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(T 1)C Georgia Citizen.
L. F. W. ANDREIVS, Editor.
MACON, GA., AUG. 30, 1850.
From the “Georgia Citizen”—Extra,
OF SATU RDAY.
The extraordinary circumstances in which the Editor of (ho
“Georgia Citizen” unexpectedly finds himself, by the pro
ceedings of a public meeting held yesterday at the Market
ilnuso, in this city, leaves him no alternative hut the present
method of communicating with his friends and subscribers
in explanation of the cause of those proceedings as well as in
vindication of himself from the slanderous imputations which
nr* attempted to be fastened upon him.
On yesterday about noon, 1 received the first intimation of
nay existing excitement in the city, in which 1 was seri
ously and deeply interested. I was then informed that some
ssiiliincnts contained in a letter from my Atlanta Corrcspon
deut, published in yesterday's “Citizen” were considered by
som ns objectionable in character and of abolition im
port. and that a public meeting was about to Ik* called to take
into consideration the offence committed. According]}', in a
short umo a Placard was posted about the streets and exten
sively circulated for a meeting at -1 o’clock, at which hour an
assemblage of perhaps one hundred persons, one half of
whom wire lookers on, convened, and was duly organized by
the appointment of Henry G. Ross and M. E. Rylander as
Cluurmen, and E. A. Wilcox and H. K. Green,Secretaries.
After organization, the meeting was addressed in the most
Inflammatory style bv two or three persons, all of whom were
non-residents of Macon, to wit: John A. Jones, Esq., of
Paulding County, Mr. Howard of Crawford, and Mr. Bill-
In* of Albany, Ga Os these persons I shall have occasion to
speak hereafter.
After the vials of wrath had been exhausted against me,
flte verdict of this packed jury, who would not allow of any
*tfx iu the meeting, and who did not allow a written explana
tion which I had sent iu to he heard at all, cxeepthy the Com
mittee, was formally communicated to ma at my office, the
Committee having liem supported in the performance of that
duty, by a crowd of followers.
Tin* following is the verdict rendered in form and in sub
*mo*:
Resolved, That a committee of fifteen he appointed to
wait upon Mr. Andrews, and inform him that he must not is
another number of his paper in this city and that Ik* must
five up the name of the Author of the‘Gabriel’letter, and
should he refuse to comply with the above demands, that the
citizens of Macon will adopt such measures as to emu |k-1 his
precipitate departure.
HENRY G. ROSS, )
- ( hairmen.
M. E. 11l LANDKII. \
E. A. Wn.cox, ) , .
’ - Secretaries.
H. K. GftfcKv. \
Macon, Aug. 23, 1850.
Committee ap[Kiintcl to wait on the Editor of the “Georgia
Citizen” as per the within resolution :
15. F. Ross, Chairman,
J. Dean, Dr. J. M. Green,
K. Collins, Peter Solomon,
N. 11. Beal, J B. Ross,
11. Fort, A. Comer,
\V. C. Lnwxho, T. G. Holt,
li. B. Strohecker, J. H. Brantley,
C. W. Rains, Alex. Richards.
Ruing thus bese t 1 was constrained by those sacred feelings
which the father of an alarmed household may be supposed
to have possessed, under such circumstances, to comply with
one part of the demand as to the name of the Gabriel Letter,
accompanying it, however, with the declaration that the
whole proceedings were contrary to lair and the. constitu
tion, and that I yielded to might what I otherwise would not
have given up. The other demand of the meeting is yet to
lx* conceded, if on reflection and counsel with my friends, it is
thought best to take either alternative presented in the reso
lution, of stopping the publication of my paper or meeting
the consequences threatened against my person and property,
by an excited and lawless body of men.
That the public may judge of the nature of the charge on
which this movement is founded, I here insert the objection
able paragraph in the letter of Gabriel, and will then explain
how said article happened to appear in my columns :
“Among the numerous buildings that are now in process of
erection, in this city, is one of brick, in full view of, and
•careely a stone's-throw from, the Atlanta Hotel, wliieli is do- t
•igned as a depot for the safe-keeping and sale of negroes. |
Two-thirds of our people, who know the purpose for which it
is intended, are opposed to its completion, but, as yet, 1 have <
heard of no steps being taken to prevent- it. On Sabbath last
however, the heavy rain with which we were visiteu washed ,
•nay nearly one-third of the eastern wall—thus showing ( t >
‘he minds of omen-believers at least) that Providence disap
proves the unhallowed purpose tor which ‘lie building is de- ,
•iftiieil. K(, r my own part lam free to say I should rejoice ,
(oseeit razed to the ground as often as its owner rebuilds it.
