADE.
The Cotton Men in Connell iu Liverpool.
Liverpool, July 12. —Nine American
delegates, and representatives from
Havre, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and other
continental markets, and influential
representatives of the Liverpool trade,
were present at to day’s sitting of the
Cotton Convention. Mr. W. B. Far
wood was eleoted President, and Mr. It.
Holt, Vice-President. The President
welcomed the delegates to the most im
portant gathering ever held in connec
tion with the trade. He referred to the
altered condition of the cotton industry
in consequence of the abolition of sla
very and the establishment of cable
communication with the United States.
Mr. Sampson, of New Orleans,
President of the Ameroan dele
gation, read a paper on the “Ship
ments of Cotton from New Orleans,”
olaiming that the utmost care was
taken to seonre shipments in good
condition. Mr. Campbell, of New
York, read a paper on “The Cotton
Trade of New York,” and claimed that
his Exchange had taken steps in regard
to the business in “Futures,” whereby
losses to those outside from fluctua
tions wore almost ml. Mr. Proskavar,
of Mobile, Mr. Bright, of GalvestoD,
and Mr. Muir, of Savannah, read re
ports as to the oonduct of the trade in
their respective ports. The following
resolutions were then passed;
That, in consequence oJ the serious
losses to merchants of this country by
damage to cotton, particularly from
Mobile fnd Galveston, a more efficient
inspection before shipment should 1 e
provided, and no cotton should be ship
ped beyond the port of Mobile, or out
side the bar at Galveston, exoept from
covered lighters.
That when exceptional allowances from
damp are being made at the no
cotton shall be shipped until authorized
by the inspector^.
That it is desirable that cotton shonld
be bought and sold in America at net
weight.
A resolution that all bales on which
an allowance for damp has been made
should be specially marked was rejected.
The Yice-I resident read a report on the
cotton trade of Liverpool, and the steps
taken to carry out the recommendations
of the former conference. This report,
forms the subject of to-morrow’s
mission.
Tfc Last Day* Proceeding* of tli> Liverpool
Convention—What was 1)n,,(, -('he Next
meeting.
Liverpool, J&iy 13.—At to-day’s sit
ting of the Cotton Convention Mr.
Campbell, of New York read a letter
from the President of the American Na
tional Cotton Exchange,'stating that an
effort would be made to adopt the Liver
pool standard of classificatiou tbrough
j out America. Mr. Simpson, of New Or
leans, read the instructions he had re
ceived from the New Orleans Cotton Ex
change relative to tfi.e system of in
spection and supervision of cargos
at that port, and moved for the
establishment of some mode of
inspection of cotton on arrived at Liver
pool, the expenses to be defrayed
by levying a small import charge. Mr.
Muir, of Savannah, seconded the mo
tion, which was carried unanimously.
A committee was appointed to farther
the objects proposed. Mr. Phelps, of
St. Lonis, moved the substitution of the
term “American Cotton’' for term “Or
leans,” vjhioh is at present used in quota
, tions. on the ground that the latter was
vague. Mr. Frost, of Charles ton,seconded
1 the motion but it was rejected by a vote
of 11 to 9, On motion of Mr. Reynolds,
of Norfolk, Yfe., the Convention agreed
to that cotton be sold at
Liverpool fit net cash without re
daction ae at present, Qp motion
o’f Mr. Simpson, tfiid seconded by
Mr. Gotten Brokers Associa
tion were requested to devise some
means of remedying the acknowledged
defects of the present system of deal
ing in futures. On motion of Mr. Camp
bell, seconded by Mr. Mnir, it was re
solved by a vote 18 to 1 to take steps to
organize an International Cotton Asso
ciation. It was also resolved that offi
cial quotations of middling, low mid
dling and good ordinary shonld be given
daily. It was annonnoed that it was
proposed to hold the next international
conferee?.?. * in 1879. The
President' the Convention
ion the success of its labors. The pro
! ceedings then terminated. .
Perfect Honesty Plus Chemical
Science.— ln these words you have the
great seoret of the unexampled success
of Dooley’s Yeast Powder. It is made
from the purest cream tartar, manufac
tured from grape juice expressly for this
firm.
