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THE DAILY SUN.
Fird ay, January 12, 1872.
GEO IIGIA LEGISLATURE.
FIRST DAT’S FBOCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
THE ATLANTA WEEKLY SUN.
January 10, 1872.
Tho Senato was called to order at 10
o’clock, a. M„ by the President Prayer
by Rev. Mr. Warren. The roll was
called, and a quorum found present.
Mr. Hinton offered a resolution in
structing tho Secretary to inform the
House that the Senate is prepared for
tho transaction of business, which was
adopted.
A message of like tenor was received
from the House.
Mr. Lester offered a resolution pro
viding for a joint committee of five to'in
form the Governor of the organization
of the two branches of the General As
sembly; adopted.
After a short absence, the committee
reported that they had so informed the
Governor, who stated that ho would com
municate with the General Assembly at
12 m. to-morrow.
Mr. Hillyer introduced a bill to amend
the charter of Atlanta, which was read
the first time.
Mr. Jones—A bill to authorize the Or
dinary of Baker county to indorse the
guaranty of said county on the bonds of
the Camilla and Cuthbert Railroad to the
extent of thirty thousand dollars, for the
purpose of building a bridge.
Mr. Heard—A bill to change the line
between Green and Morgan counties.
Mr. Reese offered the following reso
lution: Whereas, The State School Com
missioner, in a letter dated 19 th day of
December, 1871, to teachers and officers,
has made charges against the present
General Assembly, desired and calculated
to destroy public confidence in the same.
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives, that a committee of two
from the Senate and three from tho
House be appointed to consider and re
port thereon whether the same be true
or not, and any resolution which should
be adopted relative to the matter con
tained in said letter; adopted.
Mr. Wellborn—A bill to amend an act
incorporating the Darien Banking Com
pany.
Mr. Hinton—A bill to regulate the le
gal advertising in the several counties.
On motion, the Senate adjourned until
10 a. m. to-morrow.
HOUSE.
MORNING SESSION.
At 10 a. m. the House was called to or
der by Hon. J. B. Cumming. Prayer by
Rev. Mr. Jones. The roll was called and
a quorum was found to be present.
A message from the Governor was re
ceived, transmitting the returns of an
election field in Macon county to fill the
vacancy of Mr. L. C. Jones, whose seat
was declared vacant at the last session.
Mr. H. L. Hill, the member elect, came
forward and was sworn in
On motion of Mr. Kelly, Mr. Julian
Hartridge of Savannah, was invited to a
seat on this floor.
The resignation of Hon. J. M. Smith
member from Muscogee, was read
On motion of Mr. Pierce, the Clerk
was instructed to announce to the Senate
that the House was organized and ready
for business.
A resolution by Mr. Hall of Upson,
providing for the appointment of a Joint
Committe to wait upon the acting Gov
ernor, and notify him that the General
Assembly was organized, and ready for
business, was adopted.
A similar resolution from the Senate
was concurred in.
Mr. Davis of Newton, moved to take a
recess for one hour in order to hold a
caucus. ’
Messrs. Scott and W. D. Anderson op
posed the motion as without a precedent.
Mr. Edwards favored it.
SECOND DAI S PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
January 11, 1872.
The S enate met at 10 o’clock, a. m.,
President Trammell in tho chair. Prayer
by Rev. Mr. Ketehum. The roll was
called, and the journal read and ap
proved.
^ Mr. John J. Park, .Senator elect of the
44th District, was qualified.
small that the extreme partisan press has
been ashamed to publish the vote—have
gone to the polls and , given
their sanction to this political
scheme of their party leaders, while an
overwhelming majority have refused to
issume any such responsibility, or lend
any countenance to any such unwarrant
able violation of the fundamental law of
the State.
