Newspaper Page Text
, , , |y The Distribution—forward your sub-
omtxtnmn. **•
tW~ The Thomas ton Herald comes oat
Yigormu and commendable efforts to gather
the olna and pash the subject to a final issue.
We nave suggested that mass meetings be
called to settle the matter one way or another.
ATLAKTA. TUESDAY.DECBMBER30.|m&fjd’the p^r^^ttope'hffin'dk** 6 1
often -it has been done, nor how often
it way be done in the absence of a law for
bidding it that onght to be passed, we say
that it is not right.”
In this yon clearly show that in your opin
ion, a law ought to be passed forbidding the
Brevities.
Oar General Traveling Agents.
Colonel Acton is down in Southern Geor-
a pity that this is so; but pity ’tisJtis true.— members of a future Congress from increas-
Augusta Constitutionalist.
JSSStr' “* C,,> " '“'I* 1 *• An ^ eraon a ' on £ lie GeorgiaRood
Bert Itof»l ? ~'“
ing their pay and receiving the amonnt so
increased. Are you aware that such a law
would be utterly unconstitutional ? It would
But we advise to send subscriptions by letter, . ., , ,
■‘Peter, don’t sell them nice qoincM short of s j .. . , The arrival at this famous harbor of the be an act of gross usurpation, and no law
jinrapeck’ were ths djlng words of »n Indian L at comparatively S . | ^ lice of steamera from Liverpool, ] at all; for as I said in my former letter and
dollar
woman.
)(rs. 8:muel Colt signs every check and order for
money, and uses a vslk through her revolver foun
dry twice a week.
Southwest Georgia.
affords an opportunity for our importers and fa the speech referred t0 Thb Constitution
wholesale meschants which should not beal- 1 ^ *
lowed to pass unimproved.
The line differs from other attempts at the
Our friends in Southwest Georgia will .. lm . e
. „ direct trade vtith England so nopch desired
Mrs. Thompson, dsughter of the poet Burns, died I P '^T . hol j* ? 1Q readines3 to secure in the South, in a few points UoT ‘
at Croesmyioof, near Glasgow, recently, eighty four | a 051(1 in tb e Distribution to come off on the | derstood among our merchants. )
31st positively. Colonel Acton wiil be among
expressly provides that each Congress for
itself shall fix the pay of its own Senators
and members. Before Congress can consti-
jcars of age.
Anevspirer office In Western Iiwa rents part of
the office for a cheese factory and thus exhibits a | CONSTITUTION,
double claim to the power of the press.
yon simultaneously with this issue of Thb pend altogether on their freights via Port
J J 1 JtioyaL They run to New Ofleans, and
mch a law as you say onght
In the first place, the steamers do not de
to be passed, there must be an
other amendment to the Constitution.
» . _ . _ , . ..... , Such an Amendment was proposed to the
’S*iA±5'£S Su.enbgOongreondnringGon.W^hlngUtn'B
Tne Rothschilds, twelve In comber, are werth
about one thousand million of dollars as a firm, in- j
eluding their Individual fortunes.
We hope all will respond.
Against a convention.
The people and press are beginning to l lust few weeks for “their use. (Thus their I majority of the States.
freights and for coal Pour thousand tons....... . ,
of coal passed through Atlanta/ within the Administration, and was rejected by a large
General Albert Pike, late of the Confederate Sutes
arouse.
The Savannah Advertiser and Columbus
Army, and one of the most prominent Basons in this I Times take Strong ground sgaiust a Conven-
freights are lower than could i
forded if thej^n only to and
place which has its business to :
Next, there are no charges '
country, has settled down In Alexandria, Ya.
Oerrltt Smith la as careful of his perional appear-1 morrow,
ance.as anybody. He keeps his hair well oQedand
parted, and will go four blocks around to avoid a
muddy crossing
Br, Botkin Bays of Voltai.e “that his head was as
tion at this time. Their articles appear to- or drayage at Port Royal. Tb
A similar Amend
ment has been recently offered in the House,
and it will be time enough to discuss its
r "wharfage I merits when it comes up for regular Con
fra load j gressional deliberation. You will, however,
Tlae Georgia Convention.
“ One of the propositions which are to be
ti submitted to the Georgia Constitutional Con-
deatitutcoilmaginativepoweraait i« possible for the I vention is a revival of imprisonment for I the e’ee of a large shipload of. cotton ties
heaithr cerebral orusnizaiion of a highly develop 3d debt. Progress takes backward jumps down which was imported for Augusta and Savan-
UO ° * * 3 I thorn ” 717*4 fl Vyy»Z* Afftl nan Thn
directly into the cars, after Ut&kibg the nsnal I find very few intelligent men in this country,
cars in Atlanta in twenty-four hours, via the I that Congress, under the Constitution, as it
Port Royal and Georgia Railroads. What I
these charges may amount to is illustrated in
is, has any power to pass such a law as yon
say it onght to pass.
