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A STUICT COSSTHCCTIOJ Ot' TI1K OOftSTtl'UTIOM—AX IIOMKST AXO HOOXOHIOAU AOH1XISTIIATIOX OF THIS OOVKRNMBKT. - • ‘ ■' Ragland & Wynne, Proprietors. COLUMBUS, GA„ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1872. Volume XLIV.-No. 53 The Weekly Enquirer. JOHN H. MAIIT1N Editor. OOLtJMBUsl THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 1872. —Term* <>f subscription— Oil* Y.*; t2.Sn TIlIltlTLS TO 01 K LATE SENIOR. Our Christmas is palled with sadness for the absence of one who for so many years had been the honored chief of our office—whose life of probity, usefulness aud love on earth lias so lately closed, and whose place arnoug us is now vacant forever ! Wo are constantly reminded of our groat loss by the uewspupcr notices of the s-td event, and the condoling expressions of frieuds who well knew the Worth aud virtues of the deceased. From the number of tributes that have reached ns, ae select two from old friends whose acquaintanceship with Mr. Ragland dated back even beyond ours, and whose high estimate of his character and worth wits based upon many years of social intimacy. 'i he first is from u letter, dated the 20th inst., from an old aud esteemed citi/en of Opelika, Al.ibuuia. lie writes us: “The Cvl’ifi./iu* Eiu/'iirer of yesterday came to band clad in hubiiiments of mourniug for tho^eath of the Senior Proprietor of that valuable paper. I join in sympathy with bis numerous friends, iu mourning for the lo-s of the useful uiid woithy citizen who has passed away. It will bo a difficult matter to tiud another to till his plueo. llis virtues and examples are well worthy of imitation. Ill* loving works will mid bavo followed him to the grave, but they can not he buried w ith him. They ure public property, that will eudure, thrive and grow loi another age and generation. Peace to his spirit! It resin in lltuvou, lio doubt. Pol. Ragland was the very highest typo of an honest inau—said to be the fairest work of Deity's baud." The second tribute is from tho pen of Col. CM>y, of the Macon Teleyrayh. ^1 hough published in the issue of that paper of the 20th irist., it only reached Columbus yesterday): Dkatii oi tuk Nestor op the Georgia Press. Elsewhere will lie found a notice of the death, last ’I uesduy night, at his homo near Columbus, of Thomas Kuglund, Esq., for thirty jears identified with tho publication of the H:.yninr, of that city, and the oldest newspaper man, not ouly iu point of years, but also in length of connection with the profession, in the State. Tho sad event is very appropriately roferred to in the article in question, and wo esteem it our high privilege to t ndoi> iu tho heartiest manner, all that is the sot down to the credit of the good old gentleman. He lmd lived a long and active life amid scenes and seasons of fierce political excitement, but preserved through ttieui all the respect and esteem of ull who knew tho many virtues and graces ns gentleman and Christian that brightly illustrated his life and charact Full of years, and crowned with tho golden opinions that only stainless purity of pe sonal aud public character ever wins for a man from his fellows, he bus pai away. lie war, one of tho lust connecting links between the past and present of Georgia journalism, and had outlived most, if not all, his cotomporaries of tho good old days now gono, alas ! forever. Wo pen theso few lines as a feeble tribute to his memory, aud with a sigh of sincere regret that such moil as he must, in tho ordor of nature, ho known uo uioro among the living. lion. A. II. {Stephens delivered his expected speeeh in Atlanta on Friday evening, uiid the papers of that city pub lish full reports of it. It was mainly do voted to a defence, or a laudation, of hif lato political courao. Protesting that lu was not a Bourbon, and was not engaged in trying t<» “dig up yesterday," ho rpent he most of in-* hour in delving into the past aud vuuuting his own superior polit ical sagacity. In this connection we may mention that wo seo in the papers devoted to Mr. Ste phens (piite a number of allusions to his improving lieulth and increasing strength, and the concluding sentences of his At lanta speech indicate that he himself joices in the improvement mentioned bis frieuds. While wo are glad to leorn vat Mr. S: pheiis is recovering health and length, we in lint regard this seemingly peurted publication of the fact at this ft °t®Jur time as significant of Mr. Kte- : tho seat iu the Sen- States shortly to bo nsimV a Legislative election, ceivo ft — of evui^nct from the report of the offi- tin) Ccntrul Rail Road, Kuiumittcd i the stockholders last week, the follow ing stateuieut of earnings and expendi tures for the year lately closed. After tho payment of interest, rents and divi dends, tho halunco unappropiiuted is £252,038.05. Statement : Central Railroad earnings. .£1,656,153 70 Cuutral Railroad iiauk earn- . >DfiS Macon & Western Railroad earning**, including r J hoin- astou Branch otal earnings of the three. Ronds and Bank £ From which wo deduct: Central Railroad expenses £966,816 09 Central Railroad Bank expen ses 21,380 of) South western R. Road expeu* Bes 698,480 32 Macon A West ern Railroad expun*- iu. eluding Thom- Baton Brunch. 1 .‘.I net* l ur time us sig JMe.pta.tta, for I min® 1 * 10 I nited ht ->2,137,831 31 Leaving net.. ..£1,160,031 05 special dispatch from Atlanta, 19th, .Griffin Nt irn says that it seems to Radical party, well un- dt the State, to run in- naidates in all counties a probability of defeat, disciplined. Its mem- r themselves, and will cally support any eir leaders way re ALABAMA POLITICS. It will bo seen by reference to a notice of tho proceedings, that both brauebes of the Legislature of Alabama Lave ad journed until tho 13th of Jnnuaiy, with out fully consummating tho “compro mise" proposed by the Attorney General of the United States. At least, the Lieu- tonnnt Governor, presiding over tho Senate, rules that that body is not yet porwaueutly organized, and refuses to eutertaiu nu appeal from this decision ; and tho House, by resolution, sustains the ruling of tho Licutcuant Governor. But the majority of tho Seuato still con tend that it has effected a permanent or ganization iu conformity to tho spirit and letter of tho Attorney General's plan. This is nu anomalous state of affairs, and tho causes that have brought it nbout wilt not readily be understood by those who have not critically Bcanuod tho daily riports of proceedings. Evidently tLo main cause is that the {senate will not, by the carrying out of the “compromise" in good faith, have n Radical majority.