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THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. BjjmpOTTlN(i, EJitoi'. ■ I. hHHHHM m m* 4f#¥Tsl I’RlNltNii COMl’' N»• ; ir ' ■lHaSHs^Bju'. :’ i:■ ■'■ .$5 oo ' 2 M Hrsft *?+ • wW? * |V.- KiSi "K ‘ “ v; t >i .-nt'’ l *- m .... h i ■ wiSmSSz^m '■■' • *■■■' : ■■HiNIX ; ’-A I‘ )ll 3 HH| Official. MilkA i. I': ' '/■Hi. (}«.. .l.m. 10. ) No. 11 ' ■ ■ 1 •• : * '' ■■ l-'.l : V >'■ ; t* .apT'.p.T wHHK I'l-.O rj-.-. ■-1 - sh ", I '.flfTit, th- k ! ■■ ■< 'E* '. ii iSSR-frA. .. ''JidVi- at: £, -i cr, ! : r. .•; tlii." t ■/ ass- ,«/.' :!. ■:■:■' I' • it ■ • ; ; ' ■ lil.'.v issu. •! In:!!! V c . itiiiil 5) • ■ -; :. 1 {jfoiKKßf.'r- 'thail i. " - • -k. -i ■•!• r. !'.-•:> upon lin in under '. :’’. in '. .■ . Nlfo- 1 '<■>• -ii i!: 1 ■ nn .’. . . * TlsjpMf&r bv virtue > i tin- ;>'•■■ wpMb l i r.• (■ ■ ■ ■ : t WWM C.u:.:nn 1 >:-’::o■ •"■nn ■ people of (Jeoinri if Ml be :■: 1 ! ! A--:i > .let >li'-.l . HknArsßrn. ■ ■» A , -<- ,■( ti:; ■ r !er • ■' or to !■•■ '.'-•! j . iwiSris lit non r- ■ r n: eh of, . sinm; .1 >il y -1 t. 1 -i'.s, 1 '■' toe . (inn. Meade. R.C.Dhum. A. A.G. Mr itm.i In- m '•••'••' ■V'l 1 ""- -i • ‘ JH«. Ga., •' i •'>, ’■ j jVo. o'. V". ••>• u';C- ■ ■-; I'll ■ ; ; ■: gurs. that i •> jit ■ ! •. I Sfc(‘ civil lll.t'l ■!'!;>•■ . !' ip' on iJMpsdlMtMbamiiog '■!'• i:■ • i *Tk* H&VMMflbat th.> trial mol ; m::A!h’; ■ <rf fcrinkfrtewo in. K- ti 'ffoss I ;iMl&ig/m the said ■!. gg&Mttab And <!■ > ju-ti- •i" ' I." vicli'H . j£s&On»aA-Apcrty wiiin.nl t'i-lii.<" Whenever tin* M.ij ' . .a : • §&£ SjiJfeJsjlHt ' ■ 11,in a-: I a an .ili, i MgSßKin.iy < min v.i.h vii a aii cu-tu-ly ol ■ .I:/.'.' 1 ; a . ' 11 1 ‘• a 1 ' i-,\ . ••-•il to thi.ir cua 'll Uia i ■■: In l .I".j til ■ cr.il MIC. nil" ' r - i in acti :i I-II rs. in '!;■ "i ; • ill '.'ll JHB| In; I,ln '. HH|H the pri-ouvi' in ■" ru P' 1 ll' l •nr • .an • il; i.ii'i autlcrity a;. !—li .ii'. l i m i il.'.: t.. ~ 111B|l |B| nuilimitv 1 111- - I <1: n i ' mlnnl ®U{ to mi * tii.-.wc Headquarters. i.|f, jSfln M a I <l■ n n■!.. n • • j||li *%& a r !;i( ( )i!.:n ai 1 i '■■nKHi«>knd ili'-CT'-tioti ami s«'»l ju-!.r "IgisM*. jtjfhis <ln-t <■ IT!-, i:: ul i•. 11 t • nll’nl-.l t igrii tiblntin- cverv op; n-lnnily to ■ JpL tfaei, duti 0 u:.tramiii.l . v ..tiy w Itt le part of the uaill tv Inn n.-ii ns ii HUtlioriti'-i, mm it. vit • nml mala.- till-’ publb dice . tlt • that Ih, y limy i,.- rmd them “'hat ti: -tin. I the ox or i ■ tln-i' r- j IIS' i(-<- i? m-.-i.: 1 out to nil ; Genera! : ■!■■'• nitim i SO in'" fullest CXt'Olt, ill'' plenary wllicll in- in <-■ 1 . t f.. -,t- I I 1 nil. 1 of per inn s ami pi , commands. of Major General Meade. aBBET 11. C. Drum, A. A. G. Til litlt M i i.it at: v 1 11 stit ll r, | ■’’WwUfr'jin, Florirht. ami Alvin nm), > SmSSßaj Atlanta, Ga., -latt. IT, ltd I-. J *• n. ,BB)tv?<rr.T, No. 12. T. liiini.'-, Comptroller of tie ;M|Be<.lvi:i, liavin.’ d-nlinmi 1-1 i-mpn-cl ■ ; ml:*^Hl cl -i <,n ' i of, and fain i to c. opm-iite Major Genera! I 'omiiiaml in" ill" Cliai f i Wlhmloi , ... ! In- S. Army, is her nv iaiim! nr di >'rit ! ol Geurqii ;.s l.'oinp'.i ol State ..I Georgia. IT- will ivpair the disc harge -if dnti"s dm upon hint, iilijeet to in tnn-lions 'iaHHn Hcadcjoartcrs. of Maj. Gen. Minm:. WjmM it. o. Dku.m, a. a. (.. T""tn MII.tTAItV ItiSiuirr, I Fii.riil't an ' Uubnm'i.) 9HH Atlanta, <ia., -lantmrv 11, I •'"is. ) ' rilcrK < No. 7. SHHH a view to prevent interference, < olor of State autl.oritv, with llm of Military authority in tin- .Slat' com posing this District, the following order of the War Department, and that from these Headquarters providing for its enforce ment, are republished for the information and guidance of all concerned. Any civil officer of the existing State Governments disregarding or violating the provisions of theso orders, will, on a proper representation of the facts of the case to to these Headquarters, be removed from his position : War Department, 1 Adjutant General's Oppice, > Washington, Jan. 12, 1806.} General Orders, No. 3. Military Division and Department Com manders, whoso command embrace or are composed of any of the late rebellious States, and who have not already done so, will at once issue and enforce orders protecting from persecution or suits in the State or Municipal Courts of such States, all officers and soldiers of the Armies of the United States, and all persons thereto attached, or in any wise thereto belonging,' subject to military authority, charged with offences for acts done in their military capacity, or pursuant to orders from proper military authority; and to protect from suit or persecu tion all loyal citizens or persons charged with offences done against tho rebel forces, directly or indirectly, during the existence of the rebellion, and all persons, their agents or employees, charged with the occupancy of abandoned lands or plantations, or tW possession or custody of any kind of property whatever, who occupied, used, possessed, or controlled the same, pursuant to the order of the President, or any of the Civil or Military Departments of the Government, and to protect them from any penalties or damages that may have been, or may be pronounced or adjudged in said Courts in any of such cases; and also protecting colored persons from persecutions in any of said States charged with offences for which white persons are not persecuted or punished in the