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National U w nblican AU<- 1 -VBTyyT Ik. SUNDAY MORN£N£<"-?-W r --Jaly 2*. 1868 I?OI- PRESIDENT Os tub United States: ULYSSES S. GRANT. FOR VICE PRESIDENT 7 Schitler Colfax, or INDIANA. GOV. BULLOCK'S MESSAGE. To the exclusion of several articles pre pared for this number, we publish the interesting Message of Governor Bullock. It speaks for itself. . CIRCULATE THE PAPERS. Every family should have a newspaper; and with the view of supplying every family, we have put down (he price of The Republican for (he campaign at moderate rates. At these rates, political clubs will Ire able to furnish a paper to every voter in theft-district who does <sot> or is not aide to, take one. Tliere is no better .or cheaper hay of serving the cause . and the country, and our friends should at once prepare to put a copy of The Repub lican’ into every house, from now until after the election. One great difficulty iu the way of en lightening the people is to get them to read the trutli. This is especially the case with those who arc blinded by party preju ' dice. They will make no effort to inform themselves, for they are unconscious of their own ignorance. Let our republican friends see tp it that the Republican, or some other readable republican paper, is put into the hands of every poor man who has gone on, year after year, in his ignorance, voting the demo cratic ticket. So long as he remains in his darkness, he will follow his blind leaders into the ditch. But give him'a chance to inform himself, let in a ray of light through j his darkened windows, and you will save ‘ him, aud secure his vote for his country. , He is honest ami sincere, and such men at once embrace the trutli when it is presented 1 to their understanding. Be sure, then, and give him a copy of j the Republican to read every week. Hide not your light under a bushel, but let it shine for all. Push on the good work. , Doing is worth more than talking. The , success of our cause depends more on what < the workers do than on what the speakers - •and papers say. Circulate the documents. t * CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. | The Constitutional Amendment, Article 1 XIV., having been ratified by a sufficient ( number of States, as officially announced , by Secretary Seward, has become a part ’ of tile organic law of the Republic, Its I provisions, which we epitomize, arc of the ] highest importance, and will stand as in surmountable latenkwaters against reckless legislation or inconsiderate judicial deci sions, on many momentous subjects. They are as follows: Section I declares that all persons born or naturalised in this country .are citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein they re side; and that no State shall make any law to abridge their-privileg.* as Such citizens, nor to deprive them of itfe, liberty or property, without due process, nor deny to them the equal protec. tion of the laws. Section 2 provides that Representatives in Congress shpll be apportioned atnong the States according to the number of the whole people »f all colors and both sexes, excepting Indians not taxed. But if any Stale shall deprive any of its male inhabitants of the right to vote, except on account of rebrilton or other crimes, then the number of Representatives in Congress, and of course the number of Presidential Electors, to which such State would be otherwise entitled, shall bo reduced aocortffhgly. Or, in other words, if, for example, a Slate in which the white males and the black males are equal, shall deny the -right of suffrage (o the blacks, then the Slate shall be entitled to only half as many Represen tatives in Congress and Presidential Electors as it would be entitled to if it allowed both whites anfi bfooks to vote. Section 3 provides that no person who has once' taken an oath to support the Constitution as a member of Congress or other Federal officer, or as a legislative, judicial, or executive officer of any State, and has thereafter engaged in re bellion against the Government, shall be eligible to the office of Senator or Representative in Congress, or shall be a Presidential Elector, or hold any civil or military offioo under the Federal or State Govern men ts. However, Congress may, by a two-thirds vote of each House, remove these disabilities in any individual case. Section 4 declares that the validity of the pub lic debt of the United States, including debts incurred for bounties and pensions, and for sup pressing the shall never be called in question. Rut neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt incurred in aid of rebellion against the United States, or any claims for emancipated slaves, but all such debts and claims shall bo void. Section b clothes Congress with power to en force all the foregoing provisions by appropriate legislation. The wide sweep anil legitimate effect ol these provisions will be seen even on a ' casual reading. The first section pro hibits all legislation based on class or caste, and practically incorporates the main propositions of the Civil Rights bill, so called, into the Constitution. The second section is a powerful argument addressed to the Southern States against depriving the negroes of the suffrage ; for, if they withhold from them the ballot, they materially reduce tlie power ol that ' section of the Union both in Congress and in the Electoral Colleges. For example, if South Carolina were hereafter to deny the elective franchise to her colored popu lation, it would reduce the number of het members of Congress and Presidential Electors more than one half. The tliird section merely cuts off from holding cer tain important offices those persons w ho, after having taken an official oath to support the Constitution, turned traitors by plunging into the rebellion. The number thus disfranchised is small, and even these can lie relieved by Congress. • The fourth section provides against any possible repudiation of the Federal delft, *> or any assumption of the. Confederate debt. This will greatly strengthen our public securities at home and abroad. The fifth section enables Congress to enact all laws which shall hereafter become necessary, under any possible contingency, for giving full effect to these provisions. In fine, next to the article which abolished slavery, this is the most important article which has been added to’ the Constitution