The weekly loyal Georgian. (Augusta, Ga.) 1867-1868, February 15, 1868, Image 3
®t)c£oDal(!seorgian
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15, 1868
fFrom the Atlanta New Era.
StateConstltutional Convention
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 8, 1868.
The Convention met at 9} o’clock.
Prayer by the Chaplain.
The journal was read and approved.
Mr. Conley moved to reconsider the vote
on the adoption of the report of the Com
mittee on the Executive Department.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and
resulted—yeas 64, nays 48.
The motion to reconsider prevailed.
The report was taken up.
Mr. Coxlet moved to strike out the word
“ten” in the third section and insert “six,”
go that a residency of six years would ren
der citizens eligible to the office of Governor.
The motion prevailed—yeas 71, nays 37.
On motion the report as amended was
adopted, and referred to the Committee on
Revision.
Mr. Shropshire, from the Committee
on Finance, reported the following ordi
nance and resolutions :
An ordinance to provide the means of de
fraying the expenses of this Convention.
and the compensation of officers and
members.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained, by the people of
Georgia, in Convention assembled , That
an ordinance of this Convention passed on
the 20th day ot December, in the year 1807,
entitled an ordinance to levy and collect
a tax to pay the delegates ana officers con
nected with the Convention, as well as all
other incidental expenses, except the sec
ond section thereof, is hereby rescinded,
and the following is ordained in "lieu thereof,
to-wit:
That it shall be the duty of the Comp
troller General of the State of Georgia to
levy and assess a tax of one-tenth of one
per cent, on all the taxable property of this
State, as returned upon the digest for the
yeat 1867, for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of this Convention, and the com
pensation of officers md members. And it
shall be the duty of the Tax Collectors in
the several counties of this State to collect
the tax so assessed, and to pay the same to
the Comptroller General on or before the
first day of May, 1868. Aud it shall bPRie
duty of the several Tax Collectors to issue
executions against all persons subject to
taxation under this ordinance whose tax is
unpaid after twenty days notice to pay it,
for the amount-of tax duo them, and fifty
per centum thereon aud all costs ; and of
sheriffs and constables to levy and sell un
der such executions, and to return the
proceeds to the Tax Collectors, as soon as
the same can be done under the provisions
of existing laws.
Sec. 2. Be it further Ordained, That auy
So-ip which may be issued by the authority
of his Convention (or the purpose aforesaid
shall \ e receivable by the Comptroller Gen
eral lioji the Tax Collector! in payment of
the tax aforesaid.
Sec ; 3. it further ordained, That the
lax Collectors shall receive the same per
cent, for collecting the tax aforesaid as they
are now allowed by law for collecting the
State tax.
Sec. 4. Be it Junker ordained, That the
Comptroller General shall issue to the tax
collectors all necessary orders for the eol
lection and payment of the tax aforesaid,
which orders shall be bhiding upon said
tax collectors.
Sec. 5. Be it further ordained, That the
moneys and scrip received by the Comptrol
ler General under the ordinance be paid bv
lmn into the Treasury of the State to be
Convention may direct.
Resolved, That the General Commanding
the Third Military District be requested to
onforce an ordinance of this Convention,
passed this day, entitled “an ordinance to
provide the means of defraying the expenses
of this Convention, and the compensation of
officers and members.”
Resolved, That copies of said ordinance
and resolutions he transmitted by the Presi
dent to Major General Meade, to the Provis
ional Governor, and Comptroller General of
the State.
On motion, the rules were suspended,
and the report was taken up and adopted,
on division, by more than a two thirds vote.
Mr. McCat, from the committee ap
pointed to investigate the charges against
Mr- Bradley, made a majority report, ns
follows :
REPORT Os MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE OX THE
CASE OF A. A. BRADLEY.
The undersigned, members of the Com
mittee to investigate and report upon the
charges which have beeD made against Mr.
A. A. Bradley, one of the delegates from
the First District, report:
That they have examined the evidences
they have been able to obtain, with the
following result :
It appears, by a certified copy of the
record in the case, that, on the l-sth day of
June, 1861, Aarox Bradley was convicted
before the City Court of the City of Brook
lyn, N. Y., of the crime of seduction, and
sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the
State’s Prison.
It further appears, from what seems to us
tolerably satisfactory testimony, to wit: A
published copy of what purports to be a
certified copy of a record ot th« Superior
Court of Suffolk, of the State of Massachu
setts, that on the 4th day of October, 1856,
A- Bradley, or A. A. Bradley, was dis
missed or stricken from the bar, for mal
practice iu the duties ot an attorney.
Your committee arc satisfied from these
papers, to which Mr. Bradley’s attention has
been called, and which he has not even at
tempted to deny, in any position, nay, that
he is the identical person alluded to.
We are not prepared to say what should be
the action of the Convention in this matter.
It can not be denied that these are very
grave charges against the person implicated,
but we are not sure that any remedy L in
the power of the Convention.
There is no law fixing any qualifications
for membership in this body, except the act
of Congress of 2d March, 1867. That act
makes but one qualification, conformity to
the 3d section of the proposed Constitutional
Amendment, Art. XIV. It is true that act
prescribes couviction for felony at common
law as a disqualification of a voter. Seduc
tion is not felony at common law, nor is sim
ple seduction felony by the laws of Georgia
at all- It appears to us that this Convention
would be adopting a dangerous rule to pre
scribe Jguilty of any offence, disqualification
for a seat.
