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WeeMi] Cljronifte &
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OUR LEGISLATORS.
HOW
AND PROLONG THE SESSION.
House and Senate Wrestling With Bills
and Resolutions—More About bien
nial Sessions— Geologi'-al Spec
imens The I'niiry Law
Resolutions of Sym
pathy.
[Special to the Chronicle.]
SENATE.
. Atlanta. Ga., August 21.—Senate met.
President Boynton in the Chair. Dr. Jonea
prayed. 801 l call. Journal read andap
nr.riv.mi
Mr. Calvin George, Chairman of the
Corporation Committee, reported bills.
Mr. Tutt, Chairman of the Railroad
Commi’tee, reported bills.
Mr. McDonald, Chairman of the Tem
perance Committee, reported bills.
Mr. Gustin ottered report of the Com
mittee upon the Lunatic Asylum giving
result of visitation of the Asylum.
Mr. Polhill, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, reported bills.
On motion of Mr. Hoyt the resolution to
loan the geological specimens of the State
to the Georgia Land and Mineral Company
on giving bond was taken up. Judge
Hoyt explained the resolution, and how
closely the State’s interest was regarded.
Senator Peeples called for another read
ing of the resolution.
Senator Livingston spoke of the work
of the geological survey of five years un
der Dr. Little. All of the maps and speci
mens, properly labeled, ate shut out from
the world.
Senator Parks asked if they were nut on
exhibition now.
Senator Livingston replied that they
were not. They were locked up in a room
up stairs. The advantage of the resolu
tion was that these specimens would be
shown. It was a shame that the survey
was stopped. The company mentioned
will have to provide a suitable building to
show these.
Senator Tatum asked if Dr. Little had
not removed from Georgia.
Senator Livingston said Dr. Little had
no successor a« Stste Geologist. Dr. Lit
tle has many uncompleted field notes for
maps, which ought to be utilized. The
State’s interest is amply protected by the
resolution. A bill has been introduced to
complete the survey.
Mr. Peeples asked if the specimens
could be taken out of the city.
Mr. Livingston said no. Thev ought to
be kept here. Mr. Pratt was receiving
hundreds of letters inquiring about our
geological resources.
* Senator Tatum opposed the resolution.
He thought the Commissioner of Agricul
ture ought to spend some of his SIO,OOO
to show these specimens and complete the
survey. He understood the survey could
be completed for SI,OOO. The law now re- |
quires the Commissioner to complete the
survey. He at least ought to spend enough
money to show the specimens. Mr. Tatum
said he would vote to appropriate SI,OOO
to complete the survey. Loaning the spe
cimens to one set of men gave them an ad
vantage over others
| Mr. Dnßignou moved to lay the resolu
tion on the table for the present.
V Bills on second reading were taken up.
>- Mr. McDonald spoke jp favorof the bill
to change the Constitutionas to give an
nual instead of biennial sessions, reported
against by the Judiciary Committee. He
made talk. We present a strange
spectacle in holding a regular annual ses
sion under a biennial law. He alluded to
the double length of the session. They
were violating the wishes of the people.
But. say some, this is the croaking of the
papers.* Well, the newspapers are part of
the people. The Constitution should be
changed, and the cheapest way is to amend
and submit the amendment to the people.
Don’t go to the expense of a convention,
when the change can be made by inexpen
sive amendments. He urged the policy of
annual sessions, and hoped the report of
the committee would be disagreed to.
Senator Dußignon suggested that Mr.
McDonald move to recommit the bill.
This motion was made.
A message was received from the House
through Mr. Hardin.
Senator Dnßicnon explained the action
of-the committee. Some Senators oppose
all amendmen's to the Constitution. He
was not one of them. The Constitution
they considered an untried experiment.
He thought it was better to wait. He
alluded to the question that was raised
that their staying so long was unconstitu
tional. The Constitution provided for an
extension of sessions by a two-thirds vote,
and they could stay there until the next
Legislature if they did it by a two-thirds
vote. Mr. Dußignon made some allusions
to newspaper criticism of the General As
aemb’.y.
Senator Parker thought the Sena to had
better act on the measure now. It would
be needless to recommit to the same com
mittee. It would save time to act now.
Senator Tatum, to test the Senate, moved
to postpone indefinitely.
Senator Greer thought either postponing
and recommitting unnecessary, Vote on
it. He was opposed to the bill first, last
and all the time.
Senator Polhill raised the question that
indefinite postponement was not in order
on a second reading. The only motion
was to disagree to the report of the com
mittee. The point of order was sustained.
The motion tojpostpone was withdrawn and
the vote taken on Senator McDonald’s
motion to disagree to the report of the
committee against the bill. The yeas and
nays were called and stood yeas 6, nays
28: so the bill was lost.
Bill to amend section 1646 of the Code
as to fees of Solicitors-General was report
ed unfavorably by the Judiciary Commit
tee.
Senator McAfee, the author of the bill,
moved to disagree to the report of the
committee, explaining the reason of the
bill. The bill provides in indictments for
felony, where there are pleas of guilty of
a misdemeanor, that the solicitor should
get only fees for conviction for a misde
meanor. The lawyers of his district sug
gested the bill.
Senator George asked if the fee would
be not reduced from $25 to $lO in such a
ease.
Senator McAfee admitted it, but justified
it as just to the defendants.
Senator Greer had been solicitor and
from his experience thought the bill was
reasonable and right. His practice «r
solicitor was to take fees for the crime that
was plead. Mr. Greer presented a valua
ble statement of his experience.