1 his letter was received by W ednesday evening s mail, on
the opening of the Office at half past 5 o’clock, and without
being read was thrown into my private drawer. <)u Thurs
day, being the busiest day* in the week in my office, in getting
my paper to press for the mails that are made up at 8 and ‘J
o'clock P. M. I handed the letter to a compositor to place in !
type, supposing that it contained only an item or twoot local j
Hews at Atlanta, and went to the Mass Meeting to hear the
distinyuishod strangers speak. After my return at 1 o cloe.v
to die office, I was so engaged all the afternoon in making up :
firms of the paper, and getting ready for press, that, eon- ■
‘•"*l7 to my usual custom, I got my son of 15 years of age to ,
read a portion of the proof. Tile part read by him was the!
k'tter referred to—so that I did not actually know tliat it eon-
toned what it did. But it is due to truth and candor to say,
that I probably should not have thought it necessary to blot
ot *‘ the writing, if I hail read the same with ordinary atten
ton, inasaiueh as the opinion expressed, though impolitic and
pernicious at such times as the present, lias been the settled
lav and opinion of the State of Georgia, until the last ses
ion of the Legislature, when said law was repealed, in de
fiance of Northern fanaticism on the subject of slavery.
Nevertheless, so far as abolition sentiments are even im
plied, indirectly, in the quotation of Gabriel’s letter, I have
*rrr endorsed the same. Ido not approve of any sen-
Hmrnte of that character. For fifteen years past, 1 have,
time and again denounced abolitionism, in the most indignant
terms, and have now at hand tho most ample proof ot the
k*ct: 1 have sacrificed on this ground, my connexion and fel
lowship with my religious denomination, North. Not longer
than two months ago, I published in the ‘‘Georgia Citizen
as severe a denunciation of the “Universalist General Reform
j “as possible for my pen to indite. In proof of all ibis, 1
j have documents to show, which amount to a demonstration
i of the fact, that 1 have written more perhaps tlian any other
j Editor of Georgia against the sin and the shame of abolition
i isin! And yet for the inadvertent expression of one of my
j correspondents, who in all cases, are considered and held res
j ponsible for what they communicate to the press —a rule uni
: versa!, and established by general custom, as well as by the
I authority of such men as the lion. John B. O'Neal, of
j South Carolina, who has recently declared to the Editor of
the Newberry Sentinel that, “ it seems to be strange that
an Editor is held responsible for the language or sentiments
of his correspondents.” On no other principle indeed, could
a correspondent find admittance into a newspaper.
But it is useless to dwell upon this point. If a public
| meeting of my fellow citizens will allow me the opportunity,
1 feel able and willing to show, from documentary testimony
and from a cloud of personal witnesses, that, in no sense,
thought, word or deed, have I ever been guilty of the politi
; heresy of abolitionism. lam a native born citizen of the
i South, having been born in North Carolina and brought up
in Kentucky, lam, at present, and have been several times
: before, a slaveholder. All of which facts my reasonable fel
low-citizens of the South will probably admit are good evi- j
deuce that I am as sound as the next man, on the subject
of.Southern Institutions.
I am constrained, however, to express my conviction, here. ‘
that my present position is not in reality based upon my sup-I
posed abolitionism. That is the pretext, but other causes are 1
at the bottom of the persecution now raging against me.— j
j l'rom the character of the assembly of yesterday and from re
j cent facts whieli have come to my knowledge, lam satisfied :
l that political prejudice is the cause of the whole proceeding. ‘
A large majority of the active portion of the assembly are !
! known to be rabid politicians of the 3f>, 30 ultimatum school, j
I On Thursday, these men had a meeting here which doubt- j
less kindled anew all the fire of their souls against their op- :
posing brethren. They were incensed and mortified too, at !
the failure of their hopes and expectations, in reference to the I
number of persons expected to be present. To this may he
added the pointed denunciations in the Citizen of yesterday |
against the disunion sentiments uttered by nearly every epea- I
keron the occasion, which, it may be supposed, had some in- |
flaenee in keeping up the public excitement. One fact I j
j will mention, in proof of this point, aud that is—that one of !
’ the Proprietors of the “Georgia Telegraph,” on Thursday j
evening before the issue of yesterday's paper, was heard de- j
j nouueing the Citizen “as a d — d abolition sheet ” which the
person addressed, Mr. Anderson of up country, was suppo- j
sed to be taking. 1 his and other facts within mv knowledge, i
go far to implicate two rival printing establishments in this un
lawful attempt to break down my press and ruin my business.
Before high Heaven I believe it to be true that my disun
! ion fellow-citizens of the Macon Press are at the bottom of
. t his whole conspiracy against my life arid property. Let the
candid public inquire into the frets of the case, aud judge for
themselves, if these tilings be not so. There may be a few
private griefs and some sectarian prejudice to gratify, but
these last are but as a drop in the bucket, compared to the first
j named.
j And now [conic to speak of a disgraceful fact in connec
tion with the proceedings of yesterday's meeting—one which j
( every citizen of proper pride of character must repudiate as *
unseemly and improper, in the highest degree. I allude to ,
the fact that the orators on the occasion were till strangers j
in (lie city! They hailed from Paulding, Crawford, and Un- j
her. John A. Jones, is well known to the people of Macon j
! a.s the jacobitiieal member of the last legislature whoso wish- j
j ed to ride over the interests of Macon, in tlie matter of the ,
Railroad connexion, that ;i little of the same mob law which 1
’ _ i
i lie tried to get up yesterday against me, would probably have
i been his just reward, had Ire returned home, publicly,
[ through tins place. This ugliest of all men, politically aud
i personally, was the chief speaker. IBs blood had been warm
j ed the day before, by b'outh Carolina's peculiar politics and
j his appetite for the prospective banquet of dissolution was
i probably whetted to an insatiable keenness. The second
! speaker is the reputed political Editor of the Macon “Tribune”
| and reveals another fact in the history of the transaction which
j an intelligent public will know how to appreciate—and the j
! third is also a stranger, of whom we know but little.
