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THE ATLANTA SI N
INDEREN DK.\ r A*n HIWH.TO>K'
JUIKMLHM.
A vOAST LINE WATER KUITE.
As the Convention of Governors
THE SKW CITY OF TOCCOi.
A great many good-intentioned
people have a misconception as to
what constitutes independent jour
nalism. A great many others, upon
the other hand, have a true concep
tion of it; and still there is another
class whose idea of independent jour
nalism leads them to a licentious view
of it. Of this latter class, there art* a
tew editors who conceive it to I* an
exhibition of journalistic indepen
dence to assault private individuals,
corporations or parties on the merest
and most frivilous pretexts, and with
out dne consideration as to what is
£air or right in the premises. We ad-
mite that independent journalism
which can afford to do right and give
justice to even the most implacable
enemy. Nor does independent or
high -toned journalism need to be
displayed in that sensational style of
writing that throws a garish, decep
tive light upon facts displayed under
pretentious headings envied by excla
mation points. This species of sen
sational style of newspaper writing,
we believe, was first introduced as a
feature in American journalism, (and
we think it is peculiarly an Ameii-
canism), by the New York Herald,
which, while it is the most enter
prising newspaper in the world in
collecting news, its utterances or
▼eracitv have ever been f aken by
Bolid, thinking people, with many
grains of allowance.
These kind of journalists are gen
erally men who seek martyrdom at
the hands of outraged persons who
find it necessary to scourge them for
some villainous attack upon private
character, that they may cry out per
8ecution! in order to excite public
sympathy in their own behalf. This
was a peculiar trait in the character
of the elder .iennett, if we are not
mistaken. These men sometimes
acquire a sort of cl»eap notoriety as
duelists—often ending in an immense
string of red tape and a failure to
fight, which is generally the best evi
dence of cowardice and the absence
of that independence they would
have the public believe they possess.
Another feature of journalism that
should excite public contempt and
disdain in the mind o' the public is,
that of self-praise and self-adulation.
If there be one feature in journalism
that is more nauseating to good taste |
and high-breeding, it is that of the j
journalist who is ever boasting of bis i
qualities as an editor or news gather- j
assembles to-day, and the object of
the Convention to discuss the subject
of cheap transportation, and the
means to secure it, we think it proper
to call attention to a prop <sition,
which is not only excising much in-
Ita Locatloa aid Prospects—Tlir Sole of
Loti rottpoacd to the *7til—Tl»e
Air Llac Kallioad and
Its Officers, Etc.
be spilled down till the entire chasm is
tilled up, and a solid, permanent earthen
bed for the traek is secured. Someot these
deep places are yet unfilled, the cars i ass-
railroads, of banking, express and Insurance com-
uamaa as returned by tbe owners thereof to the tax
receivers, amounts to $226,063.263-placing tbe in*
crease for the present yeir at the s*me ratio as that
fn speaking of Gen. Long***!
S , te i’ heD5 ’ lbe Herald
only difference w« can see betw,
ing over the huge broad-based trestles, i for 019 P“* foar J*"* m ‘ kes the P re8cDt of
j constructed of tbe stoutest timbers, well i the t * x, ° 1 ® property of tbe state $238,663,263. The
Spc fal Correspondence of the Sun. #
Near Tttcnoa, Habersham Co., Ga., (
May 17 th 1873. )
Editors Atlanta Sex: The Air Line
put t< gether, one of w inch is four stories receip “ from Uni source ’ “ the low ™ te <* fdBr “ d
r - • - - — - - 1 one-half tenth* of one per cent, would be $1,073,-
984 67. The estimated receipts from railroads,
is that Longstreet boldlv pruchTrL V*®
self a Radical and that Mr Ster i 4 ®'
tcre*t and discussion in the lower Railroad, which will be one of the most
parts of the State, but it is one, we important lines in the entire South, con-
are informed, that ii received with hig “ w * 5 ’ ,or r * p,d
high (so to speak). Th^se fi lme-works,
however, will not be illow* d long to re- . ,. . .
main a- they aie, but e-nh will be filled 1 ^
jreat favor in the West, in St. Louis
through travel and tiaffic from New York
to New Orleans, will soon be completed.
particularly. Making Savannah and tHe people of this section are
St. Louis the caief objective points of
the proposed coast line water route,
highly gratified. They have long been
in the background of the world’s pro-
we propose to give a hasty outline of gress, very remote fr m the conveniences
the project as it is exhibited on a map ana advantages which railroads afford.
