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rirtb Annual Session South Georgia
CJouference- Bishop W. r. Wlicbt
man Presiding-Held In St. Lake’s
t'barfh.
FIFTH DAY—SUNDAY.
Preachers of the Conference filled
all the pulpits of the white and colored
Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian
churches in the city hnd Girard. Bishop
Wightman preached at St. Luke’s in
the morning and Dr. L. Pierce at night.
During the day, at St. Luke’s, the fol
lowing were ordained
deacons:
K. M. Lockwood, E. T. Berch, Robert
Berch, Robert Hester, J. T. McLaugh
lin.
The following were ordained as
elders:
H. J. Ellis, J. M. Potter, R. Cain, S.
Bassett, J. L. Avant, V. E Manget, J.
F. Mixon, A. P. Payne, W. T. Ray.
SIXTH DAY—MONDAY.
Conference met at 9 a. m., Bishop in
the chair, and was opened with reading
scripture and prayer by Rev. Dr. E.
H. Myers.
Minutes read and approved.
The statistical report was read by the
Secretary, Rev.’J. B. Smith. The fol
lowing is the exhibit made for the past
year :
Total membership 24,326, increase
1,179; local preachers 213, decrease 3;
total Conference collections $0,198,
increase $1,321; infants baptised 719,
decrease 76; adults baptised 1,724, in
crease 241; Bunday schools 276, decrease
17; officers and teachers 1,742, decrease
174; pupils 11,558, decrease 1,285; re
quisites 17,081, decrease 762; volumes
14,402, decrease 2,895; church periodi
cals 4,422, increase 825; number of
churches 388, decrease 8; value $403,-
550, increase $4,405; church sittings
94,405, decrease 1,907; value churches
$62,650, increase 6,440; other church
property $127,510, increase $5,260;
amount for building last year $39,612 10,
increase $3,460 90; paid pastors SOO,-
653 53, increase, $5,710 75; paid pre
siding elders $8,96234, increase $607 17;
paid Bishops $1,569 08,increase $547 08;
contributions by Sunday schools in
charge $3,343 69, increase $434 16;
Sunday schools to Conference $436,
increase $l3B 90; contributions to
other church purposes $11,148 59, in
crease s4ll 09.
The finances and membership have
increased. The failure was attributed
to emigration, removals from one church
to another, but chiefly to failure of
preachers to report.
Rev. VV. Watkin Hicks offered the
following :
Whereas, a great discrepancy exists
between the number of conversions and
additions to the church reported, and
the net gain in numbers prosented by
the statistics, and
Whereas, it is believed the discrep
ancy is caused largely by the loss of
members who remove from place to
place, with or without certificate, there
fore
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of
every preacher to ascertain, as far as
possible, the desired or intended desti
nation of removing members, and im
mediately notify thepieacher in charge
of such place of destination of such
removal to his charge.
The resolution, after a brief debate,
in which Messrs. Hicks, Smith, Sweet,
Knox, Talley, and others, participated,
was adopted.
The Bishop and Rev. J. B. Smith
thought that the great defect belonged
to the inattention of preachers. The
Bishop and Dr. Myers advised that
each minister keep a memorandum
book, and write therein the name of
ovory one admitted and dismissed. All
thought that someone had beeen at
fault when large revivals had been re
ported to the Conference, and statistics
showed such a comparatively small
gain.
The Bishop, in this connection, stated
he would not receive the certificate of
one who had been IS months in a place
and had not presented it.
The Joint Finance Committee,
through their chairman, Rev. C H. Jew
ett, reported the total amount collected
during the year, including tho $525 73
of donations, and sll3 85 railroad div
idends, at $5,431 81. The Districts
were reported as follows: Savannah,
$1,065 38; Macon, $1,331 60; Colum
bus, $961 70; Americus, $669 80; Bain- j
bridge, $455; Brunswick, $lB6 10; Al
tamaha, sl2l 05.
This amount was divided among some
fifteen beneficiaries.
Revs. W. A. McArthy and Mark S
Andrews, of the Alabama Conference,
were introduced.
The Treasurer, Rev. G. G. N. Mc-
Donnell, of the Missionary Board, re
ported a total of $6,198 15, including
$lB7 45 collected Saturday night. In
Sunday’a paper we gave details. It
was announced the missionaries would
be paid 57.75 cents on the dollar.
The Bishop and Rev. McDonnel
i urged a system of systematic collection,
especially in Sunday Schools. Thus,
of the amount reported, SI,OOO had been
collected by Sunday Schools, some S7OO
by those in Savannah. The Bishop
spoke eloquently regarding a school in
Baltimore.
Rev. Dr. J. E. Evans, as President
of the Missionary Society, offered a
resolution appointing Dr. L. Pierce as
agent ot the society, he to labor when
and where he pleased. The resolution
was adopted.
Rev. Dr. J. E. Evans read the report
on the Orphans’ Home. Rev. S. An
thony, the agent, reported he had se
cured $21,600—11,350 in cash, $2,100
due January Ist. $18,150 of good sub
scription • ».; • auuually for tea years.
>TUe Board oj i rusiees offered in sub
stance the following resolutions:
j That the Board regard the establish
’.ment of an Orphans Home as desirable
during the ensuing year.
That the chairman advertise for loca
tions for the home.
That the agent advertise for contri
butions for an outfit for the Home, to be
sent to a committee consisting of Revs.
J. W. Hinton, J. S. Key, W. W. Hicks
and C. H. Jewett.
That the agent press the collections
due, aud secure as many others as he
can, by February 14th.
That the Board meet in Macon on
Feb. 14th to consider the location ofthe
Home.
That Revs. J. S. Key, W. W. Hicks,
C. H. Jewett, be appointed a,committee
to secure a charter for the Home and by
laws for the government.
That the Bishop be requested to re
appoint Rev. S. Anthony as agent for
the Home.
Resolutions adopted.
VOL. XIII.
Rev. Dr. W. W. Hicks offered the
following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Board of Trustees
of the Orphans’ Home be authorized
and empowered to adopt a location at
discretion.
Dr. Boring addressed the Conference
sometime on the duty and obligation of
Christians to support orphans, and the
success of the Home under the care of
the North Georgia Conference. His
statements regarding the latter we have
before given cur readers.
VISITING COMMITTEES.
Emory College —W. W. Hicks, F. A.
Branch, J. W. Hinton, 8. Wimberly.
Wesleyan Female College— G. G. N.
McDonnell, R. J. Corley, John VV.
Simmons, J. A. Urquhart.
Andrevi Female College—J. B. Smith,
E. A. H. McGehee, Jas. M. Austin.
LeVert Female College— Jas. S. Key,
W. F. Robison, Geo. 8. Johnson.
Collinsworth Institute—A. Wright, 8.
8. Sweet, Robt. W, Dixon.
JOINT BOARD OF FINANCE.
Cbas. R. Jewett, A. B. Ousley, W.
j Knox, J. O. Branch, B. F. Breedlove,
D. McWilliams. J. J. Morgan, W. H.
Hollinshead, A. H. Flcwellen, R. H.