— There are hi.umlaut indications that tho Radical Governor and House of Repre sentatives are striving to avoid the recog nition of it us the legal and regular Sen ate of Alabama until they are assured that it will contain such a majority ns they de sire. Not only tho curious couditiou of tilings above stated may tie cited iu proof of this presumption, but the fact that tho Radical members have all the time con tinued their organization nt the court house, meeting there iu secret session and arranging there their plans of pro ceeding tor the following day, niul the additional tart that the Radical Governor b is communicated with them in this ir regular and lawless organization, mean while withholding his comniunic. » .*• from tho Si unto at theca) itol, go to show that the revolutionary orgm ,na is not yet given up, aud that i, . pndiatiou of the Democratic Senate is jut contemplated ns a probable event. Another and secondary cause for tho ndj* nriiniont may be the low atato of funds in tho Treasury, and tho tardiness of tho tux collectors in paying over the money iu their hands. This tardiness may be ascribed to polit.enl complications, and continue until those complications am fully adjusted. But of this, perhaps, And now an interesting question is, how do the Radicals piopose to strength en their position during tho recess? What new outrage or usurpation do they con template for the “reconstruction" of tho Senate so as to suit t.ieui? l)o they ex pect Congress to legislate the Senate of Alabama into a Radical body ? or do they look to tho Attorney General to modify or explain his “compromise" to meet the caso presented ? or dot hoy hope to have onlers from the Brnsilont of tho United States, with Federal troops to execute them, by which the will of tho pooplo of Alabama may bo oh arbitrarily overruled as was that of the people of Louisiana?— The three weeks’ recess will he a busy one with the Radical plotters, and we may as well prepare ourselves to look out for Home enormity adequate to tho emer gency of the caso alien tho Legislature re-aspenibles. ( ALH OUM V.S (Oil ON IMKUKST. Accounts from California estimate tho crop of that State, for this year, at 500,- 600 pounds, which Would mako 1100 halos at 460 pounds each. Wo believe that be fore this year only ouo farmer planted cotton in California, and that its culture this year has been confined to two coun ties. The increase of production bus therefore boon rapid, and tho reports of uniform success for several years seem to establish beyond reuMinahle doubt tho adaptability of tho southern portion of tho State to the growth of this textile. That it is so regarded in California ap pears from a dispatch af tho 20th iustunt from Ban Francisco, reporting u move ment by capitalists to establish a cotton factory iu that city, by converting tho Pacific Wool Mills into such an establish ment. By taking immediate steps to mako her manufacture of cotton keep pace with its production, California will pursuo a course which, had it long ago been adopted by tho South, would havo ad led immensely to the woalth and im portance of this section. Tho great dis tance from California to the cotton mills of other States and countries may neces sitate) the inauufncli.ro of tho cotton at homo ; hut it will prove for her a happy and profitable necessity, as a different condition of things here has proved most unfortunate for oar Southern States. Blit we have nutur.il advantages even sur pass eg those of California for the mak ing of the most money out of cotton by both producing ami manufacturing it at home, for water power to run tho mills and we pn sumo fuel for Hleam factories) uni >t be very scarce in California, especi ally in the Southern portion, where the cotton is grown. I*, seem that California will lieucofoiwurd produce annually a liderablu amount of cotton. Let us hope thut her proposed policy of combin ing the growth and the manufacture i staple will learn our Southern plaut- a useful leKKon, since mm planters (us well as alt other classo-, will only Jouru from practical demonstration. 1 ho Rudicals ol Stewart county, a few days mucc, nominated a white man as their candidate for Sheriff, and a negro for Coroner. But the negro (known as “Uncle George Ball") has declined the nomination, saving that his mission is to preach. Sensible, but uncommon ! New Postmaster.—From a dispatch from Washington uo learn that Walter Johnson, Esq., has heon appointed Postmaster in this city. Mr. Johnson eu in thuoffi.u with Cui. Jlogau, the present popular incumbent, for sev eral years past, and is both competent and qualified to make an efficient officer. Goorgo W. Lamar, Esq., formerly a prominent citizen of Augusta—where he was well known as a banker, and as once a Representative of Richmond county in tho Legislature—died in Savannah on Saturday morning. He was seventy years of ago. Tho Radicals of Fulton have nominated a full ticket for couuty officers; R. T. Simons for Coroner. A LA BA 31A LEG LSI. ATI UK. Saturday, 21 nt.—Tho Senate adopted a resolution to adjourn until tho 13th of January, to which the llouso added a proviso (noticed iu llouso proceedings.) The Senate did not concur iu tho llouso proviso, but the Lieutenant Governor de clared tho Senate adjourned until the 13th January, nevertheless. Iu the House, while tho Journal was being road, a motion was made to correct it so as to show that Caudee, white, in stead of Whitaker, black, was elected doorkeeper on Friday. This motion was resisted, and defeated nt tho time, but a resolution to appoint a committee to iu quire into the fuels was adopted ; and this committee subsequently reported that tho vote, as first cast, standing for Whitaker 48, for Candee 4 7, Mr. Musterson, before tho vote was announced, asked to have his vote changed from Whitaker to Can dee, which would have reversed tho result that this change was not made ns it ought to have been ; and that consequently Can dee was rightfully elected, lu this report the House concurred. Tho