Newspaper Page Text
my friend answered from his seat, “a thou
sand witnesses to the contrary in Georgia
alone,” the gentleman from Maine joined is
sue, but, as usual, produced no testimony in
support, of his issue. 1 think the gentleman
from Maine is to be excused. For ten years
nil fortunately he and his have been reviling
the people who were not allowed to come here
to meet the reviling. Now. sir. we are face
to face, and when you make a charge you
must bring your proof. The time has passed
when the country can accept the impudence
of assertion for the force of argument, fir
recklessness of statement for the truth of his
tory.
Now. sir, 1 do not wish to unfold the chap
ter on the other side. Jam an American. I
honor my country, and my whole country,
and it could he no pleasure to me to bring
forward proof that any port ion of my coun
trymen have been guilty of willful murder or
of cruel treatment to poor manacled prison
ers. Nfw will I make any such charge.—
These horrors are inseparable, many of them
and most of them, from a state of war. 1
lu/ld in'my hand a letter written by fine who
wa* a surgeon at the prison at Elmira, and
he says:
“The Winter of 1864, 1860, was an un
usually severe and rigid fine, and the prison
ers arriving from the Southern States during
this season were mostly old men and lads,
clothed in attire suitable only to the genial
climate of the South. I need not state to
you that, this alone was ample cause for an
unusual mortality among them. The sur
roundings were of the following nature, name
ly : r rmmrw. confined limits, but a few acres
in extent —”
Ami Andersonville, sir, embraced twenty
seven acres -
“ And through which slowly flowed a turbid
stream of water, carrying along with it all the
excremental tilth and debris of the camp ;
this stream of water, horrible to relate, was
the only source of supply, for an extended
period, that the prisoners could possibly use
for the purpose of ablution and to slack their
thirst from day to day ; the tents and other
shelter allotted to the camp at Elmira were
insufficient and crowded If) the utmost ex
tent: hence small-pox and other skin dis
eases raged through the camp. Here 1 may
note that, owing to a general order from the
Government to vaccinate the prisoners, my
opportunities were ample to observe the ef
fects of spurious an 1 diseased matter, and
lliere is no doubt in my mind but that syphilis
was engrafted in many instances; ugly and
horrible ulcers and eruptions of a character
istic nature were, alas ! too frequent ami ob
vious to be mistaken. Small-pox cases were
crowded in such a manner that it was a mat
ter of impossibility for the surgeon to treat
his patient individually ; they actually laid
so adjacent that the simple movement of one
case would cause his neighbor to cry out in
*n agony of pain. The confluent and malig
nant type prevailed to such an extent and of
sirch a nature that the body would frequently
be found one continuous scab. The diet and
other allowances by the Government for the
nse of the prisoners were ample, yet the poor
unfortunates were allowed to starve.”
Now, sir, the Confederate regulations au
thorized ample provision for Federal prison
ers, the same that was made for Confederate
soldiers, and you charge that Mr. Davis is
responsible for not. having those allowances
honestly supplied. The United States made
provision for Confederate prisoners, so far as
rations were concerned, for feeding those in
Federal hands; and yet what says the sur
geon ? “They were allowed to starve.”
“Tint ‘why?’ is a query which I will allow
your readers to infer and to draw conclusions
therefrom. Out of the number of prisoners,
as liefore mentioned, over three thousand of
then) now la}' buried in the cemetery located
neaf the camp for that purpose—a mortality
equal if not greater than any prison in the
South. At Andersonville, as l am well in
formed by brother ofliccrs who endured con
finement. there, as well as by the records at
Washington, the mortality was twelve thou
sand‘out. of say forty thousand prisoners.—
Hence is it readily to be seen that the range
of mortality was no less at Elmira than at
Andersonville.”
Mr. Platt: Will the gentleman allow me
to interrupt him a moment to ask him where
lie gets that statement ? Mr. Hill: It is the
statement of a Federal surgeon published in
the New York World. Mr. Platt: I desire
to say that I live within thirty-six miles of
Elmira, and that those statements are un
qualifiedly false. Mr. Hill: Yes, and I siqv
pose if one rose from the dead the gentleman
would not believe him. Mr. Platt: Does the
gentleman say that those statements are
I rue ?
