Newspaper Page Text
THE WEEKLY SUN.
n ij WOLE. THOMAS GILBERT.
n'" 1 ' '
THOS. GILBERT & CO.,
rBOPRIETORB.
terms of subscription.
~.e«N)i.v. one year » I 50
rnfec . V. six months 1 OO
“ CLUB RATES.
i- ~ies, one year, to same post
„,,p.e at $1 40 each 430
, ... one jear, to fame pust
r ', f ,.. e at SI 35 each l> 75
I ' .Miiic-. one year, to same post.
at till 35 each 13 50
. copies, one year, to same post-
at §ll 15 each 17 85
nvt-niv copies, one year, to same post-
at *1 each 30 OO
Subscription? discontinued at the expiration
nt time.
vll remittances must be by registered letter
, r ~, t ,ilice money order, otherwise at the risk
, i the sender. Address,
Tiios. Gilbert & Cos.,
Columbus, Ga.
ADVERTISING RATES:
A h ertisements inserted at 41 per square (ten
lines or less, in small type,) tirst insertion, and
UK v - cents each subsequent insertion.
H I /. WORTH'S PUNISHMENT.
Statutory Palliation of Murder.
A verdict of “guilty of murder in the
second degree," in the case of young 'Wal
worth for hilling his father, seems so
anomalous as to direct inquiry to the
causes that led to it. We naturally regard
an act of parricide with so much horror as
to raise in our minds the presumption
that the aw ful deed must either lie one
fully j tstifled by the necessities of the
ct e, and therefore not murder in any
degree, ora most unnatural and atrocious
murder, calling for the severest punish
ment of Ihe law. In this case no such
necessity was proven, and the verdict was
lint based upon such a necessity. Con
tingent threats, based upon letters uttri
liiited to the elder Walworth, were in evi
dence; but it would Lave been an easy
matter for the mother and the son, with
tliesc letters in their possession, and with
proofs of violent conduct towards them
selves by the husband and father, to have
him so fettered as to prevent the carrying
out of his threats, and thus to have obvi
ated any supposed necessity for taking
In : life. It was proved that young Wal
worth sought an angry altercation with
his f.ilbor Hint he went to make pertain
peremptory demands, and carried a pistol
to enforce compliance with those de
mands; that the father, who was not
armed, did promise compliance with the
demands, but the son, telling him that he
was a “liar’ and could not be trusted,
commenced firing upon him—shot him
not once or tw ice to disable him, but three
or four times shot him when he was
down, and holding the pistol so near that
the powder blackened the jaw of the de
ceased.
Under our laws, and under the laws of
New York up to a very recent date, these
facts would have constituted murder in
the first degree. The case would have
been made out without taking into con
sideration the relations between the par
ties, and in full recognition of the fact
slated by the Judge, that the law knows
or defines no such peculiar crime as par
ricide. It is to tlie recent modification
of the criminal law of New York that the
si range verdict of the jury must be at
tributed; and general public attention
should at once bo directed to the bearing
and scope of that modification, before any
erroneous dictate of humanity or philan
thropy prompts the legislators of any
other Slate to follow the example of New
York. The change to which we alludo
was thus stated by the Judge in his charge
to the jury :
Tlie prisoner at the bar stands indicted
for the crime of murder in the first de
gree. That crime had long been defined
lay statute in this State, but on the 2tlth
day of May, a few days before the occur
rence of the act upon which the present
charge is based, the Legislature of the
Stale passed a law altering in material
respects the then existing statute on the
subject of murder in the first degree, and
tlie prisoner is on trial under that new
statute; it having been made to take ef
fect immediately, and his alleged olfenso
having occurred after its passage. 'This
is the first occasion on which this Court
lias been called upon to consider that
statute and to give to a jury instructions
relative to its application to any case. 1
shall proceed briefly first to perform that
duty.
Prior to this statute it had long been
settled under the existing law, that when
the killing of a human being was done
with clear and well-defined intent or de
sign to effect death, that was murder in
the first degree; and although that intent
was formed upon the instant of striking
the blow or tiring the shot which occa
sioned death, the premeditation was suffi
cient, if tlie jury could find from the facts
laid before them a well-defined intent to
destroy life. Many cases in the books are
tube found holding that doctrine. The
language of the statute prior to the pres
ent the law under which the prisoner is
on trial was in these words, which I
shall now read to you:
“Such killing, unless it bo manslaugh
ter or excusable or justifiable homicide,
as hereinafter provided, shall be murder
in the first degree, in the following cases:
Ist, when perpetrated from premeditated
design to effect the death of the person
killed, or of any.human being.”
Thus stood the statute on the 2!)th of
May. On that day, as I have already
slated, the Legislature enacted another,
ftiul, as it seems to me, and therefore, I
•eel const rained so to instruct you, a very
materially different statute in some impor
tant respects. They altered the statute
on the first subdivision, which I read to
yon, so that instead of reading “when
perpetrated from a premeditated design
to effect the death ot the person killed,”
it now reads, “when perpetrated from a
deliberate and premeditated design to
•fleet death.”
The jury, under this law and charge,
diil not find that young Walworth “de
liberately premeditated” the killing of
Lis father—in other words, that ho de
signed killing him when he sought the
iuterview-Glut they gave him the benefit
of a “reasonable doubt,” founded upon
the probability that he might have been
suddenly angered by some word or
alarmed by some movement of bis father,
ami shot him in the impulse of the mo
ment.
What we particularly wish to direct at
teutiou to, m considering this case, is
tho extreme difficulty of procuring cou
'ictious for murder in the first degree
under the law of New York as it now
Hands, in all cases in which every circum
stance of the killing is not witnessed and
testified to l>y third parties. Under such
a law, Parkman, of Boston, could never
have been convicted of the murder of
Webster, llad the law been changed a
little sooner, Stokes could “read his title
dear" to an acquittal for the killing of
risk, or at least save his neck. We need
not make the application to any cases
nearer home. It is perhaps fortunate that
the case of young Walworth was the first
case tried under this modification
"f the criminal law of New York, be
cause it serves so plainly to reveal the
difficulties of procuring a verdict of mur
der in the first degree under it, audat the
s ame time so impressively indicates the
narrow but legally available partition be
tween murder premeditated and murder
deliberately premeditated.
We do not wish to bo understood as
casting any imputation upon the course or
filling of Judge Davis. His remark in
sentencing young Walworth, that he “had
fearful doubts whether his case did not
justify a conviction for murder in the
first degree,” suggests his apprehension
that the change in the statute had pre
vented a full measure of justice. It is
(bt lair that we regard as a mistaken and
dangerous innovation, particularly at a
time calling, as the present does, for
plenary and exemplary punishment of vi
olence and other crimes.
It may, perhaps, be urged that impris
onment for life is a sufficient punishment
for murder, even in the first degree. —
fiome, we believe, think it more effica
cious and salutary than hanging. But
, e “fan is credulous indeed who believes
nat young Walworth will be imprisoned
VOL. XV.
for ten years, much less for a long life
time. Every Governor of the State will
be strongly importuned for his pardon,
and it would be strange indeed if all of
the three or lour Governers of New York
for the next ten years should refuse to
grant the supplication—especially in view
of the fact that a strong family influence
and connection can be brought constant
ly to bear in the selection of candidates,
and the election of Governors. In for
mer limes we might have relied upon the
inflexible integrity and stern justice of
executives, in the exercise of the pardon
ing power, but every year’s experience
shows us that we have no such reliance
now.
Tift: NORTH ASH SOUTH RATL
ROAIt.
Ihe Lome papers of Tuesday contain
the answers of President McDougald and
Secretary Chipley to a number of inqui
ries by the Mayor of that city in reference
to work on the Lome end of the road.
From these answers we learn that the
Lome city bonds are not all disposed of.