House passed the Senate resolu tion to adjourn until tho 13th January, with the following proviso : Provided that a coucurrouco in tho res olution to take a recess until tho 13th of Jumuiry is not, and shall uot bo construed as an mlmitsiou in any seusp or dogreo by this body, that tho Seuato is au organized body under tho laws of Alabama, or that thero is n consummate permanent orgu iz.ition of tho General Assembly uud tho plau proposed, and now in process being curried into effect, under tho plan of compromise of tho Attorney General of tho l nit* d States. ’Ill nt tli I UAL BA 1 LUO AD. is generally • needed l< 'st ably mauagi-tl railroad nth Atlantic slope, and one o pajii.g imsii'ntmu m tho Htato nation it bus won by a lonj l brilliant iinaucioimg. Fum iii ll of the design bit-seeing, pi stood iiij;11 iu controlled b\ nt Director-, community a had confidci , the exempti< present oaid of oad i But it is not i had th« acting \ n" ns l'ri r purpose singula > tho management of the road or its able 1 dent, unless the single feature to which propose to call utteulion involves pin amt is inseparable from it. The Anuud Report, just published, parts of which wo present on our first page, will show the actual earnings of tho road and its present condition. This needs no comment. The publication of the report has, how ever, leuiiuded us of u marked feature that has been lying dormant in our mind for some time. The Central is (tie only Southern road which innv bo cxpocted to become a worthy rival of tho l’euiisylvn uiu Central in the South Atlantic slope, It is known to the majority of intelligent people, not to speak ot railroad mon, that Torn Scott has been trying to secure pos session ot a Grand Trunk line Iroiu New Vork to New Orleans, east of the Alio- ghaiiius, and that he has almost succeed ed. Ho controls for instance the old Camden and Amboy, from New York to Philadelphia; he controls the link be tween Baltimore and Philadelphia ; he ii building a load from Baltimore to Wash ington ; ho has Imdged the Potomac, am has run a line of steel rails on the edge oi that river; he controls directly or indi rectly the Danville route from Rn hmond and thence lurgur or smaller sections tt the Gulf. A recent unannounced blow at the Blue Mountain route, between New Orleans uml tho North, doiuonstrutes lh< reach of his arm and shows his intent to control a through lim Tho President of the Central, with his usual sagacity, has undoubtedly foreseen the intentions of tho great Railroad King and taken early steps to chooknmto him. iu the play in which they are now engaged we think the Central has shown superb skill, and a glance at tho board provi them to be uhoud. Wo might say that they have won tho game; for what Tom Scott ia trying to accomplish they are already doing— t. <•., transporting freight from ‘ Now Orleans, via Columbus, to Now York. Anyone going down to the Control yard will seo through freight standing there any bright day. Having control of tho Steamship Lino this freight is taken down to the wharf and transported directly to tho steamer, avoiding successive rehand- lings and drayagu at this port. It is a well ascertained law (hut it costs the same to transport ouo ton twenty miles by wagon, or seven hundred odd miles by water. Tho deduction, therefore, is— and it is a strong argument in favor of the Atlantic it Great Western Canal—that a ton of merchandise brought by the Cen tral or any other road to this point, is within about twenty-two miles of New York, tho great commercial centre of the country. Our argument may ho prematuro in this, thut direct control of linos out of the State has not yet been obtained, but co operation and coalition will effuotthe same general result until more decided steps can bo taken. At any rate, wo have but little doubt thut the receUt purchase iff six steamers was a step in this direction, and that this grund system is wot sug gested to tho minds of the Directors now tor the first time. Tho Pennsylvania having gobbled up all the pieces of road built by Southern enterprise, we look now to this Southern highway to oheok the urbitrnry measures of the Northern Railway Coed 'nations. [ Si va a a ah lit jtualien /t, Hint. Tin* French Spoliation C'lalniH. Washington, December 19. “ Von tho I Fieiicu spoliation bill cuum up to-day an ! b ..testing discussion sprung up on tho question whether tho hdl . hould bo so amended as to exclude payments to insu rance companies, or their assigns, who had received over risks. Senator Morton offered an amendment to this effect, uud supported it iu some very forcible re marks, urging that tho great body of these spoliation claims were held by tho insurance companies, and that theso companies had done a good business and been paid for their losses by the war risks. Judge Thurman and other jurists espoused tho opposite view. Tho fuel that tho same issue will be involved in the distribution of tho Goncva award gave especial interest to this debate, in which the Senatorial lawyers chopped lo gic with their usuul zest for mi hour or more. Tho ruising of this side issue wus an unlucky circumstance for the claim ants for French spoliation, ond appeared to put the bill in uioro joopurdy than it has yet been in. Ti.o indications of to day were that the vote on the pio-sage of the bill will bo close, but thut it will most likely pass tbo Seuato. The expression is that it cannot pass the Ilouae of Repre sentatives. —LouUville Courier. Westwabd Still.—We are told that about fifty persons from different adjoin ing counties are to congregate in this city to-day for the purpose of taking tho Montgomery train with Texas as the ob jective point. Thero seems to be a gen eral grouud Rwell ia favor of this State, and innumerable numbers have gono and will go in time for spring operations. Tho necessity for this exodus, whether apparent or real, is deplorable. [Eujaula Times, 21 st. , lNv|. The smoko of tho conflict slowly lifting, rolled, Blurring the glory of tho god of day ; 0\*r Georgia’s hills the sound of buttle rolled lu sullen tones, tin'll eunk with night away. That day at noon when the :.