Under these circumstances, I feel that
I may safely submit the question to the
The following bills were read the first General Assembly, and rely upon the ex
time: • ercise by it of all the magnanimity nec-
Ry Mr. Reese—To provide for filling j cssary to conrect the error into which, in
vacancies in offices under the 4th section, a heated excitement, it inadvertently fell,
article 2d, of the Constitution; also, to Should the General Assembly, howey-
ereate a County Court in each county in e ®> declare that Hon. James M. Smith is
this State. the duly elected Governor of Georgia, in
Ry Campbell—A bill to make penal the i accordance with their view of the Con-
refusal of mill owners and others to re- j stitution, X shall submit to a decision,
deem certain scrip issued by themselves from which I have at present no appeal,
to employees. In my first message to your late ses-
By Mr. Burns—To change the time of s i° n J I announced to you and the coun
holding the Superior Courts of Cherokee tiy, my ardent desire for a return of
Circuit. peace and harmony, and good feeling
By Mr. Jones—To incorporate New- among the people of the State, without
ton, Baker county; to appoint commis- regard to party distinctions. This an-
sioners for the same, aDd for other pur- nouncement was made after mature re
poses. flection, and was in accordance with my
Bv Mr. Candler—To relieve plaintiffs I B °lemn convictions of duty,
from costs in certain cases. H I had then been met by the Ger.e-
By Mr. Kibbee—To amend an act to 181 Assembly in the same spirit of harmo-
establish a system of public instruction, I n y and forbearance, there would to-day
approved Oct. 13, 1870; also, to change scarcely have existed anything like di-
the lines between Dodge and Pulaski j vision or party strife, and every Georgian
counties; also, to repeal an act author- conld have hailed the dawn of a brighter
izing justices of the peace to act as road da 7 ^ or the good people of our glorious
commissioners in Pulaski county. j Commonwealth. eBnt it is not yet
By Mr. Matthews—To change the line too late to do g ood l and I a 8 ain earnest-
between Taylor and Talbot counties. invoke the exercise of caution, wisdom
By Mr. Nicholls—To change the time and moderation. Nothing, in my judg-
of holding the Superior Court of Cam- ment » could be moie unfortunate for the
den county. peace and prosperity of the State, than
By Mr. Nunnally—To incorporate the I a system of revolutionary measures in-
Spalding Manufacturing Company of I tended to open the healing wounds, and
Griffin. again excite our people under the influ-
By Mr. Simmons—To incorporate the ence of prejudice and passion to thecom-
Southern Immigration and Land Com- mission of acts that may cause them to
pany of Georgia; also, to authorize the I P ass through additional years of trying
Governor to issue bonds to pay State adversity and deep mortifying humilia-
bonds falling due in 1872. ^ on * ? a must come, I am
By Mr. Black—To incorporate the determined that I wiU not be the guilty
town of Eatonton, Sumter county. P ar f-f P roducu ?8 it.. I desire to see no
By Mr. Smith—To incorporate the 1 farther necessity for Federal interference
People’s Savings Bank of Newnan. m management of our internal do-
A House resolution providing for a mestic affairs, and I will not be the party
joint committee of five to consider and *° mvoke it. I consider the return of
report on adjournment was taken up and harmony and prosperity to the afflicted
concurred in. people of this State infinitely more lm-
By Mr. Estes—To authorize the Judge P° rta , nfc than that I, or the Honorable
of the Superior Court of Hall county to Speaker of the House, or any other gen-
hold court for two successive weeks. tleman, should fill the Executive chair
By Mr. Simmons.—To incorporate the I the next few months. Indeed, if I
Central Insurance Company of Macon;
also, to prevent the purchase and sale or
farming out of offices in this State.
Bills were read the second time.
, O
ket at all, but were to bo held simply as 1 The foregoing statement covers every I so the attorney for Messrs. Henry Clews
temporary collateral for any advances description and character of bonds that 1 & Co., who advanced the money with
they might make to the State until the j have been issued during the administra-1 which the road was built, as far as
gold bonds provided for in the act of i tion of my predecessor, and from it your ; pleted; and os it is very desir
September 15, 1870, could be prepared honorable body will see that the only ' ‘ '
and substituted for them, and that as kinds of bonds issued by him that are
soon as such gold bonds were substituted, now outstanding, and "that are a claim
the currency bonds were to be cancelled against the State, are the $3,000,000 of
and returned to this Department. j gold bonds issued under authority of the
The gold bonds were subsequently act September 15, 1S70, and the $1,800,-
prepared, and were intended to be sub- 000 of gold bonds issued to the Bruns-
stituted for these currencies, and to be wick & Albany Railroad Company in ac-
nsed for the purposes provided for by cordance with the act of October 17,
the act under which they were issded.