’ ... I
By what right these strangers had to assist the citizens of <
1 .Macon to protect themselves from political or other transgres
sions, l am not able to divine. It was, certainly, an uneall- I
| ed for zeal, of which I shall hereafter have perhaps the op- j
portunity of asking a satisfactory explanation—and for which
“I bide my time.”
There is another view of this matter, which I cannot pass j
without comment. It is a question of solemn import whetli- !
! er in a community of laws and constitutions, any body of men, j
! however respectable in character or imposing in numbers, j
have any light thus to destroy the business, property aud i
! reputation of any citizen. In my case the laws of the conn- j
trv have been grossly violated. The Constitutional privilege j
of trial bv a jury of my peers has been denied me, for an j
nlledged offence. I have not had even a hearing , much less j
a defence, on the accusation alledgcd against me, hut admit- |
| ted to be the aet of another. Another fundamental provision j
of the Constitution of Georgia and the United States—that j
of the “ liberty of speech and of the press' ’ —has been
trampled under foot by my enemies. They have placed them
selves above all law —yea, have assumed the prerogatives ol
law-maker, accuser, judge and executioner, in their own im
maculate persons 1 Nor is this all of this beginning of the
u grand dratria of Dissolution ” which is about being open
ed. This meeting, in the alternatives presented in their res
olutions of demand, have conspired to rob me of my prop
erty and blast my prospects of business. If 1 accede to their
demand of not publishing another number of the “Citizen” I
shall be bankrupt in purse aud reputation. If I remove else
where, it will be a confession of guilt, which will amount to
an interdict on my business in any other Southern community.
If I defy the malice of my foes and proceed with my publica
tion, I subject myself to the possible consequences ot a forci
ble ejection from the city—the destruction of my establish
ment and ignominious outrage upon my person! And even
if there is moral and physical power in this community to a
vert these dangers, there is no power can prevent my grievous
loss of business and good name, by the irretrievable stigma
which lias already been affixed to iny character, and which a
venal press will be eager to diffuse abroad.
Under a full view of the case, I therefore appeal to the
aid aud sympathy of all just men in this my present emergen
cy. I appeal to my friends near and abroad, who have
’ known me for manj years, to stand by me in this hour of per
j seeutiou. 1 appeal to the constituted authorities of the State
| and city, to protect my person aud property, and to permit no
violent obstruction to my lawful buisincss. If I have oftend
! ed any law or statute, l appeal to the tribunals of the Com
-1 monwealth to arraign me for the offence before a jury of my
peers. I appeal to the community in which I dwell for an
opportunity to defend myself from any and every accusation.
And finally, I appeal to all, in the name and behalf of an af
flicted and innocent family, to spare them the perils and dan
gers which besot their husband ami father.
But if after all, I am to become the first martyr to a blind
and infuriated political zeal, I would in conclusion, solemly
ask, where is this warfare to end, and who will he the next
victim ? If one independent Press can thus be silenced, by
the lawless voice of a score or two of its opponents, on mere
suspicion of wrong, without evidence or examination, what
is to hinder the muzzling of every other press obnoxious
to those violently disposed ? And where, then, will be the
palladium of the people's rights and the resting place ot lib
erty ? Let the people answer. -- *
It remains for me to say, that should I not be permitted to
issue another number of the “Citizen” my patrons abroad
“Jißicpcniicnt in nil tljiugs —Neutral in Notying.”
MACON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY MORNING, AUG. 30, 1850.
Association” of Massachusetts, its motives and acts, as it
may understand the reason on the receipt of this extra. —
I hey will, I am sure, for the nio-t part, kindly appreciate my
position and not expect me to perform an impossibility. In
that event, also, those who have paid their subscription in ad
vance may suffer a trifling pecuniary loss, but the blatne there
of will not belong to me but to mv despoilers.
The public's obedient servant,
L. F. W. ANDREWS.
To Correspondents.
LIP Owing to circumstances beyond our control, we arc
! not able this week to give place to much valuable correspon
dence on our table, and it will depend on the abatement or
continuance of those circumstances, whether wc shall ever
be able to publish what we have on hand.
&T S. G., of Griswoldville, lias our fnll permission to
stop his subscription at once, on sending us $1,25. His ad
vice and dictation being impertinent, are of course disregarded.
To many friends, at home and abroad, who hare sent
us words of encouragement and profl’ers of aid in this our
hour of trial, our thanks are due.
i sy Letters on Florida, its climate &c., deferred.