The amount of $04,000 of the bonds yvas
disposed of at from Cos to CD cents in the
dollar, and the balance are held by John
J. Cohen & Son, of Augusta, as collateral
security for a debt duo them by the road.
Ihe proceeds from the Lome bonds were
used at Lome. The sum of $2,C00 has
been paid on the Lome end for the right
ot way, and the right of way is settled for
from Lome to Oedartown, except about
# 1 There are 1C miles actually graded
at Lome, only one gap of 90 feet, in the
I** miles, and work done beyond that.
The right of way is cleared to Cedartovvn.
Only two and one-half miles ungraded to
Cedartovvn, which is light work. Eleven
thousand and forty-five cross-ties deliv
ered which will lay over four miles at 35
cents. The balance of the inquiries and
answers relate to the contract of \V. C.
Cherry Sc Cos., on the Lome eud, and the
manner in which it has been fulfilled.
Capt. Dunlap Scott, in a letter to the
Mayi r of Lome, expresses bis gratification
at the prompt, cheerful and courteous
manner in which these inquiries were an
swered at the stockholders’ meeting on
the 2d iust. He expresses no opinion
upon the proposition to lease the Lome
end for twenty miles, and for twenty
years, to VV. C. Cherry.
C ROUS. ,
A number of crop reports which we
copy to-day, from several sections of
Georgia, go to show that tlie apprehended
dry spell, following an universally w'et
season, has commenced in some localities,
and has already cut down estimates of the
corn crop made ten days or two weeks
ago. Cotton has not yet suffered from
this cause, and the dry season afforded an
opportunity to clear the most of it of
grass. Hut reports of the constrained
abandonment of portions of the cotton
crop still reach us. It is probable that in
localities where the dry term continues
beyond this week cotton also will suffer
from drought and the great heat of the
sun. 15ut partial rains have fallen this
week, so that this complaint cannot be
general. Timely rains now would be
quite acceptable for both corn and cot
ton.
HHSII WATERS IS THU WEST.
A dispatch received Tuesday reports
the Missouri river above Leavenworth as
higher than ever known before. This re
port is significant of disaster, and will no
doubt be received with alarm by all living
on the lower Missouri and on the Missis
sippi. An Independence (Mo.) paper of
the sth iust., now before us, partially con
firms this report. It says that the river
was then “booming, and becoming more
so,” and that persons living in the bottom
were moving their effects and getting out
upon higher lauds.
Dispatches of Tuesday also report ex
traordinary rains in parts of Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois. These are no doubt swelling
the Ohio to a grent volume, and probably
also causing a freshet in the upper Mis
sissippi. When these several floods meet
at Cairo, the Mississippi will no doubt be
fearfully high, and crops in the great val
ley will suffer seriously.
A June freshet in the lower Mississippi,
caused mainly by the melting of snow in
the far West, is no unusual occurence;
but such a July flood as we now have rea
son to apprehend, is something uncommon
and uulooked for. We fear that wide
spread and immense injury to the crops
will be the consequence.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEURATION
We copy in this paper the proclamation
of the President of the United States,
formally announcing the fulfilment of the
preliminary arrangements stipulated by
an act of Congress, proclaiming the fact
that tlie celebration will be held, and
naming the days for its opening and close.
The proclamation was based upon a noti
fication of the President, by the Governor
of Pennsylvania, that provision had been
made for the erection of the buildings re
quired, and for the exclusive control of the
Exhibition by the United States Centenni
al Commission. 'This proclamation was
read to a meeting of the Commissioners
and others, held in Philadelphia on the
4th iust., when the formal transfer of the
grounds in Fairmont Park to the Centen
nial Commission was made. The occa
sion was au interesting one, and seems to
have absorbed all the devotion to the glo
rious fourth in Philadelphia.
Receipts at Interior Towns.
The following shows the receipts of
the named interior towns from August
gist to July Ith. Their united stocks on
the 4th were 34,687 against 1),71iS same
date last year:
IS 7.1 1872
Augusta 176,208 142,463
Macon 61,370 64,326
Eufaula 26,461 22,015
Columbus 57,461 40,274
Montgomery (it,778 52,527
Selma 46,800 58,045
Nashville 64,036 50,768
Memphis 403,057 378,542
808,080 805,860
Cholera Reports from Alabama.
We learn over the wires that seven per
sons died of cholera in Birmingham, Ala.,
Sunday, and eleven new cases were de
veloped. The telegraph operator hud
asked permission to be relieved.
At Blount Springs, a noted summer re
sort, a few miles above, one person had
died.
Telegrams also state there are no chol
era cases either in Montgomery or At
lanta.
New Mail Route.
A weekly rente has been established
between Smith’s Station, Ala., and West
Point, Ga. The mail leaves Smith’s every
Friday morning at 7 o’clock, passing
through Wacoocliee, Mechanicsville, Beu
lah and Berlin, and arrives at West Point
at 5 o’clock p. in. Leaves West Point
every Saturday morning at 7 o’clock and
arrives at Smith’s at 5 o’clock p. in. Dis
tance, thirty-one miles. Mr. George W.
Hearn is the contractor.
A special dispatch from New York, Bth,
to the Montgomery State Journal says
that tho interest upon the State debt of
Alabama, due iu July, has been paid.
We are glad that this achievement, so
much heralded, is now an accomplished
fact.
THE WEEKLY SUN.
talbottox branch railroad.
The Survey Commenced—Great Enthusi
asm Os the Citizens—Splendid Success
Thus Far in Selection of Route—Depart
ure of Visitors from Talbottou-Tor.n
Comparatively Quiet.
Harvey’s Hotel, July 7, 1873.
Editors Hun: Talbottou seems like a
banquet hall deserted, now that the coia
mencement excitement is over and pupils
and visitors have left for home. Two
young ladies from Columbus, the “last of
the Muscogees,” leave this afternoon,
after which the old summer quiet will
settle down upon society here. The
young people, however, are determined to
celebrate the ushering in of the quiet sea
son by a grand moonlight pic-nic to-night
in the beautiful grounds about the resit
dence of Major T. A. Brown, where they
will doubtless have a gay time.
We learn from Col. Daniel and Capt.
Persons that the survey corps of the
North and South Lailroad, under charge
of Engineer Harris, is making rapid pro
gress in laying out a route for the pro
posed branch line to this place. Already
over four miles have been surveyed with
the most gratifying results. The first
thousand yards showed a variation of only
twenty-two feet, or fifteen degrees from
a direct line. The grade, in all proba
bility, will not exceed one-quarter of that
| of the mainline. Good judges pronounce
i the route a most desirable one in all re
| spects, and think the road can be graded
at a cost not exceeding two thousand dol
lars per mile. It passes through a fertile,
well-cultivated portion of the county, and
offers many valuable advantages to the
projectors of the proposed branch road,
which it is thought they will not lie slow
!to avail themselves of. The citizens hero
| seem to be wide-awake to the importance
| of this enterprise, and the prospects of
j itssuccessful completion are hourly grow
j iug brighter. The failures of the past
are being forgotten and renewed confi
dence created in the ability of the people
1 of this noble county to take hold of and
I complete this enterprise without unnec
essary delay.
I Leports from all directions are favora
; hie in regard to crops, and if nothing
| happens before the close of the season to
i destroy or injure them, old Talbot and
the section of county adjacent will make
a splendid crop of cotton and corn. The
planters have given their personal atten
j tion to their work this year, and on every
hand we hear them speak in gratifying
terms of the success which has attended
the adoption of this prudent and labor
saving plan. The day for idleness and
inattention to business has gone by, and
they feel the necessity laid upon them
by past ill-luck and misfortunes, to go to
work themselves, and by their oivu in
dustry and thrift help to dignify the
white labor that is destined ere long to
redeem the sunny South from poverty
and disaster, and make her citizens a
prosperous and a happy people. Well
will it he for all, jich or poor, who learn
to (appreciate the maxim :
“ He who by the plow woulil thrive,
Himself must either hohl or ilrive.”
