Newspaper Page Text
THE WEEKLY SUN.
T. DEWOLF. t - GILBEBT.
Til OS. «IIBEBT * CO.,
PaOPKIBTOBS.
TERMS or SUBSCRIPTION.
()neycar( in advance) *2.50
Six months, “ 160
CLUB RATES FOR ONE "SEAR:
Clubs of a copies to same post office,»2 25 each
“ 10 '■ 1-76 «
„ 15 » •< « “ 1.00 “
ADVERTISING RATES:
A'lvertisementslnserted at 11 per square (ten
lines or less, In small type,) firstinsertion,and
fifty centseach subsequent Insertion.
Talbotton Standard.— We are in
receipt of the first number of a journal
bearing the above title, and published
at Talbotton, Ga. It is a very hand
some weekly, and is publishee and ed
ited by Messrs. Gorman & Waterman.
We wish them great success, and wel
come their journal to our exchange list.
Tun Planter.— This is the title of a
new agricultural weekly, published and
edited at Atlanta by our friends Cols.
T. C. Howard and li. A. Alston. Both
are cultivated gentlemen, and able and
brilliant writers. The first number of
their journal, which commences life
with a subscription list of five thousand,
is everything that it should be, and we
bespeak for it a generous patronage
from our planting and mechanical
friends.
FltOH TUB PEN TO THU PIHTOL.
The Chronicle and Sentinel and lire
Atlanta Intelligence! have been en
gaged in a sharp controversy over the
politics of the latter journal—a matter
scarcely worth noticing, and certainly
not worth lighting about. In the issue
oi the Chronicle and Sentinel of Satur
day, Gen. Wright proposes to close the
controversy with the pen, and does it
after this fashion:
1 his conduct—these cowardly calum
dies of Jared I. Whitaker, Proprietor
of the Atlanta Intelligencer upon us,
and his well known public profession of
his relations to society, leaves us no
other course than to publish w hat the
public has long since suspected him to
be, a base and unprincipled traitor to his
party, an infamous slanderer and a
contemptible apologist for theft and rob
bery.
IGNORANCE MOST PROFOUND. — Bad
ical rule has made us somewhat lamiliar
with the ignorance of the creatures with
whom the Radical Congress proposes to
rule the South. But a correspondent of
the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel has
discovered the greatest ignoramus of
all of them. He says that Terry is go
ing to remove Judge Andrews and put in
bis place one Boyd, a cousin of Hump
and Bob McWhorter. Os this Boyd,
ho says : "no is a planter, and knows
no more of law, than a hog does of
heaven, or Bullock does of honor or
honesty.”
Wo are not prepared to say how
much a hog does or docs not know of
heaven, but wo all know how little
Bullock knows of honor and honesty.
Tlie Pillow A«ft»«»l nation Explained
We learn from the Tuscumbia Ala
bamian, that two young men named
Phillips, and another whose name it
had not been able to obtain, had eon
fessed to the killing of the two Pillows.
The three it says left the county before
they cousd be arrested. Their statement
as to the causo of their action, is thus
related : A few weeks bofore the occur
rence, at a party in the neighborhood,
one of the young men Phillips and Wm.
Pillow, had a difficulty, during which
Piliow, drew his pistol on Phillips, but
was prevented from using it by persons
present. Shortly after this Phillips
went out into the yard, and while out
there was Bred at by some person.
Phillips then said he intended to kill
the person who shot at him as soon as
he found out who did it. A few days
before the killing, he stated to parties
that be had learned who shot at him.
It is said several parties are on the look
out for them. The young Pillows were
nephews and not sons of Gen. Pillow,
as stated.
Southern Fair Association. —The
Incorporators met yesterday at the
hanking house of J.King. They instruct
ed the acting Secretary, E. E. Yonge,
to open books of subscription for stock
and report Wednesday night at the |
same place, when the stockholders will
elect Directors and other officers tor the
ensuing year.
In accordance with instructions, Mr.
Vnnge advertises that those wishing
- ork can apply at Ellis & Spencer's,
rile stock should be quickly raised, as
the Fair will pay a large interest and
greatly add to the importance of the
city.
In Augusta a similar stock company
is being gotten up—the fair to be called
“ The Cotton Fair.” In one day shares
to vtie amount of over !$ 10,000 were se
cured, and success assured. Surely
Columbus lias as much public spirit.
The subscription lists were headed
yestreday by Mr. W. FI. Young with
000—being 40 shares of $25 each.
We believe there area number who
will do likewise.
The Quotations from Havre
Several buyers of cotton, strange as it
may seem, were arguing Saturday
almut the Havre quotations what they
meant. The quotation expresses for a
pound of cotton so many centimes, pro
uounced sonteem, which in the French I
currency is the hundredth part of a
I'rauc. A franc is a silver coin, the unit
of the French monetary system, equal
to about nineteen cents or ten pence
and is divided into one hundred cen
times. Thus a centime is the 19 100 of
a cent, specie basis.
A ‘Consideration’ Sell.—We were
shown yesterday a circular advertise
ment from New York sharpers offering
to send, fora consideration, a receipt for
writing without pen or ink. When the
money comes, they send the following:
‘‘Write with a lead pencil.” Strange
as it may seem many people, are paying
fifty cents to a dollar to learn this im
portant secret.
City Assessments.—The assessment
of real estate in Columbus has been
completed. The valuations are as low
as possible. They show the total real
estate to be $3,202,050, asainst $3,180,
000 last year, showing an increase ot
$82,750. The system of extremely low
valuations have been adopted.
Things about Wambenton —The
Augusta papers notice a favorable
change in matters about Warrenton.
Chap Norris has been ejected from the
room in the court house from which he
drove Col. Pottle, and the Major com
manding has promised to investigate
the conduct and record of the said Chap.
Delegations from the counties put
under martial law are to meet in At
lanta this week to interview Terry on
the subject. _
House Thief to be Huno.—John
Bell, tried and convicted on the charge
of horse stealing, by the Circuit Court
of Monroe county, Tenn., week before
last, was not recommended by the jury,
as is the practice in Georgia, to the
mercy of the court, and was sentenced
to be hung. It is anew feature in Ten
nessee. We trust the example will be
follow ed by Georgia juries in future.
VOL. XI.
Rejoicing; In Infamy.
For some days past we have been in
formed by mail and telegraph, that cer
tain parties were making immense pre
parations to celebrate the return of Vir
ginia to the Union. The United States
Government kindly consented to lend
guns and gun powder for the occasion,
the same guns perhaps that laid low in
death the noblest scions of Virginia
families, aud that battered down the
princely mansions, where once dwelt
all the graces and good cheer of the far
famed hospitality of the old Dominion.