Mr. Hill: Certainty Ido not say that they
are true, but l do say that l believe the state
ment of the surgeon in charge before that of
a politician thirty-six miles away. Now, will
the gentleman believe testimony from the
dead ? The Bible says, “ The tree is known
bv its fruits.*’ And, after all, what is the
test of suffering of these prisoners North and
Smith ? The test is the result. Now 1 call
the attention of gentlemen to this fact, that
the report of Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of
War-—you will believe him, will you not?—
on the lUth of duty, 1866—send to the Li
brary and get it—exhibits the fact that of
the Federal prisoners in Confederate hands
during the war only 22,576 died, while of the
Confederate prisoners in Federal hands 26,-
436 died. And Surgeon-General Barnes re
|K)rfS'ih an official report—l suppose you will
believe him—that iu round numbers the Con
federate prisoners in Federal hands amount
ed to 220,000, while the Federal prisoners in
Confederate hands amounted to 270,000. —
Out of the 270,000 in Confederate hands 22,-
000 died, while of the 220,000 Confederates
in Federal hands over 26,000 died. The ratio
is this : More than twelve per cent, of the
Confederates in Federal hands died, and less
than nine per cent, of the Fcderals in the
Confederate hands died. What is the logic
of these facts according to the gentleman
from Maine? I scorn to charge murder up
on the officials of Northern prisons, as the
gentleman has dime upon Confederate prison
officials. I labor to demonstrate that such
miseries.are inevitable in prison life, no mat
ter how humane the regulations. I would
scorn, too, to use a newspaper article, unless
it were signed by one wio gave his own name
and whose statement, if not true, can be dis
proved, and I would believe such a one in
preference to any politician over there who
was thirty-six miles away from Elmira. That
gentleman, so prompt to contradict a surgeon,
might perhaps have smelled the small pox
but he could not see it, and I venture to say
that if he knew the small pox was there lie
would have taken very good care to keep
thirty-six miles away. He is a wonderful
witness, lie is not even equal to the muti
lated. evidence brought in yesterday. But,
sir, it appears from official record that the
Confederates came from Elmira, from Fort
Delaware, and from Rock Island and other
places with their fingers frozen off. with their
toes frozen oir, and with their teeth dropped
out.
Hut the great question is behind. Every Ameri
can. North or South, must lament that our coun
try has ever impeached its civilization by such an
exhibition of horrors on any side, and I speak of
these things with no degree of pleasure God
knows if 1 could hide them from toe view of the
world 1 would gladly do it. But the great ques
tion is. at last, who was responsible for this state
of things? And that is really the only material
question with which statesmen now should deal.
•Sir. it is well known that, when the war opened,
at first the authorities of the United States deter
mined that they would not exchange prisoners.—
The first prisoners captured by the Federal forces
were the crew of the Savannah, and they were put
in chains and sentenced to he executed. Jefferson
Davis hearing of this, communicated through the
lines, and the Confederates having meanwhile also
captured prisoners, he threatened retaliation in
ease those men suffered, and the sentences against
the crew of the Savannah were not executed.—
Subsequently our friends from this way—l believe
my friend before me from New York (Mr. Cox)
was one—insisted that there should be a cartel for
the exchange of prisoners. In 1802 that cartel was
agreed upon. In substance and briefly it was that
there should be an exchange of man for man and
officer for officer, and whichever held an excess at
the time of exchange should parole the excess.—
This worked very well until 1803. lam going over
the facts very briefly. 1 was reciting briefly the
facts. In 1803 this cartel was interrupted; the
Federal authorities refused to continue the ex
change. Now commenced a history which the
world ought to know, and which I hope the House
will grant me the privilege of stating, and I shall
do it from official records. This, I say frankly to
the gentlemen on the other side, was in truth one
of the severest blows stricken at the Confederacy,
this refusal to exchange prisoners in 1863 and eon
tinned through 1 S!i t. The Confederates made
every effort to renew the cartel. Among other
things, on the 2d of July. 1863. the Vice-President
of the Confederacy, the gentleman to whom the
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Blaine) alluded the
other day in so complimentary terms, Mr. Alex
ander H. Stephens, was absolutely commissioned
by President Davis to cross the lines and come to
Washington to consult with the Federal authori
ties, with a broad commission to agree upon any
' cartel satisfactory to the other side lor the ex
: change of prisoners. Mr. Davis said to him, “Your
mission is simply one of humanity, and has no po
litical aspect.” Mr. Stephens undertook that work.
What was the result? I wish to he careful, and
I will state this e xactly correct. Here is his let
ter :
"CONFEDERATE STATES STEAMER TORPEDO, )
In James River, July 4, 1863. /
Sir—As military commissioner, 1 am the bear
er of a communication in writing from Jefferson
I >a vis. commander-in-chief of land and naval forces
of the Confederate States, to Abraham Lincoln,
commander-in-chief of the land and naval forces
of the United States. Hon, Robert Ould, Confed
erate States agent of exchange, accompanies me
as Secretary, for the purpose of delivering the com
munication in person and conferring upon the sub
ject to which it relates. I desire to proceed to
Washington in the steamer Torpedo, commanded
by Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, of the Confed
erate States navy, no person being on hoard but
the Hon. Mr. Ould, myself and the boat’s officers
and crew. Yours, most respectfully,
A rex. 11. Stephens.”