Sidney Herbert.
THE LATE THOS. 11. PHILLIPS.
Eds. Sun : Your paper of June 25th,
1873, contains an article headed “The
Hooper-Phillips Case,” in which there is
au errer concerning the M. E. Church
South at Opelika and the late Thomas 11.
Phillips. As the legal custodian of the
church register since January, 1839, I
feel it my duty to make a correction.
I am satisfied the author of the article
intended the statement he made to accord
strictly with the facts in the case, and in
correcting the error I do it simply as a
duty I owe the church as one of its officers.
Thomas 11. Phillips was received into
the M. E. Church South at Opelika, Ala.,
by letter, in April, 18(59; lie withdrew
from the same church, at his own lequest,
in the spring of 1872. Maj. Waddell’s
article said he was dropped in 1871. In
the economy of the M. E. Church South,
a member cannot withdraw if he is under
charges of a violation of the discipline of
the church. (See Bishop McTyeire’s
manual of discipline, under the head of
“withdrawals. ”)
In 1871 there were some rumors in the
community concerning Mr. Phillips,
which made it necessary for the church
to examine into them. This the church
did (following out the disciplinary mede)
by appointing a committee whose duty it
was to investigate the rumors, and if evi
dence sufficient could ho found upon
which to base a charge or charges, this
committee w'as instructed to prefer
charges against Bro. T. 11. Phillips. This
was done in au official meeting of the
church. The committee in due time re
ported that they could not find evidence
sufficient to prefer any charges against
Bro. T. 11. Phillips, and asked to tie dis
charged. They W'ere discharged.
Mr. Editor, in justice to the M. E.
Church South in Opelika, please ask all
papers to copy this article which have
published the article of Maj. Waddell.
J. 11. Harris.
REN. HI TLER ON THE EOURTU.
Gen. Benj. F. Butler, who is again a
candidate for Governor of Massachusetts,
attended a 4th of July Temperance cele
bration at Fanninghan, to advance his
personal aspirations. The General
thought to make political capital by “beat
ing the bush” in favor of temperance
generally, and by condemnation of the
failure to enforce strictly the prohibitory
law, as long as it is a law ; and this pro
gramme be carried out with all the art of
the demagogue for which he has been so
long noted. But the people had prtpared
for fairer and squarer dealing with the
Hon. Ben. Before he arrived on the
ground they passed a resolution that he
be publicly asked to sign a pledge in favor
of prohibition, women’s rights, and the
equalization of labor and capital. Mr. B.
G. Godfrey was selected to tender him
this pledge, lint the reports show that
he did not get that far along with the
wiley General —he didn’t “cork him up”
into any such close quarters. After But
ler had generalized in favor of Temper
ance, the rights of Labor and cheap
Transportation, and ridiculed the mode
of execution of the Massachusetts Proliib
itory law, and was about to take his seat,
the categorical test was attempted. The
telegraphic report says:
At the close wf the General's speech Mr.
Goodfrey called oat from the audience :
“Will friend Butler tell us whether he
is among the friends or opponents of the
present liquor law ?”
General Butler replied: “Will the gen
tleman from Milford please remember
that asking questions of an orator at a
Fourth of July celebration is like whist
ling at a funeral (Laughter.)
Mr. Godfrey—The people want to know
where he is iu the present campaign.
A Voice—Give the calf more cow.
Mr. Godfrey —Will General Butler tell
the people where he is ? The people have
a right to know r and they want to know.
(Hisses and cries of “Shut up.")
Other questions of a similar nature
were vociferously asked, but the General
paid no attention to them and left the
Grove.
Heirs Wanted.
A. G. Wood, of Jackson, Tenn., pub
lishes, that if the heirs of Dorkas Powell,
whose maiden name was Deberry, and
moved a long time since from North Car
olina to Georgia, will correspond with
him, they will learn sometoingto their ad
vantage.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JULY" 15,1873.
THE PRESS AND THE COURTS.
The Great Wrong of Pre-judgment.
Dear Friend Martin : The great mis
fortune and saddest feature of news deal
ing of the day, as illustrated by the great
money making journals of our continent,
and imitatiugly re-illustrated by many,
not all, of the press in the interior and
rural districts, consists in their recogniz
ing no private right, sympathy or sorrow
too sacred for exposure to public gaze ;
! aud greedily does it elbow its way to the
front and pay a premium for the foulest
piece of private linen to wring in the gaze
I of the public, ( —the press must have it
all to be a live press) to the disgust of
the honorable and the chaste. And
whether it be an unbalanced sheet of a
bank clerk, a street quarrel, a matrimo-
I nial disagreement, a pitiable liason of the
gentler sex, a horror of a personal en
eountre, ending in blood and death, a
cock fight or a horse race, all, with their
j disgusting details, are nnhlushingly re
cited, as if it were a good thing, aye, the
best thing the public can be treated to, or,
as if the relation of them has an ennob
ling influence upon tlie community, au en
lightning quality, and did not rather teud
to blunt the finer sensibilities, arouse a
morbid desire to hear of and see more of
such stimulants of vicious lust ; until,
growing familiar with the pictured reci
tal, each one not surrounded by proper
safeguards, according to his or her mental
or physical organisms and temperament,
burns to know experimentally—What ?
Why that, which, when known, fills our
alms houses, luuatic asylums, supplies
necks for the halter aud cases for our di
vorce courts, creates vagabonds and im
beciles, turns tlie sacred precincts of the
social circle into a hell, and even invades
the holy sanctuary and contaminates the
relationship of pistor and people, and
then when this most natural result follows
such vicious incubation, that same press,
its foster-mother, rages in the van again,
with its double-leaded headings, and
alarming posters, and goes through with
anew recital of the horrid detail —the
legitimate product of its own generation.
Then, to satisfy this morbid longing
for a sight of novelty, for the nltra-real,
the abnormal, the strange frenzied side
of humanity, next comes the discussion
and pie-judgment of criminal cases, a
theme, so fruitful of burning epithet and
denunciation that it gives the ink on the
ready pen an easy flow, Eacilis decensus
Averni. The only case in which this last
is tolerated among high-toned aud relia
ble journalists on the continent, in Eng
land aud in the metropolitan cities of our
own land, is that in which those journals
that choose to criticise, send reporters to
the scene of the action and to the courts,
and while publishing every part of the
testimony, make free to approve or con
demn, the only condition on which pri
vate rights can be thus handled with
doubtful impunity, and at that, delicate
sensibility often dictates, if prudence did
not, great moderation in both style and
temper of judgment. Not so with some.
They handle ad nauseam part of the tes
timony. Aud, if any sober-minded
citizen sees tit to remonstrate in favor of
law and order, of modesty an 1 decency,
and suggest that liberality of opinion and
judgment should be taught the public in
stead of a passionate lust for those re
citals in whicli(thongh it may be innocently
done as far asevil intention is concerned—
habit is a tyrannical master) it is hard to
distinguish whether there appears more
of the suppressio veri or the suggestio
falsi— then these knights of the quill
make another charge with a comic dash of
martyred innocence, aud exclaim, we have
discussed‘a subject that at notiuie has been
pleasant to us.’ “What shall we speak,
then?” “When shall we speak?” as if
their speaking were at all necessary', or
forced upon them. And again : “ Will
you only give us liberty to speak
when that liberty to speak would do us no
good (what sort of good do you refer to ;
a satisfaction of the cacoethes scribcndi ?)
or lead us into trouble, “Shall we wait
’till justice is satisfied and a criticism
would be out of place?” I reply, if justice is
satisfied is your criticism needed ? Hasan
other Solon risen in our midst, aud have
you found our judiciary so imperfect or
moral tone so bad, you can’t wait patient
ly on our peculiar civilization, aud let each
particular organ of the civil community
perform its own function? Y r ou will ad
mire us more by waiting onus a little and
cultivate in all probability a mutual ad
miration, by following your own
suggestion aud letting tlie “only refer
ence a newspaper should make ap
pear in its news columns.” Again yon
say “if we wait for the results of the trial
one of two things will happen, viz: the
verdict of innocence or that of guilt.”
