The Weekly sun. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1870-1872, November 22, 1871, Image 6

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The Weekly sun., November 22, 1871, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6. THE ATLANTA WEEKLY SUN. THE DAILY SUN Thursday Mousing. November 16 The 14th Amendment—Persons » Eligible to Office Under It. As many persons seem not to under stand who are and who e!te not eligible to office under the 14th Amendment, and as the action of the present Radical Con gress in relation to the admission to his seat of Col. Waddell, a Democratic mem ber of Congress from North Carolina, has made still more plain that which seemed plain enongh before, hut not properly understood by many, we have concluded to discuss the question this morning. The Amendment, as to office holding, ia in the following words: section 5. No pcrHou »b*U bo ft S«n*tor or Ropre- R.raUvo in OODXrros or elector of Bresidcnt and vtcorreuldent. or bold auy office civil orroilitafy, VICO " _ ' _ nv Mu* u .|. n nZnUr of at* State. Legislature, or as any Lxecu- t Z at JwUeiM officer of »ny SUte, to support tlie 0 # Uuilfcd States, aud shall have Cons ^ ti l n i° surrectl .u or rebellion ajainst the enb“fe e " . , a irt or comfort to the eneiuien there- — Ine i < ? „ may, by a veto of two-thirda of etch U?u®e?remo» e such disability.—359, Vnited Hiatts Statutes at Large. The wording of tho above amendment clearly shows that the Congress passing it only intended to punish those persons in the Southern States, who conjointly made the laws, before the war, and that afterwards engaged in the war; and not to punish the merely ministerial offi cers, attached to the Legislative, Execu tive and Judicial departments of the Stale Governments, and only performing certain duties prescribed bylaw. evidence of this, it is known tbut it requires the conjoint ac tion of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Departments of the State Gov ernment to,make a law perfect. The first two may make a law, and yet, if the third, or the Judicial Department, when called npon to decide, does not declare it to be a law, it is not law. A member of the Legislature is not “sn officer” under our Constitution, and is not recognised “«n . fficer” while sitting as a mem ber, and making laws, &c. j while, on the other hand, a Governor is recognised as an “offioer” in the making of a law, and a Judge is recognized as an “officer” in declaring what is law. Congress, therefore, to show clearly its m(inning, instead of using in tho Amend ment the w rds, “as a Legislative, Ex ecutive or Judicial officer, used the ■words, “ as a member of any State Leg islature,” thereby relieving from.puuish- menttlie Secretaries, clerks and other ministerial officers of the Legislative Department. It was evidently done for the purpose of showing, as dearly as possible, that it was only intended to pun ish or withhold office thereafter from the law-making powers, or persons, and not the Ministerial officers, who only per formed certain prescribed duties under the laws—having no power to“repeal”or to “suspend,” or to “declare” the law,as the “Legislative," the “ Executive”- and the “Judicial officers” have the power to do. This was our decided view of the mat ter at first, from which othera differed; but Congress itself has lately stripped the matter of all donbt with any one.— The case was this: Lieutenant-Colonel Y.'uJdell, of North Carolina, a l>emo- ciat, was elected to Congress. When he appeared last Spring to take his seat, ob jection was made, upon the ground that he had, before the war, held a Judicial office, viz: Clerk of the Court of Appeals, or Supreme Court of North Carolina, and had taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and afterwards was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Confederate army. The holding of the office of Clerk, &e., and the service in the Confederate army, were admitted; but it was contended that a Clerk of the Supreme Court, or any other Court, was not a “Judicial officer;” that he had no Judicial functions, but was merely a min isterial officer, attached to the Judi cial Department of the State, and va> not prohibited from holding office «nd*-r the 14th Amendment. Cor gress sustain ed this view of the matter, and admitted Col. Waddell to his seat. Who, then, under our Constitution, were Executive and Judicial officers »-e- f ore the war ? Our Constitution, before the war aud since, does not recognize and authorize but one Executive officer in the State, aud that one is the Governor. Both C-insti tutions, Article 2, Section 1, (old) and Article 4, Section 1, (new) say : “The Executive power shall be vested in a Governor, who shall,” &o., &c. Article 1, Section 2, old Constitution, says: “The Legislative Power shall be vested in two separate and distinct branch es, to-wit: A Senate and House of Repre sentatives, to be styled the General As sembly;” and Article 3, Section 1, new Constitution, says: “The Legislative Power shall t>e vested in a General As sembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Article 3, Section 1, of the old Consti tution, says: “The Judicial Powers