Newspaper Page Text
THE ALBANIJNEWS
»1Rto\. kvass * vrirKEv
j|JU»r.URIKUU - -
MtWH un
i— - - —-
Congress adjourned at 12 nt. Tues
day
Wade Ilanijitoii Uno longer Gov
ernor of South Carolina, blit a V. 8.
Senator. Unit-Governor Simpson
lias been qualified.
coor ISrick romcroy, who attempt
ed to rerohilionixe the country in the
interest of greenbacks from Chicago
as a centre, has retired to I-a Crosse,
WU_ almost a pauper.
Mr. Tilden lias, it is said ♦1,230,000
in the elevated railroad New York.
It is -aid ho will draw a dividend ol
at per i-ent. There it $250,000 towards
tilling his barrel.
Wonder if Windom intends to mi
grate tbe colored people to Massachu
setts TThe re is an unrepealed statue in
that State which ^provides that. “If a
negro strike any peraon of the En
glish or Cbristaln nation, he shall be
punished by a severe whipping."
The Green backers are progressing
crab-fashion in Syracuse, N. Y. That
city is their stronghold in the State.
Thetacandidate for Mayor polled on-
ly W0 votes a few daya ago. Last
year he received 3,182. The move
ment docs not seem to boom as much
as it did.
A Republican from New York
brings information that the money
changers of that city have agreed to
advance to Bryant three thousand
dollar* to be used in reorganising
the Republican |mrty in Georgia,
with the promise of more if the
"movement" pans out well.
As was anticipated Mr. Hayes ve
toed the anti-Chinese bill, which
passed both Houses of Congress un
der political pressure. Mr. Hayes
doubtless took the position that he
hail nothing to lose. The National
Workingmen expect bloodshed to
follow this act of the President.
Old Hoar, of Massachusetts, said
gomethiug the other day about ex-
President Davis’ ingratitude towards
bis country which had educated him.
Doesn’t be know that the National
school inculcated iuto the mind of
Jefferson Davis the glorious fact that
Slates had rights which they should
defend ?
Speaking of Mrs. Felton’s letter,
the Chicago Inter Ocean, rad, says:
-All In *11,the tetter gives a sugges
tive picture of the Georgia democra
cy-"
Every word uttered by the Inde
pendents, and their wifely political
companions is in that way construed;
and Radicalism is thus encouraged.
California and other Pacific Slates
cavorted terribly wbeu tbe learned
that Hayes had vetoed tbe Anti-Chi
nese bill. At a mass meeting, at Bal
lister, San Benito county, the Presi
dent was burned in effigy, and at
Fairfield, tbe seat of Sonoma county,
flags were at half mast. At Dutch
Flat 'be last Chinese shanty within
the town was burned on receipt of
the news.
A reporter of the Chronicle A Sen
tinel baa been interviewing n very
Urge number of the prominent citi-
xene of that place with the purpose of
ascertaining how they felt upon the
question of renominating lbs last
alacted bat swindled President of the
United States, Mr. Samuel J. Tilden.
Some of those approached were pro
nounced in their opposition to him,
bat n majority favored tbe claims of
“Unde Sammy.”
The President has issued a procla
mation calling for an extra session of
Congress to meet on the 18th. The
proclamation recites that an extraor
dinary aeesion is necessary, for the
reason that the Forty-fifth Congress
adjourned without making the usual
and necessary appropriations for the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Expenses of the Government, for the
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1880,
and without making tbe usual and
necessary appropriations for the sup
port of the army for tbe same fiscal
r«» r - ^_
A dispatch from Tallahassee to the
Savannah New aaya that a commit
tee consisting of three Democrats and
two Repnbl leans, presented a report
to the House unanimously exculpa
ting Hou. N. A. Hull from the charges
of being a party to certain election
frauds, upon which charge he was
indicted and is host under bond to
answer.
The Senate passed a resolution sub
mitting the question of a constitution
al convention to a vote of the people
in 1880.
On Saturday last the Potter Com
mittee submitted tbe majority re
port of that committee. Butler will
prepare a separate report giving his
views in reference to tbe alleged bar
gains mads with Hayea by which
Southern democrats obtained control
in Louisiana and South Carolina.
The Republican minority will also
prepare a report. The majority re
port reviews the testimony inipar-
tislly throughout, concludes that tbe
votes of I-oultiana and Florida were
fairly cart for Tilden, hut they were
stolen by a successful conspiracy, and
the successful conspirators on ac
count ot the steal held on lo power.
It admits the confetaions of the con
spirators who have become dissatis
fied to be worth but little, but points
to the generally not understood facta
tliat there is no substancial dispute
about the essential features of the
election and canvass in these States,
the Republicans liaving called but
few witnesses in Louisiana and none
jn Florida, on these points.
ltudU-ul Meanness.
The last llndiral Senate which ’
America will ever know immortal- j
l/etl itself last Saturday. In a most j
•ontciiiptihle display of royal mean ;
vsa, on the part of Mr. Iloar. Radi-1
•si member from the Stale of Mussa-
c.iusett*. The wires tell us that when
te motion lo reconsider the bill.
■taking an appropriation to pay the
rrears of pensions, was agreed to.
ilnar offered an amendment. Hint no-
H-nsiou shall ever lie paid under this
tel to Jefferson Davis, late I’rcaidcnl
f the so-called Southern I’onfedorn-
y. Iloar said “the name in his pro
viso had not been singled out by any
-election of his own, or from any per
son who agreed with bint politically.