*rriflc strife u the bravo, tho field of life, o garnering gravi A soldier youth who well had borne hi* part, With bosom bared before the leaden rain, Felt a cold missile near his fearless heart, eoled back, fainting o’er the mangled ► lain •ok that sparkled on Its way, ed down to cool his fevered lip a tluocs of mortal pain he lay, he settling night of death's «• lips Still on f Till holy Oils or Freedom hied, Mink upon his shield, nd lu r mantle spread, lee wus hushed upon the soldier’s weakened heart ind Ills faltering breath, earthly hope depart in' awful realm of death, re memory’s ph-ttiros coal g ot a last farewell— •le childhood’s years were mu aud all lie loved i perhapt, though allies h. I.leueh- • Idol hi.i wn ie slumber of the l.ruve, Ilia battles done, bis spirit home with Got). Ml. /»«. I. \ I67L *Fi.t.raiMt. -• * % Ketelalions or n Pardoned Ku-Klux Prisoner. A Washington dispatch to tho Now York Herald slides that Kctibnii 0. Young, a Ku Klux prisoner, who has boon par doned by the President, arrived in that city from the Albany puuitoutiury oil Sat iny ina dying . onditiou. Ho wus on home, to I'ouiigHvillo, Alabama, no was nitei viewed in the cloak-room of tlic Hon o of Representatives, where ho was ultempting to sleep. Tho reporter si'} s: He appeared to sloop in death, face hint a leaden, gustly look, wrinkles deeply uud rigidly set, us if of Konso and motion. My cninpu touched him lightly. lie raised lus head slowly aud east a languid look toward It boomed to ino tho look of a galvanized corpse. llu was dressed in a suit of homespun. llis face was linn and ashy with I hire weeks board upon it ; his eye: aud cheeks wore sunken itv, and thin gray lin.rs straggled down upon lus forehead, llo was asked whether he was treated kindly in prison ? lb* answered: “All Hie officers healed me kindly, 0) eept one overseer, who was haisli to nu When 1 wus too feeble to work I had I remain in my cell, which wus vory colti 1 sometimes asked him to let me go t the stove in Hie corridor to warm myself, but ho refused. ‘Don't he hard on old man,’ I would say, bill still he would Dot let mo go out. I wus confined in tho same coll with my son Ringgold, who h still there, llo has to work in tho shoe shop from daylight till evening; but In has been in good health never missed :i day iu tho shoe shop. If it lmd not been for lmn I should have been dead long be- fore this. He took good care of me. Tho dying man gave tho following his- tor of his case: “It was ull tho work of a limn named Barnes, lie is a lawyer. He lmted and wanted to have me put out of tho way. For this purpose he went to John D. Young, a Ku Klux prisoner, now it the Albany penitentiary, but no relatioi of mine, ami asked him to turn Kluto'i evidence against me, but John refused Tho next day he was arrested and tried, and like me, sentenced to ten years. This man Barrios was a United State* GommiHHiom-r, and had unlimited pmvoi in my county. He was on the grand jury which found au indictment against They wanted to convict somebody, and selected mo and my son, Ringgold T. Young. 'Hide are now six Ku-Klux pris oners in tho Albany Penitentiary—three from Tallapoosa and three from Randolph county. One of them, Charles Howard, is a perfect idiot; another, named Blanks, is a boy.” A Sensible Lntly—Me Herouil her Mutton. Ed Horn Mon tyonn nj A dnertint. r :—A few days since, my attention was called to an article that appeared in your col umns, in which, you made earnest appeal to tho patriotism and economy of the la dies of Montgomery ; to he drmojudrated, by tho wearing of *‘home-made plaids.” The ladies of Ooluinbus were set forth as an example, and “lauded to tho skies" for their spirit of independence while all this is highly commendable, ami meets with Uio I idlest approbation, it occurs to mo, that we should Lave the Far fork a iu our city before wo talk about “wearing the plaids." Lot us see the Factorial in r.uurxc of erection, and 1 ass urn you that we will show a spirit of patriotism equal to thut of our Colointiiin Sint I rn. Bill if 1 am not mistaken, Messrs. Edi tors, the same Factories thnt weave the popular “phuds,” also weave in quantities to suit tho demand, goods suitable for yi nflemen'n wv</r,Mioh as jeans, osnaburgs, Ac., and ns you are tho first to propose a revolution in tho stjloof dross, suppose you “practice what you preach," and don a suit of home modi jinn*, it will never do to see our Indies wonring (home)ly np.- purcl, and our husbunds, brothers and Is dressed in goods of foreign stuff, with gloves and hoots “from Baris," nd hitls of “tho lutcHt stylo. No sirs. Wo say, let us Jirnt nee our gouts with hats of palmetto, suits of jeans, walking canes of the notice bamboo, aud no ytoren ol oil; then, wo will fuel no timidity iu appoariug in fall drew with our “plaids uud homespun." A Montoomehian. A Bio Land Giiaii.—Under pretence of giving 160 acres of land to each of tho soldiers and sailors of tho lute war, u grand raid in full force is made ou the public domain. Thu bill grants in tho aggreguto some 350,000,000 acres of land, the whole amount of agricultural land now loft hoing uot moro than 100,000,000 acros. Theso aoldiers’ grants will goat into tlio hands of agents, and the beneficiaries will really roceivo nothing, ir a trilling sum at the best. Tho homo load policy is placed in danger, and in a few years—ton at tho outside—tho immi grants from Europe or colonists from tho older States will he entirely at tho mercy of hind speculators, and of the railroads which retain po. session of tho grants already made to thorn. This splendid na tional domain is rapidly bciug wasted and spoiled. It ought to have heeu so man aged us to solicit immigration for theso many years. But many of tho boat parts of it are already held at prices beyond tho roach of the poor, and so a chock is put upon the population of tho now States. A French chemist has discovered that n strong solution of chloride of zino will dissolve all the silk threads from any tex tile fabric, leaving intact any cotton fibres which may bo interwoven therewith. Tho practical valuo of this invention for re moving stains from dresses must bo at once apparent to all our lady readers. Cotton Culture In California. From tho many accounts to bo found in almost ovory California paper, that State would appear to be tho future Bara- dise of cottou-growers. Tho Fiesno Ex positor says : “It threatens to bocomo a mania in our county, nnd in fact elsewhere in the State. Wo havo conversed with a num ber of