Senators George and Tutt both put ques
tions to Mr. Greer.
Senator Tutt said solicitors sometimes
H made innocent mistakes.
Senator Harris asked if solicitors should
not knew what sort of bills of indictment
to draw.
Senator Tutt said the responsibility
reeled on the grand jury. The solicitor
should enforce the highest possible crime
on the man and he was opposed to cutting
down the fees of solicitors. The imputa
tion'of the bill was to charge solicitors with
drawing larger bills than were proper to
get higher fees.
Mr. McAfee disclaimed any such reflec
tions on solicitors.
Mr. Tntt continued his argument that
the solicitors should be encouraged in do
ing their duty.
- Senator Harris thought the bill would
work a hardship on the solicitors. The
olieitor examines the evidence and draws
i bill of indictment to suit, He ought to
receive p y for such work. The Senator
read the schedule of fees of solicitors, and
arened them as reasonable. He opposed
the bill as unjust to solicitors.
Senator Bell thought the fees were
not too large. But as the legal ad
viser of the State, the tbongot the
i solicitor should know his doty and
' draw proper bills. It was unjust to the
defendant, to make him pay the costs for a
larger offense than he was convicted of.
There was no reflection on solicitors by
this bill. The solicitors had full chance
to learn the grade of offense, and where he
accepted a plea of guilty of a certain of
fense, he should be satisfied with pay for
tJUat offense. He should oppose the report
of .the committee and support the
beaator Bell <a a clear, forcible
trouble in preparing an indictment for
felony than for a misdemeanor. Two men
ard guilty of the same offense. The solici
tor indicts one for felony and the other for
misdemeanor, and both plead guilty to a
misdemeanor, and yet one pays a larger
cost than the other. It is unjust. The
solicitor should not profit by his own mis
takes.
Senator George and Senator Greer both
put questions to Mr. Peeples.
Senator George asked if when the grand
jury found a true bill was not that an en
dor-ement of the solicitor’s action.
Senator Peeples impugned the motives
of neither the Solicitor General nor grand
jnry.
Mr. Tutt asked if the tendency of the
bill would not be to take time m abortive
trials for felony.
Mr. Peeples thought the tendency was
to make solicitors avoid the trouble of
felony trials, and take verdicts for misde
meanors. He contended the principle of
the bill was recognized in cases of assault
to murder, where the conviction was for
assault and battery.
S t nator George opposed the bill. He
showed a very intimate acquaintance with
the criminal law and demonstrated that
the only class of cases that this bill could
refer to would not be reached by it. He
did not think that the public interest re
quired such a law. The fee bill bad been
very carefully prepared and should be ad
hered to.
Senators Tatum, Greer and Peeples all
pnt questions to Senator George, which
he readily answered. He argued the ques
tion with force and clearness, contending
that the law as it stood was fair ail around
and should not be changed.
Senator McAfee said he was after the
public interest and to secure justice. He
wished to remedy a hardship. He hoped
the Senate would perfect the bill.
’lhe vote on disagreeing to the report of
the committee stood: 15 yeas; 19 nays, so
the motion was lost and the bill was de
feated.
Senator McAfee’s bill prescribing how
foreign corporations shall do business in
this State, was isported unfavorable by
the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Dußignon
explained the action nf the committee,
which recognized a hardship but could not
remedy it.
Mr. Greer recognized no hw but to do
right. If there was a hardship, remedy it.
Pass the law.
The report of the committee was agreed
to. and the bill lost.
Senator Bakes* local bill as to obstruc
tions in a mill creek in Cherokee count. 4
was reported unfavorably. Laid on thv
tab’e. *
Mr. Davis, Chairman of the Library Com
mittee, submitted a report favoring a reso
lution to appoint a committee of two from
the House and one from the Senate to pro
cure records of the Medical Board and put
in the archives of State.
Senator Baker asked if there was to be
any cost to the State. He was opposed to
the matter if there was cost. To bring
those old books here was not necessary
enough to incur cost.
Senator Bush asked if the destraction
of these records might not work hard
ships.
Senator Baker had no objection if there
was no cost. He did not want to pay any
thing for the old rubbish.
Mr. Bush thought it very essential to
have these records. The authority of phy
sicians to practice was at stake.
Mr. Davis defended the resolution, urg
ing the value of the records as the history
of the practice of medicine in the State.
The pitiful sum to get them was not im
portant enough to consider.
Mr. Baker proposed to amend that it
should be no cost to the State. The re
cords were of value to but one class of
doctors, and those not more than a fifth of
the physicians. He contended for the in
ntili’y of the books.
Mr. Parks asked if tba books would not
be valuable if a physician falsely claimed
to be licensed.
Senator Baker’s amendment was lost and
the resolution agreed to.
The rules were suspended and Senator
Tutt’s resolution putting the hour of ad
journment at 1 o’clock was agreed to.
Adjourned to 9 o’clock to-morrow morn
ing.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 9 o’clock. Prayer by
the Chaplain. The roll was called and the
Journal read and approved.
Mr. Bankin, Speaker pro tem , presided.
The report of the joint committee ap
pointed to investigate the Lunatic Asylum
was read, and on motion of Mr. Hawkes
500 copies were ordered to be printed for
the use of the House.
Mr. Shipp, of Chattahoochee, moved
a suspension of the rules to have a bill
to amend section 14C9 of the Code
read the second time. Carried. Mr.
Shipp then moved to disagree to the re
port of the committee, which was adverse
to the passage of the bill. Carried.