Then has it not taken the natural course
and should you not be satisfied? Do you
wish to take the business out of the
hands of the courts? Our friends of the
press are too fast. Our civil as well as
social life cannot with equanimity (I don’t
know how it is elsewhere, I have never
been farther north than I walked submit)
to the press supplying the peace of the
municipal courts any more than it looked
with favor upon a like substitution of a
military commission.
I insist again that every killing is not
murder. I have soeu a young man delib
erately shoot down an old one, and it was
not murder, and that too when the old
man did not even know the young one.
Each case must rest upon its own merits,
and I submit newspaper columns is not
the best or the proper place to determine
the merits, and I apprehend when a
change is made, as one is suggested, in
the jury system, the newspaper will not
be substituted in its stead. Let the press
hold high the standard of public and pri
vate morality.
Another suggestion, pardon the egotism.
If the subject of murder is uppermost iu
your mind and you propose to make a
specialty of it, and its ghost will not
down at onr prompting or your
bidding, soberly, the record of es
tablished, undoubted cases of murder
is largo iu the report-:. Go then, find
those best suited to the supposed needs of
this community, the case are not lacking
in inteuse interest, dwell upon its
enormity; teach the duty of man to man
iu au eucountre; when to kill and when
not; and give the public enlightened
views of their rights and duties each to
the other, and you will find your labor
not lost on an indocile people—a people
who have been known as lovers of law'
and order, and who have sacrificed more
for the preservation of its constitutional
forms, than they have left to satisfy the
license and rapacity of their conquerors.
I profess to know the heart of tliis peo
ple. It loves the right and hates injustice,
as all our friends will find, the longer they
remain among us ; and when we express
our disapproval of any man's course, and
do not necessarily assume the position of
an enemy or partisan, claudite jam rivos,
pueri; sat prata liberunt. *
orah et.oquexce axis the
PRESS.
The duty of presenting the prizes
awarded to Miss Lucy Spain and Miss
Clara W. Leonard, of the Sophomore
Class of LeVert College, Talbotton, (they
being the best readers at the recent exhi
bition of the class) was assigned to Capt.
Henry Persons of that place, whose chaste
and classical address has been most highly
commended. Through the favor of our
traveling correspondent we are enabled
to publish iu full that portion of his re
marks which have a direct reference to
the “art preservative of all arts,” and
which we feel sure will be read with in
terest by our subscribers and the mem
bers of the press generally. Capt. Per
sons says:
ago the methods of instruc
tion differed widely from those now’ iu
use. Philosophers were wont to harangue
the multitudes and eloquently indoctrin
ate them with their teachings, and their
pupils would subsequently disseminate
their sayings. Even after the introduc
tion of letters tedious and costly manu
scripts were the repositories of but a
meagre portion of ancient learning, and
whilst much was preserved in tradition, a
far greater portion was of necessity lost
to the people of that age.
“The era of printing changed the me
dium of instruction from the ear to the
eye, and this doubtless caused a wonder
ful development of mind and led to its
surprising triumphs. For unless the
ancients were amazingly more accurate
than ourselves, in repeating the declara
tions of others, they were not especially
accurately informed. And again, with
their libraries limited to the capacity of
their heads, they possessed either very
; large recollections or very small libraries.
“Now, with types holding fast to the
known, we address ourselves to the un
known, aud by the exercise of our reasons
rather than our memories, we .wax men
tally strong aud make truthful and dura
! ble record of our high achievement for
the edification of our fellows and for the
instructive reference of our successors.
“Os the countless benefits arising from
the introduction of the “art preservative
of all arts,” perhaps the only evil attend
ant was the decadence of oral eloquence,
aud for this we were in a great degree
recompensed with written eloquence. In
the very nature of things, when none are
uupracticed, many must excel; so where
all were orators many must have been
truly eloquent.
“But in this new era thought steadily
and rapidly extended its boundaries and
explored every nook and labyrinthine
recess of nature—now delving to the
earth’s centre, aud again outstretching
the uttermost circuits of the planets, re
solviug, combining, genralizing—dragging
to light bidden things, revealing secret
things, explaining mysterious things,
until it interprets nature’s laws, to which
all things are obedient, and with au
all-potent and untiring wing it soars yet
on, conquering and to conquer, while its
progress is hourly telegraphed, typed aud
treasured, till eulighenment supplants
blind ignorance and extirpates slavish
superstition ; aud well may we be recon
ciled to the diminution (if any) of oral
eloquence ; for types now are our teachers,
aud from reading we derive our instruc
tion and entertainment.”
ON THE WING.
Talbot Valley, Julj 4 th, 1873.
This is the glo-ri-ous Fourth of July,
the anniversary of the day which accord
i ing to the prediction of old John Adams
would be celebrated for all time with bon
fires aud the far flashing of cannon echo
ing from every end of our large continent,
to be re-echoed by the whole world. The
sound of man’s ability to govern himself,
was to go forth to the uttermost ends of
the earth, lie caught up by the Isles of the
Sea and wafted by wind and wave to all
nations whether burned by an African,
Asiatic or European sun. Has this
prophesy been verified? In answer, we
hear the wail of a broken harp from Ire
land aud the crack of a shat ered spear
from Hungary and Poland. France, in
many fruitless aud bloody revolutions has
failed to realize the dream, and Spain,
oncelhe terror of Europe, the conqueror
of Goth, Visi-Goth and Moor, after a
struggle of thousands of years, seeks a
refuge under self-inflicted blows in the
arms of monarchy with the Republican
cries of Oastalar singing in her ears.
Mexico, after an experiment of half a
I century, the execution of Maximillian
and exile and broken heart and crazed
brain of “Poor Carlotta,” sinks into hope
less despair under the dominion of mili
tary cut-throats and robbers, while the
Southern portion of the United States
bravely for years, lias attempted through
poverty and humiliation to unloose the
coils of Radical tyranny which has tight
ened with deadly power around its manly
limbs.
The cracked bell surmounted by a
stuffed eagle in Independence Hall, Phil
adelphia, is voiceless aud the scream of
that once victorious American eagle is si
lent south of the Potomac. The portraits
of Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson and
Adams should he turned on the sacred
walls they once decorated and honored
and the grave of Franklin be strewn with
withered cypress. Let his old writing
desk from which issued words and
thoughts that burned like lightning fresh
from the skies, be scattered to the winds.
Here, where Greene drew his sword and
DeKalb died—where Mecklenburg, Guil
ford Courthouse, Y’orktown, New Orleans,
and Kings Mountain are associated with
memories as dear as Gressey, Agincourt,
and Waterloo to an Englishman, all to-day
is quiet —but it is the quiet of the grave—
all is peace, but it is only the peace of tlie
bayonet. No bonfires blaze, no cannon
roar. We, as we write, hear only :
“A noise like of a hidden brook,
In the leafy month of J une,
Tuat to the sleeping woods all night
Stngeth a quite tune”—
or it may he that ominous stillness which
precedes the bolt which blasts, but puri
ties.
In youth we were taught by an aged
grandfather and grandmother, at their
knees (two who had suffered in the cause
of our first and grand revolution) to rev
erence this holy day. In early manhood
we, too, havo suffered, but have never
failed to uphold its and their principles
by word, pen and musket. To-day, when
that disease which no doctor can cure is
upon us, we solemnly declare in tlie words
of Othello:
“ Now do I see ’tts true. Look here, lago ;
All my lond love thus do 1 blow to heaven,
’Tis gone !
