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, , , |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.