Newspaper Page Text
artjronicle anti Sentfntl.
WEDNESDAY, - AUGUST 15. 187..
The Maine platform is Jim Bl.uke’s
Woodstock speech desiccated.
Maine and lowa lock shields. Are
there auy more of the same sort ?
. i
A Rocky Mountain editor thinks Jim
Blaise’s maiden name was Gail Ham
ilton.
The President ought not to desire the j
endorsement of any State that endorses
Blaine.
Dr. Abram Laoer, Dean of the Michi- 1
gan University, reposed on his bier, a j
day or two ago.
Thomas Jefeerson’s birthplace will j
be sold on the Tth of September. What
an investment for a Bourbon Democrat!
An advocate of the whipping post j
claims that an ordinary State could save
$1,000,000 per anunm by its vigorous
nße - . . t
Dr. Winslow's thigh bone when •
cremated tilled a teaspoon. It was rep
resented by a white powder like cream 1
of Tartar.
Tar Democrats think that Judge
West will be the worst beaten man that j
ever ran for office, if he stays on the I
track till the day of election.
Jim Blaine may cavort and squeal,
but there will be no more war on the
solid Bontli. Even the ennning Yankee
knows now that it don’t pay.
Jim Blaine wants more war on the
Bonth. If Jim co" 1 ' 1 have L ‘ B WBV ’ the
perishing commerce of Maine would be
completely extinguished.
Wm Cullen Bryant having been de
spoiled by a thief of 870 worth of cloth
ing, a witty editor advriesthat he “wrap
the’drapery of his couch about him.”
A w>UNO Now York merchant, in em
baraased circumstances, committed for
gery. The Herald, thinks lie must have
forgotten the existence of the bankrupt
law. m _
The editor of the London Truth, on
the authority of three Americans, esti
mates Grant’s fortune at 810,000,000.
The “old man” must have owned a Hyn
dicate. m
The Cincinnati Gazelle insists that
the price of flour is entirely too high
compared with the price of wheat. The
grain crop is enormous, and flour must
come down.
Home of the Northern papers credit
“our Ben Hill” with having placed a
tombstone over the remains of a war
horse that had borne him through forty
seven battles.
Ida Lewis, the heroine of Lime Point
light-house, is a grass widow and swears
she “wouldn’t marry the best man who
ever walked in boots.” How would ft
bare-footed follow do V
Home expert has estimated that
17 000,000 grub worms and 100,000 rnts
perished in the conflagration of the
Pittsburg elevator. The rioters should
ask a discount on that.
The cx-foremau of the Tribune com
posing room, now a pensioner on the
concern, denies that Mr. Greeley went
mad becanso Mr. Reid would not print
tiis editorial. Mr. Dana has the floor.
The President says the troops recently
removed from the South will not be
sent back there, because they are need
ed at the North. That’s what makes
Jim Blaine howl so. The truth hurts
the demagogue.
The irrepressible reporter tried to
find out the religion of the Republican
candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of
Ohio. But that high and mighty por
souago closed the door of his conscience
against the interviewer.
Boss Packard’s troubles accumulate.
His wife presented him with a pair of
male infants last week. When a man
begins to go down hill even his wife,
innocently no doubt, contributes to the
aeceloratiou of his paco toward tho bot
tom.
The Mobile Register denies by au
thority that Jefferson Davis intends to
criticise Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
severely in his forthcoming memories,
or to charge upon him the responsibility
for the failure to pnrsuo the Federal
forces into Washington after tho battle
of Manassas.
Returns from all the customs dis
tricts of all the expirts and imports
durtug the fiscal year ending June 80,
1877, show the total exports, specie
value, $602,474,381 ; total imports,
8541,1107,5411; excess of exports over im
ports, 8151,166,832. In tho fiscal year
1876 the excess of exports over imports
was but 8711,643,481. Iu the fiscal year
1877 the exports of coiu and bullion
amounted to 856,163,237, and imports
to 840,774,414, while iu the preceeding
year the exports were 856 506,302, and
the importu only 815,036,681.
We see it stated that Secretary
Houck/, has been making a fight in the
Cabinet to exclude newspaper editors
and publishers from all Federal offices.
He is beaten so far, that being a pitch of
geuuiue civil service reform to which
his associates have not yet been educated.
He proposes, however, to keep up tho
agitatiou, and ou this and other points
to-give the fainting souls at the Cabiuet
meetings no rest until they have learned
the whole gospel. Mr. Schurz, before
the beeanie such a great man, was the ed
itor of a German paper called the
Westliche Post. If journalism disquali
fies a man for office, why is Schurz
iu the Cabinet, and why does he not gi vt
a good example of his theory by com
xnitting hari-kari ?
A writer in the Loudon U’or/d. al
luding to the snub given by Mr. Benja
min, of Ulster coat notoriety, who wants
no Americans iu his shop, says:
I beg to bring to the knowledge of my
American friends the fact that it is the fault
of then' own countrymen that their commercial
good name is sometimes brought into disre
pute, A well known furniture maker of Ox
foal street bu a most expensive bed room
suit in his show rooms which was specially or
dered some time ago bp An .American, who has
never since been heard of. I have a friend who
suffered tea still greater extout An Ameri
can living in one o t the historic hontses in
Sew York State called upon him and borrowed j
£4,000 in hard money, and ha* never returned
a ehilling nor answered a single application j
which has been addressed to him for the
money. American gentlemen will easily un
derstand the effect which such trar.actions as
these inevitably produce.
Mr. Jennings, a correspondent of the
New York World, examined these cases,
at id found that the first American delin
qneu 4 hailed from Peru, and the second
was a i' e ß n ' ar JoHS Bull, temporarily
residing in the Understates.
State aid ha 4 tbe d * ath in the
Constitutional ConVe,' tion - Mr. Brown
made a stout fight for & very modified
system of public assistance to internal
improvements, but was defe>te4 i*Y a
vote of two to one. 8o far State a.'d has
not hurt Georgia a great deal. The eT**
dorsed bonds of the Brunswick and
Albany Railroad were disowned and that
road has not cost the State a cent, while
it has greatly enhanced the value of
property along ite line. The refusal to
recognize a portion of the endorsed
bonds of the Macon and Brunswick
Road has reduced the State's liability
on that account to about a million and
a quarter of dollars, and the property
could be easily disposed of for a million
of dollars. But we are not surprised
at the action of the Convention. The
fraudulent practices in this line under
*he administration of Bullock have
created a prejudice against the system
of State aid that cannot be easily re
moved.
that PLUCKY WIDOW.
It gives us great pleasure to state that
the plucky South Carolina widow, for
whom the Charleston News ami Courier
appealed, has been enabled, by generous
responses, to buy her acre of ground, so
devotedly tended and so fondly desired.
The widow not only received the 850
necessary, but 8118 beside. The largest
contributions were 850 from a Baltimore
gentleman, and 850 from Mr. W. G.
Deshleb, who is President of the Na
tional Exchange Bank of Columbus, O.
In a note enclosing his contribution,
Mr. Deshlek says: “Although I am a
Northerner and a Republican of the
firmest kind, I am more than that—a
man who admires pluck and sympa
thizes with the distress of those who
have seen better days. I send 850 for
the lady, trusting that time aad plnck,
and common sense and mntual good will
among us all, both North and South,
will, ere long, alleviate the sorrows and
distress now so prevalent throughout
our land.”
WHICH IS IT ?
The Atlanta correspondent of the
Savaunah JW ws is a man wise in
his generation. The thing which bat
es others offers no resistance to his
powers of penetration. Iu writing
of the very canstic letter addressed to
the Convention, and signed “Sovereign,”
which appeared in the Chronicle and
Constitutionalist last week, this know
ing correspondent observes :
The article over the signature of “A Sover
eign,” that recently appeared in the Augusta
Chronicle and Constitutionalist, has elicited
considerable comment among the members of
the Convention. It is attributed to a jaundice
eyed, dyspeptic claim agent, who has been
dancing attendance hero in the interest of the
German bondholders, and who, failing to se
cure any recognition of the bogus securities
Inch he represents for a fee, can see nothing
good in the Constitute nal Convention. While
the flippant raillery and nnjusrifiible denun
ciations of tlTa writer may, in the minds of the
unsuspecting, contribute to the prejudice
against the Convention which its radical ene
mies are laboring to create, his art ole will
have little, if any, influence upon the patriotic
i and intelligent sentiment of the people.”
Prom recent publications in the Con
! .dilution, over their own signature, it
! appears that ex Chief Justice Lochiiane
and ex United States Senator Norwood
! are in Atlanta “dancing attendance” in
the interest of the holders of certain of
the bonds which have been disowned by
the Legislator* ami the people. Has
the “rosy Lochiiane” been indulging in
j “flippant raillery anil unjustifiable de
nunciation,” or is the ex Senator, the au
thor of the biting sureasm iu the letters
of “Nemesis, " the “jaundice eyed, dys
peptic claim agent ’ who has been apply
ing the lash no savagely to the backs of
1 the retrenchers and reformers in the Con
v-ntion'? Which it it ? Tell us sage
correspondent and let us not burst in
| ignorance.
DEATH OF HKV. WM. H. CIiAHKE.
Early yesterday morning our com
munity was shocked to henr that Rev.