A Convention is, in its nature, a body
which meets, above all rules, except those
prescribed in its call. Perhaps half of the
members of this Convention, as well as of
that of 1865, are held by the United States
to have been guilty of treason.
It is true they have been pardoned, but
we greatly doubt if the pardon is at all
necessary to make them eligible.
This Convention has, without doubt, pow
er to expel a member guilty of a serious
crime whilst a member, but we are not clear
that it can, within the scope of its powers,
examine into the past history of one of its
members, and finding it grossly immoral or
criminal, go behind the vote of the people
and expel him. We, therefore, report the
facts and ask to be discharged.
11. K. McCay,
J. E. Bryaxt,
S. W. Beaird,
John T. Costix,
R. 11. White let,
by H. K. McCay.
Mr. Burkett, from the same Committee,
presented the minority report, and recom
mended the immediate adoption of the
following resolution:
Resolved, That in view of the evidence
against A. A. Bradley, a member of this
Convention, of criminal conduct, said Brad
ley be, and is hereby expelled from the hall
of this Convention.
Geo. P. Bexnett, Chairman.
Hexrt G. Cole.
On motion, the rnles were suspended and
the reports were taken up.
Mr. Hotchkiss moved to refer the reports
to the Commanding General of the Third
Military District.
Mr. Adkins moved to lay the whole matter
on the table. Lost.
Mr. Bradley asked leave to present a
denial. Request was granted, and the fol
lowing was read at the clerk’s desk:
llall Constitutional Convention. ?
February 8. 1868. £
In the matter of A. A. Bradley, charged
with imprisonuieut for seduction under
the laws of New York.
The Delegate charged, occupying a scat
in this Convention by order of Major Gen
eral John Pope, comes and denies the
charges set forth in the report of the Com
mittee, and also denies the truth of any
supposed legal evidence upon which the
same is founded ; and prays that he person
ally be heard in his own defense and by
the members of this Convention, and that
said examination be conducted under the
resolntion presented by Mr. George P
Burnett, and adopted by the Convention
A. A. Bradley.
Mr. Bryant moved that Mr. Bradley be'
allowed to remain in his peat until the voto
is taken, which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hotchkiss asked leave to withdraw
his motion to refer, which was gianted.
Mr. Blount moved that the report of
the minority be adopted.
Mr. Hotchkiss moved the previous
question, which was Inst.
Mr. Bryant moved that the report he
laid upon the table, and made the special
order for Tuesday next, upon which ques
tion the yeas and nays were ordered and
resulted— yens 61, nays 56.
So the motion to postpone prevailed.
• order was taken up —the re
ommittee on Franchise—the
on the adoption of the first
Mr. Akerman to the second
ng that voters shall have pnid
their tStces to be eligible. The amendment
was adopted.
The question then recurred on the second
amendment, offered by the same gentleman,
to provide for an educational qualification for
the electors after the year 1873.
Mr. Turner moved the following amend
ment to the section :
That the Governor shall issue a proclama
tion so soon as the common seho and system
shall have become in full operation, declaring
that (act; and no person who becomes 21
years of age five years alter the date ot said
proclamation shall vote, unless he possesses
himself such educational qualifications as
the Legislature may prescribe.
Mr. McCay moved to amend Mr. Aker
man's amendment by adding the words,
“Provided that the General Assembly shall
not require a greater educational disqualifi
cation greater than ability to read intel
ligibly.”
Mr. Ak ekmax accepted the amendment
by incorporating the idea in his own, so
that the latter would read as follows:
Provided, .That the General Assembly
shall have power to require ability to rend
the English la’nguage intelligently as a
qualification of voters who shall arrive
at the age of twenty-one years niter the Ist
day of January, 1873.
Mr. Bryant moved that debate on the
second Hfection now cease. Lost.
All the propositions following Mr. Aker
man were lost, when the question recurred
upon his amendment, and tho yeas and
nays were ordered, and resulted, yeas 40 to
nays 69.
The amendment was lost.
Mr. Bryant moved to amend by inserting
after the word “inhabitant," the words
“citizens of the United States,” and after
the word aforesaid, the words “except ns
herein provided.” Amendment agreed to.
Mr. Foster, of Paulding, offered a sub
stitute. Lost.
Mr. McCay moved to amend by adding
the following:
No person who shall, if challenged, refuse
to take the following oath, shall vote at any
election in this State : “ I do swear that 1
have not given or received, nor promised to
give or receive, nor do I expect to give or
receive, any money, treat or other thing of
value by which my vote is affected or ex
pected to to he affected at this election ; nor
have I given or promised any reward, or
made any threat by which to prevent any
person from voting at this election.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. Bryant moved that the section as
amended be adopted, which motion pre
vailed. The second section is as follows :
Sec. 2. Every male person born in the
United States, and every male person who
has been naturalized, or who has legally
declared his intention to become a citizen
of the United States, twenty one years old
or upward, who shall have resided in this
State six months next preceding the elec
tion, and shall have resided thirty days in
the county in which he offers to vote, and
shall have paid all taxes which may have
been required of him, and which he may
have had an opportunity of paying agree
ably to law, for the year next preceding the
election, except as hereinafter provided,
shall be deemed an elector; and every male
inhabitant citizen of the United States, of
the age aforesaid, except as herein provided,
who may be a resident ot the State at the
time of the adoption of this Constitution,
shall be deemed an elector, and shall have
all the rights of electors as aforesaid.