same manner hud degree. By command of Lieut. General Grant: E. D. Townsend, A. A. G. Hkadq’rs Third Military District,! ( Georgia, Alabama and Florida.) >■ Atlanta, Ga., August 2, 1867.) General Orders, No. 45. No civil courts of any of the States within this Military District, will hereafter entertain any action whatever against offi cers or soldiers, or any other persons, for nets performed in accordance with orders from the Military Authorities, or by their sanction; and all such suits now pending, or in which costs have not been collected, will be at once dismissed. This order will be strictly enforced by Post and Detachment Commanders in this Mili tary District, and such officers will make immediate report to these Headquarters of any Judge or other civil authority who attempts to disobey this order. By command of Brevat Maj. Gen. Pope. G. K. Sanderson, Capt. 33d U. S. Inf., A. A. A. G. By order of Major General Meade : B. C. Drum, Assistant Adjutant General. Headers Third Military District, 1 (Dev't Georgia, Florida, and Alabama), V Allanta, Ga., January 13, 1868. ) Circular. To facilitate the transaction ol business at District Headquarters, the Major General Commanding finds it necessary to fix the hours for the discharge of his duties as fol lows : From 9 a. in. to 12 in., he will receive and transact business with the heads of bureaus in the following order: 1. —Chief of Civil Affairs. 2. —Judge Department. 3. —Quartermaster’s Department. 4. —Subsistence Department. s—Medical Department. 6. —Pay Department. From 12 m. to 1 p. m., such citizens as have no special business other than mere personal visits. From 1 p. m. to 4J p. m., such citizens as have special business requiring action on tho part of the Genera! Commanding. By order of Major General Meade. &. C. Drum, A. A. G. Headq’rs Third Military District,! ( Georgia, Florida and Alabama,) > Atlanta, Ga.. Jan. 6, 1867. ) General Grders, No. 3. I. —ln compliance with AVar Department, General Orders, No. 104, Major General Meade hereby assumes command of the Third Military District. 11. —All existing orders will remain in force until revoked or modified by orders from these headquarters. 111. —The following officers are an nounced as on the staff of Major General Meade, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly: Brevet Brigadier General R. C. Drum, Lieutenant Colonel U. S. Army, Assistant Adjutant General, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Campbell D. Emory, Captain 9th Infantry, Aid-de-Camp. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel George Meade, Captain 31 si Infantry, Aid-de-Camp. By order ol Major General Meade. R. C. Drum, Assistant Adjutant General. - -A- SA.FE CURTAIN, •* !,D \ Speedy Cure ' neuralgia vEiLvexsalSenralgiajl AND ALL wgiEy= s /(i Jiffrrti arc ’ .Magical- I X IS AN UNFAILING REMEDY IN ALL JL cases of Neuralgia Facialis, often affecting a perfoct euro in loss than twenty-four hours from the use of no moro than two or throo Pills. No other form of Neuralgia or Norvous Disease has failed to yield to this wonderful remedial agent. Even in the severest cases of Chronic Neuralgia and general nervous derangements—of many years standing—affecting the entire system, its use for a sow days, or a few weeks at the utmost, always affords the most astonishing relief, and very rarely fails to produce a complete and permanent cure. It contains no drugs or other materials in the slightest degree injurious, even to tho most delicate systom, and can always be tisod with perfect safety. It has long been in constant use by many of our most eminent Physicians, who give it thoir unanimous and unqualified approval. Rent by mail on receipt of price, und postage. One packuge, sl,oo', Postage 6 cents. Six packages, 5.00, “ 21 “ Twelve packages, *9.00, Postage 48 cents. It is sold by all wholesale androtall dealers in drugs and mudicinos throughout the United States, and by TURNER & CO., Sole Proprietors, 120 Tromont Street, Boston, Mass. octß— fimdAw AUGUSTA, GA., SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 26, 1868. SPECIAL NOTICES. NOTICE TO STATE AND COUNTY TAX PAYBHB-—By imtructions from the Comptroller General of Georgia, I am required to collect at once the unpaid Taxes of this county. As the law holds me to a strict ao countability, I shall surely issue executions against all who fail to pay by tho 20th of Feb ruary, after which time settlement will hare to bo i. ado with the Sheriff. JOUN A. BOIILKR, Tax Collector Richmond County. ja2s—t2othFob REPUBLIC AN " STATE CONVEN TION. —The Union Republican voters of Geor gia are requested to send Delegates to a Conven tion to bo held at the City Hall, Atlanta, on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY lath, at 10 o’clock a. m., for tho purpose of transacting any busi ness that may properly come before the Conven tion. The basis of representation Will be as follows; Each county will bo entitled to the same num ber of Delegates to which thoy are entitled iii tho Constitutional Couvontion now in session in too City of Atlanta : Foster Blodgett, Chairman, \yn.nAM Mahkham, W. 13.Higginbotham P. M. Shxiblkt, C. C. Richarbson, J. Bowles, Wm. J. White, J. E. Bryant, Wm.ll. Noble, Robert Alexander, 11. M. Turner, Oeoroe Wali.au*:, S. W. Braird, B. Smith, Benj. Dunnigan, T. G. Campbell. E. B. Rucker, REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE. j.TM—tf AG ENO Y OF NORWICH »Hail INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORWICH, CONN.