Not only will tbe people soon rtjoiceat
the sound ot the i^on horse as he
, j speeds through these fertile and well cnl-
..... “ i tivated valleys, his breath ascenduig in
down the Mississippi to New Orleans, clouds high ^mong the steep hilis and
now before us.
Starting from St. Louis in barges
propelled by steam tugs, the route is j
in, making a road-bed which will never
be in danger of decay or breaking down.
There is one place, called “tbe big fill,”
near Mr. Alexander s camp, wbicb be is
now engaged in closing up, the labor and
cost of which aie immense. It will be
completed in a mouth or six weeks from
this time, and this will be about the last
work on the graviing ot tue road. Ye»y •
nearly all tue grading . n the entire line
is now eoinpl ted, and duss-ties
$30,100; one-half rental of the Western A Atlantic
■ R-’iroad, $150,i.o0; receipts from convict labor wiL
be -say $20,0.0.
tabular statement
From general taxation
iSptcial tax on railroads etc
Half rental W. & A. R. R
Convict labor
i Miscellaneous eouices say
£k, u» be.ieve .hi h„ i, *1,
The above paragraph being ^ „
worthy of notice we pass without
$1,673,984 6'
30,000 00
150,000 00
20,(00 00
5,000 00
arc being dislubnted.
the bridge across
Iotal $1,278,984 6'
From the above estimate it appears, that with-
Tbe piers for out imposing too high a rateof taxation we may safely
Tugaloo river <»lcuim»B upon receiving into ihe Treasury, from the
are finished, be entire framework •rffinkry sources of revenue $,178,984 67
Here a short cut or canal is necessarv crags, and his fierce neighing mating
. . • , T T, , • . .i ' 1 the echoes in this bitlie-to quie; and pie-
to get into Lake Pomhartruin; then taresqQe 1Hnd . but we h av« the prospect
keeping well to the coast, touching ot a city springing up in our m ust, witn
the mouths ol the Alabama and Apa-1 h s active marts and busy scenes, giving
* vitality ami a new impetus to every in
terest throughout this section
lachicola rivers, a few short cuts are
to be made to reach the mouth of the
latter river—going up which with
our barges, the town of Bambridge
is reached, where the freight would
have to he elevated and sent to Sa
vannah by rail, a laud transportation
of only 240 miles.
By this route, which can be com
pleted in three years, according to
estimation made, corn can be trans
ported from St. Louis to Savannah
at the low' rate of eighteen cents
per bushel.
But the route may be made a water
line the entire distance between the
two points named. Instead of turn
ing up the Apalachicola river, a canal
passing from the mouth of that river
across to the Suwanne river, going
up that for a short distance, another
short cut puts the barges into St.
Mary’s river, conveying them to the
sea coast, where the natural water
line is without obstructions to Sa
vannah.
Not having investigated this pro
ject, we only give as nearly as we can,
and as we understand it, a mere out
line sketch of it, more to bring it to
the attention of the Convention than
to discuss it.
nd ironsfor the bridge are complete and
reaoy to be put up. The cars are run-
ht usua^knd probable dULursemenu, including
the Legislative pay roll, without 'underestimating
Ding to withiu two miles aud a quarter of t^*.** 111 *. be stated at $6oo,oiw. i>e_
Toccoa City, aud but lor “.he big fill,” ductu, s this amount from the receipte into the
would have been running to Togaloc by Tre88Ury - *• 8b o ve *stimved. »ui iear« a balance to
this time; and on tne other end of the i ** ‘ ,pplied to tho p *-\ nient 01 mte * fc8 ‘ ot * c75 ' a94 «'
■IS DEMOCRACY DEAD!’
The question is frequently asked,
“Is Democracy dead ?” Thoughtless
persons ask some singular questions.
No man, who understands what De
mocracy means, would ever think of
asking questions that he hears and
sees answered daily in the negative in
the expressions of the people in de-
T , , ,, , , fense i-f free government Such men
er If a paper u veil aud ably conduo do not nnderetan<1 that the 0 „. rthrj „
ted the sensible and discriminating i „ fD e m ocracv would he the overthrow
portion ol the public wi'l see it quite I m j...
public
as soon, if not sooner, than the true
and able journalist is aware of it him
self. It has alw ays seemed to us a sort
of game of bluff disgraceful to inde-
qmte l 0 f libgrty itself. They do rot under
stand that it is to the true Democ
racy vve owe the liberty and freedom
we enjoy, and that these would have
been long ago overthrown bu: for the
pendent and high-toned journalism., manfa , » ai ° tainaDce #| the p ; iDC , ples
A man well-bred in his profession, nC on which onr liberties are hated as
, upon wmen our liberties are based as
having a proper conception of the d.g- j eapre55ed in the creed and doctri „ es
11 1 t V AT Ilia Dollmrv /1 iV*o rt A f in/lnl/*A
nitjof hi. calling does not indulge | of thegeDmne and tl . uc Democracv .