of this State shall be vested in a Supreme Court for the Correction of Errors; a Superior, Inferior and Justices’ Courts, and such other Courts as the Legislature shall, from time to time, ordain and es tablish.” Having thus quoted our Constitution to sustain our view of it, and also pre sented the action of Congress, fully set tling the matter, it may then be asked, What State and County officers, who held said offices before the war, and who eligible to office under the 14th Amendment ? According to our Constitution and laws, and according to the action of Con gress, in the "Waddell case, the following officers, being ministerial, are not pro hibited from holding office under the 14th Amendment, even had they been Gener als, Colonels, Captains, or Privates, in the Confederate States Army: IN THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. The Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, aud their Clerks; Door-Keepers and Mes sengers. All elected by the Legislature. ■ judicial department: Clerk and Reporter of the Supreme Court, elected by the Court. Clerks of Superior and Inferior Courts, Sheriffs and Constables, elected by the people. Notary Public, appointed by Court. executive department: Secretaries to the Governor, Messen ger, Captain State House Guard, Stat= Librarian, Superintendent Lunatic Asy lum, Principal Keeper and Assistant of the Penitentiary, Superintendent W. & A. It. R., Auditor W. & A. R. R., Treas urer W. & A. R. R., appointed by the Governor. Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Comptroller General, elected by the Leg islature. Tax Receivers, Tax Collectors, County Suveyors, Coroners, elected by tho peo ple. Public Printer. Last night a caucus of a portion of the Democrats oi the Legislature was held to nominate a candidate for Public Prin ter. I was not present, and, in view of tbe action of the Senate yesterday on the question of the Public Printing, I did not suppose any nomination would be made. 1 learn that Mr. Hemphill, of this city, representing a combination of himself with Mr. J. W. Burke, of Macon, was proposed as a candidate, and that my name, also, was presented; and that the vote for Hemphill and Burke was 74, and for myself 30. 1 am informed that many Democrats did not attend—not expecting a nomina tion to be made—and that a number who were present protested against a nomina tion, in view of the pending action on the Senate bill, and retired. As it was, there were only 104 votes in all cast—lacking about 70 of the full Democratic strength in the Legislature. It is due to myself to state that I have not mingled with the members of the Legislature, but have remained closely engaged iu my office; and have not, at any time, done more than was stated in a circular on Tuesday last, to which my name was at tached, which was, a willingness to per form the work at a fair price, if the Leg islature should think fit freely to give it to The Sun Publishing Company; but I have earnestly urged, in the columns of The Sun, a redaction of the compensa tion now allowed by law, whether the work should he given to me or not; aud I do hope something will yet be done to secure this end. I am informed that one printer, in this city, made one hundred and fifty dollars in one weelc, setting type on the public printing, when the same work could have been done for twetUy-one dollars—the latter figure being the regnlar weekly wages of a printer in this city. The present law allows the Public Printer 30 per cent, on the “cost” of the work.— This 30 per cent, on 8150 made the State pay 8195 for that week’s work, and put 845 clear profit into the poeket of the Public Printer; whereas, if the type setting had cost only 821, the profit on it would have been only 86 30, and the whole cost to the State 827 30—which is exorbitant in itself; but tbe same cost ing 8195 to the State, shows how the present law can be abused. 1 trust it will be amended. It matters but little who performs the work, if the people be not unduly bled ro pay for it. I have put The Sun upon ! record as against all exorbitant compen sation, as well as abuse. er than now. The bonds sold by Clews & Co., were seven per cent, gold bonds, with quar terly gold coupons, and were sold for only 86 i—bo Mr. Clews reports. Gov. Jenkins’ account for advertising, in order to effect the sale of the three millions of State bonds, was only 8931, while Clews & Co. have charged 814,320 for selling a little over a million and a half, and for advertising for the other purposes named. French Victory. Here is one of the most notable in stances of the French triumphing over the veteran English: Yesterday a placard was seen perambulating the streets sur mounted with the word Reslerau. J. Henly Smith. Tlie Account of Henry Clews & Co. Gov. Jeukins raised temporary loans iu 1865 and 1866, and in the latter year (1866) negotiated a loan of three millions of dollars in currency bonds—all “for the purpose of raising fnnds to meet ap propriations made, and to be made, and for the repairs and equipment of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, and the renewal of bonds now due, and interest thereon, and bonds falling due.” The