Hardaway, C. D. Rogers, A. Curry,
H. L. Jewett, A. C. Flewellen.
HONORS TO THE DEAD.
Committee on Memoirs announced
readiness to report.
The song, “Let us join our friends
above,” was sung. Rev. 8. Anthony i
offered prayer.
The following memoirs were read by ;
the following gentlemen:
On Rev. John Mitchell Bonnell, D. !
D., by Rev. R. B. Lester.
On Rev. John 8. Ford, read by Rev.
J. F. Nixon.
On Joseph H. Hines, a lay delegate,
read by Hon. J. J. Jones, a member of
Congress of the Confederate States.
Rev. 3. Anthony offered a preamble
and resolution. The resolutions in
substance were:
That each member of the Conference
write a brief sketch of hi3 life, when \
and where born, when converted, when
and where he became a preacher, his j
difficulties, successes, failures and other
matters of interest; that such history be
given to the next Secretary of the Con
ference, that it may be filed awayamong
the minutes for reference; that this be
regarded as a standing request of Con
ference to all present and future mem
bers.
Resolutions adopted by a standing
vote.
Conference, after doxology and bene
diction, adjourned to 3J p. m.
AFTERNOON SEB3ION.
Conference met, Rev. Dr. J. E. Ev
ans presiding. Singing. Reading the
scriptures and prayer by Rev. J. W.
Tulley.
Rev. M. B. Ousley, of the Committee
on Church Buildings, reported as fol
lows by Districts:
Savannah District— sß churches, 29
ceiled, 29 not ceiled, 4 stoves.
Macon District— 36 churches, 19 un
ceiled, 11 stoves.
Columbus District 57 churches, 9
ceiled, 29 uncelled, 5 stoves.
Americus District —3B churches, 9
ceiled, 29 uuceiled, 5 stoves.
Bainbridge District— 3s churches, 15
ceiled, 20 nnceiled, no stoves.
Brunswick District —2l churches, 9
ceiled, 12 not ceiled, no stoves.
After discussion, the report was re
ferred back to the committee with in
structions to perfect it and present it to
the Conference.
The following resolutions, offered by
R. J. Corley, amended, were adopted.
They are as follows:
Resolved, That the examining com
mittees, the applicants for admission on
trial, together with the undergraduates
of the South Georgia Conference, be re
quired to meet at the place of holding
the session of the Conference in time to
begin the examinations on Tuesday at
9 a. in., next preceding the meeting of
the Conference.
Resolved, That any member of either
committee, or any applicant for admis
sion on trial, or any undergraduate fail
ing to meet at the appointed time or
place, shall, if a member of either com
mittee, be removed, or if an applicant
or an undergraduate, forfeit the privi
lege of going before the committee for
examination at that session; provided,
in either instance, a providential hin
drance shall be received as a valid ex
cuse.
On motion of Rev. James Jones, the
first Fridays in May and September
were adopted as days of fasting and
prayer.
After benediction, Conference ad
journed to 7 p. m.
The new Bishop received high com
pliments from the brethren.
Night Session—Announcement of
Appointment, s—Conference met at
6jp. m. Bishop in the chair. Large au
dience present.
Session opened by singing hymn on
247th page.
Prayer by Rev . J. L. Cottin, of Ala
bama Conference.
Minutes read and approved.
Rev. W. B. McHann was placed on
tbe superannuated list.
Conference resolved to leave the mat
ter of publishing the minutes in the
hads of Secretary.
By Rev. J. Blakely Smith—
Resolved, That the proverbial hospi
tality of the citizens of Columbus and
vicinity has again laid the members of
the South Georgia Conference under
obligations of pleasant and grateful re
membrance, which we can only repay
by invoking upon them for all time, the
richest blessings of grace and provi
dence.
Resolved, That the Christian courtesy
i of the pastors of the evangelical church
es in Columbus and Girard to this Con
ference, will be gratefully reciprocated
whenever opportunity offers in chris
; tian love. ,
Resolved, That the thanks of the Con
ference are tendered to the officers of
the railroads meeting in Columbns for
passing the un-m «i half fare.
Resolved, i’hat the ui;.Lks o* the Con
ference are due and are hereby tendered
to the reporters of the city papers for
their unusually correct reports of the
: proceedings ot this body, and to the
publishers for copies of the papers.
Adopted by a standing vote.
THE APPOINTMENTS
were then read by the Bishop after he
had made a few remarks.
He congratulated the body upon the
harmony of their deliberations. This,
his first visit to the Conference in his
present capacity, was one of great
pleasure—both in his intercourse with
members and citizens. The workmen
die, but the work goes on. The old
and youDg die, but they are succeeded
by others. Eaeh has but one lifetime.
Your work will live to infinity. In the
appointments, he and the Presiding
Elders had done the best they could.
The good soldier knows only how to
obey orders. No field can be assigned
without labor and anxiety. Go where
the church bids you, like men and
Christians, with strength and cheerful
ness.
THE WEEKLY SUN.
Savannah District.— Presiding Elder,
i J. O. A. Clark.
Savannah, Trinity—J. E. Evans.
Savannah, Wesley Church and City
j Mission—G. G. N. MacDonell.
Springfield—T. B. Lanier.
Mizpah—J. J. Morgan,
j Bylvania—W. T. McMichael.
Bethel—R. W. Flournoy.
Alexander—J. A. Rosser.
Waynesboro—N. B. Ousley.
Louisville—C. C. Hines.
Davisboro and Sandersville—W. 8.
Baker.
Washington—J. B. Culpepper.
Gibson—B. N. Tucker, J. Domingoes.
Macon District —Presiding Elder, J.
W. Hinton.
Macon—Mulberry street and Vine
ville, J. O. Branch; East Macon and
Swift creek, J. W. Burke; First street,
W. Watkin Hicks; City Mission, sup
plied by R. Cain; Circuit, J. 8. Jordan.
Gordon—W. J. Green.
Irwinton—To be supplied by F. Flan
derg.
Jeffersonville—R. F. Evans.
Twiggs—To be supplied by W. Grif
fin.
Fort Valley and Marshalville —F. A.
Branch.
Beaver Dam Circuit—W. W. Tid
well.
Perry—A. J. Dean.
Hayneville—E. A. H. McGehee.
Montezuma and Providence—To be
supplied.
President Emory College —O. L.
Smith; Professor—l. T. Hopkins.
President Wesleyan Female College
—E. H. Myers; Professors, C. W.
Smith and W. C. Bass.
Columbus District— Presiding Elder,
T. T. Christian.
Columbus—St. Luke, J. S. Key; St.
Paul, A. Wright; Wesley Chapel, W.
M. D. Bond.
Girard and Asbury Chapel—Supplied
by J. E. Tooke.
Muscogee—To be supplied.
Hamilton—W. F. Robison.
Talbotton—R. W. Dixon.
Talbot—D. R. McWilliams, R. L.
