Newspaper Page Text
ALBANY NEWS.
[ TRI-WEEK I.Y.] ,, .
_ EVAHSj® WA It It KN
ALBANY, GA.,- - - Jnlyl.ifliM
*Pnwtr may Saatny 0* firm*. M aa! it* Piaoylm
'ajjux.n ; ll** Ml LIVE in *pi" *w» if "* nrorj.’
—Gw* W. 8. Hakowk m IMS-
-Th. ri.hl of lrt*l by jury, Ih. Xahnu o»r«<; Ih.
llUrrly ol lit. prtM. the fr,e,lom of .pe <h. Ih. n»l-
nxml rifhu of (enom end the rf.tn. of property
■bum he preeerefil."—KjSnwt fmm V* onfrr Ofo*
AsMrt.sf.Vsfamar », 1**7.
•Til* eommtthllnf; Gener*l. In the (tlebMfe of
the HUM repOMd In Mm. will n.inMln the ju.l
power of the jodlctirr, and U unwlia.pt lo peimll
the dell Bulhorltlee end l*w« to be rmb«r«iej bp
mUItnry Interferenee"— //jsrwt'J Xr* Orltam
r MX, 1J76-
-Military iaterfeme* with ebelion*. 'unleu II
■ball l* upr—ry lo keep lbe peace at the poll*.,
la prohibited hj l»w. and no eolJier *111 be allowed
lo appear at any pollto* place, unices cltiaena of the
Pule they nr* reyiewrel *a roten, and then only
for lb* p«rpaM of toU**."—Oeneral «*aceo»'e ccdrr
A. tit. Ac* Orlamm, lax, DrcmM IHX, IM7.
National Democratic Nomination.
FOR FRKSIDENT :
GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK,
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
FOB TICK-PBRSIDKIIT :
HON. WILLIAM H. ENGLISH,
OK IXOlANA.
FOR GOVERNOR:
ALFRED H. COLQUITT
Subject to Democratic Nomination.
Col. Tift's* Letter anil the lie
plies Thereto.
Col. Nelson Tift, who lias for some
year* been a bitter opponent ol Gov
ernor Colquitt, lias Ja lengthy letter
in this issue of the Nkws. which is
■imply a rehearse! of the ofi-repeate»l
ami a* often answereil attack* upon
the Governor's administration.
Col. Tift presents no new points
there is nothing whatever original in
hi* arguments, ami the rehash weak
ens the subject, ami falls flat' before
the public.
The manner of the publication will
not have the effect desired by Col
Tift. Tie insisted upon pre-publica
tion of an article in Tuesday's Ad
vertiser. which was addressed to and
intended for to-day's News. This
affords gentlemen well versed in the
law touching the matter, to reply
simultaneously .with the'publication
of the Colonel’s letter iu the News,
and the charges anil answers go to
gethcr before the people, who are to
render a verdict. TVe only ask of
our readers that they do both sides the
justice to read all the articles. The
subject consumes much of our spare,
and we would not yield to all in one
issue, were it not that the Democracy
of Dougherty are to determine, in
convention this day, who shall lie
their choice for the office of Govern
or. Without further comment, we
submit the question to the people.
The letters we publish on Gov. Col
quitt, pro. and con., from Messrs. Nel
son Tift, D. A. Vason and IV. T. Jones
are all respectful in their allusions, and
we publish them as a matter of fairness
ami for the information of the people.
Our warm partiality for Gov. Colquitt
does not incline us to refuse a bearing to
respectful criticism of his official con
duct, nor will it induce ns to utter words
of approval, about what we condemn,
nor make us fail to condemn what is
wrong.
m
As to the Alston fee. Governor Col
quitt had nothing whatever to do with
the contract for this fee. He did not
make nor change it. The original eon-
tract was given in November, l$6!tto
Robert Baugh and General Garlington
allowing tbem 12J* per cent, for collec
tion, and advancing $3,000 as a retainer.
In October 1876, Baugh and Garlington
tdhk in Jackson, Lawton A Bassinger, of
Savannah, and Gov. Smith put ii|*>n the
the Executive minutes the following or
der:
Execctivk Dp't ov Georgia,
November 16th, 1*70.
Th* atsoTs contract and agreement 1* approved,
aad the consideration to be paid all ag-ntu by the
BUts, la not to exceed 25 per centum ol the amount
•olleeUd upon the claim*. Thin ipprova! ihall not
lntei fere In any manner with the rights of agent*
to compensation mler te, who bat* heretofore beei
acting for the Stole.
In witneaa • hereof I bar.* hereunto art my band
and affixed the seal of the Ksecutlve Department*
J. M. Smith,
Governor.
Col. Alston hail l»e**n previously taken
Into Uhs contract and the reference to
“agent* who have heretofore been acting
for tin? State,” was to him. When the
money wa* collected Governor Colquitt
found the*; contract* existing, and had
no other alternative hut to carry them
out.