since its original adoption. * HIM IffilEL Senators and liepraentalivea : Congratulating you, as the Representa tives of the People, upon the establishment of Civil Government, and the fact that Georgia is once more an integral portion of our National Unity, we welcome the intel ligence which comes from nearly every portion of our State, of a bountiful harvest to the husbandman, anil, as a consequence, general content and thrift among our people, an omen of our future prosperity. THE CONSTITUTION. A new Constitution hns been framed hy our delegates to the late Convention, and it is your duty, ns it will be your pleasure, to enact laws in harmony therewith. Among its many admirable provisions, attention is respectfully called to the follow ing changes in, and amendments oi, the old Constitution, some of which require early legislation at your hands. DECLARATION OF FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIpLEH. Article One is the Declaration of Funda mental Principles, Section Two of that Article recites that, ‘'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and residents of this State, are hereby declared citizens of this State ; and no laws shall be made or. enforced, which shall abridge the privileges or im munities of citizens of the United States, or of this State, or deny to any person within its jurisdiction, the equal protection of its laws. And it shall be the duty of the Gen eral Assembly, by appropriate legislation, to protect every person in the due enjoy ment of the rights, privileges and immuni ties guaranteed in this section.” This provision is in consonance with the law of Congress, which, fortunately for our domestic tranquility, settlcsaquestionwhich might have been a source of serious trouble for us ami our children, and shows conclu sively that there was no prospective spirit of on the part of the framers of the new Constitution, for, by its provisions, every citizen is fully permitted to participate with us in the government of our inter-Statc affairs. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT PROHIBITED. Their wisdom is further shown in the adoption of the Eighteenth Section of Article One, prohibiting imprisonment for debt, and obliterating from oar Code ol Laws licit relic of the usurer’s power wliich confined the ' unfortunate debtor in it felon's cell. Still furihef, ns an evidence of ourculight- ‘ eumeiit aud advancement in the scale of I humanity and moral progress, by the twenty- 1 second section of the same article, whipping, ' as a punishment for crime, is abolished. The whipping post will no longer shock the 1 sensibilities of our citizens, 1 LOTTERIES PROHIBITED. Another most salutary provision iS found 1 in Section Twenty Three of the same Article, 1 which enats that “No lottery shall be author- 1 ized, or sale of lottery tickets allowed in this 1 State, and adequate penalties for such sale 1 shall be provided by law.” This section, in ! my judgment, will be found to lx; a great 1 conservator of public morals, and it becomes ’ your duty to provide, by appropriate legisla- 1 tion, adequate penalties to prevent the con 1 tinuance of this demoralizing traffic. POLL TAX. 1 Section Twenty Nine of the same Article 1 prescribes “That no poll tax shall be levied ' except for edtfcntional purposes, and such ' tax shall not exceed one dollar annually to each poll.” The freedom of the ballot box . is in a measure insured by this proceeding, which prevents an excessive tax upon each poll, and, at the same time, permits the voter to aid in promoting the free school system by contributions to that fund. NATIONAL UNITY. Section tbiily lhird provides that “ The State of Georgia shall ever remain a mem ber of the American Union; the people thereof are a part of the American Nation , Cvcry citizen thereof owes paramount alle giance to the Constitution and Government of the United States, and no law or ordinance of this State, in contravention or snbversioti thereof, shall ever have any binding force." This settles, substantially and definitely, a subject matter wliich has been the fruitful source of our tnosl serious difficulties in peace and in war. FRANCHISES AND ELECTION'S. Your attention is particularly directed to that portion of Article Two—Franchises and Elections—which prescribes qualifica tion for Electors, and recites that the Elector “ shall have paid all legal taxes, which may have been-required of him, and which he may have had an opportunity of paying, agreeable to law,” This requirement has beeu a part of our Statutes for many years, but of late has grown into disgust. It should bo enforced, particularly since the Poll tax has boon made almost nominal, and within the ability of all who esteem the franchise as the especial privilege of a freeman. It would also save money to the county treasuries, as the law allows, and it is the Custom of the Sheriffs to charge for n return of nulla bona upon ji.Jd. issued -by the Tax Collectors open insolvent polls placed in the bands of the Sheriff for levy. The provision is a goqd one, and the General Assembly should require the superintendents and managers ot elections to eufcrce it strictly or strike it from the Code. There has beeu, also, a judicious change in the oath to bo administered to a chal lenged voter, which, if enforced, will materially improve the purity ol the ballot. DUELLING; Attention is directed to the puuishtnent necessary to be prescribed for the violation of Section Five of this Article, which says that “No person who, after the adoption oi this Constitution, being a resident of this State, shall engage in a duel in this State or elsewhere, or aha.il send or accept a challenge, or be aider or abettor in such a duel, shall vote or hold office In this State; aud every such person shall, also, be subject to such punishment as the law may prescribe.” PROHIBITING SALE OF LltfUOR. There is no provision of the Constitution which embodies greater wisdom and sagacity than that contained in the Eighth Section of this Article, which provides, that “The sale of intoxicating liquors on days of election is prohibited,” aud it is earnestly re&ommcnded to your attention as one requiring legislation that will effectually prevent not only the sale of but access to this active agent, in fomenting contention and bloodshed. n’ew counties. Article Three, Section Five, requires that “No new county shall be