Hie indue bad been selected by Davis
himself, by his own art, in marked
and conspicuous characters, by an
attack on tbe life of bis country which
educated bim. That gentleman had
never giveu utterance to an expres
sion of regret for such attack, nor had
IteTollowcd tbe example of so many
of his associates by asking Congress
to remove his political disabilities.—
He spurned the clehieury of the Re
public to-day. It was now proposed
to put the name of this person, whose
treason had not been repented of. ou
the pension rolls of the country, and
lo tax loyal widows and orphans to
pay tho pension."
While we have always regarded
this man noar in the light of one, in
hitter antagonism towards the South,
we gave him credit for brain-power
sufficient to understand that such
puerile efforts as this will uot raise
his name’in the pages of history. Al
such a time at this a more suicidal
position could not have been taken.—
The people of the North are even
now wailing for peace; the bloody-
hirt ‘shouts have well .nigli tired
them out, retarded business prosper
ity, aud checking the progress of the
nation. They, even they, demand
change.
Iu the first place such remarks were
totally unnecessary. Mr. Davis would,
under uo circumstances,accept a pen
sion from the Federal {government.—
He would scorn the offer, ami Massn-
chusett's blatant son knew it before
he uttered his niggardly remarks.
It is'a source of gratulntion lo tin-
Southern people to know that their
beloved leader hod some able defen
ders on the floor of that Senate—
Northern as well as Southern men.—
Prominent among these ‘stood Sena
tor Thurman, of Ohio, who has al
ways been a staunch friend to a sec
tion and peoplH lie considered op
pressed. Mr. Thurman said that
amendment asked him to single out
Jeffersou Davis for punishment, when
other men, who went as far as lie did,
were uot only not punished, but hnve
been appointed to the highest stations
in tbe government: and in this con
nection he mentioned the names of
Akerman, formerly United States
Attorney-General; Gen. Longstreet,
postmaster at Gainesville, and Mosbv,
of guerilla fame; all, and many oth
ers of the same class, being appoint
ed by tbe Republican administration.
He saw on the bench, ‘too, men who
were actively engaged in the Confed- j P r of about
Kditoriul Correspondence.
:rvKK rnoM am enters—\ nkw r*-
i*kr—Tint court Horse—
LICK OOt'lrr. KTc.
Amkricus, March 3, 18711.
Mr. Merrill (Callaway issued this
afternoon the prospectus of a news
paper, the publication of which lie
proposes soon to commence here. A
better field could not be found The
town and county are.,large, anil peo
pled with an intelligent community ;
its social ami commercial interests
need tho influence mid support of a
wide-awake, progressive journal.—
The necessity for such an enterprise
has lately grown almost to a clamor
ous demand, and Mr. I’allawar, with
a shrewd appreciation of the situa
tion, is going to become a member of
tho Fourth Estate. His prospectus is
received with expressions of approv
al and encouragement from ail sides,
and the outlook for the future of tho
enterprise is hopeful in the extreme.
Wc forestall the “new issue” with
our lies! wishes for its prosperity.
TUX COURT HOUSE
has recenlly\had an application of
paint to the doors and blinds, which
gives it a little better appearance, but
not nil the paiut in Christendom can
convert it into a really suitable
building. It is a shabby and in
adequately constructed affair, and
is not very creditable to a county of
tho size and intelligence of Sumter.
IVc understand that several grand
juries have recommended the erec
tion of a new Court-house, but the
suggestion seems to hare passed un
heeded by tho “powers Hint bo,” and
the present “incumbent’’ will proba
bly remain an eyesore for some time
to come. Apropos, Judge Crisp in
formed me that he .would hold the
next session of'
I.EE COURT
on the Third and Fourth Moudays in
the present month, instead of Second
and Third weeks as heretofore. This
will be a great convenience to the
lawyers of the Albany Circuit, who
can thus attend both Lee aud Cul-
Imuu Courts.
I hear no talk here of a
arRi.su fair,
hut the Association intends to make
a good exhibition next fall. They
have a tine agricultural constituency,
and can, if they will, make uu attrac
tive and instructive Fair.
THE N’EORo
in Americus has succeeded better
than in any other city wo know of.—
There arc several negro villnges about
the suburbs, and the evidences of
thrift and enterprise are gratifying to
behold. It is really a question wheth
er they have not succeeded better,
considering their circumstances, than
tin- whites. Many of them hnve good,
comfortable houses, some are even
pretentions, and they ornament their
yards and improve their premises
with a taste highly commendable.—
There is-one “darkey” here whose ca
reer has been exceptional, not to say
phenomenal. Since the war he has in
C OL. TIFT AGAIN.
The Wild laud Fraud considered in
the Light or Heveloped Facts.
Ai.dakv, Ga., February 20, 18711.
Editor* Constitution:—I have read
with care your article on the subject of
wild land’ fraud anil your interview
witli Comptrollor-Gencral Goldsmith,
published in the Constitution of Jan
uary 31st, and an article on the subject
front the Atlanta Sunday (iazettc,
copied in the Macon Telegraph and
Messenger and the Savannah Morn
ing New.
The general’ impression made by
thcao articles is to place the blame, first,
upon tho law as authorising and re
quiring the official conduct which has
brought upon us tho present evil; sec
ond, upon the Legislature, which has
failed to change the law as suggested
by the Comptroller-General; third, upon
the purchasers and tmnsforrecs of tin-
wild land tax fi. fas. and to exculpate
the Comptroller-General from all
blame, making it appear that he has
jterformed his duty under tho law anil
the opinion of the Attorney-General.
