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The Bainbridge Weekly Democrat. Published Every Thursday )- 'HKRE SHALL THE PRESS THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS MAINTAIN, UNAWED BY INFLUENCE AND UNBRIBED BY 0AIN." i Two Dollars Per Aiuna. Volume "V". BAUXBRIDGE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 38, 1876. Number 50 Tlie VYeokly Democrat BEN. E. RUSSELL, - Proprietor. Mr- Bash’s Appointments Hon. I. A. Bush will address the citizens of Decatur county as follows: Bell's District, Wednesday, September 13th; Wight’s Store, Thursday, September Ilth: Higdon's Store, Friday. September 15th; Attapulgus, Saturday September 16.h; Wbigbam, Wednesday, September 20sh ; Lime Sink, Thursday, September 2ist; Belcher’s District, Friday, September 22nd; Fine Hill. Saturday, September 23rd; Face- ville Wednesday, September 27th; Bain bridge, Thursday, September 28th, Spring Creek. Friday, September 20th, Rock Pond, Saturday, September 30th. WHAT VOTES FOR HAYES MEAN A vote for Hayes is a vote for Robeson. A vote for Hayes is a vote for Belknap. A vote for Hayes is a vote for Delano. A vote for Hayes is a vote against Re trenchment. A vote for Hayes ; s a vote for the Indian Bureau. A vote for Hayes is a vote for the Freedman's Bank. A vote for Hayes is a vote for Babcock, McDonald and Joyce. Every vote cast for the Republican ticket at the State elections is a vote for Hayes and all the swindles and swindlers of Grant’s administration. STATE ACADEMY OF THE BLIND Macon, Ga., Sept. 21, 1876. I have often heard of this Institution, one of the greatest nenevolenctes of the State, and was desirious to become acquainted with its interior working. I have taken occasion therefore, during my sojourn in Macon, t ■ spend a day or two here, that from actual observation I might know how to estimate its value. Its ac complished President, Professor D. Williams, is in all respects the best adap ted man for this place. With him, the •(location and the physical and moral de velopment of the children under his care, is an all absorbing passion, their comfort and pleasure appears never to be absent from his th >ug »U. I have several times seen him busily eugiged in reading or writing, and the distant irregular sound of the foot steps of cne ol the blind chil dren, instantly turests bis ear and secures his prompt attention. He moves among them like a fat her, an 1 individualizing his infectious, has a picasi..t word for each, as from time to time they pass him in the extensive lulls of litis inagniiicent builtl- ittg. I have spent several nights here, and my window overlooks the boys play ground. Here tire probably about thirty boys of all ages, from those younger tiian ittle Johnnie Bruce, to those who have reached the age of young manhood. It is the morning hour, and they are waiting for the “prayer bell.” A merrier set ot boys, I never saw ; some are exercising ■with gymnastic poles or dumb bells ; here go two of the boys riding a third on a rail, all in high glee ; there is a little fellow creeping up behind a group and gently tapping them on the legs with a wt oden paddle which he lias picked up from the ground, and then, though utterly bl.nd, he runs off, soreamiu, with merry laugh ter, feeling that they are chasing him over the green lawu. One dear bright little boy of probably 8 or l J years of age, is scurring up and down the gravel work, his bauds and arms making the motions and his voice imitating tlie steam puff and shriil whistle ot a locomotive, and all this for his own pleasure, as he is utterly unconscious that any one is noticing him, and having as much enjoyment as though lie has not been blind from his birth. The prayer bell rings and we repair to the school room. This is a large double room with folding doors separating the male and female departments of the school; these were thrown open, and on the invitation of the President I took a seat at the opening to conduct the morn ing service. I was greateiy impressed with the general appearance of the chil dren, all were neatly and cleanly clad. Great attention seetns to be paid to this part of the school regime, their hair was well combed, faces aud hands clean, nor untidiness of dress or person, they had the appearance of a well-ordered family. They were in all conditions of blindness, some whose eye-lids were closed over empty sockets, and some whose sightless eyeballs rolled unceasingly in their sock ets, and yet the atr of cheerfulness that marked their otherwise expressionless faces made it rather pleasant than other wise to look at them.as in silent attention they listened to the reading of the morn ing lesson. After reading a chapter I re quested a sacred song, and about fifty voices burst forth into a rich volumn of exquisite music. I have rarely ever heard such singing, all the parts of music were carried with a precision as to tune and expression, and distinctness of utterance that indicates the exceeding care of their musical instruction. 