Your reference to the clamor raised against
Mr. Clay for his course on the pay question,
, in order to avoid the force of my instance of
one of the nnhn object. .oughtby >«<W>> ,P “"|bbn a, one of tbe m/uyot IbeOleetrien.
lunmalian to be."J
| there.”—New York Sun.
The above is outside contemporary corn-
nan. The ship drew too mucb’water to j
to Savannah until she had been lightened l
about his place In ths world,
the gravitation of his nature, aid swings there as
easily as a star.'
Prog hunting for the Boston markot Is raid to he a
profitable employment in Kewbnrjport. They are
h tpt In tube ana burned with meal and afterwards
•hipped to order.
the advocates of a convention in Georgia.
Brjected contributor* form so hricaelaes m Eng
land that they support two magazines, whose pages
contain nothing that has not been declined by the
editors of other periodical*.
California has about 8,000,000 head of sheep The
wool crop in twe shearing*, at an avtrage of ten
pounds per head, would amonnt to 83,000,000 pounds,
or 15,000,000 more than the total product of the United
States in 1871.
. fiat she came along side the railroad wharf “ en of *“• country-distinguished alike for
The wild changes of public policy and law at Pert Royal, at nearly low tide, and dis- honor and integrity—who had done the
that have been suggested as an inducement charged the portion of her carijo intended asme act in principle that the Georgia
to the people to caU a convention are enough [“ t0 Democrats had done in receiving “back
to alarm any sane man. No wilder or more and not contradicted to' our knciwledge^that pay ” needs no reply from . me - ll “
utterly indefensible and uncivilized project is the Augusta portion of her < argo C09t no j temporary clamor was raised against him
contemplated for the convention to do than to more after paying freight over me hundred and others of that day, who did jurt as he
'miles of railroad, than did the S ivannah por- 1 •** * * - ...
tion delivered at her wharves, after paying
all local charges.
it is
restore that barbarous relic of the old law-
imprisonment for debt.
But Georgia wi[l commit no such folly,uor
that of a convention at;this time.
did, but it amounted to nothing in the end,
so far as related to bis and their character
It is difficult to direct the current of trade for honesty; and the “sweeping censure of
into new channels. Oar merchants in the in- public opinion” that was indulged in against
Have Gone Well.
tenor, long accustomed to import through I jj| m an Q others at that day was about as long
New Yoik, Charleston or Savannah mer- 1 b
Oar old subscribers along the lines of tbe
Atlanta and West Point Road and tbe Geor-
chants, are shy of setting up as importers I * n dura ^*°n a8 the present tempest in a tea
•VamnnlttAA niiUAn.u !• : at a I nnt w trill ho in cnenrlinnr ito fnrtr at thin t!ma
themselves, although it is evident that to do
so successfully will be to put into their own
pot” will be in spending its fury at this time
The Cincinna'i uaxette has been flaurtag up the I Atlanta and West Point Road and the Geor-1 ou «*“ oe 10 P"‘ uieir owni One farther remaik only I have now to
mo.taaces which that city i* carrying, and find* that | g j a Road have surpassed our subscribers in | ^onrleaMm C D ° W P “ d l ° the importers | add . and that is, to iuform you how unfortu
nate you were in following tbe lead of the
New York Herald in this matter. That
paper was pleased to name John Fetcher
of Va., and George W. Jones, of
Tenn., as bright examples of Southern
purity and honor, who had established char-
of
it
on • taxable value of $is >,000,000 and an estimated 1 0 tjj er sections in helping our enterprise—
vane or $35;,500,0C0 there la only $37.000.000 of'
mortgages In Hamilton connty.
The Her. JohnDymoke. “the Qaeen’s Champion
has Jaet died st seventy years of age. His fam-ly
at our seaports.
Again, all other Smthem seaports are ]
fully three fourths have responded. . We I limited in the size and draught of-vessels .
trust our subscrioers upon the other roads * r £5 u I ? m * rg . t ^. em the ^ water
ch ,,, „„ , n . which may be br night to them] However. 1
should at once remit for the Distribution. there ig no 8UCh limit at p ort Royal- It is
dunna iive hun- Bat fewda y8 now remain for securing cards, the only first-class Atlantic *rt 8outh of pu , nty ana ha(I ® stab ‘ff hed c ? ar * r
died,ears, buthta father was too last of it. mem-| We heve made a direct appeal to you. ^iU | Cape^attem, ^Sigb t ^^ura} a ^ceI ^en defendhuf toe robber of “back-pay”
ben cfll:tally recognized as acting in that capacity.
