Georgia weekly telegraph and Georgia journal & messenger. (Macon, Ga.) 1869-1880, December 07, 1869, Image 8

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% Tlie Greorgia “Weekly Telegraph, and. Journal <fc Messenger. Telegraph & Messenger. MACON, DECEMBER 7, 1800. Going to Texas. Mf e are sorry to see a revival of the Texas emigration fever in a portion of Northern Geor gia. At the best, emigration from Georgia to any other State of the Union is a donbtfnl ex pedient Very seldom have we heard of any nun w ho improved his condition and prospects try fhe change; and we never yet satr snch a nose. Bnt just now we hold such movements peovliarily inopportune. Landed property is fast rising in value in that section,and probably this is the roason of the em igration. People, for the first time for some years, are ablo to sell ont at what they think afair price, and they wish to improvo the opportunity £h f e ar that it may not occnr 8gain. They forget that what seems to be a fair price now, will per haps look like a great sacrifice a fewyears hence. yfo judge of prices solely by comparison, and when they get off to Texas and hoar that lands in their old vicinity havo got to bo worth twice as muoh as they sold the oldhomestead place for, they will feel cheaper than any property they may havo bought in Texas. Tho truth is, Northern Georgia will probably improvo faster than any section of the State. It combines the advantages of Northern and Southern climates. It produces the crops of both geotions and most of the comforts of both sec tions. The whole of that great belt of country stretching down along the Blue Bidge and con* gtitnting tho great Virginia valley and fhe valley of East Tennessee and Northern Georgia and Alabama, is the grandest and most, valuable oountry on the continent of North America, and will soon bo peopled by perhaps tho most intel ligent, prosperous and interesting population of tho United States. It will be tho abode of wealth, refinement and culture. A tract of land there is going to be worth more than so many aores in any other farming region—for here mining, manufacturing, all tho mechanic arts and agriculture are destined to an intimacy of oo-existence and a profitable contiguity and re lationship, which is attainablo no where else on the American continent: because the same na- 'tnral conditions of exhanstless mineral wealth, inimitable water power, extraordinary fertility of soil, and length of season, mildness and liealthfulness of climate are accumulated so grandly no where else. The greatest facilities foe progress in all the three grand divisions of •fatimnn enterprise are here clustered together with unexampled prodigality. We think the people of that section should consider well be* fore they exchange their interest in snch a coun try for lands in Texas. Specie Payment Uneasiness. We learn there is some uneasiness in mercan tile circles over the fnss of politicians about a sudden return to specie payments. If there 'Were any probability that snch a desperate ex periment would be undertaken, we should cry “stand from under," with the most frightened. The whole country, except a small minority of bondholders and tho money ring, wonld be swept by a simoon of universal insolvency. But it is bosh. So far from resuming specie payments, .we believe Congress will more probably stop too contracting operations of the Treasury. Tbe West is already in a terrible money pinch and clamorous for more currency. Tho tele grams say tho Western members are coming to Washington with tho cry of “a money famine.” The immense amount of currency required to movo the Southern crop, is just about so much temporarily withdrawn'from that section, and some time will be required beforo it will find its way back again in payment for horses, mules, bacon, corn, hay, cats and flour. The South is now subsisting, for a while, mainly npon bread- staffs and forage of her own production, and will not begin to empty herself into the West until these domestic supplies run out. Meanwhile, the Western money cramp will bo fatal to tho bondholders’scheme of farther con traction, spfit'ie'payments, insolvency and ruin. Woato.&f Congressman from the West who W®inoIi a scheme in the face ef such a heavy Western indebtedness to the East—short pay ments, low prices, slack demand for wheat, and universal lightness in money. We feel no apprehension of a worse result than that the frnitless clatter abont resumption will keep up a needless uneasiness and apprehension in busi ness circles. TiTm>T. TO THE MACON MANUFACTURING Cojt- FAirr.—Tho prize.medal received by tbe Macon M»lls from tho Cincinnati Textile Fabric Expo sition, for the best sheeting, is beautiful. The medal is enclosed in a gilded circle surmounted by the National emblem—an eagle. The front represents a power loom in relief, 'with the motto, “ EnconragOj Home Industry,” and the date, August, 18G9. The obverse bears the in scription, “Exposition of Textile Fabrics— awarded to the Macon Manufacturing Company, August, 18G9, Cincinnati.” Tho Society also received with this award fifty dollars in money. The Company also took the premium for sheet ings at the Macon Fair. Great Northern and Western Route by the Western and Atlantic Railway.—Tho WesU • on and Atlantio Railway, having completed all their arrangements, advertise their great West ern and Northern^ routo to-day. Expedition, . comfort and safety—clean and bright cars—no changes—baggage checked all tho way through —perfect connections and splendid sleeping arrangements. In a word, activity, improve ment and progress. Progress.—We shall soon have somebody clamoring for a new dictionary, or an enlarge ment of the one in use now. Every day some new definition crops out. For instance: An Assistant Paymaster in tho Navy has just ab sconded, with a deficiency in his accounts of $20,000. His bond was $5000, and so be just netts $21,000. And the official paper at Wash ington calls it “inadequacy of funds!” Vice President Fourth District.—We aro .authorized to state that Mr. A. O. Bacon, whoso name has been accidentally drawn into tho con : troversy with reference to the Vice President of the State Agricultural Society for this dis trict, has peremptorily declined to be farther .considered as having anything to do with that position. Pibtolic.—A gay and very festive Tribune . attache named Richardson, who has been in terfering, it is charged, with the marital rights and appurtenances of one McFarland, a New Tork lawyer, was dosed by tho latter last Friday with a leaden pill, and is not expected to rc- . oarer therefrom. PuBorso the Alabama Legislature.—The Radioals in tho Alabama Legislature have ex pelled Magee, the Democratic member from Mobile, andpntinMcKinstry, wbo was defeated by a large majority. It is said, the other Dem- ocratio members recently elected will also be expelled. Another Warning.