When the Bingham bill passed the
House, the celebration came off in Pe
tersburg and is thus described by the
"Index” of that city ;
Fireworks were brought into requisi
tion, and in various directions during
the evening the bursting sky-rock
ets and roman candles illuminated
the heavens. In the streets the
reports of fire crackers and other explo
sive works were heard. The court
house bell and the lire-beils were rung
in honor of the occasion, and cheers
and congratulations were general. The
uegroes assembled in mass meeting at
the court house, when the news was
communicated to them, gave cheer alter
cheer, ami fairly shook the building
with the chorus of their voices. In
truth, the scenes down town were quite
lively.
The pyrotechnics were premature, for
Virginia will have to eat more dirt. If
we could believe for a moment that any
Virginian, entitled to common respect,
engaged in that demonstration, we
should ft el that long continued oppres
sion had destroyed the spirit of a once
gallant people, and that the glory of
the old Gommouwealth had been
dimmed forever by despair and disbou
tlnlmimi Et-gl Mint lire— Friday.
In the Senate bills were introduced to
aid the Brunswick and Vicksburg Rail
road (referred to special committee); a
bill in regard to weights and measures.
The joint memorial and resolution for
removal of disabilities imposed by the
14th amendment, after being discussed,
was made the special order for Wed
nesday next. A joint memorial to
Congress to remove the tariff on the
importation of cotton machinery w.as
passed. House passed bills to incorpo
rate the Phcenix Fire Go., of Eufaula;
to incorporate the town of Columbia,
Henry county; to prevent sales of liquor
withiu one mile of Beulah Church, Lee
county; to amend the act making appro
priations for school purposes, approved
Oct., 1868; to provide for the protection
of schools, with a substitute.
Saturday —Senate passed House bill,
to repeal an act to declare J. M. Nor
wood a liner between the counties of
Lee and Chambers.
Senate bill to require the Governor to
issue $3,000,000 ot State bonds to the
Alabama, and Chattahoochee Railroad
Company, was passed. Yeas 28, nays 6
House amended section 26, of Elec
tion laws, so as to allow Judges, inspec
tors and clerks $1 50 per day and pass
ed it; also passed bill to authorize the
Governor to renew the State bonds, due
in London in 1870, and make them pay
able in 1890. Senate bille for the re
lief of Louisiana Lester, of Russell
county, was referred to Committee on
Local Legislation. Senate bill to per
manently locate the county site of Rus
sell, lies over.
Relief for the Cave City Suf
ferers. —We are pleased to learn from
our Tennessee and Kentucky exchanges
that great liberality is being shown to
the sufferers by the late destructive
tornado. The Nashville Union says
that on the trains of the 19th aud 20th,
going Northward from that city, liberal
collections were made from the passen
gers for the relief of the sufferers at
Cave City, the passengers from Nash
ville contributing with their accustomed
geterosity aud liberality. The Union
Ru ns from persons from the region of
Uu catastrophe that the accounts pub
lished concerning the damages and
casualties have in no wise been exag
gerated, if even they have been up to
reility. The section is one of rnourn
in| and tribulation. Homeless and
horseless many of them are left, who
on« short week ago were comfortably
sitiated, while tlie loss of life and limb
hasbeen more extensive than reported.
Relid' meetings have been held in Bow
ling vfreen, in Munfordville, in Glasgow
and it the city of Louisville and Eliza
bethtown for the relief of the sufferers,
and quite liberal contributions are being
made. Though nothing can repair the
terrible loss of life sustained by tlie un
foreseen caluiuity, we hope that through
the energy aud liberality of the citizens
that those wko have lost their houses
and homes over their heads, may be, iu
part, at least, relieved.
Heavy Mortality in a Family.—
Hon. John P. Morgan, of Montevallo,
Ala., eldest son of John S. Morgan,
Esq , died Dec. 27, 1869 ; John S. Mor
gan, the lather, died Dec. 31st, 1869 ;
and the only remaining son, Samuel P.
Morgan, died January 9th, 1870.
Mississippi Senators.—Ames was
elected for the short term beginning 4tk i
of March, 1869, and Alcorn for the long ;
term, commencing 4th of March, 1871.
The negro Revel, for the unexpired !
term, ending 4th of March, 1871.
Good Advice—An old New England j
farmer, when on his dying bed, said to
bis son—“ Johnny, don’t get in debt!
That is my last and solemn advice — j
don’t get in debt! But Johnny, if you 1
do get in debt, let it be for manure. The
old man’s bead was level.
C. A. Yancy, a carpet bag represent
ative in the so-called Legislatuie of Mis
sissippi, from Panola county, died at
Jackson last week. He is represented
to be a native of Richmond, 7a. He
came froia Ohio to Mississippi in the
interest of the Congressional o.>mmil
tee, in 1867.
The Constitutional Convention ol
Tennessee has fixed the Governor's
term of office at four years, and provides
that he shall not be eligible for but one
term in eight years.
The Cincinnati Southern Railroad J
bill, which has been pending before the
Tennessee Legislature since the early
part of the present session, passed that
body on Thursday last.
One hundred and fifty negro laborers
from Virginia passed through Atlanta
on Friday, on their way to Alabama to
work on a railroad.
Will be a Long One.—lt is proba
ble the present session of the Superior
Court will be a long one—continuing
some six weeks perhaps. Judge John
son will endeavor to clear the dockets
of the old business which has for so
many y ears encumbered it.
THE WEEKLY SUN.
TELEGRAPHIC.
By Telegrapn from Europe.
Paris, Jan 23—Rochefort’s sentence
includes deprivation of political rights,
but don’t interfere with bis position of
Deputy.
Liverpool, Jan. 24.—The colliery
riot at Sheffield promises serious re
sults.
It is anticipated 500 European cler
gymen will attend the Evangelical
Alliance in New York, Septembei sth.
Fifteen persons were trampled to
death and a great many injured at the
fire panic, at St Joseph’s Chapel yestee
day
From Wa* Ii Ing to u.
Washington, Jan. 23.—The presence
of Prince Arthur creates little excite
ment. He walked to and from church
with Mrs. Thornton.
The Express says: “Senators who
saw the President this morning say he
advised those who desired the admis
sion of Virginia o onditionally to
make no further efforts to carry this
point, it being evident that the Senate
would not pass any bill without impos
ing some conditions upon the admission
of that State.”
Bingham favors the taking up of the
Virginia bill and putting it on its pass
age.
Butler favors its reference to the Re
construction Committee, but is of opin
ion that the House will pass the bill as
it came from the Senate.
The Democrats will all vote against
its reference to the Committee, where
Butier can hold it indefinitely.
It is stated in answer to many letters
that persons desiring relief from politi
cal disabilities should send a formal pe
tition, addressed to Congress, setting
forth the facts in the case.
There seems no prospect of a general
relief bill this session.
Washington, January 24 The Re
construction Committee met and uuau
imoußly agreed to report the Senate
Virginia bill and press its passage to
day, if possible.