A terrific accident has happened at Btookbolm. A
fire broke out in the third story of a house occupied
by the ba let corps of the Buy al Theatre. Sixteen
you not heed it ?
defending the robbery
pay
Air. Stephens on Civil nights.
rates are less on large vessel?, rating A 1, grabbers. Now, were you aware when you
than on smaller ones, thus offering anothe^ “ c ?„ rd i ally “domed this a ^ le . of , h ? N . ew
aavinir ] York Herald, and commended its “ringing
»»YlUg, ... . I nvnvnooirthti ♦/> Tyrant* rnerloro iTvrrwr
Port Royal has to fight its iijintopoto SSirK
|| The Washington correspondent of the
vnfortanate girls were burned alive; three were I Courier-Journal details what purports to be I and importance in spile of th? opposition of
kihed by jumpteg f.om windawa, md five an interview between Hon. A. H. Stephens L he Wfc11 known cities of Charleston and
,, * ,ThUrt, and General -Sherman. Here it is: lo’caUntereatsof , - M --
Last week Hon. Fernando Wood gave an vals in all else, are interested in keeping down « e . or 8 ia Democrats had done and for the
Among ^eUdilMwiM^^itt^rtlpoSgercialjSSSi
naly hurt,
Spaia'a annual deficit is $3S,009,0 <0, and ehe has
added $111.000,0.0 to her deb', since 1869. This looks
to your readers, that John
Letcbeb and Geobgb W. Jones had both
“perpetrated” the same act, in principle
l,iog either It. tM|whi°hy<« *repta«dK, indefcn-
t, ot how cuie,. opposed and ri SjLS^KSlLS!
*-1»“»•«-•“■““‘eS“SeTtheHirS^d^TIteS StaSS5&nS£XiKts p.b&.S''SSSuS™:S“Si
m on her biada ,u tb. era., Md geuer.il; iwt. oc | gueae ma HOD^AWMnaecju. jSleph | value J»I_any it intermefliate port, ^owever| obbere _,. This ooly illustrates the Scriplaral
three of them. It Is not so bad after all.
I ens ana General Sherman.. Mr. Wood ap- j great may be its natural advantages
preached tne General ana said: “May I The city of Savannah might, with great
The novelist, Paul de Kock, could write with noth- present you to Mr. Stephens?" “Ob, yes,” I advantage to tier merchants, use Port Royal
lug except goose quids, which he cut himseir, anu he 8a jj the General; “I am not afraid to meet for ships of too great draught to come to her
wxoteavery fine, feminine hand,exceeding’y legible. Mr. Stephens." “Mr. Stephens, I am very wharves, precisely as Leith is toe seaport of
He would never reed hi* own proof sheets, because happy to see you iu Washington again oc-1 Edinburgh. The entrance to Port Royal Is
typographitai error* threw him into a pasaUn, he con- cupying your old position of honor.” Said but eleven miles from the entrance to Tybee
ndering tnem inexcusable buesuce of the dearoese Mr. Stephens in reply: “And I am happy I Roads, and the pilots and eteivjn tugs of one
irutb, that when “toe blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch.”
Yours, very respectfully,
Alexander H. Stbphhns,
Hon. Nelson Tift on the Convention.
•f Ms copy.
It appears that the
to return2cT-«ftgr*tiilfcTl J *And~ ovrrwhel
v I with the kindness, honor and respect wii
_ a*iiu 8 . h horthnni ante whlcb 1 haTO treated.” Said the Gen-1 But the main point for toe interior cities
^ i^ .n^rnrMnf fT m hu!frirri™i Mr Davies’ e, ^ ! “ Mr - Stephens, after all, this is a of the South and Southwest to consider Is,
exceeded instructions from his principal, to. Davies, goo(1 worlJ> There are good men and I how can their grain and cotton be got to a I favors the Convention we have found toe
^aiw'lnTsa-h’tu beln 11 ^ .nid^K o Z'm" of 8°o d ^women everywhere, and if we only market in toe least time and for the least letter editorially heralded byourcontempo-
the cow, and sue has been re-sold to D.G. morns, or {eel k . n di_ toward8 othera. we will find • a™, i. .at,™ I ... . - - - *
Fuftlham, -i. X n tot $39,610. \ * . .. X-.
plhcecouid^^e t^^ii||.lJ|hijBB|(ft , hy.l The August^ Chronicle has been publish-
ndt? 'ing letters on the Convention from certain
gentlemen in Georgia. Wherever the writer
-■ find I caOney 9 &nd liow esn they obtftin in return 1 v*«wtr with An immpnQA flnnfkh nf immnAtQ
that it is always returned.” There was much those articles of foreign production which I ,. . p ’
- - - — - ...a. a .. r . . I nnn miahinir pnpnminma nnnn thn mopwollAnc
It is said ttiat Alexander Agassiz, oily eon of the more said which I have forgotten, except that they need for consumption at the least ex-
distinguished uatu-a isi, has inherited in a high de- Mr. Stephens announced that he would go pense and in the shortest time.
c ■ *' — ” ” find its solution at
and gushiug encomiums upon the marvellous
ability and patriotism of the writer.
