Newspaper Page Text
THE
ATLANTA WEEKLY g>TJ3ST—MAFIOH 11 7 2.&V3.
701- HI— NTr->~
THE ATL ANTA SUN
From The Daily San if IirHi 6, 18*3
THE CREDIT MODI LI PR SWINULMMM.
When Colfax lost four thousand
Allure u short time ago, stolen a
thief, he lost more in money than he
<ff<l of reputation by his jobbing in
Credit Mobilier stock. Four thou
sand dollars is considerable loss to
any man however much money he
may have; but it amounts to nothing
in value when compared with the
loss of man’s repntation for integrity
when lie has nothing else hut his
reputation to sustain.
If Colfax had been a man iu hum
ble circumstances, the loss of his
reputation would be immeasurably
greater than the four thousand dol
lars stolen from him; bnt as he is the
Vice President, of the Radical party,
the leading members of which are
equally guilty with himself iu the
Credit Mobilier transactions, the
whole party stands at his back to
keep up his reputation. For these
reasons the four thousand stolen
constitute a loss to him vastly greater
than any damage done to his char
acter by dealing in Credit Mobilier
stock. \/tlv
Poor 1>rooks, the only Democrat
engaged in the nefarious transactions,
is to be expelled; and, in order to
make some show of consistency,
Oakes Ames, a Republican, is to go
out with him. It was necessary to
have some fitting pretext for getting
rid of the. only Democrat oharged
with the matter. We regret the fall
of Crooks. Always regarded as an
honorable man, of the highest person
al and political integrity by friends
and foe alike, he ha3 fallen a thous
and times farther than his Radical
consorts in the great political scan
dal of the age.
If all these dealers in the Credit
Mobilier stock had been Democrats,
with but a single Republican among
them, every one of them would have
been expelled without the least ex
tenuation. If Colfax were a Demo
crat, his impeachment would have
been certain. Andrew Johnson stood
the ordeal of a trial for impeachment,
and narrowly escaped conviction, for
lews cause, even in Republican eyes.
This is what comes of a difference in
politics.
*-•-*
TO.E QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION.
This question has been very exten
sively discussed by some of our ablest
mcu. It is a matter in which there
is a general interest felt by all classes,
because it is believed that the pros
perity of our State and section de
mand it. All sorts of plans and
schemes have been devised to induce
immigration from Europe to Geor
gia. Commissioners have been sent
to Europe to present the claims of
this State to the consideration of the
industrious and thrifty people of
that country, desiring to bettor their
condition by removal to a new coim-
try where the chances of success in
life are more flatteringly encourag
ing.
As yet, nothing has been accom
plished. No immigrants have sought
tho shores of Georgia to cast their
fortunes with us. Can the reason for
the failure of all the plans and de
vices resorted to to induce the de
rived tide of immigration to our
wasting fields be accounted for?
There are reasons for these failures
which the writer does not attempt to
give.
There is one or two important
points we will mention, aud one is
thSI “low taxes” will do much to,en-
oottruge immigration to oar State.
Another is, that the common school
system of the States of the West has
carried thousands of foreign immi
grants there to enrich and advance
the material prosperity of those
States instead of coming South.
Whether these two causes arc proper
ly considered or not, we leave onr
readers to judge. Whether it is
practicable to remove these causes we
leave our legislators and popular
opinion to decide.
C2T* Sipher, of Louisiana, is the
next member of Congress to be ex
amined. Now, who has the key with
which to decipher the mysteries of
this man’s secrets in the Credit Mo
bilier transactions?
SPIRIT Or TUB GEORGIA PRESS.
onstitution ligs-be'
int of^entSttea^-
great bond qwoction. The
avannah News joins issue on
d cannot be fraudulent,
the same time equitable. Such
equity would be in .violation aud
17“ Colfax and Nesbit are both
said to have been printers, furnishing
to the world the only instanoea in
which the members of the craft are
entitled to representation in the lists
of penitentiary convicts.
A North Carolina printer
advertises for a situation, and says he
sober and a family man.” Why
™f\ ea PP ly . to Bamnm to become
one of hu “uvinar cnrinaMU.
mng curiosities ?”