Arise black vengeance from thy hollow cell!’
But enough of the 4th of July—for we
are somewhat indifferent at present who
of the two darkies was right when the
one said “it comes on the 10th of August,”
aud the other stood bravely for the mid
dle of September! And yet such sovereigns
are voters, legislators and judges! and—
“ Doth bestride the South
I.ike aUolossus; and we petty white men
Walk under their huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.”
Thank God, however, we are masters of
our fates, and if we are underlings, the
fault will be in ourselves, and not in our
stars.
Since we left the “Queen of the Chatta
hoochee ” we have sloshed around consid
erably and promiscously. We have visit
ed the stock farm of the senior of the
Sun, and find his hundred head of cattle
in good condition. He, like all the farm
ers, is making a gallant fight against Cap
tain Green and his lice and caterpillars.
Success to the plow and hoe! At Geneva
friends Jordan & Morris gave us an excel
lent room, supper and breakfast. Harvey,
at Talbotton, know's how to keep the best
hotel iu the State. There we met many
old friends; visited the excellent and
sensible editor of the Standard and heard
John laugh ! The citizens have already
proved their faith by their works as to the
North and South road.
We find the “craps" better here than
in Muscogee and Lee, Alabama, and the
cotton is still better in Troup and Meri
wether. The wheat and oats was excel
lent in the Valley. C. P. Miller, Esq.,
made some four hundred bushels, and the
average (without fertilizers) was twenty
bushels per acre. The corn is magnificent
and now ltings its silks and feathers to the
mountain breeze, fine as any lady at ball,
or church!—-or what not.
We rode behind the best bay trotter in
the country with onr friend Whit Bonner
to Greenville and LaGrauge. Whit, like
his relation and namesake of New York,
has a fondness for live horses. He, like
all gentlemen, believes in blood, and that
no effort of education can squeeze blood
from a turnip.
We attended the examination and con
cert of the Southern Female College, at
LaGrauge on Friday. A full report is
given iu the Reporter of the 27th ult. We
were much pleased and instructed, and
feel grateful to President Cox and kind
wife for courtesies and hospitality. The
address of H. G. McCall, Esq , of Union
Springs, Ala., was well written and de
livered. The subject was novel—Wo
man ! ! Os course it w’as fresh, fragrant
and fruitful, nice, newly and exceedingly
neat. A. A. Wiley, Esq., of Montgomery,
followed Wednesday on the same subject.
Calico is a popular institution with Ala
bama orators.
The Chalybeate Springs will be well
kept and patronized this summer. Mr.
Porter, Mr. McClellan and the ladies in
their several departments, will do all
things possible to please visitors. The
waters and climate need no eulogies. The
vegetables garden near the hotel cannot
be surpassed for variety in the State.
Why seek the crowded, narrow rooms at
Saratoga Jand Virginia, when we have
more pleasant quarters at our doors?
_ M.
THE FRENCH DI ET.
Pabis, July B.—ln the duel between M.
Pace, Communist, and DeCassagnac, the
famous duellist and editor, both were
wounded—Cassagnac seriously.
THE WANDERERS RETURNING.
The Bubble of a Big Ambition Remorse
lessly Pricked.
S Last winter, from New Year on until
! spring had fairly opened, the emigration
fever fairly ravaged the shaded side of
the body politic, and at one time it seern
i ed as if there would not be enough ne
groes left in this section of this State to
maraud a second hand turkey roost. They
had the fever bad, and must go West or
die. They went West. They went West
in battalions—they went West in regi
ments. By the train load went they off
to a “land of promise” which they had
been iuduced to believe was located some
where in Arkansas. Never before was a
people so infatuated, and the fever be
came an epidemic, until Arkansas closed
its gates and said it had enough for the
present. The California gold fever was
nothing to this fever to go West.
The negroes who emigrated knew not
one thing of what they would find in Ar
kansas; but they were impressed with the
belief that to them it was the land of
progress—a perfect Egypt for food
and a political Acadie. They believed
that out there labor was a mere pastime
and the fertility of the soil so miraculous
that one year there would be worth a
couple of Georgia decades. They believ
ed also that the state of politics in Arkan
sas was infinitely better (for them) than
ever it would be in Georgia; that they
would there exercise to the fullest extent
the exalted light to hold office, and be
great men in general, and men of elegant
leisure in particular. It was a fine pic
ture that was held out to them, and the
wonder is not that so many went, but
that very many more did not go.
The negroes were betrayed into this ex
odus by men whom they trusted, but who
deceived them for teu dollars a head.
That was the price the emigration agents
got for sending out the ignorant negroes,
and their dupes went as innocently as
lambs ever sauntered into a butcher-pen.
There was scarcely one who went who did
not believe that he could get all the land
he wanted for the asking, and more wages
per month than he would know how to
spend.
Blit their great bubble has burst, and
not any sooner than reasonable people
expected. The negroes have found out —-
in the only way in which they could ever
have been convinced—that they have been
most heartlessly deluded, and their
anxiety now is to get back to Georgia
and throw themselves upon the kindness
of their former owners and the only
friends they have ever had. Since they
have been in Arkansas their hopes of for
tune aud high political renown have all
vanished as a mist away ; they find that
they have to work harder, for no better
pay; that they have not the sympathy
of the whites there, as they had here ;
that they may get sick, and, unless they
are able to pay their own doctors’ bills,
uie, as sheep, without the least attention
of any kind. The country does not
agree with them, and almost every one
who went has been sick of some disease
or other.
The question now is, how to get back to
Georgia ? Borne have come the whole way
on foot , and are now in the city, recount
ing their experience in a manner that will
retard further emigration schemes. They
hail no money to pay their railroad fare
back, and with an energy born of desper
ation, they have walked the whole dis
tance from Arkansas to Georgia, subsist
ing as they could by the way, and sleeping
with or without shelter, as fortune chanced
to favor them, or not. About twenty of
these negroes have arrived in Macon, and
they report that the return movement is
general, and that not less than four hun
dred emigrants have become immigrants
aud are on their way to Georgia on foot.
This is the result of this emigration
scheme that was anticipated. It will do
the negroes good. It will make them con
tented to work iii Georgia for fair wages,
as the best thing they can do for them
selves, aud it will also give them an
ineradical distrust for those who havo
been their leaders and seducers. It is a
well known fact that the men who crea
ted this emigration movement among the
negroes, are the men who, “since free
dom,” have been seeking to organize the
negroes into a political party. They
failed in their political purpose, and
then, as a means of speculation, turned
about and entered into a species of slave
trade —selling the poor deluded negroes
at so much a head. It is generally repor
ted (and we believe the report was cor
rect) that these sharpers got ten dollars
a head for each able-bodied man and
woman that they could entice away from
Georgia. They made a good thing out of
their slave trade, but their dupes are now'
suffering from the duplicity of those
whom they trusted with a credulity as
great as their ignorance.
We call it a “slave trade” and it is
such, and as mean and abominable as was
ever engaged in by any people upon land
or sea. Let there be no more of it.
However, that injunction is not necessary,
as the negroes have learned the lesson
through a fearful experience. —Macon
Telegraph, July Bf/<.
From tlie New York World, July 3.
GAMBLING IN COTTON.
In describing to the Cobden Club the
results of the economic and fiscal legisla
tion of the United States for the past
twelve years, Mr. Wells said so uncertain
are values that oven in the most legiti
mate industries “the natiou playes at
rouge-et-noir.” It was a strong expres
sion, but we have a fresh piece of evi
dence to show that it was none too strong.