The following is the report of the
committee appointed by the General
Assembly, ml Governor Colquitt’s re
quest, to investigate the Murphy fee
matter:
“His Excellency deserves, at the
hands of the General Assembly, coin-
S lcte vindication on the issues made
y him and specified above. Your
committee have unanimously con
eluded that His Excellency did not.
in any way, shape or form, partici
t»ate in the fee received by Mr. John
W. Murphy; that no offer of any
such thing was made by any one to
Ilia Excellency; that said fee did not
control his conduct in said endorse
ment, and that wild her the act of en
dor«*cment was legal or illegal, the
motives of the Governor were pure/'
Kinging, unanimous and impreg
nable verdict.
Members of the bar of Lyons, Bezier,
Toummn, Ferre*, IVernan* and of In-
town* of France have pronouueed against
the religion* degree*.
COL. TIFT^ANSWERED!
Judges D. A. Vason and W.
T. Jones on Gov.
Colquitt
That Tkecislnn of .fudge War
ner —-Homer Nodded.”
THE NORTHEASTERS KAIIJIOAII MATTER
THE UOI.HSMI1H ASU UKXKKOK CASKS—
SOME OF THE THt'K IN-
WAKDXKSS.
Editora Albany Xcirs:
The loiter of Col. Tift upon the ad
ministration of Gor. Colquitt, a*
appears in the Daily Advertiser,does
not folly present the whole truth, a*
I shall proceed to show.
1st. lie assumes that the$1‘J8.U38.50
collected by Col. Alston and his as-
soeiates for the State from the t'. S.
Government was. all of it. the prop
erty of the Stale of Georgia. Thnt it
was his duty lo have paid the whole
of it into the treasury and required
Alston to have awaited the action of
the Legislature for the payment of
his fee. That it this course luul been
taken the debt previously owing by
Alston to the Stale would have been
retained bv the treasurer. This is a
strong statement of the points, and
seems to he sustained by a recent de
cision of the Supreme Court referred
to by him. Ilow it is, ‘•that such ac
tion increased tin- liabilities of the
securities on Alston s bond and
thereby discharged them.” cannot
very well Ih: understood. It the se
curities of Alston knew of this debt
due him from the State, and when
lliev signed his bond they were as
sured that this debt should stand ss
an indemnity to them, and that the
Governor knew it. then there would
he some force ami sense in the prop
osition. No such facts exist. No such
agreement made. So far from that
being so. the Supreme Court iu the
very same ease held that the money
loaned by a resolution of the legisla
ture to Col. Alston as State Printer
was not covered by the bond, and his
securities were not liable therefor.
How then can it be said that Hie lia
bilities of the sueuritics was increas
ed hv the payment of the money to
Alston ? lint this is a criticism on the
decision of the Court. The Judge
pronouncing the same, being an op
posing candidate for Governor.—
Homer nodded.”
But is it true that the $11*8,028.50
belonged to the State ? It is conceded
that this money was collected liy Col.
Alston and his’associates as attorneys
for the State. That the draft for the
full amount of the claim was given
to the Governor as agent for the
State because I suppose it required
iiis endorsement; it was handed by
the Governor to Kenfroe, Treasurer,
to place the proceeds, less the fees
due the attorneys under the contract,
into the 'reasiiry, anil the amount
thus due to the attorneys was paid to
them. Did the Governor do right ?
If all of' it had liccn jffhl into Hie
treasury it could not have been
drawn out until regularly nppropri
ated hv act of the Legislature.
Was it the duly of the Governor
thus to delay the attorneys? or lo
recognize their lien tinder the law
and pay the same, placing the bal
ancc in "the treasury. Did the attor
neys have a lien upon this fund tine
collected ? If so they could have held
on to the whole amount until the
amount of their lien was paid and
they were ruled for it by the State.
Sec. 18th, Ga. 658th page; code, 1989 :
“Attorneys at law shall have a lien
upon all papers and money of their
clients in their possession for services
rendered to them; may retain such
papers until said claims are satisfied
and may apply such money to the sat-
isfaetion of said claim, and no person
shall be at liberty to satisfy said suit,
judgment or decree until the lien or
claim of the attorney is fully paid
etc.”
If then Gov. Colqnitt had ignored
the lien of these attorneys he would
have violated the law, the attorneys
would have been robbed and the
treasury of Georgia would have had
stolen properly placed in its vaults by
the hands of a plundering Governor.
The attorneys coiriil have prevented
this, holding to the whole claim. So
that the Governor couldn’t have done
it if lie would, and wouldn’t have
done it if he could.