in it. It is a kind of resort on the
The party name may be substitut-
^ . , , , jed by another, but as long as any
up a little cheap notoriety at the ex- ^ polit:cal part „ ists devo J d t0 , h '
part of mountebanks to catch
pen« of public credulity, whe,eby a 8ublim rinc! le , „ f free
Hi !’ UPP ? a? b !u ro " g . ° k *?! tnent, that party is an organitltion of
up an enterprise that cannot rely j Dem0( . racj ; We raaJ call jt ConK , r
upon its own merits for existence, j
The truly meritorious are to be
praised by others, and not by them-1
selves.
But mountebanks and charlatans
have desecrated a calling whicn
should and would exercise a far
greater degree of influence and power
but for their presence in its ranks.
Oblivious to every thing but an op
portunity to produce something sen
sational or startling, and partially re-
, gaidless cf facts many times alto
gether, these charlatans of the pr<*ss
do not scruple to compromise veracity
itself in order to produce what they
may choose to regard as a “good hit”
And yet these editorial fellows often
find sufficient sympathy from the pub
lic to give them a precarious support
and an ephemeral existence. Such
enterprises, as a rule, come liie a
storm. b>ow like a hurricane and sub
side {ike a dead calm, leaving the
public with a feeling of relief that
some gi eat 6imoon had passed.
Independent and hightoned jour-
na ism is so diametrically opposite to
what we have attempted to aescnbe
in mild terms of condemnation, that
t requires but few words to explain
R. It means that iud p n .noe
T ^ , not feJr egress the
truth when known, and does not de
scend to the level of pot-house dis
cussion and uufounded attacks upon
private character, without the full as
certainment of the facts to sustain
charges made. It dots not grovel in
the vulgar slang of rowdyism -or in
dtilge in the depreciation of others to
apprec ; ate itself. It stands upon that
"’nh dignity of character and truth
fulness ot assertion that win and carry
’nfluence and power in its ntterahees
vative, Whig or what not, for ihe sake
of policy, and yet the pai ty, adhering
to these principles, is but the embodi
ment of Democracy pure and simple,
e may get away from Democracy as
a party name, but we cannot get
away fr..m Democratic principle with
out going in the direction of Cemral
ism. There is no road from Democ
racy that does not lead to Centralism
though there may be numbers that;
go out in different directions, but
they all converge at one common
point
When the question is asked, “Is
Democracy dead ?” let it be answi red
“No!”—not as long as free govern
m.nt has a hold upon the hearts of
the people, and their liberties are re
vered and mantaiued by them.
Personal.— \\c had pleasant calls
yesterday irom those veterans of the
press, Col. Thompson, of the Savan
nah News, and CoL Miller, of the
Columbus bun. We are always glad
to welcome such able defenders of the
public weal in onr sanctum. The
two gentlemen named, may well be
termed fathers of the chapel in Geor
gia journalism.
A California papor seriously
announces that Captaiu Jaca has
di\ided fiis army of fifty men into
three d visions; the first, under the
Captaiu, is to capture and hold Cali-
torma; ihe second is to sweep north
ward and subdue Oregon, while the
third forces its way over the moan-
tains and sage brush and devastates
Nevada and Utah.
A oeauvnui W-ation in the woods, some
five units southeast of the Currabee
Mountain, v.-ry near tue juncti n of th-
Cnrrabee road with the main highway
leading from Claikesviile to Jarrott’a
bridge, at a place long known as Dry
Pond, thirteen miles below Clarkesviile,
less than two miles be.ow the beant'fui
Toccoa Falls, and six miles north of Tu
galoo River, at Jarrett’s bridge,
has been selected as the si r e ot
the U2W city. A branch railroad from
Elberton, the county site of the rich cot
ton growing county of Elbert, is intended
to connect with tl.e Air Line at this point
We have no 6ort of douDt that this
branch road will be speedily constructed,
for the means of doing so w rhout any
“ State aid” are already subscribed.
Whether this branch road is built or not,
Toccoa is bound to be a very considera
ble town with a large trade, but if the
road to Elberton is built it will, with
out doubt, make quite au important city.