1 have waited with the hope that some
other citizen would answer and expose
the errors of law and fact from which
these conclusions have been drawn.
As this has not been done, I undetake
the thankless task as a duty to the peo
ple of the State, and will allow;
1. That the wild land tax of 1874 is
too clear and specific to be misunder
stood, and in what respect it has liceii
violated.
2. That the law of 1873, code 891,
with its proviso of 1875, is a good law
and not in conflict with the law of 1874.
3. That the Attorney-General was
never asked and gave no written opin
ion as to the duty of the Coniptroiler-
General under the law.
4. That Comptroller-General Gold
smith violated the law in tho transfer
of tho tax fi. fas. and in his subse
quent action; that ho was in some way
interested in the result; and that the
speculators —the transferees— would
have been powerless and harmless
without his action and co-operation in
violation of law.
5. That all sales of lands under State
wild land fi. fas., issued and transfer
red by the Comptroller-General, are
illegal and void, and should be so de
clared by the Legislature.
6. That the principles and policy of
the wild land tax laws arc wrong, and
that all lands should be given in and
the tax paid in the county in which
they are situated.
As a preliminary to the discussion of
these subjects, I will state that the wild
land tax law ef 1866, referred to by the
Comptroller-General as being substan
tially the same as the act of 1874, win
repealed by the act of August 21, 1872,
which required that wild land should
be given in and tax paid in the county-
in which they were situated, the sar.it-
as other lands. Unfortunately for the
State this act of 1872 was repealed by
the act of February 24, 1873, authoris
ing returns to the Ordinary, and this
act of 1873 was repealed by the act of
February 28, 1876—tho law now in
force. The leading provisions of the
wild land tax act of 1874 are briefly as
follows, so far as the Comptroller-Gen
eral is concerned:
1. He is to make a complete list of
wild lands.
2. He is to advertise the same in a
newspaper for thirty days, requiring
the owners to pay tile tax.
3. I!e shall, at the expiration of sixty
days from the passsago of this act, pro
ceed to issue executions against all wild
lands not returned for State and county
taxes.
4. The executions are to be directed
to tho sheriff of the county where the
land lies, and the shetiff shall forthwith
proceed to advertise and Bell the same
as in case of sheriff sales, and make his
return and show what land was sold, to
whom, wheu and where, and for what
vested largely in real estate in and amount, and pay said money over to
about the city, is at present the own- | the Comptroller-General except costs.
crate service, who were just as gnilty
as Jefferson Davis. The proposition
before them came from the Senator
of a State (Massachusetts) where trea
son had been more violent and long
er than that of any other Statean the
Union. Thurman did not want to
pick out Jefferson Davis as a martyr
when all others who had acted with
him walk the earth unchanged.
Senator Lamar, of Mississippi, re
plying to Hoar, said he must confess
his surprise and regret that tlie gen
tleman from Massachusetts should
hnve wantonly, without provocation,
flung this insult.
The chair (Mr. Edmunds) called the
Senator to order for this language.
Mr. Lamtfr said : “1 suppose it is iu
order to fling insults, but out ol'ordcr
for those who are insulted to hurl
bsrk tho blow. I appeal from Hie de- i
cision of thechnlr.” The quest ion be- llayes Vetoes tlie Chinese Bill-
FIFTY HOUSES,
which lie rents out at from two to
five dollars per month, is tho proprie-
lor of a public bath bouse, anil of four
large fish ponds, well stocked with
tut-llsh, perch and suckers. And he
is a Radical, has voted the Republi
can ticket ever since his freedom, has
been the head of numerous Republi
can meetings held here. Withal, he
is ti quiet, polite negro, and enjoys
and lias ever enjoyed, his “priceless
privilege of suffrage" without any
restraint whatever. Really wo are al
most sorry to write this, for fear it
might get to Mr. Blaine’s ears and
cause him much alarm for the success
of his “Bloody shirt” 'Mttnchausen-
istns.
Adio*. L. W.
ing taken the decision of the chair
was overruled. Yeas 15, nays 27.
Lamar proceeded, eulogising Mr.
Davis and protesting against attempts
to single bim out for obloquy from
tho body of the Southern people who
hail chosen him fortheir leader in a
cause dear alike to him and his fol
lowers.
Following the remarks arose old
Chandler, swollen with fear of rebals
and hatred toward the South. He
denounced Mr. Davis bitterly, as a
“double-dyed traitor,” etc.
Further discussion, In which Messr*.
Gordon, Windoin, Random and Beck
participated, took place, the Inst nam
ed gentleman saying that tbe Mexi
can veteran amendment was voted in
with the aid of eight Republican
votes, and that the bill was passed
with fourteen Republicans voting for
it. But for the Republican-., lie
wanted it to lie understood, the bili
would not be a law in the land.
Hoar's amendment to exclude Jef
ferson Davis was agreed to by a vote
of 23 to 22. Tlie vote was then taken
on tbe amendment of Mr. Shields, lo
pension Mexican veterans ns amend
ed on motion of Mr. Hoar, and tva-
disagreed to by a vote of 20 lo 23.
The bill then passed—41 to 3.
Col Tift’* Letter
occupies a considerable amount of
our apace to-day. It is a continua
tion of the wild land discussion, and
its publication in these columns is
prompted by* desire to show up
both sides of a great public question
of vital importance to the people of
Georgia ; and the necessity of mak
ing a complete record.