In pursuance of the understanding above
mentioned, there have been cancelled
and returned to this office of these cur
rency bonds $ 500,000
The balance of these bonds are ,
now held.by the following par
ties:
Messrs. Clews & Co., of New York, have...
Messrs. J. Boorman Johnson & Co., of
New York, have 120.000
Russell Sage, of New York, lias 580 OuO
The Fulton Bank of Brooklyn has 50,000
considered as being in any way a claim incurred by the General Assembly during
agamst the State, because they were can- the time that my predecessor was in office,
celled by the substitution of the gold is represented by the indorsement of the
bonds in their stead. I have written to State upon bonds of railroad companies,
the various parties who now hold them, The railroad upon whose bonds the
informing them of this fact, but they indorsement of the State has been placed
decline^ to return them on the ground i during the adm nistration of Governor
that it is not customary to surrender any Bullock, and the amount of such indorse-
secnrity until the account is closed. ment as they appear from the records of
Under the authority of the act of this department, and from the books in
September 15, 1870, there were pre- the offices of the Secretary of State and
pared and issued three million I Treasurer, are as follows:
dollars, ($3,000,000) of gold bonds Alabama & Ch»ttanoog* $ 194,100
of the State, having twenty Brunswick & Albany 3,3u0,000
years to run, with interest at 7 per cent., m
payable quarterly, in gold com. These Macon & Brunswick 2,150,000
bonds were issued for the purpose, as 2 *°*op°
slated in the act, of meeting mid redeem- South Georgia A Florida .
ing all bonds of this State, and the cou- Total $6,923,100
IS wlTii n °^. due ’ °a 7 hen s f, me At the last session of the Legislature,
fa fe n 2 ae> an , d t OX SU ^ other the charter of the CartersviUe & Van
S? I ^ * th f 1 Asse “ b S “ ay Wert Road was so amended as to change
* ‘S® , tbe P 1 ? 06 °j cur- tlie name of that road to the Cherokee
rency bonds that had been issued for tern
porary purposes.
Of these gold bonds there were placed in
the hands of Messrs. Henry Clews A Co.,
of New York, for sale and to secure ad-
wete satisfied that the government of the
State would be administered on the line
of moderation and conservative caution
looking to the good of the whole, rather
Mr. Coleman introduced a Resolution I * bau th® interest of parly, I would re
that each member of the General Assem- J ord y without contest, but with-
bly be furnished with a copy of the laws ou ^ personal mortification or regret,
of the last General Assembly, as pub- I beg to call the attention of the Gen-
lished by H. R. McCamy, Esq., which oral Assemblyto the fact that.seven kun-
was tabled. cured and thirty thousand dol ars of the
The following message was received j principal of the public debt of this State,
from the Governor and read. ~" i “' ‘
Executive Department, )
Atlanta, Ga , January 11, 1872. J
To the Senate and House of Bepresenta- \
lives :
contracted prior to the late unfortunate
war, falls due during the present year,
and no provision, whatever, has been
made to meet this large sum. If we are
to maintain the credit of the State,
•prompt provision must be made to meet
not only this, but every other just or le
I transmit herewith to the President of 12 a ^ obligation into which she has entered,
the Senate, a number of sealed packa- I cannofc t0 ° strongly reiterate my utter
ges which have been delivered by the pbkorance of repudiation in any and all
postmaster at this place to this Depart- forms. We must pay every debt
ment, supposed to contain the returns of legally contracted by the constitutional
an election for Governor, held on the I authorities of the State, or we shall stand
nineteenth dav of the past month. before the world with the mark of infamy
While I feel that it is proper that I lay indelibly fixed upon us.
these returns before the General Assem- The people of the State do not yet
bly, my mind lias undergone no change I fully realize the effect that such action
ou the question of the validity of the must produce. The destruction, or great
election. 5*1 gave in detail my objections depreciation of our credit, compels us to
to the bill when it passed the General levy enormous taxes to meet our neces-
Assembly, and I do not propose to repeat ities, or to sell our bonds in the market
them here. To my mind they were con- at a sacrifice too heavy for us to bear. If
elusive, that the Act was in direct viola- provision is not speedily made to meet
tion of the Constitution of this State, all legal demands falling due, it will cost
and therefore a nullity. us probably from one and a half to two
After the receipt of my message,giving millions of dollars in bonds, to raise the
On motion, the motion to take a recess 'n>y objections to the bill, the respective money to pay thq seven hundred and
was laid on tlie table,
Mr. Pierce moved to go into the elec
tion of a Speaker.