THE INDIAN WAR.
The Humane Howard—More Ombreak. Ap
prehended—Volunteer. Called Ont.
n.
Washington, July 13.—A dispatch
from Portland says Geu. Howard is at
Cainas Prairie, And said he would take
no prisoners—that, he wonld pursue the
ludians and kill them if it were possi
ble. The following was received at the
War Department this morning :
San Francisco, July 12.
To the Secretary of War, Washington :
The following, dated Lewiston, July
11th, lias just been received, having
been forwarded from Portland to-day :
“In the absence of General Howard,who
is beyond my reach, I think General
McDowell should be informed that I
have reliable information that Joseph’s
band has lately received considerable ac
cessions and it is feared many other res
ervation Indians will join him. I wonld
suggest that 200 Washington Territory
or Oregon troops be called for immedi
ately to prevent this aud the damage
that may follow during the absence of
the troops, until they can be replaoed
by regular troops.
[Signed] Soully.”
Colonel Scully, who sends this dis
patch, is an old officer of much service
in Indian warfare and in the Depart
ment of the Columbia. Ido not feel at
liberty to disregard his appeal. In
some way unaccountable to me the
Second lufantry, ordered here a week
ago, has not yet started. I send to
morrow every man J have been able to
scrape together this side of Arizona, and
altogether the four skeleton companies
do not amount to a hundred men. Un
der these circumstances I approve the
suggestion to call ont for a limited time
two hundred volunteers from Oregon or
Washington Territory.
[Signed] McDowell,
Major-General.
As soon as the above dispatch was re
ceived General Vincent, acting Adju
tant-General, proceeded to the Execu
tive Mansion and laid it before the
Cabinet, then in session. After a brief
discussion it was ordered that a call for
two hundred volunteers should be made,
as recommended by General McDowell,
and that he should have authority to in
crease the number to five hundred, if
necessary.
TIIE SOUTHERN NEGRO.
A Republican Observer’s Views of His Pres
ent roinlltlon—Riving Him Polltienl As
cendency a “Horribly Rrotesqoe Experi
ment.”
\E. V. Smalley in the New York Tribune.]
Northern people, who judge of the
negro by the few specimens ot intelli
gent colored barbers and waiters they
see at home, always have their theories
as to the condition and capabilities of
the race suddenly unsettled when they
study the pure African typos of the
plantations ignorant, rugged, dirty
blacks, with countenances so brutal as
to be repulsive, aud persons aiAl cloth
ing so disgustingly and odoronsly un
clean that their presence is insupport
able. However enthusiastically one may
favor the principle of equal civil rights,
ho does not want to ride in a railway oar
with such creatures as these. Fortu
nately he is not obliged to, for they go
into the car provided for them of theip
own accord, aud seem to have no desire
for the company of the whites. Occa
sionally a respectably dressed colored
man or woman rides in the sarae oar
with the white passengers, no. one ob
jecting. Color prejudice appears to be
slowly giving way, but the prejudioe
agaiust close association v ith Buc ij dirty,
bad-smelling people as. are the majority
of the plantation negroes may be ex
peoted to
Continue for All Time.
The best and the worst of the colored
population flock to the oities and towns;
the more intelligent and ambitions, who
seek better opportunities of improving
their condition than plantation life af
fords, and the idle vagabonds who want
to bo where there is more fun and more
to steal than in the oountry. Every
Southern town is belted around with a
zone of negro dwellings—some com
fortable little cottages with gardens, be
longing to the former class, and others
wretched hovels where the latter class
huddle together like swine. The in
dustrious negro of the town is a me
chanic, a coachman, a porter, a dray
driver, a market gardener, or a man-of
all-work. He is well Pressed on Sun
days, a pillar of his chnrch, sends his
children to school, has a little money
laid by, and is in all ways a good oiti
z n, respected by the whites as well as
by his own people.