Bingham accepts it, and the Republi
cans, as far as heard from, will vote
for it.
House—Several bills under regular
call.
A contest arose over the reference of
the postal telegraph bill. It was finally
referred to a special committee.
Senate unimportant.
Revenue $617,000. *
Delano will recommend that the In
dian Territory be formed into assess
ment and collection districts for the
purpose of collecting the tax on tobac
co, whisky and malt liquors.
The Supreme Court to-day decided
in a case coming from the Northern
District of Alabama, that the plea of
Confederate authority is no justification
for the indictment, arrest or imprison
ment of a party for treason against the
State by its courts, officers aud grand
juries.
Gov. Walker holding that the joint
resolution to adjourning the Legislature
is void without his approval, he will
proclaim a convocation as soon as the
President signs the bill.
James G Terry, Postmaster Houston,
Texas; Hamilton Taylor, Collector of
Customs at Port River, Miss.; Isaac
Strail, Appraiser of Merchandise at Sa
vannah; J P Butler, Collector of Cus
toms at Brazos de Santiago; G P Peck,
Collector of Internal Revenuo Second
District of North Carolina; William L
Foruold Assessor of sth Virginia Dis
trict; David H Starback Attorney for
North Carolina; Lucian B Eaton, Mar
shal of West Tennessee; Commodore
John Rodgers, Rear Admiral.
Senate —Morrill was qualified as Fes
senden’s successor.
Bill to provide a national currency of
coin snd notes, and to equalize the dis
tribution of circulating notes, was taken
up and discussed to executive session’
House—Among the bills introduced
were those resuming possession of lands
granted to Arkansas for a railroad from
the Mississippi via Little Rock to the
Texas boundary; paying letter carriers
SI2OO per annum; increasing Judges of
tbe Supreme Court and defining juris
diction of U. S. Courts; conveying cer
tain property in Beaufort District, S C,
for school purposes; paying black and
white soldiers equal bounties, and es
tablishing a postal telegraph.
A resolution declaring it the opinion
of the House that, owing to its peculiar
duties, the Committee on Elections is a
judicial body, and in deciding questions
should act according to all rules of law
as purely as though each member was
under oath, was passed—yeas 138, nays
25.
The House then took up the Virginia
bill, and after a very sharp debate be
tween Bingham, Butler and Farnes
worth —mostly of a personal character
—the House concurred in the hill as it
j came from the Senate, aud it was passed
by a strict party vote,
j Adjourned.
From Vlrflol*.
Richmond, Jan. 24.—The news of
the final passage of the bill admitting
the State was received here after dark.
There appeared to be a general feeling
of welcome and relief, but none of the
demonstrations of joy that followed the
news of the passage of (Bingham’s un
conditional bill in the House.
The city Council counting upon the
receipt of the intelligence, passed a reso
lution hailing with delight Virginia’s
return to the Union, and requesting
Gen. Canbv to fire 100 guns in honor oi
the event to-morrow.
From Virginia.
Lynchburg, Jan. 23.—The sleeping
car of the train which left here at 5:20
Friday, was thrown fram the track by
the breaking of a wheel and dragged
somi distance and thrown down a pre
cipice and dashed to pieces. Conductor
Mellpn, Gen. Wm. C. Roddy, of Missis
sippi, aud ten other occupants were se
verel? bruised. The injured passengers
were placed on other cars and proceeded
on thdr journey.
From Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, Jan. 24.—The Distillers’
Associition protest against Delano’s de
cision jn favor of forty eight hours’ fer
mentation.
Thetigar makers are on a strike.
From California.
San Francisco, Jan. 23.—The war
ship Jaftestown arrived, seventy seven
days frem the Fejee Islands.
Englih settlers from Austria and
New Zeland are arrivingin large num
bers at lie Fejee Islands to cultivate
sea islanj cotton, which is said to be
fabulousHprolific.
From Louisville.
Louisvt-le, Jan. 23.—Geo. D. Pren
ice is deal—aged 68.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870.
WEDNESDAY MORNING JAN. 26.
What has become of the Savannah Ad
vertiser ?
We have received a communication
making some valuable suggestions
about Labor, which we will lay before
our readers in our issue of to-morrow.
Business we are pleased to notice, in
creases rapidly in Savannah. The pa
pers of that place are calling for more
wharf room.
The latest Chicago music is called
“We’ll Have to Mortgage the Farm,”
and “The Chinaman’s Farewell.”
Seventeen bridesmaids, four clergy
men, and three bands of music managed
to marry a couple in England, not long
since.
The strike among the operatives in
the Graniteville factory, at last accounts,
had well nigh come to grief, as the va
cancies were fast being filled up.
The Savannah and Charleston rail
road is all ffiady for the cars, except
about 6,000 feet on the Georgia side of
the Savannah river, which cannot be
finished until the river subsides.
Pressed fob Population.—Bruns
wick must be hard pressed for population
The Appeal of that place congratulates
its readers upon the prospect of Hulbert,
‘Sharp and Quick,’ becoming a denizen
of the place.
The fifteenth amendment may be
considered as a part of the Constitution.
Counting New York, twenty-seven
States have already ratified. Georgia,
Nebraska, and Texas, will all ratify it.
The votes of twenty eight States only
were needed.
Poor Eggleston— Eggleston, the de
feated Radical candidate for Governor
of Mississippi, at the first election in
that State under the reconstruction acts,
was the principal competitor of the ne
gro Revels, for the short term Senator
ship. Poor Yorick! not adjudged by
his party to be as good as a, negro.
We are pleased to learn that Mrs.
Jane Cushman, widow of the late Dr.
Cushman of this city, has been elected
to and accepted the position of assist
ant teacher in the principal public school
in Girard. We congratulate the trus
tees and the community upon having
secured the services of so competent
and worthy a lady. Salary SSO per
month.
Lindsay Musz lias been messenger at
the door of the Navy Department for
forty-two years. Two years before
Secretary Robeson was born, Lindsay
Musz was ushering visitors into tbe
presence of the Secretary of the Navy.
— Exchange.
And Musz would make a much better
Secretary of tbe Navy than Robeson.
Not Organized.— Dispatches from
Atlanta inform us that Bullock has not
yet organized the Legislature. Rnmor
has it, that Mr. Hoar is exercising hi3
mind over the eligibility of the mem
bers recently tried by Military Commis
sion. Rumor also has it, that an organ
ization will be effected to day.
The fact is that Bullock is awaiting
instructions from Grant. No movement
will be made until the Radicals are sat
isfied, beyond a doubt, that everything
will be securely fixed iu their favor.
Champagne Baths and Five Thou
sand Dollar Suppers.—A gentleman
recently from Washington, and who
was there while Bullock was cutting up
his highest jinks, informed a member
of the Legislature that the supper Bul
lock gave Butler and other radicals, to
celebrate the passage of the Georgia
Bill, cost five thousand dollars; also
that Bullock, in order to keep up during
the nights and day sessions of Congress,
took three champagne baths at seventy
five dollars each. Who pays ?