The place is laid off into lots and
sale oi the same at auction w. sapp intnl
for last ‘Wednesday, the 14tn ins . A
large crowd of tbe people of this section
assembled, and tbe train from Atlanta,
coming within two and u fourth mues of
the site, brought up six car-loads to at
tend the sale. “Pease and Ins
Wife,” your popular restauranteur,
was already on the ground with a large
barbecue to refresh the inner man ot
the big crowd. Hundreds were eager ro
purchase lots. Many bud tried to do so
beforehand, but the proprietors of the
property st *a lily refuseu to sell tt an\
one at any price, it private sale.
But a Oeavy rain prevented the sale
from going on. A lew lots were sold m
the midst of a hard shower, but the rain
incr. ased, and they were c .mpelleo to
stop. It was announced that the sal-
would be continued the next morning;
out when m.^rniLg came it was raininn
hard, and did not cease till too late for
any sale, and the crowd who came up
trum your city wended their way back
tbe train. When it was found that
the sale was postponed, the propnetors j
tue property were again b siegeo j
by a number of persons to sell j
ots to them privately, but the>
declined—no douot taking a fair view o
the case, that if all the lots were put up
to the 1 ighest bidder no one could com
plain of unfairness. The sale is now set
for Tuesday, toe 27th dayol this rnouib,
w neu it is noped the we»tuer will be fa r.
John J. Thrasher, of Norcross, welt
known in your city, bought the firs k oi
tue few lots sold on Wednesday evening
last, 50x100 feet, ior $36, ou the terms
of the bale—halt cash nd the remainder
ou time, and sold it the next morning
tor $50 cash, when it was announced rbat
no more tots would be sold till the 27tti
tost. So great was tbe anxiety to secure
iota on the part cf some th*t I noticed
lumber wnich had beeu hauled up th~n-
betore the sale, ready to commence
:>u idmg immediately after a lot could be
secured.
Tbe prii cipal officers of the Air Line
Railroad have performed wonders with
<he means at their command. TneCnief
Engineei, Col. B. 1. Sage, assisted oy
ms bro.her, L Y. Sage, have worked for
tbe success of this great enterprise with
a zealous energy, good judgment and de
vo ion, reflecting the higtnst credit, and
nave, in conducting tne business, dis
played so muen it tegrity ar.d so skill
fully economized the lunds oi the com
pany as to win tbe plaudits of all who
are acquainted with the facts, bucti is
the general verdict of those who are in
position to know. From all that is said
ot tbe/n, no one can come to any other
.cnclusion than that, none more compe
tent or worthy could have been nluced iu
fi.e important position which they have
filled. .
And I must not omit to mention the
wonders which have bfeen accomplished
on this great work by Me«r«. Grant, Al
exander k Co., with their convict tabor;
aud wtnle I wonld not disparage the
merits of the different members of the
aim, all of whom are successful gentle
men of fii8t-class ability and great enter
prise, it is due to truth to say that the
credit of successfully working the peni
tentiary convicts, belongs mainly to
Thomas Alexander. It is do.iotfnl if any
man coaid be found in Geoigta who
conld so well oondnet this great work.
But few men any where are blessed wnn
an equal amount of good judgment,
na oral powers of mind, and are capable
of grasp’ng and executing as much. He
relies upon himself, makes no mistakes,
and requires everything to work up to
his directions; and when this is done, it
always comes oat right.
It is amazing, and almost overwhelm
ing, to pass along the line ot the Air
Line Road, and look at the great deep
cbaunels which have been cut through
the ir.oai’tain peaks, and the immense
yawning chasms which have been filled
op, in constructing tbe road bed through
the mountain range in the vicinity of
Cnrrabee for a distance of ten or twelve
miles. The cars, as they pass along, are
sometimes on giddy heights which it is
almost painfnl to look down; and from
thi» they frequently pass immediately into
a cat turough a s eep moan:hid peak
where we nave to look almo t sir«jght
upward to see tne fretted edges of the
srrfa e abO'*. Tbe filling ol the de p
chaatui* is pr-rt..ruled t . some eases by
tirs> «onstrnctin" trestles over tv I -,c!i toe
U. .N J! , -1 _
road, thty are now running to Green
ville. No doubt they will be running
through from your city to New York iu
two aud a half mou'bs—perhaps less—
from this time, which will be a joyful
event.
The city ot Toccoa is, as before stated,
less iban two miles from the tails of the
same name, toe most beautiful in the
woild, and, wi h one exception,
tn - * highest single cataract on earth.