A grent error has been committed.
Whether it wus tlie makers of law
who erred, or those whose duty it is
to execute this dint-union will deride.
Does Hie Southern negro ever won
der in his own mind why it is that
none of Ihe Radical districts in tlie
North aver send negro Raprasantii-
livet to Congress?
Hi* Reason.
W'asiu.ntox, March 1.—The Presi
dent in his message vetoing the bill
to restrict Chinese imigration, re
views the 5th and 6th Articles of the
Burlingame treaty, argues that they
arc of great advantage for the pro
tection of our citizens in China aud
our commerce with lliat'Empire, and
take the ground also, that the abro
gation ofthe.se two articles would he
abrogation of Ihe whole treat. That
Hie power to modify a treaty does
not res. in Congress, but iu the Pres
ident and Senate; that although
Congress has a Constitutional au
thority to abrogate an entire treaty,
it has never been exercised,
except in abrogating the treaty
with France, in 1798 for grave cause,
and that only grave circumstances
justify its exercise; that there Is
no pressing necessity for more spee
dy action on the subject of Chinese
immigration than can l>e reached by
ordinary diplomatic negotiation;
lliat abrogation of the treaty articles
by this bill would endanger impor
tant interests and that it would be a
hri-fteh of faith by the nation. Ho
expressed a sense of the seriousness
of the situation on the Pacific coast
resulting from the present working
»f Chinese immigration, and said it
deserves the serious attention of Hie
whole country, nud a solicitous in
terest on the part of Congress and the
Executive, hut for 0'° reasons above
indicated he cannot approve the
present bill, and returns it to the
House of Representatives with the
expression of belief that in reconsid
ering it Congress will maintain the
public honor.
Monroe Advertiter: Gen. Gordon
is blamed for liaving an interest iu
tbe lease of the. convicts. Gov. Col
quill is *cciiseil of taking sides with
one of Ids clerks, to the injury of the
people. Gen. Toombs is charged with
drinking all the whiskey he can got
Mr. Ben. Hilt makes people mad be-
cause they say he is inconsistent. Alex
Stephens “takes up” lor Grant and
llaree. Milt Smith cusses too much.
Tlie fast is, all of us public men have
our faults.
5. The Comptroller-General to keep
in his office a book of the numbers of
the land, the taxes collected theron and
to whom sold.
6. Ho is made the judge of the titlea
of persona who tuny claim the surplus
of taxes and costs.
This is a summary view of tin- duties
of the Comptroller-General that relate
to the subject under consideration, anil
the law gives him no discretion te avoid
them.
And now let us see how lie has per
formed them :
1. Instead of issuing executions for
tax on unreturned wild landB in 1874.
“within sixty days after the passage of
act,” he delayed until 1877 in violation
of tho law.
2. When he did issue the executions,
instsad of directing them “to the sheriff
where land lies,’’ he directed them to
“all and singular the sheriffs of said
state" contrary to the law.
3. Instead of sending the tax fi. fas.
when issued by him to the sheriff of the
county where the land lies, with in
structions that “ho shall forthwith pro
ceed to advertise and sell the same,”
and make returns to him, lie’transfers
the State’s title to her tax fi. fas. to an
army of speculators and accompanies
the State with instructions to the sheriff’
which enables the transferees to pur
chase the lands at any price that may
be bid without paying* for them, by
authnrizing the sheriff to take bonds for
which there is no authority in law and
which, in any event, arc worthless.
4. Instead of requiring the sheriff tn
pay over the money to him for which
the lands are sold, less the costs, he
has authorized tha sheriff tn pay it over
to other parties.
5. Instead of requiring tlie sheriff to
make returns tn him, showing “what
lands were sold, to whom, when and
where, and for what amount,” according
to hia answer to one of your questions,
he seams to have ignored this, with his
other duties. Your question and his
answer referred to are:
Q. “After a transfer of fi. fa. does
the transferee have any further relation
in the matter with your office ?”
A. “Nona at all. They pay the
taxes and take the fi. fas. Their sub-
sequent transactions are with the sheriff
and tax officers of the counties.”
This is the equivalent of a voluntary
abandonment or his subsequent duties
prescribed by law relative to these fi.
fas.
9. Instead of keeping a hook in hia
office of “tho numbers of the land, the
taxes collected thereon, and to whom
sold,” it would seem, from the report
of tho House Commitee, that no such
record has boon kept, they have been
unable to ascertain the facts which it
should show.
7. Instead of performing the duly
of judging of the titles of persons who
may claim tbe surplus of sales of land
over taxes and costs, he has, by his to ■
structions, devolved that duty upon
sheriffs without authority of law.—
Thus we find that the Comptroller-Gen
eral has violated nearly overy provis
ion of tbe law and his duties thereun
der, and has been the root and cause of
the present land evils.
Tho report of the House wild land
committee shows that they did not have
time “to perform satisfsctorily to them
selves the investigation contemplated
by the resolution of tho House." hut
thoy did, among other things, ascertain
and report:
1. “That the great difficulties which
have arisen in the execution of this
(wild land) law, ntay all lie traced
to the transfer of these H fw.’’
2. That tit* State has been robbed
“of thausaadi of money and hundred-!
of tlioiiMi.il- of acres of land.”
And they reported that they did not
for want of time ascertain:
2. “TI number jf fi fas is
sued.”
2. Nor “the amount of costs charged
by tin- Comptroller-General for issuing
them.”