Provided : That no soldier or sailor or
marine, in the military or naval service of
the United States, shall hereafter acquire a
residence by reason of being stationed on
duty in this State ; no person who shall, if
challenged, refuse to take the following oath :
“I do swear that I have not given or re
ceived, nor promised to give or receive, nor
do I expect to give or receive, any money,
treat, or other thing of value, by which my
vote i3 affected, or expected to be affected,
at this election ; nor have I given or prom
ised any reward, or made any threat, by
which to prevent any person from voting at
this election.”
The Convention then adjourned.
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 10, 1868.
The Convention met pursuant to ad
journment, and was called to order by the
President.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Harlanu.
The journal was road and approved.
Leave of absence was granted Mr.
Shropshire, on account of sickness in his
family.
Mr. Martin, of Habersham, offered the
following :
Resolved , That from and after the 20th
day of February instant, the per diem com
pensation of the members of this Conven
tion shall be $5 only.
On the motion to suspend the iules, the
yeas were 84, nays 29.
The following communication was read
to the Convention.
Post Office Department, )
Contract Office, >
Washington, February oth, 1868. }
Sir : A resolution of the Georgia Con
vention recommending the reestablishment
of the tri-weekly mail service between
Gaiusvillo and Anderson C. 11., South
Carolina, by way of Homer, Carnesville,
and Hertville, Georgia,; has been received
at this office.
In reply, I have the honor to inform you
that Homer, 'a very small village, is now
supplied with mails on route No. 6,032
Harmony to Homer. Carnesville, is on
route No. 5,023, Elberton to Carnesville,
and also on routes No. 6,030, Danielsville
o Carnesville, on 0,031, Carnesville to
Harmoney Grove. Hartwell is supplied
twice a week on route No. 0,028, from
Athens, Ga., to Anderson C. H., S. C.
This latter route ends at Anderson C. 11,
one of the proposed termini of the route
recommended by the Convention, and runs
via Hartwell to Athens, where it connects
with a railroad instead of turning northeast
to Gainesville, away from all railroad con
nections—as asked in the petition.
Such being the state of the case, the
department necessarily declines increasing
the already heavy expense of the postal
service in Georgia by opening any addi
tional routes in the section indicated.
Very respectfully, etc,
Geo. \V. McLel«n,
Second Assistant Postmaster General.
J. R. Parrott, Esq., President Georgia
Convention, Atlanta, Ga.:
A motion was made and carried to lay
the resolution of Mr. Martin, of Haber
sham. on the table—yeas 67, nays 51.
Mr. Supple moved the suspension of the
rules to offer a resolution. Carried.
Mr. Supple offered the following, which
was adopted as amended :
Resolved, That it is the duty of this Con
vention, under the present circumstances,
to inquire how many members are absent,
and how long, aud the cause of their ab
settee.
Mr. Blount offered the following amend
ment, which was accepted by Mr. Supple :
And that a committee of five be appointed
to report all the delegates who are absent
without leave, the length of time, and the
cause of such absence.
The President appointed the following us
the Committee under the above resolution :
Messrs. Supple, Whiteley, Blount, Maddox,
and Holcombe.
Mr. Waddell, according to notice, moved
the reconsideration of the second section of
the Report on Franchise. He expressed
his object to be to have the section so
altered that the franchise should be con
ferred on tho white male citizens of Georgia
only.
The motion to reconsider was lost—veas,
20 ; nays, 98.
Leave of absence was granted to Messrs
Harris, of Newton ; Martin, of Calhoun ;
Bowden, of Campbell, and Buchanan.
On motion of Mr. Bryant the committee
took up the Report of the Committee on
Franchise.
The 3d section was taken up.
Mr. Parrott moved to amend by
striking out from the 9th and 10th lines
the words “ as an elector.”
Mr. Miller offered the following substi
tute for section 3.
The General Assembly may provide
from time to time lor the registration of all
electors; but the following classes of per
sons shall not be permitted to register, or
vote, or hold office: First—Those who
shall have been convicted of treason, em
bezzlement of public funds, malfeasance
in office, crimes punishable by law with
imprisonment in the penitentiary, or
bribery. Second-JThose who arc idiots
or insane.
Mr. Bryant offered the following
amendment :
From the first line strike out the words
“it shall he the duty of,” and also in said
lino after the word Assembly strike out
*• to” and insert “may.”
Ponding discussion on tbos • several
propositions to amend, the Convention, on
motion of Mr. Bryant, adjourned, Mr.
Whateley having the floor.
Ax Ordinance to provide the means of de
fraying the expenses of lliis Convention,
and the compensation of officers and
members.
Section 1- Be it ordained by the people of
Georgia, in Convention, assembled., That an
ordinance of this Convention, passed on the
20th day of December, 18G7, entitled “An
Ordinance to levy and collect a tax to pay
the delegates and officers connected with the
Convention, us well as ail other incidental
expenses,” except the second section thereof,
is hereby rescinded, and the following is or
dained in lieu thereof, to'wit:
That it shall be the duty of the Comp- ]
trailer General of the State of Georgia to |
levy and assess a tax of one-tenth of one per
cent, on all the taxable property of this j
State as returned upon the digests for the |
year 1867, for the purpose of defraying the i
expenses of this Convention, and the com
pensation of officers and members.