Ammonia Powder.—a new explo
sive, of asserted great power, is an
nounced by English journals, under the
name of ammonia powder. Analysis
shows merely a substitution of nitrate
of ammonium for nitrate of potash in
ordinary gunpowder, the charge adding
immensely to-the explosive force. The
salt being quite delinquescent, the old
adage, “keep your powder dry,” would
lose its significance should the powder
come into general use.
Iron for Cotton.—One of our man
ufactories bought a bale of cotton the
other day weighng 1,025 pounds, which
when opened, was found to contain a
large piece of boiler iron. The metal
was in the centre of the cotton. Iron
can be bought far cheaper than 23c. per
pound. Os course the seller suffered.
The farmer who brought that bale of
cotton to tbe city, if he knew the fact
when he sold it, ought to be sent to the
penitentiary. We saw another bale at
one of our warehouses the other day
which in the centre had about one
hundred pounds of fine sand. The
sample was the heaviest we ever felt.
Sixteen of seventeen bales were found
water packed the day before. Farmers
make nothing by such practices.
Large Stealages—Policemen report
that two bales of cotton were stolen
from an open car of the freight train
of the South-Western Railroad, while it
was in motion, on Saturday night. It j
is supposed to have been done some
three miles from the city. The locality
where it was thrown to the ground
and carried off in a wagon had been
discovered. The thieves are commenc
ing the same game that they played a
little while last year, and in which they I
were detected by the officers of the
Muscogee road. Such an affair will not ;
likely occur again.
On the same night a car on the Mont
gomery and West Point Railroad, was
broken open and five boxes ot tobacco
stolen. Here are cases for our vigilant
policemen to work up.
The Old He Collard. —At the
Market on yesterday morning we saw
a collard that was the daddy of all col
lards. It weighed twenty-five pounds,
and was raised by Mr. Munro, at bis
place three miles from the city. It was
not planted in a rich, place, had no extra
manure or cultivation, and was as large
as an umbrella—none of your parasols
or sunshades.
Southern Fair Association. —To
last night $3500 had been, secured.—
Three men subscribed S2OOO. Many
monied men have not yet been seen.
It is not doubted that the requisite
amount can be obtained—say SIO,OOO
or $15,000. The stockholders have a
meeting to-night in John King’s bank
ing house for the purpose off electing
> e rmanent directors aad officers.
DEATH OF PRENTICE.
The announcement of the death of
George D. Prentice scarcely took the
public by surprise. It was wonderful
that he survived so long. Neither will
the announcement carry much of sorrow
to many hearts, for it were charitable
to hope and wish that the old man is at
rest. The close of his career was as
cloudy and sad as its opening was bril
liant and promising. He was a man of
versatile talents, of strong qualities, and
he made his mark on his day and gen
eration. He was once the most pow
erful and influential editor of his party.
He lived long enough to see his journal
pass into stranger hands, and to be glad
to spin out paragraphs in a garret where
once he wrote leaders, that marshalled
and enthused a great political army. It
is. pleasant to know that the labors of
his pen and brains, in later days, were
given to efforts to undo much of the mis
chief and trouble that he had helped to
encourage in his more vigorous years.
Deprived of the stay and comfort of his
life in the death of his wife; without
money and with but few friends iff
consequence; with capacity diminished,
if not destroyed; no longer able to wield
a sceptre that had swayed thousands,
Death mu9t have been a welcome visitor
to Prentice.
Men will remember his wit, the bril
liant record of his journalism, his strong
friendship, his partizan service. These
were the rougher points of his charac
ter. He has left behind many little
Verses, full of womanly tenderness,
which will always tell ol the kind aud
gentle heart that was hidden under a
rough exterior.
A Valuable Contribution to History
In another column we publish a let
ter from Judge Black, in relation to
Stanton’s conduct while in Mr. Buchan
an’s Cabinet, after secession, and before
the commencement of hostilities. It is
a temperate and truthful document, and
may be read with interest. If Stanton
was such a man as is described by Judge
Black, a taste of human blood must have
brought out the bad points of his nature.
But Wendell Phillips says that at the
timeof which Judge Black writes, Stau
ton was a traitor to Mr. Buchanan and
his Cabinet, and daily furnished Liu
coin’s friends with information as to all
that was said and done in Cabinet ses
sion.
We shall not argue the point, being
fully prepared to believe anything bad
of Stanton. The chief interest which at
taches to Judge Black’s letter is tlie ad
mission that the Government decided
that it had no right to coerce a State,
or in plain words, the State had a right
to secede. From this may be learned
who is responsible for the millions ol
treasure spent, and the oceans of blood
spilled, in order that the Constitution
might be destroyed and that Radicalism
might rest upon its ruins.
The spirit which actuated that party
during the war is still rampant, and the
South will be kept in continual vassa
lage until she can find something more
powerful than argument and the ballot,
to tear the grasp of the oppressor from
her throat.
For sometime a good deal of ill feel
ing has been engendered in Cherokee
county, Alabama, by an effort on the
part of the Alabama and Chattanooga
railroad and others, to have the Court
House location moved from Gadsden—
where it has been for many years—to a
point on said railroad about three miles
distant from Gadsden denominated
“Newton.” Both parties have waxed
warm over the subject. The late floods
in that part of the country, it would
seem, should settle the question of prop
er location. The location appears to be
unfortunate, as from the late flood it
become entirely submerged, and it was
with difficulty persons who were unfor
tunate enough to have squatted there to
be the first settlers, were able barely to
escape with their lives by the use of
boats.
The New England Slaves.—At the
Woman’s Suffrage Convention in
Washington, a Miss Collins was intro
duced as a Lowell factory girl, of Bos
ton, and made a speech which did not
fall very musically upon the ears of
some of the New Englanders present.
She made a comparison of the black
slaves of the South with the white fac
tory slaves of the North, and declared
that the Southern slaves of a former
day knew nothing of cruelty and tyran
ny. It was necessary to have been a
factory girl in New England to appre
ciate the highest order of slaves. Miss
Collins expressed the opinion that,
while Congress was conferring equal
rights in some sections, it should direct
its attention to the factory operatives,
pass some laws for their advantage and
benefit. The speech created quite a
sensation.
Menegetis at Quincy, Florida—
The editor of the Bainbridge Argus paid
a visit to Quincy, Fla., on Tuesday of j
last week, and found this fatal dis |
ease dealing death in and around
Quincy. On the day he was there,
three deaths occurred—one white and
two negroes. A number of citizens have
died and a general gloom prevails. The
disease is said to be very fatal to ne
groes on the plantations. The Argus
says two cases of the same disease have
occurred in Bainbridge—one of which
died, and the other still lingers between
the skill of the physician and the grave.