JOB MEDILL, OB CHICAGO
Of Joseph Medffl, Ysq., e
the Chicago Tribune, it; may
said that, hr' is a “self-made
He is, comparatively
you nfonifi,; probalbr n
fifty years; yet, be has made as rapid
progress on the way to “fame and
fortune,” for his opportunities, as a
member ©f the tripod, that we know
0 £. tip to the yea* lbel, but little common sense and
was known of him outside of a few
intimate friends. He was of a modest
and retiring disposition, but evincing
much tact and taste fbr newspaper
life.
In the early part of that year he,
with the financial aid of Joseph
Reilly, a wholesale grocer at Cleve
land, Ohio, started in that city a
spicy little paper known as the For
est City, which he conducted with
much energy and zeal for nearly two
years. Medill Mas an uuflinchiug
advocate of Whig principles, and as
that old aud honored party in its
day, gave up the ghost and ceased to
have an existence as a political party
about that time, there was no further
need of such a paper as the Forest
City, so Mr. Medill sold his interest,
material and good will in the con
cern to Mr. Cowles and others out of
which grew the Cleveland Leader, a
very Radical free-soil sheet, a strong
supporter of Salmon P. Chase and
men of like political proclivities, and
still in existence.
With the proceeds of the sale of
the Forest City, a very small sum
indeed, Joseph Medill left Cleveland
for Chicago, where he obtained a po
sition on the press of that city, and
soon afterwards started the Chicago
Tribune, the political character of
which is well known throughout the
length and breadth of the land, and
probably having as much or more in
fluence than any other Republican pa
pers in the West, in addition to which,
in a financial point of view, it proved
to be entirely successful in making its
founder aud editor a wealthy man.
Mr. Medill, one year ago, was
chosen Mayor of his city by a very
large majority, an evidence of his
popularity with the masses, although
always a strict partisan. Through
out his entire political career, lie lmd
many warm friends in the different
parties, who, notwithstanding their
difference iu opinions, supported him,
believing him to be at least honest.
CHAT WITH STATIC PAPERS
Tbe Greenville Vindicator man
ing constantly feasted on the good
presented by the ladies of Ins
tl’i? We caution the husbands against ^thi
partiality of their wives for country ,
PRESIDENT U. S. GRANT.
taking the poEition-thaty“qi
it* ? and at o a gatdrday morning early Miss Alice
INDEPENDENCE OF 2 HE PRESS.
Different people have different
views iu regard to the independence
of the press. Some have an idea that
the independence of a journal can
only be exhibited by a bold and reck
less denunciation of the opinions of
others who may disagree with it on
public matters or political questions.
Others can see no independence where
their own views of “matters and
things” are not reflected. Others,
again, imagine that a press that does
not expose error as they see it, is con
ducted in a cringing spirit.
The true independence of the
press can only be sustained by a
sound discretion and a correct judg
ment in the discrimination between
right and wrong. The journal that
bias the courage to maintain the right
in the face of all opposition, because
it is the right, and not because it is
a popular error, shows a spirit of in
dependence to be admired by all
right and fair-minded men. The
journal that lias the honesty to ad
mit the merits of its opponents, or
even its enemies, and give them cred
it for whatever of good is due them,
takes a high position in the scale of
independence.
The press, above all other institu
tions or individuals, should be pure
in its integrity and bold in its advo
cacy and defense of the right Its
sentiments aud its principles should
be held far above all pecuniary con
siderations. Whenever it becomes to
be trafic in the markets, to be bought
and sold to whatever influences that
can bring the most pecuniary gain to
its conductors, it has sunk to the
level of the most degraded mercenary
considerations.
TIRE IN NX N ORLEANS.
A monster conflagration occurred
in New Orleans in the forenoon of
Thursday last, consuming six solid
blocks of two hundred and twenty-
three houses, rendering four hun
dred persons homeless, and destroy
ing property to the amount of over a
half million of dollars. The fire
was extinguished after a most des
perate battle of six hours. The Pic
ayune says the fire itself defies de
scription, and seemed one vast sheet
of smoke and flame stretching for
nearly a mile, and rising in a dense
body to the heavens obscuring the
sky and son.