—Notice is hereby given that all parties holding Policies of tho Norwich Fire Insurance Company which have not yet expired, and were .ssued by B. 11. Brodnax, as Agent, are required to present the same immediately to the under signed, in order that they may be duly rogis tored. A. G. HALL, Agent, ja24—lw 221 Broad street. tfOTIOB. Augusta, 7o the Stockholders of the Jlilledyeville, or Macon and Augusta Railroad po : Calls for payment on Subscriptions to the Capital Stock of this Company have been made up to fifty-five percent. Stock upon which this amount has not been paid will be forfeited to the Company. A further call is now mado for twenty-five per cent., payable on or before February 20t.h, 1868, at which date eighty por cent, will bo due, aud Stock forfeited, if n«tpaid. All Stockholders in arrears will at once cor* respond with the Treasurer. Tho Road is now in operation to Miiledge ville, and is doing a large business. It is believed that arrangements will be made by which further calls will be avoided, if prompt pay ment is now made. By order of the Board of Directors. R. B. BULLOCK, President. J. A. 8. Milligan, Secretary and Treasurer. de2i—COt Savannah Republican, New* aud Herald; Macon Telegraph, Journal and Messenger ; Mil ledgevillc Recorder , Federal Union ; Atlanta Intelligencer and New Era, will please copy above for sixty days, and send bill to the Treasurer of Macon and Augusta Railroad, at Augusta. SEXTON.—THE SEXTON will be found at kis office, at the Cemetery, from 8 a. m. to 1 p. in., and-from 2 to 5 p. m., every day. Ail order, left at any time will be promptly attended to. Residence—No. 6 Fenwick street. P. If. IIALL, ja 21 —1 in City Sexton. AGENCY OF JAMES RIVER IN SURANCE COMPANY.—Notice is hereby given tdiat. all parties holding Policies of tho James River Insurance Company which have not yet expired and were issued by 13. H. Brodnax, as .Agent, are required to present the samo imme diately to the undersigned, in order that they may be duly registered. A. G. HALL, Agent, jail)—lw 221 Broad street. TAX NOTICE. j$g5“CijERK OF COUNCIL'S OFFICE, Augusta, Ga., .January 14, iSGS. —AII jicreons liable for Cily Taxes (except those who arc re quired to make quarterly returns), are hereby notified that the CITY TAX DIGEST for 1868 id now open at my office (City Hall), and will remain open until the first day of March next, by which time all returns mu-t be made. All those who fail to return by that time will be returned for double taxation, and a fine of not less than ten dollars per day will bo imposed for each day of such failuro to return. ySS* Office hours: From 0 o'clock a.m. to 1 o’clock p.m., and from 8 o’clock p.ra. to 5 o’clock p.m., daily (Sundays excepted). JAMES N. ELLS, janls—td Clerk of Council. U. S. INTERNAL REVENUE, } Collector’s Office, 3d District Oeorcia, > Augusta, January 11, 1858. J jgig- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, IN aceordanco with Section 63 (Department compi lation), Internal Rovenue Laws of the United States, Act of July 13th, 1866, that claimants to tho following described property may appear and file such claim with tho Collcotor, within thirty days from the dato of this notice, as pre scribed in tho provisions of said section and law : 2 COPPER STILLS and Fixtures, found and seized on tho promises of Paul Brontwcll, Richmond county, I COPPER STILI, and Fixtures, found and seized on the premises of Washington Brid woll, Richmond oounty. COPPER STILL and Fixtnros, found and solzed on tho premises of Alphonza Burroughs, Richmond county. lICOTPER STILL AND FIXTURES, found and seized on the premisos of —■ —Simon Riohmond county. Tl\o above described property seized on or about tho 28th day of December, 1867, for viola tion of all laws relating to the distillation of spirits. WILL D. BARD, jai2--law-lw CoUecbw. Piano Fortes Tuned. rpo MEET THE TIMES, I HAVE RE JL DEICED the charge for TUNING to THREE DOLLARS. Orders left at Alb. GEO. A. OATES’ 240 Broad Street, or at my Shop, opposite tho Post Ofßoo, promptly attended to. •I—ly* ROBERT A. HARPER. FIVE DOLLARS A YEAR. THE PETITION. i. • :* Mjr. Charges Against tlie Mayor and Council. FliilS flr‘Tlf ffIIMiTIEL REPLY OF MAYOR US COUNCIL I j ; ——wft- J - : AFFIDAVITS. Statement of Mayor Blodgett. REPLY OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL. Gentlemen of the Commission: Before proceoJin.u' to reply specifically to the charges >vhich General Wright and Mr. Ganahl have submitted in support of wliat thoy call the Petition o( the Citizens of Augusta, lor the removal o£ the present Mayor and Council if the City of Augusta, we call your attention to the number, charac ter and variety of the charge*, as well as the manner and spirit in which they are pre sented, in order that you may determine whether this movement is made by good and disinterested citizens for the welfare of the community, or by selfish and designing per sons for the gratification of feelings of per sonal malignity, and hopes of future personal benefit. If the movement is animated by good motives, on the part of those who are active in it, it'will doubtless, as it should do, command your respect and your active sympathy. But if animated by bad passions, and worse motives, you will doubtless view the wholo movement as a