—On Sunday last, Messrs. -J. A S. A. Pace, living near Hatchechubbee. Alabama, on the line of the Mobile and Girard Railroad, bad thirty-one bales of cotton burned by an incendiary fire without a dollar insurance. If that cotton had been in a fire proof ware house, the Messrs. P. would have been nearly *$4,000 richer at these present writings. The Seizure of Ihe Spanish Gunboats. The reader is aware that last Wednesday tha Government of the United States libelled and seized thirty Spanish gunboats lying in the har bor of New York in an unfinished condition. It was no matter of concealment that these gun boats had been built under contract with the Spanish Government through Rafael Aragon, a Spanish naval officer, by Cornelius Delamater, a citizen of New York; and that they were to bo employed in blockading the ports of Cnba and harassing tho insurgents in that Island. There was not the smallest concealment about the matter, nor the smallest legal occasion for any; because Spain, as a friendly power, had a right to the good offices of this people and Gov ernment, and to the purchase of supplies, equip ments and munitions of warfor the enforcement of its legitimate and acknowledged authority over its own subjects—which subjects our Gov ernment steadily acknowledged the people of Cuba rightfully were—never having once inti mated a doubt to tho contrary, although often importuned so to do, and to recognize tho bel ligerent rights of the insurgent Cabans. But last Wednesday comes one Inacio Alfaro, one of the Cuban Junta in New York, as we suppose, and makes an affidavit beforo United States Commissioner Geo. F. Betts, which is not only a curiosity in its way, but, as a ground woik for subsequent proceedings, is, wo undertake to say, the most insufficient and in consequential upon which a respectable pow er ever based snch a proceeding. Alfaro swears (1) that a war exists between Spain and its colo ny, Cuba. (2) As to the contract for building the gunboats between Spain, and Delamater. (3) That Spain is at war with Peru, a friendly pow er. (4) That the people of Cuba aro subject to assault and destruction by Spain. (5) And that said gunboats, he has reason to believe, aro to bo omployed against Cuba and Fern. Upon this affidavit a libel was served upon each of the gunboats, and they are now in cus tody of the United States Marshal of the South ern District of New York, by direction of the President of the United States. . Such a proceeding a3 this might becomo a Tombs shyster or a shaip connty court attorney, but it is simply disgraceful in a power like the United States. All that part of the affidavit about Cnba has no more relevancy to the libel and Seizure than wonld a similar affidavit abont the Insurgent Republicans or Cariisfs in old Spain; and why is it lugged in as a ground work of the proceeding? It conld become such only after the United States had notified Spain that she considered her insurgent subjects in Cuba rightfully contesting for self government, and therefore could not permit her the use of our resources against them. But, in manifest confession of the entire ir relevancy and insufficiency of the Cuba plea, the war with Peru is brought in—a war which has notoriously been two years dead and abandoned by Spain, although no treaty of peace has been made. If onr government wants to back Cnba, let her do it manfully and above board. Lot her disdain the shelter of snch pettifogging, which every body will seo throngh and despiso. It is j us t such a proceeding as this which disgraces and demoralizes a nation in the eyes of the world, far more than defeat in diplomacy or on the bat tle-field. An Abominatiou- Wo aro fully persuaded of the folly of enter ing tho lists against the goddess Fashion. We know full well how many trinmphs she has scored in snch encounters against the wisest and wittiest men and women, too, that ever bran dished a spear or flashed a sword against her authority. Wo remember howmany have raised the standard of revolt, and how ignominiously they have succumbed. Don Quixote, in his tilt against the wind-mill, was a Solon compared with such hair-brained enthnsiasts. Nevertheless we propose to do tho desperate deed to-day. Taking duty as onr motto, and the pretty feet and ankles of onr women os an ob jective point, we propose to strike a blow against one of tho moBt abominable, inconvenient ungraceful, and dangerous caprices that fashion has ever yet invented. Wo mean the modem lady’s shoe. It ought to bo.the last feather to break tbe camel’s back. If it does not, we fear it will break somebody’s neck. Ladies totter along on it like paralytics. Thoy walk as if in momentary danger of tumbling to the ground. It is a Procrustean bed upon which aro remorse lessly stretched the graceful and tho ungraceful. Some women in their natural walk gloriously il lustrate tho poetry of motion—others the ba thos of unutterable clumsiness. But this shoo levels all distinctions. Wo denounce it as a device of the evil one to make tbo women ridiculous, and put their limbs in jeopardy. The London Lancet, high medical find surgical authority, thus anathematizes it. Wo cry bravo! “The custom of wearing high boot-heels, and those, too, so mneb smaller than the actual heel of the wearer as to afford no solid support, bnt only a balancing-point, is a source of much mischief. In the first place, it throws the cen tre of gravity of the body so far forward that a free and gracefully erect carriage is impossible. Secondly, there being no firm support to tho heel, ladies are very apt to twist tho ankle sud denly by over-balancing themselves; and this is not only bad in itself, but tho fear of its occur rence makes them assume a timid, mincing gait. And thirdly, tbe effect of driving tbo foot constantly forward mio tho toe of the boot is to produce a very ugly and patafuLdistortion.” Every lady in Macon will admit tho truth of this, but how many will act upon it ? Wo scarcely dare hope that our rcmonstranco will be heeded, iSat wo hero break the lanCo and shoot the shaft. Achilles was vulnerable in the heel, and we trust to tho very faint chance of finding the “girl of tho period ’’ weak there, too. The Georgia Press. Tho Savannah Republican is “still harping on my daughter.” It replies to Mr. Howard’s de fence of the Executive Committee, and reiter ates the charge of incapacity, etc. It still thinks that the next Fair should bo held in Savan nah, but hasn’t a word to say abont those “administrative minds” this time. Evidently onr neighbor docs not consider that line tena. bio any longer. So much for a well directed fire. The News notices tbo controversy between the Republican and Telegraph and Messenger with reference to holding the Fair in Savannah, and says: For onr own part we repeat