Newspaper Page Text
®lui
A-. Tsa:. o. RUSSELL,
Editor & Proprietor.
fc ssiss ——— r=- . ——
Duma VitH. Mnrion Cos., Ci.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH. 21,1877.
The Convention Outlook.
Tlio newspapers of the State are
almost unanimous in advocating the
calling of a Constitutional Conven
tion, and the arguments they present
in its favor are overwhelming. The
best men arc also being suggested ns
delegates. With the intelligence,
the first talent,and the best influences
in the State at work on anew Con
stitution, it cannot be otherwise than
an instrument vastly superior to any
we have yet had.
The following are the names of
some of the newspapers favoring a
Convention —but it is only a very
meagre list of the press advocates of
the measure:
Atlanta Constitution, Macon Te'e
graph & Messenger, Augusta Chroni
cle <fc Constitutionalist, Savannah
Morning News, Columbus Times and
Enquirer, Albany News, Sumter Re
publican, Fort Valley Minor, Haw
kinsvillo Dispatch, Talbotton Stand
ard, MeriwetherVindicator.LaQrange
Reporter, Douglasville Medium, Ca
milla Reformer, Mdledgeville Recor
der, West Point Press, and Lumpkin
Independent.
The Bainbridge Democrat, with a
customary perversity of judgment,
opposes a convention. The Cutlibert
Messenger don’t care—will remain
disconsolate with or without a Con
vention.
With these two exceptions, all the
papers in the State, whose views are
known to us, are warm advocates of
a Convention; and the masses of the
thinking people, Irom the mountains
to the sea, are clamorous for an or
ganic law of their own creation.
But it will be no easy task to win.
The Convention men will have to fight
an opposition composed of the follow
ing elements: Ist. The lazaroni who
forced the exising monstrosity on us.
2nd. The fraudulent bondholders who
yet hope to bleed the State of millions
under the present arrangement. 3rd.
The thousand and one leeches who
have grown fat, bleeding tile tax-pay
ers through the extortionate consti
tutional structure. 4th. The medi
ocrity of the ‘-'uncouth and boister
ous” Legislature,of whose valuable(?)
services the people arfe heartily sick
and tired. sth. The army of office
holders whose terms of office have
just commenced. 6. The indifference
and despondency of many, whom the
national frauds have rendered suspi
cious of all men, and skeptical in re
spect to all public measures. 7th. A
small handful of good men, who, al
though recognizing the defects in the
mongrel Constitution, believe that it
is the best to be had, from the peo
ple at present.
It will require herculean efforts to
overcome this motley opposil ion, and
our advice to the friends of the Con
vention is, “roll up your s'eeves and
go at it.” We believe it is the duty
of every patriotic citizen, to lay aside
all personal considerations and pie
ndices, and go> to work with a will to
secure the State anew and better
Constitution.
On Monday before last, for the first
time in sixteen years, there was a
democratic majority in the senate,
and had they been so disposed they
might have reorganized the commit
tees, elected officers ol the senate
from their own party, and overturn
ed things generally. The seats of
Senators Sherman and Cameron, ol
Pennsylvania, were vacant, and Sen
ators Cameron, of Wisconsin, and
Edmunds are too ill to be in the sen
ate chamber, Mr. Ferry is in Michi
gan in attendance upon a sick broth
er, and Senator Sharon has gone
back to his silver mines.
It is probable that the Attorney
General will report to-day that Wade
Hampton is Governor of South Caro
lina, <le facto and de jure. Not so
probable about Nichols,
shall we ;iiave a con
vention.
Wo trust so. It would boa meas
ure of economy if the convention did
nothing else but fix the per diem ol
members of the legislature and reg
ulate the pay of the clerical force,
since the discussion of these two sub
jects consume almost half the time
allotted each session. While some
members labor earnestly every ses
sion for a reduction in this direction
many others make a great noise over
high pay only to get up a cheap rep
utation at home for econofny and re
trenchment. Such men talk openly
and flippantly for reduction, but
pray in secret and work quietly
against it. A convention, by fixing
the pay of legislators and clerks, in
the state constitution, would save
the state much money and deprive
numerous demagogues of their only
stock in political life. Instead o
limiting the days of each session let
the pay be limited, not to exceed
S3OO with ten cents mileage in lieu
of the fifty cent- now allowed by law.