It is singular no mention of this
fire was made in the Associated Press
dispatches.
Cannot cur^,fraudjwd Regality; and
though equity may not always de
pend strictly on law, it must not be
permitted to overrate and set law at
defiance.” The News makes an illus
tration of its argument by a suppo
sition that llio editor of the Consti
tution presents a forged draft upon
his banker, which, upon investiga
tion, proves to be a forgery, “illegal
and void,” and payment refused.
The editor being an “innocent
holder,” has received the draft in
good faith, in the regular course of
business, not at a ruinoup,{Recount,
but at its full nominal valuer After
a “thorough investigation” of the
matter, the editor’Is forced to admit
that the draft is fraudulent, the
News asks, would he, after the
fraudulent character of the paper had
thus been established and admitted,
insist upon an investigation of the
equities of the transaction witli.f)^
expectation that tiis hanker, tipon
whom the forgery'had bceh perpetra
ted, would be- induced to recognize
and pay the draft, or even to com
prom. .4 for half its face ? The News
cornea to this conclusion as to the
“equities” of the bond question:
There are doubt'ess sbme hardships iu
these bogus bond transactions. Inno
cent parties may have made bad invest
ments in Bullock and Kimball’s paper
securities, just as capitalists sometimes
get bi» by dealing in fancy stocks Bat
there is neither law, logic, equity, nor
reason in the assumption that the State
of Georgia, whote credit has been
abused, and whose people the knaves
were engaged iu plundering, bhould
shouluer the responsibility and hold all
other parties harmless. Equity, like
charity, iu this ease at least, begins at
home. It is the duty of the representa
tives of the tax-payers of Georgia to
protect them from robbery and plunder;
and there is no rtlinemeuc of equity, no
considerations oi policy and expediency
that will justify them in shrinking from
the faithful, unwavering discharge of
that duty.
Our neighbor of the Herald pays a
tribute to the personal and political
conduct of Senator Joshua Hill
since he has been a member of Con
gress. We have never believed Mr.
Hill a bad man. “Elected as a mem
ber of the Radical party,” says the
Herald, “his line of conduct during
his term has been an agreeable sur
prise to his political opponents. On
all the great questions which have
come before the Senate he has spoken
and voted against the Radical oligar
chy, and has displayed an indepen
dence and fairness which have won
the respect of everybody.” The re
marks of our neighbor are concluded
as follows: •
Of all the Southern men who joined
the Radicals alter the war, he is, per
haps, the only one who has never sank
to the level of the cai pet-bagger and
and scalawag. Placed in opposition to
the great majority of his race, be has
borne with dignity and silence much
unfavorable criticism, and has uever
permitted anger to get the best of his
judgment and influence him into seeking
a mean and cowardly revenge. Of
course, it is not likely that ho will ever
again obtain high office from the people
Of Georgia; but it must be a matter of
pride and satisfaction for him to know
that he retires from public life with far
more of public esteem than heipoeseesed
When elected a Senator, and without
that obloquy resting upon him which he
bore when he took his seat in the Senate.
The Brunswick Appeal, in its last
number, had an article on the tur
pentine business. After discanting
on the advantages held out in the
pine forests of Southern Georgia for
that business, comparing the charac
ter of the results that might be at
tained with the business in North
Carolina, it concludes:
Here are untold riches, these lands
having been reckoned of equal prospec
tive value with the best cotton lands.
That they will be made available by
some one is certain, consequently the
State will one day reap a benefit com
mensurate with the source. A State pos
sessing such a variety of natural wealth,
one item alone of which assumes such
proportions as do her forests, must have
a great future. Georgia will one day
more than renew her former prosperity.
Palin died quite suddenly at her moth-
_ er’s residence in Savannah. She had re-
defiance of laif j k^wtfl as cqqtodW tor Hired in apparent good health tbe- pre-
rious evening, hut awoke shortly after
day break in great pain. A phy sician
was at once sent for, bus before be ar
rived death had claimed the fair form as
his own. It is supposed she died from
heart disease.