The game has been played for a month
upon the Cotton Exchange of New York,
and successfully played, by men who
were engaged in au industry precisely as
productive and valuable, and no more,
than that of the men who throws down his
money to await the turn of a card. They
have made cotton five cents a pound dear
er in New' York than Liverpool. In Liv
erpool cotton is quoted at 8; t ! d, or 174
cents, and in New York at 21 cents.—
When it is remembered that cotton is sold
in Liverpool net, and in New Y'oik gross,
the difference, allowing for the premium
on gold, is found to be three cents; that
is, a pound of American cotton can be
bought for three cents less in Liverpool
than here. Let us see w’hat this means.
Our consumption of cotton is about 23,-
000 bales a week, or 1,200,000 bales a year.
For the last four weeks the enhancement
of price has amounted to sl4 a bale, and
in all to more than $1,250,000.
This enhancement is borne first by the
manufacturer and finally by the consumer.
The former cannot predict or make the
first approach to predicting the course of
the market. Cotton may drop three cents
a pound any day, if the bulls should take
it into their heads to bo bears, and he
must have cotton to keep his mills going
or else shut them up altogether. Untrue
reports are set afloat to mislead him with
prophesies of a short crop, when the best
opinion is that, owing to the extension of
soil planted, at an average rate the crop
will be over 5,000,000 bales, and it may
easily reach 6,000,000.
In September aud October the price
will probably fall to 15 cents, but the
manufacturer will have to run his mills
on the stock for which he will have paid
21 cents.
Stock-gambling is maintained by cus
tom, and some stocks have come to have
precisely the same value and significance
as a gambler’s chips. But here is a great
staple thimblerigged in the same way by
men who have no need of cotton aud no
knowledge of cotton, and to whom cotton
is nothing but a thing to bet money upon.
And their thimblerigging upsets all the
plans of the men who have need of cotton
and frightfully deranges one of the chief
industries of the country.
The manufacturer's troubles we have
seen. The planter's are as grievous. In
June and July, long after he has sold his
cotton, he sees the price of it quoted at
twenty-one cents in New York. In Sep
tember and October he sends his cotton
to market and can get only fifteen cents
for it. And he is utterly unable to fore
tell what the chances of his crop will be
as the manufacturer to foretell the chan
ces of his stock. This is the result of the
legislation of the last twelve years, and
the system which it has built up in trade.
Is it not true, as Mr. Wells so strongly
put it, that the nation plays at rouge-en
noir?
The Post says the Shah of Persia,
before leaving London made many
presents, including 8,000 to the servants
of Buckingham Palace and $12,000 to the
policemen who were stationed there.
HOW YOUNG WALWORTH TAKES
IT.
New York, July s.— While on his way
to the Toombs, after sentence had been
pronounced, young Walworth retained
the self-collected appearance by which he
was characterized throughout the trial.
He remarked to the deputy sheriff: “I
am glad that I did not have to endure the
long lecture I had expected that Judge
Davis would inflict upon me. I thor
oughly understand my position, aud did
not desire any instruction in relation
thereto. I simply wish time to arrange
my affairs, and I shall then submit myself
to my fate with the equanimity I can com
mand.”
The deputy sheriff had previously re
ceived instructions to take three convict
ed criminals to Sing Sing on Monday, and
it would be impossible for him to return
for Walworth before Wednesday; besides
this, the sheriff is disposed to grant the
wish of Walworth’s friends and relatives,
who are extremely anxious that he should
not be removed' be fore, in order that he
may settle his affairs.
Mr. O’Conor, it is understood, intends
to move at an early day for anew trial, or
for such further proceedings as may give
the case anew phase, and, in addition, to
move that Walworth may be permitted to
remain in the Toombs till the question
raised shall have been determined.
STEAMER WASHING TON
WRECKED.
New York, July 8. —The Agent of the
Union Line telegraphed the agent at Hal
ifax to do everything possible, regardless
of expense, for passengers wrecked on
steamer Washington. Tho baggage and
spare stores safely landed with passengers i
aud crew. She carried no mail.
Halifax, July B.—The steamer City of
Washington left Liverpool on the 24th of
June. She saw' neither sun nor stars
during the passage, aud it was impossible
to make observations. When she struck
Saturday evening objects could not bo
seen three yards ahead; she was going
about nine knots when she stranded.
Perfect order prevailed. The 28 cabin
and 481 steerage passengers were safely
landed by the ship’s boats and small craft
attracted by the steamers signal gnus.
The sea was calm. The distance to the
main land was one and a quarter miles.
The vessel’s escape from total destruction
with all on board, was providential.
EX-Eill'll ESS EUG EXIT.
Her Hopes anil Prophecies.
New York, July 7. —A letter from Ge
neva to the World gives a conversation
with the late Empress of France. She
says her visit to France is for a political
purpose, aud it, is useless to try to con
ceal it. She says that soon there will be
a return of the people to order, and said
the Piedmont and Government at Lome,
the anti-Christian and Pagan Court at
Berlin, and the wild Communists at Mad
rid, are filled with fear at the awakening
of Catholic France. Now that the wretch
ed Thiers is gone, all moves; that Mc-
Mahon is President and loves France.
The future, said Eugenie, is ours, and ,
France will lead the reaction against the :
forces which have seemed to threaten the
existence of society and religion through
out Europe. She saw in the future that
France will again be at the head of the
nations; the robbers driven out of Rome;
the Pope restored, Germany divided into
harmless States, and Austria again strong, j
THE EASIEST TIME EVER M ADE. \
Sacramento, July 5. —This evening
the California horses achieved a reputa
tion second to none in a running race, the
first three heats taken together being the
fastest time ever made in the world. The
purse was $750. The horses entered were
B. H. Thornhill, Nell Flaherty, Thad.
Stevens, Green, and Twenty Cents. The
first heat was won by Thornhill in 1:43,
beating Flaherty by half length. In the
second heat Flaherty made a half mile
in 51 seconds, leading Thornhill, hut the
latter come home again repeating his pre
vious time, 1:43. In the third heat
Thornhill led to the half mile post, pas
sing it in 504 seconds ; but this heat, as
well as the fourth ami fifth heats, was
won by Thad. Stevens, in 1:43|, 1:40|,
1:45. The five heats were made in 8:41,
being the fastest time on record in the
world ! California claims the laurels from
Dutchman’s brow.
YIZLI.O II,S TONE EXPEDITION.
Washington, July 7.—A dispatch has
been received from Stanhis’ Yellowstone
Expedition, dated at Camp, seventy miles
west of Bismarck, Dakota, June 30th. It
states that the health of the whole com
mand was good. The Indians were offer
ing no serious resistance to the location
of the Pacific K. 11., through their hunting
grounds. Abundant coal of good quality
was found twenty-seven miles west of the
Missouri river, on the surveyed line of
the road, and the country thus far tra
versed by the expeditionary force is an
excellent one, well grassed and watered.
EXPLORING SOUTWEST COLOR
ADO.
Leavenworth, Ks., July 2.—Private
dispatches from the expedition organized
and sent out under Lieut. Col. ltuffner,
chief engineer of the Department of the
Missouri, to explore the country between
the ltio Grande and the San Juan rivers
aud the mineral region in the vicinity of
the Animas Park in the Ute country, say
that the company is making fine progress
and accomplishing all that was anticipa
ted. On the 7th aud Bth of June they
encountered a snow storm in the moun
tains at the head of the ltio Grande, and
had to shovel their road for eight miles
through the snow in the pass to the west
ern slope. On the 13th of June they'
were in Animas Park, pasturing their an
imals. Fyne, the Chicago photographer
with the expedition, was kicked by a
mule and severely injured. Happily' for
science, the camera w'as not broken. No
other accidents had happened.
THE CREDIT MOBILIEII SUITS.
Hartford, Conn., July 8. —Sixty-two
defendants in the Credit Mobilier suits
entered personal appearance in the U. S.
District Court, before Judge Shipnean.
They moved that the bill be dismissed as
regards them, on the ground of want of
jurisdiction of the court—the defendants
residing in the Southern District of New
York. The motion for dismissal will be
argued at September term of the court.