Honiker.
Geneva—S. R. Weaver.
Juniper Mission—W. A. Green.
Butler—J. R. Littlejohn.
Buena Vista—W. W. Stewart.
Cusseta—B. D. Clements.
Oglethorpe—G. S. Johnson.
Levert Female College—H. D. Moore,
President.
Lovick Pierce, Conference Missiona
ry Agent.
Americus District— Presiding Elder,
J. Blakely Smith.
Americus—A. M. Wynn.
Bethel—J. Harris.
Magnolia Springs—J. M. Marshall.
Ellaville—C. A. Crowell; RF. Wil
liamson, Supernumerary.
Smithville and Mission —D. O’Dris
coll.
Cuthbert—B. F. Breedlove.
Bt. Paul and Miller’s Chapel—B. J.
Baldwin.
Spring Vale—N. D. Morehouse.
Georgetown—To be supplied.
Dawson —G. C. Clarke.
Terrell— G. T. Embry.
Weston —E. J. Rentz.
Lumpkin—J. M. Austin.
Stewart—J. B. Wardlaw.
Florence —To be supplied.
President Andrew Female College—
J. B. McGehee.
Agent Orphans’ Home—S. Anthony.
Bainbridge District— Presiding Elder,
R. B. Lester,.
Bainbridge—Walter Knox.
Decatur—J. F. Mixon.
Trinity—G. C. Thompson.
Colquitt—W. F. Roberts; J. M. Pot-
ter.
Fort Gainos and Blakely—W. M.
Hayes.
Morgan—J. D. Mauldin.
Camilla—J. T. Ainsworth.
Cairo—P. C. Harris.
Grooversville —R. H. Howren.
Duncanville —L. G Peek,
Thomasville — C. R. Jewett.
Albany and Mission—R. J. Corley.
llawkinsville District—Presiding El
der, J. E. Sentell.
Hawkinsville —R. M. Lockwood.
Cochran Mission —L. A. Dorsey.
Pulaski and Wilcox—To be supplied
by W. D. Bussey.
Vienna—J. Spence.
Dooly Mission—To be supplied by
W. N. Clemons.
Flint River Mission —To be supplied
by W. M. Russell.
Moultrie Mission—To be supplied by
W. M. Bunten.
Nashville—J. J. Giles.
Alapaha Mission—B. S. Kee.
Ocmulgee —W. Lane.
Brunswick District. Presiding El
der, L. B. Payne.
Brunswick and City Mission—J. O.
A. Cook.
St. Mary’s—H. P. Myers.
Center Village—W. H. Thomas.
Waynesville—J. L. Williams.
Waresboro’—T. 8. Armestead.
Jessup—W. M. Watts.
Holmesvllle —Supplied by Jas. Ware.
Stockton —S. G. Childs.
Valdosta—W. M. Kennedy.
Quitman —S. S. Sweet,
Morven—A. P. Wright.
Hinesville District.— Presiding Elder,
J. W. Simmons.
Hinesville —W. G. Booth.
Darien and Mclntosh—E. J. Burch.
Bryan Mission—W. M. C. Conley,
Supernumerary.
Scarborough—J. W. Glenn.
Dublin —H. J. Eliis.
Wrightsville Supplied by W. T.
Rea.
County Line—To be supplied.
Bwainesboro —C. J. Toole.
Jacksonville—H. C. Fentress.
Oconee—R. D. Gentry.
Altamaha Mission—W. F. Conley.
Reidsville—D. G. Pope.
C. A. Fulwood and A. A. Robinson
transferred to Florida Conference.
M. A. McKibben transferred to
South Carolina Conference.
C. E. Brown transfered to Arkansaa
Conference.
After the benediction ;had been pro
nounced, Conference adjourned to meet
next December at Thomasville.
The body has accomplished a great
deal of of work during this session.
Nortb and Sonth Railroad.
The Meeting at Cedar Town.—We
call attention to the metting to be held
at Cedar Town on January 6th, in the
interest of the North and South Rail
road. This is one of Rome’s grandest,
enterprises, and is under successful
building, being now graded to nearly
three miles from Rome. It should
meet with liberal support from the peo
yle. E’re long the engines ped from
Rame will rest under the shadow of
Tallappoosa Mountain.—Rome Daily
Commercia
The friends of this enterprise (which
means every bnly down this way) will
be glad to team that tin energy which
has marked tire management ot the road
at this point is maintained to its North
ern terminus. Three miles graded at
Rome, 17 here, and the work under
contract to LaGrange, with parties wai
ting to carry it along to Franklin, is cer
tainly a good result from an adminis
tration organized August 11th, about
four months ago.
See notice of the Universal Life In
surance Company, of which Peabody
& Roberts, in Epping’s building, are
general agents. It is one of the beet
and safest companies on the continent.
Bound for Alabama..— Seven fam
ilies, from Macon county, Ga., en route
for Northern Alabama, passed through
our city Sunday morning.
Stricken with Paralysis.— Mr. G.
M. Renfroe, a well known merchant of
this city and a long time resident, was
stricken with paralysis, in the left side,
Sunday night. This will be greatly
regretted by his many friends.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1871.
GREELEY AND BAYONET BILE.
Horace Greeley is a strange compound
of sense and nonsense. His heart seems
right, and bis head wrong. His emo
tions are good, his prejudices awfully
wicked. We make the following ex
tract from an editorial in the Tribune of
the 11th inst.:
We dislike the spectacle of citizens
arrested by a military force and march
ed off to jail between files of soldiers;
but, if there be no other way of stopping
midnight raids on the homes of peace
ful, b umble laborers in order to drag out
the inmates and lash them into swear
ing that they will never again vote as
they are well known to feel and think,
we can stand the military arrests; and
so, we are confident, can the country.
Greeley first makes assertion stand
for facts, begs the question, and then
very philosophically concludes like the
fellow when told he was chewing mites
with his cheese, calmly replied—“ Well,
if they can bear the grinding operation
I can 1" Greeley’s heart is in favor of
a speedy withdrawal of Federal bayo
nets from the South, but his miserable
prejudices bring him to the barbarous
conclusion—“lf the South can stand to
see its ‘citizens arrested by a military
force and marched off to jail between
files of soldiers,’ I, as a patriot and phi
lanthropist, can afar off, exclaim, ‘I too
am satisfied !’ ”
In the same article, Greeley pays a
high and deserved compliment to Gov.
Walker of Virginia. He says: “He
sees just how Virginia has shielded
herself from all annoyance or indigni
ty from anti-Ku-Klux legislation. She
has protected her own people—the
humblest as well as the highest—from
outrage or abuse of any kind; hence the
thunders of Federal power roll harm
lessly over her head.”
Greeley should be sufficiently informed
that the comparison he institutes be
tween Gov. Walker and Virginia and
the other Southern States, is unfair and
unjust. He should remember that
though a Northern man that Gov.