Wm. H. Clarke, the beloved Rector of
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, had ceas
ed to be. No man in our midst had a
more boffntiful promise of long life; and
yet, at this writing, liis relics are ready
for the grave. The death of thiß virtu
ous anil honored minister of God, while
it appals by its suddenness, has conso
latory features not given to the common
run of mortals. Ho died literally in the
most solemn performance of duty, yield
ing up his pure spirit with the name of
the Redeemer on his lip*, and after a
life spent in treading after the foot
step* of Jesus Christ, his Master. Is
there auy batter way to pass from time
to eternity ¥ If the soldier who follows
the banner of this world has a sort of
consecration when be falls ou the field
of glory, what angelic rejoicing must
there bo over a soldier of the Cross who
dpires at the very base of the Rock of
Ages 7 It is a genuine martyrdom, and
an earnest ot the bliss that awaits the
good man in the .©gerlastiDg Kingdom.
If the life of our departed friend was
beautiful is its perfect harmony, its
gentle charity, it consistent faith, its
all-embracing affection for poor hu
manity, very much more beautiful Is his
death, because it was the heroic termi
nation of a well-spent career.
Mr. Clahke had long been a resident
i of this city, and, during his ministry,
won the respect, cotifid3ij,co and we may
say Jove of all our citizens, ioreapective
of raise or creed. We have uever beard
ought of him but what was kind and af
fectionate. His deeds of benefaction
were, we have reason to believe, many
and unostentatious. His friends were
numbered by thousands; his Anomies
have no place in the record. We have
! uever known a man universally es-
I toemeil and seldom has a man existed
i any where who was so eminently worthy
1 of such unanimous reference. His intel
lectual qualities were solid #ud not
showy; they were like his piety—
and earnest. Wo have lost iu him a
pastor without blemish, a citizen with
out reproach. His h** to Augusta is as
great as his own gain *u Heaven.
Who would disturb his biased repose
that he should be restored to us; and
vet how shall we hope to fill the place
ho has made so vacant ? Well indeed
will it be for any of ns, it the supreme
moment, to be so admirably prepared to
face the Judge upon his throne. The
memory of this man of God will be pre
cious to all who have known him, and
his spirit, transcending the clay that
wraps his breast, will long abide among
us, “beaconing to the abode where the
eternal are.”
MUNICIPAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
BIOTS.
The Nashville Ar/ierfeaii quotes Judge
DinnoN, in his work on municipal cor
porations, as saying : “Public or mu
nicipal corporations are under no com
mon law liability to pay for the property
of individuals destroyed by mobs or
riotous assemblies ; but iu such oases
the Legislature may coustitutionally
give a remedy aud regulate the mode of
assessing damage.” Pennsylvania had
snch a law passed in 1836 and repealed,
and passed again in 1840. It will cost
Pittsburg $27 per capita to pay for the
damage by the riot. The weight of pub
lie opinion in this country would prob
ably be decidedly against making pro
perty owners, who do no damage, pay
for the aou of the lawless, whom they
could not restrain. The qnestion, how
ever, has two sides. Indeed it has been
sought to establish a common law obli
gation, from the earlier assessments of
damage upon communities where injury
was inflicted by violence. These were,
however, generally cases of a military
rather than a civil character. Almost
every war affords some instance of dam
age done by lawless, unorganized bodies,
for which communities hare to pay.
The conquering army in every conquered
country has afforded similar instances,
and no doubt injury inflicted on the
conquerors who are not soldiers are
similarly atoned for by the communi
ties. No doubt the Norman ooDqnerors
assessed damages in communities for
any injury to a Norman soldier, noble
or squire, and from their long occupa
tion of a semi-military and semi-civic
character it acquired a sort of civic
character, but it never became common
; law. Blackstone speaks of the “hun
! dreds" which were under the care of a
j actable being held responsible for
, -ij 1 - l i -~**- —y in Alfred s day.
! TaE Holi AlExaNo_b H. Stephens puts the
' question of a repadiM.Q£ its obligations
mth. only true fight. When aak-o. recently
about his opinion concerning the Georgia
bonds, he said: “In my opinion a refusal to
i P av them is nothing short of public swindling.
> uoi less infamous than uc obtainment of
money bv*n individual upon isiae pretenses
and representation*.' And every honbffi man
Will say .the same.—A'c York Tribune.
The bonds referred to by Mr. Ste
rns were altogether exceptional. Mr.
Stephens i& just as much opposed to
paying the bogus Bulux* bonds as
any other man in Georgia.
Gail Hamilton is a Mohammedan,
that is, a Unitarian.
A BAD EXAMPLE FOR IMITATION.
Borne years ago Memphis set Southern
cities an example of repudiation. It
contracted a large debt, principally for
city improvements—paving the streets,
etc.—and then quietly declined to pay
the creditors who had loaned their
money trusting to its honesty and good
faith. After a good deal of haggling,
an arrangement haß at last been made
by which Memphis agrees to pay her
indebtedness at fifty cents on the dol
lar. To cancel a debt of four millions
of dollars the city has issued to her
creditors two millions of six per cent,
bonds, having thirty years to run, and
the interest coupons of which are made
receivable three months before ma
turity in payment of ail taxes, licenses
or any other assessments or debts due
the city. Ihe success of this act of
partial repudiation seems to be a source
of great consolation to the people of
Savannah, who are meditating a similar
dishonorable course. The News pub
lishes the “ compromise ” editorially,
and gives a comparison of the debt
and population of Savannah with Mem
phis, in order to show how much greater
is the necessity on the part of the form
er to get rid of its indebtedness. The
deduction is not sound in either logic or
morals. Two wrongs never yet made
a right, and the highwayman who
despoils a traveller if he would escape
the penitentiary must have some better
exense than that a brother robber had
cried stand and deliver on a previous oc
casion. The creditors of Memphis, we
presume, permitted themselves to be
robbed of kalf their property rather
than resort to the tedious and expensive
processes of the Courts, but how have
they bettered themselves by agreeing to
this so called compromise ? They have
given up four millions of bonds for two
millions; what assurance have they that
they will ever receive a dollar of the
principal of the new bonds ? Wbat
is there to pretent Memphis from
repudiating tho obligation as soon
as the burden grows a little oner
ons ? A city which violates plighted
faith once will do it a second time. It
cannot be trusted, anil the bondholders of
Memphis will find out before many years
have passed that it would huve been
better for them to have enforced their
rights in the Courts. Savaunab will do
well to shun the evil example which has
been held up for her admiration, and
instead of imitating it make up her
mind to pay her just debts and preserve
her reputation for honesty untarnished.
THE FRAUDULENT BONDS.
By reason of one of those mistakes
whioh will at times occur in the most
carefully regulated newspaper offices,
we failed to publish in the Chronicle
and Constitutionalist yesterday morn
ing the remarks made by Governor
Jenkins Thursday in support of the
proposition made by him for the settle
ment of the status of what are known as
the “bogus bonds.” We give it in full
to-day as revised by Governor Jenkins
for publication in this paper. Governor
Jenkins’ proposition was that these
claims should be referred to the Su
preme Court of the State for investiga
tion and adjudication. Exhibiting the
moral oourage which has always been a
distinguishing trait in his character,
Governor Jenkins left the President’s
Chair and spoke in support of his
motion. He did not assume to pass
upon the merits of the claims pre
sented by the holders of the different
olassas of bonds that have been declared
null and void, though he strongly intimat
ed a belief in the justice of the case made
by Messrs. Branch and Herring. His
position was that the State should not
refuse to allow the judicial investigation
of a claim against it, because, as a
sovereign, it cannot be legally sub
jected to the processes of the Courts.
He thought that the honor of the State
demanded that men who believed
the State owed them money should be
given a speedy and impartial hearing.
We do not think Governor Jenkins
had any idea that his views would find
fayor iff or be adopted by the Conven
tion. He simply performed what he
considered an net of dqty to his State,
as a delegate, and tp himself, as a citi
zen. If snch WPP tfie case lie was not
disappointed. Out §1 we hundred and
eighty-one delegates present and voting
on the substitute one hundred and
sixty-six voted against and only fifteen
it. . ..
We f-ay that we regret the
notion of the ConVentiflfi flu this matter.
Indeed, we fail to see how it PPfil.d welj
have acted differently. With the excep
tion of the few bonds held by Messrs.
and Herring none of the others
seem pnttH.ed to consideration. When
they were being issued and before they
were negotiated the press of tbP state
warned thepubiie that they were fraudu
lent, and would be so declared 8P 8000
as the people of Georgia obtained
ppsffcseiou of the government. The
illegality (4 6MS of the isßueß waß 80
plainly apparent .the Republican
Treasurer of the State refus&d tp sign
the bonds. His signature to them was
forged, and the forgery was exposed be
fore negpihwiou. When the Legislature
of 1671 met * committee, com
posed of its ablest iwas ap
pointed to investigate these transac
tions. After spending months in taking
the testimony of witnesses and examin
ing the law. the committee reported
unanimously that tfce State was no,
bound,either in law or in Jfficrtjls, for the
payment of the bonds. This report was
adopted, almost unanimously, by the
General Assembly. Two subsequent
Legislatures by a two-thirda yete de
clared them null and void, and the peo- j
pie ratified this at Wm ballot box.