And it shall be the duty of the Tax Col
lectors in the several counties of this State
to collect the tax so assessed, and to pay
the same to the Comptroller General, on
or before the firet day of May, 1868. And
it shall be the duty of the several Tax Col
lectors to issue executions against all per
sons subject to taxation under this ordi
nance, where tax is unpaid after twenty
days notice, to pay it for the amount of lax
due by them, and fifty per centum thereon,
and all costs, and of sheriffs and constables
to levy and sell, under such executions,
and to return the proceeds to the Tax Col
lectors, as soon as the same can he done
under the provisions of existing laws.
Sec. 2. Be it further ordained , That
any scrip which may bo issued by the au
thority of this Convention for the purpose
aforesaid, shall be receivable by the Comp
troller General from the tax collector iu
payment of the tax aforesaid.
Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, That the
tax collectors shall receive the same per
cent, for collecting the tax aforesaid, as
they are now allowed by law for collecting
the State tax.
Sec. 4. Be it further ordained, That the
Comptroller General shall issue to the tax
collectors all necessary orders lor the collec
tion and payment of the tax aforesaid,
which orders shall he binding upon said
collectors.
Sec. 5. Be it further ordained, \ nat the i
moneys and scrip received by the Comp
troller General under this ordinance, he
paid by him into the Treasury of this State, !
to he disposed of as this Convention shall
hereafter direct.
Atlanta, Feb. 11.
The Convention met. Prayer by the
Chaplain.
The journal was read.
Mr. Martin, of Habersham, moved the
reconsideration of the action of the Conven
tion on the resolution to reduce the per
diem of members after the 20th inst. The
motion did not prevail.
On motion, the rules were suspended, and
Mr. Turner introduced the following:
Resolved, That the Secretary of this Con
vention be authorized to have the able and
eloquent speech of the Hon. Mr. Akerman,
delivered in the Hail of the Georgia Consti
tutional Convention, on the subject of negro
suffrage, published in the official organs of
this Convention, and ten copies be furnished
each member fur their constituents,
On motion of Mr. Trammel, the resolution
was amended by including the speech of
Hon. Mr. Waddell, on the same subject.
On motion of Mr. Conley, the whole sub
ject was laid on the table.
The Convention took up the special order,
the same being the consideration of tho
charges against A. A. Bradley, member of
the Convention.
I'he reports of the majority and minority
on the case were read
Mr. Whiteley ask; and leave to amend the
report of the majority by strikiug out that
portion which express id the conviction that
Mr. Bradley, on the fleor of the Convention,
was the identical Brad Ivy that had been sen
tenced to the Penitennnry in New York for
the crime of seductio®; as the Committee, on
further reflection, wercl not absolutely certain
that the two persons deferred to were identi
cal. The Chair decid «l that the report could
not he amended.
Mr. Akerman addieescd the Convention
in a few written reminks, which he said he
had committed to writing, to prevent mis
representation, in he maintained
that if the Committee reported that Mr.
Bradley was certainly the man referred to
in the testimony from New York, furnished
the Committee, and 'Mr. Bradley had do
nied the fact, it rendered the charge
against lum more serious, as he had denied
it; but as the Committee desired to alter
their report in this respect, he would move
that the matter be reentfimitted to them.
Mr. Turner read rti address in defense
of Mr. Bradley.
After considerable discussion, Mr. Aker
man amended his motion to recommit by
requiring the Committee to report on or
before Friday next.
Mr. Akerman’s motion was carried by
a ;ote of yeas 64, nays 52.
On motion of Mr. Trammel, Mr. Aker
man was added to the Committee on the
charge against A. A. Bradley.
The Convention then adjourned.
Atlanta, February 12, 1868.
The Convention meCjft 9J o’clock, pursu
ant to adjournment. President Parrott in
tho Chair
Prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal read and approved.
Mr. Bradley moved to reconsider the
action of the Convention on yesterday in re
cominitting the report of the Committee on
the cQe of A. A. BradUv.
Mr. Bradley took He floor, and, in the
course of his remarks, made offensive allu
sions to members of the Convention, grossly
insulting, for which lie vas called to order.
The exceptional words used by Mr. Brad
ley were ordered to be taken down, which
was done, and the Convention voted unani
mously that the words so taken down were
the gpes u- Mr. Bradley.
•Mr. Bi.oimß moved that Mr. Bradley be
expelled iustanier.
Mr. Cutting then offered the following :
Resolved, That Aaron A. Bradley, (or
gross insults offered to the Convention and
members thereof, be forthwith expelled from
his seat in this body.
Mr. Bradley was allowed to be heard in
his own defence:
Mr. President, and Gtstllcmen of the Con
vention : ■
I rose this morning for the purpose of
moving n reconsideration of the action of
the Convention on yesterday in recommit
ting my case to the Committee. In the
allusion to the gentleman from Gordon,
and the President of tho Convention, and
in the remarks which I was making on that,
motion, I was entirely misunderstood. The
best possible feeling of my heart exists to
wards both these gentlemen, hut I had
supposed, when I made reference to the
letter that I had received, both these gen
tlemen would sav to me: Hand me tho
letter; and then I intended to tell them
where it was It is in the hands of Mr.
Farrow. I have as I said, the very highest
regatd for tho President aud the member
from Gordon; and I intended tho other
day showing them this letter in order that
they might see if they could get any thing
out of it, as being a letter referring to
something of which Mie?ft , 'd some knowl
edge. That is all, and Laiave been unfor
tunate in being misunderstood.