onr opinion,, that tho State Fair should be permanently located at Macon, for the reason that it is eligible by rail road and near the geographical centre of the State; and that the auxiliary societies of the State should be invited to unite in tho establish ment of snch buildings and grounds as will af ford every required facility and accommodation for the exhibitors and the public at large. This done, there will be cause for complaint. The Columbus Sun wants to know where “tho great Radical party” of Georgia was daring the late Fair. It boasts of a party large in num bers, influence and respectability in the State, but with tho exception of Messrs. Brown, Bnl look and Halbert, they were not visible in that immense collection of twenty or thirty thousand peoplo from all parts of the State. The Athens Banner pays a tribute to the hos pitality of Macon daring the Fair. It says: Macon did nobly—no city in the -State conld have done better under such a pressure. Tho Banner says that “CoL R. S. Taylor, who has for some time managed the Athens Post- office with marked acceptance to ail our peo ple, has been forced'to retire from tbe office on account of the political pressure at Washington. The department demanded that no one should be in charge of the office Who could not take tho •iron clad’ oath." An adjourned term of Walton Superior Court was held last week. The editor of the Banner fonnd the people paying their bills promptly, and holding most of their cotton for better prices. The crop is somewhat better than was anticipated. Com is scaroe, and a large area of wheat and oats has been sowed. The Atlanta papers are brim fall of the mu-, nicipal election. Four candidates are in the field—Messrs. Alexander, Ezzard^Williams and Markham—the three first Democrats, the latter Bepublican. It looks as if the latter had a pretty sure thing. So much for not importing a sufficient number of “administrative minds" from the sea-board to settle the difficulty. The Rome Courier. notes the presence of a number of “boozies” on the streets who came to Rome and were so struck with its appearance that they straightway got drunk—to drown their disappointment, etc ? The Commercial reports a brisk trade Satur day. Cotton was active at about 22 cents.— Com $1@1 10 in tho ear. Apples $2 00 per bushel. Cabbage down to 4 cts. a pound.— Wheat $1 40. Wood in demand. No coal yet , The Constitutionalist devotes a column and a half—with extracts—to CoL Forney’s letter. It is rather caustic, though the editor says CoL Forney, “in the greater part of his letter, has been far more flattering and impartial than we imagined ho possibly conld be.” Tho editor thinks, though, that tho peroration abont Gov. Bullock throws “tho fat into tho fire,” and dis misses the subject with the reminder to CoL F., that “the scream of Morcnry aro harsh af ter tho songs of Apollo.” ' Tho Chronicle and Sentinel is enthusiastic over a basket of strawberries—large, ripe, juicy and luxurious—grown in the open air by Mr. Nelson, of that city. Thoy are of the Wilson’s Albany variety. Registration in Augusta stands 10GI for I860 against 8SG8 for 1808, a decrease in the total city vote of 280S—of which the whites loso 904 and the blacks 1804. Tnoors in Wilkes.—The Washington Gazette reports the arrival there of a detachment of Uni ted States troops on Thursday. They have been sent by Gen. Terry, wo presume, to examine into tho recent raid on and destruction of the papers in tho offico of James B. Wilson, Assist ant Revenue Assessor.—Const., 28th. A Lady Robbed by IJicktockets.—An elderly lady reached this city yesterday morning, on her way to Chesterfield county,* South Carolina, from Montgomery, Ala., at which point she had her pocket picked of $80, all her available cash. A gentleman on the' same train lost $300. The pickpockets in recent attendance on the Georgia State Fair have transferred themselves to the Alabama Fair, and aro doing a profitable busi ness, it seems.—Ibid. Tho Savannah News of Saturday reports the arrival there of a cargo of coffee direct from Rio de Janeiro. Tho News also chronicles' the opening of a new line of street railway, running from the Exchange to the Central Railroad depot. Savannah as an Exporting City.—The Adver tiser of Sunday says: Of the seventy-six Customs Districts in the United States, Savannah ranks fourth in the value of her domestic exports, which amount to more than a twentieth of all the exports of the country, New York, New Orleans and San Fran cisco alone preceding her on tho list During the year ending June 30th, 18G9, her exports were in value three times those of Charleston and one-third those of New Orleans. According to present indications, Savannah will assume the third ploco on tho list next year, and greatly lessen the gap between herself and New Or- lean, for, while the receipts of cotton at the lat ter port to date are abont tho same as at this time last year, thoso of Savannah have nearly doubled. The Republican of Sunday thinks that Savan nah never had more shipping along her wharves than at present. On a single day of tho past week—Thursday—under a favorable wind, no less than three ships, fivo barks, six brigs, and eight schooners—in all twenty-two—entered the riv^r and came up to the city, besides one river steamer from above. Scheme of Public Instruction for Georgia—Xo. 1. Editors Telegraph, and Messenger : Amid all tho bustle and confusion,'and tho consequent blaming and excusing, that were caused by tbe late fair at Macon, there was a small body of men called"together in a secluded apartment, whose work, unnoticed, and unknown to bnt a few, is fnlly as valuable and important as any of tbe interests that then commanded public at tention. I refer to tho Executivo Committee of the Toachers’ Association of tho State of Georgia. By the appointment of the Association at its meeting in Atlanta in last August, a committee of five had been busily at work during the inter vening months to prepare a well digested plan for a State system of public schools. Diligent inquiry had been made as to all the existing systems of public instruction, not only in tbe States of America, bnt also of Europe. Their prominent features had been carefully collated, and their adaptiveness to our own pop ulation and circumstances studiously examined. The peculiarities of our condition as a people in their bearing upon tho question of public edu cation bad been deeply considered, and as tho result of all tho inquiry and adjustment that theso men could bring to tbe matter, this com mittee bad constructed tbe genoral features of the plan for providing public instruction for all the people of Georgia, equally, but separately. This report was, on ono of tho days during tbo opening of tho Fair, laid boforo tho Execu tive Committee of the Stato Teachers’ Associa tion, for