Walker has a sound head ana an
honest heart. He has not, like Bul»
lock and other late Southern Gover
nors, first run his arms up to the pits
into the State treasuries, and then base
ly slandered the people he had robeed.
The philosophy of Greeley on this
subject is like cutting a man’s kg ofi
and then telling him to dance—to make
bricks without straw. Radicalism,
through ignorant and dishonest offi
cials, creates lawlessness and then at
tempts to justify its suppression by a
power suited only for Russia or Tur
key.
NOW AND THEN.
Almost every one attributes the ad
mitted demoralization of the country to
our civil war. Like every general af
firmation, there is some truth and much
error mingled in this proposition. We
know it to be impossible that an effect
can be without a cause, and we believe
much of the seed whose bitter fruit is
now visible to every eye, was sowed
anterior to the war. It lay Becretly in
the ground and needed only a congenial
season to bring it to perfection. A man
or woman cannot truthfully be Baid to
be honest when guided in their actions
by impulse, popular sentiment or fear
of detection, exposure and punish
ment. Let certain worldly influences
be withdrawn, them be surprised by
a sudden temptation or embraced by
some ruling passion, it may be a selfish
desire of riches, pleasure or ambition,
and whatever may be the outward saint
unless controlled by more pure and ele
vated principles, instead of an angel of
light he will appear at last a horned
monßter.
History can Bhow no more illustrious
example of fidelity—Religion can bring
no stronger evidence of its truth, than
the good conduct exhibited by tbe slave
population during the war. With a
very few exceptions, tempted by bad
white men to deeds that would shame a
demon, in the absence of their legal and
natural protectors and guardians and
unawed by any human power, they
were true to duty, their instincts and
God, and lived daily with these words
of soberness and fidelity warm on their
lips:
“ Master, goon, and I will follow thee,
To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty.”
Amid all the wrecks, physical and mor
al with which the war left us surround
ed and crushed, this singleness of mind
and simple, honest sincerity and faith
fulness of a whole race, excites our
gratitude, affection and respect more
than the names of warriors, the confus
ed noise of whoso exploits have been
echoed for ages, and whose garments
rolled in human blood have been esteem
ed worthy of adoration. It is the glitter
of the precious jewel said to be in the
head of the ugly and venomous toad.
Without some such manifestation of
truth and devotion to principle at the
sacrifice of self, no individual or nation
can prosper or be ranked among the
heroic.
It is truly said that confidence is a
plant of slow growth. Like every vir
tue, it has its foundation on truth.—
Through ignorance, we may honestly
believe a lie, but enlightened conviction
can rest on nothing but an honest
search for, and a personal conscious
ness of the possession of truth. To be
told that such and such a thing is so and
so, is a poor excuse for error without a
faithful individual examination and
knowledge. No honest mind can be
lieve as it pleases, and it is our highest
duty and privilege to exercise our rea
son within its legitimate powers and on
proper subjects, whether we tread on
heathen or Christian grounds.
Before the war and since, many of
our social evils had and have their root
in a want of stern integrity and freedom
and independence of thought and ac
tion. The rich were extravagant and
idle, and tue poor we.ie prone to imi .
tale liieir lollies By slow but sure oe
grecs,luxury and idleness begat dissipa
tion and poverty, and they in turn be
gat vice and crime. Deception, sham,
humbug, in business, society, politics,
morals and religion became popular and
fashionable until confidence was, and
is, destroyed, and social and domestic
purity is in danger of annihilation. The
habit and pleasure is now
“Full as great,
In being cheated as to cheat.”
We see but one sure plan to produce
a reform in morals, manners, customs
and fashions, and that is to go back up
on the simple ways of our fathers and
j mothers, and act the trnth in every
: thing we say or do, and then we can
look each other full in the eye without
a laugh or a sneer at the hypocrisy of a
pretended friend or neighbor. Then
we will learn that it is not all of life or
happiness to be rich, great or fashion
able.
’ A school is wanted. See notice.
POLICY AND PRINCIPLE.
i At the same moment that some of
our weak-kneed, so-called Democrats
are counseling a base submission to ev
ry stretch of Congressional and Presi
dential prerogative and usurpation, the
i scales of error are beginning to fall from
| the eyes of Northern and Western Rad
i icals. All we now need are leaders of
; courageous hearts, unity and a well di
! reeled fire along the whole line, to pre
vent and resent the long-aimed blow,
crush the tyrants, and break the fetters
of slavery and tear them from our galled
limbs. Truth, whenever and wherever
it is boldly asserted, will prove omnipo
tent. Nothing in the end, was ever
gained by knuckling to error, wrong
and oppression, or in failing for any
cause to vindicate justice and right.
As evidence that even our worst ene
; mies now admit that their long contin
ued hate, revenge and tyranny is a
wretched failure, we clip the following
editorial from the National Republican
of the 13th, the organ of Grant at Wash
ington. The Republican says:
As it is nobler to forgive than to per
secute, and as we are called upon at this
particular season to remember the great
lesson of divine beneficence to talleo
man, the wisdom, as well as the good
taste, of the President’s recommenda
tion is very generally acknowledged.
Interested persons who may wish to
get into Congress, or who expect to
reap gains irom Southern prostration,
may oppose the policy of lorgiveness,
but their influence is about equal to
their possession of Christian virtues—
very moderate. The Nation has spo
ken through the President, and the
annoudeoment ot one after another of
prominent Republican journals, that
they would sustain any measure look
ing to Southern relief, shows the sens
timent of the North and West conclu
sively.
No Repuplican need be afraid of
boldly advocating amnesty at this time.
The temper of the Southern people, as
as shown in their assisting to punish
Ku-Klux and restrain violence, de
server recognition. The South must
cure itself, and how can this be done
without the aid of its native intellect?
Let our leaders in Congress again hold
out the olive branch. We call upon
Sumner in the Senate and Kelley in the
House to interest themselves in a mat
ter very becoming either of these faith
ful anti-slavery but not anti Southern
statesmen. With charity to all and
malice toward none our party may
gain the foothold almost lost to us by
the unwise management and unprinci
pled conduct of so called leaders. The
men who have soiled their skirts with
corrupt bargains in bonds in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida we repudiate, as indeed has the
Republican party in the various Btates
South of Mason and Dixon’s line.
We trust the plain people will not
judge all Northern men by the office
holders who have disgraced Republican
rule in the States we have named.
There are rascals in all parties, and the
fellows who seized the opportunity
offered iu the hurly-burly of reconstruc
tion to fasten themselves upon the
dominant party, havo shown by their
deeds that they were not of us, and
consequently we waut none of them.
Their room is much better than their
company. Let us join to us a very
different class, who exist in every State
South, and being original Union men
have been barred by mere technicalities.
Had we sought them before they would
now be aiding and not opposing the
Government.
To tbe Democratic aud Conservative
Party of tbe State of Alabama.
Having been called together to select
a chairman in place of our lamented
Clanton, and to transact such other
business as might come before us, we
deem it proper before separating, to
address a few words to our friends.