parties during tho past fow weeks, who contomplnto planting their land with tho staplo next season. This is in a groat nieuHuro duo to tho successful culmina tion of tho cotton-growing enterprises which hnvo been undertaken in this county ond in other portions of tho vnl ley. Ktrango to relate, what bus hitherto (previous to 1872) been considered the nnd plains, is the land being selected for cotton plantations by many. Thero two reasons which conspiro to bring about this state of fncts. First, tho hind is susceptible of irrigation from the King’s River Irrigation Canal. Second, it is moro convenient to tho railroad. That thoRo cotton-growing enterprises will bo successful hardly admits of a doubt, and that it is a moro lucrative crop than wheat, no ono pretends to question. A successful growing of cot ton on an extended scale will place Fres no far in ndvnncc, in point of wnultli and prosperity, of any of tho thrifty grain growing counties.” Tho Bakorsfield Californian, of a lato date, says: “Mr. B. A. Stinn 1ms just finished pick ing his cotton, and that it turns off four hundred pounds to tho acre. This is a very gratifying result, of an experi ment, considering tho fact that it was not planted until a month later than it should have been. Sonio of it also was planted with corn, tho two crops growing togeth er, and ho was not abb' to procure tho host v irioty of scod. Wo learn that ho intends to engage extensively next y in the growth of tho valuable staple." The San Francisco Herald says : “ havo boon favored with a visit from Buck- ley Brothers, of Jtopoton, Merced comi ty, they claiming to hnvo put up tho first halo of cotton in tho State on tho 21st inst., ginning by horse power from four to Hix bales per day, and estimating their present crop nt 150 halos of 400 pounds each. Tobacco growing iu Gilroy and other parts of tho Slate promises a great success, both tho yield and quality being unsurpassed in any other State of the Union.” Mr. Sypher has introduced a hill in the House of KoprcHCtitativoH of Louisiana to provide for tho construction of a ship eaunl near Fort St. l’hilip, to connect the navigable wators of the Mississippi with the Gulf of Mexico. Tho ninth sect ion of the act provides: “That until other wise provided by law, said canal shall, at all times, bo open to tho free use and navigation of all vessels and craft belong ing to the United States, nnd to all citi zens thereof, and to all nations in com mercial amity with tho United States, freo from toll or charges.” And tho thirteenth soction appropriates six millions of dollars, or so much thereof as limy be nooosKnry, to carry into effoet tho provisions of the saiil act. Tim Flokida Ship Canal. -Mr. Osborn of Florida, baa introduced in the United States Semite a bill to provide for making a survey for a canal of sufficient depth aud breadth to permit side-wheel steam ers of average draught and tonnage navi gating 1ho Mississippi to pass each other in it, the canal to extend from tho Missis sippi river at or near New Orleans, through Mississippi, Alabama, and Flori da, to the harbor of Feruandina on the Atlantic Ocean. The route of tho canal is d< fleeted considerably to tho north of a direr I lino, to avoid running into the Gulf of Mexico, which cannot well he naviga ted by river stonmers. The proposed im provement, we suppose, is intended as a partial realization of the Bresident’s fa vorite scheme for an almost continuous land-locked navigation from Maine to Mexico, by which tho dangers of the soil may he avoided in tho transportation of merchandise by water. A single glance at the map will ho sufficiout to give any intelligent reader an idea as to the wisdom of tie* costly undertaking which the bill under consideration is designed to pro mote. A great fight is now going on in the New Joraey courts, at Trenton, between the Beiinsylvauia Railroad Company, having the lease of the New Jersey loads, and tlio parties interested in the proposed “National railroad" between Bhiladclphia and Now York ; for which line tho latter cljiim that they have obtained charter rights, while tho Beiinsylvauia Central contends that they havo only a bogus charter. Tlio National line is claimed to be an air lino, going mainly north of the present lines. It is not quite apparent, however, from the map, that it is more nearly an air lino than tho Trunlon road. Should these parties succeed, though, in establishing their right to build this road, it may help to establish u wholesome railroad competition through New Jersey. But there in an impression abroad that the National Coinpnuy do not really mean to build, but to compel the Beunsylvutiia Central or some other purlieu to buy out I heir privileges. Mr. Boutwkll and the Legal-Tender Issue.—Tho House of Representatives having recently called upon Secretary Boutwell to explain liis authority for making an increased issue of legal-tender notcH, us was done iu October, to the amount of £5,000,000, the Secretary, ou Tuesday, iu response, cites two dicta of the Supremo Court that £400,000,000 is tho legally authorized amount oi green backs, and finds in the act of 1863 au thority to replacu by new notes all that have been canceled. The object of the issue, he says, was the relief of the busi ness of the country, then suffering from tlio large demand for currency employed in moving the crops from the Smith and West, the condition of affairs then exist ing in the country, ho urges, having war ranted the issue upon grounds of public policy. On March 1st, 1869, Uioro was outstanding ovor £57,000,000 of threo per cent, certificates, payablo iu legal- tender notes on dournnd, and tho surplus reserve was tho only means nt the com mand of the Government for melting any call on account of this liability. Brum this surplus tho issuo of October last was made, uud all now notes put in circulation are drawn from the same source. Fur tho CoIhuiIhib Enquirer. CHRISTMAS, 1812. omlroiiH honuty decks tho world to-night ? wear* a glory not her own! h the magic influence of her might ? Her myntic t An Angel’d wand nwoopa o’er the sky, and Light Unfoldn her pearly glimtn'ringd far and wide? So old—ho new;—tlio Hpoll ho Had—ho bright, The holy ChriHtmnH-tide! We hear once more the uldon Pprophet nay, 'i’euto—lVace on Earth, good will to mon"; "a * To uh in given"—“u Child