The special order was taken up, to-wit :
A bill to amend sec ions 2056 and 2057
of the Code relative to the rate of interest
by striking out the word “eight” and in
serting the word “twelve.”
Mr. Harris, of Bibb, the introducer of
the bill, made an elaborate and logical
speech in favor of its passage, giv ng many
.striking reasons why it should become a
law.
Mr. Reese, of Wilkes, made a strong
speech against the bill.
Mr. Wright, of Floyd, called for the mi
nority report, and then proceeded to argue
against the bill. Mr. Wright was unalter
ably opposed to a high rate of interest;
thought it was one of the greatest evils in
the world. He said that if there was one
thing that the Bible denounced it was
usury upon money.
The main point of his speech was to
show that if you raise the rate of interest
higher than the producer can pay, you
cripple production.
Mr. Spence, of Mitchell, called the pre
vious question. Sustained.
Messrs. Robbe, of Richmond, and
James, of Douglass, concluded tor the
committee, the former gentleman making
a most sensible speech, and the latter a
pointed common sense effort.
A call for the yeas and nays was sustain
ed. The vote was taken on the majority
report, favorable to the passage of the bill.
The vote stood: Teas, 35; nays, 109.
On motion of Mr. Everett, of Polk, the
bill was laid on the table.
Mr. Rountree, of Brooks, introduced the
following resolutions:
Whereas, The Hon. Louis F. Garrard,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
has met with a distressing and sore be
reavement in the death of his promising,
manly boy, Willie, thirteen years of age,
after a long and painful illness, and his
remains are to-day being conveyed to his
home for final interment,
Be it rwotoed, That the profoundest sym-
pathy of this body is tendered to the Hon.
Louis F. Garrard and his stricken wife, in
the harrowing > ffi totion they have suffered
in the loss of their first born.
Beit further resolved, That it is within
the knowledge and admiration of this
Hoose that the gifted young Speaker has,
during the protracted sickness of his sot,
after successive nights of wearisome watch
ing over the beloved sufferer, day after
day, under his strong sense of public duty,
discharged with untiring attention and
perfect capacity the important duties of
his position.
Resolved further, That an enrolled copy
of these resolutions be presented the Hon.
Louis F. Garrard, and that in tokMA of our
respect this House do now ad
journ until to-paorrow morning at nine
On motion of Mr. Jordan the. resolutions
were adopted by a rising vote. The House
then adjourned to nine o’clock to morrow.
THE SENATE.
Atlanta, August 22.—Senate met.
President-;Boynton in the Chair. Dr.
Jones prayed. Roll call. Journal read
and approved.
Mr. Livingston, Chairman Agricultural
Committee, reported bills.
Dr. Bush, Chairman Committee on Deaf
and Dumb Institution, reported. Printed
and referred.
Mr. Polhiil, Chairman Finance Commit
tee, reported bills.
Mr. Gustin, Chairman Enrollment Com
mittee, reported as enrolled the resolution
to extend the time allowed the city au
thorities of Augusta to construct a fishway
in the canal at the city of Augusta.
On motion of Senator Parker the rules
were suspended and the bill taken up to
accept as a branch of the State University
the academy at Walthourville. The com
mittee reported against it.
Senator Smith opposed the report of the
committee, and moved to disagree to the
report. He saw no reason for cutting off
that section from advantages enjoyed by
other sections. He complimented that
section. While he did not specially favor
branch colleges, as other sections had their
benefit, the people of Liberty should have
the same advantage.
The Senator’s reasoning was conclusive,
and the report disagreed to.
Hon. Joseph W. Preston was invited to
a seat on the floor, on motion of Mr.
George.
Bills were read the second time.
W. P. McWhorter and J. O. Boswell were
admitted to the floor, on motion of Senator
Morgan.
Bills on Third Reading.
Mr. Gustin’s bill to prescribe the regu
lation of leased railroads was made the
special order for Thursday.
Mr. Tutt’s bill to amend section 4500 of
the Code as to interfering with the em
ployment of farm bands. Amended by the
committee. Mr. Parks explained the com
mittee’s amendment which put the matter
like other misdemeanors.
Mr. Livingston urged the amendment as
proper.
* Mr. Baker said the bill imposed S2OO
fine or three monthq jn jail. Section 4310
of the Code, Sgfonaittee recom
mended, iihposesstiM larger penalties, and
the first Wt lefi§ objebtfonable?
Message from the House by Mr. Hardin.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. McAfee offered a humorous amend
ment that every farm laborer wear a tag
stating that he was a servant.
Mr. Dußignon offered an amendment
that cropper be substituted for farm ten
ant.
Mr. futt accepted the amendment.
There was no negro in this bill, and no
room for the freedom shriekers. The bill
involved white men who tried to produce
dissatisfaction among your laborers and
the employers.
Mr. Davis opposed the bill. Section
4500 fully covers the ground already. The
changes proposed degrade the laborer,
end he protested against them. The pres
ent law applied in cases of written con
tracts. The change places the matter
under all the uncertainties of parol con
tracts. Let the law stand as it is. Stop
striking the labor of the country. You
embarrass the farmer himself by such a
measure. Mr. Davis denounced such
legislation as an imposition upon the
liberties of the country. It will create
strife between the different classes, be
tween the laborer and the employer.
Mr. Frederick asked if the civil law had
not been in operation six or eight years.
Mr. Davis said he was notopposed to
punishing men for seducing away the
laborers of others. His objection was
prosecuting men for violating contracts
not in writing or witnessed.
Mr. Parks thought the bill guarded
properly. A man could not be punished
unless knowledge was brought home to
him.
