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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