In last Saturday’s edition of the Chronicle
gree the eminent ability and taste for patient, I farther, than Charles Sumner in securing I May not thi3 problem _
thorough investigation possessed by his father. In eywy right to the negro. “I acknowledge, Port Royal, and is it not worth while for the I we f oun( j th e following brief but very prac-
proof of which the Boston Transcript refers to the said he “that I did not always think so but merchants of St. Louts, Memphis, Nashville, | y p
marie of distinguished merit recently conferred upon mw that the colored man is a voter, don’t Atlanta, and other cities lying near the great Ucal letter lrom . e Hon- Nelson Tift, op-
him by the Boston Society of Natural HWory stop half way in their education and priv- routes of interior railroad communication 1 posing a convention. The letter was mod-
rerognition ofthev.iueof Ms investigations upon ^ here we have the spectacle of with the Southern seaports to look into the estly sandwitched eff in an obscure corner
m vguiuvu ui mu voiuo wt mo auitoujjauwuo uf<wu i . —
the EcMcoderms, tor wMch he received the grand two extremes meeting.
honorary pris? known as the Walker Pxlze—It being |
the first occasion of i.aaward.
This publication about Mr. Stephens 8eem
to have created a goed deal of noise. Oar |
matter?
Some new obituary verses have been discovered by I telegrams teU US that a delegation
Getter from Kir. Stephen* on
Salary Grab.
Le Hamilton, Ont, Spectator, aa follows:
“No more his pa will candy bring
Unto his • arling boy;
Hs loud aloft will praises sing.
Expressive of Mb joy.
“With little angels he wilt stay,
His xstt'e spring with pride,
And blets the day when faraway,
Hs laid Mm do»n and died."
“Gone to meet bis grandmother,’’
of colored men waited on Mr. Stephens
yesterday and interviewed him on toe sub-
National Hotel, ]
Washington, D. C., Dec. 20,1873.
ject. Ho told them he was in favor of toe Editors of The Constitution :
States controlling this subject, and that he Yonr issue of toe 18th instant has just
proposed to make a speech on toe Civil reached me. In it I see your reply to my
| Rights Bill when it comes up in the House, letter of the 13th instant, which appeared in. u eom(J of the other entlemen 80 fu]fl0mdy
This speech of Mr. Stephens’ will belooked the paper of the day before. Iu rejoinder to . f . ® Jniona nnth j f *
of the paper. After a zealous search in tbe
editorial columns we failed to find any of the
customary laudation of the writer’s tremen
dous ability and overflowing patriotism.
In order to atone for the omission of our con
temporary, doubtless entirely unintentional
we reproduce the letter with editorial notice
of toe writer, and with the strong belief that
Colonel Tift merits encomium about as much
to wito eager interest. If Mr. Stephens can this reply I have but little to say, as you
argue Congress into remitting this subject to seem to have abandoned your cnarge that
praised for utteiiug opinions not half so care
ful, well considered and applicable as Colonel
The poet of the FhUafieiph la L ;dger win unaoubt- the action of the States, he will have accom-1 the Democratic members of Georgia who
•dly go crazy with envy after reading these touching | plished a great benefit.
I in<*.
This seems to indicate, as also the tone of
A State Convention.
Fire Points has its optra-hon sc. TheAdmtssion Is
fire cents-no extra charge for reserved seats. Its
patrons are theeHfs of onr cry bootbiacks, and full If] jjttla or no interest felt in the matter of a I other an indefensible spoliation upon toe
dreea—that is, a shirt and pwtaloors—is one of the j g tate Convention outside of the newspapers, treasury on their part, and that my aefense
swmMfa ovsstsJ ho JoM-vninm rnfinfiffPinnnt I r * I * ’ J ******
voted for or received toe back pay allowed, lhe that 8outhwe8tem 6e0 ia is
them by the last Congress had brought dis-1 again , t a Convention now.
honor npon toe State. It is true you still
So far as we have been able to learn, there argue that it was in some sort of way or an-
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION — LETTER
PROM HON. NELSON TIPT.