their revision and emendation, and this was tho work on which that body was en gaged in the lectufe room of tho First Baptist Church, on Tuesday, tho IGth instant. After some happy alterations and additions to the original report, tho Executive Committee found themselves able to present what seomed to them a scheme as well adapted to onr condition and circumstances as a people, as could now be de vised. That scheme they wore called upon to lay be foro the entire body of the Association, at its called meeting at the City Hall on Wednesday, the. 17th instant. The greater part of that day was spent by" tho Association in discussing and adjusting the details of tho schemo thus report ed to them; and as a final result, a committeo was appointed to present the scheme thus elab orated in tho form of a memorial to the next legislature, as tho basis of a law for cnactmont. It la known, perhaps, to most of your readers, that tho Constitution of the Stale requires the legislature, at its first session, to onset a law for public instruction. Three separate bills for this purpose were introduced into tho last ses sion of the legislature, no ono of which, how ever, succeeded in passing both houses. There is but little doubt that tbo legislature will feel itself at its next session, more than ever bound to agree npon some law on tho matter. This posture of affairs seemed to tho members of the State Teachers’ Association, sufficient warrant for them to offer their help in tho preparation of a wise and feasible scheme. Certain it is, that very few legislative com mittees even have the time, the ability, or tho disposition s go through so careful an explora tion, selection and constrnction of materials as this body of experienced and praotioal teachers have done. Their deep.interest in the matter, and their solicitude that neither the State nor the cause should be damaged by hasty, or parti, san, or otherwise bad legislation—these, with out any, the least expectation of reaping per sonal benefit, were the sole motives that impelled and sustained them. A glance at the roll of membership, and espe cially at the names of the officers, (who ex-officio constitute the Executive Committee.) will show that these men are competent to advise alcgis- lature on such matters as this. There can be no reasonable doubt that the legislature will respectfully listen to what they have to soy, and feel that any schemo recommended by them to be enacted as law, will go before tho people for practical accomplishment, under favorable au spices. What that scheme is, it will be tbe aim of a subsequent paper to set forth. I' John Loose. LETTER FROM FLORIDA. \ - State Recuperating—Fair Crop Made—Im migration—Land* Rising—Middle Florida the Carden Spot—Society—St. Marks—Tho Sentinel—The Floridian and its Senior- Major Robert Walhcr—The Synod of Georgia. Tallahassee, November 27,18G9. Editors Telegraph and Messenger ; Florida is fast recuperating. For years Bhe has been af flicted with military rule, Freedman’s Bureaus, inefficient labor, carpet-baggers and the eater- pillar—enough in all conscience to depress and destroy any people. Notwithstanding, she is just getting on her legs again, a fair crop has been made the preset year, considering the circumstances, and a people are more cheer ful and hopeful. Immigration is coming in, lands are apprecia ting and everybody looks forward with pleasant anticipations to the “good time coming.” The St. John’s river country seems just now to havo the most attractions for immigrants. That is a region adapted more for fruit culture than any thing else; bnt Middle Florida is really tho gar den spot of the land of Florida, and the good people here only ask that immigrants will come and see for themselves, to be convinced that this is to be the future seat of the State’s pros perity. The country i3 rolling, well watered and ha3 the best cotton and sngar lands in Florida. x Tallahassee is a city of seven hills, like old Romo. There are hill3 everywhere, sm tho north and sontb, oast and west. It is “beautiful for situation,” and if not tho joy of tho whole earth, it is the joypf its people. It was laid off in 1824, three years after the exchange of flags, then a wilderness, and persons are living who havo seen deer, turkeys and other wild game from their door-steps. Few of tho first settlers are now living. At or np to the war it boasted the best society of any place in tho State—Vir ginians, Carolinians, Kentuckians, Tennessee ans and Georgians dwelt here, who made the place noted for its refinement and hospitality. Persons who wish to spend a winter in this ge nial climate, will find here all that is desirable— clever peoplo, splendid drives through woods with hard roads, lakes and hammocks for hunt ing. St. Marks, only 22 miles henco by rail, is the shipping port on tho Gulf. It was once the outlet of a large trade, and the time was when Georgia planters, for a hundred miles or more wagoned their cotton to this point for sale and shipment from St. Marks. Thoso were the “flush times,” when railroads were things of imagination.— Tho people here think that when cotton drops down to ante-war prices, the Gnlf ports includ ing their own St. Marks, will once more lift np their heads. They believe that if the Bainbridgo and Cnthbert Railroad i3 built, of which they have great hopes, St. Marks will regain its im portance. That road throngh St. Marks will put Georgia in direct communication with New Orleans, Cuba, and all the "West Indies, and make you hungry folks at Mason to feast on tho finny tribes of the Gnlf, and rejoice over stews and'pies of tho most delicious bivalves fresh from their beds. . The people endure the carpet-bag rule put over them by a Radical Congress with becoming fortitude and patience, looking forward to the time When there will be a change. The Wiscon sin Governor seems to have a hard time. “Un easy lies the head,” etc. His own party, a year ago, sought to get rid of him by impeachment, and failed through the opposition of the Con servatives, who did not think that tho proof of rascality was conclusive, and who were afraid that if he were turned out a bigger rascal would take bis place. It was another illustration of tho fable of tho fox and the flies. This breach in bis party has not been healed, the old im- peachers being as determined as ever; and sooth to say, if whnt they allege is true or only half true, he is a great scamp and ought to be got ten rid of. The old paper of the Senior of tho Telegraph and Messenger, tho Sentinel—once the influen tial organ of the Florida Whigs—is now a Rad ical month-piece, chiefly owned by Gov. Reid. “To wbat base uses,” etc. By the way, tho peo- here remember Mr. C. with great cordiality and admiration. They regard him as the prince of journalism in Georgia, and as standing in the fore-front of the editorial corps in tho South. The Floridian was established here in 1828, was burnt ont in 18G0, by which tho most au thentic records extant of current territorial times wore destroyed. Its present editor is tho oldest in Florida, having been in the offico since 1841. Ho is a chaste and vigorous writer, and sends out weekly throngh this “land of flowers,” a sheet richly freighted with tho true, tho beauti ful and the good. The tone of his paper is cto- oidedly conservative, and, therefore, commands the confidence of tho wisest and best men of the country. . Allow mo to say a word in relation to mine host, Major Robert Walker, who is well known to fame, as the superintendent of the two most important railroads in Florida, and who was distinguished for his patriotism in Confederate times. He is truly one of nature’s noblemen, a scholar of no mean attainments and a most valuablo vestryman in the Episcopal Church.