I went to Col. Farrow to obtain this letter
this morning, telling him that I intended to
show it to the gentleman from Gordon and |
the President, as they were referred to in it, j
as having knowledge of curtain parties who j
were involved in a like charge as that
brought against myself. J was unfortunate,
1 suppose, in the use of language. The
letter referred to had been seen by Mr.
Seeley. Mr. Farrow asked me for the
letter, and I let him have it, and he is on
this floor, and if allowed can explain the
whole transaction. 1 swear before A1
mighty God I did not intend the slightest
in-tilt to either the President ol the Conven
tion or tho member from Gordon; and I
must have used unfortunate language to
have been so understood. It was a slip—a
misuse of language—and, therefore, I ought
not to be held accountable for all the lan
guage means. I desired, this morning,
when I rose, to offer to the gentleman from
Gordon the assurance of my warmest friend
ship; hut I have made a great mistake in
my use of language. I certainly did not
intend to use the words that are there j
attributed to me. The gentleman, on yes- i
terday, spoke very warmly against me, j
dwelling upon the enormity of the crime [
which was charged against me, and I
referred to the letter which I had received J
two weeks ago, to show that even it 1 were
guilty, as lias been charged, I was not the
only guilty one on the floor, as, according to
that letter, the President and the .gentleman
from Gordon could testify.
This I would say under oath : the charge
against me of seduction is false; and fur
thermore, seduction in: 1850, both in the
State of New York andiin Georgia, was not
a feiony, but a misdemeanor. But, if 1 have
offended the gentlemen, I would ask haw
many times ought we to forgive ? Shall I
say seven times? Christ said to his disciples
that they ought to forgive seventy times
seven; and I ask the gentlemen to do to me
as they would have me do to them were they
in my place and 1 in theirs. When 1 re
ferred to the letter and made use of the lan
guage imputed to me, it ought to b; remem- j
tiered that I was not spfaking as a delegate
on the floor, but by the permission of the i
Convention, as a lawyer in my own defense.
When I offered my defense to charges
brought against me by the Committee, I then
prayed that 1 might he tried according to
the rules governing evidence, and the laws of
the State and of the United States governing
impeachments. I hold an office, and the
proceeding against me must be in the nature
of an impeachment.
Now, if you were trying a case of im
pcacbment, and the party accused should
make a mistake and use offensive language,
would that he any reason why you should
refuse to hear him further ? Would that be i
the case if the President of the United
States should he impeached ? And, again,
I have been charged with often violating
the rules of order ; hut, I ask, if the Presi
dent of this body allows me to proceed, am
I not innocent of any intention to violate
the rules of order? Do not Mr. Brooks,
Mr. Wood, and other members of Con
gress, sometimes say something in debate
which is pronounced’out of order by the
Speaker ; and when the gentlemen have
ceased to be out of order, they are allowed
to proceed, and notlimg more is said about
it. Now, gentlemen, remember that to
“err is human.” Theie is not a single
little child that docs not sometimes do
things which are wrong. 1 ask you, then,
to do toward me as you would wish me to
do to you, were you tu my situation. Now,
Mr. President, in conclusion I would say
that I have been very unfortunate in my
use of language. Il'l violated tho rules of
the house, I should have been called to
order, and I would hsvo ntado all the repa
ration in my power. With these few re
marks, I throw myselif on your mercy.
The members, white and colored, very
generally expressed themselves forcibly in
favor of the immediate expulsion of Aaron
A. Bradley. Even those who hai before
defended him, denounced his conduct on
to-day.
The vote was then taken on Mr. Cot
ting's resolution, and it was carried —yeas,
129 ; nays, 0.
Mr. Bullock offered the following, which
was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That in the outrageous insinua
tions and charges made by the delegate
from Chatham, A. A. Bradley, who has
been expelled from this Convention, we
recognize only the senseless raouthingg of
an irresponsible person, and it is the unani
mous opinion of this body that nothing in
the falsehood which the delegate has uttered,
can be regarded as detracting from the high
social position and standing of the gentle
men and their families who were thus
assailed.
Tho Chair (Mr. Conley occupying the
position) ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to
bring Mr. Bradley before the bar of the
Convention.
On motion of Mr. BRrANT,thc Convention
took up the report of the Committee on
Franchise, section 3d being first in order,
and the amendment of Mr. Miller to the sec
tion being before the Convention.
Mr. Blount offered the following substi
tute for the section, which was read for the j
information of the Convention.
The following classes of persons shall not I
be permitted to vote or hold office : Ist. I
Those who shall have been convicted of i
treason, embezzlement of public funds, mal- 1
feasance in office, crimes punishable by j
law with imprisonment in the penitentiary,
bribery, and those who are idiots or insane.
Mr. Blount addressed the Convention, ad
vocating the principles set forth in his sub
stitute.
Mr. Miller’s substitute was discussed at 1
length, and is as follows :
Substitute for Section 3. The General
Assembly may provide from time to time for
the registration of all electors, but the j
following classes of persons shall not be |
permitted to register, vote, or hold office : !
Ist. Those who shall have been convicted of j
treason, embezzlement of public funds, mal- !
feasance in office, crimes punishable by law I
with imprisonment in the penitentiary, or
bribery. 2d. Those who are idiots or insane. I
On the adoption of Mr. Miller’s substi
tute the yeas were 114, nays 16.