The Argus says it is thought the dis
ease is not contagious, but all are liable
to it at the present depressed state of
the atmosphere.
The Native Virginian says, that the
whole of the unfinished portion of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, is to be
put right through. More than this, it
has positive assurances that the majori
ty of the Western members of Congress
are decidedly in favor of the comple
tion, by the General Government, of
, the James River and Kanawha Canal.
It says the bare fact that these great
works are under construction, will give
anew and mighty pulsation to the heart
of the people of the commonwealth, and
their completion, together with the re
moval of the National Capital to St.
Louis, which the Western members
also favor, will usher in anew era for
1 beloved old Virginia.
If Prentice has been at work of late,
these are among the last shots from, his
pen:
The objects of the Radical party in
Mississippi are thoroughly contempti
ble, but not more so than its Ames.
Edwin M. Stanton died leaving no
stealings, and radicalism gives his fam
ly one hundred thousand dollars of its
own stealings.
From Washington.
Washington, January 25.—Weather
continues very thick.
Robertson presented a huge bill for
removing individual disabilities.
Election Committee.—Porter, on ac
count of alleged bad record for loyalty;
Segar on account of doubtful legally
representative at large, and Booker and
McKenzie on account of their seats
being contested, will be retained by the
Committee for further consideration.
The balance of the delegation will be
admitted upon taking the usual oath.
The Virginia Senators are not here,
and no action was taken regarding
them.
The Virginia bill is engrossed and is
now in tbe Senate waiting Colfax’s sig
nature. Immediately upon its return it
will go to the President. Virginia’s ad
mission will certainly be completed to
day, and if the President’s approval is
returned in time, several of the Virginia
representatives will be seated to-day.
Coin in the Treasury $54,000,000; cur
rency $5,000,000; debt statement will
show but slight decrease.
The President nominated Franz Set
gel, for Assessor of the oth District of
New York; also, Jos. 11. Blackburn for
Marshal of Middle Tennessee.
Ways aud Means committee voted on
admitting coal free. Vote stood: aye,
5; nay 4. It is thought Maynard will
change his vote.
No more fifty cent fractional currency
will be issued on account of counterfeit.
Tlie treasury is preparing anew design.
The Government sells one million
coin to-morrow, and buys two million
bonds Thursday.
The Virginia Senators will be sworn
in upon the receipt of the President’s
approval of the bill, unless some Sena
tor objects, of which there is no present
prospect, when the credentials go to tbe
Committee.
Tim Election Committee bears Segar
to morrow on his claim to a seat as re
presentative from Virginia at large.
To day in the case of Wallace versus
Simpson, the action of the House indi
cated clearly its determination to refuse
seats to minority candidates where the
majority candidates were ineligible.
This is tlie first lime tbe House has
snubbed its Election Committee. They
reported Wallace and Simpson could
not take the oath.
It is expected iHi: President will in
form Congress early u> morrow of his
approval of the Virginia bill.
To day’s Tribune says: “Tbe House
has adopted the Senate’s perverse action
on tbe Virginia bill without amendment.
The terms on which, at length, Virginia
is to be admitted were yesterday set
forth in our columns and may be found
again to-day embodied in the repoTt of
the proceedings. We do not need to
repeat that we deeply regret the result
finally attained at the end of these
weary weeks of debate and recrimina
tion. Congress prescribed certain terms
for the admission of Virginia. Tbe
State complied to the full with these
terms. Congress now prescribes fresh
terms. This is punishing the trea
son of Virginia in 1861 by bad faith
on tho part of Congress in 1870.
We do believe such a course to be
statesmanlike, or even so under party
policy; and aggravating as is the wrong
done Virginia, we believe she will suffer
less from it in the end than will the
party that wrought it.”
House—A bill donating agricultural
lands of California to ’homestead aud
pre eruption purposes was passed.
The Secretary of War asked about
the condition of the Nashville and
Decatur Railroad Company bill, giv
ing General Mower’s widow a pen
sion of fifty dollars a month, meeting
objection was withdrawn.
The Darien ship canal survey expedi
tion will be paid from an appropriation
of forty thousand dollars made in 18G6.
League Island discussed at great
length.
House voted 103 to 73 that neither
claimant of the Fourth South Carolina
District seat were entitled to admission;
after much confusion, and some excite
ment, the whole was tabled aud recom
mitted to Election Committee for exam
ination on its merits.
From Virginia.
Richmond, Jau. 25. —A salute of 100
guns was.fired in the Park at noon, in
honor of admission. About 5,000 per
sons were present two - third sos
whom were colored. National flags
were raised on the Custom House and
Capitol. Governor Walker spoke a few
minutes, congratulating the people on
admission, and predicting a glorious fu
ture for Virginia.
A colored conservative and a number
of colored republicans made political
speeches, the burden of the latter being
that if the State did not follow the spirit
of the reconstruction acts she would tie
put back as a territory.
Jeter Phillips, who was to have been
hung to day for the murder of his wife,
was respited till February 25th. This
is the ninth respite the prisoner has had,
his case having been taken out of the
bauds of the State Attorney under the
reconstruction laws.
After the occurrences stated in ike
noon dispatches relative to the admis
sion of the State, the negroes organized
a political meeting and kept up speeches
till night, when they adjourned, with
cheers for the admission of the State.
The guns used to day were the same
used in saluting the* flag when the U.
S. troops occupied the city in 1865. The
officer commanding was a native of
Richmond.
From Orleans.
New Orleans, Jan. 25.—1n the Leg
islature last night at midnight the Chat
tanooga railroad bill passed the House,
alter a session of nearly twelve hours of
confusion and disorder. The Bulletin
says it is doubtful if a more confused,
excited and disorderly Legislature has
ever been seen on this continent.
Gen. Terry Runs a Little Buko.
—The Atlanta Intelligences says :
We leard that Gen. Terry appointed
an officer to sit as Umpire between a
Mr. Arnold, of Palmetto, and a negro
named Cupid Hutson, in the settlement
of their accounts. From what we could
learn, Mr. Arnold had employed Cupid
to work on his farm upon the usual
terms given by planters, to freedmen.—
Two years have passed without a final
settlement and there was a wide differ
ence of opinion between the parties as
to what was Mr. Arnold’s amount of
indebtedness. Cupid claimed a very
large amount,and Mr. A. claimed to owe
but one hundred dollars. The officer
| decided that Mr. Arnold should pay
four hundred and ninety dollars into
; the hands of Cupid’s lawyer, which was
! done. This was so ordered, in order
1 that some negroes to whom Cupid was
I indebted might have time to put in their
! claims. Our informant was not certain
J as to the exact figures in his statement,
, but his statement is true in the main.