1 remained to witness the reading les son. Two of the pupils sit together; the one who is the farther advanced, becomes the teacher of the young beginner; dupli cate copies of a large book, with raised letters lie on the desk before them, and the tips of the first fingers on the hands press the letter, the one on the left hand holding the line, and the finger of the right hand tracing the letters, those who have been here a considerable time, read with great case and fluency, and the teachers tell me they learn very readily and with much interest. I saw in the office an instrument for writing letters. It looks like a small printing machine; which indeed it is, but arranged specially for the bl.nd,the letters and figures are arranged like little knobs which are connected with type, oy means of springs, and on touching the knobs, the type makes an impression on the sheet of paper over a ribbon of printing ink. by Ibis means, the children can readily carry on a correspondence with their parents. I enclose you a slip printed by one of the little boys in two minutes, while I write this letter. I may write more of this in stitution in my next. My nephew is wait ing to take this to the post office and I in u.st stop. I expect to leave in a day or two for the Centennial. R. M. L. pioyer In the tu ittor of education, the ♦ In regard to our elections, they have * report of the State School Commission- been peaceable and quiet. In one or er fot last year shows that the number two instances in the State, four or five THE NEGRO IN GEORGIA. HIS CONDITION AND BIGHTS IN THE EMPIRE STATE- Letter From Senator T J. Simmon's —A True Statement- [From the New York World.] YYe are enabled by the courtesy of Col. Snead, of this city, to publish the following interesting letter on the ne- g o in Georgia, and his treatment by the whites. The writer, Colonel Sim mons, is a gentleman of the highest character, long a State Senator, and for two years past President of the Senate of the State of Georgia; Col. T. N. Snead. Dear SiK : Your letter of the 17th inst., has been received. You ask uie to give you some facts showing what Georgia has done and is doing loi the negro in the matter of education, in semiring their political rights and fair ness in the courts, etc. To gratify you I will endeavor to give you brief auswers to your questions, not that I believe it will do any good if it were known to tfce people of the North. Nothing that a Southern man can say about the negro Till, in my opinion, be believed at the North. At the close of the war the white people of the South were the poorest people, for a civilised people, on the faee of the earth. The negroes, of course, had literally nothing. For sev eral years after their freedom a large majority of thorn were like cuildreu ju-t from school. They thought noth ing of to-manow. To attend a political meeting and join in the procession that marched through the streets was their greatest delight. Ah sorts of rumors were circulated among them by design ing men, and were implicit y believed by a large number of tnem. That they would get “forty acres aDd a mule.” was firmly believed by them fur several years. At one time I was at my farm, thirty miles distant from Macon. The •■news” came to them that, the Queen had sent over a ship load of gold for them, and all who were in Macon by a certain day would get a cupfull of gold. The next morning there was not a negro on the place—all had gone, leaving the crop in which they were interested to take care of itself. I mention th^se facts to show you how improvident they were and how easily de uded. For the last few years they have learned “better sense,” as they express it. They are now in a much more prosperous condi tion, not so easilly led astray. They investigate more than they Aver did, learning to have confidence in them selves and in their former owners- They work cheerfully and well. They begin to accumulate property, which makes them conservative in their views. The Comptroller General's report for the year 1875 shows that they owned 396,- 65S acres of land valued at §1,263 902; that they owned town and city proper ty valued at §1,203.203; money and solvent debts, §102,194 and other prop erty aggregating §5.393,885. This property has been accumulated within the last five years. By the act of February 24. 