It is only eleven miles from the
far-lamed and terrific Tallulah F-dls,
whicu present one of the most won-
uenui and awe-inspiring spectacles that
mortal eye can be lold. I am glad to be
able to state that Mr. W. D. Young, an
enterprising gentleman who was brought
up near this place, is new building a
hotel at these tabs. He will in a short
time have a number ot rooms completed,
and be able to accommodate visitors.
The lauds ou Tugaloo river, Bros .
river, Toccoa creek aud Ward’s creek,
ad in this v’ctnny, are exceedingly ter- _
tile and well cultivated, and many of tue I the fir»t d»y of "October, in each year. TheSurther
The average rate of interest upon our public deb:
taking into the account tbe light per cent, rate
upon the new ^jonds, now being placed upon the
marset, may be stated at seven pere nt. At this
rate the annual interest upon our bonded debt is
$632,555. According to the above statement, after
paving all the ordinary expenses of tbe Govern
ment and the aunual interest upon our entire
bonded debt, a balance of $46,429 67 will remain in
the Treasury of the State.
In making tbe foregoing statement, I have equally
avoided an over-estimate of the amount of revenue
which will probab y be received into ihe Treasury
aud an under-estimate of the probable amount oi
expenditures. The ability of the state to meet a
just demands upon its Tleasury cannot be doubted
and there is every re-son to believe that, alter the
temporary pressure now upon us shall h3ve beeu
relieved, all such demands'will be met with prompt
ness. p
The Legislature, at its late session, authorized
ana directed $1,200,100 of eight per cent, bonds of
the State to be issued and negotiated fir, for the pur
pose of paving past due interest, and for the redtrnp
tion of past due bonds, an i such other
b.jnds as may tall due withir the next
three years. The act provides that the inter, st
on these b inds shad be payable >n the city of New
ork, semi-anuuaily, on the first day ot Apiil aud
ment.
com-
have the authority of Colonel
Gardner that he (Mr. Stephen^ X
not even represent the views of tie
pie of the district who elected him to
Congress. We submit, then, whether u
ought to take his seet in the Hou^
Representatives without fii« a*o r 7in
mg if he is there as a Democrat
or as a
8 "P_P°H« °f Grant’s administration. i n
view of the position he has assumed 7,
think it is his duty to resign, and “—
then,
if he uestres it, he can take the fi rld on
Ins present platform, against s me ca’ndi
date who represents Democracy
understand it and as nine-tenth's i**
inhabitants quite wealthy. Tocci.a City
bids lair to ue a very important place.
Habersham.
f o.vm tio.v oh uh.on-
1 xecciive Department. State of Ge^egia, 1
ATLANTA OA., Mey 12, 1873. J
Hon. C. A. Rutting, Macon, Ga.:
Dear Sir: Your lavi j requesting a particular
statement of th debt ol tht State has ot#n received.
- auj causes, uun-ct ssari to be specially mentioned,
have conspired to delay the prepaiat ou of the de-
sir. d sta.euien uutil the present time Great care
na- oeeii taken in pieparing this exhibit to have the
same . et forth correctly, the entile debt of the
State.
Tne bonded debt o. the State contracted prior to
tne commencerncwt f Gov Bullock's administra
tion, &s will appear more pariicnlarly and at large,
by referen e to the tabular statement hercii-alter
given, is *4,988,56.0 Gov. Bullock issued $3,000,000
ol gold bonds under authority ol tne Act of Septem
ber IS, 1-7 . Oi thise, $300,060 hive been returned
to the Treasury ai d cancel ed. and $U2,OtO have
oeen declared Void by L g s.ative Act. api roved Au- ! tbe same becomes due
gust 23, 1872. The t a.at-ce of'his series amounting
to $2,598,0.6, are recognized as legal obligations of
the State, and con-titute a part ot one public debt
By au Act or he Legislature, passed at the ses.iou
ot i&72, aUth rity was given to issue *700,Ouo seven
percent, twenty ye r currency bonds, lor there-
demotion of our six per emt bjnde, falling due in
the summer of 1872. Tbe accoun of the Agent o.
tne State in New Y'ork, showing the amount of tbes-
bonds dispose a ot, oefore tne order issued with"
drawing them tioni market, has not yet been fuliy
rendered. It may be approximately stated, how-
ev r, at $280,060 The amount *31 onr past due
bonds, that eli due iu the .man er of 1872, still out
standing, may be stated at r 4 00. From this
statement it Will appear t— . ,he $700,OuO cur
rency bonds issued as above sated, to redeem our
old bonds fa Jiug due in the summer of 1872, only
$280,OOu have been disposed of; aud no mote than
th 8 amount of the said issue shou d he s.ated as a
part of tbe d-.bt of the Siate. Ihe unredeemed!
portion of our bonds which matured in the sum- I
met of 1872, and amounting, as just stated, to 1
$420,000 still form a part of the public uebt. I have |
been tbns par icular b cause in the reports of the
.treasurer and Comptroller General, made to the!