miserable political manoeuvre iu keeping with mayjj others of the so-called Conservative parly,fo bring the Reconstruction measures of Congress into contempt. We well knew when we consented to take the position assigned us by the District Commander,that those officers, whose term of officehad expired, and all their friends, would, iu the present sensitive state of public senti ment, be enabled, with very little effort on their part,' to enlist the sympathies of this community, and that we would have every difficulty thrown in our way which political ingenuity and malevolence could devise; still, we were not prepared to expect such means as some that have beeu employed in support of this most unjust and ili-founded assault upon the present City Government. We concede the right of ail good cilizens of our beautiful and much loved city, to call on us for an account of our stewardship at any and all times ; but we submit that all who may, at any time, desire to make the call, will consult their self-respect and the dignity of the city by doing so in a style and spirit indicative of a simple desire to know the truth and defend the right. In this connection, we respectfully call the attention of the Conrinission to the style in which tho charges are made, (be proof upon which they are sough! to be sustained, end the further anil never-to-be-forgotten fact, that this proof is assumed to be true iu all particulars, and conclusive of the case, without ever pausing to hear our defence And the more effectually to forestall public opinion, the editor of the Chronicle and Sentinel, in his issue of the 22d instant, modestly insinuates that you (the Commis sion) are seeking to “prevent the public from knowing wliat the evidence is, which the Committee have submitted;" and boldly declares that lie will lay it before the public in a few days; and then concludes by as suring tho people that the charges pre ferred “have beeu fully sustained" against “Biodgcit and his Council,” and that “their acts of maladministration will he thoroughly ventilated and exposed.” And again : “In to morrow’s issue of this piper, we will endeavor to lay before the public the paper drawn up by Messrs. Ganahl and Wright, and which accompanies the evidence to bo sent up to General Meade.” We ask if this looks, to the good people of Augusta, like an honest and Dispassionate effort on the part of the movants in this assiult upon the Council to have a fair and impartial investi gation of the charges made ? While we know that many good and true men in Augusta disapprove ol the course we pursued in accepting and holding the position we now occupy under military ap pointment (and we do not question Jhat thoir political views and prejudices are honestly entertained), ypt they argtoo honor able to consent to see ns drawn before the public on specific charges made, and then denied a fair and impartial hearing. AVe have asked no mercy at the hands of out accusers, but. on the contrary, thrown the door wide Open and asked them to present every charge they could ; but what we do ask is,todo us justice. If the facts and testimony sustain the charges, that as a Council we have held secret sessions for corrupt ends—if we have improperly and wickedly squandered the money of the city, in regard to the public printing; if the Mayor lias stolen a portion of the wood bought for City use, and the Council have known the crime, and winked at it (for, gross as this charge is, it is one among the many made); if we have re moved good officers and put inefficient ones in their place, simply upon the score of party favoritism ; if prisoners convicted of crime have been released from the jail for improper purposes, and in obedience to bad motives ; it the. credit and securities of the city have been injured by the corrupt legislation and policy of the Mayor and Council; or if, in fine, they have shown themselves in any particular corrupt anil unworthy the official position they hold, let the just penalty fall upon the guilty! We ask no exemption from a just and legal prosecution ; all we ask is to be sheltered from a mean and partisan persecu -lion. And now, having said thus much, we proceed to reply to the charges made and submitted by General Wright and Mr. Ganahl, on behalf of the citizens. It will be seen that there are two classes of charges. First, those which assail the Mayor individually; and, second, those which assail the whole Council. First charge against the Mayor is, that he is now indicted for perjury in the District Court of the United States, and a true hill found by the Grand Jury ; and evidence is offered to substantiate the truth ol this statement. This was a fact so universally known that we can scarcely see tho motive for pro ducing certificates of Assistant Agent of Post Office in tfcis city, and Clerk of tho District Court of the United States, to prove it, unless to gratify a spirit which seems to characterize this whole prosecution as one ol personal malignity and bitterness toward the Mayor. But, we ask, admitting this to be true—and, of courso, nobody denies it—what then 7 Is Fdster Blodgett guilty because a true bill has been found against him 7 Is this tho logic "Messrs. Ganahl and Wright," two members of tho honored legal profession, would employ 7 Do they not at every Court defend men against whom true bills have been found, and acquit them ? If these gentlemen