All these things plainly show that the
people of the State have made u? t* ,e,r
minds that the bonds are fraudulent,
and that they will never consent to their
recognition or payment. The delegates j
in votfiig as they did, only carried out
the wishes of their constituents, and
the bond question may be considered now
as settled forever.
Reconsidering is getting to be a
prime curse of the Convention.
Baltimore’s $5,000,000 5 per cent,
loan was taken promptly at bids ranging
from par to 103.
A wedded couple in England testified
that their friendship and affection had
been unbroken in 28 years. Sublime
but monotonous
Secretary Schurz swears he lost
money, instead of making it, as a politi
cal campaigner. Jim Blaine and John
Sherman have grown rich on politics.
Governor Jenkins endeavored yes
terday to amend the report of the Com
mittee on Finance by referring the
claims of the bondholders to the investi
gation and adjudication of the Supreme
Court, but the proposition was voted
down by an overwhelming majority.
The McDuffie Journal has concluded
that it is “useless to print any more sec
tions of the Constitution with the state
ment that they have been permanently
adopted, because, in a majority ot such
cases, motions to reconsider are made
before our paper reaches half of our
readers.”
■Tat Blaine says the United States is
a Nation. Of course J. B.’s grammar
and history are at fault; but what else
can be expected of a man who made his
money by going to Congress, and theß
pretending to be a patriot ?
Senatob Hn, h*s been accused by one of
his colleagues in the Georgia Convention of
acting with the Repubhean party: tfie ac
cuser also recited the rumor that the Georgia
Convention was called to divide the Demo
cratic party. The Herald > idea seems to have
been endorsed- —-Y T* Herald.
Senator Hill is not in the Conven
tion. You have got Ben Hill and Josh j
Hill mixed in your “idea.”
The Consulship of St. Paul de Loan
do js still vacant.
THE CONVENTION.
ADOPTION OF’ THE FINANCE COM
MITTEE'S REPORT.
State AM Again Defeated—What Nliall Be
Taught in the Schools—The Bond Question
—Governor Jenkins Wislic* an I inclina
tion by the Courts—The Proposition De
feated—Debt and Taxation—The Public
Printing.
[Special to Chronicle and Constitutionalist.]
Atlanta, August 9.—The Constitu
tional Convention met in the Capitol
this morning, at half-past eight o’clock,
the President, Hon. Charles J. Jenkins,
in the Chair.
Slate Aid Agniu Defeated.
After the reading of the journal of
yesterday’s proceedings, Mr. Wellborn,
of the Fortieth District, moved to re
consider the action of the Convention
yesterday in defeating Mr. Brown’s
amendment authorizing the State to loan
its convicts labor in aid of railways, turn
pikes and canals.
Mr. Pierce, of the Twentieth District,
opposed reconsideration. He said that
from the very beginning the cry of the
people of Georgia on this subject bad
been for prohibition of all State aid.
He moved to lay the motion to recon
sider on the table, which was carried.
Taxation for School Purposes.
The consideration of section six was re
sumed, as follows :
Par. I. The General Assembly shall not au
thorize any county, nimneipil corpora'iou or
political division of this State to become a
stockholder in any company, corporation, or
association, or to obtain or appropriate money
for, or to loan its credit to, any corporation,
company, association, institution, oriudiv.dual,
except for purely charitable purpose-i.
Par. 11. The General Assembly shall not have
flower to delegate to any county the right to
evy a tax for any purpose, except for educa
tional purposes ; to build and repair tho pub
lie buildings and bridges : to maintain and
support prisoners ; to pay jurors and expenses
of Courts ; to support paupers, aud pay debts
heretofore existing.
Mr. Little, of the Twenty-fourth Dis
trict, moved to amend the first para
graph, by adding the following clause :
Tliis inhibition shall not operate to prevent
the support of public schools by municipal
corporations within their respective limits.
The amendment was adopted.
Tlic School Question.
Mr. Reese (Augustus), of tho Twenfy
eighth District, moved to amend
the second paragraph by insert iag
iu line four after the words “edu
cational purposes” tiio words “in
instructing children in the elementary
branoliesof an English education, only.”
Mr. Reese said lie was opposed to tax
ing property for the support of high
schools both upon principle and polity.
Protection, not education, was the duty
of the government to the citizen. Tlien
again lie thought the establishment of
anything hut elementary schools unne
cessary, because the young should be
taught to follow the pursuits in life by
which they can accumulate material
wealth. We should encourage agrienl
tural, manufacturing and mining pur
suits, for without material wealth the
people can have no hope—no future.
He was willing to allow the counties of
the State to levy taxes, but not for nil
the purposes for which they have been
levied in the past. He was satisfied
that if the levying of such taxes was
continued it would result in more in
jury than good to the government.
Mr. Matthews, of the Thirtieth Dis
trict, said he thought the gentlemen
from Morgan was engaged in fighting
an imaginary antagonist. The report
of the committee did not intend to edu
cate the poor youth of Georgia in the
high arts and sciences so much as to es
tablish common schools in the State and
public schools in the counties. Intelli
gence was certainly necessary for the ac
cumulation of material wealth. The
organio law of the State which found a
place in every Constitution from the
one framed in 1791 to the one framed in
1868 had left restrictions upon education
to be determined by tho Legislature.
We are again drifting into details of
legislation,which should be avoided.
Mr. Reese’s amendment was adopted,
and the paragraph, as amended, agreed
to by a vote of 126 ayes to 27 nays,
Jfunipipsl Taxation nni Indebtedness.
Section seven was read, as follows:
Paragraph I. The debt hereafter incurred by
any county, municipal corporation, or political
division of this State, except as in this Consti
tution provided for, * hall never exceed seven
per centum upon the assessed value of all the
taxable property therein, and no such county,
municipality, or division, shall incur any new
debt or increase its indebtedness to an amount
exceeding two per centum upon the assessed
value of taxable properly therein, without the
assent of two-tliirds of the qualified voters
thereof, at an election for the purpose, to be
held as may he prescribed by law; but any city,
the debt of which shall exceed seven per cen
tum of the assessed value of the taxable pro
perty at the time of the adoption of this Con
stitution,may he authorized by law to increase,
at any time, the amount of said debt throe per
centum upon such assessed valuation.
Par. 11. Any county, municipal corporation,
or political division of this State, which shall
incur any indebtedness under the provisions of
this Constitution, shall, q,t or before tho time
of so doing, provide for the assessment and
cotloction of an annual tax. sufficient in amount
to pay the principal and interest of said debt
within thirty years from tfio date of the incur
ring of said indebtedness.
Mr. Mynatt, of the Thirty-fifth Dis
trict., moved to amend paragraph one by
striking out the words “to an amount
exceeding two per centum per annum
upon the assessed value of the taxable
property therein..?’ etc., in lines eight
and nine, and inserting “except for a
temporary loan and for loaas to supply
annual deficiencies of the revenue, not,
exceeding one-lifth of oue per cent, of
the taxable value of the property,” etc.
Tho amendment was adopted, and the
paragraph, as amended, agreed to.
Mr. WaiTOf. of tl'ft First District,
move.d to amend paragraph two by in
serting the syord “ bonded” before the
word “ indebtedness” in line three.
The amendment was adopted, and the
section, as amended, was agreed to.
Official Perquisites, Etc.
Sections eight, nine aud ten were read
aud adopted, without amendment, as
follows .
Section VIII—Par I. The State shailuqt as
sume the debt, nor any part thereof, of any
countv, municipal corporalion, or political
division of the State, unless such debt shall
be contracted to enable the State to repel iu
vasio.fi, aupPfeßS insurrection, or defend itself
in time oir'ya;. _ .... ~
Section fX-PAS. I- The receiving, directly
or indirectly, by any officer of Bt*tA cr county,
or member, or officer of the Gene ral 4 sß<?mply.
of any interest, profits or perquisites arising
from the use or loan of public funds in his
hands or moneys to be raised through his
agency for State or county purposes, shall be
deemed a felony, and punishable as may he
prescribed toy i&i-, apart of which punishment
shall he dieqnalfteatioß from holding office.
Section X-Pae. I ManfCipU corporations
shall not incur any debt until provision therefor
shall bjve been made by the municipal gov-;
eminent.
T,(ie Bond Qupsjiou Discussed.
Section el&ven r.wd> fallows:
Far i ‘fhc Qs nerffi Assembly shall have no
*; '.tty to wpey, olU “ ftr <> iretl '?
auttK J *• (J, pay tfce kfjplo or auy part or
or indiier*uy. 0 f ti*e 9 r other
the principal or mu.. yronoKuted ille
obligations which have been - u!l ,j ,| jo
gal. null and void by the Lcgiela,.. -
constitutional amendment ratified by a vote .
tho people on the first day of May, 1877; nor
shall the General Assembly have autho ity to
pay any of the obligations made and entered
into during the existence of said war, tho time
for the payment of which was fixed after the
ratification of a treaty of peace botween the
United States and the Confederate States; nor
shall the General Assembly pass any law, or
the Governor or other State official enter into
any contract or agieement whereby the State
shall be made a party in any Court of this
State, or the United States, to any case insti
tuted to test the validity of any such bonds
or obligations.