This was directed toS. 11. Lee, Admiral. Here
is the answer:
” A rimy Hear-Admiral S. 11. Lee, Hampton
Roads:
The request of Alexander 11. Stephens is inad
missible. * * * Gideon Wetj.es,
Secretary of the Navy.”
You will acknowledge that Mr. Stephens’ hu
mane mission failed. The Confederate authorities
gave to that mission as much dignity and charac
ter as possible. They supposed that of all men in
the South Mr. Stephens most nearly had your con
fidence. They selected him to he the hearer of
messages for the sake of humanity in behalf of the
brave Federal soldiers who were unfortunately
prisoners of war. The Federal Government would
not receive him : the Federal authorities would
not hear him. What was the next effort? After
Mr. Stephens’ mission failed, and after the com
missioner for the exchange of prisoners. Colonel
Ould, having exerted all his efforts to get the car
tel renewed, on the 24th of January, 1864, wrote
the following letter to Major-General E. A. Hitch
cock, agent of exchange on the Federal side :
•* Confederate States of America, j
War Department. >■
Richmond, Va.. Jan. 24,18G4. j
Sir—ln view of the present difficulties attend
ing the exchange and release of prisoners, 1 pro
pose that all such on either side shall be attended
by a proper number of their own surgeons, who.
under rules to he established, shall he permitted
to take charge of their health and comfort. I also
propose that these surgeons shall act as commis
saries, with power to receive and distribute such
contributions of money, food, clothing and medi
cines as may he forwarded for the relief of the
prisoners. 1 further propose that these surgeons
shall he selected by their own Government, and
that they shall have full liberty, at any and all
times, through the agents of exchange, to make
reports not only of their own acts, hut of any mat
ters relating to the welfare of the prisoners.
Respectfully. 3 T our obedient servant,
Rob’t ()ut.d, Ag‘t of Exchange.”
Mr. Blaine: I believe the gentleman from Geor
gia (Mr. Hill) was a member of the Confederate
Senate. 1 find in a historical hook of some au
thenticity of character that in the Confederate Con
gress Senator Ilill, of Georgia, introduced the fol
lowing resolution, relating to prisoners—
Mr. Hill: You are putting me on trial now, are
you? Go ahead.
Mr. Blaine : This is the resolution :
“ That even- person pretending to he a soldier
or officer of the United Stages who shall he cap
tured on the soil of the Confederate States after
the Ist day of January, 18G3, shall he presumed to
have entered the territory of the Confederate
States with the intent to incite insurrection and
abet murder; and, unless satisfactory proof he ad
duced to the contrary before the Military Court
before which the trial shall be had. shall suffer
death. This section shall continue in force until
the proclamation issued bv Abraham Lincoln,
dated at Washington on the 22d day of September,
1862, shall he rescinded, and the policy therein
announced shall be abandoned, and no longer.
Mr. Hill : I will say to the gentleman from
Maine very frankly that I have not the slightest
recollection of ever hearing that resolution before.
Mr. Blaine : The gentleman does not deny, how
ever, that he was the author of it ?
Mr. Hill: Ido not know. My own impression
is that I was not the author ; but I do not pretend
to recollect the circumstances. If the gentleman
can give me the circumstances under which the
resolution was introduced, they might recall the
matter to my mind.
Mr. Blaine : Allow me to read further :
” October 1, 4862.—The Judiciary Committee
of the Confederate Congress made a report and of
fered a set of resolutions upon the subject of Pres
ident Lincoln's proclamation, from which the fol
lowing are extracts : 2. Every white person who
shall act as a commissioned or non-commissioned
officer commanding negroes or mulattoes against
the Confederate States, or who shall arm. organ
ize, train, or prepare negroes or mulattoes for mil
itary service, or aid them in any military enter
prise against the Confederate States, shall, if cap
tured. suffer death. 3. Every commissioned or
non-commissioned officer of the enemy who shall
incite slaves to rebellion, or pretend to give them
freedom under the aforementioned act of Congress
and proclamation, by abducting or causing them
to be abducted, or inducing them to abscond, shall,
if captured, suffer death.”
I hereupon Senator Ilill, of Georgia, is recorded
as having offered the resolution 1 have road.
Mr. Hill: 1 was Chairman 6f the Judiciary Com
mittee of the Senate.
Mr. HI nine: And this resolution came directly
from that committee ?
Mr. Hill : It is very probable that, like the
Chairman of the Committee on Rules at the last
session. 1 may have consented to that report.—
[Laughter.]