— Ho says you once sent him tho Telegraph for favors shown to your agents in travel, but that for some unknown cause this old and. highly es teemed friend has failed to greet him with its glad tidiDgs. The Synod of Georgia has been in session here for some days and were nover better entertained than by tbo hospitable citizens of Tallahassee. The most important matter that has received the attention of the Synod is that relating to the removal of Oglethorpe Collogo from Mid way. There was very strong opposition to the removal of tho College, but tho Synod was so impressed with tho necessity of its removal that after a protracted discussion it resolved to re move it to Atlanta, where wo trust it may have a prosperous and useful future. W. What Commissioner Capron Says. Hon. Horace Capron, Commissioner of Agri culture, who was hero during tho Fair has re turned home. What ho thinks is told in a spe cial from Washington to the Courier-Journal: The Georgia Fair.—Tha Commissioner of Agriculture is back from the Macon Fair, and speaks encouragingly of it and tho warm wel come extended to the Northern visitors. Ho says that cotton was tho chief object of interest at the Fair. Specimens of this year’s crop from different quarters, improved implements in its culture, and in cottop gins; machinery for pre paring it for market in improved stylo, made an imposing show; bnt live stock and agricultural machinery not conneoted with tho cnltnre of cotton, die! not receivo muoh attention. At pres ent prices this crop is giving tho planters enor mous returns for their labor and investment; but tho Commissioner thinks too exclnsivo at tention is given to the product. Planters gen erally are rapidly extending the area of its cul tivation and stimulating the soil for extraordi nary crops. This, with exertions in the same direction in British India, Egypt and Brazil, may bring the market down to the old prices of 1840, when it ruled at five and six cents. Must Come in. The Press, ono of CoL Fomey’s two dailies, gives a very cold shoulder to the faithful in Vir ginia who regard the recent election there as a “.Confederate victory.” Evidently the North- em Republicans don’t intend to give their friends in Virginia another deal. We think light is breaking all aronnd the horizon. Re garding Virginia tho Press says: Regarding the essence of the reconstruction laws ns incorporated into the Virginia Constitu tion as an ultimatum presented by Congress, npon acknowledgment of which roadmission should take, place, it would be manifestly wrong to base any Congressional action upon the fu ture intentions of those who seenred offices in the State. They may or may not design to car ry ont the intentions of Congress, and their partial ratification of them may be a sham. Bnt Congress con only accept the act. It was tho criterion set np. No. 92. No. 93. No. 94. No. 95. No. 96. No. 97. No. 98. No. 99. MASONIC. Office of the j Georgia Masonic Mutual 4 Life Insurance Company. J For the information of the members of the company, we annex a list of the October assess ments: According to our By-Laws you are assessed eight dollars and eighty, cents, to pay the heirs of Brothers— Stephen W. Belsher, Ivena Lodge, No. 258, Georgia, age 57 years—due $4,003 00 Thomas J;. Peddy, P. T. Schley Lodge, No. 229, Georgia, age 43 years— due $4,004 00 Robert J. Boyd, Clinton Lodge, No. 60, South Car olina, age 65 years—due $4,012 00 Edmund H. Ross, Austin Lodge, No. 247, Georgia, age 36 years—due $4,013 00 J. H. Demund, Ancient Land Mark Lodge,No. 231, Ga., age 44 years—due $4,021 00 James M. Woodruff, Golden Fleece Lodge, No. C, Georgia, age 51 years— due ,...$4,025 00 Dr. John W. Collier, Damas cus Lodge, No. 263, Geor gia, age 34 years—due...$4,026 00 Wiley M. Pearce, Twiggs Lodge, No. 164, Geor gia, age 38 years—due...$4,027 00 In future, all claims will be paid to heirs of deceased members within sixty days after claim is passed by Board of Directors. Note.—The proceedings of last annual meet ing will be forwarded to each member as soon as printed. Tho annual meeting in October, which ad journed until the 28th November, committed their joint deliberations, with the President’s report, to the Board of Directors, wbo met du ring the interval—reporting at the adjourned meoting—when the following amendments to the previous existing by-laws wore adopted. We annex a synopsis: By recommendation of tbo President, and adopted by the Convention— Art. 3d, Seo. 1st, shall read, after the word “Macon”: “on tho night of the first day’s meeting of tho Grand Lodgo in each yoar, at half-past seven o’clock p. m. Art. 2d, Sec. 1st, to be corrected as to its date of meeting as sta ted here. Persons who bold demits over five years can bo admitted, provided they become members of some lodge. Art. 5lb, Sec. 3d, amended by striking out tho word “ sixty” in the second line, and insert ing “ fifty” so as to read: “A Master Mason in good standing, and not exceeding fifty years of age.” Article 8th to be known as Section 5th of said Article, and to read as follows: “Any member of this company having a dependent family, for whose benefit he desired to secure a homestead, may hypothecate a portion of the amount to be due upon his policy, at his death, for that pur pose, upon such terms and restrictions as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors: Pro vided, that in all cases the wife of tho member shall join him in bis application to the Board of Directors for that purpose: and, Provided further, that five members of this Company re siding nearest tho applicant shall certify, that, in their opinion, such hypothecation will be for the best interests of said member and his family.” Article 7. Section 1st, amended so as to insert in the ninth line, immediately after the words “Lodgo seal," tho following: “or rather from any cause, the seal of tho Lodge cannot bo ob tained, then the certificate