1873, of the Legislature of Georgia, the negro is fully protected in his labor. That act givts him a “lien on the property of hia employer superior to all other liens,” and provides a su mrnary way of enforc ing his lien. All he has to do is to go before the magistrate and make an oath to the amount and the fact of his lien, and execution issues at once. The lien for labor is superior to the homestead lien of the wife and ohildren of the em- j of children in the public schools last year was 142,728. Of these 98.750 were whites, and 43,978 were colored. The cost per month per pnpil was $1.73. Our Constitution provides that- each male citizen shall pay annually $1 as a poll-tax, and this tax shall go to sustain the public scho -Is. In 1875 the ne groes returned 80,950 polls, and ought to have paid into the School Fund that many dollars But about two-thirds of them failed to pay, although the money was to educate their own children. Of course, to balance of the School Fund not raised by the poll-tax must be rais ed from taxation on property. In addi tion to the a a >unt appropriated by tho State for public scliuls, a great m my counties have locai law for th§ir public schools, and are allowed to levy an ad ditional tax to carry them on. Under these laws this county (Bibb) has for the last few years levied §25,000 annu ally for the support ol'the public schools The negroes of the country do not pay more tfiau $2,000 of this amount, and yet they are allowed to share equally with the whites in its benefits. It is the same in other counties The Leg islature appropriates annually $8,000 to the State Aniversary at Athens. It appropriates the same amount annually to the colored University at Atlanta, where doctrines abhorent to every white tn..n in the State are daily taught. In regard to their getting justice in our courts, L have tills to say ; I am free to admit that for a few years after the war it was easier to convict a negro before a jury than it was a white uiau. 1 say to you now, truthfully, that in my practice, extending to a good many counties in Middle Georgia, I see no difference. The passious and prejudi ces of race have died out in Georgia. There is no conflict or antagonism be tween us. \Ye live peaceably together, and we are iu a fair way to solve the great problem il let alone. You may remember that during last year there was considerable excitement in the whole country in regard to a re ported insurrection in Washington and adjoining counties. The people iu f’nat section oi the State were greatly exci ted and incensed ever the threats ot some disreputable negroes of killing the men and taking their wives and daugh ters for their own purposes. Go.'erum Smith ordered out the mil'uia of the county and took command of them in person. He made a speech, and advised against any act of violence or lawless ness. His advice was taken by the people; the leaders of the reported in- surrec.ion were arrested. Judge Her- schel V. Johnson, who ran for Vice- President with Douglas, called a special term of his court for the purpose of trying the prisoners He gave to the grand jury a charge which was univer sally commended at the time by the press, North and South, for its clear ness, its wisdom, its moderation and justice. He appointed the leading lawyers of the circuit to defend the ne groes, and out of thirty who were put upon trial, nty recollection is that all were acquitted but one This is notan isolated case. I see negroes acquitted at every court I attend. The benefitof the doubt is always given to them by the court and jury. In a great many counties in Georgia, negroes serve on the jury. Our Con stitution provides that none but “up right and intelligent” citizens shall s.-rve upon juries. To carry this pro vision into effect the law prescribes that the Ordinary, the Clerk and Sheriff, to gether with three citizens appointed by the Judge of the Superior Court, shall take the tax lists and select therefrom the names of “upright and intelligent citizens” to serve as jurors. Before entering on this duty they are required to take an oath that they will exclude no one on account of race, color or pre vious condition of servitude. Under this rule the names of a good many ne groes have been put in the jury box cf this county. Some are excluded, and a good many whites are also excluded under the rule. I do not remember a court in this county for the last five years in which negroes have not served u n the grand and traverse j uries. I re member a year or two ago that I tried a will case, and that the jury was com posed entirely of negroes years ago, there were difficulty* at the poll:. But since that time there haa been no difficulty, nor do I ever think there will be again. The only difficulty I now apprehend is one between the negroes themselves—the Radical ne groes are very abusive and violent to ward the Democratic negroes. They threaten the Democratic negroes with all sorts of violence; refuse to allow them to attend their churches or Sun day-schools, and urge thetr-wives t. quit them. This was much more comm >n four years ago than it is now, I ap prehend no trouble at oar next elec tion. These are some of the facts in an swer to you. They