Albany, Ga., December 13.1873.
sXfind e s^Uugsur»Und?ns^lM the Thia a P athy maybea bad si « n 5 iadeed » il . i8 of tbcir integrity and honor in doing as they To the Editors of the Chronicle and Sentinel :
manager expresses a tope that they will be tvorn. it I always a bad sign to see the people rather in- did was “a blander” on my part. I I received yonr letter requesting my views
is aunouneed as an infl-xibie rule that none or the j different than otherwise to questions of po- Your attempted argument to ‘ 1 ‘
audience wiu oe allowed to eieep in the_ auditorium | migjj reform. Some of this indifference is, this position has as little
sustain relative to the important question now pre-
mer ii, seated to the people of Georgia forconsid
which
novelties are weekly offered, to pleaas our street
Arabs. Next week we are prom’sed a perfInning dog | extent
and a boy who plays on the baujo.
A Western editor hia put Into prctice a plan which
will enable all papers to dl ipense with tbe usual fight
ing member of tbe stair. One morning be was waited I
prevails, to a considerable accusation bad just grounds to rest upon,
that the present Constitu- Your position to sustain the modified view is
tution, though not perfect, is a very good one, | set forth in the following words:
under Democratic rale and checks. Then,
again, the convention would cost much 18aid pay and receipted the Government for it. I tion—section i7, article 5, known aa the re-
Some of our best men calculate that | At the close of the session when the work | lief Bee tion—has been obsolete or void by
instrument known as the Coistitu-
ti‘>n of 1868?” After a careful ex
araination of the subject, my opin-
UT . „. „„„ m. , I ion is that a * convention should not be called.
The law fixed their pay. They drew the m0Bt objectionable part of toe Constitu-
money.
time and toe decisions of toe courts. There
sttckicg out all around, marvelously resembling The money part of the objection would not, bers deliberately voted themselves nearly
Colt's derringers and bawles. who saluted him with: even in these stringent limes, prove an in-1 $5,000, a piece, of more pay for toe work
in my opinion, might be improved
by amendment, but there is no other part
“Where’s that scoundrel, the editor?” Our friend sn perable one, if the people could only be already done at toe price regulated by law, which could now be changed without
Old: •’He’S not about, but please tlk3 • seat and j 4, -no not nf ATlMmtDl. wnnl^ I Anri alroodu nalil fn, anO ... IU. —V, I divisio
aaaae yourself with a paper be will be
minutes,” and hurried down emits, at the foot of
which, he met another man etlU more profane and
fierce, who asked the same question In the same lan
guage. “Oh,” sail ths ratreatlrg editor, "go up
stairs; you will find Mm reading the paper.” Ac
cordingly up he went, like a high-pressure steam-
engine, letting off steam at every step. Onr friend
waited a minute, and snch a crash—as If all Pande
monium waa let Dose. What the result was, was
never known, as onr friend didn’t wait
Jean Francois Charles Birtholdy It the new Minis
ter of Franco ol the United States, In the plaoe of tbe
Marquis De Noaill*. Mr. Birtholdy ia the son of an
Alsati-tn Hebrew a native of Hagen in, in Klsace, and
about forty five years of ega. In Ma fifteenth jtar
he went to Paris, where h- was a pupil at the St. Baric
College, and aRertvrri studied aw at the University
of France. H* was first emp! oyed In the Ministry of
Justice as interpreter, end then transferred to the
Departmen t of Foreign Affaire as translator. In 1858
he was sent to Berlin as second Secretary of Legation,
in which capacity hr retailnad sbout two years.
Next he was sent to Turin as special diplomatic
agent, and then to Vienna, where he remained until
1SC4. In the following year he was ch-rged with a
speciai mission to Ms shal Bazt’xe In Mexico, from
.weirh he returarH in I8C7. Since that time M.
Bsrlholdy ha 3 been first Secretary to the French Le
-At on In 1897. Since that time M. Banholdy has
keen first secretary to the Frenoi Legitim in Si.
Petersburg.
in ina few conviace< I that one set of extremists would and already paid for, and settled up bp receipt
' not go as far wrong one way as another I of the members to the Government”
set are supposed to have gone in toe past.
Now, allow me to say most respectfully to
If only toe very best and wisest men in every I yon that their pay was not fixed by law, and
connty could be certainly counted on to go to
that Convention, it would be well, per
chance, to have it Bat here intrudes a grave
doubt. We all know the mysteries of caucuses
and wire-working, The chances of either
engaging the services of toe best
men or haring them nominated are
problematical. There is a crop of am
bitions politicians in every community, hun
gering and thirsting after notoriety and chock
lull of all manner of patent reforms. Many
of these men would nave tbe inside track
and control, it may be, toe Convention. Thia
thought makes the people pause, leat going
to the tionbleland expense of a new Conven
tion they may be calied npon by a fresh sup
ply of political doctors to have still another
one to undo what the perfectionists failed to
accomplish.