3. “Nor what lie did with such
costs,”
4. Nor “what atiintounla were real
ized by such aales.”
6. Nor “w-liat amount for seats was
retained by the transferees or sheriffs.”
This is a bad allowing for an officer
whose duty is to have furnished all the
information from the records of hia
office, anil it is no wonder that the com
mittee reported that they; were not sat-
: »Hcd with the information to bo ob-
Ininod from the Comptroller-General
and wild land office.
Now, lot us ozamino tho pretenses of
tbo Comptroller-General for tho trans
fer of the wild land fi fee. Thoy are:
1. The law of 1R72, code 891, and the
proviso to said law passed in 1876,
(acts, page 119.)
2. ’rite opinions of the Attorney-
General that it was his duty to transfer
the II fas to any person who should
offer to buy them.
The law of 1872—code 861 and the
proviso—is a good law and very con
venient for citizens who desire to bor
row money on the security of the fl
fas to pay their taxes. But:
1. It is not compulsory upon any
one..
2. It applies only to fl fas issued
against persons, and not to fi fas issued
against lands.
It commences: “Whenever any per
son other than the person against whom
tlie same has issued,” etc., and tho pro-
\ iso is “that the transferee shall have
said execution entered on the execution
docket of the Superior Court of tho
county in which the same was issued,
ami, if the person against whom the
same was issued resides in a different,
county, then also in the county of such
person’s residence." . j
A tax fi fa issued against land, and
uot against a personal defendant, can
not be transferred under this law, even
by the officer whose duty it ia to en
force said execution of tho law would
seem to be that the enforcing officer
shall not interfere with the due course
of law in such a ease without the con
sent of the defendant in the tax fi fa.
3. The law authorizea tax fi faa
'against persons to be transferred only
by “the officer whose duty it ii to on-
force said execution."
The Comptroller-General is not such
an officer. He issues the fl fa, and“it ia
the duty of the sheriff to enforce it.—
The Comptroller-General has recog
nized this fact in aome of hia more recent
sales of wild land tax fl fas, which were
transferred to the purchasers by the
sheriff. Was this, too, a part of hia
"sworn duty ?”
4. A case has already been deter
mined in the Supreme Court, his Hon
or. Judge Herschel V. Johnson, pre
siding, in which one of these wild land
tax fi fas, issued and transferred by tho
Comptroller-General was held to be il
legal, not being authorized by law.
So much for the pretense of law.
Now, let us look to the pretense that
thu opinion of the Attorney-General
made it his duty to transfer* the wild
land tax fi fas.
We mu6t suppose from this state
ment that the army of speculators came
upon the Comptroller-General sudden
ly with a firce demand that he
should transfer and deliver to them
the State’s wild land tax fi fas, with
threats of 'some severe penalty if he
did not comply with their demand. Ho
says he wo3 opppoaed to the transfer,
and he appealed to the Attorney-Gen
eral.
What was the character of his ap
peal ? Does lie ask whether these spec
ulators have any legal authority to
compel him to transfer the State’s tax
ti fas to them—whether ho could be
subjected to any penalty for refusing
their demand V Does he ask whether
there is any other or higher law which
will authorize or require him to violate
tlie specific directions given to him in
the law of 1874, for the collection of
taxes on unreturneil wild lands and hia
oilier duties thereunder for the protec
tion of tlie land owners and the State
Treasury ? No, nothiag of the kind.
His question to the Attorney-General
as stated by himself was, “whether sec
tion 891 of the code will cover fi fas is
sued by tho Comptroller-General for
taxes ou unreturned wild lands ?”
What a question 1 Nothing about
“duty.’’ Nothing about the perils from
threats of speculators. Nothing about
th“ tax law ol 1874 under which he was
acting.
The answer of the Attorney-General
was in conclusion : “No reason occurs
why this section should not embrace
tax fi fas on wild lands as well aa other
tax li fas.”
This opinion is unworthy of tho of
fice of Attorney-General. But even if
i: lintl been in accord with the law, it
is not what the Comptroller-General
pretends, ft says nothing of his “duty”
to transfer ; nothing of any compulsion
or penalty for not transferring; noth
ing of his duties under the tax law of
1874. Yet, with no better foundation
than the abovo question and “opin
ion,” the Comptroller-General virtually
charges the Attorney-General with be
ing the cause of the wrongs which he
lias committed in the mal-administra-
tioii of the wild land tax laws against
the Treasury and the people. And the
Attorney-General by hia silence placet
himself ’in the same boat” with the
Comptroller-General, with the seoming
purpose of “covering” his illegal pro
ceedings. If he had examined the pro
viso of 1875 to section 891 of the code,
tlie duty of the Comptroller-General
under the code 884, and the wild land
tnx law of 1874. he would have seen
that scctiou 891 would not cover a
transfer of any fi fas issued by the
Comptroller-General, much less one
which involved an utter abandonment
of most important legal duties.
4. That the Comptroller-General has
violated the plain letter and spirit of the
law is too plain for further argument.—
lie was acting under the authority of a
special law which prescribed his du
ties ; the fi fas which he issued were
State property, though they were not is
sued at the time nor in the form pre
scribed by tlie act; he could not sell
and transfer the State's title without
special authority. He not only had no
authority, but his duties prescribed by
the law absolutely prohibited sueh sale
and transfer.