The Sergeant-at-Arms reported that the
city had been searched, and Mr. Bradley
could not bo found.
On motion of Mr. Akerman, the Commit
tee on tho Bradley caso were discharged
from further consideration of the subject.
Mr. Bullock submitted the following
letter:
Hall op Constitutional Convention, )
Atlanta, Ga.. Feb. 12, 1868. J
L. N. Trammell:
Dear Sir: I herewith enclose you the
letter alluded to this morning by the expel
led member, Bradley. It lias no date as to
time or place, nor has it any signature. It
makes no allusion to you, and only alludes
to the President of the Convention as a per
son from whom he (Bradley) could perhaps
gain information concerning the libel there
in contained. The said Bradly was ex
hibiting it around, and upon exhibiting it
to me, 1 informed him that I once lived in
the county with the President, and that it
in no way made any insinuation as to him.
Believing I recognized the hand-write,
and believing I knew who the writer was
maliciously endeavoring to injure, I imme
diately procured possession of the doou
meut, with a view to its suppression-
About two weeks after I thus suppressed
the mischievous letter, the said Bradley
.called on me for it—last Monday-hut I
refused t« let him have it. tie I knew !>'■
wished to produce mischief. From the
time it came into my possession uutil after
tho allusion to it this morning, it remained
in my law office, and no one saw it. You
are at liberty to make such use of this letter,
and the enclosed, as you may thinkjproper.
Very respectfully,
Henry P. Farrow.
The following is the lettei enclosed in
Mr. Farrow’s communication :
A I'. Bradley, Esy-:
Sir—Some men are trying to expel you
from the Convention. They have no right to
do it. If you are guilty as charged, you are
better than others who have not been con
victed. There is one delegate in the Con
vention who, it is reported, seduced his
wife's sister, and got a child by her, and if
they try to expel you, bring this up—call
upon them to expel all who have seduced
negro and white women, too. Ask your
President, J. R. Parrott, if he does not know
a delegate who has seduced his sister-in-law.
I suggest that you introduce a resolution to
appoint a committee to inquire into a report
of all delegates who have been guilty of
seduction of either black or white women. 1
refer you to A. M. Franklin, \V. H. Pritchett,
J. A. Howard and J. J. Jones, all of Car
lersville, Ga., as witnesses.
On motion of Mr. Edwards, the above
correspondence was ordered to be placed on
the minutes of the Convention.
Mr. Cotting offered the following:
Wjiereas. some unauthorized person
has undertaken to institute proceedings in
the Supreme Court, of the United States,
in the name of the State of Georgia vs.
Getter Is Grant, Meade, and others, there
fore.
Reso’ved by this Convention, represent
ing the people and sovereignty of the State
of Georgia, that no person has been cm
powered by any statute of this State, or by
any ordinance of this Convention, to com
mence or prosecute any such suit, and that
tho people of Georgia, as plaintiffs, will
not litigate said suit, and demand that it
be dismissed from said Court.
Resolved. That as it may he necessary
that an Attorney should be employed to
represent the State of Georgia in said suit,
the Hou. B. 11. Bigltatn, of Troup county,
be authorized and empowered to represent
the State in tho above mentioned case be
fore the Supreme Court, and proeure the
dismissal of the same.
Pending the consideration of the ques
tion to suspend the rules, tho hour of two
o’clock arriving, the Chair (Mr. Conley
occupying the position) declared the Con
vention adjourned.
The Professor of Astronomy in a Chinese
college teaches that the stars are living
creatures.
The first edition of Queen Victoria’s
Diary, consisting of one hundred and fifty
thousand copies, is nearly sold, and will
realize a profit of jfi 10,000 at least.
Mosaffer Eddin Mirza, the heir to the
throne of Persia, has been getting married.
The Prince and his wife arc each sixteen
years of age.
On Saturday 80,000 cigars and twenty'
one cases of tobacco were seized by a United
States marshal in New York, on the ground
| that the owners had paid neither license fee
I nor tax. %
Lord Brougham, by the latest foreign
intelligence, is represented to have lost the
power of speech ; lie can only feebly articu
late, and has been deprived of the use of his
j limbs.
Arrangements are making for a public
meeting in New Yotk city on behalf of
the Southern Educational Fund. Henry
Ward Beecher has subscribed a large
amount of the benefit of Washington
i College, Virginia, of which General R. E.
i Leo is President.
STclegrapljic Notts.
The Conventions.
GEORGIA.
Atlanta, Feb. 13. —The Tenth Section
in the report of the Franchise Committee
which allows all voters to be eligible to
office, was under debate. Trammell made
a strong speach against it when the Con
vention adjourned without taking action,
A caucus of thirty-nine members was
held this evening, at which it was agreed
not to support ratification before the people
should the Tenth Section pass.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Raleigh, February 13.—The Convention
to-day adopted a part of the article on the
Legislature apportioning Senatorial Districts.
It divides the State into fifty Districts, ap
portioning Senators exclusively on popula
tion, aud does away with the property
qualification.
It also passed an ordinance allowing every
man, without regard to qualification, who
cau prove his moral character and pay the
tax, free to practice law.
The Convention, haviug passed an ordi
nance to levy a tax upon the people or
property of the State to pay the mileage and
per diem of members, and to meet the ex
penses of the Convention.