In the death of our gallant chief, the
party and the State have sustained an
irreparable loss. We can pay to his
memory no prouder tribute than to say
that, to his efforts, more than to those
of any other we are indebted for the
redemption of Alabama from Radical
rule.
We now send you greeting and con
gratulation on tbe successes that have
crowned your efforts since the day when
you last met in convention. Last year
your efforts, enhanced by the peril of
your situation, redeemed the State from
the domination of an alien power, in
imical to her interests, and odious to
her people—and Btayed the band of
fraud and peculation that was fast en
riching our oppressors with the hard
earned fruits of our labor.
The government of Alabama had be
come a mere fiscal contrivance for tax
gathering and our officers the middle
men of non-resident speculators, both
preying remorselessly upon our sub
stance. Utter ruin would soon have
been our portion had you not come to
the rescue and expelled from the seats
of power the most dangerous of our ru
lers and law makers and replaced them
with friends and citizens.
The Executive offices of the State,
with one exception, are filled by men of
your own choice.
In the House of Representatives you
have a large majority of members who
truly represent the people of Alabama.
To tho Senate of the United States
has been elected, for the first time since
the war, a citizen of Alabama.
In very many of the counties, the
offices are now filled by men of your
own party. If all these results can be
accomplished in one election, may we
not confidently expect that at the elec
tion to take place, in November next,
the last vestige ofthe Radical party in
Alabama will forever disappear? Then
you cud elect all the State officers, a
majority of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and Alabama will then
once more stand erect, with her destiny
in the hands of her own sons.
It is a matter of congratulation too,
that these results have been brought
about by quiet work and peaceful vo
ting without force or intimidation, and
in spite of election laws made purposely
to invite and cover fraud.
The prospects of the party in the
State are most encouraging; and, to
maintain the ascendency already won,
it is only necessary to be true to your
own colors.
Let .no local jealousy—no supposed
personal grievance cause you to become
lukewarm. The Democratic and Con
servative organization is the only break
water between you and the worst of
political fates.
With its success, you have an honest
and economical administration of af
fairs ; with its defeat, yon have a cor
rupt administration, high taxes and !
reckless expenditure of money.
We ask yon then to organize in every
county in the State so that when the
hour arrives, you may strike a final
blow at the monster which has been at
tempting to crush you.
Thomas J. Judge,
Chairman.
Geo. Goldthwaite,
Thos. H. Watts,
P. T. Sayre,
Thos. H Herndon,
Jos. F. Johnston,
R. H. Powell,
H. A. Herbert,
W. C. Oates,
M. J. Bulger,
Taul Bradford,
J. W. Inzer,
J. H. Francis,
Rob’t. McFarland,
G. T. Deason.
i Shooting Affray.— On Tuesday
night last, Dr. H. H. Christian and
Captain Julian Ransome had a little
pass at small-arms on the public square
in Blakely, in which both were painful,
i ly, though, it is thought, not serionsly
- wounded, each receiving two shots.
WEDNESDAY HORNING. DEC. 20.
The Election Yesterday—Smith
Receives 1,081 Votes —The Guberna
torial election was one oi tbe most
quiet that we have ever witnessed.
Only a few people remained around the
Court House; yet a continuous stream
of voters kept pouring that way. Ballots
were, with few words, deposited and
voters left as quietly. The negro
preacher Turner, who seems to own
the colored population, has lately
preached a sermon in which he urged
the negroes not to vote, but quite a
number did so. The contest was Hon
esty vs. Thievery. The result is Hon.
J. M. Smith received in Columbus 1,081
votes—the heaviest majority our city
has ever polled for any one. The
county will increase it 1,400 or 1,500.
This, it must be remembered is not only
the vote, but her majority. Many lead
ing Republicans voted for him, among
them Judge Johnson. If all Georgia
has done as well, our candidate will
receive the heaviest majority ever
polled in this State.
Special from LaGrange.
| LaGrange, Ga., Dec. 19.—We broke
| dirt on the North and Sonth Railroad
at 4 p. m., on section two, of Messrs.
; Wood & Danily’s contract. Messrs.
! Cox & Calbertson will commence in a
few days, as soon as tbe engineers are
ready, each working fifty hands, and
will work one hundred more early in
January. We hope by the 20th of Au
gust to unite the cities of LaGrange and
Columbus with the pioneer narrow
gauge railroad of the South.
W. C. Jarboe.
Private intelligence from LaGrange
assures us that 200 hands will be at work
under the Troup County Company by
the Ist January. The truly wonderful
momentum of the North and South
seems to gather force as the enterprise
grows older.
“ The H. S. Estes.”— This, the first
locomotive of the North and .South
Road, has been safely landed from the
cars of the Western Road upon the
South end of its own Road, just beyond
the head of Oglethorpe street. Though
still in its travelling garb (its brasses,
drivers, cylinders, etc., being protected
by a coating of some kind,) it is a per
fect beauty and reflects credit upon its
makers, Messrs. M. Baird & Cos., of
Philadelphia. On each side of the cab
are splendid oil pictures of Mr. Estes,
while the name “North and South of
Georgia,” appears in handsome gilt let
ters upon the tender. The engine has
fout wheels connected and one pair of
leading wheels. The cylinders are 10
inches diameter and 16 inches stroke.
The diameter of the driving wheels is
40 inches. The weight is 25,000 pounds
in working order. Its hauling capacity
upon a dead level is 605 tons. A great
effort was made to secure this engine in
time for the iron but the latter has not
yet arrived, being 15 days overdue.—
Sailing vessels are notoriously unrelia
at this season of the year, especially
with iron, which is the worst cargo
known. We will be disappointed if we
fail to take a New Year’s ride behind
the H. S. Estes.
Appointments to the Methodist
Churches in Columbus. —Much as our
city regrets losing Dr. Smith and Revs.
A. M. Wynn and A. J. Dean, their
places are to be supplied by good and
honored men.
Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Key has been as
signed to the pastorate t -H, Luke’s,
and Rev. ArmeniusWrighi t" be charge
of St. Paul’s church. Both are able
men and have served here before.
Both are forcible preachers and gentle
men of polish and culture. Rev. W. M.
D. Bond has been appointed pastor of
Wesley Chapel, vice Rev. A. J. Dean,
who has been sent to Perry. He also,
is said to be a preacher of fidelity and
power. Rev. J. E. Tooke, a good pas
tor, supplies Girard and Asbury Chapel.
Returned Home. —We are informed
that Mrs. Kleber, nee Miss Puss Bar
den, the wife of Major Kleber, former
ly drill-master of the Columbus Guards
and afterwards an officer of the Con
federate army, has returned to Colum
bus on a visit to her family. It will be
remembered she went, after the war,
with her husband to France, where he
died, and where she has since resided.
She is a cultivated lady, as several in
teresting letters, published in this paper
in the last few years, have attested. She
is accompanied by her mother-in-law.
We welcome ‘her back to her former
home.
Fell Dead in the Upper Bridge.