1 am glad that he is a man that can
recognize the right even of a private
citizen against the public, and can
accord such citizen exact justice as
meted out by the law, even though it
results in bringing clamoring on Ids
heels. Such a man is worthy of the
love and admiration of every just
and right-minded man. Col. Tift
says the General Assembly would
have “probably decided that a part
of this fee claimed by the attorney
was not due.” The fees claimed by
these attorneys were upon written
contracts made by the predecessors
of Governor Colquitt. He decided
that the contracts justified their
charge. Gov. Colquitt afterwards
demanded an investigation by flic
Legislature of his entire official con
duct, and there was a full, free and
minute examination of everything,
including the endorsement of the
bonds of the North Eastern It. It.
company and the report of the com
mittcc, which was adopted in most
emphatic terms, declared him inno
cent of all censure or blame; and
this ought to close the clamors of all
reasonable men. No one hut Col
Tift would now say that the Lcgisla
tore would have “probably done’
thnt which they afterwards hail the
right to do nod dill not do; and in
refusing so to do did negatively pro
claim that the Governor did what
was right and lawful.
I am afraid that the Colonel’s eyes
arc “sot,” anil that he wouldn’t have
voted for Colquitt even if lie had
robbed the lawyers of their fees and
prevented Murphy from practicing
law. Doesn’t Col. Tift know that
yi>\. Murphy is a free white citizen of
’Georgia, that he wns not a member
of the Governor’s civil family, that
he wns an appointee of the treasurer
that the Governor had no more eon
trol over him than he hail over Col,
Tift? To have prevented him prac,
lining law would have been an ado
as pure despotism as it would hav
been for him to have issued his proc
Imitation against Col. Tift interdict
ing his long, fiery nod uncharitable
political cssavs against his adminis
tration. Oh." no! let Murphy prac
tice law, let Col. Tilt write his arti
cles, this is the right of both, and if
Hie people are satisfied then all is
well.
I have uol time to follow Col. I iff
ill his article relative to the Comp
troller-General nor the Treasurer.—
oldsmilh has been impeached, Ren-
J'roe has been cleared. These gentle
men were both elected by the Legis
lature, not removable by iheGovern-
or. and in no respect is he answera
ble for their delinquencies.
U is insisted that llic Governor was
informed of the illegal proceedings
of the Comptroller-General, and re
fused to stop the sale ol wild lauds.
This appllenlion was made to Gov.
Colquitt, and lie replied Unit Ibis had
been done before, anil the attention
of Hie Legislature particularly called
to it, and the General Assembly re
fused to change the law. Can it be
said, then, flint Gov. Colquitt did
wrong ill allowing the taw thus to be
executed when lie bad thus taken the
oath ? or was it bis duty lo set up Iiis
own opinion again and again, and lo
say by bis order Hie law as passed
anil approved again anil again by the
General Assembly should not lie ex
ecuted ?
This would lie Kingly powers,
which Governor Colquitt, as a Dem
ocrat, eon Id not do.
As to the settlement of llie claim of
tlie State against Col. Grant ns one of
tin- securities of Treasurer Jones, by
which Hie Slate took $85,000.00, and
discharged him for an alleged liabil
ity for a much larger sum, it is but
fair to say:
1st. That Hie Attorney-General
aided by General Toombs, Col. Ham
mond. "formerly Attorney-General,
noil other eminent counsel for tlie
State employed by Gov. Smith, hail
full charge of this matter, anil agreed
upon terms of a settlement. 1 sup
pose the Governor approved it, nod I
think did right in so doing. If he
hail declined so ■>> do, then lie would
have been liable to censure for not
following the ml • 'ee of the eminent
nuiisfl lor tin- '-lute. It is not clear
that the Stale .;idu'l get more money
liy tlie settlement than it would ever
have received at the end of litigation.
It was an unjust claim of the Slate
against Col. Grant, for he showed
most clearly that the bond signed by
him as security was only temporary,
and to slum] until’ Mr. Jones could
see Iiis friends mid get a permanent
bond. This was done shortly after
wards, and Col. Grant supposed lie
was discharged by the giving of the
permanent bond. This defense was
ruled out mi technical grounds, but
was it right for the great State of
Georgia to avail itself of a technical
advantage against one of her citizens.
It is not pretended by auv one that
there was niiv breach of the bond un
til after the" permanent bond was
given. The $35,000.00 paid liy Col,
Grant is a pretty heavy penally plac
ed upon him under the facts of this
case. There are but few men
Georgia who, under the circum
stances of this ease, would have made
Hie sacrifice. He could safely have
done what thousands of other secu
rities on government bonds have
dune before him. plaee his property
beyond Hie reach of the law, and left
the State with a fruitless claim
against him.
It is but seldom thnt such no
amount of money lias ever been col
lected out of the private purse of n
security an an official bond.