Mr. Blaine : The gentleman then admits that he
did make that report?
Mr. Ilill; I really do not remember it. I think
it very likely.
A Member (to Mr. Blaine): What is the hook?
Mr. Blaine : The book from which 1 have read
is entitled “Republicanism in America.’’ by R.
Buy McClellan. It appears to be a book of good
credit and authenticity. 1 merely want it settled
whether the gentleman from Georgia was or was
not the author of that resolution.
Mr. Ilill—l sny to the gentleman frankly that I
really do not remember.
Mr. Blaine—The gentleman does not say lie was
not the author.
Mr. Hill—l do not. I will say this : I think I
was not the author. Possibly f reported the res
olution. It refers in terms !o “pretended” not
real soldiers.
Mr. Blaine —I thought that inasmuch as the
gentleman’s line of argument was to show the
character of the Confederate policy, this might
aid him a little in calling up the facts pertinent
thereto. [Laughter and applause.]
Mr. Hill—With all due deference to the gentle
man. T reply he did not think any such thing, lie
thought he would divert me from the purpose of
my argument and break its force by—
Mr. Blaine—Oh no.
Mr. Hill—He thought he would get up a discus
sion about certain measures presented in the Con
federate Congress having no relation to the subject
now under discussion, but which grew out of the
peculiar relation of the Southern States to a pop
ulation then in servitude —a population which the
Confederate Government feared might he incited
to insurrection—and measures were doubtless pro
posed which the Confederate Government might
have thought it proper to take to protect helpless
women and children in the South from insurrec
tion. But T shall not allow myself to he diverted
I >y the gentleman to go either into the history of
slavery or of domestic insurrection, or as a friend
near me, suggests. “John Brown’s raid.” I know
this, that if I or any other gentleman on the com
mittee was the author of that resolution, which I
think more than probable, our purpose was not to
do injustice to any man, woman or child North or
South, but to adopt what we deemed stringent
measures within the laws of war to protect our
wives and children from servile insurrection and
slaughter while our brave sons were in the front.
That is all, sir.
But. sir, I have read a letter from the Confed
erate Commissioner of Exchange, written in 13GL
proposing that each side send surgeons with the
prisoners ; that they nurse and treat the prison
ers ; that the Federal authorities should send as
many as they pleased ; that those surgeons he
commissioned also as commissaries to furnish sup
plies of clothing and food, and everything else
needed for the comfort of prisoners.
Now, sir, how did the Federal Government treat
that otter : It broke the cartel for the exchange
of prisoners ; it refused to entertain a proposition,
even when Mr. Stephens headed the commission,
to renew it; and then, sir, when the Confederates
proposed that their own surgeons should accom
pany the prisoners ot the respective armies, the
Federal authorities did not answer the letter. No
reply was ever received.
Then, again, in August, 1864, the Confederates
made two more propositions. 1 will state that
the cartel of exchange was broken by the Federal
authorities for certain alleged, reasons. Well, in
August, 1864, prisoners accumulating on both
sides to such an extent, the Federal Government
having refused every proposition from the Confed
erate authorities to provide for the comfort and
treatment of these prisoners, the Confederates
next proposed, in a letter from Colonel Ould.
dated the 10th of August, 1864, waiving every ob
jection the Federal Government had made, to
agree to any and all terms to renew the exchange
of prisoners, man for man and officer for officer,
as the Federal Government should prescribe. Yet,
sir, the latter rejected the proposition. It took a
second letter to bring an answer to that proposi
tion.
Then, again, in that same month of August,
1864, the Confederate authorities did this: Find
ing that the Federal Government would not ex
change prisoners at all, that it would not let sur
geons go into the Confederacy; finding that it
would not let medicines be sent into the Confeder
acy ; meanwhile the ravages of war continuing
and depleting the scant supplies of the South,
which was already unable to feed adequately its
own defenders, and much less able to properly
feed and clothe the thousands of prisoners in Con
federate prisons, what did the Confederates pro
pose ? They proposed to send the Federal sick
and wounded prisoners without equivalent. Now,
sir, 1 want the House and the country to under
stand this : that in August, 1864, the Confederate
Government officially proposed to the Federal au
thorities that if they would send steamships or
transportation in any form to Savannah, they
should have their sick and wounded prisoners
without equivalent. That proposition, commu
nicated to the Federal authorities in August, 1864
was not answered until December, 1864. In De
cember 1864, the Federal Government sent ships
to Savannah. Now, the records will show that
the chief suffering at Andersonville was between
August and December. The Confederate author
ities sought to avert it hv asking the Federal Gov
ernment to come and take its prisoners without
equivalent, without return, and it refused to do
that until four or five months had elapsed.