Mr. Livingston also insisted that this
point was covered.
Mr. Harris asked if it was in the power
of any court to prevent false swearing.
Mr. Davis answered no. He continued
his argument against the bill as unwise.
Mr. Oliver declared the bill unamended
as wrong in principle. As the law stands,
it is inoperative.
Mr. Tutt explained the bill to Mr. Oliver,
that men employed under parol contract
should no more be interferred with than
those under written contract.
Mr. Oliver continued. He proceeded to
demonstrate the practical inefficiency of
the law. Laborers could rent land and es
cape the law. He gave his experience in
his law practice.
Mr. Parks suggested that Mr. Oliver’s
objections might be removed by proper
amendment.
Mr. Oliver candidly said be should op
pose the bid anyhow. The day had pass
ed for such a measure. It had been tried
and found inoperative. Trace out the
measure to results. Suppose a laborer
leaves his employer for good reasons. You
cut him from employment and drive him
out of the country. Forbear in this sort of
legislation. It will not put labor on a
higher plane. It will breed discord. Vote
it down. Mr. Oliver made a strong talk
and an effective one.
Senator Livingston spoke for the bill,
replying to objections and a number of
questions.
Senator Martin asked if he did not think
this bill would tend to keep down strife
and hard feeling in communities.
Mr. Livingston answered yes, and pro
ceeded to show it.
Mr. Davis asked if Mr. Livingston
thought there was any difference between
murder and the crimes designated by this
bill.
Mr. Martin suggested that the coveting
man servants and maid servants was for
bidden in the decalogue.
Mr. Livingston took the interruptions
cleverly.
Mr. Baker asked him if he did not know
that well paid laborers did not often leave
good employers.
Mr. Livingston argued for Georgia to
take the lead in valuable new matters that
were right.
There was some sharp sparring between
Senators Davis and Livingston.
Mr. Peeples spoke against the bill and
argued the matter with his usual practical
sense. He did not vote for any class
interests but for the public good. He said
he would vote for the bill if the word farm
tenant or cropper was struck out. The
same objection applied to both words.
Mr. Parks thought the bill ought to
be passed in some shape, The word
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1883.
t nant shonld be stricken from the bill,
I -nd farm labor substituted, e'JV faring those
in service.
Mr. Eikes asked if farm labor would in
clu -e farm tar ant'’,
Mr. Parks said co. He proceeded to
argue the principle involved ifi p-eventing
tbe violation of labor contract®, and urged
its enforcement with correctness and
ability.
Mr. Eakes said he was a farmer—a Phar
isee of the strictest sect. He felt no per
sonal interest in the bill hatsf never had
trouble with hi? hands. He did not think
hardly half of the farmers would, support
this bill. He opposed thf» bill. The bill
proceed son the hypothesis that the first
men making a contract are- and all
MKHakes put frfe poinfi like fWtol ahuS£
clear, direct and earnest.
Mr. Tutt defended Sis bill with his usual
vigor and ability. He has author
of a bold and striking series of measures
for the benefit of the farmers of the §tate,
which be has pressed with remarkable zeal,
tact and success. He has, in their, advo
cacy, displayed extraordinary readiness
and controversial capacity. He always
holds the Senate’s attention, and in hand
to hand debates is the equal of any Sen
ator and the superior of most of them.
Mr. Tutt made a strong argument on the
bill.
Mr. Dußignon explained his amend
ment, the adoption of which would make
him support the bill. It was a measure in
the interest of society. He discussed ably
the poHcy as tending to stop strife.
Mr. Dußignon’s amendment was adopt
ed substituting cropper for farm tenant.
Mr. McAfee withdrew his humorous
amendment.
The bill was then passed by 26 yeas, 11
nays.
The Senate went into executive session,
extending the morning hour to 1:30, p. m.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 9 o’clock. Prayer by
the Chaplain. The roll was called and the
Journal read and approved.
The special order, the payment of the
Mattingly bonds, was taken up. The ma
jority report recommends the payment of
these bonds. They are twenty-two. -SSOO
bonds, given for the purchase of guns
from Sharp’s Rifle Company in 1861.
The minority report is simply to disagree
to the majority report. Mr. Maddox, of
Chattooga, spoke lor the minority report.
He took the position that these guns were
used in the aid of the rebellion; that the
agent of the company knew that they were
being bought for that purpose when be
sold them to Governor Brown. Mr. Mad
dox went on to argue that it would be
against the Constitution of the United
States and the public policy of Georgia to
pay these bonds.
Mr. Watts, of Stewart, offered a substi
tute that the whole matter be referred to
the Attorney-General for thorough investi
gation. Mr. Watts supported his substi
tute earnestly.
Mr. Falligant advocated the majority re
port. Mr. Mattingly stands here as a bona
fide purchaser of these bonds. He took
them as collateral from Mr. Penfield, to
whom he loaned money covering the
amount of thesebonds. Mr. Mattingly has
the right to recover the full amount of these
bonds. Mr. Mattingly appeared before the
.committee with.the note, the f donee of
GndebtetTnesft amd the bonds, Mr. Pea
field did not put in an appearance. Be
fore the law Mr. George Mattingly alone
has the right to be here. He is the bona
fide holder, and in him lies the title to
the'bonds as against the world. Mr. Mat
tingly does not represent the Sharps’
Rifle Company—he represents himself.