—After the close of factory hours on
Thursday, as Mr. William Lasseter was
returning to his home in McAllister
ville, he fell dead in the upper city
bridge, it is supposed from the effects
an attack of apoplexy. He was a
young man about twenty seven years of
age, an employee in the baling room of
the Eagle and Phenix Manufactory,
He leaves a wife and one child. The
remains were carried to his home across
the river and buried yesterday.
The Savannah and Memphis Rail
road. —This road was opened Monday
to Slaughter’s Station, twenty-five
miles beyond Opelika. Trains now
leave Opelika at 3 p. m , and reach
Slaughter’s at sp. m. Returning, they
leave Slaughter’s at 7: 30 a. m., thus
forming close connections with the pas
senger trains to Columbus, Montgome
ry and West Point. Under the new
regime, which we have previously giv
en, the road has received anew impe
tus, and is being pushed steadily for
ward. Dadeville, forty miles from
Opelika, will be reached by spring.
Died in Macon.—We indeed regret
to it-arsi of the deaili of the wite of Mr.
iiomer Starr, wfcion occuirod Sunday at
the residence of her husband, in Macon.
She was an adopted daughter of Mr.
George S. MortoD, of this city, and a
most amiable and accomplished young
lady. We believe she was married last
year. The remains were brought here
yesterday and interred in our cemetery.
District and County Courts.—A
bill has been passed in tbe Georgia Leg
islature abolishing District Courts. A
law was passed authorizing the estab
lishment of a County Court, when the
Grand Jury recommends it. Tbe law
is very long, but it is a good one.
We direct attention to the advertise
ment of “Pease and his Wife’s restau
rant,” at Atlanta. This is one of the
institutions of the State capital. It is
kept on the European plan. Every
body who goes to the place is perfectly
satisfied.
Wirt Sykes married to Olive Logan.
"Another Hint to Mr. Vance.—
Tho Democratic Senators have united
in a letter to Senator elect Vance, of
j North Carolina, asking him to withdraw
5 his claims on the ground that there is
no probability that he will be admitted,
and therefore he ought to give the
North Carolina Legislature an oppor
i tunity to send a man in his place who
will be admitted.”
We find the above in a special Wash
ingtou dispatch to the Baltimore Sun,
of Thursday, and for fear the editor of
the Columbus Sun may not see it is in
his Baltimore namesake, we reprint it
for his special consideration. It seems
the representatives of the Democratic
party in the Senate do not agree with
our Columbus cotemporary as to the
wisdom of being “forever unrepreseut
ed,” etc. They are in a position to
know how much good one vote and
one voice can do them and the country,
and being practical men, with no turn
for theatricals, they want that assistance
if it be possible to get it. They also
know that ihey can never getitthrough
Gov. Vance, and therefore, like honest
men, they tell him so. There can be
no other course for him to pursue now,
as a patriot, than to promptly return
his credentials to the Legislature imd
allow that body to send somebody to
Washington who can represent North
Carolina inside the Senate chamber.
The above we find in the Macon
Telegraph of the 17th, intended, we
suppose, as an additional answer to our
remarks upon its strictures on the
North Carolina Legislature for electing
Governor Vance U. 8. Senator. The
Telegraph has already admitted that
the so called legislation which makes
Governor Vance ineligible, is “odious
and illegal,” and yet, according to its
logic, the North Carolina Legislature
was a body of “double distilled stupidi
ty” because it refused to recognise what
it esteemed “odious and illegal.”
The North Carolina Legislature and
the Macon Telegraph may differ about
the best way to dispose of “odious and
illegal” usurpations, and neither be
given over to a “double distilled stu
pidity.” The “theatricals” of tbe Tele
graph may lead it to accept every
aggression on the rightß of States and
peoples as the very climax of policy 1
and prudence, while on the other hand,
the North Carolina Legislature being <
composed of sterner stuff, considered it j
“ wisdom ” to stop the ball ot tyranny
and usurpation at the first hop. History j
and old Chief Justice Time baß taught
us in the past, and tho lesson will be 1
true in the future, that no people ever
lost their liberties until they first lost
thespiiitof freemen, and step by step
fitted their necks for the yoke of a mas
ter, perhaps a Csosar, a Napoleon or a
Cromwell, or it may be a Grant, but
never a Holden in tbe hands of men
who their rights do know, and knowing
dare maintain.
Wo had seen it published iu the
" practical ,” prudent and politic Demo
cratic papers, and have as often seen it
contradicted, that the North Carolina
Legislature had asked Gen. Vance to
return his credentials. Gen. Vance
has replied that his delay has tsuen
caused in order to test the sincerity of
the President and Congress by a vote
on a general.amnesty bill recommenced
by the President. Tho dispatch to the
Baltimore Sun may be true or false, but
if true, it is another evidence of the
triumph of policy even with Democratic
Senators, over the principles of State
rights end Constitutional liberty. Who,
in the better and purer days of our Re
public, ever heard of Senators from
foreign States dictating to the people
and Legislature of another State equally
free and independent, who should be
their representatives ? Each State is
entitled to two Senators such as the
Legislatures alone may elect, aud we
have heard of Legislatures insuucting
Senators, but never before of stranger
Senators instructing Legislatures aud
peoples. This is adding insult to iuju
ry, and whether it is hailed with praisa
as another act of policy by cerluin edi
tors not of tho Bourbon stripe, we know
that Gov. Vance and the Legislature,
will treat it as all intermeddhngs Ob
serve, with scorn and contempt.
We commend the philosophy ol the
following from the Courier-Journal to
the Telegraph, and we think it will be
applied to Gov. Vance or Mr Norwood,
just as Radical policy, hatred and re
venge, may dictate and predominate in
Congress. We imagine tho question of
eligibility under the new amendments,
has very little to do with a member’s
seat. If he has talent and character, and
will reflect truly the wishes of Dem
ocratic constituents, it is easy to set
him adrift outside ofthe amendments,
just as the “ odious and illegal” amend
ments were enacted “outside of the
Constitution.” The Courier Journal
says:—
“ Speaking of the question ot general
amnesty the Chicago Post says: “Tbe
Northern people have never objected to
a humane and magnanimous policy to
ward the masses of offenders, but have
insisted on the single condition that
they should obey the laws and remain
peaceful and orderly.” This is just
what we have always said. If tbe
Southern people had persistently obeyed
the laws from the start by voting the
Radical ticket, and voting it early and
often, this general amnesty business
would have been settled long ago.”
Martial Law in Jackson County,
Fla. —Private letters inform us that
this county is under martial law. Col.
Coker, of Marianna, and Dr. Tonnille,
of Greenwood, have been arrested and
carried to Jacksonville, with
violation of the Enforcement Act.
Numbers of negroes daily are ippuaring
before the military authorities, swear
ing against prominent ciliz us. Federal
troops are quartered in Marianna.
Dr. Boring Injured liev. Dr.