are facts, and noth ing else. I could write you much more, but think the above enough. Yours truly, T. J. Simmons. Macon, Ga., August 25, 1876. MORTON AND THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. [From Albany Argus, Sept. 6.] The Republicans are using the depart ments of the Government to further their political ends. The post office is notably one of their instruments, and is being used as though it was a party machine instead of an institution belonging to the whole people. Jewell was turned out of the cabinet so that Morton could run the post office department in the interest of his friends in Indiana. The ‘bloody shirt’ Senator’s favorites are now well taken care of. Morton’s son, Walter, has a good place. George A. Tyner, a relative, and from Indiana, was given a position at the Springfield, (Moss.) agency at a salary of $25,00 a year. His salary has just bten raised to $25,00. John A. Burbank, a brother-in law of Morton,another Indiana man, has been well taken care of, Bur bank Was sotne years ago given the Gov- norship of a territory, but he was not capable of performing the duties of that office and resigned. He was then made Clerk of Morton’s Senate Committee at a salary of sis dollars a day the year round. During the past session he acted as Mor ton’s private Secretary also, and could at all times be seen about the Indiana Sena tor's seat. On August 17th he was ap pointed agent of the post office depart ment at a salary of $1,300 a year. His labors will presumably be in Indiana, and will consist principally in acting as body servant for Morton. This fortunate Bur bank at present has three very paying positions. His pay as Committee Clerk runs on, while he draws his pay as a special agent, and acts as Morton’s man Friday in Indiana. The late Speaker Kerr, one of Indiana’s Democratic Statesmen, pursued a course widely different Iroin that of Morton and other Republican Raders. When Mr ; Kerr w.is made Speaker it was suggested to him that his son could have a good po sition at. the Capitol, which would he a financial help to him. “Never,” said Mr. Kerr, “shall my sou hold a government position while I am able to support my family,” A VASTLY IMPORTANT MOVE- Governor Smith is just now consider ing a matter that will be of vast import to Georgia and the South, if he can make it out-, A perfectly responsible steamship company of England has pro posed formally that, if the State ol Georgia will give a bonus of $50,000 a year for three years, it will at once put a regular line of first-class steamships to running between Savannah and Liver pool, and keep them at it permanently. They guarantee besides to land sev eral thousand Germans* per month (3,000 I-think,) at Savannah during the first year. The company is perfectly responsible, and Governor Smith is very favorably struck with the proposition. If he gives his fine energy and rare common sense to the working out of the direct trade problem, he will do more for Georgia tuan any other u>an has done n the past decade. There is a statute upon the books of the State authorizing the Governor to make some such ar rangement as this; but it was passed before the war, and is not operative now. The Governor says heartily: “If that law wpre of force now, I should close the arrangement in one week’s time.” I think he is in earnest about it, and if so we shall hear of it again. It is quite possible that in less than a year we shall be shipping cotton straight from Savannah to England, and import- ing goods direct, whiles stream of hon est, industrious Germans, swelling as the time goes on, shall pour through our seaport city and fill the waste places oi the St ite G»d speed the happy day.—H. G. W., to Ckmetitutumahist. ^ TO OUR COLORED FRIENDS There are colors I people in Georgia as well as every Southern State, who have suffered under the bane of Radicalism, and who seeing the wrongs they sre subject to under that party have the moral courage to come out on the side of right and vote the Democratic ticket. Thera are other colored people who are unde cided between the two parties; they have sense enough to knew their condition has been made worse nnder the reign of Radi calism, that their rights aud liberties,their peace and property have been engendered and they have suffered troubles. Yet they don’t know whether to cast their lot with the Democracy or not. To all such we say, as you have tried the Republican party aud found it wanting in honest rulers and members, come over and try the other party and help your white friends throw off the incubus under which the nation and all of the States are suffer ing. The mission of the Democracy can not better be explained than by quoting what Congressman Lamar said of it, and we want our colored friends to read it and ponder over it with much thought .