Even if Mr. Penfield had stolen these
bonds, under the law Mr. Matting
ly would be the bona fide pur
chaser, unless he bad notice of the
theft. I plant myself upon the Consti
tution of Georgia under which we
live and claim that these bonds should be
paid. Messrs. Stephens. Hill, Toombs and
Senator Brown himself, all say that these
bonds do not come within the prohibi
tion of the Constitution of Georgia or the
United States. Mr. Falligant went on at
some length to show by authority that Mr
Mattingly, being an innocent purchaser,
had a just claim and that the honor of
Georgia demanded its payment.
Mr. Bartlett, of Bibb, did not think that
the bonds should be paid or that the State
should be permitted to be sued He
spoke at length in support of his posi
tion.
Mr. Irwin, of Cobb, called the previous
question. Sustained.
Mr. Gary, of Richmond, consumed the
twenty minutes allowed the committee.
He thought that not to pay these bonds
would “smack of repudiation,” and went
on to give the reasons for the faith that
was in him.
The substitute of Mr. Watts, of Stewart,
was overwhelmingly voted down.
1 The yeas and nays were then called pn
the majority report, which recommends
the payment of the bonds.
The vote stood: Yeas, 30; nays, 117. So
the resolution was lost.
* The House adjourned to 9 o’clock to
morrow. Richmond.
The Jew Question.
London, August 22.—The limes' corres
pondent at St. Petersburg, in his dispatch
referring to the expulsion from St. Peters
burg of an American Jew, in accordance
with the law forbidding Jews to live in
that city, says it is not likely that the
Russian officials have been overstrict in
such cases, in view of the repeated pro
tests of the British and American govern
ments in regard to the treatment of
Jews. The Jew who was expelled de
clined to ask the Prefect as a favor to
allow him to remain until he had trans-,
acted his business. The correspondent
adds that as the Jewish difficulty is more
of an economical than a religious one
there is littfe prospect of the removal of
the prohibition against Jews living in St.
Petersburg and Moscow. Thousands of
Jews who do live in both places either be
long to the privileged classes or skillfully
evade compliance with the law.
Shot By a Negro.
Galveston, August 22.—A special from
Houston says : Dr. Abrahams, a prominent
physician and ex Confederate surgeon,
was shot and probably mortally wounded
by a negro named Clark to-day in an affray,
during which both men fired several shots.
Yesterday the Doctor fired upon the negro
twice but without effect. The negro claims
to have been the victim of a system of
petty persecutions. The Doctor alleges
that Clark looked through a window at his
wife while she was making her toilet.
The Frank James Trial.
Gallatin, Mo., August 22.—1 n the
Frank James trial, yesterday, the entire
dav was occupied with the work of empan
elling a jury It is likely that this will
take two or three days. The crowd is in
creasing and intense interest is manifest
ed. The court has restricted the
dience to 400 persons. It is stated on ex
cellent authority that Dick Little is nere
and will appear at the proper time.
— ——
New York Democrats.
Saratoga, N. Y., August 23.—The Dem
ocratic Committee met here to-day and
called a convention to be held in Buffalo,
on September 27th,
THE THIRD GEORGIA.
THE REUNION AT TALLULAH F » LL.S.
Speech of Dr. J. T. Kilby, of Virginia.
The following eloquent speech was de
livered by Dr. J. T. Kilby, of Portsmouth,
Va., at the reunion of the old Third Geor
gia Regiment at Tallulah Falls, August
10th. Dr. Kilby was the surgeon of the
regiment:
In obedience to your invitation, my.
friends, I am here to-day to unite and to
participate with you in the full enjoyment
of this,, our third reunion. Before attempt
ing to respond to your generous greetings,
to touch s chord that, I anjsare,
•mfr rne«t responsive echo in the
hearts of all prwent. Ttrtesire so express
that deep and abiding gratification that Wei
now experience in being permitted to’
meet, on this occasion, so large a number
of surviving members of our old regiment.
It is, indeed, refreshing to turn aside from
the harrassing cares of daily life, and to
enjoy the privilege of ag in mingling in
social scenes like the present. The culti
vation of a spirit of friendship, fellowship
and good will, one toward another, has
ever been regarded as one of the
most beautiful characteristics of our na
ture, and as soon as we are admitted into
the magic circle of friendship, we are made
to see how good and how pleasant a thing
it is for us to dwell together in peace and
in unity; that it is like the precious oint
ment upon the head, that ran down into
the beard: that it is like the refreshing
dews of Heaven which fell upon Zion’s
Hills, for there it was that the Lord of
Hosts promised his blessings.
It is upon such occasions as this, hjv
comrades, when we meet the bright and
sparkling eye, bedewed with tears of love
and affection, beaming forth the serenest
sentiments of the soul; when we see sun
burnt cheeks flushed with emulous excite
ment of anticipated enjoyment; when
quivering lips speak in language silent,
more potent and more beautifal
than words can portray, the sweetest
emotions of the human heart; when
we hear the loved voice of those
whom we have known in years agone,
whose sounds are sweeter and softer than
JEolian music, bidding us welcome, thrice
welcome, when we feel the solid, firm and
friendly grasp o* a comrade’s hand. I say
it is then, and on such occasions, that we
are enabled to draw new inspirations and
take fresh courage for the practical exem
plification of friendly principles and hu
man virtues in this great battle of life.
