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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.