———
Our Half Sheet,
In consequence of the derangement of our business, for
the last few days, we are unable to issue a fnll sheet by the u
sual hour of our weekly publication, and therefore, come be
fore the public, to-day, shorn of our fair proportions one
half. We hope, by next Friday, to be “ourselves again”
and that the malice of our foes will soon be subdued into res
pectful obedience to the majesty of the law and the inviolabil
ity of every honest citizen’s rights. Although already vitally
injured, we have confidence enough in the justness of our
cause and in the good sense of the community, to believe
that all temporary loss will be more than made up to us by a
liberal addition to our subscription and means of support.
It will therefore be sufficient, for us to say to our friends scat
tered abroad that their encouragement now will most pleas
antly realize the adage—that “a friend in need is a friend in
deed.”
Constitutional Rights of the Citizen.
To show what principles of the Constitution have been
violated by the gentlemanly Mob of Friday last, we quote a
few passages from this Magna Charta of our liberties.
Article Ist of the amendments to the Constitution of the
United States says that, “Congress shall make no law res
pecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of the speech or j
of the press, <j-c.
Articles IV, V, & Vl, read as follows:
Article, I, “ The right of the people to be secured in
their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasona- i
hie searches and seizures, shall not li* violated, and no war- ,
rants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oatli ;
or affirmation, and particularly describing the ] ‘ace to be ;
searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article, 5. “No person shall bo held to answer for a ,
capital, or othrewise infamous crime, unless on a present
ment or indictment of a grand jury, except in eases nuking
in tin* bind or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual
service,in time of war, or public danger; Nor shall any
person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled, in any
criminal ease, to be witness against himself; nor be deprived
of life, liberty or property, without duo process of law:
Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.
Article, C>. “In till criminal prosecutions, the accused
shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an im
partial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed ; which district shall have been previ
ously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature
I and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the wit
| ness against him ; to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor ; and to have the assistance of counsel
for his defence.”
The public can thus judge what great principles are in-
I volvedin the action of the meeting aforesaid. Several of the
; dearest rights of citizens arc thus trampled in the dust! The
j Declaration of Independence also lays it down as a funda
mental doctrine, that “life, liberty and the pursuit of liappi
necs” are “inalienable rights. ’
Reader and fellow citizen ! What is our fate to-day may
ibe yours tomorrow ‘. What is to-day the humble cause of an
humble individual may tomorrow reach the higher places of!
citizenship and make our Constitution a bye-wonl and a
; mockery. And the men who are thus endeavoring to break
down these pillars of liberty are those who would dissolve the
j Union and establish a Southern confederacy on its ruins !
Judge ye, whether the latter, if ever accotuplised by such :
hands, will not, the rather, be a despotism of the must atro
cious character.
—BP—
Mho are (he Conspirators!
In justice to several gentlemen, whose names arc attached
to the proceedings of the mob meeting of Friday last, as well 1
as to relieve ourselves from the false idea that has gone a
broad, that many of the most respectable citizens of Macon
have united in the perpetration of the outrage upon our
l ights, thus giving more weight and sanction to the procecd
j ings than really belongs to them, we are constrained to ex
amine, a little, into the personal character of the meeting
and to point out, by name, the chief actors in this little dra
; ma of lnobocracy.
The ringleader in the work i s Ben Fort, a man of whom
j we will not allow ourselves now to speak in the manner that
; we might feel just. He is known, however, as one of the
i fiercest 36, 30 men iu Macon—a man of violence and blood
.—and the agent in business of Mr. Janies Dean, wlio is said
to be the owner of the building, spoken of by Gabriel.
Those two with W. C. Lawslie, who is an agent for the
Messrs. Orrs', engaged in the same calling, all of course,
interested parties in the matter of accusation against our
correspondent, were appointed on the committee of 9 to
draft resolutions. This, we are assured, was done, by the
chairman 11. G. Ross, in obedience to the clamor of the
| crowd, who nominated whom they pleased as Committee-men,
: iii despite of the wishes of the chairman, who reluctantly
! took tlie chair and only with the view of placing the most
j moderate men on the committee. Such, at least, is his sub
! sequent version of the affair.
The next man in order isM. E. Rylander, wlio is suppos
ed to have a small personal grudge agninat the Editor. r l his
ho however, now disclaims, and says, that lie went to the
meeting through importunity of others.
The next is E. A. Wilcox, a native born Yankee, who
thinks to make himself accounted a sound Southern man
by extra zeal against the appearance of abolitionism in others.
I This young man it will be no harm to watch closely, in all
time to come, lest he be found a hypocrite of tlie first water.
The next on the roll is Doctor 11. K Green and his broth
er Doctor J. M. Green, both of whom are known as violent
politicians of the ultra school of polities 36, 30, who have
long aspired to be leaders in Democratic Israel. They are
restless men and possessed of bitter feelings against all oppo
nents. We leave them to answer to the tribunal of their
own consciences and to future personal account with our
selves, for the part they have taken in this law 1> * s transaction.