Eighty'-seven other defendants appeared
by counsel.
Tin: KHAN IMPLORES CLEM
ENCY.
St. Petersburg, July 5. —It is officially
announced that the Khan of Khiva and
all his ministers who fled the Capitol up
on the approach of the ltussian troops,
have returned and submitted to Gen.
Kauffman, beseeching his clemency aud
imploring his merciful consideration.
Gen. Penniug has the disposition of their
cases and has placed them under guard.
EEXTUC It Y LIBRARY LOTTERY.
Louisvilde, July 8. —The third draw
ing of the Kentucky Library Littery
commenced at 9 o’clock this morning. It
"as announced that, all the tickets had
been sold, aud the drawing was full, the
scheme distributing half million dollars.
LocisviniiE, July B.—Lottery—2l,764
drew $20,000; 10,550 drew $5,000; 08,743
drew $10,000; 5,630 drew $50,000; 20,893
drew SIOO,OOO.
A BLOODY FAMILY EEI'D.
New York, July 7. —A dispatch from
Winchester, Va., states that while a fami
ly' named Little were at breakfast Satur
day a feud broke out, when two sons
named Oscar and Lycurgas commenced
firing at four other sons and their mother,
the firing being returned by the other
sons. Oscar was wounded, captured aud
sent to jail. Another sou named Clinton
was wounded, aS well as the mother.
Clinton died Saturday evening, and the
mother will die.
SUICIDE OP AX EMINENT DENT
IST.
Syracuse, July 7. —An eminent dentist,
Amos W estcot, suicided from hypocondria.
The best medical advice and extensive
travel failed to cure him. The deceased
stood confessedly at the head of the
dental profession, not only of the United
States, but of the world. Age 59.
NO. 23.
ERE EDM LX’S BUREAU.
Opinion of the Attorney General.
Washington, July 9.—The Attorney
General has sent an opinion upon the sub
ject of frauds iu the Freedmen’s Bureau
to the War Department. The questions
submitted were with reference to money
taken from the treasury by officers em
ployed in the bureau, by means of forged
receipts aud vouchers for bounties due
colored soldiers, and by means of reoeipts
aud vouchers fraudulently procured from
them the opinion required, and was upon
two points; first, iu cases where tbeguilty
parties cannot bo prosecuted what should
lie the course in order to secure the pro
tection of tho interests of the Govern
ment, and of claimants; second when
prosecution is not barred by the statutes
ami limitations, whataction should I ebad,
to what extent is the late Commissioner
of Bureau of refugee aud freedman and
abandoned land, and his chief disbursing '
officer responsible. Tho gist of the
opinion is that if any military officer do- j
tailed for duty in the Freedmen's Bureau
has been guilty of misappropriation of i
money or any violation of the rules and
regulations governing officers of the army,
he may be tried by court martial, in the
same manner as any other such army
officer, and that claim agents and other
persons not officers of the Government,
w ho have obtained money from the bureau
j by means of forged zeceipts and vouchers,
1 and other frauds, can he prosecuted
criminally if two years have not elapsed
since the commission of the crime, and
| can also be sued in the civil courts of the
United States, in the same manner as
employees of the Bureau can be. There
is no statute limiting the time within
which the Government can begin a civil
suit; but suits for penalties and double
damages under the act of March 2d, 1803,
must he begun within six years. The At
torney General says, as to chief disbursing
officers it is almost impossible upon the
facts which are now before me to state
what bis liability to Government might
be ; of course he is liable both civilly and
criminally for his own misconduct. How
far he is liable for the acts of subordinates
employed under him, is a question which
it is impossible for mo to answer without
a copy of his bond and without more in
formation in respect to his appointment
than I have been able to obtain from
a perusal of the papers sent to me. If
any other officers gave bonds to the Go
vernment, their sureties are liable for
(heir misconduct, or loss occurring by
them, according to the tenor of their
bonds.
THE ESTIMATED LOSSES.
Damage to Clops, ete.
Cincinnati, July 8. —The following ac
counts of damages to crops and buildings
and estimated losses by recent rains have
been received here front different portions
of this State:
The damage to the growing crops is not
less than SIOO,OOO, besides the heavy loss
of timber. In the southern part of Butler
county, rain did damage to crops. A
large lot of timber was also blown down.
In Clark county the damage was not so
great. In Union county the wheat crop
is badly damaged throughout, especially
along the creeks, where whole fields were
destroyed and washed away. The proxi
mate loss is SIOO,OOO. To this may be
added, for loss of broom-corn, within
three miles of Circleville, $25,000. In
Hense county, at Netronville, the Hock
ing river overflowed the lower part of tho
town. A large number of families were
compelled to leave their houses aud con
tents, and fly for life, so sudden and un
expected did the flood come. Crops in
bottom lands are a total loss. Damage to
crops estimated at SIOO,OOO. A great
number of families living along the river
and vicinity, in Hense county, were com
pelled to move to higher grounds. The
Marietta and Cincinnati railroad track is
covered with water too deep to allow the
passage of trains.
In Fairfield county the" loss to public
aud private property is estimated at over
$500,000. From many low farms was
swept every thing, but buildings. Hock
ing Canal cannot be repaired, having
fifteen large break swi thin distance of twen
ty-live miles. The Bremen Canal was six
feet under water ou the morning of the
4th, and four bridges of the Cincinnati
aud Hocking Valley Itailroad are wrecked.
The Hocking Canal aud river are rnado
one stream by the ruinous breaks iu tho
southeast part of the Indiana service. The
losses reported in Union county are, crops
damaged ten to fifteen per cent. In liip
ley county the wheat will yield only one
quarter of a crop. In Shelby county two
thirds of the wheat is lost. Iu Dearborns
county the loss to crops is fur up in tho
thousands. The same report comos from
Fayette county. Corn will yield three
quarters of a crop.
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
Washington, July 8. —A dispatch re
ceived at the State Department from lion.
Daniel E. Sickles, U. S. Minister to
Spain, encloses additional customs regu
lations promulgated by the Spanish Gov
ernment for the Peninsula. The decree
is dated June sth, and will be enforced
against all vessels coming from the At
lantic ports of the United States after the
expiration of three months aflor the date
of publication, and four months after that
date for all vessels coming from the Pa
cific ports. Minister Sickles in his dis
patch says: “It is observed that this de
cree, although contaiuiugprovisions tend
ing to embarrass the legitimate commerce
of the ports of the Peninsula, recognizes
aud debates the general principles con
tended for in my correspondence with
this Government concerning relations on
Cuba. Only one manifest is required in
stead of three if the manifest agrees with
the bill of lading; the flue incurred for is
the only infraction of the regulation. In
describing a consignment it is imposed on
the consignee of goods and not on the
vessel, and Spanish Consuls are prohibited
from certifying to manifests which are
not properly made out; they are besides
required to note a mistake and amend
ments and to report to the customs au
thorities of the port to which the vessel
is bound all manifests they certify to.
JACOB THOMPSON’S ACCOUNTS.
Washington, July 6. — The Second Au
ditor of the Treasury has just completed
the settlement of the account of Jacob
Thompson, Secretary of the Interior un
der Buchanan’s administration, aud act
ing then as trustee of the Indian fund.
It is shown that there is a deficit of $821,-
000. The statement is made that it has
not been possible to take up these ac
counts until recently, owing to the fact
that all previous accounts were required
to be settled before reissuing Mr. Thomp
son’s case. The stock of the United
States and of certain States held in trust
by' the Secretary of the Interior amounts
to about $5,000,000. The annual inter
est, nearly $281,000 is transferred or ap
plied to the benefit of the Indian tribes
owning the securities.
[We hope that readers of the above will
wait for further explanation before con
sidering the ease as made out against the
Ex Secretary, j
CHOLERA AT CHATTANOOGA.