Mr. Fain moved to set down the elec
tion for Friday next.
Mr. Bacon moved to set the time of
holding the election at 4 r. m. to-day.
Mr. Simmons, of Gwinnett, moved to
lay the whole matter on the table; lost.
A message from the Governor was re
ceived, saying that the resignation of
Hou. J. M. Smith had been accepted.
Mr. Bacon’s motion to set down the
election for 4, r. m., to-day, prevailed.
By Mr. Scott—A bill to raise a reve
nue for 1872, was read the first time.
The committee appointed to wait on
the Governor reported that ho would
communicate with the General Assembly
at 12 M., to-morrow.
Mr. W. D. Anderson offered a resolu
tion providing for the appointment of a
committee to investigate and report what
legislation may be necessary to protect
the people of this State from excessive
railroad tariffs. Ho made an eloquent
speech in favor of his resolution. Pend
ing action the Hoase adjourned until 4
p. m.
afternoon session.
The House was called to order at 4 p.
M., and on motion of Mr. Hudson, went
into the election of a Speaker.
Mr. Pou nominated Hon. J. B. Cum
ming, who received 135 votes.
Ou motion of Mr. Bacon, a committee
was appointed to conduct Mr. Cumming
to the chair.
Mr. Cumming, upon takiug the chair,
made a neat and appropriate speech, in
which he thanked the House for the
compliment bestowed upon him, at the
same time paying a deserved tribute to
the merit and worth of his competitor in
the caucus Mr. W. D. Anderson.
Mr. Pierce moved to go into an elec
tion for Speaker protem. He nominated
Hon. W. D. Anderson, of Cobb, who re
ceived 130 votes,and was declared elected.
A motion to suspend the rules, to read
a number of b:lia the first time, was
made.
Mr. W. D. Anderson opposed the mo
tion, urging that there is no necessity for
more legislation now, when a session was
brought to a close a short time ago, and
that the session ought not to be pro
longed.
Mr. Simmons of Gwinnett said that
there will be some interest on the State
bonds falling due before long, and ar
rangements ought to be made to meet
the payment thereof.
On motion of Mr. Rawls, the call of
the counties was taken up. Before any
bills were read, the House adjourned
until 10 a. m. to-morrow.
.. . , $2,000,000
None of these currency bonds can be
1S70. The actual liability of the State,
therefore, incurred during his adminis
tration, is represented by the sum of
$4,800,000. It should not be forgotten
that a large portion of this sum has been
devoted to the redemption of bonds
tailing due in 1870 and 1871, and in years
SOO.OOO ] previous thereto, and to the payment of
interests on them and on others still to
fall due. The debt of the State is not,
therefore, actually increased by that
amount.
The contingent liability of the State,
vances made by them upon the curren
cies and otherwise $1,750,000
There were placed in the hands of Russell
Sage, of New York, for the same purpose
There were deposited in the Fourth Na
tional Bank of New York 300,000
There were placed in the hands of A. 8.
sion 100,000
KS- Leavenworth, Kansas, has a di
vorce suit styled Jelly vs. Jelly. Cer
tainly the peace of that family ought to
have been preserved.
Houses of the General Assembly, as was thirty thousand dollars falling due this
their constitutional right—the members year. Besides this, the credit of our
acting under their official oaths—recon- merchants will be greatly damaged in
sidered the bill,and it was passed by a two-1 the markets of the world. Capital
thirds majority of each House. Whether "will be turned into other States for in
right or wrong, this gave it the effect vestment, and men of honor and integ-
of law till set aside as unconstitutional rity elsewhere will refuse to locate among
by a tribunal having jurisdiction of the us, or to have any association with us.
question. The bill was fatally defective, The effect of such a policy is too revolt-
however, as was tacitly admitted by the big for contemplation, and I will not ex-
two Houses, as it made no provision for press a doubt but that the General As-
receiving and counting the votes, and de- sembly will take up this subject at an
daring the result. early day, and give it earnest, energetic
To remedy this defect, a supplemental attention, until they have provided for
bill was introduced, which, however, was the prompt discharge of every just or
not passed till within five days of the legal obligation of this State, now due or
expiration of the forty days prescribed to become due.