The next names arc those of the Ross famE . 13. F. Ross,
J. B.Ross, ATlios. L. Ross, whose connexion personally and
pecuniarily, with tlie “Telegraph"’ office and with a Reverend
Ex-Senator, are too well known to need comment. They
are all men, too, of the ultra stripe in politics and one of
them, on Thursday evening of last week, denounced the
“Citizen” a.s a u and abolition sheet.
Besides the above named, there were other men in the
meeting who were active in getting up the excitement whose
names do not appear in the published proceedings. Os the
speakers from abroad we shall not say a word here, save that
they deserve and receive the execration of all well disposed
citizens of Macon. But there are two or three others that
shall not so esespe that notoriety to which their deeds have
entitled them. J. Jenks Jones is one of these. He drew
up the original resolution to compel us to leave the place in
five days, and tried to have the same passed without organi
zation of the meeting, or appointment of a committee. His
bitterness is occasioned by our late * rebuke of his labors of
love in behalf of disunion, and by his general association and
fraternity with the “Telegraph” clique.
Samuel Ray, Editor of the Telegraph, is another prime
mover in the proceeding, though his name does not appear
therein. Let this fact be remembered when an opinion is
made up concerning the motives of those engaged in this
mob violence.
Two other men may be named as a portion of the con
spirators, who are relied upon to do the “ dirty icork ” of tho
occasion, under the lead of the redoubtable Ben Fort , and
these are Win. G. Hogue and Hiram M. Lindsay.
In conclusion, we take pleasure in exhonerating several gen
tlemen from all evil intention in their participation in the
meeting aforesaid. Dr. Robt. Collins allowed himself to be
placed on the Committee, for the express purpose of defend
ing us from violence, and to liis efforts, aided by those of Dr.
Stroheeker and one other, are we indebted for the slight
alteration made in the purport of the resolutions.
Wo are also authorized to say that Major Anderson
Comer, who was added at tho close of the meeting to
the Ist Committee of nine to make up the 15 Committee
charged with the duty of calling upon us, utterly repudiates
the whole proceedings. Maj. Comer avers that he went
down for the sake of peace and arrived just as tho Committee
was being enlarged to 15 when his name was placed on it,
without his being aware of the nature of the resolution
adopted. Wo also learn that others object to the extreme
measures proposed. As for Vlr. Richards, Judge Brantley
N. 11. Beall, and the remaining members of the Committee,
we cannot learn that they repudiate, and therefore hold them
guilty of a wilful violation of law, as conspirators against our
rights of person and property, as libellers (sec Preamble) of
our good name, and as subject to all tlie pains and penalties
which tlie laws prescribe against such offenders though rank
! ed i is the devont and holy of the land.
j From this sifting of the material engaged in one of tho
grossest outrages known to the annals of Georgia, an intelli
i gent public will not fail to see the origin and design of the
whole nflitir. It is to “abridge the liberty of speech and
! the Press,” and thus prepare tlie way for tho triumph ofan
arcliy, misrule and jacobinism of the worst description. Let
the people ponder on these things and judge righteously.—
; May “God save the Commonwealth” and preserve us from
the suares of the wicked.
The Beginning of the End.
Our Griffin Correspondent, who wrote before the recep
tion of our extra, lias correct ideas concerning the cause of
: the present persecution against tlie Editor of this paper.—
Indications, of an unerring character, have for some time
past satisfied us, that a systematic effort has been set on foot,
1 to put down every press in the State, that has any influence
against the scheme of disunion which lias been openly avow
ed by the ultra men of the South. This idea was first broach
ed, if we mistake not, by tho ‘Republic’ of Augusta and tho
‘Times’ of Columbus, by suggesting an enquiry into the birth
place of certain Southern Editors. It next took form in com
pelling Mr. Chester to vacate the Editorial Cluiir of the
Marietta Ga. Helicon, and nowit lias ripened, nearly, a
gainst the Georgia Citizen, and is lianging, in ominous Air
port, over the heads of our neighbors of the Journal & Mes
senger, the Savannah Republican and tlie Columbus Enquir
er. All these presses have been placed under the same ban
of proscription. Tlie “time” of the first named has been a
voweil ns ‘coming next,’ and the latter has had very signifi
cant hints of having the hanging process established for the
benefit of its Editor ! Maj. John 11. Howard, (we are told,
for we did not hear him,) avowed a similar purpose, in his
speech, Thursday evening, at the Lanier House, tlvit they
would have to commence here at home the business of hang
ing, or words to that effect. If in error in this particular,
we shall he most happy to correct the statement, but we think
there can be no mistake in the fact stated.
Citizens of Georgia! Arc you ready for these extreme
measures of faction ? Freemen of Georgia and friends of
I the Union, of law and the Constitution, are you prepared to
• submit to such intolerant measures 1 If so, then are ye, in
-1 deed li submissinnists” in fact as well as in name, and unwor
thy of the boon of liberty which you now enjoy.
Liability for Damages.
It is, we believe, a settled principle that each and every
one of those engaged in any acts of violence aro individual
ly liable for tho full amount of damages which may accrue
immediately and prospectively, and that the injured has the
right of election of which individual he will prosecute for said
damage. The gentlemen long purses will therefore please
look to the matter, before it is too late. In truth, every citizen
of Macon is more or less interested in preventing niobocracy,
as each one is more or less interested in the safety of the
City.