One ok two attempts were made upon
•Jack60u, of the Columbns Enquirer,
while he was in New Orleans, to “rope”
him in. Jack says he was too sharp for
the “sharpers.”
The News makes these church notes
for Savannah on Sunday last: At the
West Baptist Church, last evening, Rev.
W. O. Dorsey delivered a very interest
ing discourse upon the subj ?ct, “Chris
tians know each other in Heaven.” Rev.
E. P. Walton, a learned advocate of Swe-
denborgianiam preached ut Mozart
Ilall last evening upon “ The Religions
Uses of Amusements.” As stated else
where, Itcv. Wm. Morley Punsbon, Pres-
idtnt of the Canadian Conference,
preached iu the morning at Trinity Metn-
odist Church, Rev. J. S. Atwell, of Vir
ginia, conducted > the services at St.
dtephen’s Church. Bishop Beckwith
preached last evening at Christ Church.
There was quite a large congregation
present, notwithstsnding the threaten
ing aspect of the weather.
In Savannah, on Sunday morning last,
the 6torm signal was displayed from the
United States Observatory, ut 10 o’clock,
..s a token to mariners and others that a
heavy storm was in prospect, and to
make their arrangements accordingly.
The NewSjStates tnnt shortly ufter five
o’clock it was evident that the signal had
not be given in vain, as a lively gale
sprung up from the northwest, and the
indications were that it was more vio
lent in the direction oi the sea.
The party of Ms con ladies and gentle
men who visited New Orleans last week,
lave returned home.
Dk. Jones, the celebrated physician,
rill remain in Macon until the 21st inst.
Hon. A. M. Speke will deliver his lec-
tvre, “What I saw in Eogland,” in For-
ytk, at an early day.
During the past week the Superior
Court of Monroe county was in session —
Judge John I. Hall presiding, and Capt.
T. B. Cabaniss Solicitor. The Adver
tiser says it was the first term of these
gentlemen in Monroe, and it is generally
conceded that they conducted themselves
in their new sphere in a highly credita
ble manner, and one that gives promise
of future success officially, aud satisfac
tion to the public.
We are giad to learn that the Monroe
Female College, at Forsyth, is gaining
largely in public favor, of which fact,
says the Advertiser, an encouraging in
crease of nupils affords evidence.
Me. Jeff. Bazesiobe, of Monroe
county, made last year eight bales of cot
ton to the mule, and corn, wheat, oats,
neas, potatoes, meat, etc., enough to
erve his farm for twelve months. He
bought no fertilizers; is able to pay cash
for everything, and holds hri entire cot
ton crop of last year.
Brunswick has a new brass band and
the stirring refrains of toot-a-toot, toot,
toot-a-toot, toot; toot, toot, toot! daily
tickle the eurs of the editor of tho Ap
peal.
One death from meningetis has oc
curred in Brunswick.
The Brunswick sabre club celebrated
Washington’s birthday.
The Rome Commercial publishes the
reason, “why Aunt Sallie Dillard never
married” as news matter.
Waycboss is the name for the junction
jf tLe Atlantic and Gulf and Brunswick
and Albany Railroad.
Effobts are being made to start a cir
culating library in Blackshear.
The Superior Court for the county of
Pierce, will convene next Monday. CoL
Jno. L. Harris, the newly appointed
Judge, will preside.
Felts McDonald, a negro train-hand
was run over by a train of the B. & A.
R. R. on Wednesday morning of last
week, near Wareeboro, severing both of
i is lege. He died from the wounds be
fore reaching Brunswick.
Fruit trees are in full bloom down
about Camilla.
The Nashville TJnion and
American asks: “Are men and wo
men fond of each other?” Now,
who will propound the next stun
ner ?
Hon. Stephen H. Kellogg
has been renominated for Congress
by the Republicans of the Second
Connecticut District
The Savannah News says it ia stated
that the purchase or loan of the old Ma
rine Bank building, corner of Drayton
and Bryan street, for the purpose of a
poot-offioe is again being considered by
the Government authoridtes. (
MR. STEPHEN'S ELECTION.