Leg'natu.e, a’ its late session, the whole nmount oi I
said currency bonds was included in the state- ,
ment of our bonded debt. The six per ceat. j
bonds, in exchange for which these were
offered, were no; embraced in either of said
statements Tnis inaccuracy was not very material
at tbe time these reports were submitted, but has
oecome an since ou account of the orovisions of the
Act requiring the unnegotiat-d balance of
said currency bonds to be withdrawn trom the mar
ket.
The foregoing statement embraces the whole of
the bond, d debt of the State, a mitted to be legal
and binding, and iB particularly set forth in the fol
lowing table:
provision* of the act necetBary to be here noticed
are, that the bonoa are to be made payable iu the
city of New York, on the first day of April of each
successive year, as follows: $li0,000 on .the fiist
day of April, 1-75, and $l0u,000 on the first day o
April of each succeediu. year until the whole issue
of bonds authorized by the act shall be paid. Th
Governor is autborz-d and directed to increase the
per centage on tbe taxes to be collected in the year
1874, and in even succeeding year, untd the whole
of the bonds issued under the act shall be paid, so
tbat the taxes to be collet ted in these years shall
exceed the amount otherwise authorized to be col.
leciel b> the sum of one hundred thousand dollars;
and he is instructed by the act to appropriate this
sum of $100,600 annually to the payment o, the
bonds issued under the act. I he act pi jges the
faith of the State that these instructions to the Gov-
ernor shall not be repealed, and that th-.s $100,000
si.all be annually levied, collected and applied to
the payment of tue bands authorized by tbe act
until the whole amount shall be paid. Tl.e act
fureber declares that these bonds shad be exempt
f.-cm State, county and municipal taxation,
taxation.
The bonds authorized by the act cave been prepared
and are now oetug otiered for ta'.e to the people ot
the State. It should be borne in mind tbat these
bonds are not intended to increase the amount ot
the debt of the State but are required to t-e s.i dis
posed of as io extinguish past due interest aud re-
deem past due bonds, and other bonds falling due
within ihe next three years. The annually accruing
interest upon these bonds will be paid Dro -ptly as
The faith cf tne State is
pledged to raise by tax tion SIOO.’M) each year to
be applied to tbe payment o: tbe ptincipal until the
whole issue shall be redeemed. J heir exemption
f.om taxation; tbe high rate of interest they bear;
the ability of tho State to meet the accruing interest
promptly, and the provisions made for the redemp
tion of the binds, unite to mace these securities
not only a safe, bat in every respect the best in
vestment ever offered to th“ people ot Georgia. An
opportunity is now offered to trustees for an invest
ment of tbe funds in their hands, whi h will be at
once sate and highl^jremunerative, and capitalists of
all classes will find it to their advantage to invest in
these securities. The rapidity with which they are
being disposed of render-, i: quite certain that within
a short time the whole of them will be placed at par
md affords mostgratifying evidence of the confidence
repcsed l y the people in the fvi'h of their State.
I am, dear eir,
Ylcst respectlu-iy. yours,
JnMES SI. SMITH.
men tvno voted for Mr. Stepney recent
lj understand it.” If nine-tentu of th 8
people o‘ Georgia understand Democr*
cy as the nin-tentbs of those who rei
oently voted for Mr. Stephens under-
stand it, and if those last named Line-
tenths consider Democrcj to be touuded
npon principles different from tbo<* truly
noble and time-honored one’s, upon
which Mr. Stephens boldW stard8, then
we mus'. si that Georgia is in a deplora
ble condition, Democratically speaking
and that she snould cease to follow those
who accuse onr purest and wisest states
man of being a “supporter of Grant’s
administration and asking u« to call him
Democrat;” tbat she should turn fn.m
tne teacnings of such instructors, and
give our attentive ear to Georgia’* bright
est son. On our opinion, if all the
newspaper men in Georgia were
united against the “old, cioi-
headed” politician who has been so
unjustly condemned, their strongest ef
forts to prove him a supporter of Grant’s
administration aud usurpations wou.d be
utterly unavailing.^* 4 Veritas esi magnet
et prevalabis." Mr. Stephens’ b'gh char
acter, both as a private citizen and a
public man, is too well known in Geor
gia and in the Southern States to be sus
ceptible of any blemish. Can an Louest
man be a Radical and at the
claim to be a Democrat ?