total commissions paid by him for nego tiating these loans was 81,110 61. Tbe act authorizing the issue of these bonds gave Gov. Jenkins authority “to employ an agent, or agents, to visit such places as he may direct, and negotiate npon such terms as the Governor may instruct”. We have quoted the language of the act, and that of the expenditure as stated in the account. The commissions for negotiating the entire three millions and raising the temporary loans, being only 81,110 61, while the commissions charged by Clews & Co., for selling one million six hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and for paying off a small amount of State bonds falling due, and the interest thereon, amounts to the enormous sum of Ninety-three Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-nine Dollars! Again, Gov. Jenkins sold seven per cent, currency bonds at 95 cents—the coupons payable semi-annually in curren- STATE MATTERS. Died—in Savannah—Frederick A Tup- per—aged 65. Heury Semken—rSavannah—counter feit money—bail 82,500. George Page has arrived in Amerieus. He was met at the depot by a large num ber of curious friends (?) aud a perfect escort accompanied him as far as the jail entrance. His bondsmen were especially glad to see him back. Forsyth will dedicate a new Methodist Church next Sunday. Base-Ball still survives in Savannah. The local of the Macon Telegraph says: “ This sort of weather may be good for young ducks, but it’s mighty hard on locals. ’ ” Then it may be inferred that the local of the Telegraph is not re garded as “ a duck of a fellow. Tom Wheeler of Columbus wheeled around under the influence of whisky Saturday night, until he wheeled himself into a ravine, hurt his head and died next morning. Five funerals tooki place in Columbus one Sunday. Barney Casey, a Columbus watchman, fell from a platform Monday night and broke his leg. Lingard will “Captain-Jinks” Macon Saturday night. The non-explosive has been operating in Rome, and came very near burning up the house of A. R. Smith. The Monroe Advertiser records the fol lowing phase of society: The monotony of Wednesday was disturbed by the ar rival of a black and tan individual, armed with au Enfield rifle, guarding a sorry looking spec ; men of humanity. The m. and b. had the hands of his prisoner tied with a stout cord, and compelled him to walk in advance and carry a sack con taining the evidence of his guilt. The scene was highly ludicrous. Cuffee rel ished his position keenly, and evidently felt himself the most important person age in tbe burg. When the case was called for a hearing, before Justice Ay- cock, the evidence was clear and to the point, but if anything was wanting to convince His Honor of the guilt of the accused, a clincher was furnished when the sack was produced in court. The prisoHer was committed to answer the charge of hog stealing at the next term of the Superior Court. Tl&e 14tli Amendment and the Officers or Persons Whom it Disqualifies. cy—this, when the current rates of in afterwards engaged in the war, are now ^jterest in ordinary transactions were high- Yesterday, we showed what officers, were known as Legislative, Executive and Judicial, and who were, under the Con stitution, dearly Ministerial, and, there fore, exempt from the disfranchisement of the 14th Amendment, not only by its plain language, but also, by the action of the present Congress iu Colonel Waddell’s case. We will now proceed to name, separate ly, the various State officers, &o., &c., whom said Amendment does exclude from office, where they have engaged in the late war. It prohibits (unless relieved by Con gress) the following State and Federal officers, where they “engaged” in the late war: Executive—All Governors who held that office previous to the war. Judicial—Judges of the Supreme, Su perior and Inferior Courts, Justices of the Peace, Ordinaries, Attorneys-Gene ral and Solicitors-General. Legislative—Senators and Represen tatives of the Legislatures, members of Congress previous to 1861. Also, all officers of the United States Government previous to that time. To disqualify any of these from holding any State or Federal office now, it must be established that he or they “engaged” in the war. Now, what is engaging in the war, under the 14th Constitutional Amendment? We will not attempt to define that matter, but will quote from the opinion of U. S. Attorney General Stansberry upon that subject. It is well known that, although the 14th Amendment had not been finally “ratified” in 1867, yet when Congress that year passed the Reconstruction Acts, it prohibited any one from voting or hold ing office that the 14th Amendment pro hibits from holding office; indeed, the very words of the material part of the Amendment were nsed in the oath of the registered voter. President Johnson, having submitted these Reconstruction Acts, with this 14th Amendment prohibition in it, to Attor ney General Stansberry, for his opinion, which that gentleman gave to the Presi dent and his Cabinet, who indorsed them, Congress, by Act of July 19,1867, in amending Mr. Stansberry’s opinions relative to the operation of the Recon- slrudion Acts, approved and indorsed these opinions, as