* “The grandest inspirations of the Demo cratic party is, and ita crowning glory will be, to restore the Constitution to its primitive strength and authority, and to make it the protector of every section and of every State in the Union, and of every human being, of every race, color, and condition, in the land.—Albany Neva. WHY DON’T THEY ? Why don’t the Republica ns answer the facts of Tilden’s great letter f There isn’t a single one of them that dares attempt a controversion of Uncle Samuel’s charges that during the past eleven years, the peo ple of the United States have paid, in the form of Federal taxes, no less than four billions, jive hundred millions of dollars; that within the same period fully t>co-thirds as much more has been paid by them in shape of local taxation, and that the ag gregate of Federal and local taxation, to which the country has been subjected during the period named, has been seven billions, five hundred millions, or more than three times as much as the whole national debt. Think of it, fellow-citizens and then ask yourselves whether anything else than the long protracted hard times, through which we are passing, are any thing else than a legitimate result? And while you are thinking, please do not forget the fact, that during those eleven years, the Republican party has held un disputed sway iu the Government of the country. DEMOCRATS WILL YOB SUSTAIN US! HI OUR ENDEAVOR TO PUBLISH i mi, mra wi in? ALL m TO WORE OUR NEXT CONGRESSMEN- The Georgia Democratic Congressional ticket was completed at West Point on Friday morning. It read as follows: First district—Julian Hartridge, of Chatham. Second district—Win. E. Smith, of Dougherty, Third district—Phil (look, of Sumter: Fourth district—Henry R. Harris, of Meriwether. Fifth district—Milton A. Candler, of DeKalb; Sixth district—James H. Blount, of Bibb. Seventh District—Wm. H. Dabney, of Floyd. Eighth district—Alexander H. Steph ens, of Taiiafeno. Ninth district—Benjamin H. Hill, of Clarke. An epidemic of Congressional renomi nations has prevailed this season; but we doubt if any State has acted as wisely in this respect as Georgia has, for our people have actually renominated every one of their 1874 candidates. And what is more, they will elect all of them this year, which will be one better than the result of two years ago. ENDORSING THE SMITHS. At the Congressional nominating Con vention, in the Second district, at Thom- asville, immediately after the nomination of Hon. Wm. E. Smith, Hon. W. A. Harris offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That this Convention does most earnestly, cordially and heartily en dorse the administration of Hon. James M. Smith, as Governor of Georgia, for the past five years, and we commend the honesty, integrity, energy and ability dis played by him in the conduct of the af fairs of our noble old State, to his succes sor as an example worthy of emulation. Resolved, That this Convention looks with pride and satisfaction upon the record of our immediate Representative in Congress, who has remained steadfast at the post of duty, sacrificing his own interests for the good of his constituents, and discharging the onerous duties of his office with the zealous fidelity of a true patriot and statesman. Many reforms have been attempted by Republican officials, which they would not have dared to enter upon, if their party had not been confronted by a Democratic House of Representatives which made exposures that compelled and enabled Republican officials to punish great wrongs.—[Governor Seymour’s Let ter. —Albany A rgxte. AND' HELP US TO GET BY A HEAVY CAMFAIGW LISU OF SUBSCRIBERS We ARE PREPARED and f&'dy for the fray, but we must hav# tit’ preper encouragement at the hands of the Dembdratic party. We hare entered upon! the most important political campaign ever witnessed by the American' people, for it is honesty and reform againBt venality and corruption',- intelligence and’ virtue against ignorance' ahd ras cality. In this great battle for right, the DxmoCejm- purposes playing no unimportant part, and in the carrying out of its convictions of right, in the' advocacy of the party of its choice,- will endeavor to become an instructor of the people in the greitt lesson of poli tics as enacted in the Union, in the State, and in the county. To that end we desire' at full audience, and we here earnestly appeal to the Decatur Democracy, and to the friends of the paper generally, to assist in extending its circulation. In this light a newspaper* is of the most vital importance, and we Shall try to' maks the DzKocbat just such a paper' as the people need and desire. Advertisers should bear in mind the extensive circulation enjoyed by the Bmcockx'S during the campaign and avail themselves of its advantages. the democrat fon THE CAMPAIGN For Only Fifty Cents WE WAfrr FIVE HUN0RE8 HEWSUBSCWBESS.I