and seal of the same from a Conrt of Record.” - Section 2d, all claims by the death of mem bers is altered so ns to read: “Payable sixty days after thoy shall have been duly proven be fore the Board of Directors at their regular meetings, immediately followingtheir reception. Agents aro informed that six thousand copies of the proceedings of this Convention will be forwarded to them for the membership and oth ers, as soon as they can be printed. The founders of the Institution congratulate themselves in contemplating tho relief which has been cast about broadcast over the land, having assessed and paid out to tho widows and dependent children (when the above assessment is collected) three honored and sixty-nine THOUSAND AND THIRTY-NINE DOLLABS ($3G9,039). During the stringent times of tho past year, our numbers have been diminished—by death, res ignation and default of payment of assessments. Wo havo every reason to hope we shall not have many more defaulters, as insurance in this com pany is, on an average to its members, not as high, by one-half or more, as it is hv the usual insnranco companies of the day. Our assess ment shows wo have yet more than $4,000 for the heirs of our deceased brethren, and we fear not but the classes will now fill np rapidly and our object will be fully realized, and hope soon to havo $5,000 as an assessment. Tho classes B, C, D and E present inducements to all who desire to have their lives insured, without pay ing the mortuary fees of class A. As all these classes will necessarily be light until class A is filled, we may then certainly calculate thnt they will be rapidly filled. J. W. Burke, S. and T. Tlie Georgia .state Fair. Correspondence of the Charleston Courier. Macon, Ga., November 2G. Among all the gatherings of humanity—of the rich and the poor, the white and black, the pub licist and plebian, male and female, he, she and it—ever assembled in Georgia, general testi mony concedes that that which has been called together by the State Fair at this place “takes the dilapidated linen off the shrubbery. ” Car traveling in theso latter days is not unu sually adventurous, but a trip to Macon from any part of the compass for the last four or five days has been an exception to tho rule. Scarce ly a train arrived that was not literally packed with man, woman and child, until aisle, seat and platform could hold no more. The remotest cities and towns in tho State, and even tho ad joining States, have had their representatives by scores, and they comprised, as a mass, the best men and the most beautiful women in this section of the late “ So-called.” I have been astonished, too, by the large number of visitors from the North and West.— As a class they are farmers and manufacturers, and from more than one who fonnd his way. into the editorial room on the grounds, you might have heard expressions of genuine wonderment at the exhibition of wealth, tosto and prosperity presented to the eye. - As a consequence of this immense throng hotels and private citizens havo been taxed to their utmost—indeed, beyond their capacity for accommodation. For three days a bed could not be had at any price, and both men and wo men were to be found either sitting up all night or catching cat-naps on the floor. Hundreds slept in the cars, and as many more finding no place to eat or rest returned whence they came. Wbilo tho management of the Fair has been seemingly imperfect, andbas elicited complaints from every quarter, it is but just to say that the residents of Macon have dona all in'their pow er to entertain strangers, and to exhibit Geor gia hospitality in its pleasantest phases. Bnt thirty thousand people are not easily to be cared for you know, and in such a crowd, there must be some cotitre temps. Getting More Light. CoL Forney's visit seems to havo opened his eyes to many things down South, among others the true history and meaning of “reconstruc tion.” He saw some splendid samples of what kind of material it called into requisition, and hero is his verdict. Of course, by tho people of the South he means his sort of people, po litically. Wo quote from tho Press: The work of reconstruction has been an ear nest thing with Congress, but the people of the Southern States have not looked upon it as such. Only the few have regarded it as the great step ping-stone to enduring municipality, to pros perity, to enlightenment. The many have en gaged in a scramble for position, or, what is worse, have remained listless. A fish that broke, in the attempt to raise him, a crane used-in lifting one thousand pounds of rice at a time, was caught Friday near Wap- po Cut, Charleston. An ambitious youth, who has been brought up with a sad misapprehension of facts, thus pours his soul into verse: If I was a lokio editor, . Wouldn't I have a time ? I wouldn’t print a cussed word For less ’n a $ a line. I’d got my grab and licker free, l . & tickets to the shows. I would’t pay for buggy bier, & wouldn’t I ware good dose ? FROM WASHINGTON. The San Domingo Expedition—Its Object- Railway Ratters in Congress—Shooting of Richardson — Scan. Mag. — National Cemeteries. Special Correspondence of Telegraph and Messenger. Washington, November 27, 18G7. More than a month ago it was announced in. special telegrams from Washington to the New Orleans Times and Baltimore Gazette, that this Government had taken certain steps toward the annexation of San Domingo. Other papers, whose correspondents were* not so well in formed, hastened to oontradict the statement. Becentiy the New York papers have published columns of double-leaded speoial dispatches and lengthy editorials, announcing the same facts, ^nd little more, which they had previously declared unfounded. They have, however, been at a loss to understand tho object of the expe dition which has sailed for San Domingo, and have very generally connected it with a demon stration in relation to Cuban matters. In this they have gone very wide of the mark. Tho real object of the expedition is to lend the moral snpport of this Government to President Baez against Cabral, and to sustain the present party in power until the treaty of annexation can be ratified. Gen. Babcock and Gen. Rnfos Ingalls sailed in the United States steamer Albany, for San Domingo, on a secret mission from this Government in relation to tho annexation move ment. This has been denied in some quarters, but I have it on good authority. President Grant and Seoretary Fish are both in favor of the annexation of San Domingo to this country. A treaty for the purpose has already been pre pared, and will be submitted to the next Con gress early in tho session. It is probable tho President will refer to the subject in his mes sage. It is understood tho treaty provides that this Government shall assume tho debt of San Domingo, which amounts to about