in born"—The day Of promido dawiiH anon; The Eantorn 8tar Hliinrs fair o’er distant hill, Through hidden dell—whoro drifted waves of bii Gleam in their fleecy whltencHS, chaste and chill, Beueath tho starlight'd glow. Hark ! sweet vibrating halls ring out, ho 'h- ir happy chimoH upon tit* midnight uii Anil hid us, uh they chain our listening i Their Joyous greeting dhare ! It id till* blessed gladsome Chi hum The hnpplost evening oi the flectii Tho saddest evening of the long, I i chei Swe lultin ! Wh viowlosH forms arid Unhidden, and with whlsp’riugs soft aud low They look once more, with love, into our eyes, Found of the “Long Ago" I A tli ories regrets and tear* this strange Christmas-tide lor its—w le rapid sweeping of the mighty yean On us hath left tlio seal. >w vain ! how brief our high resolvei f perished Hope sublime! era Star iu Heaven doth shit re the lowly Christ-Child liei .mr “costly gifts," nor “lut i feel e rough wayside ►stly" offering! - path her ligl.t doth when the glad Sunrint •rid, in all I by heart’s ot by Him •sry Yule-log I or your little i •blight e in he i II ii* * iu “Sheave tch glad rm New Plans of the Weather Prophet *t—Pont mas- Let An Old Man Run Over and Killed. On Tuesday, a week ago, au old guutlu- mau by tho unuio of Mitchell Thurman, near the Indian K| rings, sustained inju ries from which ho died, under the fol lowing circumstances: Ho was getting into an empty wagon, when his oxen be came frightened, moved off and threw him to tho ground, tho wagon running over his body, from which ho sustained such internal injuries that ho died on the Thursday following.—Griffin yarn. Tho Gnlveston News wants Uncle Sam to whip Mexico. Says tho News: “If the wholesale rubbery of u frontier, amounting to tho loss of many millions of dollars, does not constitute a sufficient provocation for executivo action, then men have lost their reason. If saucy swagger, bullying effrontory, abduction uud rod-handod raiding do uot constitute offensive acts on the part of our Mexican neighbors, then the ltio Grande is but a plantation ditch, and tho Texans dwelliug thereon are but the bondslaves of the Hidalgos of the wostern edge.” Chicago, Deo. 21.—Tho rocoipts of live hogs at the Union Block yards the past week wero 157,532, tho largest number ovory rocoivod in one week. Total num ber slaughtered here up to to-day 533,132. | Washington Corr. Nan York Herald J Oil the 9th instant tho Secretary of War dosed to the Uostmastcr-Goucral a let ter from tlio chief signal officor, aud usked co-operation iu tho mode indicated for tho distribution of the daily weather •ports. Tho chief signal officer says the plan suggested scum to offer a moro im- diato and extensive method of reaching the whole interior and agricultural popu lations of the United Stales with informa tion iu which each citizen lias au interest than any hitherto put iu use in any coun try in the world. The plan of work is to divide the territory east ot the Mississippi into districts of about 200 miles iu diame ter, each district having a distributing point ut or near its centre, from which two copies ot the reports will be mailod daily to uii pout-offices accessible by mil or mail-coach by 6 p. m. of each day. At each post-office tho postiuuster is to post one copy of each report as soon as re ceived iu a frame, to bo furnisbod by tho signal office, which frame will bo put up iu a conspicuous part of the office, where it can be seen and tho bulletins read by the public without difficulty. Tho second copy is intended for tho personal use of the postmaster, and may be disposod of in the mauuer lie thinks Lest calculated to diffuse tho information • it contained. Tbo Uofitinnstor-Gcneral, heartily ap proving the plau, has issued the follow ing order, and says any further assistance that may bo desired from his department will bo most cheerfully given : “Bobt-Okfice Department, Washing ton, December 10, 1872.—Arrangements have boon made between tho Bost-Office uud War Departments by which one or more of the daily weather reports issued by the Signal Office will be furnished doi ly to all post-offices that cau be reached from the sevoral points of distribution daily by mail. As these reports aro de signed for the bouefit of tbo agricultural as well us the commercial interests of tho country, the Bostmaster-Goueral instructs all pohtmustcrs receiving them to post them immediately in the frames supplied for the put pose by the Signal Office. “John A. ('reswell, 4 ‘Bohtumster-G oneral. ” Tbo Atlanta Constitution says of tho Great Eastern Circus: “Tho proprietors have dissolved copartnership within the last few days in Selma. The horsos, ani mals, etc., havo been sold at auction to tho old partuorn. Tho elephant was bought by Mr. DoIIaven for £10,000. Six bay horsos brought £3,400. The den containing a lioness and cubs, £6,085. Tho Bengal tiger and leopards, £6,000. The buffaloes, £400 each. The ring horses sold from £500 to £1000 each, aud everything else in proportion. Tho en tire stock will winter at the Fair Oroands, which has been routed at one hundred dollars per month. Tallahassee, December 16. Editor Morning Nats: The Board of State Canvassers were cn gaged most of the last week in canvassing the returns of tho electiou held on the 5th of November. All tho returns, no matter how illegal, which wero in favor of tbo Radical, wore without much difficulty counted. But in the case of Jackson county, which, as published in all tbo pa pers, aud as known to everybody, gave a Republican majority of about 200, tho re turns on tile, buth in the office of tbo Secretary of State aud of the Governor, had beeu changed by erasures and inser tions, palpable on tho face of the papers, so as to show a majority of about 500 for tbo Democratic Giiborualorial candidate, From the Rio Grande. We have the Brownsvillo Ranchoro and Sentinel with dates to the 7th inst., from which we extract tho following: Tho Ranchero in au editorial concern ing Mexican depredations on the Lower Rio Grande, says that for the pnst throe years tho firms of Armendaiz, Neilson, Schumachor & Eversinan, Milmo, J. San Roman, U. E. Woodhonse, St. Marc, J. II. Bahnsan aud others, representing not less than forty millions of capital, have been virtually idol simply on account of tlio disturbed condition of tho border. Asa natural consequence, adds tho Ran- clicro, nil branches of industry suffered, .steamboats havo beon idle and tho two citios, Brownsville and Matamoros, have suffered accordingly. Their streets have been thronged with able bodied men liv ing from hand to mouth, and according nnd of about eighteen hundred ayainrt J to the assessment roll real estate has do- Buruinu uud Walls, tho Radical Cougres-. predated at least fifty per cent. sional candidates, leaving a Radical Stale Senator and threo Radical Assembly men The Freshet.