Although a great deal of legislation
has been directed against “fraudulent
bonds,” the “snake has been scotch
ed and not killed.” A convention
could effectually put to death many
heads of this Hydra that are now
only wounded. Over a week of each
session of the legislature is consum
ed in trying to kill some of the mon
sters’ wounded members; a conven
tion could put an eternal quietus to
them all. This saving would aloue
be amply sufficient to pay the ex
pense- of such a body.
During the sitting of every legisla
ture, state aid is asked tor some rail
road, and many weak-kneed breth
ren find what, they style “merit” in
the project, and speeches, votes and
reconsiderations consume a week or
more through the vacillation of those
who try to be on all sides of the
question, and finally the state is
gouged to the amount of a SIOO,OOO.
A convention could insert a consti
tutional prohibition against all such
methods Othrobbing the treasury and
thus save the state a round sum and
leave money in the pockets of tax
payers where it legitimately belongs.
This, too, would pay the expenses of
a convention. —Meriwether Vindi
cator.
Green peas are in bloom in South
Georgia.
Corn planting in Southwest Geor
gia is going on rapidly.
A negro child was burned to death
in Burke countv, recently.
A Worth county man has planted
400 acres in oats.
There will be a fine display of mil
itary at the Tkomasville fair.
The next State Fair will be held
in Atlanta, beginnig on the 15th o£
October.
It is said that there is not a bar
room in Echols county.
The Eastman Times nominates
lion. Charles C. Kibbee as a delegate
to the constitutional convention.
Bainbridge Democrat : Between
the present Georgia Legislature and
the heavy investments in guano, we
don’t know what’s to become of the
country.
Nathan Bray shot and killed W.
D. Christian at White Sulphur
Springs, Meriwether county, last
Tuesday.
According to the supplemental re
port of the Commissioner of Agncul
ture, Washington is the banner coun
ty in area planted and yield of su
gar cane, rice, wheat and oats. In
corn, cotton, peas and potatoes, crops
f or which her soil is happily adapted
yet owing to Ihe drought in the lat
ter part of the summer, she falls be
hind a few counties. Thoma i and
Cobb, both distingushed for their
agricultural enterprise, are distanced
by their sister, Washington, in all
leading products, bating a slight per
centage in yield of corn.
Fred Douglass, colored, has been
appointed and confirmed United
States Marshal of the District of Col
umbia, Southern Democrats securing
ihe confirmation.
808 TOOMBS’ VIEWS.
Gen. Toombs is going to Washing
ton in a few days. By the way, wo
see that the General will be a candi
date to the convention, should one
he called. Ho is reported as saying
in answer to the question what the
convention should do.
“Sweep the deck, sir—sweep the
deck. The people of Georgia want
a constitution of their own, out and
out—a fundamental law that will re
present at once the intelligence and
the necessities of the people.”
“There is talk in some quarters of
opposition to a convention owing to
a fear that the homestead clause will
be repealed.”
“It is practically repealed now, if
the decisions of the Supreme Court
•ire worth anything. I tun for a
homestead in fee simple. I stand by
my record. I introduced it the
Georgia T-e.r .-’:ifnr<\ when I was
twenty-sx nr- 1 age, the first
homestead law < ver placed upon our
statute books. 1 am in favor of it
yet —not for twenty-one years but
forever. lam in favor of prohibit
ing State aid; lam in favor of re
stricting municipal corporations in
the matter oi contracting debts.
There is no safety where there is no
responsibility. It is not capital we
want in Georgia -it is safety for cap
ital. Big bonanzas, as you newspa
per men call them, are unmitigated
humbugs. Financiers despise sensa
tionalism. They arc not going to
invest until they see their way clear.
Confidence is the thing. Strip en
terprises of the lunnbuggery of what
you call progress, but what I call
villainy, and you have no need to in
vite capitalist to invest. They will
be eager enough.”
A Cyclone in Southwestern Georgia-
The Albany News of the loth
gives reports of the ravages of a
terrible storm which swept over
portions of Worth,
Mitchell and Colquitt on
Thursday night of last week. It
moved from southwest to northeast
like nearly al! the cyclones so de
structive in Georgia. It scattered
houses, fences, trees, etc., like
stubble. It felled Mr. Thomas'
dwelling, killing a child four or
five years oid, and badly injured
Mr. Thomas’ wife an 1 mother—
the latter fatally. Mr. Miller had
his place torn up, and one child
killed by falling timbers. It left
not a sign of a church on the War
wick road, near Jones’ creek. At
Mr. Bates’ place, near the line of
Irwin county, three persons wens
killed and a number wounded.