Mr. Simmons, of the Twenty-second
District, took the Chair and the Presi
dent, Mr. Jenkins, offered the following
as a substitute for the entire section:
The General Assembly shall at the first ses
sion after ratification of this Constitution pro
vide by law for the investigation and adjudi
cation by the Supreme Court of Georgia of the
outstanding claims of indebtedness against tiia
State of indiyiduals or of corporations upon
legal and well established equitable principles:
Proviiled. That the decision of sf.id Opart shall
be final and conclusive between the fch&te and
the claimants whose consent thereto snail ee
established by the presentation of these:
claims to said Supreme Court ; and. Provided
further, That said General Assembly may by
like provision of law prescribe the manner ana
time in which such claims as may be adjudi
cated against the State shall be paid, so that
the time of payment shall not exceed thirty
years, with semi-anaual payment of a fair rate
of interest.
Mr. Toombs, of the Twenty-ninth
District, replving to Mr. Jenkins, said
that jnst as the State of Georgia was not
bound by any action taken under the
Reconstruction measures, neither she
nor her children eoald be bound before
high Heaven, a Court of justice, or any
other place by these aots uompitted
under them. No power, from Heaven
or hell, eoald bind him or his descend
ants to pay thes# bonds. The contract
made was one of the bayonet usurpa
tions. Within ten or fifteen days our
go-ealied Legislature loaded us with ten
or fifteen millions of obligations. Many
people object to the very thought of re
pudiation. The bondholders, especial
ly, thonght it a bad word. He thought
repudiation was really a good and an
honest word. He would not be bound
by these contracts, because they were
not the acts of his own people. He
thought his friend (Mr. Jenkins) was
mistaken about the Opera House matter.
The Stats has paid for it with gold
bonds. Wh*iß tjie fraudulent bonds
were being examined the State gave
notice to the whole jyorld to
bring np their proofs and arguments
before Hie Investigating Committee,
which they did. Our Legislature acted
on them. There is where claims in
every State are placed. It is in Con
gress that claims against the National
Government are placed, and these legis
lative bodies are very good judges, too.
The people then assembled in the Legisla
ture, by a large majority, decided not
to pay these bonds,, and, after hearing
propositions in every shape and form,
resolved to get rid of these people and
tbeir claims. Consequently, by ma
jorities always over two-thirds, two
Legislatures declared the claims
unsound and fraudulent, and thus three
times, after a fall investigation, these
majorities declared them void. Y.hat
else was done ? Why it was sent be
fore the people and, though the vote
was small, they were again declared
fraudulent. Shall there now be no rest
for the people ? I say this matter shall
stop right here. I have examined all
the facts pertaining to the claims, and
looking to nothing but the State s in
tegrity, I affirm that the matter shall go
no further without my strenuous op
position. The Legislature has again
and again and again declared the claims
fraudulent. The people have spoken.
Let the bonds die. [Applause.]
Mr. Barret, of the Twenty-second |Dis
trict, moved to table Mr. Jenkins
amendment. Carried. Yeas, 166; nays:
15. The nays were Messrs. Brown,
Guerrard, Gignilliat, Hill, Adam John
ston, Lawton, Perry, Respass, Sanders,
Seward, Spence (of the 35th), Tift, Wal
lace, Wimberly and Jenkins.
Mr Lawton, of the First District,
moved that the matter be referred to the
Legislature. _. . . .
Mr. Warren, of the First District,
said this was to reopen the whole mat
ter. The people wanted peace.
Mr. Lawton’s amendment was tabled
and section 11 adopted unamended.
The Public Debt.
Section twelve was read, as follows :
Par. I. The bonded debt of the State shall
never be increased, except in cases in which
the State is authorized to contract debts enu
mera+ed ill the first paragraph of third section
of this article.
Mr. Mynatt, of the Thirty-fifth Dis
trict, moved to strike out all iu section
twelve after the word “except,” in line
two, substituting “repel invasion, sup
press insurection or defend the State in
time of war.” Adopted and the section,
as amended, agreed to.
Section thirteen was read, as follows :
Par. I. The following described bonds of the
State of Georgia are legal and valid, aud their
legality and validity shall never be questioned,
and the principal aud interest thereon shall he
paid. Tho bonds thus described embrace all
the legal valid bonds of the State, and all
others are illegal, null aud void. The legal
and valid bonds are as follows : 6 pier cent,
currency bonds due 1878-1886, by act of Feb
ruary 27, 1856. $900.000; 7 per cent, currency
bonds due 1886, by act of March 12 1866,
$3,600,000 ; 7 per cent, gold bonds due 1890, by
act of September 15, 1870. *2,098,600; 7 per
cent, currency bonds due 1892, by act of Jan
uary 18. 1872.' $307,500 ; 8 per cent, currency
bouds due 1878-1886, by act of February 19,
1873. $900,000 ; 7 per cant, currency bonds due
1896, by act of February 24, 1876, $542,000 ; 6
per cent, currency bonds due 1889, by act of
February 19, 1877, $2,298,000. Total, $10,645,-
500.
I’ar. 11. In adlition to the above amountthe
State may hereafter become liable, from en
dorsement, for $464,000 of the bonds of South
Georgia and Florida Railroad, said bonds to the
stated amount having been legally endorsed by
proper authority.
This section was stricken out entirely,
the committee merely bringing it up for
notice and not insisting upon adoption.
Proceeds ot llie State’s Bnilroads.
Section fourteen was read, as follows:
Par. I. The proceeds ot the sale of tho
Western and Atlantio. Macon and Brunswick,
or other railroads held by the State, and any
oilier property owned by the State, whenever
the Geooral Assembly may authorize the sale
of tho whole, or any part thoreof, shall be ap
plied to the payment of the bonded debt of
the State, and shall not be used for any other
purpose whatever, so long as the State has any
existing bonded debt.
Mr. Jenkins, of the Eighteenth Dis
trict, moved to add the following words
to the section :
Provided that the proceeds of the sale of the
Western and Atlantic Railway shall bo applied
to the payment of bonds for whsh snid road
has been mortgaged, in preference to all other
bonds.
He said the better plan would be to
leave it to the Legislature ; but if the
Convention intended to legislate, it
should insist that the mortgage bouds
be preferred ; otherwise it might depress
those bonds or cast a doubt on their va
lidity.
Mr. Jenkins’ amendment was adopted,
and the section agreed to as amended.
Creation of a Sinking Fund.
Section fifteen was read, as follows :
Paragraph I. The General Assembly shall raise
by taxation,each year.in addition to the sum re
buked to pav the public expenses, and interest
on the public debt, the sum of one hundred
thousand dollars, which shall bs held as a
sinking fund to pav off and retire the bonds of
the State, which ’have not yet matured, and
Bhall be applied to no other purpose whatever.
If the bonds cannot, at any time, be pur
chased, then the sinking fund herein provided
for may be loaned by the Governor and Treas
urer of the State, provided the security which
shall be demanded for said loan shall consist
only of the valid bonds of this State.
Mr. Hammond, of the Thirty-fifth
Distriot, moved to amend the section,
as follows: “Provided, this seotion
shall not take effect till the eight per
cent, currency bonds, issued February,
1873 (Nutting bonds), shall have been
paid.” Adopted.
Mr. Willis, of the Twenty-fifth Dis
trict, offered an amendment to the sec
tion that the proceeds of the State Road
be appropriated to pay tho bonded in
debtedness an 4 for no other purpose.
Tabled.
Mr. Brown, of the Thirty-ninth Dis
trict, moved to amend the seotion by
adding in the tpntb line, after the word
“purchased,” the words “at or below
par.” Carried.
Donations, Treasury Reports, Etc.
Sections sixteen and seventeen were
road and agreed to without amendment,
as follows :
Par. I. Thfi Qenepffi Agseffibly shU not, by
vote, resolution or order, grant any 4 0na tlUU,
or gratuity, in favor of any person, corpora
tion or association.
Far. 11. The General Assembly shall not
grant nor authorize extra compensation to any
public officer, agent or contractor, after the
service has been rendered, or the contract en
tered into.
Par. f. Tlie Comptroller-General and Treas
urer sfiall eaftfi ffiake (o tfie fjoyeruqr a quar
terly report qf flip financial conqition qf the
State, which report shall include a s{atejpent
of the assets, liabilities and income of the
State, aud expenditures therefor, for the three
months preceding, aud it shall be the duty of
the Governor to carefully examine the same,
by himself or through competent persons con
nected with his department, and cause an ab
stract theroof to be published for the informa
tion 1 of the people, which abstract shall be in
dorsed by hiui’as toW correctness aqfi legali
ty, or the contrary.
The Public Printer.
Section eighteen was read, as follows :
Paragraph I. The offi te of the State Printer
shall cease with the expiration of the term of
the present incumbent, and the General As
sepqbly shajl provide by law for letting the
printing of the lass and journals and all print
ing of the Executive Department to' th'e lowest
re-ponßiblo bidder or bidders, who shall give
adequate and satisfactory security for the
faithful performance thereof.
Mr. Little, of the Twenty-fourth Dis
trict, moved to amend the section by
confining printing bids to Georgia prin
ters. 1
Mr. Brown, of the TJiirty-pipth Dis
trict, opposed the amendment aud
thought the lowest bidders should have
the printing, hq ipatter whej:e t)aey are
from.
Mr. Little ? s arrjemjnient yp lai4 oh
the table,
Mr, Fontaine, of tho Twenty-fourth
tv- t :’ *■ moved to add to tho seotion
District, -telator or other State
the words, “No le fe - tvstlv or
officer shall be interested, J v
indirectly, in auy snch contract. ’’Adopt-
ed.