established, except by a vote of two-thirds of each House, nor shall any county be abolished, except by two-thirds of each House; and after the qualified voters of the county shall at an election held for the purpose sb decide.” This is an amended article dt the old Con . stitution, and may lie regarded as an excel lent provision, as many new counties have been organized whose creation was ot doubtful propriety, the taxation nml revenue derived from them being insufficient to pay the per diem and mileage of their members in the General Assembly, and, therefore, provided offices for a few persons without a corresponding advantage to the State. PUBLICATION OF ACCOUNTS. Article Three, Section Six, Paragraph One. The amendment to this section, us compared with the old Constitution, requires that “The regular statement and account of the receipt and expenditure of all public tnfiney, shall be published from lime to time, with the laws passed by each session of the General Assembly,” and is worthy of special commendation. The printed laws, heretofore, have not contained this valuable Information, aud the people have not had the opportunity of knowing bow the revenue of the State has’ beet .expended, save through the reports of the Treasurer and Comptroller General, which have not been- accessible to the public at large. 'This mode of publication will insure a more general diffusion of the data and information with whieh the reports are usually filled, and incidentally lead to a more intiritate knowledge of the laws among our citizens, and a more discrinrfmrtfnjy economy in our disbursements. LEGISLAtCRE. Article Third, Section Six, Paragraph- Two, provides that “No'vote, resolution, law or order, shall pass granting a donation or gratuity in favor of any person, except by the concurrence of two-third? of each branch of the General Assembly, nor by any vote to a sectarian, corporation or association.” The prohibition from donating -in favor of secta rian Associations is an amendment to the old Copstitation, and one that will meat the favorable consideration of our citizens. Paragraph Three of the same Article provides that "No law or section of the Code shall be amended or repealed by mere reference to its title or to the number of tliis section in the Code, but the amend-, ing or repealing act shn.ll distinctly and’ fully describe the law to be amended or repealed, as well-as the alteration to be made ; but this clause shall be construed ns directory qn]y to the General Assembly.” This provision subserves a wise purpose, in that it prevents hasty legislation. Num bers of instances in previous legislatures have occurred where the identical law upon the statute book has been retSnaclcd, and sections of the Cole repealed by reference to the number of the act, the body of which had no connection with the matter intended to bo legislated upon. JUDICIARY. Article Five. In this as in other Articles of our admirable constitution, we notice the remarkable fact that the Convention, dis tinctly representing “universal suffrage,” aftted Independently and with wisdom and discernment for the benefit of the people, and conservatizcd the government which they were about to establish, by reducing to a minimum the number of elective officers, and increasing to a maximum the < length of the term of the offices which were ■to be elective or appointed. Tire extension of the term of Executive and Judiciary, will be beneficial in many rcspeets l and, to a great extent* it will have the effect of placing these two departments of the government beyond tire influence of parti san politicians. The Executive is controlled in his selec tion by the dignified mid thoughtful miuil of the Senate; and in this connection, the mature deliberation of the General Assembly is invited to the subject of salaries, to the end that adequate compensation may be provided for the several offices of Judges of the Supreme, Superior and District Courts, and for the Attorneys and Solicitors GencraF and District Attorneys; that persons of character and capacity may be secured to fill these important positions. In deciding the compensation which should attach, due regard will be hail to the incomes which this class of professional gentlemen would acquire by their practice. It is also proper that their emoluments should be in proportion to the character, responsibility and dignity of the office. - The provision “that the Court'shall render judgment without the verdict of'a jury, in all civil cases founded on contract, where no issuable defence is not filed on oath,” it h beljevcd will materially expedite the business* of the Courts, and save costs to defendants. DISTRICT JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS. Section Four, Article Five requites that “there shall be a District Judge and u Dis trict Attorney for each- Serrajnrint Uiatvioi ;•» this State.” This change from County to District Courts, Judges and Attorneys may bo regarded as greatly subserving the public interest. If reduces the number of oflfoiiils, secures a speedy administration of justice, reduces the expense, attendant upon payment, •ol jail fees; and the provision for the pay ment of official salaries from the county treasury, instead of the receipts from fitfts and forfeitures, relieves these officials from the charge of undue influence, in an anxiety to secure convictions mid thereby increase the emoluments of their office. Tae favorable attention of the,General Assembly is miked for that paragraph of the Constitution which authorizes you to confer civil jurisdic tion upon these Courts. COURTS OF ORDINARY. Section Five, I’anreraph Eleven, Article Five*Section Five, Paragraph Two, pro vides that “the Courts of Ordinary'.