I am no stranger in your midst, my
friends, and, from late associations, I feel
that we are brothers, and that we are sons
of the same great, grand and noble old
mother State. As citizens of the same
great Confederacy, bound by the same
cords which, uniting our hearts, blends in
beautiful harmony our affections and our
interests; as a citizen of a neighboring
State with whom your own beloved State
has ever lived in sisterly love; as soldiers
of the same great lost cause, who
were ever true and faithful to our duties,
I feel that I am received and welcomed
here to-day with all the warmth of an old
friend. Our hearts rejoice and commingle
—for we breathe the same atmosphere —we
feel the same motives • are prompted by
♦shesauxe ambition - are governed hythe
same interests. I come, my comrades,
from my native State with my heart full of
love, bearing peace and good will to all,
and friendly greetings from our brother
soldiers whom I here to-day represent. I
come among you, my friends, into your
own State, which is no less distinguished
for her modesty than her merits—a State
bearing a name dear to all true Virginians
—a name rendered illustrious by the many
and noble sacrifices of her gallant citizenz
—a name already famous as one of the
original who gave to the world the most
benificent political discovery in the history
of man - that cf the dearest feature of our
Constitution the inappreciable rights -
the incalculable blessings of Free Govern
ment and State Rights.
Though sectional prejudices and might
not right denied us these privileges, and
darkened the glory of this great political
dogma, yet it was for us to refute one of
the grossest slanders ever cast upon the
character of a noble people, and to expose
the ic-pions tyranny of those who would
degrade us to an incapacity to control the
affairs of our respective States as reason,
justice and the Constitution declare of
right is ours. Bat, comrades, as long as
a spark of liberty remains among men, so
long will the names of our Confederate
leaders kindle it into a flame—as long a?
virtue, patriotism and the lofty ambi
tion of raising man to his just right and
excellence excite the sympathy and admi
ration, so long will the rank and file of the
late Confederate army command the praise
and approbation of the world.
We cannot loose this opportunity, my
friends, of paying th st tribute of gratitude
due the eminent services of yottr State du
ring our late stru gle. Who can forget -
who can be so recreant to Southern valor
as to forget your valiant defense of those
principles so dear to all of us, when, by
the courage and patriotism of your State
volunteers, you hastened to the breech to
repair the injury— to heal the wound that
ignorance and treachery had inflicted on
enr fair character, and with the best bloo
of ynur citizens wash from our spotless
escutcheon the fonl reproach. Amid and
surrounded by the prevailing disaffections
of a few, produced more by the folly of
certain government officials than bv any
want of courage on the part of the people
our States presented a spectacle of moral
grandeur and moral sublimity not sur
passed by that of the invincible Azimus
against Attilla. I do not
wish to eulogize that which has never been
aspersed. I only desire to revive in our
hearts feelings and in our memories re
collections due this occasion, and which
will make yet brighter and stronger the
tie that already unites and binds ng.
In the late struggle for the Confederacy,
the soldiers of Georgia and the soldiers of
Virginia, led on by their noble and daunt
less chiefs, fought side by side, and it is
but natural that Georgia should take a re
trospective view from the bloody fields of
Virginia and contemplate the gigantic
strides toward her own advanced position
in the last few years. Your own noble and
gallant Empire State of the South, my
friends, has been blessed by a kind and
beneficent Providence with many and great
advantages, and I hazard nothing in
this assemblage, when I assert that one of
her proudest distinctions consists in the
fact that she is the mother of the gallant
soldiers, the noble and beautiful women
who now surround us, that she claims as
her dutiful and loyal sons such men as
your Gordons, your Hills, your Toombs,
your Stephens, your Sneads, your Wrights,
and hosts upon hosts of others, and, like
the mother of the Roman Gractin, her
heart full of love of country and of ma
ternal pride, can exclaim: “These are my
jewels.” I say it is with tearful pride she
can look back upon the many bloody
fields and contemplate her history and her
progress during the last few years; what
sacred memories come trooping up
from the past and crowd upon us
at this time. Having survived the
shock of the late great struggle, she
has been, and is now, the prolific mother
of men who possess gigantic intellects and
statesmanship second to none, many of
the best and bravest soldiers, and now,
like the fabled Phoenix of old has arisen
from her own ashes, and, Antaeus like,
from every stroke of misfortune she rises
with renewed vigor and strength, and to
day Georgia stands solid, firm, proud of
her own success, second to none, regener
ated and disenthralled. • « * •
But, just bere.my friends, we would lin
ger fora moment and diop a tear ■ ver de
parted worth, blasted and shattered hopes,
and upon woman, noble woman, sisters,
daughters, wives, mothers of these gallant
men,who, in all her beautiful and virtuous
majesty wields unlimited sway over our
hearts, and assimilates us to her
own purity and tenderness, we would lavish
our fondest affection, and weave a chaplet
for her brow, to remind her it is her part,
when the trunk is broken, to cling but the
closer to the shattered boughs and to
breat he around man’s harsher nature a frag
gran ce more exquisite than the rose,and to
shed about his home a tint more magical
than the blush of early morn.
Naw my friends when we look over this
assemblage and see eheels, the
old Time has been
who are spared; he has 8'
eternity many from our ranks; with bis
desolating baud he has been as insatiable
as death. In h>s rapid and noiseless
flight he has dr shed into rains the strong
est and most beautiful fabrics that human
ingenuity could devise or human art con
struct. in his flight he bas but glanced
at the pride, the pompt, the
pagantry of man, and they have wasted
and faded away, for we cannot for a mo
ment resist the desolating hand of time,
nor for an instant check the progress of
death. He sweeps on with resistless
force and man and man’s works are borne
on its troubled waves to the fathomless
and shoreless ocean of eternity.
* * *
But, my comrades, he has left unto ns
one emblem of glory, around which our
fondest love and affections still cluster !