It is moreover Another principle of common law that “a
man’s house is his castle” and that lie will be held guiltless
in tlie eye of the law, for defending the same from assault, by
all tho means in his power. To this add the principle of self- j
preservation which is self-instinctive, and prudent men can see
what danger attends every departure frtm the strict rule of
right and order.
The Proof at hand.— if there is n single sensible j
man, in the State of Georgia, who has admitted the idea, for
a moment, that we are opposed to the Institutions of the
South, we are prepared to show from the files of various pub
lications that we have conducted, for fourteen years past,
that the accusation is as contemptibly false and malicious as
was ever opined at the tlireshhold of Pandemonium itself.
No man hasever written more or more denunciatory of all
abolitionist movements, than has the Editor of this paper, for
that long period of time. In proof of tlie fact, we have the
files to show and they can be attested by thousands of wit
nesses who have read our papers and patronized our publica
tions. We challenge our accusers to say as much and prove
it true.
A Mistake.
In all our denunciations of disunion schemes and ultra
measures, wo have never charged either of these things up
on the people themselves. \\ e have never fouud fault with
those who prefer 36 30 to 42, nor have we uttered a word
which can fairly bo considered into an opposition to that basis
of settlement of the vexed question. M e are more than
willing to settle on that lino, but do not see the use ot making
that or any other hop a fighting line ov ultimatum. And
hence we have not failed and shall not hereafter tail to de
nounce the ultra tcaders, who have thus far prevented a
1 eaecable and satisfactory adjustment, so long as we may be
permitted by a kind Providence to wield a pen in behalf of
peace and the Union. AVitli the people however, the honest
people, we have no controversy. Their “sober second thought”
is generally right.
“ Save me from my Friends. ”
The Savannah Republican does us great injustice in the
notice it has taken of our Extra in withholding the true rea
son we assigned for the mob violence directed against us.
The Editors of that paper have known us long enough to be
well aware that the charge of abolitionism against us is a
wicked fabrication. Otherwise, why is this same excitement
sought to be gotten up against every other Union press in the
State, the Republican not excepted ? Tlie intimation was
openly given, the other day, that a certain paper in Savan
nah might do well to take the hint given to the “Citizen.”
Why so ? Has the Republican been publishing abolition doc
trine ?
The same remark may be made as to the “ Journal
Messenger.” The Editor of that paper lias thought it neces
sary, in his last issue, to speak of the threats promulgated a
gainst himself and to bid defiance to his foes, but not a word
d<K*s lie publish of our explanation of the circumstances un
der which the offensive paragraph found admittance into our
columns, nor a word as to liis disbelief of the charge of abo
litionism against us. Os course, then, liis readers will be en
titled to infer that this was the true cause of mob violence a
gainst us! We remember the time that the Editor of the
“Journal A Messenger” was vehemently assailed for senti
ments delivered before the Mechanic's Society of Macon,
a tin to those found in the “Gabriel” letter. Then it was
that we came to the rescue and dealt some sturdy blows in ,
his behalf! In view of all which, well may we say again, ;
“save me from my friends and I will take care of my ene
mies.”
While on this subject we have a word of sincere thanks’
to our cotemporary of the Central Georgian, Sandersvilie,
for the full and copious extracts lie has published, from our
extra. Coming l?om an opposing brother of the 36, 30 1
school, this act of justice has sunk deep into our heart.
On the other hand, we have a word of scorn and contempt
for the Editor of the Federal Union, for his basely false and ;
malignant article on the subject of our difficulties. That an ,
elder in tlie Christian church would stoop so low as to justify
mob law occasioned in part by liis own efforts to influence
the passions of his followers, surpasses comprehension. It is
a notable instance of the demoralizing and brutalizing influ
ance which disunion politics lias upon its votaries : —more a
non.
Onr Fire-eating (otemporarics.
We have not space this week to devote to the “Tribune” <
and “Telegraph,” but we shall,hereafter take occasion to prove
all we have insinuated against the proprietors of these estab
lishments, that they have been active in getting up the ex
citement against this press. Sam. Ray, we have been inform
ed, has sworn that he’ll i 'bc and dis we shall print another
number of our paper,” and there is no doubt that lie assist- ,
ed Counsellor Jenks Jones in preparing the Preamble and j
Resolutions which were adopted by the meeting, in which he
participated personally, as did Howard, Harrison and Law
ton of the “Tribune”. Tho ostensible editors of the latter ;
sheet are too contemptible for special notice, and tlieir avow- j
ed approval of mob law violence is a matter of no sort of con
sequence, except to furnish tho evidence in italics of their
own type, that they ‘"unqualifiedly approve” such violence
and that they are brutish enough to mock at tho forcible rup
ture of that tender relation which exists between “an inno
cent family” and its head, and to assert that tire members of
the former will receive no injury, though that head should be
decapitated! I* ino sentiments, truly, to come from one wlio pro
fesses to be an humble disciple of tlie “meek and lowly” Re
deemer of men ! Comment is needless.