These are some of the reasons why the call
for a State Convention has fallen rather flat
upon the pnblic mini.
Onr contemporary, over the way, has made
coaid not have been fixed by any law eonsti
tuttondUy passed by any previous Con
gress regulating their pay. That was
a matter by which the Constitution
was left exclusively for themselves to fix.
The pay of a member bf Congress can be
constitutionally regarded by no law except
by snch as each Congress for itself may pass.
As to what yon may say about the members
of toe last Congress having “settled up by
receipt” for their serviees before the passage
of toe Act fixing their pay for the entire Con
gress, I have only to say I suppose they had
occasionally daring the sessions, as was
always usnal, receipted for the advances
made to them by the Sargeant-at-Arms to be
accounted for on final settlement with him
for their services during toe whole Congress
as it might be constitutionally fixed by the
properly constituted law-making power over
the subject t
You are pleased further to say: w We care
not who has done the thing before, nor how
divisions and serious opposition among
all classes of our people, including toe
best citizens; and, judging from the history
of conventions, mere is room to donut
whether amendments of anew Constitution,
favored by any convention which could now
be elected, would not contain as many causes
of dissatisfaction as the present one. The
Constitution under which toe State was gov
erned fron 1798 down to the time of toe
late war provided for amendments
by a two-thirds vote of two successive Legis
latures. Under this provision the Constitu
tion was several times amended and adapted
to the wants of the State. There was bat
one experiment, I believe, to amend by a
Convention. In 1863, a Convention was
called, elected, met in Miliedgeville, dis
cussed, disagreed and adjonmed without re
sult. The present Constitution provides
toe same means of amendment as that
of 1798, with toe additional requirement
that the amendment shall be submitted to
the qualified voters for final ratification.
Under this provision all amendments having
toe deliberate approval of tbe people can be
adopted, and no others should be. Conven
tions to change the fundamental law or con
stitution of a State, should be called only
upon toe most important and urgent occa
sions to accomplish necessary protection,
which cannot be attained in toe ordinary,
more safe and less expensive way. Very
respectfully. Nelson Tift.
Tla* Salary Grab and. Mr. Stephen*.
In all courtesy to Mr. Stephens it does
seem to us that it would be difficult to crowd
into an article more of an inaccurate state
ment and inapplicable reasoning than will
be fonnd in bis rejoinder to Thk Constitu
tion about the salary grab in another column.
His assumption that we have abandoned
tbe position that toe Georgia Democratic
Congressmen who voted for and took the
back pay, misrepresented the State and
revolted the pnblic sentiment of our people,
as incorrect and ungrounded as
typical of his other positions.
Such assumption is a random assertion, or a
baseless fantacy. Mr. Stephens but confirms
ns in onr view. And we assure him that a
ringing denunciation of toe back pay spolia
tion and a refusal to share toe plunder by a
Georgia Congressman would have thrilled
the Democracy of Georgia like a trumpet
note, and toe failure to do so was felt as a
lost opportunity to vindicate Georgia’s reso
lute, unqualified opposition to pnblic wrong.
In this connection it is perhaps the proper
place to allude to Mr. Stephens’ contemptu
ous references to the universal public opin
ion on the subject, and to his utter miscon
ception of toe origin, nature and extent of
that opinion. With seeming flippancy be
characterizes it as a “tempest in a tea pot,”
and dismisses it as a mere passing gust of
popular caprice .hardly worthy of notice.
It may be that he and the few in
terested grabbers that he defends
may be wiser and more correct on
the subject than the overwhelming masses
of the people. The public condemnation of
this wrong began a half century ago with the
first commission of the offence, ana has flamed
into activity since whenever tbe occasion
arose. It drove the perpetrators to private
life. It nearly exiled Mr. Clay from public
position, and required bis humble acknowl
edgement of the wrong to save him. Tbe
last grab took place a year ago, yet toe pub
lic disapproval has never ceased its outspoken
utterance. State legislatures have con
demned it. Political conventions
all parties have denounced
Its perpetrators have been
most unanimously retired by indignant
constituencies. The public press has been
unit in its censure. Public sentiment every
where iu toe country, has put the seal of re
buke upon - it The National Congress has
had to go back upon its action in response
to the pressure of popular virtue; and its de
fense by Mr. Stephens, has evoked a renewal
of the stormof public censure, in and oat of
the State, and a biting criticism of his course
from his best friends. In private conversa
tion men disapprove and disagree with Mr.
Stepnena’ courte.
It may be that all this conscientious ex
pression of a long-sellled, deliberate,
thoughtful, well-grounded public judgment,
so unanimous, firm and consistent is a
“tempest in a tea-pot" as Mr. Stephens dis
dainfully diagnoses the matter, but we ap
prehend that those public servants who in
retirement will meditate on the effects of that
tea-pot tempest will think differently.