Besides all this, and over all this,
there is a strong, deep-settled convic
tion resting on tlie mind of a large
portion of the most intelligent and
honest people of Georgia, that “hon
est John Jones” never injured the
State, or got one dollar of the peo
ple’s money. His liability under the
law as fixed by the decision in iiis
ease, was more tlie matter of mistake
than intentional.
As to the endorsement of the bonds
of the North Eastern Railroad Co.,
that has been fully settled by the
report of the legislative committee,
and ought not now to be an open
question. Col. Tift knows that the
law authorizing the endorsement
was long previous to the adoption of
the Constitution of 1877. The subsi
dy, or State aid, had already been
pledged; a large portion of this road
had been built in expectation of the
aid, the Legislature nt a previous
session had declared that the repeal
of the State aid law was not intend
ed to include the claim of this com
pany, tlie road of which was then be
ing built, the Governor had declined
to make the endorsement when first
presented, until ho could get tlie
matter settled by the courts. This
arbitration wus had, and resulted in
the Supreme Court leaving the mat
ter to the discretion of the Governor.
The Govrrnor then determined to
save the faith of the State by com
plying with the previous mandate of
the law requiring his endorsement,
and in this he did right, for the words
of the law required him to do it, and
bad faith would have followed a
refusal, lie thus maintained tlie dig
nity and honor of Georgia.
But again, Col. Tift says that un
dor the new Constitution no taxes
can he levied to pay such claims. If
this is so, then the people of Georgia
can never he hurt for this endorse
ment. But this is a good and solvent
company. Its bonded debt is small
in comparison with the cost of the
road ; its stockholders are good citi
zens of Athens, and'other properly
holders of Georgia, has always paid
up the interest on its bonds, and will
pay up both principal and interest as
they mature, and there is not the re
motest possibility that any liability-
will ever accrue to the State on ac
count the endorsement, and if so, the
State is fully protected in having the
full charge of the Railroad, which is
worth four times the bonded debt.
Will Col. Tift ]>oiiit out another
Stale in the American Union North,
South, East or West, that can float as
Georgia has, a four per cent, bond,
or thnt has done as Georgia is this
day doing, paying its bonds long
previous to their maturity, frojn tlie
proceeds of tho ordinnry income of
the State ?
If, then, Georgia is in a better con
dition financially than she has ever
been before, ami stands, in that re
spect, ahead of any State in the Amer
ican Union, is it unfair for the friends
of Gov. Colquitt modestly to insist
that “nothing succeeds so well assuc-
eess”; that it is proper and prudent
to let “well enough alone,” and to
call upon Hiu people of Georgia to
unite with them iu sustaining Gov.
Colquitt for a second term. We
think this is wise-
patriotic.
-we think this is
l>. A. Vason.
• .IUIMIK JONES I.KTTEIt.
Ai.manv, Ga., June 2D, 1880.
Edit ms Albany Xcirs :
III this cvcuiiig’H Advertiser I
see a letter from Col. Nelson Tift,
which the editor of that paper says
wns written for the Nkws, and that
it will there appear on Thursday.
Col. Tift opens his letter by saying
that a repeated demnnd has been
made for reiisounble objections to
Governor Colquitt’s* administration,
and then asserts that lie will offer
them in Iiis letter.
When 1 rend the opening para
graph, knowing the Colonel's ability
and admiring him ns I do, I natural
ly concluded that damaging charges
would not only he made, hill proved,
t did not expect to rend Hie same
things that have heretofore been
charged and successfully answered.
Perhaps he formed tlie "idea thnt if
the same old groundless charges were
made by him ami Mophistienlly ar
gued, his iiamo would carry the
weight of proof; but I think tho peo
ple of this community, however much
they may admire tho Colonel, will
require at his hand* something more.
lie sar»that Governor Colquitt’s
friends arc uiichnrilable and ni-ilig
mint iu denunciation of those who
differ with them ill opinion. Iu this
I nm sure lie is mistaken ; but the
Governors' friends do think that
charges are uncharitably and wroug-
'ull^—if not malignantly—made
against him, without even Hie excuse
of any existing suspicious facts or
eircuinstmices, much less proof. Col.
Tift's first charge seems to me to be
extremely weak and flimsy, and car
ries upon its very face a complete
refutation of Hie construction lie
seeks to put upon the tacts, badly
strained as they are.
I quote from him : “First, Of tlie
$1'J8,028.50 collected by Col. Alston
and his associates from the United
States Government for Hie Slate.
This money belonged to the State
Treasury and it was the duty of Gov.