They hare “made lies their refuge.”
We caution tlie public against giving credence to one of
the thousand rumors afloat in this community derogatory to |
our character. There is not a word of truth in any of them. \
We never had, before, a mob at ov:r heels, though one was j
threatened, three, years ago, in Columbus, on as false a charge ,
as the present, and ended in smoke. We never were driven
out of Columbus for any cause as ever}* body there knows.—
We were never defeated in any contest, personal or otherwise,
in which we were there engaged, and never came oft’“second
beet,” even though often threatened and sometimes attacked.
True, the tide may now have taken a turn, and we may be
crushed under the ruthless and ponderous car of mob law and \
mob power, but not so is our distrust of that gracious Provi- J
donee who has thus far watched over us with protecting eare ]
and kindness. We feel a proud consciousness of innocence j
in the matter luiJ at our door, and this will enable us to bear
much buftetting from Satan and liis myrmidons in human .
form, whether such buffeting comes in the shape of actual vi
olence or in the insidious pathway of lying and defama
tion.
Look to themselves. —If the Fire-eaters are so in
tent on vengeance upon us for unintentional transgression,
what have they to say or do, in regard to the addresses of i
certain gentlemen on Wednesday evening of last week, in j
this city, and to the speech of John Gill Shorter, to the ne- |
groes of Randolph County. We venture to say that more
mischief was done on these two occasions than was ever
“dreamed of in their philosophy/’ And yet, these same |
speeches about the issue between the North and South, and t
one of them informing the blacks that they would soon change ,
places with their masters, were applauded and approved as j
something right, patriotic and consistent with Southern sen
timents. “Oh, consistency, thou art a jewel!” j
* _ t ‘ i
Washing, their hands of the “Citizen.”—in j
order that no innocent person may be held accountable for the
daring sin of countenancing us at the present juncture, there
by subjecting themselves to loss in business and reputation,
by reason thereof, wc hereto append the names of those sub- !
Bcribers and 1 patrons who have abandoned us since mob law
earnc into fashion :
J. S. Richardson, Alex. Richards,
M. L. Graybill, E. A. Wilcox.
To these add the names of J. W. Harris and Thomas
Brown, who stopped their papers a week or two since, and
the sum total thus far is given.
Altered without authority.— To show the reck
less character of some of our enemies, we may state the fact
that one of the Dr. Greens altered the last clause of-tlie res
olution adopted by the meeting, so as to require our precip
itate departure” from the city. These two words we under
stand, were not adopted.by the meeting!
Bring thorn in* —Certain gentry with whom wc have
unsettledaccounts and who are afraid of losing a ihrip be
cause of our ‘-precipitate departure ” from the city, which
they promise themselves will take place, immediately, if not
sooner, arc requested to hand in their accounts, at any mo
ment before the mob applies the torch to our office. After
that, we shall not be in a condition probably to meet our en
gagements. As an instance of such wise forethought on this
point, we may mention that one of the Conspirators against
whom we hare have a claim of several thousand dollar* for
; his share of the damages we expect to reoover, ha* already
j scut in a small bill and had it cashed!
!
InTiting Hostilities. — A friend inform* ua that trr
port is in circulation that we, after closing oar doora on* day,’
have again opened them, with a view to invit* farther aggre*-
sion upon our right*, for the purpose of gaining heavier dam*
ages for the property which may be injured. This • a*
way of backing out of a difficulty which will not **rre the
purpose of the moboeracy, nor need these rioters flatter tketn
j selves that they will find us unprepared or unwilling to fit*
them a reception commensurate with their desert*. “Every
mother’s son of them’’ who has determined to join the urWv
j sion against our property or person should take their fivewfctf
their hands and be prepared to sup with Pluto.
Ell fit I! I<l Democrat.—The Editor of thMftegai
J done us a favor in dropping us from his li*t-book. We do iKt
I wish further exchange with a paper that support* apah ma
ns John Gill Shorter, in appealing to tho negroes “tobehnve
well—to do as they would be done by, for they might, are
long, exchange situations with their master*;” (see corf**
pondence from Cuthbert.) As to the “Bat” matter, th* Kdi
-1 tor knows the insult put upon us and by whom, and b*n**d
not therefore freOiiinself, because we turned the table* upon
the scamp who sent us that disunion emblem through tho
’ mail !
i
Savannah News. —Wc are much obliged for the very
flattering notice which “Maj. Janet” lias seen fit to take of
, our account of the late Mass meeting in tliiacity. lie think*
. that our account is well calculated for a Northern circulation
! and tliat its spirit and fucts are of questionable character.—
By this time be will perhaps have discovered that our allow*
1 mice ns to number was too liberal by one half, Boon
Ray’s .or 6,00 U calculation to the contrary, notwi th s tauiling?
.\t all events, we do not appreciate the morality of the idea
1 that wo must publish a falsehood about the matter, for effect
upon Northern ears ! That principle may do for the “New*'*
( but we profess to le governed by a desire to “tell the troth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” without reference
to the supposed effect the truth may have upon the conduct at
our enemies.