That is not the only appeal which was made to
the Federal Government. I now call the atten
tion of the House to another appeal. It was from
the Federal prisoners themselves. They knew as
well as the Southern people did the mission of Mr.
Stephens. They knew the offer of January 24. for
surgeons, for medicine and clothing, for comforts
and food, and for provisions of every sort. They
knew that the Confederate authorities had offer
ed to let these he sent to them by their own gov
ernment. They knew that had been rejected.
They knew of the oiler of August 10, 1864. They
knew of the other offer, to return sick and wound
ed without an equivalent. They knew all these
offers had been rejected. Therefore they held a
meeting and passed the following resolutions ; and
I call the attention of the gentlemen on the other
side to these resolutions. I ask if they will not
believe the surgeons of their hospitals; if they will
not believe Mr. Stanton’s report, if they wifi not
believe Surgeon General Barne’s report, I beg
from them to know if they will not believe the
earnest, heart-rending appeal of those starving
suffering heroes ? Here are the resolutions pass
ed by the Federal prisoners the 28th of Septem
ber, 1864 :
Resolved , That while allowing the Confederate
authorities all due praise for the attention paid to
our prisoners, numbers of our men are daily con
signed to early graves, in the prime of manhood,
far from home and kindred, and this is not caused
intentionally by the Confederate Government, but
by the force of circumstances.
Brave men are always honest, and true soldiers
never slander. They say the horrors they suffer
ed were not intentional, that the Confederate Gov
ernment had done all it could to avert them. Sir,
I believe this testimony of gallant men as being
of the highest character, coming from the suffer
ers themselves.
They further resolved :
The prisoner is obliged to go without shelter,
and in a great portion of Cases without medicine.
Resolved , That whereas in the fortune of war it
was our lot to become prisoners. We have suf
fered patiently, and arc still willing to suffer, if
by so doing we can benefit the country ; but we
would most respectfully beg to say that we are
not willing to suffer to further the ends of any
party or clique to the detriment of our own hon
or, our families, and our country. And we would
beg this affair be explained to us, that we may
continue to hold the government in the respect
which is necessary to make a good citizen and
soldier.
('CONCLUDED OK FOURTH PAGE.)
ETThc Savannah Morning News has
moved into its splendidly appointed and
handsomely finished new five story building,
situated at the corner of Bay lane and Whit
aker street. The News is now in its twenty
sixth volume, and has been, during this long
period, almost continuously under the edito
rial control of that accomplished and high
toned gentleman, Colonel W. T. Thompson.
Through reverses and successes, both of which
the News has experienced since its founda
tion, this gentleman has guided the helm.
About seven years ago, Mr. J. H. Estill be
came sole proprietor of the paper, and at once
proceeded to reorganize the establishment,
employing the most competent and energetic
young men which he could find and soon suc
ceeded in forcing the paper to the the very front
rank in Georgia journalism, and secured an
almost impregnable position in the affections
of the people of Savannah, Southern and
Southwestern Georgia, and the State of Flor
ida. The News richly deserves its prosperi
ty, and we wish for its proprietor, and all con
nected with the grand old paper, the choicest
fruits of happiness and prosperity.
That’s just what we have thought for a long
time ; hence-we adopt the sentiments, in toto,
of our brother of the Brunswick Appeal.
®lie Mnmi jftfe.
Jackson County Publishing Company.
M. WILLIAMSOST, I N. 11. Penderorass,
President. | Vice President.
T. 11. Nr BLACK, Secr'y Treas.
Executive Committee.
W. C. Howard Ch’m.
G. J. N. Wilsojt, [ R. J. Hancock,
JEFFERSON, C3rJ±.
SAT I' K DAY IIOKT, JA.VY 99, 1876.
Speech of Hon. B. H. Hill.
We scarcely think any of our readers ex
pect or look for an apology for the space
taken up in this week’s paper by the able
speech of our lion. Representative. In the
language of one of our most highly prized
State cotemporaries—“ The outrage —that is,
the violent and offensive character of the
speech which provoked Mr. Hill’s reply—
was premeditated, pointed and sinister in its
malignity. Mr. Hill met it with unflinching
firmness, manly dignity and crushing effect.
If the Representative from Maine, skulking
under cover of the sectional prejudice and
passion he invoked, inflicted an insult upon
the South, the Representative from Georgia,
appealing to reason and relying upon the
truth of history, nobly, and defiantly, it may
be, repelled the wrong.
Mr. Hill did not seek the occasion, nor
could he honorably avoid it. His course is
being made the subject of critical discussion.
In a spirit of fairness, and that our readers
may pass their own judgment in the premi
ses, we give his answer to Mr. Blaine in full.”