-hall have, such powers in relation to reals, bridges, ferries, public buildings, paupers, county officers, county funds, and other matters as shall be conferred on' them by law.” By Section Nine, “the Court heretofore styled the ‘lnferior Courts’ are hereby abolished, mid their unfinished business aud the duties of the Justices thereof are transferred to such tribunals as the General Assembly may designate.” Aud Article Eleven, under the head of "Laws iu Gen eral Operation,” Section Seven, recites that “the books, papers, and proceedings, of the Inferior Courts shall bo transferred to and remain in the control of the ordinaries, who shall perform the duties of said courts until otherwise provided by law.” It is respectfully suggested that early attention be directed to this paragraph, to the end. that Ordinaries may be relieved froTn a large portion of the duties thereby imposed upon them. The court should, it is be lieved, be divested of matters not germain to it; it is a court created for a particular purpose, and its duties ‘should bc-confined to the objects of its creation. Should the business heretofore transacted by the Jus tices of the Inferior Courts be entrusted To the Ordinary, he would not be awe to perform it iu addition to the duties hereto fore pertaining to that office. It may, also, be objected that with these additional services prescribed, too much power is. conferred upon one. officer. The supervi sion of roads, bridges, ferries, puhHobnild ipgs, paupers, county officers, county funds, and taxes, and other mutters, all given to one man, is a subject that invites critifism. Under Section FiuoQb, “The General Assembly shall have power to provide for the creation of County Commissioners iu such counties as may require them, and define their duties.” By this provision Commissioners may be created, to whom call be entrusted a portion at least of these duties, securing efficiency and- promptitude; and in this connection your serious consid eration upon the subject-.of Road Laws is necessary to procure a practicable system. PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. The efficiency of the public highways is a necessity ; our Road Laws now in existence are entirely disregarded. We hayc the material for working out a system of im provement in roads with economy ; and the safety, comfort and pecuniary interest of the people, as well as the demands of commerce, require that this branch ot internal improve ments should lie inaugurated hr practical measures with sufficient and prompt penalties to insure their execution. JURORS. Section Thirtsen, Paragraph Two, re quires that “ The General Assembly shall provide- by law for the selection of upright and intelligent persons to serve as jurors. There shall be no distinction between the classes of persons who compose grand and. petit juries. Jurors shall receive adeqilate compensation for their services to be pre , scribed by law.” There should be uni* formity in co'mpensatidn of jurors, as well as in the mode of raising it. Where the juries have been paid, as heretofore, by counsel, and the jtfryjjfee charged in the bill of costs, in many iiMances each juror has been known to receive the unreasonable sum of ten dollars fdr one day’s service. This has hud the effe* of inducing, many persons to be regularly in attendance upon the sessions of Courts to be caught upon juries, merely to receive the pay for such service, and the result has been that the faces of these pro fessional jurors nre eontinuousTy presented ,in ilia jury box, and a uniform character of vetdiefsTire returned regardless of the law aud facte*' - - ... . * Under the present system, it often happens lliat a juror and witness from the same district return from the Court, the one having realized five or ten dollars, the other seventy five cents, by one day’s attention to the public service. Lst the compensation be commensurate with the service rendered, and this eril will be remedied. , RELIEF. Th. provisions of our Constitution under which the Courts were denied jurisdiction in Cases of action for debts contracted prior to The first day of June, 1865, having been Jleccsearily abrogated-under the requirements of the laws of Congress, your attention is ‘ respcc.fully called to the pressing necessity for granting all the relief to the people that may be in your power, under ttei tiou. The just expectation of Ins people on this 'subject is sufficiently well kuomi to yourselves to make it unnecessary for me to present arguments in their favor. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. . A general law should be framed at the’ earliest practicable moment providing for the setting apart of homesteads, as aulhurized in Article Seven of the Constitution, and thereby place beyond the control of the grasping creditor a shelter and a support for the families of those who, by reason of mistaken kindness to friends, misfortune, or the disasters of the war, would be left home h-s:. The second paragraph of this just and humane Article secures the independent right of property to women. EDUCATION. Article Four requires that the General Assembly, at its first session, "shall provide a thorough system of General Education, to •bo forever free to all children of the State.” A thorough and complete system can noj reasonably be expected from the legislation of tiny one session of the General Assembly. With a territory so extensive and a popula tion so widely separated as ours, a school system must be devised to meet as near as possible the peculiar circumstances which surround us, and. can only be finally attain ed and perfected by the light of careful investigation and after some years of ex perimental effort. This, too, with a due regard to the ability of the people to meet the taxation necessary for its support. Great good has been accomplished in our midst since the close of the war,- by the earnest efforts of self-sacrificing ladies and gentlemen wins have been sustained by the liberal contributions of \>ur friends in the Northern States. Under well regulated associations schools have been established in largo numbers, and with wonderful results, and it is recom mended that a formal expression of our gratitude bo given by a resolution, of the General Assembly. Ij is also recommended as advisable for tlte State to make an annual appropriation to these equal to the amount contributor from abroad, to promote and enlarge the system now so successfully ’inaugurated, while wc are preparing for and perfecting a general free school plan as indicated in the Constitution. Attention is invited to the statement of Mr. E. D. Ware on this subject, herewith transmitted. The State University has received the lAuvovxnt ivr tha ourront year, . and is in a very flourishing and satisfactory condition, under the control of its able Faculty. l ire benefits of the munificient gift of Mr. •Pcabosly arc now being enjoyed by our children under the wise direction given to it by* the Board of Trttstceo, who have the fund in charge. MILITIA. If it is deemed wise to establish, a militia organization, it is hoped that the acts which are to regulate it will be of such a character ns to compel a perfect and harmonious organization, with sufficient discipline to make the force useful aud effective. COUNTY OFFICERS. In view ot the great poverty ol our people, and of the present effect of setting apart homesteads, the Executive might, with the assistance of the Treasurer and Comptroller, he authorized to exercise a discretion as to the kind and character of bond to he given by persons elected to county offices, to the end that, if tor the abeve reasons, the oflieer elect may not be able to secure the character of bond, heretofore required, the choice of tire people shall not be denied the exercise of.the duties of his office. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The removal of the scat of Government to toe silty ol Atlanta will, for a time, occasion some i-nconvenience to the members of lhe General Assembly,.and to the Executive, but this, temporary disadvantage is vastly more than balaueeil by the convenience to the public at large. Under the arrangement volunteered by the . liberal spirit .of the citizens of Atlanta, the corporation took, upon itself to provide suitable and satisfactory buildings nml ,aceonnuodations for the sent of Government. As there is no finished, building in this city of sufficient size to afford proper facilities, for the General Assembly, the Committees and the Dcputinents, it is recommended that the General Assembly take into eonsideralion lhe propriety of aiding the corporate au thority, and thereby oectirc the completion of a buildipg now in the city, which can be admirably alapted to your wants. We lire informed tlnyt capitalists are prepared to enlarge and complete the build ing, known as the "Opera House,” upon any plan acceptable Jo the General Assembly, and huvef the same ready for the Winter Session, and to lease the property to the city or Stale for a term of years at A fair rate of rent, based u|>on thc.value of the property and the cost of their improvements. irwin's revised code. Irwin’? Revised Code having been adopted by the Couveation, it will be necessary, by an aidenda to the Code, to explain the changes made in the laws by the new Constitution, and with such addenda, cause a copy of the Code to be placed in the hands of the several officers of the civil government. COUNTY POOR. Logisbitfon is necessary to the end that the indigent poor ma; be charitably cared for in < ach county in the State, tinder some general plan, that will insure uniform treat ment, ami prevent the poor of one county being made burthens for another. The erection of a comfortable building, with sufficient grounds adjoining tor agricultural employment of the inmates, nt a central point in each county, where all the helpless paupers could be eared for, is recommended. WESTERN A ATLANTIC RAILROAD. Attention is respectfully invited to the concise and satisfactory report of the able and efficient officer who has been in charge <>f this valuable and productive property of the State since the close of the war, and •more especially t« his wise suggestion as to the necessity for adequate legislation to protect the tax payers from loss, which will ensue from the prosecution' of claims against the Road for unavoidable losses of property anti damage dime to persons during the war ; and it is respectfully added that the laws of the State are es such a character as to inflict serious and unjust burthens upon commerce, and to deter capital from embarking in the carry ing trade. The decision* of our Courts, regulated to the Code, have been in conflict with the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, and of many of the Slates more extensively interested in the laws controlling carriers than our Own, and it is earnestly recommended that our laws on this subject may be and definite, and so revised as to give equal and just protec tion to the carrier and to lhe patron, and thus leave the Courts untrammelled by special and hostile legislation on this sub ject ; one which is of such vital importance to the interests of the State in her own Road and to her citizens who are interested in the operation and construction of other Roads. Referring to the financial condition of the Road, as presented in the accompany ing reports, we find that $241,895.54 has been realized to the Treasury of the State during the nine months ending June 30th, ultimo. From an examination of the re ports for 1866 and 1867, it is found that the amount, credited as an asset, in this report, of $7,431.86 due from other agents, has been carried forward, with but trifling variation, during the past three years. If this amount is not collectable, the Treasu rer should be authorized to relieve his accounts of a valueless credit, PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR HUGER. The thanks of the State are due to the gallant officers who have so ably adminis tered the Provisional Government in the Executive office, and in the offices of the Comptroller General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. The attention of the General Assembly i? called to the following extracts from General Ruger's reports: Milledgeville, Ga., July 4, 1868. Governor 11. B. Bullock, Dear Siu—l have the honor to furnish you with the following statement, in hopes that, although not in. detail, it will be of assistance to you in ascertaining the condi tion of affairs relative to the Executive Department of the State of Georgia. Upon my entry upon duty as Provisional Governor, vice Governor Jenkins, removed from office, I found that the Seal of the Executive office was gone ; also the record of warrants drawn upon the State Treasurer by my predecessor. These, lam informed, were carried away by Governor Jenkins. It was found when the present Secretary of State entered upon his office that the Great Seal of the State was missing. The same was removed by the former Secretary, Mr. Barnett, or with his consent, as I have no doubt. No funds were turned over by the form er Treasurer, Mr. Jones, to Captain Rockwell, nor any records from which could be ns-, certained the transactions of the Treasury during the time fcr which he was Treasurer. The Comptroller General, Mr. Burns, on being relieved, failed to turn over to his successor, Capt. Wheaton, U. S. Army, the records of his office (Ledger, Journal, Warrant Book, Warrant Blotter and