—A heavy freshet is elected, and also n majority of about 2"<> ! swelling the rivers, and considerable dani- for Grant. As soon as this ri turn was | nge may bo expected to result from it. opened the fraud was repudiated by ; Tho Oostcnaula is higher than it has been Messrs. Hilton, Brevard and McLellan, j known for sevoral years nnd is still rising, who wore in attendance as attorneys in Many collars on Broad street are inunda- behalf of Bloxhuiu aud tho Democratic {ted, nnd fenrs aro entertained that the party ; tbo first of whom promptly made | water will roach tho iloors. a motion that tho Board count the actually cast—with a majority, as above stated, ot about 200 for each of tho Radi cal candidates ; which motion was adopt ed. The changes attempted would not. have effected tho strength of parties in this Legislature, nor havo elected a Dem ocratic Governor, lu other words, the great objects which the Democrats hid at stako—the election of Governor, majority of the Legislature and Prosidenlal electors would still have been defeated. That the fraud, or very bungling at tempt ut fraud, was tho work of the Radi cals themselves, some of whom aro bit terly inimical to Burmon and Walls, ad- j mils of no doubt. The returns f DoSoto is streaked with sluices as thick ns Venice, nnd batteaux aro taking tho placo of drays. The freshet seems to bo general, and reports of disasters are be ginning to come in. The Rome Railroad has lost a hridgo over Dyke’s creok, and tho trains are stopped. We oxpoct to hear of similar damages on the Selma, Romo aud Dalton Railroad. [Rome Courier. The Now Orleans Times says : Tho con spirators against the people of Louisiana are about realizing the truth of the old adage, “The best laid schemes of men and mice gang aft nglee.” Finchback, having been used as nn instrument to different counties are required by law to I further their views, now that ho finds bo sent by mail, iu duplicates,to the Gov- ■ himself in power, turns upon his old oruor and Seeieiary of State, both of j friends and proposes to go himself to the whom are uofrioudly to Puruiau—uot . United States Senate. This is a little without eau.se, particularly in the ease of | more than was bargained for, nnd opens a tho Governor, whom Purmuu not long , new dissension through which, in obodi- sinco threatened to cowhide. Whether j encc to another old adage, holiest mon the charges were made while the papers i will come by their dues. were in the hands of the post office olli-| * ciuls ami male agents, or utter they reach- j Tho glass-blowers iu tho vicinity of jruor aud Secretary and came , Boston are making quito a prolit- ustody, is not quite certain, j able job out of the great tiro in the shape ill of whom are Radi- ol curious relics. Their plan of opora- nud explain" by whom J lion is to blow bottles and other vessels ed the G< into their Will tucse parties, cals, severally “rise tho thing wus done Had tbo alterations shown a majority for tho Jackson county Democratic candi dates for the Legislature,aud largo enough to have elected Bloxham—thus giving tho Democrats the Governor and llu Legislature, that party might have beei bouefitted by them. As it was, tho sue cess of the fraud would havo been of tho smallest possible consequence to them.— Most of them would doubtless actually prefer the absence of Barman iu Washing ton, as a member of Congress, to his pes tiferous presence* as an agitator aud in cendiary within the State. It remains to ho seen whether the Radi cals who have the moans of doing it through their handy instrument, the United States Court, will ferrit out the perpetrators of the attempted fraud, aud bring thorn to justice. We think not. The Dimhic Election in ArknnstiN. In tlie Semite of the United States, on Friday, Mr. Rico moved as an auiendmor t his resolution for a special committee to investigate the Arkansas election*;. Haying lie did so in order to get the matter b* lore tho Senate, llo then proceeded to detail tlic allegations of fraud ngaiust the Re publican officials in that State, charging that tho returns were falsified to defraud Conservative candidates of their election. Mr. Clayton said ho wus sati.-rted that the allegations ot fraud by his colleague were incorrect. Mr. Stitiinmn would not voto for this proposition as an amendment to a matter to which it was entirely foreign, but ho thought that tho subject was a very prop- or one for inquiry. Tliero wero two seats of electors claiming tho light to cast the voto of that State, and it was popor that the Senate should ascertain which of them had the right to cast the vote of the Slate. He would favor referring tin- matter to the Committee on Privileges aud Elections, uud it' the committee saw proper it could authorize a sub-committee to undertake an investigation. Bending furt her discussion, Mr. Windam called for the regular ordor, the Indian appropriation bill. Tin* N<*w Orleans Usurpation. Whilo President Grant is denying at Washington any intention or desire to ty rannize over the people of Louisiana or to interfere with tho freo government ot tho State, the federal authorities iu New Orleans are committing outrage, lu which uo people with a spark of mar hood in their breasts can pulicutly submit. Tlio Stuto government overthrown, State Courts abolished or tho rigbtlul judges on by force from the bench, ami now suppression of the independent press, aro the outrages that mark the piogrt stops of this infamous violation of uountitutioii aud tho laws. Tho New 'hub Times, having been bold and freo spukeu in its denunciation of Judge Dur- "s action, bus been seized and suppress- by u United States Marshal on a truiuped-up charge of fraud involving lif- liniidred dollar*;, for which four times tho amount was offered ns security, uliiio a hundred limes the amount would havo boeu forthcoming if necessary. Wo trust that Bresideut Grant will now see tho wisdom aud prudence of adopting some method to undo the evil done by the suporhtrviceublc zeal of the Attorney General, and to compel tho United Slates authorities to respect tho constitution and tho liberties of the people. Tho Presi dent, by his eagerness to disclaim any in terference with tho Louisiana State gov ernment, has shown a proper appreciation of the limit of liis powers and duiios. It is to be liopod thut Justice Bradley will at once proceed to Now Orleans to supersede Judge Durrell. This may accomplish much good, ulthough we believe the most effective remedy for the prosuut troubles iu Louisiana would be the suspension of both State governments uud the tempora ry substitution of a military provisional govoruuiout until tlio question ut ismio between the contending tactions could be settled by tho Court of last resort.