The Idle Negro
Is the pest of tho place. He in thiev
ish, dissolute and generally worthless,
aud lives by preying upon the commu
nity. His food he gets from the kitoh
ens of white families where his wives
are employed—for he generally has two
or three wives, so as to make sure of
something to eat when one of them
quarrels with him; his clothes are of old
garments stolen or begged by the wo
men from their employers, and his
spending-money for tobacco and whisky
he gets by pilfering whatever he can lay
his hands on of dark nights that is sale
able to the junk dealers.
The whites at the South say that all
negroes will step.l, but this is an extrav
agant generalization, for every white
man or woman who repeats this com
mon saying will, if questioned, admit to
having known colored people who were
scrupulously honest. Nevertheless, it
cannot ho denied that the blacks as a
class are much more given to stealings
thau the poor ignorant whites. South
ern prisons and penitentiaries are full
of negroes, and in more than one South
ern State there is a serious agitation in
favor of reviving the whipping post as a
punishment for theft, to relieve the com
munity from
The Heavy Burden
Of supporting so many prisonom. I
have found convincing evidence that the
heavy preponderance of blaoks over
whites in county jails and State prisons
is not the result of auy unfairness on the
part of the Judges aud juries in the trial
of the former. Iu addition to proofs
of this, given in former letters, I may
oite the Mississippi State prison, which,
under Republican administration, had
on its rolls about one thousand oonvicts,
only one-tenth of whom were white, and
now has about two thousand (effect of
improved administration of jnstioe), but
shows ho change in tho proportion of
blacks to whites, ten to one being still
the ratio. In most of the old slave
States a large number, not all, of the
convicts are hirod ont to contractors
for work on railroads, levees and planta
tions, The system is not a good one
for correction and discipline, bnt the
States are too poor to build pr isons large
enough to hold all tho negroes guilty of
grand larceny.
It may well W doubtivd, as I said be
fore, if &n the whol<j the negroes are
making any substantial progress. They
i are in best coudVcion in sections where
the whites predominate, while in regions
where the block population is propor
tionally heaviest they are barely one re
move from African barbarism. They
speak, the English language, and profess
a religion that is nominally Christian,
but in their ways of living they are es
sentially barbarians still. To give them
politioal ascendancy over the whites was
the most horribly, grotesque experiment
ever tried in the science of government.
The only hope of their getting forward
in the path of civilization, with anything
like rapidity, lies in the prospect that
the tide of emigration will soon be de
flected from the West to the South, and
the whites, thus reinforced by large
numbers of settlers from the Northern
States and Enrope, will beoome as dom
inant in numbers as they are now in in
telligence. The negro appears capable
of originating and developing no fruits
of civilization from his own nature—the
white man must sow the seed.
stark dead.
A Bickenlnjr Tragedy of Heduetton, Murder*
nnd fiyiicblaf In Kemufby.
Nashville, Tenn., July 11.—The fol
lowing is the Nashville American’a
special from Bowling Green, Ky., rela
tive to the Allen ooHnty crime : “Allen
, connty has recently been the scene of a
. horrible crime. At Point Oliver, some ten
miles from Sc.ottsville, the county seat.
Miss Barton was missed from her home,
and no tidings could be learned of her
i whereabouts for a week, when her dead
I body was found in a sealeded spot not
j far from the residenee of her brotber-in
' law, Geo, Stark,, with two bullet Boles
'in her head, and her body is an athrane
!ed stage of decomposition. An invest>-
: gatiqu pointed to a criminal intimacy
between, her and Stark, and to him as
her mnrderer. He was arrested, placed
under guard at Seottsville, and his pre
liminary trial commenced yesterday.—
This afternoon the stage driver from
Seottsville brings intelligence that a
body of men, supposed to be relatives of
the young lady, took Stark from his
guards at 12 o’clock last night and hung
him. There seems to have been a good
chance for his acquittal, as there was a
lack J positive proof against him, yet
the citizens generally believe him {jifilty.
Stark was of' a gpod family and Mood
'Well' heretofore,’*
“Andrews’ Bazar” contains not only
fashion news and plates, but serial and
other stories, a children’s department,
correspondence from Paris, London and
New York, society personals, amuse
ment and art notes, and, in short, as
much matter as can be found in periodi
cals of quadruple its cost, which is bnt
one dollar a year. Address W. R. An
drews, publisher, Cincinnati.