Ou a question of striking out the sec
tion, M? Hammond said it was a bad
plan to confine the legislature bo entire
ly to the lowest bid jer, for supji would
have to be accepte.d should the contrac
tor reside in London pr Liverpool. R- e
did not wish it to bp in the Constitution,
anyway, for the duties to
change as the times and circumstances
Mr. Johnson, of the Thirtieth Dis
trict, was in favor of giving the work to
Georgia printers, for if it became neces
sary to sue on the bond of the contract
ors, given by foreign securities, it would
be far more inconvenient than operating
in our own State under our own juris
diction. , ~ ,
Mr. Hammond’s motion was tabled,
and was adopted unamended.
The finance report fW now fimshed.
It lies on the table to >be educa
tion report. ,
A motion for night sessions was de
fs&tsd
The Convention adjourned.
Two .Sessions Daily-Tl.e Minkin* Fund
Spved—No Taxation for Repairing Public
Roads— ffte Educational Report—Judge
Reese IHassayree the High Schools—The
State School Commisaionti Almost finillo
tined—General Wofford Wars On the Uni
versity.
[Special to the Chronicle and Constitutionalist ]
Atlanta, August 10. —The Constitu
tional Convention m® 4 tfi.fl morning at
half-past eight o’clook, the Fresiaent,
Hon. Chas. J. Jenkins, in the Chair.
ot Mectteg.
After the reading & the journal of
yesterday’s proceedings, Mr. .Gartrell,
of the Thirty-fifth District, offered a
resolution making the daily sessions of
the Convention laat from 8:30, a. m., to
1, p. m., and from 4, p. m. to 6, p. m..
The resolution was adopted.
Reads Not to Be Worked.
Mr. Barrow, of the Twenty-seventh
District, moved to reconsider the action
of the Convention yesterday in adopt
ing paragraph one of section six of the
report of the Finance Committee, so as
to allow county authorities to levy a tax
for keeping the public roads in repair,
and for other county purposes.
The motion to reconsider was laid on
the table.
Rental ot the State Road.
Mr. Wright, of the Forty-second Dis
trict, moved to reconsider the action of
the Convention in tabling the amend
ment offered by Mr. Willis, of the
Twenty-fifth District, appropriating the
proceeds of the rental of the State Road
to the payment of the principal and in
terest of the public debt.
Mr. Ingram, of the Twenty-fourth
District, opposed the taking away of
this small pittance from the public
school fund, and moved to lay the
motion to reconsider on the table. Car
ried.
The Sinking Fund.
Mr. Wofford, of the Forty-second
District, moved te reconsider the adop
tion of section fifteen of the report of
the Finance Committee, requiring a tax
to be levied annually sufficient to
raise one hundred thousand dollars as a
sinking fund for the payment of the
public debt, so that the section could be
stricken out.
Mr. Willis, of the Twenty-fifth Dis
trict, supported the motion to strike
out. He said he was not iu favor of
putting an additional tax upon the peo
ple to create a sinking fund for the pay
ment of the bonded debt when the
State had railroad property which might
be utilized for this purpose. The prop
erty now belonging to the State and the
revenue which could be derived from it
was amply sufficient to liquidate the
entire bonded debt of the State within
the next thirty-five years.
Mr.Browu.of the Thirty-ninth District,
thought it would be well to provide a
sinking fund for the redemption of the
State’s indebtedness. When the world
discovers that we are making annual
provision for the payment, of our bonds
the credit of the State will be improved
everywhere.
Mr. Hammond, of the Thirty-fifth
Disiriot, agreed with the views express
ed by the gentleman from Cherokee
(Mr. Brown). He thought that no in
jury would ensue to the people, because
the operation of the law was postponed
until after 1886, and if in the meantime
it boded evil it could easily be repealed.
Hence ho "moved to lay the motion to re
consider on the table. Carried.
Assuming IHuniciiml lndebtcdneMs.
Mr. Giguillat, of the Second District,
moved to reconsider the adoption of
paragraph first, of section eight, which for
bids the Slate from assuming the in
debtedness of any municipal or county
corporation unless contracted to enable
the State to suppress insurrection, repel
invasion, or defend itself in time of war.
The motion to reconsider was carried.
Mr. Gignillat then moved to amend
by inserting the words “except in eases
of public calamity.” The amendment
was finally laid on the table.
Tlie Public Priming.
Mr. Little, of the Twenty-fourth Dis
trict, moved to reconsider the section of
the report of the Finance OommitteeJn
relation to tho public printing, so as to
offer an amendment requiring bidders
for tho printing to be citizens of Geor
gia.
Mr. Toombs, of the Twenty-ninth
District, seconded the motion to recon
sider, with a view to striking out the entire
section. lie thought the Convention
had better leave tho whole matter of the
printing to be disposed of by the Legis
lature. This system of giving the work
to the lowest bidder had been tried
again and again, aud had never worked
well.
After further debate tho motion to
reconsider was finally laid on the table.
Report on Fducntion.
The report of tho Committee of Final
Revision on the report of the Commit
tee on Education was taken up and sec
tion first was read, as follows :
Section I, There shall be a thorough system
of common schools maintained, as nearly uni
form as practicable, tho expense of which
shall be provided for by taxation, or otherwise.
The schools shall be free to all children of the
State, but separate schools shall be provided
for the white and colored races.
Elementary Schools Only Allowed.
Mr. Reese (Augustus), of the Twenty
eighth District, moved to amend line
two by inserting after the word “schools”
the words “for educating children in
the elementary branches of an English
education only.”
Mr. Hammond, of the Thirty-fifth
District, opposed the adoption of tho
amendment. He thought it very indefi
nitely expressed what were “the ele
mentary branches of an English educa
tion.” He said there was no danger of
the establishment of a too high order of
education iu the public schools. If the
gentleman was afraid of that he would
remind him that the Convention had
already said, in the adoption of an
amendment yesterday to the report of
the Finance Committee, that counties
shall not be taxed for this purpose.
Towns and cities have been loft to take
care of themselves, and now we should
allow the General Assembly, from time
to time, to provide for the raising of all
sohool fuuds.
Mr. Holcombe, of the Thirty-ninth
District, favored the amendment. He
did not think it was the duty of the
State to educate the children of the peo
ple of the State. He did not believe in
making the children wards of the State,
and he did not wish to have the country
centralized by educating its youth in
the interest of the State, if, however,
we educate them at all, ii> should be iu
useful arts, and not in idle classical
learning.
Mr. Fontaine, of the Twenty-fourth
District, opposed the adoption of the
amendment. He said the system of
public schools supported by govern
ment had obtained as far back as Sparta
in tfie time of Lycurgus. Hence it
spread to Athens, and she beoame tho
great city of learning and enlighten
ment, From hence it was carried to
Rome, and from ther.ce was dissemmi
nated over most of Europe. The Ro
man Catholic Church had never adopted
or favored the public school system,
and hence Spain aud Italy, where this
religion predoniipated, were, iu enlight
enment and ipateyiul wealth, far behind
other countries, for material wealth is
the hand maid of education.—
This system from which Marlin
Luther derived much of his power
iu the Reformation was by him infused
into the Anglo-Saxon system of educa
tion, and to the perfected system of
Auglo-Sqxon educqtiqn the world is
largely indebted to Luther. Jn lfi2o
the system was brought to America and
in that year the first grammar school
was established in the colony of Vir
ginia. Had it not been for the institu
tion of slavery it would then have be
come tbp heritage of the South —a sec
tion ip which now the greatest amonnt
of illiteracy prevails pna lybere poverty
rules.
Mr. Tuggle, of the Thirty-seventh
District, opposed the adoption of the
amendment. He saw that if this move
ment was successful it would effectually
kill the whole public school system. Our
efforts should be directed to keeping if
from dying an 4 not to guarding agaipst
its becoming top strong and lrjstv. The
present school fund only allowed to the
education of each child of school age
in Georgia about one dollar ppr annum.
One eleventh of the white voters of the
State could not read the tickets which
they put in the ballot box on the day of
election and seven-tenths of the black
voters re totally ignorant.
Mr Holcombe, of the Thirty-ninth
District, said be thought the argument
of the gentleman from Troup (Mr. Tug
gle) showed that these ignorant people
should be taught the elementary branch
es of an edneativS high schools
were established'. ■■■•<•
Mr. Beese’s amendment was adopted
end tlid section, aS amended, agreed to.
Tl f c gpife S(fhp.,l poiiilltissioiier.
Seotion second was as follqw3i
Section 2. There shall be a State School Coffi
missioner appointed by the Governor and con
firmed by the Senate, vfioap term of office
shall be two years, and until his successor is
appointed and qualified. His office shall be at
the seat of government, and he shall be paid a
competent salary. The General Assembly may
substitute for the State School Commissioner
such officer or officers as may be deemed ne
cessary to perfect the system of public educa
tion.
Mr. Wilson, of the Twenty-fourth Dis
trict, moved to amend the section by
striking out the first six lines.
Mr. Tuggle, of the Twenty-fourth
District, said thb Convention's voice
was still for war. We have not killed
any one to-day. Now the State School
Commissioner seemed about to fall. No
school system in any State could be per
fected without a head, and withouta Com
missioner. Professor Orr’s reports had
been everywhere complimented for ad
mirable management.