There is but one reasonable solution
■>f Ibis whole matter, and that is that the
personal interests of Mr. Goldsmith, as
well as the speculators in wild land tax
II fas, have been cared for by tbe Comp
troller-General at the expense of tha
Slate, as will appear from the follow
ing :
1. In hia several communications on
this subject he hat persistently trUrept
resented (he law and the opinion o' the
Attorney General, representing both as
milking it compulsory on hint to transfer
the State tax fi fas whilst lo- was oppos
ed to sueh transfer.
2. He accompanied the transfer of tha
tnx 11 las with instructions to Sheriffs
which enabloil the transferees to pur
chase the laods without paying for thorn,
leaving tho surplus of sales, overtaxes
uml costa, in their pockets, instead of
sending it to him to go to the Treasury
of the State as required by law.
3. Hu has received from the trans
ferees of the tax H fas several thouasud
dollars in feca. The house wild land
coiuuiittse say they could uot ascertain
what amount of costs lie bad clungcd,
nor what had boon douc with such costs.
Evidently they have not been paid into
the Treasury,"ns required by law, but
are retained by him.
4. He wrote letters in his official ca
pacity to Sheriffs in the interest of
transferees and against the right of pub
lishers, instructing them to make spe
cial contracts with the publishers of
the sales under transferred wild land
tax fl faa which reduced tlie price to a
fraction of tho usual legal rates, thus
prostituting his office for private pur
poses. .
6. He sold and transferred to his own
father twenty-seven wild land tax ft
fas ; aud it is not probable that this was
done by compulsion or against his own
will. These are badges of a personal
interest in tho great fraud which cannot
he overlooked.
The article referred to above, pub
lished in the Atlanta St^nday Gazette,
concludes with the first half of the re
port of the wild land committee as if it
was the entire report; it should have
published the other half, or have given
soum sign of its omissiqn. The full re
port is a curiosity. It consists of two
distinct parts, each written by different
men with very different views. The
first part was written by a whitewash
ing friend, and the second part by one
who traces the whole difficulty to a
transfer of the fi fss by the Comptroll
er-General, and the report shows that
the committee could obtain no satisfac
tory information from him or his office
concerning the subjects which they
were appointed to investigate. It is for
tunate that the legislature did not com
ply with tha request of the committee
and give them authority to sit during
vacation for the purpose of a full inves
tigation. There is only one parallel in
our history to this wild land fraud, and
that is the Yazoo fraud. In both eases
authors were backed by large influential
land rings. In both cases the fraud was
committed by the pretended authority
of the State. The Yazoo fraud by a
corrupt majority of the legislature.—
The wild land fraud through the instru
mentality of a trusted officer of the ex
ecutive department In the Yazoo case
the act was summarily made void, even
the records of the crime were turned,
and the land restored to its original
ownership.
What shall be done in the present
case of the wild land fraud? There is
hut one way out of the difficulties, ar.t'.
that is that the legislature shall docla-c
the truth, that all wild land fi faa itsu-.c
and transferred by the ComptrolUr-
General, and all proceedings under •>:
by virtue of Buch fl fss are illegal arc
void; the title and possession of t!.c
lands against which they were issued
remaining as if such fi fas hid nev.a
been issued; the State to refund ti e
money pud into the Treasury arisu g
from such fl fss, and the Comptroller-
General and his bondsmen, and the pur
chasers of such fi fss, and all other par-
tiee interested, bs left to settlement
among themselves, through the courts
or otherwise. There is a precedent for
this in the act approved March 17,1869,
besides the. one mentioned :■ “An act to
declare void the unauthorized sale of
wild lands by the Tax Collector, where
tho land was located, and to direct the
refunding of the money received there
of." Thu act declares in substance that
the sales of wild lands were in violation
of law; that it would be unjust to such
parties to impose upon them expensive
and troublesome litigation to assert
their rights against the illegal set of Tax
Collectors, and it proceeds to declare
the sales null and void, authorizes the
S urchase money to be refunded, and
eclares "That all persona in pcssession
of lands so purchased, as aforesaid, shall
acquire no right under any color of title
or possession of the same, but the own
ers thereof are hereby authorized to
enter upon auch lands and take posses
sion thereof."
The principles of this act applied to
the present "illegal” sales of wild land
are what is now needed.
I come to a subject which really lies
at the bottom of all our land-tax
troubles—it is the manner anthotued
by law of giving in lands for taxation.
This alone has rendered possible the
frauds and robbery of which wo com
plain, aud it has cost the 9tatc in loss of
taxes, probably, not less than one hun
dred thousand dollars per year, and
half as much more to the counties in
loss of county tax.
The present manner of giving in wild
lands is either in the county where the
land is situated, or tho county of the
owner’s residence, or to the Comptroll
er-General, and it has been demonstrat
ed that it is impossible, with all the ex
pense of wild land clerks, etc., to ad
minister the presont law without errors,
confusion, injustice to ihe land-owners
and great loss to the State; and for
theso unavoidable errors the officers are
not in fault The only reason that ever
has been, or can be giveD, for this sys
tem of returns is that it is more con
venient for men owning land in differ
ent counties to give it all in in the coun
ty of their residence, rather than in the
county where the land is situated.
When we look at the effect of the
present law for the return of wild lands
for taxation, the reason given for it looks
like mockery. AH lands in the State
should be treated alike; they should
be returned and the tax paid in the
county whore they are situated. The
advantages of this would be :
1. With county maps and proper in
structions to receivers, all the lands of
the State would pay State and county
tax according to their true value.
2. The county receiver would assess
wild aa well as unproved hind accord
ing to its market value, and this would,
by doing equal justice to all citizens,
reduce the average of State and county
taxation on lands and other property
throughout the State.