General Cauby hns issued an order re
quiring the public Treasurer of the State to
pay the same, upon the order of the Presi
dent of the Convention. It is understood
that Mr. Battle, tho public Treasurer, will
obey the order.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
j Charleston, February 13. —The Conven
tion has had a heavy day’s work.
Twenty sections of the new Constitution
have been adopted, making altogether fifty
three.
The Convention requested General Canby
to abolish District Courts.
It adopted a provision recognizing com
mon, public, and political equality, without
distinction of race or color.
FLORIDA.
Tallahassee, February 13. —The Con
vention to-day went into secret session.
Committee of the Whole passed a reso
lution summoning the colored delegate,
charged with delivering an incendiary pub
lic speech on the Bth, to appear at the bar
of the Convention on the 14tli, and show
cause why he should not be expelled.
Articles of Constitution were taken up,
and but little progress was made. Uni
versal. suffrage will probably be allowed ;
no proscription for any but ante-war
cattscs.
The Billings’ party are in tribulation.
At a meeting in tlio African church, last
night, it is reported that violent speeches
were made, recommending death as a suita
ble punishment for members of the Con.
vention who arc opposed to the minority.
MISSISSIPPI.
Jackson, February 13 — The Convention
adopted the report of the Committee n Leg
islaturc—providing lor the Legislature to
ooful tit <»f « Tluwftn tti (it>ui«sL*ntaiire3 aud
Senate, the members of the former to be
elected lor two years, and the latter four
years.
Advices from the member sent to Vicks,
burg announced that General Gillen: has
the matter of tax under advisement.
A motion was made to telegraph Grant
that Gillem relitscd to collect the tax, and
request that he be ordered to do so. Ad
journed without action.
LOUISIANA.
New Orleans, February 13.—1n Con
vention to-day, Committee on the State
made an effort to take up and reconsider a
resolution voting thirty per cent, addi
tional pay. Judge Cooly spoke forcibly in
favor of reconsideration, representing what
the civil effect such legislation will have
upon the masses when voting for ratifica
tion, and demonstrating that there is no
necessity for this additional pay.
Mr. Regan, who offered the additional pay
resolution, spoke in defense of it in a very
important speech, in which he used many
personalities, and was called a liar by Whif
fles. The reconsideration was lost by a vote
of 21 to 40.
A resolution was adopted providing for a
Bo ird of Registry, to consist of seven mem
hers ol the Convention, whose duties are to
begin immediately after adjournment,
Washington Items.
Washington, Feb. 13. — Ineffectual ap
plications have been made at army head
quarters for G rant and Hancock’s corre
spondence.
Secretary Seward responds to the Ohio
Governor’s demand for the return of papovs
ratifying the Constitutional Amendment,
that there is no law permitting the with
drawal of any documents from the de
partment at the request of an individual or
State ; therefore, the order ratifying and
the one rescinding, will both remain on
file.
In the Reconstruction Committee to-day,
j Stevens presented a resolution impeaching
the President for high crimes and misde
meanors. It was tabled by the following
vote: Yens—Bingham, Paine, Bearmau,
Huldurd, Republicans ; Brooks, Beck, Dem
ocrats. Nays—Stevens, Boutwell, Farns
worth. This is considered as a finality to
' impeachment.
■ The Tennesseeans are hopeless of relieving
i their reads Iroui the operation of the legi.la-
J tion proposed by the Southern Railroad
| Committee.
The following was received to-day :
Montgomery, February 13.
Hon. 1). 1\ Patterson, Senator J'rutn Tennessee :
Ratification has been defeated by over fifteen
' thousand majority, What is tho prospect of
i Sherman’s bill respecting Alabama?
I>, L, Dalton,
Governor’s Secretary
The discontinuance of tho Freedmen's
Bureau in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mary
j land, occurs on Saturday. The contin
uance of the order is improbable.
General Meade telegraphs that it is not
j sure whether Alabama has accepted ojr.
I rejected the Constitution. Ho is investi
| gating whether the polls were not opened
iin certain counties. It' not he will ovdef
' a special election,
The annual Deficiency bill has become a
law, by a lapse of ten days.
The President has nominated Moses S.
Foote, Collectpr of Internal Revenue for
the first district of Alabama; also, for
distinguished ''courage, skill and ability
displayed during the war of the rebellion,
General Wm. T. Sherman is recom
mended to be General of the armies of the
Uunited States, by brevet.
The President has called on Howard for
a list of Bureau functionaries, with the law
under which they are employed.
A reliable letter from Beirut, Syria, re
ports General Breckinridge there, January
Ist, contemplating a journey through Syria
Being asked about returning to America,
General Breckinridge said he had no wish
to become a martyr, and should not return
until lie could do so with safety, but that
no other country should become his home.
The same letter states that Jacob Thomp
son, and several other leading parties in
the South during the late war, arc wander
ing about Turkey.
The proposed appropriation bill reduces
the Federal representatives to Liberia and
Hayti from ministers resident to commer
cial agents and consuls general.
Fire.
Wilmington, Feb. 13.—At 9.45 p. m., a
disastrous lire was raging in Market street.
It originated in a store occupied by Chas.
Guthman. It is feared that the entire
block, bounded by Market, Front Dock and
Second street, will bo destroyed.
[second dispatch.]
Wilmington, Feb. 13, 10.30 p. m.—The
fire is raging with unabated fury, and
the following establishments are burned :
Chas. Guthman, clothing; R. S. Waldron,
drygoods; Dr. T. B. Carr, dentist; Drs.