Mrs. Slaughter, of Worth county,
was so badly' hurt that her recov
ery is doubtful, and everything on
her place was swept away. At
one | lace two mules were blown
in the branches of a mass of fallen
trees, and cattle takens no one
knows where. This is only 7 a
meagre report • f losses ascertain -
ed, and t e half had not been told.
The accounts leave; no doubt that
it was about such a cyclone as
those we had in this localily two
years ago.
TIIK BIjTIiTsOCIETY.
The annual meeting of the Buena
Vista Auxiliary Bible Society met at
the Methodist Church in town on
Sunday, the 11th inst. The officers
were re-elected, to-wit: J. L. C.
Kerr, President; E. M. Butt, Viee
President; and M. Hair, Secretary
and Treasurer.
The Treasurer’s report showed the
Society in a very good financial con
dition. Twenty-four new members
joined the society.
The officers propose to hold meet
ings at a number of the churches in
the county during the year iu the
interest of the cause.
Rev. John A. Shivers has become
connected with Alphabet 11am in the
editorial management of the Warren
ton Clipper.
DIFFICULTIES TO BE AVOIDED.
Reports from several comities
lead us to believe that more oppo
sition is developing itself to the
Constitutional Convention than
was anticipated. We have already
alluded to the influence which a
fear of the abrogation of the home
stead and of an objectional loca
tion of the seat of government is
likely to exert. /Zaving said what
we could to dissuade people from
voting against the call for those
reasons, wo now pass to other con
siderations.
The canvass must be conducted
discreetly, and the district candi
dates distributed fairly among the
counties, to prevent the array of
political parties or sectional feel
ing against tho calling of the Con
vention.
Let there be no Democratic
meeting i ailed to make prelimi
nary arrangements or to nominate
candidates. This is no party
question. The interests and rights
of all classes and parties arc to be
committe 1 to the care A the Con
vention. Its friends may find
themselves mistaken if they think
that they are strong enough to an
tagonize any political organization
as such. There no cause why any
class or party should distrust the
Convention or feai to commit its
interest to it, anything calculated
to arouse such distrust and fear
shutld he avoided.
A warm controversy has already
sprung up in the Atlanta Senato
rial district about the distribution
of candidates for the Convention
among tho several counties of the
district, and there is every reason to
apprehend that similar jealousies will
manifest themselves in other dis
tricts. \Ve wish shat such sectional
feelings c<>uhl be discarded, and that
the g.-ueval disposition could be to
■el ct die best an 1 safest men with
out regard >o locality, even if they
shall all be taken from one county.
But wo know that, this cannot be.—
the candidates would not permit it
if the people desired. It is therefore
i upor.ant that due consideration
should i>e given to the claim- t each'
county m the selection of candidates
and that the larger counties should
carefully refrain from taking more
than their own due share, even if so
many. The fate of tha Convention
may depend upon wise action in thi s
matter. Let. no unacceptable candi
dates be forced upon the people by
a controlling majority upon any un
willing county. It is better to yield
personal predilections in some cases
ha n by adhering to them incite op
position to the call of the Conven
tion.
This is one of the questions that
requires judicious management in its
details—one in which the majority
may be reversed by local errors and
jealousies, Tile friends of the Con
vention should guard against such
dangers.— Col. Times.
car it in tennesee.
John R. Martin writes to the Ru
al Sun, from Clarksville: “I find
that the cold winter has damaged the
fruit crop for tui- year very much, if
it is not totally destroyed. I have
examined it extensively in this coun
try, and report as lollows : Peaches,
all killed; pears and fine cherries,
all killed ; apples, greatly damaged,
if not all killed ; plums and common
cherries, not Hurt. My place is not
ed, in this ection, on account of its
never failing to produce when there
is any fruit at all in the country.
There has been but one total failure
of the peach crop on my place in for
ty-six years ; then it was killed in
the bud, as it is now. Is this the
case throughout the country ? I fear
it is.
Though Key pretends to be a Dem
ocrat, he has signified his determina
tion to run the postal department in
the interest of the Republican party,
Nice Democracy, that!
A. M. BRANNON,
lEUSSISf,
135]Broad Street, Colnmbus, Ga.
Tlio old nud well-known
SIM BfPff Store,
A. M. Brannon, Proprietor,
Which has been dispensing medicine for the many ills oi mankind for the last twenty years
still continues to solicit the patronage of its many friends. It is unnecessary to enumerate
the many inducements to buy from me, “sufficient to say,”it will make it to 'FOUR interest
to buy whatever you wish from a FIIInT-CLASS DRUG STORE come and see me at
(*£■§#*• 1 “ m Prepare* now to Offer dinner Inducement* m
COltlTItV DtRItCIIAVTS thnu ever Before.