He has left that glorious old flag com
rades behold it, look at it, venerate it, love
it. see how tattered and torn and worn and
battled scarred, how begrimmed with dust
and age and smoke of many hard fought
battles, for every rent and scar
are but tombs for our buried hopes; but
there is a halo of glory lingering around
it still that to-day incites us to deeds of
valor and patriotism—a bright shikinah of
glory surrounds and enshrouds it from the
touch of the vulgar worl' ! Oh, hallowed
be thy memory thou glorious old flag !
May thy valor and thy glories be handed
down to futurity—thou glorious emblem
of love! May the lisping lips of genera
tions yet to come be taught to utter with
love and veneration thy purity, and to re
spect tby hallowed sanctity, thou glorious
old flag I Bow we love thee, how we vene
rate thee, how we respect and love thee;
how mind travels back and brings to our
memories, fresh and green, the many,
many battles through which thou hast led
us on to victory, loved fhg ! Would that I
could pluck the brightest ray from midday
sun, tip it with purest and costliest dia
mond and trace in characters of living
light on the broad canopy of high heaven,
that the world might read and learn our
love and veneration for thee, thou noble
old flag ! Would that I were an Angelo,
to paint in brightest hues our love and
admiration for thee; would tha* - my hand
possessed the cunning of a Praxitilles to
form and fashion, in purest marble, thy
glories; would that I possessed the talent
of some of thy noble sons, to imprint on
pages of history, in characters' of gold, tby
suffering, thv thy no
ble old fhg ! How well do we remember
when first thou wert unfurled to the gen
tle brefzes of our Sunny South; when the
soft breath of early morn first kissed thy
radiant and rosy-hued cheeks, and how
thou sprang into life as high heaven
breathed upon thee and dedicated thee
to a holy cause, fall of hopes and aspira
tions; how well do we remember thy tri
umphant march for four long years, thy
toils, thy labors, thy hardships, when
might and numbers caused thee to bow
thy head in sorrow and grief—not in dis
honor; how thy setting sun was obscured
from the sight of the world in a perfect
blaze of glory, respected and honored by
those who dragged them down from the
highest pinnacle of fame; how thy setting
sun was so gorgeous, so brilliant amid the
roar of battle as to dszz'e the eye of man,
and the world stood abashed at the moral
grandeur of the spectacle !
Veil now thy glories spangled fkg !
All closely furl tby stars and bars;
Low in the dust thv beauties drag,
Victorious oft in freedom’s wars.
A mournful sound was on the breeze,
That swept o’er woodland, hill and vale,
As fast and far across the seas
Was borne Cecessia’s saddest wail !
* * * * « * *
Now, my friends, when we look over
this assemblage of surviving veterans, we
miss so many faces, so many noble form?,
so many gallant and courteous spirits,
once so familiar to all, who honored our
brave old regiment, and helped to give it
character and fame. Where now are these
genial and gallant men ? Go ask the
mountains and the valleys, the bills and
the vales, the rivers and the streams —the
gory soil of Virginia. Go ask the waving
grass, the golden grain, the nodding pines
—go ask the gentle wavelets of the Ap
pomattox, the fertile banks of the
historic James—go ask the yawning
Crater at Petersburg—go ask the
bloody fields from Hatteras to Gettys
burg; go ask the sacred spot on which was
transacted the last scene in the great
drama where Mars sheathed the sword,
and unearthed the calumt of Peace. These
are now sighing and sobbing and singing
the last s-d requiem and mournful dirgn
over the consecrated spots, and little green
hillocks that now contain the mortal re
mains of those who were once so near and
so dear tons.
Many noble voices, my friends, have
failed to answer out roll call, for the ruth
less hand of death has been in our midst;
he has invaded our sanctuary and plucked
from our ranks seme of our brightest
lights. One gallant and loved
miss-one who, in the hour of trial and
trouble and doubt, in the midst of battle
and death and carnage, led us on to vic
tory-one who. spared by the enemies’
bullets, was permitted to return to his
own mother State and gain new and fresh
laurels in the political arena; one who was
too bright and too shining a mark to es
cape the darts of death, for he whom we
so admired and loved, and whom we so
familiarly knew, is no longer with us.
Death has claimed him as his own, for he
too is gone—gone—to the tomb. Though
dead he yet liveth - liveth in his match
less precepts and matchless examples; be
liveth in his noble traits and callant acts;
liveth in his unbending integrity and
faultless patriotism; he liveth the
world’s remembrances; he liveth in his
mighty deeds, whose fame fills the whole
earth. As a soldier he won undying re
nown; as a statesman, his warm sympathy
with the toiling millions of his own sunny
South won for him the profoundest respect
of a countless multitude who testified
their high appreciation of his Spartan vir
tues on all proper occasions by their en
thusiastic approbation.
Confederates will ever admire his in
tellectual firmness, and ages yet to come
will utter his name with veneration and
respect. He resteth from his labors —his
toils are over—his duty is done. His un
sullied brow, disgraced by no ear.hly dia
dem has put on the wreaths of glory and
immortality. His last resting place is con
secrated by patriots’ tears and a nation’s
blessings; valor and virtue shall hallow
the spot while time shall endure. Polit
ical rancor is hushed—blasting envy is
dumb. A nation of freemen bends its
head in grief, but the sorrows of woe reach
not the ear of the illustrious General A. R.
Wright.
TEBMS-$2.00 A YEAR.
FRANCE AND HER WARS.
REPVLSED vFTER A DESPB!UTE
STRUGGLE.
Account at the Attack and the Retreat—
The “Nortli German Gazette’s”
Attack on the French Press
Commented Upon—The
Attack Unwsr
ra a ted.