by the Constitution for the duration of I 11 this connection, I have the honor
the session, unless the session be pro- to transmit herewith to your honorable
longed by a two-thirds vote of both body a full and complete statement of the
Houses, which vote the Constitution re- amount and character of the bonds is-
qnires to be laid before the Governor and sued daring the administration of my
approved by him; or being disapproved, predecessor. This statement is made
that it, before it takes effect, shall be re- from the records of this Department,
passed by a two-tliirds majority of each jand from the best sources of information
House. No such vote or resolution was at bis command, and may be relied upon
presented to me, as the Executive, for as being entirely correct,
my sanction, and the Constitution ad- -n ■, ,,
joumed the General Assembly at the ex- L U . n ? e * ? 6 authority of acts of the
piration of the forty days. Having five ^egiriature, passed in 1868, there were
days to consider the supplemental elec- J?f ued b ^ Governor Bullock, to pay off
tion bill, I gave it careful attention and the , “embers of the General Assembly,
felt bound to disapprove it, as it was only and other expenses of that body, and to
the supplement to a bill that was in my “ ee1 l due «“*^P aid > and
judgment a gross violation of the funda- fe interest matunng on the bonds of
mental law of the State. And as the S , tate U P to Febr °«7 I» 1869, $600,-
Geueml Assembly was not legally in ses- £S° of f ve ,? P er cent * c “? e ? c y bonds,
‘sion at the expiration of five days, j These bonds were never intended for
could not send it back with my objections, sale, but were only to be used as security
rad the biU failed, as many others have *or temporary loans made to the State
failed in the past history of the State, nn^snehioanscouldbemetbypaymcnts
for want of Executive approval. from ^ trea£ar y* The amount borrowed
I, therefore, respectfully submit the u P 0n tbe “ has , loanee been refunded,
matter to the General Assembly, acting, f? th ? books of the Treasury wdl proba-
asthe members thereof are, under tie show, and these currency jxmds, mtii
solemn sanction of an oath, and I insist tb e exception of two hundred and sixty-
that there is no law that authorizes the ei S ht ’ w “ch were deposited in the treas-
count of the returns now laid before von, to se< ^ e , e School Fund that has
or which gives to any tribunal the power been Q , b J State for general pur-
to declare the result. poses, have all been cancelled and re
turned to the Treasurer’s office.
I was fully satisfied, when the question Under authority of acts of the Gen-
was up for consideration at the late ses- oral Assembly, approved August 27,1870,
sion, that the people of Georgia did not September 15,1870, and October 5,1870,
desire an election for the short unexpired two millions of dollars ($2,000,000) of’
period of tho term for which Governor seven per cent, currency bonds were is-
BnUock was elected. The result lias sued by Governor Bullock for the pur-
verified the position I then occupied.— pose of being used as collateral security
After all the efforts that conld be made upon which to proenre temporary loans
by the party leaders and press of the for immediate use, which loans were to
State to arouse the people to take an in- be applied to the objects mentioned in
terest in the question, they have shown those acts.
their condemnation of the policy pur- These bonds were never intended, and
sued by the advocates of election, by were never offered for sale. They were
staying away from the polls and refusing issued for the simple reason that it re-
to participate in the election, or have quired some time for the preparation of
anything to do with it. They felt that the steel-engraved gold bonds, and the
the act was not only unnecessary, but.un- exigencies of the State demanded that
constitutional and void, and they have funds should be provided at once. The
Railroad, and the indorsement of the
State was placed upon tho bonds of the
road under its new name.