were asked as lawyers, hy you, to state the pre sumption of the law, in all Bueh cases, they would (rankly tell you that every man is presumed to be innocent until the contrary is made to appear legally. Is there any reason, then, outside of political prejudice, why Alayor Blodgett should not have the benefit of this wise and just presumption of the law ? Suppose you should ask General AVright or Mr. Ganahl if they believe Jefferson Davis, late President of the Con federate States, is a traitor, and unworthy of the confidence and esteem of all good and true men, what think you would be their response'/ Certainly, an indignant “no.” And yet he stands charged to-day, before the District Court ol Virginia, by a finding ot a Grand Jnry, with this highest crime known to the laws of civilization- If it is legitimate to say that the Mayor is guilty because a true . bill has been found against him, is it not equally legitimate in the case of Jefferson Davis ? For our part, we think it nest not to prejudge, but abide the final decision of the Court,in both cases. If Mr. Davis is found technically guilty, we shall ever believe that his motives were honest, and his action the result of his political faith and doctrines. If it should turn out, as wo think it will, that Mayor Blodgett felt constrained to go into the Confederate service, and did not do so of his own free volition, we apprehend that no one will longer believe him guilty ot per jury. Thus much the Members of Council have thought proper to say on this point, and now refer to the statements and proofs submitted herewith by the Mayor himself. That tliis is a prosecution against the Mayor, founded, perhaps, in bad motives, we have the evidence of General Wright himself, in an editorial, only as far back as September last, and which we copy here in full : (.From the Chronicle A Sentinel, Sept. 22, 1867.] NOT TRUE. Wo loam that a report is in circulation in the city to the effect that the writer had been sub poenaed to attend the United States Circuit Court at Savannah in October next, as a witness against tho Mayor of * his city and Federal Post master here, on a oharge of perjury. Tho re port, as far as General Wright is concerned, is not true. After his return from Baldwin Supe rior Court, yesterday morning, a summons was handed to General Wright, requiring him, under penalty of five hundred dollars, to appear before the United States Circuit Court at Savannah, in October next, to give evidence in a certain cause, thou and there, wherein the United States of America is a party, on the part of the said United States.” Wc have nothing to do with this matter, and don’t intend so be made a party to it in any manner, shape, or form. We believe it is an attempt to levy black mail on the part of some persons, and wo can’t aid in such a disre/iulnlle purpose. Wo oppose Mr. Blodgett, and hove opposed him on purely political grounds. The question of perjury is one which affects him as a man, and in his individual capacity. Asa con ductor of a public journal we cannot- afford to prostitute its columns for the purpose of grati fying personal spite or spleen, nor for the more corrupt purposo of extorting hush money. The next charge against the Mayor is,that he gave free passes to certain parties on the Railroads, for political purposes, to wit, Bryant and Beard. AVe deem it only neces sary to refer in this connection to the sworn statement of the Mayor on this point, and the affidavits of Bryant and Beard, which are before you, showing that these parties were engaged upon city business. Again, it is charged that the Mayor gave free tickets to bad characters to pass over the Railroads. It is an old custom of the city, where paupers and helpless people want to get on to their homes and friends, to give them tickets over the roads, ft is quite likely that some of these may be bad characters, but we have never understood that the Mayors ol the city ever stopped to inquire into their characters, or would have hesitated to send one because his or her character was bad. In deed, this would seem to furnish an additional reason why the City should not be anxious to detain them. VY hile certificates were being obtained from the Ex-Mayors, why was their testimony not collected on this verij stnetll point also ? But a clamor was gotten up, and we suppose this little Tempest in a Tea Pot had to be thrown in to fill the sails of the rickety little craft so fiercely launched on the waves of popular passion and-political malignity! And, lastly, as to the charges made against the Mayor, personally, we notice the shame less one that he had used a portion of the wood nought for City use. This, stript of all guise, means simply that the Mayor stole so much wood from the City. We have alwavs known that political feeling would some times carry men of the highest respectability to very great lengths of impropriety, but we were not prepared for such a charge as this ! llow easy it would have for those gentl(Mne:i to h;ive gone to the Treasurers office ami ascertained if those charges were tiue l And how much better this would have looked. We refer you to the Treasurer’s certificate to show you how far this charge is sustained. After reading it, we think you will agree with us that comment is unneces sary. But before disposing of this subject finally, we refer you to the affidavits of Shackelford and