Who wonld
same time
This is the
charge. Who wonld dare impugn his
honesty ? Can it be possible that a man
who has, from the begii ning, been true
to bis prtrcities, who has ever main
tained his po-ition regardless
of popular favor and pub
lic sentiment; who has always battled for
the Constitution of the United States and
for the sovereignty of the States, would,
at the winding up of a brilliant i*ohtical
career, suffer a stain to be made upon
his spotless cba. acter, bv being L.l-e t’
those distinguishing traits that nave ever
marked his lite.
The peob-e of Georgia cannot pc mi-:-
ltd in regard to Mr. Stephens’ political
position; Lis integrity and honesty,
and if those who so un
justly attack him will fnrnish their
readers with Lis exact “utteranc»s,” just
as they appear under his initials, then will
the voice ot the people ol Ge< rgia rise
up in thunder-tones, iu just fication of
our noble statesman, and in ci-uuemna-
tion of his unjust assailants. God g'ant
that the people of this noble o.d com-
monweal'L—the Empure State 11 the
South—mat not be misled by a few hon
est, but erring editors. May their motto
be, “Wisdom, Justice and Moderation.”
We have finished. May all the honor
uue, be given to ihe wisest, the grandest
»nd purest living American statesman,
Hon, Alexander H. Stephens.
Yours, etc., D,
When Issued.
1842 and 1843...
1844 and 1843...
1858
1859
1860
>861
i860 ...
1816
1867
1870
WtiCn Due.
... 1873
.... 1874
... 1878
... J879
... 1S?0
... iS3L
... 1886
... 1886
... 1887..
Amount.
$ 137,000
251.500
IcO, 000
200 000
20", OUO
lOo.O 0
3,600,000
13a. 5uo
265.500
In various years 187
1672 1892
189o 2,598,060
... 4‘2U,0ff'
,.. *280,*.00
Total Bonded Debt $8,286,500
To tfie total bonded debt of tbs State sbonld be
added tbe auomt due from the State to Russell
Sage, of New York say $375,000. exclusive of au
amount of isteieit wbicb baa net yet beeu ascer
ained. There sboa d alio be added past due in
terest upon the Gold bonds issued by Gov. Bullock
In 1870. I have no means of ascertaining exactly
the am'unt ot this last item, bat sm certain that it
does not exceed to tb s date $375,000. Adding these
items it will appear that tbe debt of tbe State, exclu
sive of tbe floating debt, and our accruing in
terest account. may be stated as fefilowa:
Total bonded deb:.... ..$",786,50-
Line bussell Sage 375,0 0
Arrearages of interest...... 375,03
Total - $9,686,600
The floating debt of tbe State, consisting princi-
l ally of debts against tbe Western and Atlantic Rai.-
road, is not large, probably ■ ot excee- ing $5o,OtO at
this time, and ample previa-on has been made for
tbe payment of tbe seme. For this reason it is n >t
inc uded in tbe toregoing statement ol tne pub.ic
debt.
Tbe whole amount of bonds of Railroad com pa-
nies, claimed bv the holders of tba same io Lav-
been indorsed by the State, is $7,(33.400. From t‘.is
should be deducted tbe amounts declared void by
several acts ef the Legislature, viz: $3,875,000
leaving a ba ance of indorsements recognized as
valid of $3.158,4<W, from which, iu my opinion, th
State will never suffer any considerable loss.
The propertv owned ty tbe State, other ihan her
p ibiic building.-, is—
1st. The West -rn and Atlantic Railroad,
va'ned at say $7.00(^011
2d. Tei tiieu-and sbar-s ol stock in tbe
A«'«ct:c and Gulf Ra lroad. of the
nominal value of L000,00",
3a. One hundred anu eighty-»U:ht eh*rea
o' stock in the Geoigia Railroad and
Banting Company.... 18 80
Mr. Stephens’ Assailants.
Editors Daih/ Sun: We have just read
“Mr. Stephens’ Position on Federal Pol
itics,” an article taken from the Atiantu
Herald, of a recent date, and republished
in The Sun. The Hon. Alexauder H.