Chattanooga, July 7. —Cholera deaths
reported here to the City Physician’s office
for the forty-eight hours ending 8 p. m.
to-day, twelve; other causes twelve.
There were outside of the report to the
City Physician, three deaths from cholera,
anil three from other causes. Among the
deaths from cholera, is Col. John C. Gil
lespie, Mr. Clouseu, of Gillespie & Cos.,
and ex-policemau J. D. White. This
makes total deaths from cholera in last
forty'-eight hours fifteen, other causes fif
teen. On the third instant, we had in
twenty-four hours sixteen from cholera
alone. The people are returning and are
in better .spirits.- — Atlanta Herald.
CROP REPORTS.
Chicago, July 9.—Telegraphic crop
reports from numerous points in Illinois
and lowa, covering the greater part of
these States, show that while the recent
severe rain storms have considerably
damaged the wheat crops, particularly in
localities where it is least ready to har
vest, there will be fully an average crop.
Oats have suffered more, being badly
lodged, and in many places will have to
be moved. Com looks well, and with
favorable weather will make a full average
crop.
HUM A XITTOUIOFREAS O.V.
A suggestion made by a correspondent
of the New York Tribune— thatcriminals
be put to death by electricity— makes us
revert to the inquiry, why Las hanging
been selected as the mode’ of capital
punishment in Great Britain and in this
country ? It wag certainly not because
of the pain attending the operation, a.
the proposition of this correspondent
j would suggest, because numerous more
painful modes of putting a man to death
than by hanging him could Lave been
adopted, end would have found prece
dents, if not existing customs, to sanc
tion them. The measure of pain, theD,
is not the measure of punishment. It
was because of the ignominy of hanging
by the neck—because of the instinctive
dread of it—that our mode of punish
ment was adopted and is adhered to. The
disgrace of the mode is one of the con
siderations to deter bad men from en
i countering it. For this concomitant,
more than for any dread of the pain of
| hanging, convicted criminals will gene
rally, if allowed, “ cheat the gallows" by
taking their own lives. The fact that
they have been known to hang themselves
in their cells to avoid a public hanging
by the executors of (he law, is sufficient
to show that the one thing most dreaded
is the disgrace of a public hanging. And
the circumstance that persons bent on
suicide often adopt banging as their mode
of terminating their own existence, goes
to show that h is not the pain of this
manner of death that makes it so re
volting.
The proposition made through the Ti l
bane, then, is to lessen the ignominy of
the culprit's death—to strip our mode of
capital punishment of the feature that
makes it most revolting and terrible to
evil-doers. And this is precisely what we
think ought not to be done. No false
philanthropy or humanity should induce
us to overlook the prime consideration
that calls for the execution of criminals
by any mode—the safety of the communi
ty and the detering of others from the
commission of crime. Substitute for the
disgrace of the gallows the novel, experi
mental modification of the electric bat
tery—cast aside the vile hempen tie and
the cap and fetters of tho hangman—
launch the culprit into eternity by a sci
entific application of one of the great ele
ments of nature, arousing the admiring
curiosity rather than exciting the horror
and disgust of the lookers-on—and the
terrors and admonitions of public execu
tions will lose most of their force. We
will take a step towards dignifying—or,
if that is too strong an expression, towards
alleviating—capital punishment for crime,
and we will sacrifice tho public safety,
the justice and stem compensations of
the law, to a puling and misdirected sen
timentality-.
GEORGIA CROP REPORTS.
Crops. —The prospect for a good corn
crop is very flattering, at least every far
mer we talk with gives a favorable re
port. Cotton where it has been thorough
ly cleaned, and we believe most of it is in
a good condition, looks tolerably well. A
good refreshing shower would benefit
crops wonderfully. Peas ami potatoes
look well and a good crop may- be expect
ed.—Fort I "alley Mirror , \Hh.
The weather for the past week has been
dry and hot. Crops of all kinds are doing
well.— Federal Union, i'th.
Wabm and Dry Weather.—The heat
for the past few days has been oppressive.
Friday and Saturday tho mercury had
reached the nineties. Sunday was more
comfortable as a north breexe prevailed
during the entire day. There has been
no rain in this place for the past eightjn
ten days, and if the genial showers Ire
witheld many more days the corn crop of
this section will be cut short.— Sumpter
Republican, B th.
Crops in Mitchell, Colquitt, Decatur
and Thomas counties were never better,
aud prospects were bright ten day-s ago.
Crops.—From the best information wo
can gather from different portions of the
county, the prospects for a good corn
crop is not so promising as it was two
weeks ago; we have heard of a good deal
of it being what the farmers term fired,
caused from the intense heat and occa
sional showers ; roally injuring the corn
more than a continual drought. Cotton
is growing very rapidly, b ut is not fruit
ing as fast as it should ; grown bolls are
plentiful, and in a week or two more,
early- cotton will commence opening.
We bear'nuthing of the caterpillar. Sugar
cane and sweet potatoes are looking re
markably well.— Bainbridge Sun, nth.
The weather this week has been fine
for cotton, with rain about in places
which render almost certain the corn
orops. We hear many speaking en
couragingly of their prospects for corn,
and trust that nothing will occur to dis
appoint their highest anticipations in this
lino.— Lumpkin Ind., r>th.
“Cotton aud corn never looked better
in Gordon county,” wrote a correspon
dent of the Atlanta Herald on Tuesday.
Good Crops of Wheat. —Mr. James
Smoot who lives on Potato Creek, seeded
eight bushels of wheat last Fall, he thrash
ed his wheat last week, and it measured
up one hundred and thirty bushels. Mr.
Smoot says he fed a considerable quan
tity of the wheat in the straw to his mules
before threshing. lie thinks if he had
not fed any wheat to his mules, lie would
have made at least 160 bushels from the
eight bushels of seed.— Thomaston Her
ald.
Mr. Wm. B. Trice, threshed his wheat
this week reaped from nine acres of laud,
which yielded 230 bushels. This—nearly
26 bushels to the acre—is a larger yield
than any we have heard of us yet in the
county. lbid.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports
the final success of a company who have
for some time been experimenting with a
view to the manufacture of soap from cot
ton seed oil. The company is now' sup
plying the grocery, drug aud fancy stores,
public institutions and private fi-miliesof
Louisville with soap which the Courier-
Journal pronounces “the most superior
ever offered in this market.” It says that
it is free from all rancid matter, is purely
vegetable, and does not contain any lime,
salt, or other injurious matter that ruins
the skin and lots the clothes.
Should it be found that (bis soap can be
made so cheaply as to enter into general
use, its manufacture and consumption will
give an enhanced value to cotfcmseed and
thus add to the value of the cotton crop.
Tables of the fluctuations shew that the
National currency is now at a lower value
than at any time since August, 1879, and
lower than it has been for any length of
time since February, 1870. From Octo
ber, 1870, to February, 1873 (a period of
17 months) its range of discount was
from 10j| to 151, per cent. Now, after
reaching and remaining for some time at
18 to 19 per cent., it has just risen again
to 154, but we have no assurance that
some “corner” operation may not depress
it to 18 or 19 again before the week is
out. The “policy” of the Treasury does
not appear to be a success.
Birmingham has latcdy dug up the
town to put down water pipes. This has
doubtless contributed very largely to the
prevalence of cholera there. Then their
city had already been cleaned up when
it appeared. But, worse than all, tho
water of the town is limestone water —tho
worst possible water for the health of the
town. It was water thus impregnated
that made cholera so fatal in Nashville,
Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Shelbyvillo and
Huntsville. Montgomery's ex-mption, up
to this time, is dne to our pure water,
broad streets, and the cleaning up of our
city. —Montgomery Journal , B tl .
New York, July 9.— Secretary of the
Board of Health states that no previous
year since 1569 shows the hygienic condi
tion of the corresponding week so favora
ble as that just past. The cholera scare
is considerably abated.