Arrington & Kvo ett, dentists; H. H. Mun.
son, clothing ; A. Wronski, dry goods; C.
M. Vanorsdcll, photographer; Wilmington
Pod newspaper; Allen Evans, grocer.
One section of tho block on fire is entirely
beyond control. Thought to be the work
of an incendiary. Impossible to form an
estimate of tho loss. Telegraph operators
are getting ready to vacate their office.
Congressional.
Washington, February 13.— Senate.—
The bill declaring the bridges on the Mo
bile and Chattanooga Railroad a post road
—passed.
she case of Thomas, Maryland Senator,
was resumed and discussed to adjourn
ment.
House. —The ease of John Young Brown
was resumed. Brown plead his own case.
He was reject'd —l9B to 43. Adjournod.
From Mexico.
Galveston, February 13.—An arrival
to-day from Brownsville brings Mexican
news to the Bth.
A revolution is forming in Puebla in tlic
interest of Ortega.
Daylight robberies ancl kidnapping for
ransom arc frequent.
General Diaz lias resigned.
A telegraph line between San Luis and
Matamoras is begun.
Corona was sent from Guadalajara, on
the 22d, to put down a revolution in Sina
loa, Domingo.
Rubi Bendecard is Governor ol' Mexico
instead of Escobedo.
From Virginia,
Richmond; February 13. -General Scho
field litis addressed a circular to tobacco
inspectors, inquiring if they have taken
the oath prescribed by Congress for office
holders. None of them, it is believed,
have yet taken that oath.
New3 by Cable.
Paris, leb. 13.—The La France reasserts
that Bismarck asked permission to resign.
Abyssinian advices represent Napier
pushing hostile forces and approaching with
skirmishers.
Elections.
Binghami'ton, N. Y-, Feb. 13 Demo
cratic Mayor and majority of City Council
tvere elected for the first time in ten years.
Markets—By Telegraph.
Financial.
HAVANA, Feb. 13.—Storling lOiall.
NEW YORK, February 13, Noon. — Sterling
9|a»i. Gold 41§.
Nl’.tV YORK, February 13, Evening. — Gold
irregular at 140 J, Sterling dull at 9J. Gov
ern meuts closed dull.
Produce and Other Uarketi.
lIA\ ANA, Feb. 13. —Sugar dull and declining,
offers low, sellers refuse.
LIVERPOOL, February 13, Evening. —Cotton
closed easier. Sales, 10,11(10 bales: Uplands, Ssd
on spot and Bjd to arrive ; Orleans, Ss.
NEW YORK, February 13, Noon. —Cotton
quiet, 20Ja21e.
Flour a shade firmer. Wheat firm. Corn
steady. Rye quiet. Pork firm, 523.50. Lard
I laldjc. Naval Stores unchanged.
\'F\V YORK, February 13. Evening. —Cotton
quiet and irregular. Sales 3,1)00 bales at 204a21,
chiefly 3«j. ’
Flour, State, 48.40a10.80. Wheat firm. Corn
unchanged. Pork heavy. Rice firm—Carolina
Idiaiu. Other groceries quiet. Turpeutinc
(ioafifi. Rosin $3,12Jafi.50. Tallow steady.—
Freights quiet—Cotton, sail, ga7-13; grain, sail,
Mi.
BALTIMORE, February 13.—Cotton very
quiot at 201.
Flour dull and unchanged. Wheat steady
good to choice Southern 70aS5. Corn firm, but
scarce—prime white and yellow 81.2Ua1.22. Oats
active at 82, ttye wanted at Goa7o. Provisions
active. Bacon shoulders lljallJ; bulk shoul
ders 9ja9j.
CINCINNATI, February 13.—Mess Pork
$23- i 1»‘; clear s'ides 131. Lard held
ST. LOl IS, February 13—Flour quiet.
Corn slow at SlaSGc. Provisions quiet. .Mess
pork, 322. Shoulders, 9ia9j; clear Sides, 12ea
13c. Lard dull at 13-Vc.
_ LOt; IS\ ! L [.11., February 13.—Superfine Flour
.SSaS.al). Corn, 76aSOe. Lard, 14. Mc33 Pork
32-0 Shoulders, 10A ; clear sides, 131 packed.
SAYAN Neil, February 13.—Cotton opened
quiet, but steady, with small inquiry. It closed
with better feeling. Middlings 194a20c. Sales
1,70a bales ; receipts 3,288 bales—week, 21,775
bales; exports foreign 15,087 ball# ; coastwise
0,577 bales ; stock 05,512 bates; uplands 2,365
bales ; sea island sales 5.724 bales.
CHARLES I.ON, February lil —Cotton quiet
but unchanged; sales 20,0 hales Middlings c.t 20;
sales of the week, 8,250 bales; receipt; of the
week, 8,650 bales ; exports. 5,835, of which 715
I goes to thq Continent; s,tSij coastwise; stock,
24 9(2,
AlO.bl *.il, Feb. IS.;—Cotton, market unsettled
and dull rtalos 700 bates. .Middling nominal,
at 19!a2fie. Receipts 1,776 bales. Exports 1,034
bales.
NKW ORLEANS, Feb. 13.—Cotton irregular,
Middlings 201.
Sugar sad .Molasses receipts vei
and unchanged, dttKm