Receipt Book), from which accurate knowledge of •the transactions of the State Treasury and Comptroller General could bo ascertained. Neither the seals, money nor records have been returned or recovered. It will be impossible for the present Comptroller General, Treasurer and •Secre tary of State to make a complete report, including transactions ot their departments since last published reports, for want of necessary data. They will furnish statements covering the time for which they have held their offices. These, together with the statements that I understand their predeces sors will make to those elected to the offices by the present Legislature, will.give yourself and the officers elected full kmiwledgo affairs connected with those departments. TREASURY. On entry upon office of the present Treasurer, Capt. C. F.Rockwell, U. S. Army, no funds were turned over to him by his predecessor, nor the records from wbicfi could be ascertained the actual condition of the finances of.the State. .There is still in the hands of Mr.. Jones, late State Treasurer, sufficient funds to pay, within a few thousand dollars, all dues for interest on the public debt up to the first day of January, 1869. At this date there is in the bauds of the present State Treasurer, considering all warrants drawn as paid, about $165,000. It can be considered that, at this (fate, there is SIOO,OOO in the Treasury for general purposes, regarding payments of interest on the public dt't, as provided for up to January 1, 1859. The ordinary sources of income will be: First, the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which, can be relied upon, 1 think, for from twenty to twenty five thousand dollar.? per month, including lift present month, up to the first of January next. Second, receipts from past due taxes of the year 1867, on which account, probably, not more than $15,000 will accrue during that time. Third, the receipts from general tax of 1868. As no steps have been taken towards the collection of this tax, other than the prepara tion of the blank digests, it cannot be expected that much will be received from that tex before November Ist, 1868. I should think, in view of the fact that nearly all the money in the hands of Mr. Jones will he required to pay the interest on the public debt, coming due the present and next two months, for reliable calculation, it can he assumed that, with what is now iu the hands of the present Treasurer, and that to accrue from ordinary sources, the available means ot the Treasury from such sources will be, fur the four months, including the present, and ending November Ist, 1868, at which time, or soon thereafter, receipts can be depended on from the general tax for 1868, $200,000. The usual expenditures probably necessary, until November Ist, for the State Institutions, printing, contingent expenses, etc., are given below approxi mately: It is assumed thal the expenditures will be for special appropriations at the rate of appropriations made by the last Legislature. Such has been the basis of payments during the time I have been peiformiug the duties of Governor. Where specific appropriations havfe been made, the amount is stated in left-hand column, and payments on right hand column. As the financial years of all the public institutions end,, cither on the first or last of October, it can be considered that all appropriations unpaid will be re quired by November Ist. In this statement no account whatever is taken of expenses of the Legislature, or of appropriations by it for the fiscal year, which, of course, can not be now known. Appropriations Amount paid otteat Legisla- by Executive turo continued, warrants for fiscal year, up to date, in cluding that paid by late Treasurer, Mr. Jones. Lunatic AsylumsF2,ooo 00 $42,800 00 Penitentiary 30,000 00 17,914 00 Deaf and Dumb Asy- lum 8,000 00 0,000 09 Academy for the Blind 11,000 00 4,500 00 $lll,OOO 00 $71,214 00 71,214 00 $39,788 -00 The needs of the State institutions, as appears above, require about $40,600. The civil list, at the rate of $20,000 per quarter, $30,000 to $35,000. .Os outstanding claims due, there is, on account of furnishing arti ficial artps and legs (and which will be about all that will bo required for that purpose, as very tew orders have been received of late), $4,000. Printing fund (estimated), $2,200. Contingent fund (esti mated), $4,000. For payment on account of education of maimed soldiers, on which account all payments have been made flp to May 1, 1868, if payments on the same account should bo made on the system of quarterly payments, the year beginning January 1, about $25,000. There is sO* unpaid on repairs to the State .Capita’ Milledgeville, about SI,OOO, of which,how ever, about S7OO is ftlus the I'enito'riary. Without, therefore, taking into acctant any payments on account of tlfb Legislate, or of Appropriations more than thedsual ones herein above considered, an/ excluding interest on public debt,, it «?ay be stated thatt.be expenditures up to November 1; 1868, will require about from SIIO,OOO to $120,000. It is apparent that as there is at this date only about SIOO,OOO in the Treasury, and tire monty in the hands of Mr. Jones will mostly be required for paytneat of interest on he public debt within this and the comarg raontli, that,' unless the Legislature shored continue in session but a short time, there will be a necessity for making n tempo rary loan until the taxes for 1868 can be collected. The gross receipts for the year fell far shirt of the estimates of the former Treasurer. The Convention tax will eventu ally pay tie scrip—a little over $100J)00 wa's isßue<i and about $67,000 has been paid. COMPTROLLER GENKRAI/S OFFICE. lhe Digest Blanks are ready to be sent to the Tax Receivers, The blanks were not sent out to the »ld Tax Receivers, for reason in part, because it was Supposed that the new State Government, under the Recon struction Acte, would have been iu operation before now, and any changes necessary in rules or otherwise, eonsequeut ujion its legislation, could be. made: and, in part, that the Tax receivers elected under the new Constitution might perform the duties. When it became apparent that it would not be expedient to delay the preparation of the Blank Digests, they were completed, and are now ready. 