The Legislature.
In addition to the brief account of affairs
at the State Capital, given by our corres
pondent, we collect the following “ summary 7 ”
of legislative news from our Atlanta and oth
er exchanges.
The bill introduced by Senator Winn to
create anew Judicial Circuit, contemplates
naming it the “ Appalachee Circuit,” and in
cludes the counties of Clarke, Gwinnett, Jack
son, Morgan, Oconee, Newton, Walton and
Rockdale.
Mr. Livingston, of Newton, has introduced
a bill in the House entitled “ an act to create
a lien in judgment under all written obliga
tions to pay money or other things of value,
and to change the collection laws of this
State, and for other purposes.”
This is one of the most important bills in
troduced during the session, and contemplates
that “ all written obligations to pay money or
other things of value, signed by the maker of
such obligation in the presence of two wit
nesses who shall attest the same, shall have
from the date of signature and delivery the
lien of a judgment on all the property own
ed by the maker or makers of such obliga
tion, subject to levy and sale as hereinafter
provided for.”
And further, that “ at the maturity of each,
such obligation, if not cancelled by 7 the pay
ment of the same, the holder may make oath
to the fact, of the amount due on such obligra
tion and unpaid, before any judicial officer of
this State, who shall instanter, issue an exe
cution for said amount, and said execution
may be levied on any or a sufficiency of the
property of the maker of the obligation to
settle said obligation, if personal property,
on ten days’ notice, at the court ground of
the Militia District in which the property is
located ; but if realty, then upon thirty days’
notice at the Court House door of the county
site.”
Other features are omitted, but the reader
will readily 7 see the importance of the hill.
Up to the 21st, over three hundred bills
had been introduced in the Legislature, and
less than fifty, perhaps, have been disposed of.
The special committee to whom was refer
red the bills for a Convention reported Mr.
Candler’s bill with amendments. Under this
bill, the election for or against the Conven
tion takes place the 2d Tuesday in March,
delegates to be elected at the same time. If
the majority favor it, the Convention con
venes the second Tuesday 7 in April. It will
be composed of one hundred and ninety-four
delegates. The bill was made the special or
der for Thursday last.
In the Senate, on the 24th, Senator Dead
wyler introduced a bill to change the time re
quired for services of subpoenas duces tecum
to five days. Also, the following bills were
passed :
To amend the Constitution in reference to
homestead, striking out section one, article
seven ; to amend the section of the Code as
to the renting of real estate ; to allow Geor
gia Railroad freight trains to run on Sundays,
in order to reach Augusta and Atlanta; to
provide a mode of making minors parties to
proceedings in Court.
In the House, on the 24th, the following
bills passed:
To amend the bill to prevent cruelty 7 to
animals; to require Tax Receivers to enter
upon the digest the Christian names in full
of tax-pay 7 ers.
In response to a resolution asking for in
formation, the Governor states that the fees
of the Comptroller amount to about ten thou
sand dollars, exclusive of salary’.
Voting Population of Georgia.
From the Comptroller General’s report we
get the fact that the whole number of polls in
the State is 200,338, of whom 121,819 are
white, and 87,569 colored. The school chil
dren between six and eighteen years of age,
including Confederate soldiers under thirty
years, count 400,891. For the free education
of these, in the several counties, $151,304
were expended. The number of professions
in the State is 2,781.
'—— ♦ Q
An Oglethorpe county man killed thirty
seven rabbits in one afternoon recently with
out a dog.
Correspondence of the Forest News.
FROM ATLANTA.
Atlanta, Jan. 22d, 1876.
Mr. Editor ;—The honorable assembly of
law-makers have been moving slowly since I
last wrote you—nothing of general import
ance having been done during the week. The
bill making it penal for an officer to marry
parties under 18 years of age, passed the
House on Thursday, and on Friday the bill
in regard to garnishments—which relieves
mechanics and laborers from garnishment
under any circumstances —came up, and
there being a tie upon the question, the Hon.
Thos. Hardeman, Speaker, cast his vote in
favor of the bill. On Saturday, an effort was
made to reconsider, but the House failed to
agree to it.
Several eloquent speeches were delivered
on Wednesday, on the memorial of the ladies
who are rasing funds for the Lee Monument,
and of course the galleries were crowded on
the occasion.
The greatest question which will be brought
up during the session (the Convention bill)
has been made the special order for Thursday
a. m. It is expected that it will cause a good
deal of debate, and many express doubt as
to what will be the result. It is probable
that if a vote had been taken on this subject
the first day of the session, the result woukl
have been very different. Delay has had the
effect of changing the minds of a good many
of the members. I believe that a majority of
the people of the State are anxious for a Con
vention, but the subject is not very popular
among the citizens of Atlanta.