Wonder if the ‘News’* is good authority on which to bqee
the action of liis contemporary of the Georgian, who** Wyivt
I of the number at the mass meeting doubled ovon that of th*
“Telegraph” of this city ! We don’t ourselves see tho use
| of such unblushing statements.
That Hallows. —In times of high cxcitcinqflt, wf>*
! men are struggling for power under the garb of extraordina
ry patriotism, they nre apt to overstep the bound* of pradenuc,
and say things unbecoming a Christian or a citizen. These
• are some madmen here and hereabout* who talk shoe! h**&-
j ing sueli as do not join them in their bombasto tarioso notion*.
Now, hanging is a very unpleasant tiling, and should only be
resorted to in the last extremity. Anu again, when H i*re
, sorted to there is no telling whose unlucky neck may be
1 stretched. In our younger day* our good old mother mfltv
1 enced us to take mi occasional peep into the scripture*, and
wc remember in that good Book one memorable install o* at
a hanging match. Human erected a gallows for the isys otel
hanging of Mordecai, and soon found himself dangling too**
| its beam. The moral of this we leave others to discover, tfe
wc feel no interest in it ourselves.— Columbus Enq.
LETTER, from GRIFFI2V, Ga.
Griffin, Ga., Atig., 25, 185(1.
Dear Andrews .•—l was much surprised yesterday to leara.
as I did tliat you had been proscribed and ordered to discon
tinue the “Citizen'’ and leave Macon in ten days. Wheu l
first heard it, I supposed it was one of the idle rumours of the
times ; but i am now convinced that what I at first wa* dis
posed to treat lightly is a solemn fact. tr* soon as I became
convinced of the truth of the report, I set down and wants
| you aline, but as the ears failed to go down to-dav, I chd
: eluded to write again more in rxtenso, which I now do.
1 learn that you have written and published a defence in
j the form of an “extra,” if so. I wish you to send me a oopy
to Zebulon, as I shall be there all the week at Court. I#yo
have more than one sjiarc copy I think I could circulate them
to advantage. Some men here seem very much disposed to
misrepresent you, but they are all of the “30, 30 or fight”
strijie. Among the Union men you have some Cist friends,
and 1 hope I may be alk/wed to include myself among the
number. I have looked over the articles published by yea
whiofeavere seized upon as the pretext by your persecutors,
J and have in company with others, examined them, oloaoly,
and all moderate men from whom I liavc heard an expression
of opinion, say that they contain nothing to warrant or au
| thorise the highrlianded measures with which yo* arc Uircat
! ened. Indeed, an idea lias been suggested, and is now pretty
well concurred in among your friends and the friends of the
I'nion, that the attempts to muzzle your press is intended by
1 tile disunionists as the beginning of their operations in this
State. They know that the stopping a public press will al
ways create excitement, and as excitement is the food they
feed on, tliey have availed themselves of tho opportunity of
fered in tlio publication of your paper, to reap a good harvest
of their favorite diet And if by tlieir attack, upon you,
they can arouse a fooling of resentment sufficient to excite to
arms and blots!shed, they will have accomplished their
aim. Asa means to strengthen them in their unholy
designs it is suggested here that the disunionist* intend to stee
rage the Baptist denorninatkm of this city against yom, and
especially the female members, by fiitee version* and naisrep
’ resell tat ions of the letter written from this place and publish*
cd over the signature of “AMen W. Walker,” bat whether
tliey will be able to effect much in this way, remains to ba
seen. For no one I apprehend who .will read the afticlawitb* -
out prejudice, and give it a fair intrepretation, can viaw K an
casting any reflection upon the ladies in any respect what
ever. The objetet of the writer was to give the nnmannerly
boys a rub, which be did in very deoent term* (and all. which ■
was well deserved), not intending to implicate the ladiss at
all, who were only mentioned to show, that they were dis
turbed bv the improper conduct of the boy*. This apyr*-
to be the true intent and spirit of the article, and whoever
shall persist in endeavoring to make a- great blow over it,
must undoubtedly be actuated by some ill advised design.
I trust you will persevere and let the “Citizen” appear
weekly, as heretofore, neither proving recreant to the causo
you Jhaye espoused, or failing on all proper ooaasions, to .**•
pose the mad schemes of all those who wonld tear asunder
the “stars and stripes” by which our glorious Uaion-iarboupd
together. The manly course you-have heretofore pursued/,
if persisted in, amid the fury of opposition thus recently
sprung upon you, cannot foil to add greatly to your patron
age, and if the mad fanaticism with which you are now sur-.
rounded should prove too powerful for your own resistance,
all you have to do is, to let yo friend* know, and you win
have help commensurate with your needs.
Yours a* ever, TR.OCH -iNXIS3ii
1 Griffin, Ga., Aug. 24; 185 ft.
Dear Citizen :—1 have been.at court all this week, at Zeb
ulon, Ga. The Missouri men. in the early part of the week
bad a meeting in the Court house. The assemblage though
small, was addressed by Ex-Gov. McDonald, Z. llarman and
O. C. Gibson, the first and last being members to the Nash-
NO. &