Colquitt to see that it was placed
there. lie had no authority to ap
propriate, use or pay out any part of
it. The Constitution says: ‘No mon
ey shall he drawn from tlie treasury
but by appropriations made by law.’ ”
By this quotation from the Constitu
tion it seems that tlie Colonel would
Inive the public draw the inference
thnt Gov. Colquitt had violated it by
“appropriating or drawing money
from the treasury.” Is this inference
true? Did the Governor draw any
iminey from llie treasury lo pay Col
Alston the $15,0(10? No, lie did not
and the following paragraph of the
Colonel’s couiniiiiiirafioii in effect
says not. I quote from him again
“Gov. Colquitt, iu violation of this
provision, withheld from the Treas.
ury 25 percent, of the amount collect,
ctl, or nearly $50,000, of which sum
$15,000 was paid to Alston.” How is
it possible for Governor Colquitt to
violate that provision of the Consti
tution by (Irawiny money out of tlie
Treasury, when you sav yourself thnt
the money wns never in tlie Treasu
ry to draw out? How could he draw
that from thb treasury which wns
never ill it? You charge the viola
tion of the Constitution in a manner
that, by your own statement, was no
utter impossibility. But Hie Colonel
says that Hie Governor withheld this
money from the Treasury. Whv not?
Be it remembered that this money
was tlie per cent, of attorneys for
collecting the entire sunt, under t
contract mado with a former Cover
nor. This is tlie statement qf the
case as made by Col. Tift. The mon
ey that Gov. Colquitt withheld from
the Treasury never belonged to Hie
State of Georgia, and had no business
in the Treasury. Why? Because it
wns the per cent, commissions for
collecting tlie entire sum under the
contract made “with a former Gov
ernor,” and belonged absolutely and
unconditionally to tlio collecting at
torneys. Was it to be expected that
Gov. Colquitt would take these at
torneys’ money Hint belonged to them
for valuablo services rendered and
put it into the State Treasury, and
tell them they must wait until the
Legislature deems it proper to re
fund it? Would not this have been
taking advantage of bis official posi
tion to perpetrate an act of wrong
and tyrany ? Would it not have been
oppression, and would not those who
condemn him for not doing it, have
condemned him fordoingit, and that
too with right in their cause? It is
n principle of law well known to
every one, that when an attorney
collects a sum of money, he Inis "a
right to retain his commissions in Iiis
hands and pay the other to his client.
This is in effect what was done iu
tills case. The Colonel says that if
Gov. Colquitt had paid this money
into tlie Treasury the Lcgisla-lire
probably would have retained $25,-
000 of Hie money. In this I think lie
in mistaken, because all men, good
and true men, who looked into the
matter, stated that the fee charged
was not too large, ns it was a condi
tional one. The parties who collect
ed the money were to get nothing if
they failed, and had great expenses
to meet in tlie effort to secure lliu
money to the State. All this money
that they paid out of their own pock
ets by way of expenses would have
been lost to them if they had failed.
When they were successful they re
ceived it back iu their fee.
The Colonel seems to treat the
other part of the tee as an incident
to Iiis argument, and lays particular
stress upon the $15,000 received by
Alston. He does this in order to
bring in the Supreme Court decision,
part of which ho quotes. Unfortu
nately for the Colonel, (his second
piece of law he quotes is like the
first, very good law, blit totally in
applicable to tho case he argues.
Why? Because it was not known
thnt Alston was n defaulter when
Gov. Colquitt paid him his fee. Then
what reasonable mail would expect
Gov. Colqnitt lo retain this fee to
settle n default thnt was not then dis
covered? Must lie hold the money
due the officers of Hie Government
when it is due, upon tho idea that it
tuny, after a time, lie discovered that
they arc defaulters? Is it not best, is
it not right lo pay them what is due
them when it is due, if nothing is
then known against them ? Tlie
legislature, not tho Governor, od
ea need Bolt Alston $5,000 on Iiis
printing contract with tho State be
fore he had commenced to fulfill his
onlrnrt, or. at least, before he hail
done milch in Hint direction. When
the Governor permitted him to retain
his $15,000 fee how could he Imve
known Hint Alston tt'ould not perform
the contract? lie had no right to
make any such presumption, because
the Legislature had just exhibited
great confidence iu him by the un
precedented act of making a large
advance that was not due. But sonic
overwisc Solomon will wag his head,
wink one eye, mid say : “He ought to
have known.” Well,that is a sample
of the arguments against Colquitt,
particularly the wag of the head and
wink of the eye, which some people
believe to be characteristic of sages
ami oracles. Ilow could tin- Gover
nor know the existence of a fact that
did not then exist?
The Colonel says that the fee wns
to have been 12b. minimum, and
not to exceed 25%, “upon the di
tion of the State." Now hero Is a
misstatement of the facts. The con
tract was that the Governor \yns to
exercise the discretion, and not the
State. The Governor did exercise
the discretion, wisely and fairly, as 1
have shown.