FEED INTO A RADICAL CAUCUS.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial, being a radical, was per
mitted to be present at a caucus of the
Bullockite radicals in Atlanta. In re
turn for the courtesy,, he publishes tbe
following notes of the interesting pro
ceedings:
With a determination to attend the
Republican caucus, last night, if there
was any possible chance to do so, 1
went into Room 48 of the Capitol at
least an hour and a half before the time
appointed for the meeting of the caucus,
so as to become a sort oi: fixture, aud
thereby diminish the chances ol being
“unseated.”
For some time I was in undisputed
possession of the caucus room, and, as
a matter of revenge for being summari
ly “unseated” on Saturday night, I
could have lacked the door and kept
them all out.
Presently a caucuser came in. He
was a negro, as black as any in Africa,
and looked as if he was not burdened
with brains. I inquired of him if he
was a member.
"Not ’xactly, sab,” said he, "yet still
purtty much so. I was a member of
tbe Constitutioner Convention, what
made the Constiution for the State, and
I am now here to contest a scat in tlie
House.”
Here came another caucuser—black
also. It was Dolby, a very large, cor
pulent negro, who came near being
killed at the time Senator Adkins was.
I had heard many stories concerning his
treatment at the hands of the Southern
chivalry, aud asked for information on
the subject.
"They took me out, one night,” said
he “and gave me five thousand lashes
on my naked back, and lelt me for
dead.”
That number of lashes seemed almost
incredible, but Oolliy insists that that
awful number were administered, and
that he will swear it. The Governor
offers a standing reward of five thou
sand dollars for.the apprehension of the
man who did it, but so iar to no pur
pose.
The negroes, always punctual in at
tendance upon all party meetings, now
began to come in pretty rapidly. As
the hour of 8 drew near the whites put
in an appearance, and soon the room
was fall. . „ , .
The meeting having been called to
order, a motion was made that all-who
were not members of the Legislature be
requested to depart.
A negro—“l second the move.”
A white man said that there were but
very few in the room who were not
members, Foster Blodgett and perhaps
a half dozen others, and he requested
that they be allowed to remain.
Congressman Prince being in the
room, was called forth to give his views
on what should be done to save ilu: Re
publican party in the present crisis. He
spoke at length, urging unity of action.
He said the opinion was general in the
North that the Republicans ot Georgia
had no brains, and were continually
quarreling among themselves. He want
ed that impression corrected, if it possi
bly could be. He said that it had beeij
charged that he was a carpet bagger,aud
did not intend to live in Georgia, al
though he represented that Stale in Con
trress. This much he would say, tiiat if
things went on as they had in tbe past
two-years he couid not be expected to
want to make his permanent home in
Geargia. He knew that much of our
present troubles had come from divided
councils in the Republican party.
Men at Washington were continually
asking him, “Won’t the Republican
party in Georgia ever get so that it can
stand alone ? What’s the matter with
it? We can’t always be helping it
along, and passing laws for its benefit.”
That was what was the matter. We
must be harmonious, and stand upon
our merits. After speakiDg in this
strain for some time, Mr. Prince gave
way to a member who occupied the
fioor for half an hour. He said that we
had asked Congress time and again to
help us, and now, after the last boast,
in the shape of the Georgia Bill, we find
ourselves to night, in a worse fix than
ever. The speaker was well nigh dis
couraged, and did not know wbat was
in the furure. Under the ad vice of emi
nent loyal Georgians, Congress had
made an oath for the express purpose of
keeping out a large number of Demo
crats ; yet those same fellows were bold
ly coming up and taking tbe oath, and
also taking llieir seats. Some said,“Oh,
indict them for perjury;” but, upon re
flection, that would not bring immedi
ate relief. We want immediate relief.
If we indict them, and we already have
a clear case of perjury against twenty,
what will be the result ? Why, every
bugger of them, when arrested, will
come forward and give any amount of
bail that is required, and take their scats
again. [Voices, “That’s what’s the
matter; they’ll d(*it everydime.”]
What does a Democrat care for being
indicted for perjury ?• Nothing, for he
knows he can stave ofl the trial from
term to term for at least two years, and
keep liis seat in the Ligislature all the
time. When the trial finally comes up
be will be acquitted, for don’t you all
know that a Georgia jury would acquit
him? (“That’s so.”) The speaker
closed by summing up the insults, in
diguities, and crimes that had been
heaped upon and committed against tlie
Republicans of the State for their love
of tbe old Government, and their allegi
ance to the parly, lie was followed by
another speaker, who did not feel at ail
discouraged. lie believed that if tlie
Republicans would go right ahead and
orgouizc the House they would have
a majority. It would be a small one,but
still a majority.
A negro was tho next speaker, and lie
made tlie best otfort of the evening.
He said that the Republican party oi
Georgia needed arms. Put a keg of
powder and a musket in every black
man’s cabin and they would defend
themseves and keep up the party.
Senator Bradley (colored) next oc
cupied the floor. He said that the Re
publican party in Georgia was in a tight
place, but then if we would act boldly
and promptly we could save the Stale
from going into the hands of the Do
mocracy. He said that he had been in
tighter places many times himself and
got out again. This remark occasioned
much laughter, as it was known that
Badley referred to his experience in the
New York penitentiary.
“My plan,” continued he, “is to get
out a warrant for every Democrat who
purgerers himself by taking the oath,
arrest him, and have him taken before
a court martial of the United States
army. We can arrest enough of them,
for we already have a dead sure thing
on twenty—to give us a majority.—
When they are being held for trial, we,
of course, will not admit them to their
seats,” &c. Bradley spoke at length,
and was frequently applauded. Many
| favored his plan.
A white man next spoke, and propos
. id that acting Speaker Harris appoints
committee to investigate into the record
| of eacn Democrat, *nd report against
every one > in; lias potjured himself.—
Then let him declare that they are not
eligible as mempers, and in that way
secure a Republican majority. “That’s
| the doctrine,” “Hit it at last,” and ap
i plause arose from every part of the
room.
A negro then got up, and said that he
knew what was the matter with the
party in Georgia. “The fact is,” he
continued, “the Republican party in
this State has got neither brains nor
back bone.” He said that he was
ashamed to say it, but nevertheless it
! was true.
The meeting continued until alter 10
o’clock, but no definite plan of action
was agreed upon. A dozen plans of
procedure were proposed, but none
| adopted, and the caucus adjournsd with
out having accomplished any thing.
Although the number of hogs slaugh
tered in the West this season is stated
i at 893,173 short of last season, it is said
I the weight is about the same.
N0.:47.
STANTON.
The Hon. Jeremiah Black’s Card to
the Public.
To the Editor of the New York Uer
aid: Since the death of Mr. Stanton (|
some newspaper writers have revived
the scandalous accounts which began to
be propagated, I think in 1862, concern
ing his conduct while a member of Mr.
