The Weekly chronicle & constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 1877-188?, August 15, 1877, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.