In referring to the election of Mr.
Stephens last week, the Athens
Watchman is pleased to see that Mr.
S. was elected without opposition;
and if the Republicans, it adds,
yielded the field to him as a testimo
nial of respect, we are willing to give
them credit for magnanimity.
©bitnarg.
Died, In Crowfordville, G*., on the evening of the
id iast, of pulmonary consumption, in the twenty*
tilth year of her age, at the residence of her father
Mrs. Ella Clifford Holzejtdobf, wife of John L.
Holzeud ret, of Thomson, Ga. The deceased was
the daughter of the Hon. Joieph D Hammock by
his first wife—Mary E., formerly Misa Wilson. She
leaves, besides a disconsolate husband, bereaved
relatives and friends, a little danghter, about two
years of age. She was, in life, no'ed for sprightll-
ness of minu, suavity of disposition, and exemplary
piety, having been for several years previous to
her death a strict and pious member of the Baptist
Church. Green be the Bod around her tcirfcl “for
■he sleeps in Jesus.”
"Asleep in Jesus, far from thee”
Thy kindred and their graves may be;
But thine is still a blessed sleep
“From which none e’er wake to weep.”
J. F. B.
Christian Index please copy.
fjgmencal.
Married, at the residence of A. I. Newton, Esq.,
of Cass county, Texas, on the 13th of February, 1873,
by the Bev. N. Porterfield, Mr. Janas W. Hnrr to
Miss Florexcx E. Pool* grand-daughter of Major
Young P. Fool, of Forayth county, Georgia.
May the fair bride, who has from early Ufa tx
the delight of a fond mother and almost the idol of
an affectionate step-father, live long in the enjoy
ment of that connubial bliss that makes a domestic
heaven of the family hearthstone, and thereby con
tribute to the happiness of bar aged gran l-fathtr
and bar numerous friends.
Gao. H. Iln mmi.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Washington, March 4.—Tho following
is the President’s inaugural address:. ,
Under Providence f* fidve ‘teeO balled
• second time to act JMLdthe Executive
over this great natipgq n <
It has.beeu my endeavor ia. the past to
maintain all the laws, and so far as lay
in my power, to act fpT the Vest interests
of the whole people. . *
My best efforts will be given in the
same (direction in tbe future, aided, I
trust, by my four years’ experience in the
office. When my first term of office of
Chief Executive began, the,couutry bad
not recovered from the effects of a great
internal revolution, and three of the for
mer States of the Union had not been
restored to their federal relations. It
seemed to me wise that no
NEW QUESTIONS
should be raised so long as that condi
tion of affairs existed; therefore the past
four years,! so far as I could control
■'ejvehtiv have been consumed in the effort
tk*estor$ harmony, publio credit, com
merce, and all the arts ct peace and
progress.
It is my firm conviction that the civil
ized world is.
TENDING TOWARDS REPUBLICANISM,
or government by the people through
their chosen representatives, and that
our own great republic is destined to be
the guiding star to all others. Under
onr republic we have an army lees than
that of any European power of any stand
ing, and an army less than that of either
of at least five of them. Tbere could be
no extension of territory on this conti
nent which would call for an inciease of
this force, but rather might such exten
sion enable us to diminish it. The theory
of government changes with the general
progress. Now that the telegraph is
made available for communicating
thoughts, together with rapid transit by
steam, all parts of a continent are made
contiguous for all purposes of govern
ment, and communication between the
extreme limits of the country made
easier than it was throughout the old
thirteen States at tho beginning of our
national existence.
The effects of the late civil struggle
have been to
[FREE THE SLAVE
and make him a citizen. Yet he is not
possessed of the civil rights which citi
zenship should convey with it. This is
wrong, and should be corrected. To
this correction I stand committed, so
far as Executive influence can avail.
Social equality is not a subject to be
legislated upon, nor shall I ask that any
thing be done to advance the social sta
tus of the colored man except to give
him a fair chance to develop what is
good in him; give him access to the
schools, and when be travels let him feel
assured that his oonduct will regulate
the treatment and fare he will receive.