The new Judicial Circuit question is talk
ed of a good deal, but it is hard to tell what
action will be the result. Some are of opin
ion that a substitute will be offered for the
bills now in, and a circuit composed of moun
tain counties alone will be formed.
It is more than likely that the General
Assembly will hold out its constitutional 40
days’ limit, although many of the members
are loud in their demands for economy and
reform, and never fail to be heard in favor of
a cheap line of business.
The applications for Clerkships, &c., are
quite numerous, notwithstanding the fact that
most of these positions are filled by persons
who hold over from last session.
Pardon this hasty scratch, and I will try
and annoy your readers again next week.
J ONES.
The Convention and the Homestead Law.
The lion. Wm. McKinley, representative
from Baldwin county, has published the fol
lowing communication to his colleagues and
to the people of Georgia. It first appeared
in the Milledgeville Recorder and Union, and
we simply publish it (without endorsement,
pro or con,) that he who “ runs may read,”
and act for himself when the time comes :
I learn that a few of our good fellow-citi
zens, of the creditor class, are excited about
my effort in the legislature—by bill and res
olution, to preserve, at present, the homestead
law. With kindest respect to them, I say.it
is to be hoped the} 7 will not help to ruin the
democrat ic party, and throw the state of Geor
gia next fall, back into the hands of the rad
ical party. lam sure they do not mean such
a thing, but in truth they are doing so; and
1 confidently appeal to them to avoid rash,
and sudden expression founded entirely on
mistaken understanding of my action. My
bill about the homestead offers no new law,
but simply stands by the law as it stood
when I was elected. My ground simply is
this : make no change at this time by the leg
islature. Stand as we are ; and leave it to the
people in the coming convention, to arrange
this great matter. It is a great matter, and
requires our friends to be wise and consid
erate, or the radical party will carry 7 Georgia
in all the eleclionsof next fall. I would
not do anything to help the radicals, or give
them an advantage. There is power in the
homestead feeling of our ruined people, and
we the democratic party must show ourselves
to be true, earnest friends of the unfortunate,
not their enemies. Creditors lose nothing In
the long run by the law protecting the homes
of our neighbors who happen to be unfortu
nate. Misfortunes come like death to every
door. The rich man of to-day may be poor
to-morrow and the law must not be cruel to
any. Let savages and bigots have cruel laws ;
but let our laws be merciful to the poor. God
made the world for all people, not merely for
creditors alone. Debtors have a right to be
happy as well as creditors, and to have homes
for their families. Ido not hesitate to say,
I am a homestead man in the legislature ; in
the court house ; everywhere. And in the
legislature, I represent the women and chil
dren of m3 7 county and of the State as well
as creditors; and with God’s help I mean to
stand by them and their homes, rich and poor
alike ; down to the humblest log cabin of the
land. Never, never, shall creditors have my
help to put honest debtors in jail; nor put
their wives and children out of doors for debt.
I stand by the present constitution on the
subject, and I appeal to all thoughtful demo
crats to stand with me. If y r ou make a mis
take on this vital matter, y-ou endanger, per
haps ruin, the democratic party. I entreat
you to stand by the home rights of our peo
ple, and do not misunderstand your faithful
representative.
William McKinley.
The State University.
Of course, we insert willingly 7, the follow
ing Card brought to us by Wednesday’s mail.
Mr. Editor: In a recent issue of your
journal, we observed an editorial stating that
rumors unfavorable to the condition of the
University of Georgia, especially with refer
ence to its discipline had reached you.
We beg leave to say that nothing has oc
curred in the present collegiate year, which
is at all unusual in the history of colleges.
Indeed, the conduct of the young men lias
been so exemplary that no case of discipline
has been necessary.
We write you this in the confidence that
you would not intentionally do injustice to
the University.
By order and in behalf of the Prudential
Committee.
Wm. L. Mitchell, Chairman.
Athens, Ga.
Bishop Pierce informs the Greensboro*
Home-Journal that his venerable father is in
his usual health, with some, prospect of a
complete restoration of his voice. He is
now able to converse without difficulty.
The Northeastern Railroad.
From the two extracts below, one from
Chronicle <s• Sentinel, of Augusta, and th*
other from the Southern Watchman, of
ens, it would appear that the chances f
finishing up of this enterprise are now
favorable:
The Northeastern
learn that Governor Smith has
endorse the bonds of the Northeastern ftp
road to the extent of six or seven thousunl
dollars per mile as soon as the requirement!
of the act passed by the Legislature t**
years ago are complied with, viz: wl °
twenty miles of the road shall have W
ironed and rolling stock put upon it.
road extends from Athens to Rabun
Forty 7 miles of it have already been graded
Iron has been placed on nine miles and
half from the Richmond and Atlanta Air Lin!