The two main points in Mr. Stephens’ re
joinder are that a technicality o$ the Con
stitution allowed the grab and therefore it is
right, and that certain old-time Congress
men of acknowledged honesty had perpe
trated a similar grab.
The first point is sophistical, and bis last
as to Georgians incorrect, and we challenge
the proof.
While the Constitution allows each
Congress to fix its own pay, it does not au
thorize any CoDgress to take pay twice for
the same service, nor was its object to allow
excessive or improper pay. The truth is
THAT THB BACK FAY GRAB WAS NOT A LEGITI
MATE EXECUTION Of, BUT AN OUTRAGEOUS
abuse of the law. Congress may have had
the power under the law to abuse it, but tbe
possession and exercise of the power does
not justify that abuse. In the imperfection
of human ordinances there are many things
technically legal that are legally wrong, and
many things physically possible that are
gravely objectionable.
We have a pertinent analogy to Mr. Steph
ens’ argument on this point. A man was
caught trying to br ie a jury. A graver
crime is hardly possible. Its success would
overturn all law. TLe man could not be in
dicted because his at empt at bribery was
made on the bailiff aud not directly on tbe
jury. The law specified toe attempt of bri
bery on a jury as a crime but noton the bailiff
to reach toe j ary. The intent was the same.
The consequences were the same. The vio
lation to right was the same. The iojuiy to
society was the same. Yet through the im
perfection of the law toe criminal escaped
in one case that would have been pnnished in
toe other.
The back pay grab of the last Congress
shocks moral sense, and is a violation of busi
ness honesty. It is just as much wrong as if
the law condemned it instead of improperly
allowing it. And we are glad to see for his
own sake that Mr. Stephens avowedly dis
claims the discussion of its expediency, and
simply relies on his constitutional technicali
ty. This technicality, like the bribeiy law,
saves toe criminal, but it don’t relieve the
moral aspects of the crime. The briber
walked out of court relieved of penalty, bat
none toe less of a self-convicted though un
punished briber. The back pay grabber
safeiy clutches his spodation and rests on his
technicality, but that makes him none the
less a grabber in the eyes of an indignant
and discriminating public.
Mr. Stephens’ references to toe nnconsti-
tutionality cf a law changing the matter is
irrelevant. Whether it takes a law or an
amendment to the Constitution to change the
improper power to take back grab, the change
sboul i be made.
Upon tbe second point, we deny that onr
worthy public men in the past, 'whom we
have commended, have committed a like
spoliation, and challenge the proof.
Look at this last grab. Its features are
peculiar, exclusive and unique in their
wrong. An entire session had passed, been
paid for by appropriation, receipted for by
toe members nnder an existing law that Tiaj
been in force for a number of years, and the
settlement closed np. At the close of the
next session a new law of compensation was
passed, changing the old law and increasing
the direct pay on account of yielding certain
perquisites of mileage and postage enjoined
under the old law. Mark you, the full ben
efit of the old law was reaped by the mem
ber-mileage, postage and all. Tbe work was
done, and done a year, it was paid for am’
receipted by legal appropriation. Jr
thought of further pay entered the heai
of membtrs at the time. When the new law
passed this thought of further service done
and paid for and settled by receipt was car
ried out.. The pay was increased to
$7,500 a year instead of $5,000, and the ad
ditional $2,500 was among other things to
offset mileage, postage, etc. Those Constitu
tion-obeying members, who had drawn
$5,000 a year, mileage and ppstageffor
two sessions, under toe old law, drew $3,500
more under the new law, thus getting the
benefits of both laws for the same time.
If
Mr. Stephens is right that they should have •
taken advantage of the new law, then thw
had no right to the benefit of the old law. It
they got toe benefit of the old law, the benefit
of toe new law in addition was spoliation.
To take both was robtery—pure, una
dulterated, square out robbery—unautbor-
izedby any part of toe constitution, and.
in violation of both law and honesty.
We deny that any of the Georgia Con
gressmen referred to by us in the past, havo
perpetrated this grab, and we challenge
Mr. Stephens to the proof. And we say
further, if such wrong can bo proven on
them, it will make no difference in the public
estimate of such wrong, nor in our condem
nation of it. . . . •
There are several additional points we in
tended alluding to, but toe length of the
article forbids. We perhaps should add, «
that Mr. Stephens being manifestly de-*-yJ
termined to handle us with gloves off, wc
deem it necessary to abandon our previous
mild course ueprecatory of a discussion,
meet Mr. Stephens squarely, and let The
Constitution take to the people simultane
ously both its position and his.