Mr. Harrow, of the Twenty-seventh
District, saw no use for me huicndnet;*.
It leaves the officer, though abolishing'
the name, and prescribes no way for his
selection,nor how many such officers there
are to be. This would leave the whole mat
♦fa. fertile Legislature to select as many
offices is timjr’ eto°e. He was willing
to trust theXegislature, b'-.t the
section had better stand. “
Mr. Eewell, of the Twenty-fourth Dis
trict," offered the following as a substi
tute for die ‘
The General Assembly may provide for sueh
officer, or officers, as may be deemed neces
sary to perfect a system of pubi c education.
Adopted. :
Mr. Casey, pi the twenty-ninth Pis
triet, was granted leave of absence.
Ou motion the Convention adjourned
till four o’clock in the afternoon,
THE AFfEBNOON SESSION.
A Prospective Dog Tax.
The third section of the report was
read, as follows :
Sec. 3. The poll tax. any educational fund
now belonging to the State (except the endow
ment of aud debt due to the University of
Georgia), a special tax on shows and exhibi
tions, ami on the sale of spirituous and malt
liquors, which the General Assembly is hereby
authorized to assess, aud the proceeds of any
commutation tax for militia service, are here
by set apart and devoted to the support of
common schools.
Mr. Gtbbs, of the Twenty-seventh
District, moved to amend the section
by substituting after the word “ ser
vice ” in line eight, “ and tax on such
domestic animals as are from nature
and habits destructive of other prop
erty.” Adopted, and the section, as
amended, agreed to.
I,ocul Taxation Tor Schools.
Section four was read, as follows :
Bec. 4. Authority may he granted to countiaa,
and to municipal corporations, to establish
and maintain public schools in their respective
limits by local taxation, but no such local laws
shall take effect until the tamo shall have been
submitted to a vote in such county, or munici
pal corporation, and the General Assembly
may prescribe who shall vote on such ques
tion.
Mr. Lawson, of the Twenty-eighth
District, moved to add to the section
the words “and a majority of suoh
voters shall be required to carry such
local laws into effect.” Adopted, and
the section was agreed to as amended.
Section five was read, as follows;
Participating in One Dollar Per Annum,
Bec. 5. Existing local school systems shall
not be affected by this Constitution.
Mr. Rosser, of the Twenty-seventh
District, moved to amend the section by
addiug the words “nothing contained in
section first shall be construed to de
prive schools of the State, not common
schools, from participating in tho edu
cational fund of the State as to all pu
pils there taught in the elementary
branches of English education.” Adopt
ed, and the section, as amended, agreed
to.
“Endowing” the University.
Section six was read, as follows;
Sec. 6. The Trustees of the University of
Georgia may accept bequests, donations, and
grants of land, or other property, for the use
of said University. In addition to the pay
ment of the annual interest on the debt due
by the State University, the General Assembly
may, from time to time, make such donations
thereto, as the condition of the Treasury will
authorize.
Mr. Boyd, of tho Thirty second Dis
trict, offered an amendment to the sec
tion that one-third of the annual inter
est accruing from the land scrip, five
thousand nine hundred and seventy-one
dollars, be donuted to the Board of
Trustees of the North Georgia Agricul
tural College.
Mr. Wofford, of the Forty-second Dis
trict, wanted the money distributed
equally throughout North, Middle and
South Georgia, depriving the University
of it altogether.
Mr. Jenkins, of the Eighteenth Dis
trict, aud Mr. Gartrell, of the Thirty
fifth District, opposed tho motion, show
ing that the University had liberally do
nated $2,500 of this, and also SI,OOO of
tho Gilmer fund, to the Dahlonega in
stitution.
The hour of six having arrived, the
Convention adjourned without action.
DiNCiiKMion on the Office of State School f'em
iiiiMMloncr—Tlie Comiiiisisiotier’* Salary Fixed
at Tivo Thousand Dollars—The Unml Script
—Wolford’s Resolution Tabled—Mr. Tift
Writes Out a Lengthy Document, which is
Consigned to the Waste Basket—'The Legis
lative Department Under Discussion.
Atlanta, August 11. —The Conven
tion met this morning in the Capitol,
the President, Hon. Chas. J. Jenkins, in
the chair. Tho educational report was
resumed.
Mr. Holcombe, of the Thirty-ninth
District, moved to reconsider the adop
tion of Mr. Howell’s amendment for sec
tion two. He thought tho office of
State School Commissioner ought to be
retained. Everything needs a head. If
you want to kill the system speak out
like men and do it, but do not thus
maim tho school system after appropria
ting, already, much money to it.
Managing Officer Wanted.
Mr. Reese, of the Twenty-ninth Dis
trict, thought as they had put heads
to every department of the State,
and to every public or private enter
prise, so they ought to fix a managing
officer for the State school system. We
should not leave the matter as yester
day’s amendment does, to the whims
and caprices of the General Assembly
to put any one or no one at the head.
Now that the system is beginning to
work well we should not tear
down the mode of management,. The
instability of our people is likely to
prove the curse of the land.
Mr. Hammond, of the Thirty-fifth
District, also thought the system ought
to be fixed and the officers named and
duties defined.
Mr. Little, of tlie Twenty-fourth Dis
trict, called attention to the fact that the
amendment adopted yesterday did not
dispense with the present management
or the present able and efficient officer.
The entire school system in Georgia is
an experiment and the Convention should
not irrevocably fix its management. He
opposed reconsideration, for in some
counties the school system did not give
satisfaction.
Mr. Furman, of the Twentieth Dis
trict, hoped the matter would be recon
sidered aud that the valuable office of
State School Commissioner would be re
stored to the State.
Reconsideration Prevails.
The motion to recousider prevailed
and Mr. Howell’s substitute was rejected.
Mr. Davis, of the Twenty-third Dis
trict, offered an amendment striking out
the words “competent salary” in the
original seotiou and inserting “salary
not exceeding $2,000” in lieu thereof,
which was carried and tho original sec
tion waa agreed to.
Mr. Augustus Reese, of the Twenty
eighth District, moved to reconsider
section 4. He thought this thing of del
egating such powers of taxation to mu
nicipal corporations dangerous.
Mr. Lawson, of the Twenty-eighth Dis
trict, thought, that as the State fund was
insufficient, counties and munici
palities should ho allowed to
sustain the sohools by Rotation. He
had yet to hear of an instance whero the
people had overtaxed themselvos for
education. Reconsideration prevailed.
Mr. Matthews, of the Thirtieth Dis
trict,, moved to amend the section by in
serting in line three, after the word
“vote of the qualified voters,” and in
line four, after the word ‘'corporation,”
the words, “and supported by two
thirds of said qualified voters.” Adopted.
Who Hhould Vote ?
Mr. Dnßose, of tho Twentieth Dis
trict, thought these matters should only
be yoted upon by the tax payers or
property owners in each oonnty, and
moved to so aqend tho section. Tho
motion was tabled.
Mr. Augustus Reese, of the Twenty
fifth District, moved to amend section
four by adding, after the word “coun
ties,” in line one, the words, “upon the
recommendation of two grand juries,”
and addiug after tire words “munici-
pal corporations,” the words, “upon
recommendation of tho corporate au
thorities.” Adopted.
Mr. Simmons, of the Twenty-second
District, moved to strike out the Sec
tion. .
Mr. Johnson, of the Thirtieth Dis
trict, seconded the motion. He thought
the whole thing supererogatory as
amended.
The motion to strike out was tabled,
and the section, as amended, adopted.
Tlic I,a ml Script Question.
My, Wellborn, of the Fortieth Dis
trict, continued the discussion upon
section six, opposing Mr. Doyd ! s amend
ment to donate one-tliird Of the Univer
sity land script to the Dahlonegu College.
Though a trustee of that college, he be
lieved this PPfion m had faith, as the
trustees had agreed to accept two thou
sand dollars from the University If
the North Georgia Agricultural College
had taken any subsequent action he did
not know it. He believed Mr, Boyd
was acting on bis own responsibility in
introducing the resolution.
Vlr. Iluyil KUt>* to Explain.
Mr. Boyd here arose to a personal ex
planation, contending that, though au
thorized by no formal action of the
Dahlonega College Trustees, still they
were with him in spirit, and he was but
conforming to their nishys.
Mr. VVoltorfiis Tatjleit.
Mr Wofford’S 1 resolution; that the in
terest arising from the 0810,000 in land
script be equally appropriated to Dah
lonega, Middle and Southwest Georgia,
was lost, but was a fine buncombe buck
eye withaL
Mr Boyd’s amendment appropriating
owe-ruhd fif }h§ annual interest to the
Norfh -Georgia College ws also de
feated, eud eaction six, unamended, was
adopted, -
The Education Iteport Adopted.
The report of the Education Commit
tee was zgrped'to as A whole.
Mr. itft. of hhatricj;, offer
ed two Additional sections ate iong astjie
hundred and nineteenth Psalm, which',
with the assistance of Mr. Holcombe;
were consigned to the table, where many
of their comrades Jie,
Tlie Tfts&dftn Report Artaio,
The taxation report was here reverted
to, and line 3 in paragraph Ist so
changed as to read : “Taxation may be
levied and collected for the support of
the State Government and public insti
tutions.” This was done so as to in
clude the Lunatic Asylum and the like.