Buchanan’s Cabinet. It is asserted that
he came into that Administration with
views entirely opposed to those of the
President and the men who were to be
his colleagues, all of whom, except
Messrs. Holt and Dix, were in favor of
the Southern Confederacy, and ready
to sacrifice the Union ; that supported
by these two he bullied tbe rest;' that
he terrified the President by threats of
resignation into measures which other
wise would not have been thought of ;
that he urged immediate war upon the
seceding States, to crush out the rebel
lion ; that though defeated in this by
the treason of bis associates, he carried
with a high hand other points of sound
policy ; that by these hardy displays of
hostility to the Administration which
trusted him he promoted the interest
and won the gratitude of its enemies.
This is the substance expressed in my
own plain Euglish of many statements,
coming from various sources, extensive
ly circulated aud so generally believed
that if not soon contradicted they are
likely to be received as authentic liisto
ry. They are not only false, but they
must be injurious to Mr. Stanton’s rep
utation ; aud they are grossly unjust to
others, dead as well as living.
I am not the special defender of Mr.
Stanton, and I certainly would not as
sail him. Before he fell away Irom the
Democratic faith our friendship was in
timate and close. There was no sepa
ration afterwards except tlie separation
which is inevitable between two per
sons who differ widely on public sub
jeets believed by both to be vitally im
portant. Our correspondence ot last
summer and autumn (began by himself)
shows that I was able to forgive him
my particular share of the injury he had
done to the liberties of the country, and
he had my sincere good wisnea for his
future health and welfare. His politi
cal attitude towards the Buchanan Ad
ministration previous to his appoint,
meut as Attorney General is wholly
misunderstood or else wilfully misrep
resented. He was fully with us at every
stage of the Kansas question, and no
man felt more loathing contempt than
he did lor the knavery of the abolition
ists in refusing to vote upon the Le
compton Constitution, when nothing
but a vote was needed to expel slavery
from the new State, and thus terminate
tlie dispute by deciding it in the way
which they themselves pretended to
wish. He wholly denied Mr. Douglas’
notions, and blamed him severely for
the unreasonable and mischievous
schism which he had created in the
party. The Know-Nothingism of Bell
and Everett found no favor in his eyes.
In the canvass of 1860 he regarded the
salvation of the country as banging upon
tbe forlorn hope of Breckinridge’s elec
tion. We knew tbe Abolitionists to be
the avowed enemies of the Constitution
and the Union, and we thought the Re
publicans would necessarily be corrupt
ed by their alliance with them. As we
saw tlie march of these combined forces
upon the capital we felt that the consti
tutional liberties of the country were in
as much peril as Rome was when the
Gauls were pouring over the broken
defences of the city. Whether we were
right or wrong is not the question now.
It is enough to say that Mr. Stanton
shared these apprehensions fully. lie
more than shared them ; to some extent
he inspired them, for he knew Mr. Lin
coln personally, and the account he gavo
of him was anything but favorable.
The 6th of November came, and Mr.
Lincoln was legally chosen President
by the electoral machinery of the Con
stitution, though tbe majority of the
popular vote was against, him by more
than a million. The question was now
tested by actual experiment whether a
party which existed only in one section,
aud which was organized on tbe sole
principle of hostility to tbe rights, in
terests and feelings of tho other, could
or would administer the Federal Gov
ernment in a righteous spirit of justice,
or whether the predictions of all our
great statesmen for thirty years must
be verified that the Abolitionists when
they got into power, would disregard
their sworn duty to the Constitution,
break down the judicial authorities, aud
claim obedience to their own mere will
as a “higher law” than the law of the
laud. The danger was greatly aggra
vated by the criminal misconduct of
large bodies in the South, and particu
larly in South Carolina, where prepara
tions were openly made for resistance.
What was the Federal Executive to do
under these circumstances? Make war?
He had neither authority nor means to
do that, and Congress would not give
him the one or the other. Should he
compromise the dispute ? He could
offer no terms and make no pledges
which would not be repudiated by the
new Administration. Could he medi
ate between tbe parties ? Both would
refuse his umpirage, for both wero as
hostile to him as they were to one
another. Nevertheless, he was bound
to do them the best service he could in
spite of their teeth ; and that service
consisted in preserving the peace of tlie
nation. It was his special and most
imperative duty not to embroil tbe in
coming Administration by a civil war
which his successor might be unwilling
to approve or prosecute. It was un
doubtedly right to leave the President
elect and his advisers in a situation
where they could take their choice be
tween compromising aud lighting. In
fact, Mr. Lincoln was in favor of the
former, if his inaugural be auy sign of
his sentiments.
The mind of no man was more deep
ly imbued with these opinions than Mr.
Stanton’s; the idea never entered liis
head (certainly never passed his lips)
that the President ought to nmko war
upon*States, or put the whole people
out of the protection of the laws, and
expose thorn all to indiscriminate slaugh
ter as public enemies because some in
dividuals among them had done or
threatened to do what was inconsistent
with their obligations to the United
States. He knew very well that no
such thing was either legally or physic
ally possible. Gen. Scott had reported
officially that fivecompaniesconstituted
the whole available force which could
be sent to the South for any purpose,
offensive or defensive. It is impossible
that Mr. Stanton would have underta
ken to conquer the South with half a
regiment. He was thoroughly convinc
ed that a war at that time, of that kind
and under these circumstances, would
not only “fire the Southern heart,” but
give to the secessionists the sympathy
of all the world, and ultimately secure
their success, while it could not help
but cripple, disgrace and ruin the cause
of the Union. Nor did he feel pleasure
in the anticipation of any civil war be
tween the two sections of his country.
From the stand point which he then oc
cupied he said that war was disunion ;
it was blood, conflagration, terror, and
tears, public debt and general corrup
tion of morals, all ending at best not in
the union of the States, but in tho sub
jugation of some to the despotic will of
the others. He was apt to take a som
bre view of things, and he looked at the
dark side of this subject. The glory,
profit and plunder, the political distinc
tion and pride of power which brighten
it now, were not included in bis pros
pective survey.
On the 20th of November I answered
the' President’s questions concerning
his legal powers aud duties, holding
that the ordinances of secession were
mere nullities; that the seceding States
were and would be as much in the
Union as ever; that the Federal Execu
tive was bound there as well as else
where to execute the laws, to hold the
public property, and to collect the reve
nue; that if the means and machinery
furnished by law for these purposes
were inadequate he could not adopt
others and usurp powers which had not
been delegated; that neither the execu
tive nor legislative departments had au
thority under the Constitution to make
war upon a Stale; that the military pow
er might be used, if necessary, in aiding
the judicial authorities to execute the
laws in collecting the revenues, in de
fending or retaking the public property,
but not in acts of indiscriminate hostil
ity against all tbe people of a State.
This is the “opinion” which has since
been so often, so much, aud so well
abused, denounced and villifled. Mr.
Stanton did not stultify himself by de
nying the plain, obvious, and simple
truths which it expressed. Tbe paper
was shown him before it went to tlie
President, and after a slight alteration,
suggested by himself, lie not only ap
proved but applauded it euthusiasti
cally.