to “ engaging in the rebellionby not changing them in the slightest degree. * Mr. Stansberry says: “A person who has held an office and taken an o ith to support the Constitu tion, and has not af terwaids engaged in the rebellion, is not disqualified.” (to vote and hold office nnder the 14th Amend ment) * * * “ENGAGING IN THE REBELLION.” “Two things must exist as to a person, to disqualify him from voting” (and holding office) : “First, the office held prior to the rebellion, and afterwards par ticipating in tho rebellion.” “An act to fix upon a person the of fense of engaging in the rebellion most be an overt and voluntary act, done with tbe intent of aiding or farthering the com mon unlawful purpose. ” “Mere acts of charity, where the intent was to relieve the wants of the object of such charity * * do not disqualify; but organized contributions of food and clo thing for the general relief of persons en gaged in the rebellion * * * may be classed with acts that do disqualify.” #****•*-* “All those who, in Legislative or other official capacity, were engaged in the furtherance of the common unlawful purpose, where the duties of tbe office necessarily had relation to the support of the rebellion, such as members of the rebel Congress and Legislatures, diplomatic agents of- the rebel Confederacy, and other offi cials, whose offices were created for the purpose of more effectually carrying on hostilities, or whose duties appertained to the support of the rebel cause, ifiust be held to be disqualified. ” “But officers who, during the rebel lion, discharged official duties mt inci dent to war, but peace, and were neces sary for the preservation of law, a r e not to be considered as thereby engaging in the rebellion and as disqualified. Dis loyal sentiments, opinions, or sympathies would not disqualify,. * * * “Persons paying taxes or forced con tributions are not disqualified, but vol untary contributions to the rebel caus% as arise from voluntary loan of money to the rebel authorities, or the purchase of bonds or securities created to afford means of carrying on the rebellion, will work disqualification.” From this it will be perceived that the above-named classes holding office prior to 1861 did not “disqualify” themselves from holding office now by merely hold ing during the war the ordinary minis terial offices of the State, nor by holding offices “not incident to war, but peace, and that were necessary to the preserva tion of law.” Unless they also furnished money to an “organized contribution,’ Ac., or loaned money to the Confedera cy, or bought ifa bonds or securities, they are not disqualified. With the 14th Amendment and Mr. Attorney General Stansberry's opinions before the country, it may reasonably be asked, “Why were so many Demo crats driven out of the last Legislature?’ The reply simply is, that it was done by usurpation and the bayonet, and without any autJiority whatever from the 14th Amendment. Congress be came hostile towards the Democrats of the last Legislature, because they turned out the negro members. Bollock knew the status of all the members, and he went on to Washington City and had an act passed to suit himself, or to give him a large majority ia the Legislature. To enable him to accomplish his pur pose, Congress, in the act of December, 1869, created new tests, outside of the 14th Amendment. Were evidence want ing that Congress knew that, in that act, it went outside of the 14th Amendment, and conld not be sustained even before a Radical Supreme Court, it is iu the fact that it only applied these new tests to the last Legislature, and to none other. Nor did it even apply them to any civil officer whatever, holding office at that time. Bullock and Gen. Terry, find ing that even this act of 1869, bad as it was, would not give Bullock such a majority as he desired, without any au thority whatever, Terry organized “a Military Board,” whose fiat, with the bayonet, drove other members from the Legislature, who could not be driven out otherwise. These are nothing but facts. If any one doubts them, let him take up the 14th Amendment, these opinions, the act of 1869, the action of Terry’s “Mili tary Board,” and see for themselves. We give facts which any one can verify by consulting the i4th Amendment, the opinion referred to, the act of Congress of 1869, and the conduct of Terry’s Military Board. >- •-* from every one. Carrington is a bom Clerk. What he does not know about it cannot be found in Cushing’s Manual; while his voice suits the business quite as well as Nilsson’s suits opera. He has the very voice for it, and can make him self heard without difficulty. Both these offices are well filled. >-•-« SUN-STROKES. Florida gives thanks on the 30th. « . A Louisville negro handled fire arms, and his friends went a black-bury ing. “A large bald eagle, of mammoth proportions, was recently shot near Riv erside, Florida.” What for ? Bogus Chicago refugees are in flicting themselves upon some portions of the West aud East. BSL. In the New York investigation now pending, is it likely that Oakey Hall will come out Hall O. K ? “The re-election war” is what the Harrisburg Patriot styles Grant’s action toward