Pardue, distributors of wood for the City, for the months of January, February and March, 1867. for the custom of furnishing wood to officers of the City at the same price paid by the City, and the sanction of this practice by the previous Mayor, Another charge against the Mayor is, that lie released a prisoner from jail, etc., etc. J Ins charge is fully met by the Mayor’s state ment and the oath of George M, Hood, also before you. It will be seen that for a special purpose, looking to the proper administration of his police duties, the Mayor had this man sometimes released for a short while at a time, but always under the surveillance of the officer. This matter has been referred to the Grand Jury, and as we learn no word of disapproval whatever has been uttered by them—feeling, and seeing, and knowing, as doubtless do, that this is a matter touching the police regulations of the City, about which no one can be so good a judge as the Mayor, and for which he is specially and peculiarly responsible, The affidavit of Hood shows that the man in question, Ilafe Knight, was sometimes employed as a detec tive, by order of the Mayor, It is further alleged, that he discharged and threatened to discharge officers unless they voted for him. This gross statement ts mot, and fully met, by tne statement of tho Mayor and the many affidavits of offi cers and others on this subject, which have been submitted to you. Wo call your at tention to tho affidavit of ono of the wit nesses sworn for tho petitioners on this point: Ho says that C. Smalley told him that the Mayor said if ho “did not vote for him-he would bo dismissed.” By looking to Smalley’s affidavit, it will be seen that no such statement was made by him. It is said that Ilowarton & Conway re ceived a ohook on tho Treasury for the amount of tho wood furnished, ana that tho chock has not been paid! Wo regret to Georgia Printing Company, Publishers. nf n< X th u„ th L y “I - not the creditors of the criy whose claims have not yet been paid. Poverty is not confined to individuals -corporations, public and private, feel alike the same pressure of these extra ordinary times. We would most gladly have it otherwise, but, like everybody else must bow to the necessities of the hour. The Treasurer’s report will show that there has been hut indifferent collection of taxes, owing to the distress of the people. And it is further true, and should be stated in this connection, that a bill praying injunc tion against the Council seeking to restrain it from collecting a tax levied on “ gross amount of sales,” etc., at the instance of Pierce. Wheless & Cos., is now pending before the Supreme Court. This of itself retards the collection of some thirty or forty thousand dollars taxes due the City. The decision of Judge Gibson sustained the right of the Council to levy and enforce the tax, and we dare say the Supreme Court will do likewise. If so, this large amount will be brown into the Treasury, and, with incomes from other sources, greatly relieve the City finances. We notice now the charges against the Council. And first, the charge that in secret session they raised the salary of the Mayor from $2,000 to $5,000. This we did for the reasons following: We were satisfied "that the Mayor ought to give -his whole time and attention to the duties of his office, and not, as heretofore, only such time as he could spare from his private business. Wc thought we had seen the injury result ing to the City from an unwise parsimony in this particular; and that we were not alone in this opinion, we here refer to the letter of ex-Mayor Gardiner, assigning his reasons for resigning the office! We do not deny that we did in executive session raise the salary as stated. And we did it for the reasons stated. If our judgment was bad, the results ought to show it. We require constant and arduous duties of the Mayor, and well and efficiently has he performed them. AVhcn we come to con sider the charge about the ruin of the City finances, we shall point with pride and pleasure to the results of our policy, in this and other particulars, to show how far the charges are sustained, and we shall confi dently rely upon them for our complete vindication against all the reckless charges of wasteful extravagance made against us. If it shall appear that many subordinate offices, attended with inconvenience and expense, have been dispensed with, and the Mayor’s duties have been lately increased, and it shall further appear, what we now state to be true, that it was the purpose, and so understood and agreed at the time, to merge the Recorder’s office, at such time as it might bo deemed best for the interests of the City to do so, with that of the Mayor alty, and that the Mayor should perform the duties of both offices, his salary will hardly be considered as too. large. The office of Recorder has since been so merged. It is stated, however, that this resolution increasing the salary was never spread on the minutes. This is not true. It appears on tho minutes of that date, in the handwriting of the Clerk, L. T. Blome, and was read and confirmed in open session at the next regular meeting of Council. So much for this charge! It is charged further that we made reduc tion of the toll rates. This we did under the impression that if the cotton wagons were thus induced to come over the bridge with their cotton, it would materially benefit