The second specifications iu the
Colonel's letter are Renfroeand Gold
smith. Now how often are these
things to he answered ? They have
been thoroughly investigated by Hu
Georgia Legislature, when each and
every member was under oath, mid
Gov. Colqnitt. was never censured by
it. Not a single resolution condemn
ing Colquitt was ever pressed lo a
vote, and my recollection is that none
was introduced. This Legislature
was elected under the new Constitu
tion for its patriotism, justness and
integrity. It was considered quite
nn honor lo be a member of tlie first
Legislature thnt nsacinblctl under the
Constitution of 1877, and therefore
the usual order ol tilings wns revers
ed and the best men in the Slate ran
for the position and were elected.
This body of good and true men held
two sessions, one ail extraordinarily
long one. They appointed commit
tees to investigate all tlie departments
of government, with power to send
for persons ami papers, which power
they freely exercised, and when they
finished their investigations some of
them being urged on by Colquitt’s
enemies, tlie Governor's robes were
unsinirchcd, untainted and unspot
ted. After all these investigations
had been finished, will not the fact
that this honorable body of men fail
ed to pass any resolution even cen
suring Colquitt lie sufficient proof to
any fair mind that no cause for cen
sure existed? But some will say the
Legislature “whitewashed” him.—
Well, if that brag Legislature, as
sembled under the new brag Consti
tution, wns corrupt, negligent and
violative of its ontb, the people of
Georgia had better dissolve tlie gov
ernment, burn up their laws and
Constitution, and try to live iu an-
arcliv. This Legislature was not of
Hie whitewashing kind nor of the
corrupt stripe, ns was demonstrated
by its conduct, and if any
cause had existed for censuring Col
quitt under its oath of office, 'that
Legislature would have condemned
him. So much for the Goldsmith
and Kenfroe pari of the ('cloud's let
ter.
Col. Tift next says Hint Governor
Colquitt is no', entitled to credit for
reduction in the expenses of the Gov
ernment, hut Hull Hie Constitutional
Convention is. lie was iu Hint Con
vention. and to do him justice, I will
mention the fact, that he was in favor
of a reduction of salaries of the offi
cers of the State, and consumed
enough time in notifying the Con
vention of Hie fact to have paid near
ly half the salaries of the men whose
wages lie wished to reduce. It mat
ters not who inaugurated these re
ductions iu the expenses, the fact
mains that Gov. Colquitt ran the
government successfully under them,
iu spite of tlie trouble with Goldsmith
and Rcnfroc, who were elected by
the Legislature and not appointed by
the Governor. I, myself, am not
friendly to the idea of icn cent offi-
<ers upon a ten cent platform with
contracted ten cent views, iu admin
istering the laws of the Empire State
of the South. I believe Georgia is
able to pay salaries large enough to
secure her best best men in her olli-
ecs, and 1 think her people wish it
done. Good officers, good salnric-
and rigid accountability is the only
safe rule, and the sooner it is adopted
the better.
The Colonel's next attack is upon
the 4% bonds, lie says it was an ex
pensive and unnecessary undertak
ing. I don't think so. But suppose
it was, how is Colquitt to lie blamed
for it? Didn't the Legislature pass
the law issuing them, and after the
law was pnssed was it not Iiis duty
to place them, if possible ? Is lie not
entitled to credit lor so administer
ing the govcriimeul ns to be aide to
place bonds bearing only four per
cent, interest, when it was difficult
before lie took charge of the govern
ment to place bonds bearing even 6
per cent. ? When lie took charj
the government could a four per
cent, bond have been floated? No
one ever lias and can never pretend
it could. Who is entitled to the
iiliistnnces? Did not Gov. Colquitt
lo right in Inking the legal advice of
these learned gentlemen who were
inploycd by the State to manage
this very litigation ? If he hail not
done so, hut stood out for the full
sum, and the Slate had finally lost
the case, would not the very men
who now condemn Colquitt have
raised a howl and said lie should
have respected the opinion of the
lawyers who wore hired and paid by
the State to conduct this lawsuit?
Would not the best business man in
Georgia have acted just ns Governor
Colquitt did? It occurs to me that
that these gentlemen should examine
further into these fuels before they
so rashly make charges ?
The next attack is in relawoti to the cn-
dorscincnt of the Northeastern railroad
hoods. The istoplc have uol forgotten
when I tic lion. It. It. Ilill first made the
charge of corruption against Uov. Col
quitt. llmv indignantly lie demanded of
the Legislature a full and searching in
vestigation into the matter. The la-gis-
Inture made the investigation, and the
evidence and reports of the committee
contain lilt pages of very small print.