South Carolina. The New York Herald calls the thieving South Carolina carpet-baggers “black ducks of the Tammany breed. Nasby has gone to lecturing. The people have quit reading his articles; hence he has to go to reading them him self. The “chicken cholera” is com mon in this country but that must be the Turkey cholera which is ravaging Constantinople. “The great Tlieophilanthropocos- moplit-*rian” is a gentle epithet applied by the Louisville Ledger to George Fran cis Train. [ A good deal has been said about Boston being a “centre of intelligence. There is no doubt that she is very well Post-ed. f@“On a Denver bridge is this notice: “No vehicle drawn by more than one animal is allowed to cross this bridge in opposite directions at the some time.” A Vermont lover quit his girl. Tbe girl brings suit for time, wood and candles wasted in courtship—estimating damages at $40. She is a woman hf a practical turn of mind. The Democratic majority in Ma ryland is 15,000, and this in spite of 35 000 negro votes lately added to the Re publican party. “Bourbonism” does not work so badly after all, when taken straight. 12S3Y- The New York Herald admits of no doubt “that the fire in Chattanooga was the work of incendiaries, incited to the desperate act by the successful field discovered to them in Chicago.” >-»-* SSL The New York World says “some nations are born to Grand Dukes; others achieve Grand Dukes; and still others have Grand Dukes thrust upon them.”— From the way Alexis stays, however, it does not seem probable that this nation is destined to range within the last cate gory. The Delaware (Ohio) Herald says of Tom Scott as the Democratic candi date for the Presidency, that his indi vidual character, “modes of life, thought and business are about as much in har mony with the principles of the Democ racy as a pig’s squeal with the voice of Nilsson.” That ought to make the Scott men, wha for Tam hae bled, grunt. THE CAPITOL. “Who shall decide when doctors disa gree ?” is a question thatcomes up while considering the action of the Assembly, yesterday, relative to the matter of pub lic printing. The two houses seem to be decidedly contrari-minded upon the subject. The Senate, being in favor of the strictest retrenchment, favors the proposition to put the work out to the low est bidder. The House leans to the old rnle, which, was a liberal one for the printer, and passed a resolution to go into an election for ^Printer at noon yes terday. The Senate refused to concur in the House resolution, and the House refused to concur in the action had in the Senate.. There the matter rests :or the present. Senator Lester made an able argument upon the proposition to let to the lowest bidder. He is strongly in favor of re trenchment, and believes there is room for curtailing expenses in this printing matter. He bus evidently studied the matter carefully and understands tbe gist of the question. His speech had a mark ed influence npon the minds of the Sen ators. The House made a judicious selection when Maj. Cumming was chosen Speaker pro tern.', also in electing Carrington Clerk pro tem. Camming is admitted to be one of the ablest members of the House, one of the most thoughtful and attentive, and, in. or out of the Speaker’s chair, he commands the highest respect The Boston Advertiser says Stokes, of Tennessee, was only “a victim of un toward circumstances.” So was Hodge, So was Tweed, Sweeny and the balance of the “Ring.” In fact, the country is troubled with an epidemic of “untoward circumstances.” Almost every Radical office-holder has committed one. Scott, of South Carolina, and Bullock, of Geor gia, are believed to have committed huge “untoward circumstances.” A South Carolina paper thinks Union county owed his exemption from martial law to its name, Grant suppo sing that all the people of Union must be loyal. He had heard probably heard somewhere that “Marion” was the name of a “Rebel” General; therefore, he in cluded Marion county in the proclama tion, and if he had known that Sumter county was also named after a "Rebel General, no doubt that county would also have been included. The martial law bugaboo has been up and down before the eyes of the people of Georgia several times during the past two weeks. A few nights ago it was announced by telegraph that the President contemplated such a movement in some of the Western counties of this State. This report, however, is discred ited by the Washington correspondent of the Savannah News, who telegraphs the following, on the 14th : I understand that another Ku-Klux scarecrow was telegraphed hence last night to the effect that the President had un der consideration the propriety of sus pending the writ of habeas corpus in sev eral counties in northeastern Georgia.