one and a half millions in gold. Tho Haytien minister here has been interrogated on the subject, but is very reticent. Railway matters will largely engage tho at tention of the next session of Congress,. As be foro stated, the Memphis and El Paso Railroad Company will renew their application for a right of way. Mr. Garrett, the Preaiuentof the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, must apply for an extension of time for the building of tho Metropolitan railway, and an application will be made for authority on tho part of tho corporation of Washington to subscribe one million dollars to tho contemplated extension of the London and Hampshire railroad to the West. The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Compa ny, (engaged in constructing a much needed road between this city and Baltimore) must go before the Maryland Legislature, which meets in January, for a renewal of their charter, with proposed important modifications. It is said that surveying parties in tho interest of this road have surveyed a route in lower Maryland, which looks to crossing the Potomac below Matthias’ Point, and thence to the Hanover Junction on the Richmond and Fredericksburg railway. This will divert travel from Washing ton via tho Orango and Alexandria railway, and the line of steamers via Acquia Creek.- The project naturally causes some alarm here. The Baltimore and Potomac road will connect at Baltimore with the Northern Central railway, and thus furnish a throngh line North, in opposition to the Baltimore and Ohio. The completion of tho Baltimore and Potomac road between this city and Baltimore will, however, force the building and working of Mr. Garrett’s partially constructed railway to the Point of Rocks. In the interests of the public it is to be hoped all these schemes will bo carried out The report of the shooting, in New York, of Albert D. Richardson, Of the Tribune, by Mr. MacFarlane, of that city, to whose wife Rich ardson had shown a devotion which, to say the least, savored of something more than platonic love, created much excitement among the Bo hemians here, some of whom were personal friends of the wounded man. Vice President Colfax, who had traveled many thousand miles in the West with Mr. Richardson, for whom he had contracted a warm friendship, was deeply concerned ou hearing ihe news, and was at the newspaper office until a late hour Thursday night, for the purpose of hearing the latest in telligence. The story of Richardson’s intimacy with Mrs. McFarlane, as told by Mr. Colfax, left, however, upon the minds of his hearers the impression that, whatever might have been the faults of the husband, Mr. R. was far from blameless. Writing “love-letters” to a married woman is certainly imprudent, to use the mild est term, especially when they fall into the hands of the husband. It will be recollected that on a previous occasion, MacFarlane shot at and wounded Richardson, and the affair created no little excitement at tha time. Mr. Richard son then published a card, saying that after Mrs. MacF. had gained a divorce, he should marry her, if she would accept one so unworthy as himself. The lady obtained a divorce; and although she-had not married Mr. Richardson, the two went to Boston in company, and had just returned when this second shooting affair occurred. These are tho bare facts of the case, as related by Mr. Richardson’s friends. Tho Capital has been-greatly excited over the cases of scan. mag. related in my last. Al though no names wore given in connection with tho reported suicide of a young girl, it appears that the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. Tan Aernam, was brought into the matter; and the. detectives employed to investigate it have is sued a report fully exonerating him. It is not denied that there was a suicide, and that the facts were as related. The question now is, who are the guilty parties ? As for the seduc tion case, in which Mr. Finney, of the Third Auditor’s office, was the offender, a suit for dam ages of $10,000 has beeu entered by that gen tleman against the Nationnl Republican. It is said his friends attempted to investigate the matter, but gave it up a3 a bad job. The Re publican bids him defiance, and printed yester day further damaging disclosures. The report of Gen. Thomas on tho National Cemeteries has been completed. The report shows that there are but two of theso cemete ries iu Georgia, Andersouville and Marietta. At Marietta there are 6,937 white officers and soldiers known and 2,923 unknown, and 225 col ored,. making a total of 9,985. At Anderaonville there are interred 12,755 white soldiers and offi cers known and 839 unknown, and 111 colored, making a total of 13,717. The grand total buried in Georgia is 23,702. . This administration is going into the “real es tate business” with a vengeance, notwithstand ing the President’s disclaimer last summer. In addition to the proposed aevuisition of San Do ming o, referred to abve, a determined effort will be made for the annexation of the British Provinces. To' this end propositions fjom Canada for a new reciprocity treaty, have been refused. Perhaps Mr. Seward's visit to Mexico may re sult in an annexation movement in that direc tion also. Truly we are a great people! General Capron, Commissioner of Agricul ture, returned to his post yesterday, from his trip to Macon. He expresses himself as much pleased with his visit. A private letter received here from Texas, says: “Hamilton will be elected by 30,000 ma jority. Boulds Baker is sure to be Lt Gov ernor.” Commissioner Delano has returned from his Georgia and Florida trip, and was at his office to-day. He is well pleased with tho way in which he was received by the people of the Sonth. An abstract Secretary paper to-day, nearly implt It is demanded bnt he in the matter, The expected circles, to the tion. Gov, with which ] course < t the of the forthcoming reiw^T"' of the Navy, published I lay, is declared by the Secretly , al1 P ure invention. The renort • ^ completed. port «isotj»[ denied that the Spanish*^.. ' ded the release of the SpanishIS** had a long interview with Secret ffihe expressed his dissatisf^^ our government hadp^J^ report of the Secretary of the T. ed to create an excitement in • H is understood it will be the future financial policy of the Walker, of Virginia, had an intfr J s President yesterday. Editors and Authors, In announcing tho fact that Hiar I Mobile, had a new book in press . writer recently added, “the public well as could be expected.” P y 'king,! The author of “Benlah and “Sf n . ! certainly no favorite of the critics • bnt v ’ 1 1 Southern writers in general, mi 8 tiV,v7 8 ’* i l tionwhea they attribute unfavonAk or downright neglect to sectional I Ig like manner, the conductors of Nqh>T Spi ~! predation in the South to political v °.