After all this investigation wliat was the
result ? Gov. Colquitt was fully viinli-
eated anti exonerated. Why? Because
in the entire evidence there was nothing
that at. till eomproiufsetl the Governor in
any way, sluqie or form. I ho|ic all
those who have read Col. Tilt’s letter
will take the trouble to read the evidence
iu this investigation, so that they may
learn for themselves upon what flimsy
and shallow pretense Gov. Colquitt is
Is'ing attacked. The Colonel says “there
was developed by the Investigating com
mittee a gross impropriety on the part of
Governor Colquitt in allowing a clerk iu
the Treasury department to practice the
functions of tin attorney of the railroad
company for a fee to influence him to
sign the Imnds.” But lie fails entirely to
tell ns where the evidence is that shows
that the Governor knew that this clerk in
the treasury department was paid to ex
ert his influence. The evidence before
the investigating committee was over
whelming anil altogether to the contrary,
ami established the fact beyond contro-
Vergey that the Governor did not know
of this clerk’s conduct until the bonds
had been endorsed and the matter was all
•ver. Col. Tift, in his bill of indictment,
ven Wits compelled to let out sufficient
information to the public to prove that
my statement is true. He says: “the
ommlttee exonerated the Governor
from any corrupt motives, blit lioth the
majority and minority of the committee
in their reports censured the transaction
in a most emphatic manner in recom
mending that a law should he passed to
prevent any such impropriety in the fu
ture.” The committees iu their ru|iorts
EXONERATE Gov. Colquitt and condemn
what transaction? Not the endorsement
of tin' bonds, Imt the employment of the
clerk in Hie treasury department aliont
which Colquitt knew nothing, and lor
which he was not rcs|H>nsihlc. I could
successfully argue the law question in
volved and show that Gov. Colquitt
ought, under the law, to have endorsed
these Isolds. The acts of the Legislature,
under which the endorsement was made,
were passed before the adoption of the
new constitution. It will be renicniherctl
that Mr. Ilill contended all the time that
these bonds should Is 1 endorsed, this, too,
before he was employed ns counsel.
The next attack is in relation to the
Xt'lms matter. This matter, too, was
investigated liy the Legislature, and as
they failed to find suffielent proof against
him to impeach him, they referred the
matter back to llie Governor. Well, what
about that. Is Colquitt to blame for
that? If the Legislature iu session found
sufficient to iin|H'ach him, and failed to
do it, why should the Governor turn him
out of his own accord, Nelms could well
have said to him: “The Legislature has
investigated me, and failed to turn me
out, or to recommend that you turn me.
Now why should you do it?” It seems
that Gov. fulqiiitt is to Itear every hotly
sins. While we can come as near doing
it as any other man in Georgia, it is not
right thnt lie should.
Now I have answered all the Colonel
unsupported assertions which lie lias de
nominated proofs, I would like to know
wlio is Iiis choice for the inqiortaut po
sition of Governor? It is a liitle remark
able that the friends of all the other can
didates hare joined together iu the light
against Colquitt. It may he that they
wish to destroy him so that the others
can, after the funeral procession has re
turned, wipe their weeping eyes and—
light among themselves. 1 don’t know
wlierc the lightning may strike, after the
funeral lias taken place, but my humble
judgment is, that no dark horse need ap
ply.
Now, Messrs. Editors, this article is
written very hastily, in order that it may
appear in your Thursday issue with tlie
t 'olonel’s. Why he shoiild have deferred
the eoiniminieation until so near the day
of the ( oiinty Convention I do not know.
If I -lid not have the greatest confidence
in liim I would iintni'ally snpiHisc that it
was so arranged intentionally that it
might apiwar on the very day of tlie
Convention without any answer orcor-
reetions, the time, for answer being so
short. W. T. Jonns.
NOTICE!
riMIK Prw Public Schools for the while children
■* will oiM-ti MONDAY. 2X1 li loiti., at the Acade
my under the t haixo u! Mrs. Thornhury, Un. Lun-
day bih! Mr*. Mallary.
full attendance and entrance at the beginning
of the term holicited.
The City Tax Books
Will positlTcly l*c closed on tho
FU18T DA Y OF JULY!
No further extension. Property-holders will please
tako notice and govern them selves accordingly.
FRANK V. EVANS,
Clerk and Treasurer.
Albany, (Sa., June 17th, 1880—td
<J’ntwunrcmtnte.
KOU STATIC TUEASUUKU.
The friends of I>. N. SPEEK, of Troup county,
announce him as a candidate for the office of State
Treasurer, subject to the action of the Democratic
Convention. apllS-tdn
glew ihcrjiscmtufs
I.. E. WELCH,
School Com tuisai oner, D. C.
THE FINEST
Lake Ice
Ttcjilli Process,”
owned and operated rrchuively by
The Georsia Ice Co., Atlanta, Ga.
By this method a running stream. Instead of a
confined body of water, in frozen, and nothing but
perfectly dear, Sant Ice, without me or porous parts,
can he produced. A lance quantity always aa hand.
Wholesale and retail orders promptly filled at low
rates. THE f.HOKGIA ICE OCX,
junclO-lm W. Alabama 8traet, Atlanta.