1 would suggest the propriety of haring lire newly elected Tux Receivers commissioned and qualified as soon as possible, and that the Digests be sent them. Au Act of the Legislature should, perhaps, be passed, requiring, as the usual time has passed by law stated therefor, that all per sons give in the value of taxable property by a certain time. There is really no necessity lor the three visits now required to be made at appointed places by the Tax Receivers. 1 think that every thing can be complete and taxes required to be paid by November 10 or 15. The time should be fixed, at which payment is required, as early as practicable, as the January interest on lhe public debt is about $155,0(>0. SECRETARY OF STATE. Nothing occurs to me, relative to this office, requiring remark, except the absence from the office of the Great Seal of the State, which Mr. Barnett, -the former Secretary, failed to turn over to his successor. PENITENTIARY. The report of the Principal Keeper, covering time from last report up to May first, has been received. Said report does not take account of $4,560 paid on account ot Penitentiary since May Ist; said amount is, however, included in statement hereinbe fore given, under head ol “Treasury.” Tile Penitentiary, after estimating all property on hand, and credits at a fair value, is about $10,600 in debt. The services of two hun dred convicts have been leased to private parlies. The contract in case of one hun dred, first entered into, is on file, and provides, substantially, that the State shall be at no expense on account of such convicts, and . shall receive $2,500 for wn vices wnvkta one /cat, payable quarterly, lhe contract bears date 11th day of May, 1868. The contract in relation to the one hundred recently turned over to the contractors has not beeu yet signed by the Executive. It was made by the Principal Keeper, under my orders, in my absence, recently, iu Atlanta. The terms were to be the same ns in first contract, with like security. The contract was taken to Atlinitrethe day 1 left far this place. It will require your signature. MISCELLANEOUS. Some time since, I called for reports from the clerks of the Superior Courts, of all eases of “Homicide” in their respective counties since January Ist, 1806, with the intention of having such reports consolidated’ and classified in such manner as to present as nearly as possible, a view of the slate of the public morals, and the practical opera tions of the laws in that regard. Reports from eighty counties have been received. 1 would iiivite your attention to the fact, that by the law relative to burglary, as at present existing, the breaking into a store house, out house, etc., (Section 4320, Irwin’s Code) in the nighttime, isncapital offense, and there are now two convicts in the Pen itentiary sentenced to imprisonment for life. One far breaking into aud stealing from a mill some corn meal; and another for breaking into an out house and stealing some molasses or syrup. The report of the grantees of the Lottery, authorized by the Legislature in 1860, for' the purpose of- establishing a "Masonic Orphans’ Home,” has beeu made, to which, and a letter of complaint made by a citizen of the State and filed therewith, I invite your attention. MEMORANDUM. Following is a statement of the interest on tire public debt, by month, for lhe year 1868, also, a general statement, which, with out knowing it to be accurate, I -think is so, of lhe amount in the hands of Mr. Jones on tire Ist day of January last, and his collections up to the time he was relieved, and state ment of disbursements. INTEREST-UN PUBLIC DEBT. January....,5155,155.90 February...... ~.., 22,035 00 March 1,800.09 May 8,427.50 June.. 11,045.00 July... 144.1W.00 August..., 22,035.00 September 1,800.00 November .. v 8,427.50 T0ta1..:5374,835.00 ■MR. JOKES’ ACCOUNT. Cash balance in Treasury Jan. 1, 188815371,201.61 Receipts Iroiu January Ist to 13tb... 57,244.51 $428,506.21 DISBURSEMENTS. Payments—Executive Warrants since January $22,635.29 Coupons State Bonds, taken 160,429.50 Advances to officers, contractors, etc. 25,956.15 Advances to Lunatic Asylum 10,000.00 Advances to Penitentiary 8,685.57 T0ta15227,706.81 Leaving in the hands of Mr. Jones nt date of the last disbursement S2OO 799.31. [ Exact date of last disbursement not known to us.] It will be seen that after disbursements, other than on account of interest on the . public debt, are taken from the gross amount of $428,506.12, it does not leave sufficient to pay the interest on the public debt up to January 1, 1869, by $13,606.19. Funds in the hands of Mr. Jones, late Treasurer, have been used to pay the iuterest on thfe public debt. With respect to bonds authorized by law to be issued to replace State bonds due in 1868 and iB6O, I can give no definite information. The matter will require your early attention. Tnos. H. Huger, Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. A. It would seem proper aud right that the cußj-nsation attached to the civil service pei'ormed by those officers, should be ten dered to them, with a resolution expressi Ilr , your jppreciation of the valuable benefit* whicl ’have accrued to the people of Stab through their wise aud economical a( f/ntistratiou. ASYLUMS. / Reports from the Lunatic, Blind, and ifo l Deaf and Dumb Asylums have been i e ' ceived. lIESTOHATIOJi. OF FliDlill-VAI. RELATIONS The amendment to the Constitution of ju United States, known as the Fourtifta Article, is an amendment applicable to allfo. States; therefore, no one State cun Tewon,, bly object to it on the ground of uteqmji lv As citizenship is conferral by Congress, a,;] conditions have been Heretofore prescribe] what reasonable ground is there to object to the General Government prescribing condi tions in the future or the present ? We arc a nation and not a confederation of independ. ent sovereignties, and it is certainly right and proper Ihat.the power- of declaring who shall be citizens, should belong to the National Legislature, and as the Constitution preserila. that the citizen of one State shall be a citizen of every other, there is a power nioje than implied, that the National Legislature may make citizenship uniform. 