The bonds of tho Georgia Air-Line
Road, upon which the indorsement of
the State was placed, have been cancell-
500,0001 ed by the officers of that road, and re
turned to this Department, and are now
in the Treasurer’s office. This indorse-
whiton, of New York.................. loo.ooo 1 ment amounts to $240,000, and should bo
T the C purcha‘1 o n f tke^apuoi'bSwi’ng.!?? 250,000 deducted from the total amount above
There were given to Mr. John H. James stated. The sum Of $6,683,400 then re-
for the purchase of the Executive Man- 1 ma i nSj -which represents tho total amount
of contingent liability of the State, now
$3,000,0001 outstanding, incurred during the ad-
These figures account for tho whole is- ministration of Governor Bollock,
sue of these gold bonds. The statement It has been ascertained from the
of the account of Messrs. Henry Clews officers of the Macon & Brunswick Rail
& Co. with the State is in the Treasurer’s road Company, that $400,000 of the
office, and is open to inspection. The bonds of that company were indorsed by
detailed statements of the other parties Governor Charles J. Jenkins, no record
have not been forwarded to this office, of which indorsement is found on the
but I have written to obtain them, and books of this Department. If we add
they will probably be * transmitted at an this sum to that last above stated, we
early day. have an amount of $7,083,400, which
According to the Treasurer’s report for represents the whole amount
tho year ending December 31, 1870, of contingent liability incurred
there fell due during the years 1870 and by the State since the adoption of the
1871, bonds of the State amounting to policy known as ‘‘State Aid.” The con-
$215,000. The larger portion of this ditions upon which this aid is granted
amount, together with a part of the in- are familiar to your honorable body. As
terest upon other bonds of the State as the State does not indorse the bonds of
it fell due has been met from the pro- any road until a specified portion of that
ceeds of these gold bonds, as also the road has been actually completed, and
£15,000 sterling of bonds, which then only for a sum equal to half the
fell due in 1868, and the £3,000 inter- cost of construction, and as she has
est due thereon. Large advances have prior lien upon the property of the road
also been made upon these bonds to pay in the event the conditions upon which
the claims passed upon by the Board of her indorsement is given, are not com-
Commissioners appointed to audit claims plied with, it is not believed that she will
against the Western and Atlantic Rail- ever be the loser to any great extent, and
road, and to pay the liquidated claims this contingent liability should not by
provided for in the act. Notes of the any means be put down as actual indebt-
Western and Atlantic Railroad for large edness.
amounts given for the purchase of cars, The above statement covers the whole
engines, etc., and falling due in 1870 period that my predecessor was in office,
and 1871, have also been paid from the and is a complete and accurate summary
proceeds of these gold bonds. An in- of his official action in the matter of
vestigating committee of your honorable which it treats,
body can readily ascertain what has be- I desire again to call attention to the
come of every dollar that has been real- fact that there are now due, and unpaid,
ized from the sale of these gold bonds.— a number of rewards for the apprehen-
These gold bonds have all been prepared sion of persons charged with crime; al-
in strict conformity with the law author- so, a number of accounts against the
izing their issue, have been duly regis- State for printing Executive proclama-
tered by the Comptroller-General, in a tions, orders, etc. It is not now to be
book kept for that purpose, and by him considered whether this indebtedness
reported to the Treasurer in precisely the was wisely or unwisely contracted
manner the act prescribes. the parties holding these claims against
Under the authority of an act of the the State did, in good faith upon their
General Assembly, approved October 17, part-, perform the services for which they
1870, temporary lithographed gold bonds now ask compensation, and the State has
to the amount of $880,000 were prepared received the benefit of their labor, it is
and issued and placed in the hands of the but just and right; that their claims
officers of the Brunswick and Albany should be paid, and I respectfully recom-
Bailroad Company, to be used for their mend that provisions bo made promptly
temporary requirements until the regular for their payment.
steel-engraved gold bonds of the State In-pursuance of tho act of the Gene-
authorized by that act to be issued to the ral Assembly, approved March 12, 1866,
company could be prepared. These I applied to the proper department of
regular steel-engraved gold bonds were the Federal Government and obtained
soon after issued, and the $880,000 litho- Georgia’s quota of tha land scrip donated
com-
. - that it
be completed its entire length, I thought
it advisable to place Col. Printup, who is
very well qualified, in the position, as he
might be able to influence the same par
ties to advance capital to complete th|
work. *
Since my order was granted, I
am informed that Colonel Printup
went to Cartersville for tho pur
pose of taking possession of the
road in behalf of the State, when he
found, it being sale day, that it hod been
levied upon by one or more small fas.
against the company for the wages oi em
ployees. But the Sheriff informed him
that an injunction had been granted by
his Honor, Judge Parrott, restraining
the sale upon a bill filed by certain mem
bers of the company against Henry
Clews & Co., to which it was ordered that
the plaintiffs in A fa. and Colonel Prin
tup, as receiver, be made parties. The
same statement was made to Colonel
Printup, as he reports, by the attorney of
the plaintifl’s in the bill. Upon the faith
of these assurances, Colonel Printup left
the town for his home, and in a few hours
afterwards tho road was exposed to sale
by the Sheriff and bid off by said attor
ney, who had made the statement that
an injunction had been granted, and
there would be no sal§, when it brought
only fifteen thousand five hundred dol
lars. I am now informed that the pur
chaser claims tho road under the sale,
and the parties in possession refuse to
deliver it up to the receiver appointed in
behalf of the State, and for the benefit
of the bondholders.