-5l The genius of literature-pure and unfe '-'l is cosmopolitan, lust-quenchine r ,. 3 '| killing; and it is absurd to suppose tLi^Z I of culture, who are for tha mo<:> i * : 1 ' • [ from the influence of violent partisaa flTvjl would deny themselves a really fin® poem because of tho writer’s opinioa j pics having no relation to his literary wort “ I Longfellow and Holmes are sincerely «,w I in tho South; and Poe is read nil over al North.* Q l Literature, for reasons that are not Wi I find, has never been n Southern pro-V? VI want great libraries, ready .• I countries and wealthy publishing W £ S| offsprings of dense population andthe sea wl —to creato that literary atmosphere which is^ I dispensable to the writing of books. J It is an error to suppose that editors are ml erned in their estimate of the value of am* I buttons by any other standard than the inhinil merit Gr availability of tho material offeredfil publication. A prejudiced tui-dc of j-.". I would be most unbusiness-liko and nltimato I most destructive. Doubtless, ail things beijl equal, an editor would prefer the common-phiA of a friend to tho common-places of a p f . n ,| unknown; bnt wo venture to say tint a ft-1 oughly brilliant novel or poem offered bjJ Southern writer would not bo rejected by £| one of tho leading magazines of the North h| cause of its origin. | There have been as few literary sncccsaai| the West as in the South, and for the renal named; but it is not unlikely that, if Amain | literature does not dwindle’ out altogether ^ best representatives will hereafter come frccl “fresh fields and pastures new,” this ride of til Alleghany mountains and the Virginia ridel There is abundant material in the West ail South, which the Utcraieur has not worked a: | and except that the forms, conditions and p!s| of modem poetry and fiction have been vt| nigh exhausted upon the varied aspects of b| man nature and intercourse, which are cre>| where very much the same, we know of t| reason why the verse maker and the iwc| writer may not find in the exceptional phases! our provincial society and the odd exp;riHijl of the frontier, with all their mottled elemai| something original and inspiring. The coc| patch; the settler’s cabin; the old political a| domestic regime; the foreign, particularly d| German emigre; the fore«t, the river ands| prairie, are yet untouched by one single am hand. They are certainly suggestive. Tttl are good comedy and pathos to be drawn osil the camp-mceting, the barbecue and ihe ca| shucking. There is dramatic action in the u| covered wagon, the coon-hunt and the »a| pile. There is poetry in the mist of these \ rivers and their craft and crafts-people, wh might be flecked with curious yet life-like e tail?, and infused with colors quaint andvhi Hitherto nothing better than the stories ofM| Evans aud Emerson Bennett (excepting ci Uncle Toni’s Cabin, which got into polities,a the Household of Bouvcria, which is morbida supernatural) have appeared; and wchaveiej regaled with New England pictures A ly from the antique of Hawthorne to home-life of Whittier and his followers ia p and rhyme. These are losing their hold. | riet Prescott does not bear out the promif her youth. “Norwood” and “The Gaii Angel” were comparative failures. Higci: Hale, Rebecca Harding Davis, Robert Owen, DeForest—among the novelists 1 dard, Aldrich, Holland, Stedmaa, Si Carys and others among the poets—do i tainly assure us of the perpetuity of Am letters. Already the press, by superior intoj ments, draws off the wine of literature, sf may, and we think will, continue to do so. I ter pay and a better audience, readier access! the public, tbe dearth of material that has* been touched in any way either to eihaej deaden its charm, are strong temptation J journalism; and readers themselves prefer details of a tragic or romantic or amusing t action in every day life to the same thieg d at length by the imagination. Everyday! reporter is identifying himself closer with J society which ho sketches, and everyday ( sketches grow more life-like, full and gr»S The newspaper is coming to be a sort romanco in which the characters and s® aro real; and the journalist of to-day t 5 ’ tho dramatist and novelist used to be. Hew onr libraries overflowing with books wM- - of- us have time to read aud no one won-- ? tend to excel—books, too, on every cancel^ subject which have accumulated during r hundreds of years—we think the end of • tore—of tho artistic sort—novels ssd P and essays—has been in its bookish fon^ nearly reached aud that it will bencefow' its most accepted and acceptable m*- c ] pression throngh the press. Still wo do not deny that Iheremsy ba > yet left to purely literary work and ilOtP. will doubtless discover its material out« old beaten tracks of song and story. ern or Western writer should suddenly W*] in Boston or New York with a brilliacU.^s thing the publishers would jump stit. must be t^Uiant Mediocrity will not '■ and so. Mrs. Evans, whose books illuito exceedingly respectable and ambitions © cannot look to receive of Southern or. criticism the free and spotaneons uea tions of pleasure that always meet the » of true genius. , An intelligent, but as we must tak« ' add, an over enthusiastic writer in » e ( Post controverts onr general idea 0 points; and he arrays a number of , temporaries—Dickens, Grote, Bakins, Froude, Thackery, and so on—ia ^ are wrong in estimating the decline ^ot • His names, and an hundred mare ^ e , (h L a added to them, sustain us. Most of ^ had their day, and all of them hav 0 to exhaust the sources of literary aud to fill up the book cases, l- 11 ' ..,, will, of course, go on asserting j way; but we are speaking chiefly oi ^ j rather than the matter-of-fact. t> a troit writer has a mind to test the 9 a pose he try his hand upon the adven ^ of Auerbach’s peasants in the ir 0 mefl c! give us a steamboat borror in Bo /j sure. We are inolinod to think he ^ the newspapers—by their currant, . ^ peculiarities—will bother him no*.^ J ” flil® Smart Boys.—Barwell and —Frank Hill, near Greenville ^ i»y, and grand-sons of Jaog 8 aged ten and twelve made this year a heavy pal® attending school. This the.v^ ^ i other boys have been f? ii# will become men in fact, u &pd*u [LaGrangi w I [e Ancients and the 1770 the English Parhamente^j, -oever should lead into ma jjrf iale subject of her Majes y. J ( or powders, perfuses «*enc* ( , false hair, Spanish cotton, , line, high-heeled shoes, d be prosecuted for sore® pjjsrl declared null and void. 70 was very ungaUant, * But it is a question whetfler ^ t(t \ as muoh necessity in tjj . jneie 0 *-! ich a law as there was in^ The farm in Yorktown, Va-^nP^j, Cornwallis surrendered his fo«e^ of Mr. county, uer, i have sides when boys The year * '■ Whoever any male rouge teeth, crinoline should riago of r it. quite for