TBE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S WIFE
now Mr*. vrilllam*wa* Married a*a
uirl. Ditorcetfi *n«ln Blorned,
Widowed and FlsstUry
Settled In Gife.
Washington Cosip in General
Coirespoodenee of the CouritrJwimsl]
Washington, December 16,1873.
Ooserving the call you make in the Cou
rier Journal for correspondents to enlighten
the reading public in regard to the sinister
insinuations about Judge Williams obtaining
a divorce for the lady who is now bis wife,
and as I have the particulars, and they con
tain nothing to toe discredit of either party,
I do not hesitate to write what I have no
doubt is the truth. Mrs. Williams’ maiden
name was Hughes, and she was born near
bt. Louis. While still a child, her parents
moved to Keokuk, Iowa. At the age of
fifteen Mrs. Williams did what many a fool
ish girl has dene before and since that time—
ran away and married a man of whom her
paren ts u isapproved. The husband was also
too young tor the responsible duties he had
assumed, and before toe birth of their child
his wife had the most convincing proofs of
his infidelity, bhe was ill and came near
dying, but the kind physician who was in at
tendance took her home to her father's house,
and there was a suit brought for divorce.
Judge Williams had known her from child
hood and granted the divorce.
her second habbiagb. *
Mrs. Williams remained single for some
years, when she again trusted her happiness
into a husband’s keeping and made a second
mistake. Judge Williams was also married,
and the two knew nothing of each other’s
whereabouts for many years. Mrs. William^’
husband was a drunkard, and they becam
very poor. Then she took matters in hf
own hands, left her husband, and opened?
school in Oregon. She taught and earned
money. One day a letter lrom- California
that her husband was dying in a hospital.
Nobly ehe forgot all the sorrow he had
caused, and she promptly responded to the
call, and nursed him and supplied his wants
until his death. After the funeral she re
turned to her school, which she kept until
Judge Williams, who was now a widower,
ASKED HBR TO BECOME HIS WIFE.
This was about the time he became United
States Senator. This last marriage has proved
happy and prosperous. Mrs. Williams’
beauty is more than common and of a rare
type. Very dark hair, with very blue eyes
that have long dark lashes. Her complex
ion is fair and clear, features good, though
not regular. Her form ia full, as it should
be, after the heyday of youth ia passed. She
has beautiful neck and arms. She dresses
well, though not extravagantly; for, with all
the receiving she does and the invitations she
accepts, I don’t think any winter she has had
over Bix expensive dresses. I know 1 have
seen some of the old ones tamed and re
trimmed. Mrs. Williams is an admirable
housekeeper and manager. She is generous
and hospitable. She has always taken in
and understood the situation; and, without
intrigue, or in any other way but such as a
fond and good wife can do without blame,
she has used her best endeavors to advance
her husband’s best interests, tbe has even
gone further, and exerted herself to make toe
whole Administration popular. Second only
to Mrs. Fi-h has she been in returning all
calls and receiving all graciously.
How «o Lead a low.
The Ames. (Iowa,) Intelligencer has the
following: Every woman will tell you that a
man can be lea easier by putting an arm about ^
his neck, than by pulling his hair, but we
never knew till recently, that the reason you
can’t lead a cow behind a wagon, is becausfl
she objects to having her boms pulled, fhe
other day a red shifted emigant passed
through here on his way to Carroll county; A
erih^
bis family and household possessions w
in a covered wagon, to toe hind end of
which was fastened a cow. Behind her
with a sharp stick, walked the emigrant,
givxrg her a smart welt occasionally when
she hung back. Evtry now and then sbo
would brace herself and stop the team, and
then in unclerical language he wouid be*
seech her to go on, marking each forcible
period with a prod of toe sharp stick The
poor cow rolled her eyes, and rolled her
tongne. The poor emigrant, too, was dusty,
and tired, but his voice and stick didn’t fail
him. _ She hail suddenly halted the proces
sion in front of the post office, and was
shaking her head in reply to his earnest en
treaties, when a man called out to Red Shirt
that he didn’t “understand cows worth a
cent.”
, 'Y e )!» are you S oin S to do about it?”
asked Red Shirt.
“Why, just take that rope off her boms,
and put it around her neck, and she’ll lead as
quiet as a lamb. If she don’t I’ll follow her
am le myself.”
The rope was changed to her neck, and the
team started.- The cow gave a look of sur
prise, and walked along.
“Well, that beats ail,” said Red Shirt, and
without a word of toanks he mounted his
wagon. The procession moved slowly on
towardJCarroll countyjand the cow followed
with countenance as placid as if she were
walking boms at milking time.
Dr. MvnBey has again returned to his home
***** ® Tery successful tour of lecturing i»
Middle and West Tennessee.