I have felt it my duty to brings these
facts to the attention of the General As
sembly, that y ou may take such action
as may be deemed best for the protection
of the State and the parties who ad
vanced the money with which the road
was built.
I would respectfully invite the atten
tion of the General Assembly to a trans
cript of the land books of Wilkinson,
Baldwin, Appling and Wayne, executed
under and by order of my predecessor,
bearing date Jane 1st, 1869.
This work is of tlie utmost importance
to the State, being that part of the ar
chives interesting to many hundreds of
her citizens whose possession are situa
ted in those counties and the counties
which they now embrace.
The old books from whioh the trans
cript is made have become so mutilated
by repeated search by those interest
ed therein, as to preclude tho possibil
ity of ascertaining either number, name
of drawer, or date of grant, thereby
depriving many worthy citizens, in case
of litigation, from producing in court,
that evidence necessary to establish
their claim or prove their titles to the
lands they rightfully own.
The work is well executed, written in
a clerkly hand and bound in a neat and
durable manner, aud in everv w y wor
thy to be placed among the best execu
ted archives of the State.
I respectfully recommend, tha* a com
mittee be appointed fronj your honora
ble body to receive said transcript, and
award such compensation as to them may
seem meet and proper.
Iu conclusion, I beg to congratulate
the members of the General Assembly on
their safe return to tlie capital, aud with
the comp liments of tlie season
to tender to them, individually, assuran
ces of my best wishes for their future
success, prosperity and happiness.
Benjamin Conley, Governor.
Mr. Hillyer offered a resolution di
recting the Secretary to transmit forth
with to the House the returns received
from the Governor, and inform the House
oi the readiness of the Senate to convene
with them to open said returns, and de
termine the result of the election, which
was adopted.
A message announcing the readiness of
the House was received, when tho Senate
adjourned to the House of Representa
tives.
After the joint proceedings reported in
the House proceedings, the Senate ad
journed to the Chamber, and on motion
adjourned until 10 o’clock, a. m., to
morrow.
graphed gold bonds have all been can- by Congress to the several States for the
celled and are now in the Treasurer’s purpose of establishing agricultural col-
office. I leges, said quota representing within
The act of October 17, 1870, above re-j fraction two hundred and seventy thou-
ferred to, authorizes and directs the 1 sand acres of land. Under and by virtue
Governor of the State to receive from of the same act, I have sold the land
the president or other officer authorized for ninety cents per acre, the largest
by the Board of Directors of the Bruns- price obtained by any of the States,
wick and Albany Railroad Company, the Fifty thousand dollars of the purchase
whole issue of the second mortgage bonds money will be paid to the fiscal
of said company, amounting to $10,000 agent of the State—the Fourth Na-
per mile upon said company's road, and tional Bank of New York—daring the
amounting in the aggregate to the sum present week, and the balance as percon-
of $2,350,000, and to pay said company tract within eighteen months. The
for the same in the bonds of the State location and establishment of the agri
of Georgia at par, bearing 7 per cent, in- cultural college, according to the laws of
terest, payable semi-annually on the the United States, to which I respectful
first day of June and December in each ly refer your honorable body, is now
year, at the rate of $8,000 per mile, and subject for your serious consideration,
in the aggregate amounting to $1,880,- I respectfully recommend that the Act
000, the principal sum of said bonds to of 12th |Marcn, 1866, be so amended as
be payable in twenty-five years from the to authorize the Governor to invest the
first day of December, A. D. 1869, andhis proceeds of the land scrip in such safe
Excellency the Governor, is authorized securities as contemplated by the Act of
and directed to cause said bonds to be Congress, other than State of Georgia
executed in due and legal form, andjpaid bonds. In my judgment, securities can
over to said company as aforesaid. be purchased that will pay a much larger
Under the provisions above recited, “^ eres ^ tban those of this State, and
there have been issued and delivered to thus increase tne fund contemplated by
the officers of the Brunswick & Albany Congress.