The States lately at war with the Gen
eral Goveri ment are now happily rehab
ilitated,and no Executive control is exer
cised in any one of them that wonld not
be exercised in any other State under
like circumstances.
In the first year of the present admin
istration the preposition for
THE ADMISSION 0?, 5AN DOMINGO
as a Territory ol the United States was
not a question .Of my Beokiflg, bnt was a
proposition from the people Of San Do
mingo, and wtjioh I entertained.' ) ‘i
I believe now, as I did then, that it
was for the best interests of the Country
for the people of SanrDomingo, and all
concerned, that the proposition should
be received favorably. It tvas, however,
rejected constitutionally, and, therefore,
the subject was never brought np again
by me. In future, while I hold my
present office, the subject of
ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY
mast have the support of the people
before I will recommend any proposition.
I say here, however, that I do not share
in the apprehension held by many as to
the danger of governments becoming;
weakened and destroyed by reason ut j
their extension of territory. Commerce,
education and rapid transit of thonght
and matter by telegraph and steam, have
changed all this. Rather do I believe that
oar great Maker is preparing the world
in his own good time to become one
nation, speaking one language, and when
armies and navies will be no longer re
quired. ; , j
My efforts in the future will he directed
to the
RESTORATION OF GOOD FEELING
I effort is made in good fiuh ? Ws will
-dam! better before the civilize nrtio£
of the earth and in onr own oonscenS
f<* fa hrfo* made it. AH these thin™ S
not to be. accomplished by one iadivid!
ual but they wfi! receive my support
and such recommendations to Cumrres*
as will m my judgment, best serve to
carry them into effect, I beg your sup?
port and encouragement. r
It has been and is my earnest desire
to correct abuses that have grown up ^
THE CIVIL SERVICE
of the country. To secure this reform*
taou rales regulating methods of appoint
ment aud promotion were estab'-thej
and Lave been tried. My eff -rts for
ench reformation shall be continued- to
the b«sc of my judgment the spirit ’ 0 f
the rales adopted will be maintained.
I acknowledge before this assemblage
representing as it does everv sect.on of
our oouutry, the obligation I am uuder
to my countrymen for the great honor
they have conferred on me by
RETURNING ME TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE
within their gift, and the further o;>Uga-
lion pressing me to render to th m the
oest services within my power. This I
promise, looking forward with the great
est anxiety to the day when I shall be
relieved from the responsibilities that at
times are almost overwhelming, and from
which I have scarcely had a respite since
the eventful
FIRING UPON FORT SUMTER,
in April, 1861, to the preseut day. My
services were then tendered and accepted
under the first call for troops growing
out of that event. I did not asS far
place or position, aud was entirely with
out influence or the acquaintance of per
sons of influence; but was resolved to
perform my part
ening the very
nation. I
tious duty
tion or favor and without a revenge
ful feeling towards any seotion or indi
vidual, notwithstanding throughout the
war and from my candidacy for my pres
ent office in 1868 to the close or the lost
Presidential campaign, I have been
THE SUBJECT OF ABUSE AND SLANDER*”
scarcely ever equaled in political history,
which to-day I feel that I can afford to
disregard, iu view of your verdict, which
I gratefully accept as my vindication.
There was a fine display in the cere
monies connected with the inan^ural,
notwithstanding the weather was very
cold.
in a struggle threat-
existence of the
performed a consci-
without asking piomo-
between tbe different sections of our
common country; to the restoration of
our currency to a fixed valne as Com-
p ared with the world’s standard of values
—gold—and, if possible, to a par with it;
to the construction of cheap routes of
transit throughout the land, that the pr o
ducts cf all sections may find a market*
and leave a living remuneration to the
producer; to the maintain&nce of friend
ly relations with all our neighbors and
with distant nations; to the re-establish
ment of onr commerce and share in tbe
oarrying of trade upon the ocean; to the
encouragement of each manufacturing
industries as can be economically pur
sued in this oountry, to the end that the
export of home products and industries
may pay for our imports as the only
method of returning to and permanently
maintaining a specie basis; to tho eleva
tion of labor, and by a humane courte to
bring
THE A BORIGINEES OF THE COUNTRY
under the benign influences of education
and civilization. It is either this cr war
of extermination. Wars of extermina
tion,when engaged in by a people pursu
ing commerce and all industrial pursuits,
are expensive, even against the weakest
people j and are demoralizing and wicked.