our city interests. We can add that this policy was pursued at the request of cotton factors in this city, they thinking, as we did, it would work well in bringing cotton through Hamburg to our city. Finding that we were mistaken in our expectations of benefit from this source, the policy was abandoned some time since, and this fact, we suppose, must have been known to our accusers before they got up their petition for our removal. \\ r e do not deny that the receipts for tolls are less by 50 per cent, than formerly, but, this is owing to the condition of the country mainly, aul, per haps, in no small degree, to the fact that when farmers send over their loaded wagons, they are not unfrequently seized under attachments, so that they can not even return with their teams without giving the necessary bond, etc. The decrease in toll j commenced before we took the toils off cotton wagons, and we hoped, as this de crease had air. My begun, to benefit our city hy inducing the farmers to come among us with their productions. The special exemption of the Kaolin Company’s wagons from toll was made on the ground that the ware manufactured at that Factory waSMill sold in this city, and a tax on its sale paid to the city, and that supplies for the Factory and hands were purchased in the city, upon which sales taxes were also paid, and that all these passing over the Bridge, and being subjected to toll also, would he to double tax them. Council, it is true, re fused to relieve the Bath Paper Mills from toll, because their Factory, though, as stated by our accusers, only a short distance from the Kaolin Works, was directly -on the Railroad, and the bulk of their paper and supplies passed to and from the city on the ears, and thus paid no toll; while the Kaolin Works were off the railroad, and, of course, did not enjoy the same facility of railroad transportation. As will appear, by reference to statement of all the Council, except Mr. Bullock, herewith presented, Mr. Bollock moved to exempt the Bath Paper or, in other words, to grant their jgElon ; but it was refused for the reasons sSuid. Whereupon, Mr. Bullock moved to repeal tho exemption In favor of the Kaolin ’Works, but was overruled —the rest of the Council thinking, for the reasc* stated, that the discrimination in lavor of Kaolin Works was a just and proper otie. So much for the charge ol partisan favoritism I In reply to the charge touching the Small Pox Hospital, we refer you to the affidavit of Dr. Swinney, whose evidence we ask you to consider along with Dr. Jones’s affidavit. Dr. Swinney is a geutleman and physioian of high character in this city, and endeared to these people by his high sense of duty as a man, and his promptness as a citizen, and professionally, in the discharge of all his duties. For these reasons, and his services rendered in the late “Lost Cause," we call attention to tho fact that his name has been frequently mentioned in connection with tho Mayoralty of this City. No one will question the truth of his statements; aud how clearly they disprove tho allegations made against us on this point? It appears that he docs ail the work done under the old rtgime by some four or live officers, and has the jail patients (lo less than 2AO, since his installa tion) to attend to beside, and his pay has been increase I only $33.33 per mouth. This charge,then, like all its kindred charges, dis appears tinder tho weight of facts and the stubborn truth! It is further alleged, in the Bill of Indict ment of ouv magnanimous accusers, that the City printing was contracted for by the present Council at a rate more than three times as large as that given by the Council lor the previous year. This has the appear- NO 152. anee of being true ; but when you refer to the sworn statement of Mr. Pughe, it will be seen, that while he took the City printing the previous year at 12£ cents a square, it is also true that he was induced to do to by two considerations: first, that be was also to have the job work; and secondly, M his paper was intended purely as an advertising medium, and was published and istributed at that time as a free paper, he esired to make it an object of interest to a l me citizens, and believed that doing the i y advertising would materially tend to !'ff° mp L ll *a. J lhU object. But it Kp 6 no J the job work, for he states that during that time the ether P „ w f. n doing work for the what Lp fin f ettln .® th re e and four times what he did for similar work. We direct your attent,on specially to the charge made that the contract was made on the 2d dav of August, with Mr. Pughe, forthe public printing. Now, why this statement, unless it was made to bolster up their groundless charge that three of the Council were in terested in the paper at the time of the con. tract, and therefore made the contract with themselves and for their own benefit? Mr. Pughe’s affidavit shows that the con tract was made on the 6th of July, and it appears that the report of it was made to the Council at specified in the charge! This convenient arrangement of dates to sustain a pointy was very probably purely accid- n/al on the part of our generous accusers 1 The facts show that this contract was made prior to any arrangement for the Georgia Printing Company to purchase the “Daily Press,” with the proprietor of which the contract was made, as appears from Mr. Pughe’s affidavit; and that