Summer Prices
In order to reduce my stock, I offer for
THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS,
extraordinary inducements to the trade.
Gents’ Cloth Gaiters
—AND—
Low-Quarter Shoes
AT AND BELOW COST.
GENTS’ HATS
AT TIIE SAME RATE.
Call and see for yourself,
A. ISAACS,
City Shoe Store.
Albany, June 12. lsS0-tw80d
300,000
FOR SALE. Apply to
I*. S. ALFRIEND,
Junes. at Welch A Bacon's, Albany.
FOURTH OF JULY
For sale by A. SELIGER,
Jackson at., near Westbrook’s corner,
junel2-3t Albany, Ga.
eTcrIe
IIAS OPENED A NEW
BMER! AND CONFECTIONERY
At tlie old stand of Joseph Demont, and
will keep on hand at all times.
and is prcpamlto furnish
to tlie city and country FKESII
BREAD, CAKES, CANDIES,
and all goods in bis line, of best quality and low
prices.
He also has on haud at his store a good lot of
A share of the public patronage U respectfully ao-
Icited.
tuayG fim K. CHINE.
At Chambers, Court ok Ordinary,
„ _ _ , . June 21, 1880.
B K. Folsom has applied for exemption ol person-
Circular No. 8.
Office of THE RAILROAD COMMISSION,
Atlanta, Ga., June 19,18S0.
U PON a full showing of two month’s business by
the Columbus- A Rome Railroad, the allowance
of 25 per cent.on ‘-.Standard Rales,” is continued as
the maximum rates as to Cotton. Fertilizers and
Lumlier; and on all other classes (100) one hundred
l*er cent, on the “Standard Kates” is allowed as
JAMES M. SMITH, Chairman
R. A. BACON, Secretary.
juncl99-4t
Plantation foi Sain in Worth.
credit of this stale of nffitirs? When ike lith Ji,«r isso.umjroikc,'
anything goes wrong under Colquitt’s B- A * cm-UER. Onllniry,
administration, lie is charged witli it,
and small matters are sought to be
magnified to his injury. Now, i.f
these gentlemen desire to be fair,
why is it that, upon the same princi
ple, they refuse to give him credit
for the good and wise things done
under Ins administration? It ap
pears to mo that they arc so prejudic
ed ngainst him that" they lose and
confound themselves iu tlie sea of
their own inconsistencies, and expect
the people to join witli them iu look
ing through their spectacles, tlie len
ses of which are so badly warped
and twisted.
The next attack is made on account
of tho compromise of tlie judgment
ngainst Col. Grant, who was security
on the bond of Treasurer John Jones.
Before tho Governor accepted tlie
$:I5,000 in said compromise, it wns
doubtful whether the judgment
against Grant would he held sound
and valid by tlie Supreme Court.
It wns believed by able lawyers that
said judgment would he set aside
anil reversed by the higher court.—
The State of Georgia had employed
in said ease Gen. Toombs, Col. Wil
lis A. Ilnwkins, W. T. Newman, 11 on
N. A. Hammond, and, if I mistake
not, another attorney, and all of these
able lawyers advised the Governor
to accept Hie $35,000 ollered as a
compromise. Now what would any
one else have done under these cir-
tains 490 arrt’s-—f*0 acres open anu under cultivation,
iw Water Mill, almost finished, ou the place;
water power. Good range for sheep and ci"
tie. For tertiis, address
JORDAN A. HANCOCK.
jiitielO-Ini Muuiner Station, B A A R R.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LEE COUNTY
Will oonii.iei.ro
JULY NEXT
vale schools which lim
longer.
Iteeii taught for a |*criod of
particulars address the undersigned
ich public schools, etc.
81. L. LONG,
C. S. C\, Lee county, Ga.
Schedule of the S. W. R. R.
T HE schedule of the Southwestern Railroad on
and after Sunday, the 9th tuaL, will be aa fol
lows:
“ to Arlington leave Albany 4:10 p aa
“ from •• arrive ” 10:00 am
AR-Night Freight Traiu will be discontinued un
til further orders.
May 8th, 1880.
0. J. FARRINGTON,
MERCHANT TAILOR,
Announces to hla friends and former patrons that
he has opened a
Merdiant Tailoring EstaMislunent
as cheap as any house in the State.
1 keep always on h tnd a full line or Cloths. Como
and examine my goods, and have your Spring Suit*
made right away. Re*|iectfuUv,
O. J. FARUINGTOH.
mcb2S~tf
TEETHINA.
(TXXTB1X8 rasuzttt.)
*H«r» Irrll.tlM u«
-jkreVre.M.zre,,. rmmut ,mma
, •/ CkiMreN may (*• twnl et-
«ry year by using these IViMfrra.
For suit* l»V
W. If. G1I.BKKT, AG'T. A GO.
L. E. & II. E. WELCH.