It disappointed the President, lie
ihad hastily taken it tor granted that
congress might make secession a causo
for war; and in the draitof his message,
already prepared, lie had submilted the
question of war or peace to their docis
ion. But the advice of the law depart
ment, supported by a powerful argu
ment from General Cass, convinced
him of his error, and that part of-the
message was rewritten. The subslauce
of the message so modified received Mr.
Stanton’s hearty endorsement in every
thing that regarded secession aud the
treatment it ought to receive.
Soon after this General Cass retired.
1 was requested to take the Slate De
partment, aud Mr. Stanton was ap
pointed Attorney General upon my de
claring that I was unwilling to leave
the care of certain causes pending in the
Supreme Court to auy hand but his.
This appointment alone, without any
other proof, ought to satisfy any reason
ing mind that all 1 have said ot Mr.
Stanton’s sentiments must be true. Mo
man in bis sober senses can believe that
I would have urged, or that Mr. Buch
banan would have made, the appoint
ment if we had not both known with
perfect certainty that he agreed with us
entirely on those fundamental doctrines
of constitutional law to which we wero
committed. The faintest suspicion of
the contrary would have put tlie Attor
ney General’s office as tar beyond his
reach as tho throne of France. We took
him for what lie professed to be—a true
friend of the Union, a devout believer
in tbe Constitution, a faithful man, who
would not violate iiis oath of office by
willful disobedience to tlie laws. 1 aia
still convinced that he did not deceive
us. If Ife abandoned those principles
in 1802, tlie change, however sudden
and unaccountable, is not satisfactory
evideuce that ho was an impostor and a
hypocrite in 1860.
Ho did not find Mr. Ilolt and General
Dix contending alone (or contending at
all) against the President and the rest
of the Administration. Mr. Holt, *n
the 3d ot March, 1861, appended to his
letter of resignation a strong expression
of his gratitude for the “firm and gen
erous support” which Mr. Buchanan
had constantly oxteuded to him, and
pays a warm tribute to the “enlightened
statesmanship and unsullied patriotism”
of tlie outgoing President. Generttl Dix
was not there at all when Mr. Htanton
came in. lie was appointed a month
afterwards, when there was no disagree
ment in the Cabinet. He took up his
residence at the President’s house as a
member of his family, and remained
there during tho whole time of his ser
vice as head of the Treasury Depart
ment. He performed his duties faith
fully, firmly, aud in a way which met
with universal approbation. Ido not
recollect that he had one word of serious
controversy either with tlie Prcsidentor
anybody else. If, therefore, Mr. Stan
ton was at any time engaged in dra
gooning the President and hectoring
his colleagues lie could not have had
Mr. Holt and General Dix for liis back
ers.
There were disputes and serious dif
ferences of opinion in the Cabinet dur
ing the period of Mr. Stanton’s service;
but his share in them has not been truly
stated. lam not wfiting the history of
those times, and therefore I say nothing
of what others did or forbore to do ex
cept so far as may be necessary to show
Mr. Stanton’s acts and omissions in
their true light.
Before the election it was determined
that the forts in Charleston harbor
should be strengthened so as to make
them impregnable. The order was given
but the execution of it was unaccount
ably put off. When Gen. Cass ascer
tained that the delay was acquisced in
by the President he resigned. Two
weeks afterwards Major Anderson,
commanding Fort Moultrie, and appre
hending an attack, threw his garrison
into Fort Sumter. Simultaneously
came certain commissioners from South
Carolina demanding the surrender of
the latter fort to the State. The char
acter of the answer that should be given
to the commissioners and the question
whether Fort Sumter should be furnish
ed with men and provisions were dis
cussed for three days, each day running
far into the night.
On the one side it was insisted that
the surrender of the fortress was so ut
terly iscompatihle with our plainest duty
that the demand itself was a gross insult.
To leave it in a condition which would
enable rebellious citizens to take it if
they pleased was still worse, for that
would be merely another mode of mak
ing the surrender, and a worse one, be
cause it would be fraudulent and decep
tive. Major Anderson should, therefore,
be immediately so re-inforced that “his
castle’s strength would laugb a siege to
scorn,” and then no attack would bo
made. This last, instead of being dan
gerous, was the only measure that gave
us a chance of safety ; it would not
bring on hostilities, but avert them,aud,
if war must come at all events, the pos
session of fort sumter, which command
ed the other forts, the harbor, and the
city, would be of uncalculable value to
the Government of the Union.
To this lhero was absolutely no an
swer except what consisted in saying
that the fort could not be relieved with
out difficulty and danger of successful
opposition ; that South Carolina would
take it as an affront; and that it was
tantamount to a threat of coercion. The
replication was easily made. There
was no danger of even an attempt at
resistance to a man of war; the state
ments made to the hostile power were
mere brag; If South Carolina took 01-I'ence
I'ence at our preparation for the safety
of our own men and our own property,
she must already he in a temper to make
reconciliation impossible; and as to
coercion, let her take care not to coerce
us, and she would tie safe enough.
At length the President produced his
decision in the form of an answer to the
commissioners. Wnilo it was far from
satisfactory to the southern members, it
filled us with consternation and grief.
Then came the desperate struggle of
one alone to do what all had failed to
effect. It was painful in the extreme,
unexpectedly short aud decisive. The
President gave up his first ground—
yielded the points on which lie had
seemed most tenacious. The answer to
South Carolina was essentially chang
ed, and it was agreed that Fort Sumter
should have men and provisions.
During these discussions Mr. Stanton
was always true, but the part he took
was by no means a leading one. Hu
said many times that he was there only
that 1 might have two votes instead of
one. No occasion was there the slight
est conflict between him and me. lie
exhibited none of the coarseness which
some of his later friends have attribut
ed to him. He never spoke without
the greatest respect for his colleagues
and the profoundest deference to the
President. He said no word to the
President about resigning. He told me
that he would resign if I did ; but when
certain concessions were made to my
wishes he expressed himself perfectly
satisfied. He did not furnish one atom
of the influence which brought the Pres
ident round on the answer to South
Carolina. Nor did he ever propose or
carry any measure of his own, directly
or indirectly, relating to the secession
troubles. He uniformly professed to be
as anxious for the presevation of the
public peace as any man there.
It would be a wrong to the memory
of Mr. Stanton not to add that, so far as
I know, he never gave countenace or
encouragement to those fabulous stories
of his behavior.
Jeremiah S. Black.
New Remedy for Rheumatism.—
George Seell, a German in Cincinnati,
undertook the taking of forty-one pints
of medicated warm water in less than
twenty-four hours, to cure rheumatism.
He began at seven o’clock in the even
ing, and at twelve o’clock had taken
twenty-nine pints. After suffering tho
mokt excruciating pain, ho died in tho
morning.