Very Respectfully,
decß " 3,n A. 11. BEAN NON.
BiII,WHS FOR IUIVUI.
AMERICUS. GiV.,
——Have one of——
fhc Largest and Most Complete Stocks in Georgia,
(Consisting in part of Nails, Axes, Iron , Steel, Plows. Chains, Rope, flames', bridles
J Saddles, Hoes, Spades, Bolts, Shovels, Rakes, Forks, Guns, Pistols, Hinges it Butts
.Cutlery, looks, Locks, Glass, Paints, Putty, oils, Varnishes, Doors. Sash, Blinds Cook k
•1 Heating Stoves, Holloware, Woodware, Tinware, Grain cradles, Straw cutters, Corn sel
ers, wagon & buggy material, and such other goods as are usually kept in Southern Hard
warestores.-all of which we buy from Manufacturers and First Hands for C a
WZWII N©Y M JIBMJI&DM). tm UZ A ZA l
Deeis -.w J W Sheffield &, Co*
J.V. AMBBEWS & 00,.
Wholesale and. Retail Dealers in
Staple ami Famnj Sracmas,
LIQUORS, TOUACCO, BACON, BAGGING, ROPE
TIES, &C ,
JVO* 233 &&Q&D B€.QLWM9UBi
dccß-3m sHS~Special iduccinents to Country Merchants.
wwiiCOX, UIDD CC CO* S
GUAXO.
TIIO'S B, LUMPKIN is ready to take your orders for the same.
CERTIFICATES FROM PARTIES IN THIS COUN
TY WHO USED IT LAST YEAR.
The best I have ever used. Jas. L. Baker.
Wilcox, Gibbs & Co.’s Guano increased my crop ol cotton fully one-thir
or more last year. Henry G. Jackson.
I used Wilcox, Gibbs k Co.’s Guano last y r ear with very decided bem fit.
Tiios. L. Rogers.
I used 1000 pounds of Wilcox, Gibbs St Co.’s Guano last year on 5 1 2
acres of poor pine land, which 1 am confident would not have made 250
pounds ol lint cotton (the 5 1-2 acres) without the Guano, and I gathered
1085 pounds of lint cotton. G. W. Pool.
SUrmis' Sraltog,,
AMERICUS- G-A
--TO THE CITIZENS OF BO ENA VISTA A SURROUNDING COUNTRY
Tl VING purchased and refitted tin; Photo graphic Gallery iu A.UKRICUS, I am
JO. prepared to execute every style of Pie ture iu the best manner, ami at moderate)
prices. SMALL PICTURES copied and enlarged to any desired ize. A visit to his Gal
lery and patronage respectfully solicited. C- W. MENNiS
Americus, Ga., .December lu-3m Photographer.
N. O. PRINCE, J. K. PRINCE.
N. CL & J. K. PRINCE,
—AND
FEED STABLE
DEALERS IN
Horses, Mules, Carriages, Bug
gies, &c.
Horses, Buggies, Carriages and Hacks to lei
at reasonable rates—Good Sheds and Lots
for Stock Drovers.
Cotton Avenue, Americus, Ga.
McAfoe HOuse.
Smithville, Georgia.
lif-sy Meals on the arrival of all trains
Parc as good as the season affords.
Price, 50 cents a meal.
Can’t bo made by every agent every
111 II I mouth in the business we furnish, but
# I Vf yj those willing to work can easily earn a
dozen dollars a day right in their own
localities. Have no room to exulain here. Business
pleasant and honorable. Women, and boys and girls
d> as well as men. We will furnish you a complete
Outfit free. The business pays better than anything
else. We will bear expense of starling you. Partic
ulars free. Write and see. Farmers and mechanics,
their sons and dai ghters, and all classes in need of
paying work at home, should write to us and learua’tl
adout the work at once. Now is the time, Donl
belay. Address TRUE & CO., Augusta, Maine.
W. P. BURT
llexitist,
if
AMERICUS, ----- GA
Thankful for past favors I respectfully so
licit a continuance of the patronage of th
good people of Marion. Prices reasonable
and extra inducements offered those at a dis
tance to visit my office. Rooms on Lamar
st, two doors from It. C. Black's shoe store.