— There is no truth in the report. The President has hot even had any testimo ny presented to him on the suoject, and at the Attorney General’s office they have no information relative to such contem plated act on the part of the Executive. ■ as Thad Bullock, of the cess raised he will The New York Nation (as " St °' ena cver was) speaking of ’ SRy6: “ He 13 one of the wors* gang, whom the reconstruction pm! ’sod into power at the South, and probably endeavor to ; Washington this winter as a Unionist The most entertaining part o{ veil letter is that in which he the Union men of the State that will soon be eaten np by the rebels.” ‘martyr. his warns they farewi On the GEORGIA MATTERS. Monday night, during the .rpepteofthcMp iLlZ 'gi The ram was the ;iloug sMe TI* rite's time, and the only those of the two s hL u , i) ea r and cast but feeble that fllc h- from their elevated iSrin'S®??? among the ropes and ;li forced every nowand thenTh* vessels against each other infW^ stoutest-hearted among the 42? ve and weather-beaten sailSrs despair of saving the S r of? he t .de. No time was to be lost. Denti, being crushed between the huH i ships was very probable at the nent Quickly, Mr. Healy, the se ? mate of the ship Tiger, who disco? the perilous situation of the oZ' _.er, leaped overboard, and at the risk- meeting the fate anticipated for th. ler man, lashed himself to the drovm carpenter, when both were hauled oty upon deck. Such au act of should not go unrewarded.—Savannah ered penter lying in torrents at were ered rays up night black. which two vessels i the brave most comrade, by the moment ond er pe of other ing safety ry sb News The Macon people failed to turn 0 nt and hear the lecture of Captain John p Brain; but they were never much mi brain. The Milledgeville Union learned that a fire occurred at Linton, Hancock coun ty, on last Friday night, destroying tho store of James R. Gause & Co., and TnVm Traywick. The cause of the fire known. Tho contents of both stores were entirely consumed. The Athens Watchman of Wednesdav says: We learn that a sanguinary affray occurred near town on Saturdav niffht last, between Mr. Hamilton Huggins and a young man named Cobb McDonald in which the latter cut Huggins, whereupon Huggins shot him twice with a pistol— the first ball passing through his chiu and the second through one of his lun«s We have not learned whether the cut re ceived by Huggins is regarded as dan gerous. McDonald is still alive—his re covery is doubtful. At the late Wilkes county fair, Gen Toombs had on exhibition, from his own garden, thirty-one varieties of fresh veg etable. At the same fair was a rifle made by Mr. H. D. Miuden, of Taliaferro county, of which the Washington Gazette says: The maker never worked at tho gun smith’s trade a single day in his life. He not only made the rifle, but made ev ery tool nsed in its manufacture. It was made in an ordinary country blacksmith shop. The only materials purchased were the mountings, and they in the rough. The stock was made from black walnut, cut by himself, from Little river swamp. We profess to be a good judge of guns, and do not hesitate to say that the one exhibited by this unknown Geor gian surpasses anything of the kind we have ever seen. It was not made origi nally for exhibition, but for his own pri vate use. It took the premium at Au gusta over guus manufactured bv the most skillful workmen. Died—Mr. Hilliard Crutchfield, of Macon. Greensboro Herald's a big frost. Macon gents are gorging themselves on partridges, to see who can eat most. The building committee of Mercer University is preparing to go to work in Macon. The Savannah Advertiser intimates that they have treed Robb in “the last ditch,” and nothing is now left but to unearth him. Savannah records the latest accident from the “ non-explo3ive. ” Nothing fatal. The Barnesville Gazette announces “the explosion of a kerosene lamp.” A deer was captured near Savannah, the other day. He attempted to swim from Hutchinson’s Island to the city and was overtaken by a pair,of boatmen. The ‘"hop” season has commenced in Bainbridge. On Friday lost, in driving a cotton gin, Mr. William Pearman, of this county, was caught in the cogs and instantly killed. He was an industrious aud sober man, and had lost one of his eyes in the cause of his country. A negro of this county was last week' deprived of an arm, whilst feeding the gin. On Wednesday last, says the Covington Enterprise, Mr. A. J. Belcher, Dear Starrsville, Newton county, was severely hui;t by having his right band caught in a gin, terribly lace rating tbe whole hand, aud nearly sev ering his middle finger. Mr. Joseph F. Ship, of (Social Circle, says the Walton Journal, and last Saturday, while super intending the working of his cotton gin, was caught by the saws of the gin, and before he could be extricated, his arm was badly mutilated. He is now doing well, and it is thought amputation will not be necessary.—Greensboro Herold. Bainbridge is plotting to hold a mass temperance meeting. -> % .» Strawberries, Will wonders never cease ? Only a day or two ago we were luxuriating in the second growth of June apples. Yester- aay v>e did better. Our young friend, B. J. Wilson, of Echols & Wilson, brought us some very fine specimens of straw berries, just gathered from a patch on his father’s Willow Brook Farm, near West End. The berries were large for any season, fully jape, and as delicateiy flavored as though their sweetness had been borrowed from the perfume-bur- geoued breath of May. Strawberries, picked from the. bed about about tho middle day A November, is somewhat of a rarity. .