Stephens, all that is great and nob e, is
accused of being a Radical. The follow
ing extract we take from the Hera d:
“We are glad to observe that the press
of the State have at length taken issue
with Mr. Stephens, in the remarkable
position he has assumed touching Grant’s
administration. When such a paper as
the Savannah News, and snch a man as
Colonel Gardner, of the Constitution
alist, are compelled to censu.e Mr. Ste
phens, others mure impu sive and les-
conservative, may be ex usea a trank ex-
prASsion of opinion ”
Whatever Col. Gardner, the Savannah
News or the Herald, may sav or write,
touching Mr. Stephens’ position in re
gard to Grant’s administration, however
often his sentences may be p«-rver:ed»>n >
unjustly misconstrued, tne confidence
that the people of Georgia now have in
his honesty, integrity, and Democracy,
cannot be shaken;and every eflort on th*
part of this cuudetnning crew to sta.n ms
honored name will prove as ineffect
ual as was the fabled lrog’s effort to at
tain the size of a bull. The loundatioD
of Mr. Stephens' position has ever been
truth. Mr. Stephens is himself truth and
the coffiu that will some day be tLe repos
itory of his ashes will be filled with truth.
Tne Herald tays: “He has overstepped
tne limits of public patience, and must,
therefore, prep ire himself for tbat pub
lic condemnation which his own written
indulgences provoke.” How has Mr
Siephens overstepped the limits of pub
lic patience ? Is it simply in stating
that Grant’s financial administration is
as economical as any of his predecessors ?
Is it because tnat in t is opin
ion, no as-aults upon Grant’s personal
character, integrity or ability can avail
anything? Is it bee use the illusirous
-‘.atesman of liberty Hall is not alraid to
utter tne truth optnly and boldly regard
less of public opinion and sentiment ?
Lastly,is it Decause he can epeak of his p -
The Coast Line Water Route,
DcMy Sun : — Allow tne to present
lire ugh your columns to the a-st-mbly
of Governors at Atlanta, and to *he pub
lic generally, the subjoined letter from
Col. Raiford on the subject ot the
great Sea-coast Canal which nature has
»o nearly made between t e Mississippi
valiey and the Atlantic Ocean.
This grand pioject is not iu antagonism
to that of tne Great Western and Atlantic
Canal, which the convention has been
called to consider. Well may they Har
monize, and well may a convention as
sembler in the capital of Georgia con
sider both. The mighty and growing
West already has need of both. Ihe
vast increase of agricultura i rod action
in the new States of the Noithwest will
speedily demand all the outlets to tbe
Atlantic pons that can be provided.
Since the subjoined letter was penned,
important action has been taken in call
ing attention to this proposed great
highway of commerce. But rtcently tbe
Board of Trade in Savannah gave to it
most favorable consideration. The Na
tional Commercial Convention at Balti
more, in 1871, unanimously commended
it to the attention of Congress, and
adopted a memorial to that body, pre
pared by a special committee, of .ibich
the writer hereof whs chairman, urging
that a careful survey be made at the ex
pense of tLe general government. It is
designed to have the comparatively small
amonut of work necessary to complete
tne canal done by the Federal Govern
ment, that the commerce which is bjrne
along it may be free from the vexations
and expenses of tolls.
^ Recent observa
tion shows that the eighty miles ot tidal
wat* r of St. Mary’s river would form the
most eligible eastern section of this nreat
water route across t :e peninna'a of
Florida; and that its completion m uld
drrin the Okeefinokee Swamp, and make
available toagricnllure an area wonderful
in fertility aud ten times as greas as ‘hat
of the celebrated Haarlem Lake iu Hol
land, which was drained a few years ago,
and is now cultivated.
With ardent wishes for the construc
tion of the Great Western Canal, and
mical adversary iu other terms than | t j ia j 0 { ^e sea-coast water route ad-
Miking an aggr-gate of $8.018.i
i\--. x jiroj-ertT ol .be itxte, <xcla»-u
J
those of bitterness and condemnation ?
If these be the causes that have wea
ned the public patience, then the pray
ers of every heart, whose motto is trutn,
ih"uld be “God save the country.”
Mr. Stephens is even arraigned
I'etore tbe public and bold
ly and unjustly ncoused ol
uAxrchiug into the Rad.cat camp. How
any Georgian of Democratic priuci
bung sucu a charge against such a
u>an?
How an accnsation of this nature can
ue uuthfully substantiated We will no
uqutre. A euppobi'ion of its substa -
muon is too great an absurdity to-d
nc-e to an nteiiigenl publi -.
vucated by Col. Raiford,
I am, respectfully, etc.,
W. G. McAdoo.
It is stated that Mr. William
Holden, a Memphis printer, has re
ceived intelligence that he is “one ot
three heirs to au estate iu Euglamh
which, one hundred ana sixty-eight
years ago, amounted to $15,000,000
in gold.” While Mr. Holden has a
“fat take,” he will doubtless find it a
“lotio" oue.