(By Cable to the Chronicle.)
London. Angus c 23.—The Standard has
the fblowing dispatch from Hanoi : The
France were divided into three columns
of 500 men each, as far as Sontay. The
right colutSh then advanced along the
river bank, supported by five gunboats,
l After going five miles the enemy was found
Ltatf reached. The gun boats fired among
,tb e*fg*U' A.
titled village with thd bayonet,
defense was so vigorous that they were
thrice repulsed. Towards evening the
French, finding their attempts fruitless,
decided to renew the .it.ack next morning.
The centre column met wi h a faint resist
ance and occupied Hanoi. There they
awaked the turning movement.to be effect
ed by the left column. The latter advanced
along the road which the late Captain Bi
viere took. Four hundred Chinese occu
pied the column which reached Vong, and
there found the road barricaded by a strong
entrenchment. The artillery then fired
into the works. The column advanced
with difficulty, owing to the floods. The
horses were unused to harness and refused
to drag the guns, and the men took their
places in dragging up the artillery. When
within 300 yards of the enemy’s entrench
ments the French opened fire. For the
time there was no return made by the ene
my, but after some delay they opened with
a tremendous fusilade, which resulted in
checking the advance column. It was
now manifest that the position could not
be carried by a direct attack, and a flank
movement was impossible. So the French
column retreated. The enemy, shout
ing in triumph, issued from their
intrenchments and began pursuit of the
French. They pressed around both
flanks of the retreating column. The
French then opened out with their artil
lery, firing shell into the ranks of the pur
suing forces, but the enemy continued to
follow their retreat. The' French pre
served excellent order and carried every
thing off the field, including their killed
and wounded. At 4 o’clock in the after
noon the enemy suddenly drew off. The
French column reached Hanoi at 7 o’clock
in the evening completely exhausted.
Their centre column also returned to
Hanoi. The right column occupied a po
sition which the enemy vacated during the
night. The French loss is two officers and
ten men killed and fifty-four seriously
wounded. Thirty Chinese allies were
killed.
London, August 23.—The limes’ corre
spondent at Hong Kong, referring to the
movement of the French in Ton quin, of
which reports were received last night,
says the enemy was mainly composed of
Chinese, firmed with Remington rifles.
Gen. Bouel commanded the left column of
the French troops. It is believed that
the enemy’s loss was small. The French
doctors complain of a want of medicines
and stores. The operations of the French
have been stopped for the present, the
number of troops being insufficient to at
tack Sontay and Bacninh, which are the
strongest positions. The repulse of the
French has disheartened them and en
couraged the enemy. Four thousand
native Christians are being armed.
The Standard's correspondent at Hanoi,
m his report of the movement of the
French, adds: It is generally admitted
that the French will require a force of 10,-
000 men to be able to cope with the enemy
successfully. The number of gunboats is
also inadequate. Five hundred coolies,
who accompanied the French columns as
carriers, fled at the first shot. It is stated
that the enemy has entrenchments, one
behind the other, over the whole twenty
five miles between Hanoi and Sontay, but
it is thought that the floods have destroyed
many of them. The black flogs have been
strongly reinforced from Yun Nan. No
Annamites participated in the fight'ng.
The Times says the capture of Haiduong
is of some importance as it gives the French
complete command cf the Songchi canal
which is the most convenient approach to
Hanoi
The Gazette's Attack.
London, August 23.—The Timos, com
menting on the North German Gazette’s arti
cle referring to the attack of the French
journals on Germany and declaring that
France alone threatens the peace of
Europe, says the irratation shown by the
latter paper cannot be explained by the
reason assigned, as the French press upon
the whole has been very moderate in re
gard to Germany. The article is rather
an expression of general impatience at the
conduct of the French and ought to con
vince them that their expeditions in the
various parts of the world do
not add in the smallest de
gree to their influence in Europe.
The article of the North German Gazette
startled Paris, alarmed Europe and caused
prices on the bourses of Paris, Vienna and
Berlin to fall. The press everywhere ex-
Dresses surprise at the Gazette's attack on
France and wonder as to what its dbject is.
The French papers repel the charges con
tained in the article and intimate that the
French are better prepared now to say th it
Prince Bismarck is seeking a pretext for a
quarrel or for the imposition of fresh
army burdens. The Austrian press asks
if the article means war? The English
journals think that the warning was over
done and that the cause for it was in
sufficient. It would not be wise, they say,
to attach too much significance to the
article.
Wanted For Burglary,
Nobfolk, August 23. —A tekgram from
Philadelphia to-day asked the Portsmouth
authorities to hold A M. Sykes, who shot
his father at the railroad depot Tuesday
evening, as he was wanted on the charge
of burglary in Chicago. At the t’me of
the shooting Sykes had a considerable
amount of money and jewelry with him.
The Tamatave Affair.
London, August 23.—Mr. Gladstone
stated, this afternoon, in the House of
Commons, that M. Waddington, French
Ambassador, had given assurances to the
British government that Mr. Shaw would
have every facility for conducting hia de
fense and that Francs would do her
utmost to close the incident.
Lord Chief Jastlee Coleridge.
Pbovidence, August 23. —ln response to
a call by Judge Blatchford and other resi
dents of Newport, a large meeting was
held there to-day to arrange for the recep
tion of Lord Chief Justice Coleridge of
England. A committee of eighty-nine was
appointed to carry out the purpose of the
meeting.
To Znluland.
Dubban, August 23.—1 t is reported that
a battalion of British troops has been or
dered to proceed to Znluland.