Railroad towards Athens. Two-thirds of a
remaining thirty and a half miles of grad.)
road have been supplied with cross-tie*
The success of the road is now a certaintv
Ch. $ Sentinel. *' i
Northeastern Railroad. —We are p| ew
ed to be able to state that we have come jj
possession of facts which warrant the belief
that this important work will shortly
pushed ahead vigorously, and that it will not
be long until the cars are running from thj,
city to Lula, the junction with the Air-line
The work north of the Air-line will then
be entered upon in earnest, and pushed to
completion. —Athens Watchman.
RPOn Saturday afternoon, Mr. Calhonn
Clinkscales, of Anderson, S. C., while reach,
ing out of his buggy for his hat, fell out, and
the horse stepped upon his stomach. ftt
died that night.
Archy Mathcson, a negro who outraged*
white lady in Marion county, S. C., has been
lynched. Lewis Matheson, at whose house
the villian took refuge, was shot and killed.
LOW FOR CASH
WE respectfully call the attention of the pub.
lie to our
Stock of Dry Goods, \
Which will be sold at greatly reduced prices, ind
STICTLY FOR CASH!
We wish to sell them out by the first of March,
We earnestly request all who are indebted lo
us to come forward within
THIRTY DAYS
And settle by CASH or Note,
As we desire to settle our old books within that I
time. Respectfully’,
PENDERGRASS & HANCOCK.
Jefferson, Jan 8, 1875.
To the Public.
I HEREBY tender my thanks to the public ge- I
nerallv, for past favors, and solicit a eontimi- j
once of the same. In order that I may sustain I
my 7 business in such a manner as to make it I
acceptable to the public, I earnestly request ill I
Who Owe Me,
To make im media tepayment |
Circumstances compel me to make close collee
tions. In no instance can 1 allow accounts madt I
during 1875, to run longer than the 20th day of |
January 7 , 1870. If 1 could otherwise carry on mr |
business, I would most cheerfully do so.
jal Most respectfully, F. M. BAILEY.
1876! } TEZFtIM:. {1876!
MARTIN
INSTITUTE!
SPRING TERM I
Will open on the 2£th Jan’ if. I
nnnis is a school for the times. The course of I
JL study is the one usually prescribed in Male I
and Female Colleges ; hut it is modified for those I
who wish to prepare for Business or Agriculture. I
Our students enjoy good health, form no expen
sive habits ; but may 7 acquire good taste and M I
extensive acquaintance. The cost of
Board and Tuition
PER ANNUM, for six years, has averaged only |
$130.75 in the highest,
iu\ds 125.65thelowestclasses, |
Students may also obtain one of
three Soiiolnt-ships ollered ■
in llic Slate I'niversity.
particulars, apply to
J. W. GLENN, Principal
Or J. E. Randolph, Sec. Board Trustee-
Jefferson, Jackson Cos., I
December 25, 1875.
$5,000 REWARD!
THE WELL KNOWN
H. COHEN,
OF GAINESVILLE,
jy AS opened the largest stock of
Toys, Fancy Goods, Jewels
Notions and Confectioneries,
Ever Brought to Georgia
A\ hich he sells both Wholesale and Ret 3 '!'
pressly to merchants, at
Lower Prices
Than can he bought from any other who*® ■
house in the State. I buy my Goods mp e •
New York, direct from the importers. If*®?. |
from Jackson county should visit Gaines'i
invite them to call and
see MY show!
Bigger than Barnum’s, free of charge.
men who have sweethearts and ladies
without them are all invited to come and st ‘
nice presents. T|j l
’Were Ito attempt to name one-half of
number of articles on exhibition, it would
the whole of this newspaper. Don’t fail to 1
.and see for yourselves. Respectfully,
H. COHEN,
Nov 27 3m GAINESVILLE^
“ THE LIVE STORE!”
DEUPREE’S CORNER, ATHENS, 6- ,
HUNTER IBEUSSE
HAVE in store and will keep const 3 "*
hand, a large stock of Rc**<v ,pi
Clothing adapted to the season ;
other Cloths ; Ladies’ ami Gents’
and t amily Groceries; Boots and Shoes.
V\ are and Crockery, all descriptions ; t sn .
Sheetings. Yarns, 4c. All the above go® \ J
been recently purchased at low' figures, 3 . fft j.
he sold at reduced prices. Call *ndho f o
HUNTER *
Oct JO ly - DenprcesJ^-^
Dr. w. s. a*.kyvne>e.
SURGEON DENTIST,
Harmony Grove, Jackson
July 10th, 1875. ‘ Ciiu