The Finance Committee’s taxation re
port was now closed np.
YALUABLE STATISTICS.
BICHMOMD COUNIY TAX DIGEST
FOR 1877.
Real and Personal Property mad the Crops—
A Fine Exhibit.
Yesterday Col. R. J. Wilson, the en
ergetic and popular Receiver of Tax Re
turns for Richmond esunty completed
his digest for 1877. and on last night
forwarded it to the Comptroller-General
at Atlanta. Through his kindness we
are enabled to place the aggregate re
turns before our readers this morning.
City.
Polls of whites, 2,896 ; lawyers, 43 ;
doctors, 31; dentists, 7 ; billiard, baga
telle or pool tables, 9; total number of
acres of laud, 35,733}; valne of land,
$614,450; valne of city or town property,
$5,956,250; shares in any bank in this
State, 23,000; value, $1,120,000; amonut
of money and solvent debts, $1,357,400;
merchandise, $1,040,900; stocks and
bonds, $1,347,750; cotton manufactories,
$357,200; iron works, foundries, etc.,
$2,000; household and kitchen furniture,
$318,950; watohes, silver plate and jew
elry, $55,450; horses, mules, hogs, sheep,
cattle and all other stock, $60,850; plan
tation and mechanical tools, law and
other library books and piotures, $56,-
550; cotton, corn, annual crops and pro
visions on April Ist, $6,600; valne of all
other property, $42,350; value of whole
property, $12,336,700. Colored—polls,
1,146; dentists, 1; acres of land, 15;
value, $4,250; value of city or town pro
perty, $185,400 ; money aud solvent
debts, $2,400 ; household aud kitchen
furniture, $3,900 ; horses, mules and
other stock, $2,800; plantation and me
chanical tools, $200; value of all other
property, $2,450; value of whole proper
ty, $201,400.
1 19th District.
Polls of white, 126; lawyers, 2; doc
tors, 1; acres of laud, 19,307}; valne,
$151,850; value of city or town property,
$150,050 ; money aud solvent debts,
$44,700; merchandise, $3,950; iron
works, foundries, etc., $7,000; capital
invested iu mining, $200; household
and kitchen furniture, $18,400; watches,
silver plate, jewelry, etc., $3,050; plan
tation and mechanical tools, books, etc.,
$1,000; value of all other property, $7,-
250; aggregate value of whole property,
$401,750. Colored pelfs, 131; acres of
land, 310;; value, $10,350; household
and kitchen furniture, $100; horses aud
other stock, $300; all other property,
$300; all property, $11,050.
121 st District.
White polls, 215; lawyers,l; doctors,
2; acres, 19,776}; valne, $129,250; value
of city property. $9,000; mouey and
solvent, debts, $42,900, merchandise,
$2,250; stocks and bonds, $41,750; fur
niture, $9,050; watches, plate, etc., sl,-
350; horses aud other stock, $23,450;
plantation and mechanical tools, books,
etc., $750; cotton, corn, provisions, etc.,
$100; other property, $0,650; all prop
erty, $266,500. Colored polls, 242;
acres of land, 889}; value, $3,350; horses,
mules aud other stock, $700; other
property, $2,300; all property, $6,350.
123<1 District.
White polls, 144; lawyers, 3; acres of
land, 18,744}; value, $182,950; city or
town property, $54,650; shares in ny
bank in this State, 2,000; value, $160,-
000; money and solvent debts, $8,100;
merchandise, $2,100; stocks aud bonds,
$298,750; furniture, $12,500; watches,
plate, &e., $1,850; horses and other
stock, $19,400; plantation and mechani
cal tools, books, &0., $1,100; cotton,
corn, annual crops and provisions for
sale April Ist, $100; other property,
$7,800; whole property, $749,300. Col
ored polls, 229; acres of land, 785};
value, $24,300; city property, $1,350;
money and solvent debts, SSO; fur
niture, $100; horses and other stock,
$800; other property, $2,950; whole pro
perty, $29,550.
124t1i District.
Polls of white, 181; doctors, 5; acres
of land, 36,323}; value, $45,950; city or
town property, $17,600; money and sol
vent debts, $19,650; merchandise, $150;
furniture, $10,950; watehes, plate, &.,
$2,800; horses and other stock, $24,200;
plantation and mechanical tools, books,
&c., $550; cotton, corn, annual crops
and provisions held for salo on April Ist,
$300; value of all other property, $8,650;
value of whole property, $230,800. Col
ored polls, 253; acres of land, 1,458};
value, $7,400; horses, mules, &0., $2,000;
all other property, $2,100; whole pro
perty, $11,500,
12G9th District.
White polls, 172; lawyers, 11; doctors,
3; dentists, 1; acres of land, 12,039};
value, $335,900; city or towu property,
$706,200; money and solvent debtß,
$162,150; merchandise, $40,500; stocks
and bonds, $335,250; furniture, $55,100;
watohes, plates, &c., $15,050; horses and
other stock, $28,400; plantation and me
chanical tools, books, &e., $11,300;
other property, $32,900; whole property,
$1,722,750. Colored polls, 64; acres of
land, 104}; value, $6,150; city or town
property, $600; furniture, $100; horses,
mules and other stock, $650; other pro
perty, $200; wholo property, $7,700.
Urund Total.
Polls of whites, 3,734; lawyers, 60;
doctors. 42; dentists, 8; billiard, baga
telle or pool tables, 9; acres of land,
171,914}; value, $1,560,350; city or town
property, $6,893,750; shares in any bank
in this State, 25,000; valne, $1,280,000;
money and solvent debts, $1,634,900;
merchandise, $1,089,850; stocks and
bonds, $2,023,500; cotton manufactories,
$357,200; iron works, foundries, &c.,
$9,000; capital in mining, $200; furni
ture, $424,950; watches, plate, &0., $79,-
550; horses and other stock, $170,600;
plantation and mechanical tools, $71,250;
ootton, corn, annual crops, <kc., $7,100;
other property, $105,600; aggregate val
ue, $15,707,800. Colored polls, 2,065;
dentists, 1; acres of land, .3,594}; value,
$55,800; city or town property, $187,350;
money and solvent debts, $2,450; furni
ture, $4,200; horses and other stock,
$7,250; plantation and mechanical tools,
$200; other property, $10,300; aggregate
value, $267,550.
Summary.
Polls 5,799
Lawyers GO
Doctors 42
Dentists 9
Billiard or pool tables 9
Acres of land 394,545
Value of laud $1,692,297
City or town property 7,081,100
Shares in any bank in this
State 25,000
Value of shares 1,280,000
Amount of money and sol
vent debts 1,637,350
Merchandise 1,089,850
Stocks and bonds 2,023,500
Cotton manufactories 357,200
Iron works, foundries, etc. 9,000
Capital in mining 200
Furniture 429,150
Watches, plate, <S?c 79,550
Horses and other stock.... 177,850
Plantation and meobanioal
tools 71,450
Cotton, corn and annual
crops 7,100
All other property 115,900
Wild land, 219,037, value.. 76,147 50
Value of whole property. .16,051,497 50
Comparative Statement.
The following comparison of returns
for the past six years will be of inter
est :
Land.
1877—acres, 394,545, value, $1,692,-
297 ; 1876, acres, 375,152,314, value,
$1,652,523 92 ; 1875. acres, 184,9391,
value, $1,579,720; 1874, acres, 172,01 H,
value, $1,570,650; 1873, acres, 172,096;,
value, $1,506,445; 1872, acres, 1G4,428J r ,
value, $1,339,845.
Value of City or Town Property.
1877, $7,081,100; 1876, $7,124,050;
1875, $7,341,100; 1874, $7,098,400; 1873,
§0,650,00(1; 1872, $6,113,850.
gbarea lu Jtiankn in thin Sitt>
1877, 25,000; 1876, 25,878; 1875, 26,-
500; 1874, 26,510; 1873, 33,067; 1872,
5.00 Q. Value of the same—lß77, $1,280,-
000; 1876, $1,470,250; 1875, $1,757,500;
1874, $1,814,000; 1873, $2,236,850; 1872,
$1,744,550.
.Ifeoey and Solvent Debt*.
1877, $1,637,350 ; 1876, $2,242,750 ;
1875, $3,156,069; 1874, $3,493,700; 1873,
$2,675,740; 1872, $1,998,640.
Merchandise.
1877, $1,089,850; 1876, $1,133,350 ;
1875, $1,299,750 ; 1874, $1,420,300; 1873,
$1,513,650; 1872, $1,438,960.
rjiycku and
1877, $2,023,500 ; 1876, $1,365,850;
1875, $960,950; 1874, $1,178,350; 1873,
$2,021,995; 1872, $2,428,400.
Cotton Manufactories.
1877, $357,200 ; 1876, $359,000 ; 1875,
$617,200; 1874, $730,000: 1873, $101,050;
1872, $685,300.
'• Unfilta'. in Mining
-1877, $209; 1876, 8700; 1875, $3,400,
1874, $5,400; 1873, $2,000; 1872, $2,100,.
Iron Works, Foundries, Etc.
1077 OQ/VWI- 18^6) gg 000- 18?5, 814,-
000; 1874"’ $14,000; 1873, $7,000; 1872,
§9 000. ‘
Value of Household and Kitchen Furniture.