at the time of this contract lie had no idea whatsoever of the subsequent business arrangement with that Company. This dissipates all the argument founded upon the statute of 1840. One other remark on the subject of the public printing, and we have done with it. By reference to the sworn statement of L. T. Blome, Clerk of Council, it will be seen that all the newspapers in the city were duly notified of the time when bids would be received, and ihe terms. Yet the proprie tors ut the other papers stayed away and made no bid whatever—leaving the field to Mr. Pughe, of the “ Daily Press,” who bid silty cents a square, but contracted finally to take it at twenty per cent- less than the bid. If Gen. AVright wished to do the City print ing, and especially if he was willing that the Chronicle and Sentinel office should do it cheaper than Mr. Pughe agreed to do it, why did not he send in his proposal ? As he did not think proper to do so then, he has no one to blame but himself, and ought t« cease his complainings. Anil it further appears that at the time that Mr. Pughe got the City printing at 124 cent3,the lowest bid made by the Chronicle and Sentinel and Constitutionalist, conjointly, was 66f cents per square. The facts show that no Member of the Council, as such, took a contract under the Council. The joint stock company owns two or more papers, aud this contract with one of them was existing at the time it was purchased by the Company. A\ r e have always understood that when the reason bf the law ceases, the law itseif has no appli cation. The design of the law was to prevent Councilmen using their influence to get contracts in their own favor. In this case the contract was made with a party no way connected at the time with either Member of the Council, and, of oourse, tho contract was made legally and without tho taint of suspicion. A member of Council becoming a stock holder in a company which afterwards purchased the paper with which the con tract had been made previous to that time, does not violate the act in question. AYe are in favor of great particularity in the performance of official obligations and duties; but we submit if an arrangement of this kind is to be held up as evidence of a ■want of official integrity,whethor it will not be pushing the doctrine to its extreme verge. Even the late Mayor, Hon. John Foster, whose character is fully endorsed by our assailants, and most freely by our selves, might have his official integrity im punged if, at any time, lie had so far for got himself as to sell meat from his stall in the market to Jail, Hospital, and other places kept up at tho expense of the city, AVe now proceed to show you that,insteadof money being squandered in the contract for City printing, there has been a * clear saving over the expenses authorized by the former Council, of fourteen dollars under the present arrangement. It will be seen, by the statement furnished from the Collector and Treasurer, that the amount ex pended in the public printing of the City was $3,422.82 AVhile the amount expended by the present Council is 1.380.84 Bal. in favor present Council is... $1,441.98 Facts and figures don’t deceive—words may, sometimes. But it is also alleged, that the Council has turned out good officers and put others in, without just cause. We presume the officers referred to under this head are those whose terra of office had expired, and who failed to be reflected at the late regular session of the Council. Their failure, we suppose, was owing to the fact that a majority of the Council thought others quite as capable, and quite as much, or more, entitled to the posi tion 1 This certainly gave them no right to complain. If the Council had had no other motive for failing to reflect these officers than simply to place worthy men of their own political views in their places, this, ac cording to the political ethics ot the day, would have been perfectly legitimate. It we aro not mistaken, General Wright has peatedly held of late, as editor of the Chronicle <f Sentinel, that the President of the United States ought to have no man in his Cabinet, or elsewhere in official position, by his appointment, who was antagonistic to him in his political views and senti ments. "Oh, consistency, thou art a jewel!’’ And now we come, lastly, to notice the charge ol general mal administration of the finances, wasteful extravagance, etc., re sulting, it is alleged, in the serious impair ment of the City credit, and depreciation of its securities. Before proceeding to call your attention to tho statement of the Collec tor Bttd Treasurer, which effectually answers all this gt’and flourish of trumpets, we think it due to truth to say, what our assailants must know, that one of the principal reasons {or the non demand for our City securities is that which, to a greater or less extent, de presses all Southern securities, to-wit: the agitation kept up against the reconstruction measures ol Cotigress. Capital is ever timid, and will surely not seek investment where society is kept forever on the verge of revo lution hy the inflamatory appeals and denun ciations of disfranchised politicians. It will be seen from tho statement of the Collector aud Treasurer, before you, that from May Ist, 1800, to January Ist, 1867 the same number of mouths us thoso for which the present Board administered the finances of the city during the year