3. It would render the wild land of
fice and its expenses useless and avoid
a possibility of a repetition of the frauds
which it has engendered.
If, with this system, the several coun
ty receivers and collectors were author
ized to act aa agents of non-residentF of
tha county for tbe return of property
aud the payment of taxes, it would
avoid all inconvenience to land-owce-s.
In conclusion, I think it my duty to
say that Governor Colquitt has not been
blameless relative to the wild land
troubles referred to. It was bis duty to
hsvo known of the violation of the law
and of the-resulting frauds, and to have
prevented both by suspending all ac
tion under the transferred fi fss until
the meeting of the legislature. Unfor
tunately for the 8tste, he took a differ
ent view of his duties. He was silent
and inactive during the progress of the
wrongs, and in his message to the legis
lature he sustained the action of the
Comptroller-General.
You rightly call for investigation. Let
it proceed with sole reference to truth
and justice. Let it be thorough and im
K rtial without regard to time or cost.
t tbo representatives of tho people of
Georgia iu the general assembly de
monstrate by thair action that tlie law
ia aupreme over all men for the protec
tion and vindication of right and the
suppression of wrong.
Hon R H. Hill
The imlcfutigable interviewer of
the Washington Post has drawn from
Hon. B. II. Hill some notable remarks.
It wems that sonic would-be Radical
wise-acres had counted upon Senator
Hill’s vote ami influence ns likely to
be given in opposition to the Demo
cratic cnttcus determination, To Mr.
A. C. BucI, correspondent at Wash
ington for the New Orleans Democrat,
Mr. Hill said:
Iu reply to ull criticisms, and to
satisfy the people of the South as to
my attitude regarding the proposi
tion to repeal <lio election laws, etc.,
I have tn say, first, that in the begin
ning I doubted the necessity of taking
’.Ills step nt this time. Second, I ques
tioned the expediency of taking it in
l Ida manner. 1 said so in caucus.—
That was no expression of individual
judgment. Now I am called upon to
act. I therefore snv that, whatever
may-have been or may be my views
as to tlie expediency, policy or neces
sity of this step, the action of the
Democratic party in the House has
imposed upon Democrats in the Sen
ate tlie higher duty of preserving an
unbroken party front. I therefore
stand with tlie Democrats of the
House, aqd shall do so to the bitter
end, if necessary. So will and so
’Might every Democrnt in the Senate,
irrespective of what his personal
judgment may be or may have been.
In conclusion, I have to say, once
for all, that whenever the Democrat
ic party in Congress takes issue with
the Radical party on any measure af
fecting the form'or the fact of our
Government, as this question does,
I shall act with the Democratic party,
expedient or inexpedient, politic or
impolitic, confident that whatever is
strenuously opposed by the Radical
party under its present leadership
must inevitably turn out in the end
to be wise, just and salutary.
Our esteemed contemporary, the
Tima, says of George Washington,
with much truth, that “his having
been a rebel and a Brigadier are noth
ing against him.” Why, then, should
it be anything against a dead soMier
of the Sonth, like Robert E. Lee, or a
living soldier of the South, liko Jos
eph E. Johnston, that either of them
-vas also “a rebel and a brigadier.”
N. T. World.
Three Hundred Dollars
Will be paid by the-eonnty of Worth
for the apprehension and safe deliv
ery to the Sheriff of this county of
the person or persons who fired the
Court-house ofsaid county, at Isa
bella, on the night of the 26th ult,
with proof to convict the party or
parties. T. M. LIPP1TT,
Ordinary Worth county, Ga.
$200 Additional!
In addition to the above reward, I
am authorized by Col. Wm. A. Harris
to offer on his part a reward of $200
for the same purpose as expressed
above. T. M. LIPPITT.
Isabella. Ga., Feb. 5,1879-lm.
glciv <gfdcatinimtttfs.
Southern Express Company
AUCTION SALE!
All unclaimed freight remaining In too
<• Southern Express Company in this city will bo
“ ' ’ auction, at tho auction huoao of Cox St Mash.
2T" **
fr»>27
GEORGIA—WORTH GOONTT.
H berets, J J Sumner and J T Branch, admlnla*
■at-rs on the estate of Jesse C Toner, late of sold
•lunte, deceased, apply to me for lottors of dbmU>
ion from said administration. These ere therefore
cite all concerned to be and appear at my
1 und *t my hand officially this March 5,1679.
T. M. LIPPITT,
Ordinary.
ASSIGNEE’S
Sale of Holes -and Accounts
T*N pursuance of an order from the United Stall
l District Court at Savannah, G a, I will aellbefoi
ihe Court-house door or Dougherty county, ox, en
Thursday, April 3d, 1879.
!•?’ wreeu Ihe lees) hours ol m!o, all tbe NOTES and
ai COUNTS belonging to ihe estate of L. STcENE,
1 inkrupL A list of the same can be seen posted el
te Court-house door.
CATCH TAB SCOIMIML
rjXRE anderatgaed will pa/ a nvut •t
ONE HUNDRED D0LLAR8
for the irrerf and JeMrerj to tha Sheriff of Calhtmn
AS. WhittUdnd,
thattthda/of Jannar/.ISTO.
L SCHWED,
FchlB.lSTS-tf .
MILLS
—AND—
Machine Slope
N. & A. F. TUT.
New Prooess of Grinding!
poanr on wsbat,
a, w,U m It can be don, an, where
Wa orajHpandtado all Hada «
of K.p*lrln*oe
aSla,ud all *ork puruued to give a
J. GILMER.
Albany, Feb. S, 187*4/
THOROUGHBRED SHEEP
For Sale!