Jesse Boring, who had been in atten
dance on the Methodist Conference,
and was returning home, was severely
injured at Opelika, Monday night. In
the darkness, while going from one
train to the other, he made a mis-step,
and fell into a ditch. Oue of his legs
was sprained badly or broken. He is
being kindly cared for in Opelika.
Telling Figures. —An official ofthe
North and South Railroad, who has
watched the fact, informs us that over
$50,000 have been spent under his ob
servation by tbe contractors since work
commenced in August last.
The Committee of tbe Columbus In
j dustrial Association have awarded the
silver medal to the Florence Sewing
Machine. The card speaks for itself,
and to it we refer readers.
The passenger train leaving Colum
-1 bus at 12:45 p. m. on the South West
ern Road, now connects with the train
to Atlanta. This iB good news.
The Web ely Sun for 1873 only
Two Dollars. Renew your subscrip
| tiona without delay.
NO. 40.
From the New Era.
TIIK KADIUAL GARIK.
Isaac Seeley Sends a Circular from
Washington Asking and Instructing
the Manufacture of Evidence to Cel
Georgia More Guillotined— “ If Demo
crats Won't Challenge Let Republicans
Challenge Each Other."—Ex-Gov
ernor Joseph E. Brown Refuses to be a
Party to the Game and Exposes its
Iniquity.
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 16, 1871.
Mr. Isaac Seely, Washington City:
Sir— Your private cicular, dated
Washington, Decembers, 1871,and ad
dressed to me at this place, has this day
been received, which is in these words:
My Dear Sir : A movement is be
gun to secure the passage of an act by
Congress to prevent the further abridge
ment of tbe right to vote by the assess
ment and accumulation ot poll taxes.—
You can render material aid in the pas
sage of such an act by furnishing iu
stances where citizens have been pre
vented from voting by challenges for
non-payment ot taxes. It will be nec
essary that such tacts be established
by affidavit, specifying the following
items:
First. Let from oue to fifteen voters
subscribe to the same affidavit.
Second. Stale the amount of taxes
required.
Third. At what election the right to
vote was denied.
Fourth. The form or substance of
the oath required to be sworn in the
vote.
Fifth. The number of citizens iu the
county thus prevented from voting.
The object is to show that the State
of Georgia, by thus assessing, doubling
and accumulating, the poll taxes from
year to year, not only “abridged” but
“ denies” that right to vote which is
guaranteed by the second suction of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the Consti- -
tution of the United States.
If instances have not heretofore oc
curred, let cases be made up at this elec
tion, and if Democrats will not chat- |
lenge, let Republicans challenge each 1
other. See the Tax Collector and as
certain the amount of poll taxes required |
in order to vote this year.
These facts will show that Georgia
requires and euforces an impossible
qualification in violation of the Four
teenth Amendment. Let these affida
vits be obtained and forwarded to the
subscriber here with the least possible
delay, enclosed on blank affidavits to
facilitate the woik.
Yours respectfully,
Isaac Seeley, j
In reply, 1 have to Btate that I cannot,
in any way, participate in the move
ment begun, as you say, at Washington,
to secure the passage of an act of Con
gress to prevent the further abridge
ment ot the right to vote by the assess- I
ment and accumulation of poll taxes,
etc. And I regret that any one calling
himself a Republican should attempt to
resort to such means as is proprosed by
you, iu the sentence whore you say, "If
instances have not heretofore occurred,
let cases be made up at this election,
and if Democrats will not challenge, let
Republicans challenge each other.”—
Doubtless your object will be to con
vince the preseut Republican Congress
that the Democracy of Georgia are, by
unjust legislation, preventing Republi
cans from voting iu this State, and to
fasteu that conviction upon tho minds
of the members of Congress, you pro
pose, if uo instances of this sort of
abuse on tbe part ot the Democracy can
be found, that the Republicans chal
lenge each other, for the purpose of pro
ducing tho impression in aid of your
movement. This would, in my opin
ion, be a dishonorable trick, practiced
for the purpose of deceiving members
of Congress, and misleading them, to j
which I trust no Republican in Georgia 1
will lend himself.
The Republican Convention which
met under the reconstruction act of
Congress, of which you were a member,
incorporated into the Constitution of
the State the following provision:
“Every male person born in the
United States, h <1 every male person
who has bu n uatural’.zoJ, or who has
legally declared his intention to become
a citizen of the United States, twenty
one years old or upward, who shall
have resided in this State six months
next preceding the election, and shall
have resided thirty days in the county
in which he ofLrs to vote, and shall
have paid all taxes which may have
been required of him, and which he
may have had opportunity of paying,
agreeably to law, for the year preceding
the election (except as hereinafter pro
vided) shall be deemed an elector.”
The exceptions refer to sailors, sol
diers, and marines in the service of the
United States, persons convicted of j
felony, larceny, etc., etc.
And in another part of the said Con
stitution it iB provided that “no poll tax j
shad be levied, except for educational 1
purposes, aud such tax shall not exceed
one dollar on each poll.”
Now as 1 havo already stated, the
provisions were incorporated into the
Constitution of the State by the Repub
lican Convention, and were considered
wise and just, and I am aware of no
legislation in tbe State of Georgia which
interferes with the right of any voter,
white or colored, to exercise the elec
tive franchise, who has paid the taxes
required by this provision of the Con
stitution. In case the voter has no :
property upon which he is required to
pay tax, he is assessed but one dollar
annually, as a poll tax, and if he pays
that, within the time prescribed by law,
there is no further penalty, or diequal
ficatiou. This, to my mind, isjust and
right. Each citizen of tbe State who
has all tbe rights of citizenship, inclu
ding the right to vole guaranteed to
him by the Constitution under which
he lives, should bear some part of the
burdens of government, and I think it
will not be contended, by any reasona
ble man, that one dollar annually is an
unseasonable burden, and tbe citizen
who fails to discharge this light burden
has no just reason to complain if he b
denied the right to exercise the elective
franchise until he has complied. Nor :
can he reasonably complain that the
amount of tax is increased as a penalty
for non payment within tho time pre
scribed by law. This is a rule that ap
plies to all tax payers in this State,
without regard to race or color, or
previous conditiou of servitude; and
it matters not whether the voter be
j white or colored. Democrat or Repub
j lican, the rule should be enforced.
The propriety of this small tax im
posed upon each voter is the more ap
parent when we reflect that the con
vention wisely provided that it should
be applied to educational purposes
alone, so as to enlighten the citizens of
the State, and thereby tbe better pre
pare them for the wise and judicious
exercis of the elective franchise.
You encloso a printed blank form of
affidavit which in the following words:
“State of Georgia, a
; a*.
“Personally appeared the subscribers,
each of whom, being duly sworn, de
poses and says, that in the month of
j 18. at the election
| of he offered
l to vote, and being challenged for the
non payment of $ poll taxes, and
being required to swear that he paid
all taxesrequired of him, was prevented
from voting at said election, and that
scores of voters in this county were
thus prevented from ever offering to
vote.”