—JV. Y, Herald, 2 Ut. Sharp Uailiouil Naiia^cmcut. There is much excitement among tlio stockholders of tho Memphis & Charles ton Railroad, at the nmur.er in which their interests havo beeeu mismanaged by tho officers of the road. Tho stock, it kloius, has all been paid up, yet tbo offi cers have issued a circular assessing the stockholders ton per cunt, ou tho par value of the stock, aud stutiug that if the money is not paid there is a possibility of their losing the entire road. This is cor- tuinly a startling announcement. Much of this slock is held by widows aud orphans, who nre not able to moot tho new demand, aud whoso good money was invested in tho road ou tho supposition that its affairs would be honestly man aged, aud that it would prove profitable. A half million dollars iH noedod, and surely, if tho officers of tho roud are men in whom confidence is placed, they ought to be able to borrow the money. [Atlanta Herald. ' - The Alabama State Journal of tho 22d instant says that the epizooty is disappear ing from amongst the horsos of Mont gomery, and appearing among tho human species. We havo uot yet heard of any fatal attacks, however. all It of ingeniously filled with all sorts of liquids, from cheap whiskey to castor oil. Corks are inserted, showing ovory degree of burning, from a slight scorch to half con sumption, while tlio contents havo tho appearance of having remained intact. These relics sell readily from twenty-five cents upwards.—Hanlon Journal. Delegate Hooper, of Utah, brings to light an amazing geographical fact. Ho h is a land-grab bill “to aid in the recla mation of desert lands in the territories of the United States." Tho surprising circunistanco is that there aro any deserts iu theso regions. So many gentlemen anxious to bucomo Senators aud Gover nors by tho erection of tlio Territories into States liavo oxtolled their several residences, that it is a painful surprise to find these Western paradises but so many ariil wastes after all. Tho shock is tho greater when it is remembered how Ne vada and Nebraska at ono very important epoch moulded the destinies of tho Uni- ted States. Tho fourteenth amendment, sourco of so many troubles, could uot have passed tho JSouato but for tho four votes of those paltry States. —New York World. Decemheii 25th, 1872.—Yes, hero is ohl Christmas right down upon ns again in all tho “pomp and circumstance” of a glorious jubilee. Bolls aro ringiug, guns aro shooting, and crackers aro rat tling out a joyous wolcomo to old Santa, who is supposed to be coming heavily laden with trinkets and words of good cheer for the world of* “juvenility” in general, and our portion of it in particu lar. It is a glorious tiino for childhood. Rich or poor, high or low, thero is a sym pathetic chord that links all childron into one common family. They all await anxiously the coming of this “givy” sea son ; and whothor times are lean or Hush, all oxpoct something, and they should havo it, if it bo but a tritlo. God bless them. They have not yet learned tho sordid ways of the world, nor boon forced to try the bitter ways of self-denial. Their tiiuo will como. Let them be joy ous ob tho birds whilo thoy may, and ring out tho merry carols of childish fresh- 3ss nnd innocence. Lot them be ro- iudod of the groat gift of God to tho urld, and whilo ou joying tbo liberality of parents and friends, let them show their gratitude to the great giver of every perfect gift by hunting up tho poverty stricken children of want and making their hearts happy on this glad Christmas morning. To us, tho 4 ‘childron of n larger growth,” Christmas brings not in its train so much of brightness nor of joy. Many of us have outlived our childish enthusiasm, and now must find our hap piness in living ovor tho past, or by en tering into the zost of the little ones uround us. Yet, whilo forced to battle with tho storn realities of tho posing sea sons, wo find much to inspiro gratitude and lift us above the sloughs of despon- duncy and regrot. True, we, as a people, are poor, but whilo couutry, and life and health, aud fuuiily are left, let us look up iu adoring gratitude, and in a sprit of truo thanksgiving reconsecrate ourselves to God ami to duty. To one and all wo send greeting the wish for a merry Christmas! About Tolling the Bridges.—We havo conversed with a number of our hoavieBt tux payors and most prominent mer chants, and, to a man, thoy oppose the tolling of the city bridges, os was pro posed at tho last session of Council. In stead of throwing obstructions in the way of trade, they think nil avenues should be left open aud freo, so that none, however humble, may havo oxcuse to seek other muikots. They would rathor be taxed to have tho bridges repaired, than to shut out or turn aside tho trade oi Lee and Russell counties. Tho revenue to be raised by tho proposed tolling will amount to very little above the salaries of bridge- keepers, and therefore cannot be maoh ot an object. We throw out these hints thst the City Fathers may consider well the step they propose to take, especially whon it is likely to encounter very strenaoaa opposition. Opened Feebly.—The demonstrations lust evouing wero far beneath tha dignity of thoso of former years. Not many per sons wero on tho streots.and an oocaaiooal explosion or rattling of a fantastlo’s ball wero about all that could be hooid in a* w»y of CUmtiuag merriment.