1 But the chief objection urged to tin. amendment is. that it makes citizens of all j Tersons of color' born in the United States l is hardly necessary to argue this ob jection, It has been practically ignored from the commcnjcemeiit of the government, and if it had not been, it is too late now to argu. that a native American has no right, be cause his complexion is not that of the ma jority. Will those who contend that the men ol African descent cannot rightfully be made citizens, pretend to say that a free colored man, born in the United States, travelling in foreign countries, could not always liave rightfully claimed the protection of the Flaa anil if injured in his person or properl; would uot have been entitled to redress and have obtained it? If the objectors answer no, wc reply that suefi was not the doctrine or practice of the fathers of the Republic, All civilized men are citizens of some coun try: shall it be said that the civilized men of dark complexion alone, are citizens of no Country ? Another objection urged to the Amend ment is that it changes the basis of repre sentation in the popular branch of Congress, and in the Presidential Electoral College' The justice of this change is self-evident. Suppose a case : a* State. prescribes that none but men worth ten thousand dollars shall vote or be elected (ami we have had similar proscriptions in alnjost every State, can that be cidlecl a Republican Government wliich says tliat none, other than men so qualified, shall be represented or fepresent the great mass of theft fellow-citizens in the National Legislature? Is that a Republic where ten or a thousand men are allowed to represent not only themselves, hut, it may lie. the millions of those wlio have, and had, no voice in their election, and whose opinion, and interests may he diametrically opposed to the ruling, minority-? The Constitutional Amendment merely says if these men ran not vote, they should not be counted in the basis of representation. It is for the goodof the nation that all men, all classes, all inter ests, shall be represented, but if you yield to States’ Right doctrine and confine the right to vote to a particular class, then Congress claims the right to say that that class shall only be entitled to representation in propor tion to their numbers. In the National Legislature it would be preposterous to maintain that States equal in total population were equally represented, when in one, only one-half the people were entitled to vote and chdbsc representation; and, in another, the whole participated in a choice. If the States are to bf equally repre sented in Congress,' the basis of representa tion must be equal and unifomt, and the measure which makesit so, nr attempts to make it so, as does this Amendment, com mends itself to all true Republicans, all true Democrats—indeed; to all who arc willing to concede to others lhe equal and just right they themselves claim. In ohr State, many persons who have heretofore been honored ami trusted by their fellow citizens in official positions, and who afterwards engaged in or gave aid and comfort to the enemies of their States and oi the Union, are, by the conditions of the Amendment, and by the law by which we arc permitted to re-unite with the General Government, deprived of the privilege of again holding office until relieved of that disability by Congress, although they will participate in the selection of officials at the. ballot box. ' . • While'this prohibition may be considered harsh, the propriety cannot be doubted of placing the reconstructed governments in the . hands of persons who have not inisappre hended nor wilfully violated their ollicial duty and allegiance; or who, having thus forteited confidence, now evince by their words and deeds a spirit of submission to the laws of the land. It is confidently believed that even this restriction will be removed a.- rapidly as our relations" with lhe General Government will justify. INTERNAL ItESOUHCEB. The foundation of a.ll prosperity is in the successful development of onr internal re sources; Let us sell more than we buy; produce more than wc consume, and th balance will be within and among our selves for improvement ami refinement as» people. With natural unsurpassed, have but to pimitlcix the economy, the energy and the arts of our neighbors in lhe other States less favored by nature, to insure for ourselves ease, contentment and material advancement. Relieved j'rom the old system of labor, wliich was a exiotwuai oppression to the owner as well as tire owned, wenov haw at hand the most efficicHt and reliable class rs agricultural laborers fa be found in any country, ami with tlie introduction of appliances So aptly fitted to our wants m reducing hand work, oiir crops will be made more valuable to the producer. A wise use of the State credit, under careful restrictions; to < pen avenues through that, section of our State, so rich iu the precious metals, will diaw to us increased [lopulation, and with it a ready demand for our lands and our Then, indeed, if wc follow tire suggestions of the distinguished citizen who last ad dressed the General Assembly from the Gubernatorial chair, and cultivate among ourselves unity of feeling, of opinion, and of action; unity among Jhc people, uni*.' among the Departments of Government-; eschewing political excitement, “' * * and employing our active energies in rebuild ing oUf waste places, and developing our neglected resources; whilst others rage and wrangle over ephemeral issues let us be busy with the real, abiding concerns sis life, shall we emerge from this ptfjtod of ostra cism wiser, more thriving, amt more re spected than ever. With thankful hearts to the Giver of ail Good for that with wliich we are no* blessed,’kt us by charily, forbearance and .• fortitude, merit an increase of his bouutyS RUFUS B. BL'LLGCTv. . Atlanta, Ga., July 24,1868. To Builders. General SuvBBrNTENnENT's Office,! Georgia Railroad Co., Augusto, Ga., Jaly 16tb, 1868. 1 SEALED PROPOSALS WILL BE KECEIVU, at the office of the Georgia Railroad are l Banking Company,-in Atlanta, until the fir * day of August proximo, to furbish material at" l build e FTRST CLASS FREIGHT WARb- HOUSE AND OFFICRS for this Company i« Atlanta, Ga.—two hundred and seventy-five f cet long, fifty feet wide, and front for offices, tbrey stories. Full information may be obtained an ' plans and specifications seen at the of *' lr ' Corput, Architect and Civil Engineer, Grant'* Block, Broad street, Atlanta, Ga. ' The Company reserves the right ia accept so? bid orjefuse all. E. W. COLE, jylS—l2t (>cneral_Bupt- Book and job printing Executed at this Office At the Lowest Terms and in the Best btyto