BUOK&BWB,
W F. hare for mle at our stables, a theronghhred
BUCK and EWE. raised by the celebrated
Mock man, Mr. A. McOintuok, of Mlllersburg, Ky.
We can thoroughly
D. GLAUBER, Assignee.
WILLINGHAM'S HALL;
01 TE NIGHT ONLY!
THURSDAY, MARCH 13th, 79
BLIND TOM,
Natural Pianist Living !
At these perfoimsnces Blind Tom will exhibit tho
iM-irrelous gift which hi* gained him world-wide
•vlebrity, and which has both astonished and de
lighted tho greatest masters of music.
Admission 60cents; Children25 cents; Referred
Dougherty County Tax Sales
U * ILL be sold before tho Courthouse door In the
city of Albany. Dougherty county, on the first
Tuesday in April next, betweeu the legal hours
«*f sale, the following property, to satisfy tax fi fra for
Mate and county:
City .lot No. 76. on the south side of Commerce
-trect. in the city of Albany, Ga.; as the property of
-f. ft. Cannon, trustee for wife; same being sold un
der a t ax fi la for the benefit «t Mrs. C. M. Clark.
Also, Rtaarae time and place. Lota Nos 14, Ifi, 16,
24 ind one half of 2L in the 2d district of Dougherty
county, the same being lerled on as the property of
ii. W. Tompkins. Sold under a-tax fi fa, year 1875,
for the benefit of II. T. Mash.
f'Alio,«t the same time and place, city Iota Bum*
* beta 61 and 6i. on the north side of Broad street
I Albany, Ga., as the property of R. U. Towns, agent
j for wife.
( Also, at the asms time aud place, the west half of
i city lot number 79. on Broad street, city of Albany,
! Ga, as the property of Heury Aforgan.
! Albany Ga„ as the property of Fred. Lehman, i
tee for wife.
Also, fit the same time and plaea. eight eeree of
Und. It beings part of lot number 32i, In the first
t'strict of Dougherty county, and lvlng about % of
.t milo r-’uth of th • city limits ot tbe city of Albany,
' a., on the river road, and known as the place wheie
Dnn*~ water uow resides, sold as the property of
Very raspeotfullv.
Nelson Tif
A Chicago exchsngo strikes the tin II
fairly on tho head: “Never go where
you are not wanted I If a man wAiits
you to come to his placo of business
he will invito you through an adver
tisement. U is wroug to tutrudu on
priveoy.” „
Dnu!iwater.
J. R FORRESTER,
T. C. and ex officio Sherlffi
Dougherty County Sheriff's
Sales.
GEORGIA— Douobebtt County.
Will t’f acid before the Court House door In the
•nty of Alimny.Ga., o< the first Tuesday In April
text, her ween the legal hours of sale, the following
propert', to>wit:
d*y lot described »■> follows: Commencing S3M
foei i mu northeast corner of lot No. 98 on Broad
»ire* •; tbeuce due west, 105 fe€t; thence due south,
210 i et; thence ducenst, 105 feet; thence doe north.
iHvltn
March 8,18794ds
F. G. EDWARDS, bheriff.
FOR SALE.
Stewart’s Cluster Seed Potato.
I HAVE a lot of theaeflne and excellent Cluster
Potatoes for sale, and will deliver them In Al
bany, at Westbrook A Go’s store, at ft AO per bosh
'd; tn Leary, at P. E. RoyU's, at Ills per bushel; In
A rllngton, through l\»l. F. I- Pepper, at $1.23. On
my farm, near Whitney, at $1.00 per bushel. To be
Ulm-tvJ from the 12th to the 16th of March.
C. M. DAVI4.
t'« l«*7*t f Morgan, Ga.
Money to Loan !
Y'i’s per rent, per annum, S to 20 years, on first
t.'irt^ageon Improved plantation* or city pioperty,
-ism umbered.
1 febd-lm*
C. M. OLA UK.
■a thoroughbred, and they will be a saleable addi
tion to any neighborhood. Call and examine.
BARNES & YANKEY.
fciofrtf
For Sale.
THE HAMILTON PLACE,
^DJOISING the western corporate line ef Al
bany, containing SM acres, mostly under cultiva
tion. The whole or any part ofsaid property will
he sold at a bargain. Location healthy; convenient
to churches, schools and society. Land well art apt -
ed to fruit and grape culture, cotton or track fann
ing. Would exshang* ter reel estato North.
Address C. B. WOOTEN, AtPy at Law,
foblS-lm* Albany. Ga.
son
THE UNDERSIGNED HAVE THE
pleasure to announce to the Planters
of Dougherty anti adjoining counties,
that they have renewed their Agency
for the sole of the above
WIDELY KNOWN,
JU8TLY CELEBRATED
GUANO!
It will enffioe to say that os a fertili
zer, it is unequalled by few and tar-
passed by none. IU merits are too
well known to need commendation
at onr hands.
We are now prepared to furnish it
in any quantity, either for cosh or
cotton option, on tho most liberal
terms.
S. MAVER & GLAUBER.
PHILLIP HARRIS,
Practical WatcMaYer & Jeweler
neighboring towns wUl maim prompt attention.
Orwr, Uken for anything tn the vetch and jerrrl-
17 Una. OlToroon trial and alrty jnunalrea. Alt