This affidavit is worded, so as to mis
lead ignorant persons, and cause them
to state, under oath, facts which are not
true, for the purpose of deceiving mem
bers of Congress. You not only pro
pose that the voter swear that he was
prevented for non-payment of taxes,
but that scores of others in bis county
were prevented from even offering to
vote. Ignorant persons might take this
I oath, without duly considering its Im
port, but it is hardly reasonable to snp
pose that they conld safely and truly
I swear, of their own knowledge, that
scores of others were prevented from
offering to vote on account of non-pay.
ment of taxes.
You say in your circular that the—
Object is to show that the State of
Georgia, by thus assessing, doubling
and accumulating the poll taxes front
year to year, not only abridges, but d«.
nies, that, right to vote which is guaran
teed by tho second section of the four
teenth amendment of the Constitution
of the United States.
In noticing this paragraph, 1 remark
that the tax can neither be doubled nor
accumulated against any voter who
does his duty as a citizen, and pays the
small amount oi tax annually which the
Constitution and laws require of him.
Nor do these laws, in my opinion,
abiidgo or deny any right ot the citizen
guaranteed by the second section of the
14lh amendment to the Constitution of
the United States. That section rulers
lo the appointment of representatives
among the different States, and declares
that—
The only penally which Congress has
any right to impose upon the State, un
der this section, for denying the right
to vote, is to reduce tho number of Rep
resentatives in Congress. It soemß to
me it can hardly be claimed that this
section of the Constitution was intend
ed to deny to the Stale the power al
ways claimed and exercised by them of
compelling the payment of the taxos
necessary to support the government,
before tho tax payer shall exercise this
right of the citizen.
“When the right to vote at any elec
tion for the choice of electors for Presi
dent aud Vice President of the United
Slates, Representatives in Congress, the
executive and judicial officers of a State,
or the members of the Legislatuae there
of, is denied to any of the male inhabi
tants of such State, being twonty one
years of age, and citizens of tho United
States, or in any way abridged, except
for participation in rebellion, or other
crime, the basis of representation there
in shall be reduced iu proportion whicli
the number of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citi
zens twenty one years of age in such
State."
It is very clear, at least, that it was
the intention of the people of the Uni
ted Statesin the adoption of this amend
ment, to leave that question to the
States, subject only to the penalty al
ready mentioned, of the loss of repre
sentation to the extent that they denied
the l ight to vote. Nor can the Fifteenth
Amendment make any change in this
particular. While it denies to the Uni
ted States, or to any State, the power
to prohibit any ono from voting on ac
count of race, color, or previous condi
tion of servitude, it can not under any
just construction, authorize Congress to
interfere with tho rights of the States
to require the payment of taxos, or to
impose any other reasonable restric
tions, bb property qualification, educa
tional qualification, or the like, upon
voters, provided there is no distinction
on account of race, color, or previous
condition ol servitude, and all persons,
whether white or colored, are made
subject to the same rule, and placed
upon an equality before the law.
The Republican party has beon con
stantly weakened, until it is almost
destroyed in Georgia, by tho repeated
acts of Congress, during the period of
reconstruction, prompted no doubt by
unwise counsellors professing to speak
for the State, who oithor misunderstood
tho true condition of things hero, or
wilfully misrepresented it. In either
caso the effect was tho same. Congress
has been misled and popular sontimout
here has been outraged to an extent
that has rendered it impossible for the
supporters of tho administration to
stand before it with any prospect of suc
cess. I think it. is timo this unwise
legislation should cease, and 1 protest
against further enactmontß of the char
acter contemplated by you, and others
who assist you, in your proposed move
ment. The wisest thing, in my judg
ment, that Congress could do for Geor
gia, would be to conciliate her people
and show them that it is the intention
to deal jußtly and liberally by them. If
a general act was passed, sweeping
from the statute book, the last vestige,
of political disability that rests upon
any of her citizens, and she were left
as other States are to manage her own
way, it would do more lo restore peace,
harmony,, loyalty and government in
the Stato than anything else that is
now in the power of the Federal Gov
ernment to do.
Respectfully,
Josefh E. Brown.
The Grwnl-Akerman Correspon
dence.
Akerman, as kaß been telegraphed,
has been expelled from Grant’s Cabinet.
The following correspondence botween
the horse jockey and Ku-Klux detective
is merely superficial, and intended to
soothe the wounded pride of General
Toombs’ ex commissioner.
The nomination of ex-Senator Wil
liams, of Oregon, to bo Attorney Gene
ral, was sent to tbe Senate early in tho
afternoon, and promptly confirmed
without reference to a committee, which
is considered a great compliment to Mr.
Williams, and a fair expression of the
opinions entertained among Senators
with regard to the great legal illuminary
of Georgia:
[Department of Justice, i
W ashington, Dec. 13, 1871. >
The President:
Sir : I hereby resign the office of At
torney General of the United States;
this resignation lo take effect (in accor
dance with tho wish which you verbal
ly expressed to me to day) on the tenth
day of January.
Very respectfully,
A. T. Akerman.
Department of JusTrcK. )
Washington, Dec. 13,1871. )
The President:
Dear Sir : In tendering tho accom
panying resignation of the office of At
torney General, permit mo to express
my grateful sense of kindness which 1
have uniformly received from you dur
ing my service in office, and my ardent
wishes for the continued success of your
administration.
Very respectfully,
A. T. Akerman.
Executive Mansion, )
Washington, D. C., Dec. 13,1871. J
lion. A. T. Akerman, Attorney Gen
eral:
My Dear Sir: In accepting your re
signation as Attorney General to take
effect on the 10th of January,permit me
to renew the assurances of my high re
gard for you personally, and apprecia
tion of the zeal and application which
you have brought to the office which
you have so honorably filled. I can re
fer with pride to the uniform harmony
which haß constantly existed, not only
between us, hut also between yourself
and colleagues in tbe Cabinet, all oi
whom, I know, unite with me in hearty
wishes for your future prosperity,
health and happiness.
Your “personal” note accompanying
your le'ttor of resignation, is gratefully
received as a token of reciprocity of
kind sentiments, which I shall ever ap
preciate.
Very respectfully,
U. 8. Grant.
AUBARA LKUIItLATVRE.
Both Houses adjourned Tuesday to
meet at 12 m., on Jan. 10th.
Both Houses passed the bill to incor
porate the town of Soale in Russell
county. The original bill was an
nounced by striking the requirement of
poll-tax before voting.
In the House, the following were
passed: , ,
The Senate hilt to repeal the act to
incorporate Society Hill High School;
Concurred in tbe Senate amendment
to the House bill to repeal the act regu
lating tbe publication of legal notices;
Senate bill for the support of the Freed
man's Hospital at Talladega. Passed;
A resolution that the Labor Union ot
Alabama be allowed use of the hall du
ring the recess.
The handsomest, and one ot the best
and most entertaining ofthe monthlies,
Lippincott’s Magazine, an illustrated
monthly of popular literature and
just received. The January
number specially suited to the holidays,
with numerous illustrations, comment
ing the new volume.
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