150; 1&70, 8420,450; 1875,
Sf lSo; 1874. 8448,900; 1873. $313; 9 g 0;
1872, $320,800.
Horses and jjjules.
1877, $177,850; 1876, $166,550.
Plantation and Mechanical T©ol.
1877 $71,450; 1876, $76,600; 1875,
$79,900; 1874, $62,950; 1873, $38,600;
1872, SB,OOO.
Valne of All Other Proporty.
1877,8115.900; 1876, $133,250; 1875.
$324,114; 1874, $326,350; 1873, $317,730;
1872, $270,005.
Aggregate Value of Whole Property.
1877, $16,051,497 50; 1876, $16,174,-
323 92; 1875, $17,549,950; 1874, $18,168,-
000; 1873, $17,389,910; 1872, $16,359,-
460.
A Splendid Showing.
The digest of the present year cer
tainly makes a very fine showing for
Richmond county. It will compare
favorably with any other county in the
State. The digest of Chatham county,
for 1877, shows a falling of $2,643,135
as compared with 1876, while the falling
off in Riohmond county is only $122,-
826 42. A number of Items in this
year’s digest show a large increase over
last year; for instance stocks and bonds,
which show an increase of $657,650.
Chatham’s digest shows only $1,406,814
iu aggregate value, over that of Rich
mond for 1877. In 1876 it was $3,927,-
123 greater, and in 1874 it was $5,897,-
740 greater.
An Efficient Officer.
Colonel R. J. Wilson, the Reoeiver of
Tax Returns, is one of the most efficient
and deservedly popular officers in the
State. He does not sit in his office and
wait for every tax payer to come to him,
but he goes to workshops, offices aud
storos and to all the country preoinots
frequently, while the digest is open, in
order to accommodate the people and
give all an opportunity to make their re
turns with as little trouble aud inconve
nience as possible. The consequence of
this is seen in the very full returns. That
the people appreciate this is evidenced
by the large vote which Colonel Wilson
receives at every election. Loug may
ho continue in the office which he so
ably fills !
TAKE ON COTTON.
Tlie Planters Will Not Hubmll to a Cluinge.
Editors Chronicle and Constitutionalist:
Iu reply to “McDuffie,” Mr. Stovall,
President Augusta Exchange, gives us
from the Financial and Commercial an
artielo signed “N.” Iu this “N.” pro
poses to educate planters to such u de
gree that they can perceive something
to their advantage iu the pro
posed “tare.” In behalf of plant
ers generally, I thank “ N.” (and
those who think with him) for his gra
tuitous efforts in our behalf. It is very
rarely the chhc, however, that shrewd
tradesmen revolutionize trade for any
good save their own, and it matters not
how deficient we may be in many
things,“N.” and bis co-laborers will find
it hard to oonviuce us that “tare” doeß
not mean a loss for the planter and
a gain for someone who neither works
for it nor pays for it. So for as the Au
gusta Exchange is concerned, the Pres
ident’s reply is in full. The country
will be glad to hear that the Augusta
Exchange not ouly does not desire the
“tare,” but will not acquiesce iu it till
forced to do so. Any effort on tho line
of this contemplated change in the cot
ton trade will very justly receive from
the country an opposition of intense bit
terness, both to the measure and the
men who advocate it. I hope the South
ern Exchanges will never bind them
selves to unjust combinations from be
yond our borders. McDuffie.
GREEN’S CUT HOMICIDE.
Examination of Witnesses for the* Ddeihe-
Anotlier View of tlio (’use Altogether.
The preliminary inveatigalion iu the
case of the Stato vs. Charles J. Walker,
charged with the murder of John P.
Miller, was not concluded yesterday. It
will be resumed Monday. Eighteen
witnesses for the defense liavo been
examined. We are iuformed by coun
sel for tho defendant that nine
of those testified that previous threats
against Walker had been made by
both the Millers ; that they declared
that they would kill him before he left
the ground that day ; that these threats
were communicated to Wulker, who
sent the Millers word not to have any
difficulty there ; that Walker remarked
that ho would let them spit in his fnoe
sooner than have auy trouble there. Six
witnesses testified thut Jos. B. Miller
and Jno. P. Miller approached Walker ;
that Jos. B. Miller handed Walker a
letter with one hand, saying : “Did you
write that?” while keeping the other
hand behind him, under his coat; that
Walker replied : “Yes, I am responsible
forit;” that immediately Jos. Miller fired
at him; that then Walker drew his pistol
and pointed it at Miller, but it snap
ped; that John Miller now ran up, say
ing : “Let me get ot him,” or words to
that effect; that lie knocked Walker
down and shot at him while ho was on
the ground, the ball inflicting a severe
wound in Walker’s side ; that Walker,
while on the ground, then fired up at
Miller. The State will offer testimony
in rebuttal, to-morrow.
THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRACY.
Ballot ting for t*overnor-~l>falioiie Defeated-
Likewise Daniel—Holliday Wins tlie Prize.
Richmond, August 10.—The first bal
lot for Governor last night resulted as
follows : Mahone, 421; Daniel, 337;
Holliday, 262; Taliaferro, 132; Lee, 126;
Terry, 116. tinder the rule adopted <;f
dropping the candidate receiving the
smallest number of votes on each ballot,
Gen. Terry was withdrawn. The second
ballot resulted ns follows : Daniel, 434;
Holliday, 276; Taliaferro, 159, Lee, 123;
Mahone, 440. Gen. Lee was withdrawn
and the Convention adjourned until this
morning. Tho Convention assembled
promptly, and after some skirmishing
the roll of the counties was oulled for a
third ballot, with the following result:
Mahone, 472; Duniel, 438; Holliday,
338; Taliaferro, 182. Gen. Taliaferro
was withdrawn. Before tho next ballet,
Col. W. E. Cameron, of Petersburg,
withdrew Gen. Mahone and urged his
friends to support Col. Holliday. The
fourth ballot resulted as follows : Holli
day, 852; Daniel, 568; Mahone, 1. Cos).
W. F. M. Holliday was declared the
nominee for Governor.
TIIIPI.E MURDER IIY A NEGRO.
A Terrible Affair iu Alabama-Three While*
Killed by a Lawless Black.
Columbus, Miss,, August 6.—A triple
murder was oommitted in Pickensville,
Ala., between Friday and Saturday af
ternoons. A yonng man named Bush, a
farmer, had a difficulty with a negro
named John Cotton, and the former was
killed by the latter. On Saturday two
youug friends of Biwh awaited the ne
gro on a road to arrest him, bnt Cotton
was attended by several others, and the
crowd fired -at the two young men, kill
ing one named Storey. His friend,
named Kilpatriok, seeing Storey down,
tried to escape, bnt was pnrsuod and
murdered. It is thought that Cotton
himself killed Storey and Kilpatrick.
Great exoitement prevails at the soene
of the tragedies and further trouble is
apprehended.
THE COTTON CROP.
An Analysis of the Report* of the Cotton Ex
change*.
Washington, August 10.—Tho Cotton
Exchanges throughout the South have
furnished their monthly reports, A
somewhat hurried analysis shows that
the weather during July has been more
favorable than last year; that the condi
tion of tho orop is from five to four
teen days, averaging nine days, late,
witb the plant hardy and thriving.
There are some statements of the ap
pearance of caterpillars, army worm and
lice, but as yet no damage has been
done. The fields are quite generally
well cultivated and the tone of the re
ports is cheering and indicates a satis
factory yield.
CONDITION OF THE CROPS.
7 lie Crops in Hancock Cqqnly
[ Correspomlence Chronicle anilConslitutkmaHst. ]
Sparta, August 6. — Tho crops hero
are below an average, at least 20 per
cent, this year. Corn is damaged from
drouth and cotton is cut off one-half
from drouth and grass and wet. Cane
is two weeks behind. Potatoes are short
of last year, both in quality and quanti
ty, Wheat crops wero good, but were
considerably damaged in harvesting. I
think the prospect is more gloomy in
this section than I ever saw it before.
J. M. E.
11 ” r~ j i;
RESIGNATION OF I.KK.
Down lvom ike Nallcitorslaip, and Out of
~. Jail. .....
I Special Dispatch to the News ami Courier.]
Columbia, Wednesday, August B.
The event of to-day is the resignation
of S. J. Lee, colored, the Solicitor 1 of
the Second Circuit.- The resignation
will take effect on the 14th instant. Leq
was formerly Bpeai;ep di the House of
Repveseatstives, and was arrested, a few
days ago, on charges of fraud in the is
sue of pay certificates. Being unable to
give bail, he went to jail, This after-
however, he famished bail in the
sum of SIO,OOO, and was released from
There’s Somethlng'di a Name— Jnliet
to the contrary notwithstanding. The
name of Dooley is now synonymous
with delicious, light, healthy bisenitsf
rolls, griddle oalraß,. pastry,.'etJcl Tfcq
genuine Dboley Pfcwder itf sold'only in
tin'cans; the fac sfthilp signature of the
is printed on each laf^li
The flower loving citizen who has
spent (ti his leisure time this season in
laying put flower-beds and cultivating
the saie, will have his reward pow
when fa sees his daughter’s beau? car
rying iff the choicest varieties for but r
ton-We bouquets.