Our superiority of strength and advant
age of civilization should make ns lenient
toward the Indians. The wrongs. in
flicted upon him snouid be taken into
account and the balanoe placed to his
credit. The moral view of the question
snouid be considered, and this question
asked: Cannot the Indian be made a
TU« Atlantic and Great Western Canal.
BY W. C. 8.
Ever since the organization cf the
territory between the Atlantic and the
Southern Mississippi into States, the vast
importance and usefulness of a canal or
some other means of communication
with the South on the Mississippi and
the country on tba Atlantic has been
felt. Particularly within the last thirty
years during which the intervening
country has been rapidly settled up, has
the subject of constructing railroads, and,
if possible, a canal, between the cities iu
tho Southern Mississippi valley and
those on the Atlantic coast, been dis
cussed and agitated.
We said, if possible, a canal, since
for many years tho possibility of con
structing a canal of any capacity and at
a reasonable expenso through the moun
tain ridges of Alabama and Georgia was
doubted. But subsequent research has
dispelled these doubts and the practica
bility of the construction of a canal am
ple for all ordinary purposes, has been
-demonstrated several times wiiliinl the
list fifteen years.
Previous to the breaking out of the
war some efforts were made by the Soutd
iti this direction, and had that struggle
been delayed some years the worlh
might have seen the great
project completed and the great
victory won. Bat like many other
great plans for the improvement of the
Bouth and the increase of her wraith aud
importance this was broken into by the
war.
Enough Las been found out, though, to
show to ihe country the pmcticability
and iiseiulut-ss oi a canal. Since the
war the route for .-ueh a canal lias been
carefully Ki.rv.-y--1 ... d r.to be a
short ami iooi| a t. Itely •»-» m-e, the
estim.itca lot i • • i.iij.- i ..| otieh a
canal have nt< .w :• an«i in- cost has
been found to i'o vo i nttn cwosidering
the vastness of .uu enterprise.
'Ihe route proposed begins ut Puducab,
Kentucky, on the Onio, near its junction
with the Mississippi, thence goes down
the Tennessee river to Florence, Ala
bama, where a short canal is made around
the Mascle Suouls, to Decatur, then up
the Tennessee toGuntersville, where the
route leaves tbe river and traverses a
ridgy tract of land for forcy or fifty miles
when it reaches the Coosa near Gadsden.
Here the Coosa river is followed np to
Rome, Ga., and thence up the Etowah
valley to Stilesboro, where it leaves the
river and crosses the Chattahoochee
plateau and strikes Booth River
a few miles below Atlanta. The
South river is followed down to
its junction with the Yellow, forming
the Ocmulgee, and then that river is fol
lowed down to Macon—the head of
steamboat navigation. Here the river
itself affords a channel to its junction
with the Oconee, thus forming the
APamahah. Alter using tho Altamauah
tor a mile as a channel, one has the choice
of two routes—one to Darien aud the
Ocean Joy, still keeping to the river, and
the otner to Brunswick and the ocean,
over the poor, swampy country between
the lower Altamaliau and that place.
Tbe whole route does not exceed nine
hundred miles in length, all but one
hundred of which is located on or near
water courses, thus making navigation
easy—and so easy, in. fact, tnat there will
be but one lock in the whole route, and
that not a large one.
How wonderfully will it cheapen pro
duce ! By a 1 means should this canal
be built. The Bouth and West are the
great feeders aud clothers of the East
and European States. They have many
interests in common more than they have
with tiie East. They should be more
olosely united that Lpey may prove the
greater iv-nefit to one another and the
world. The canal will do it in a great
measure. Let it be built, and Bt Louis
and Savannah and Atlanta be connected.
useful and productive! member of society is the cry of the people of those great
by proper teaching and treatment, if the f sections.