Railroad Company one thousand eight Since the adjournment of the Legisla-
hundred steel engraved bonds of the tore in December last, the holders of the
State for $1,000 each, having twenty five bonds issued by the CartersviUe &-Yan
years to run, with interest at 7 per cent., Wert, now the Cherokee Railroad Corn-
payable semi-annually, principal and in- pany, and indorsed by the State, have
terest payable in gold. These bonds have informed me that the company have
been duly registered in the office of the faded to pay the interest, and they have
Comptroller-General and reported to claimed payment from the State,
the Treasurer. All of the second mort- On looking into the charter of 1
gage bonds of the Brunswick-Albany, companv, and the law on that subject,
RaUroud Company, for which these convinced that it was my duty
gold bonds were given in exchange, have seize the road for the benefit of the
been forwarded to the Treasurer’s office state, and the security of the bond-hold-
as required by la ,v, except one hundred e rs. I, therefore, ordered the road taken
and sixty-two, which the company still possession of in behalf of the State,
hold, and which they will continue to and appointed CoL Daniel S. Printup, a
hold, I suppose, until they have comple- gentleman of financial ability and good
ted then- road and received the. remain- standing, to act as receiver. CoL Printup
ing eighty State bonds, to which I holds a high position in connection with
Hbon TUT 11 lift ffUftrift mrrhfvr 1 11 rt i ° n -»-v t» ■» -, i
the
placed upon it the seal of their disappro- j distinct understanding with the parties ( then will be entitled. These eighty the Selma, Rome & Dalton Road, with
bation. A very insignificant minority of ! to ‘whom they were delivered was, that (bonds have been partially executed and I -R-hich the Cherokee Railroad is to con-
tko voters of Georgia—a minority so they "were not to be placed upon the mar- 1 are now in the Executive office. 1 nec t a t its western terminus. He was al-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
January 11, 1872.
The House met, and was called to or
der by Speaker Cumming. Prayer by
Rev. Mr. Jones. Journal approved.
A resolution by Mr. Davis,! of Clark,
expressive of the regret of the House
occasioned by the death Qf the Hon. Mr.
Richardson, member from Clark, and
declaring that the usual badge of mourn
ing will be worn thirty-days, was adopted.
The following bills were read the first
time:
Mr. O’Neal—To change section 1446
of the Revised Code.
Mr. Nutting—To incorporate the Cen
tral Insurance Company of Georgia.
Mr. Gray—To lay out a new country
from Bartow.
Mr. Baker of Bryan—To provide for
the investment of certain school funds
belonging to the county of Bryan;
also, to change the election precinct in
the 19 th District, G. M.; also, to require
the Clerk of the Superior Court to keep
his office at the court-house; to allow J.
Gordon, of Bryan, to practice medicine,
&c.
Mr. Hunter—To amend the charter of
the town of Quitman.
On motion of Mr. Pierce, the roles
were suspended, and a Senate rejolafcion
providing for the appointment of A com
mittee to investigate the charges made by
J. R. Lewis against the General Assem
bly, was adopted.
A resolution by Mr. McMillan, pro
viding for the appointment of a commit
tee to report what measures cannot be
postponed with safety to the people of
this State, f &c., and providing that no
new matter shall be introduced after Fri
day next; adopted.
Bills on the first reading were resumed.
Mr. Hunter—For the relief of the tax
collector of Thomas county; also, to re
quire a registration of the legal voters of
Tliomasville; also, to create a new coun
ty from the counties of Thomas and De
catur.
Mr. Heidt—To incorporate the Mutual
Insurance Company of Georgia; also, to
provide for the protection of the traveling
public; also, to amend the relief act ap
proved October 13, 1870.
Mr. Nutting—To authorize the Gov
ernor to issue bonds to redeem bonds of
this State falling due iu 1872.
Mr. Pierce—For the relief of A. J-
Butts, of Baldwin county.
Mr. Snead—For the relief of the ad
ministrators of L. J. Dupree.
[continued on fage G.}