Georgia weekly telegraph and Georgia journal & messenger. (Macon, Ga.) 1869-1880, July 19, 1870, Image 4

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i : f. >! v-.V. •- :%>•* Tire Greorgifct "Weeklv Telegrapli 'and ..V-ar Telegraph and Messenger. MACON, JULY 19 1870 The Agency, We see from the Atlanta papers, didnothingon tnesday but debate and dispose of a resolution in each House to seize the money belonging to the School Fond. The resolutions were dis posed of as reported. jn the Senate, Mr. Speer, of the committee to examine into the condition of the peniten tiary, submitted a report. The committee found the number of oonvicts, 496, aa follows: Whites—males, G9; females, 1. Negroes— Males, 304; females, 1C. The committee re view, at length, the condition of the prisoners and make some suggestions. Of the alleged maltreatment of convicts in the employ of Grant & Alexander, thoy say: Great complaints of abuse of this authority have been made against overseers employed by Messrs. Grant, Alexander & Co. Much evi dence has been adduced on this subject, and, if true, certainly should be corrected. But how to correct a complained of evil of this character is a difficulty that no one can fully appreciate until it has been more than ordinarily studied. And they recommend the Governor, to instruct the Principal Keeper of the Penitentiary to re quire of the lessees prompt traumittals to him of all exemplification papers of convicts, as they are received by them; also, to make to him monthly reports, stating the names of all convicts in their charge; the names of all con victs who died, escaped, or were pardoned, or discharged during the past month: also, to in struct the Principal Keeper to visit places oc casionally where the convicts are kept, and to inspect the prisoners and verify these monthly reports, and to require the • lessees to abate the causes of complaint referred to in this report, as follows: That all labor on the Sabbath day, by the oonvicts, except such as is absolutely neces sary, shall be forbidden and prevented; that all gaming at cards and dice, and other im moral practices on the Sabbath, shall be pre vented. And that no convict shall, in any in stance, receive more than twenty-five lashes, and only that number in presence of thelessees, nn/t not more than ten lashes shall be inflicted upon a convict by any overseer, especially authorized to inflict whipping by the lessees, in the absence of the lessees. And that no con vict shallbe whipped twice for the same offense, nor twice on the same day. The whipping of females upon their naked person shall be prohibited. And the hours of labor shall be considered from the time the prisoners are ordered out to work in the morn ing to the time they return to the stockade or quarters, deducting the time allowed them for noon. Also, that the Governor cause the At torney General to review the testimony, here with submitted, in reference to the property there referred to, and if thought necessary by the Attorney General, that he shall be required to bring suit for the same. Also, that the Gov ernor be instructed to require the performance of religious service to the convicts every Sab bath day; and that all facilities for this pur pose shall be given by the lessees, consistent with the safe keeping and discipline of the prisoners. Chinese Shoemakers. The Boston Post reports from North Adams that the Chinamen are surprising every body with their quiet industry and progress in the at of making shoes. The work already turn ed «ut is pronounced above the average of the Crisping, and much more faithful; which we may wehbelieve, as really the chief art in this NewEnglaiq manufacture is the art of slighting and covering^ so as not to be detected. Ev ery thing is sacrificed to rapidity, and the Chi naman has n«t yet been inducted into that part of the mystery The Crispin: have given np the idea of fight ing the Chinese—some have left, others betaken themselves to oher labor—some are living on the Union tilowmce of ten dollars a week— while othes have left the organization, and work npon he sonnd principle of accepting what their Ifoor will command. The corres pondent says nearly all the Crispins in North Adams were foreigners—principally French Canadians, whch accounts for their tenderness on the subject tf the rights of loyal American labor. Attack on the finooL Fund.—The Atlanta Agency, on Tuesday seemed to have enter tained some thoughts^ paying themselves for their valuable serviceamt of the school fund, contrary to the constitnjon, but thought better of it, and tabled in the 'enate and indefinitely postponed in the House a resolution for that purpose. We ore glad tha they refrainedfrom taking their nine dollars p& flay and mileage out of the school fund. Thtt pay is justly due from the Federal Goverame*. According to Bullock and the Radicals they re the agents of the Federal Government, emplved in torment ing and harrassing the people objeorgio, under the authority and direction of thqjnited States. By every rule of law and justio their pay is due out of the Federal Treasury^nfl finding the State strong box empty, the} should go boldly to Boutwell, demand a settlunett, and get. a handsome advance for future coercions. Varney Gaskill will help them in. thh nutter, for a consideration. A Carpet Bag Octbage.—According to Ion Piatt, Senator Roscoe Conklin, of New Yoifc, is the victim of an unprecedented outrage. Tie Senator has a passion for pugilism, and everj morning, after a cold bath and crash towels, takes his boxing gloves and pummels any chance friend who may call upon him, nntil ho roars for mercy. Rico, of Arkansas, saw fire fly from Conklin’s blows ono morning but the next time had the precaution to take with him a professional prize fighter, who modestly and reluctantly consented to be exercised upon by Conklin. The Senator danced round his victim in a lively manner, and put in some fancy licks; bnt all at once the stranger answered back with snch shocking vigor that Conklin broke a lounge and a rock ing chair in an nnexpected flight from a sock- dologer and stood in need of reconstruction generally. That was the morning Conklin told Fenton in the Senate to mind his own business. He was ruffled. The Rochester Knocking Foxes have got poor Raphael hard at work drawing miniatures and portraits. The pencil is seen moving of it self with a halo of glory round about it. The picture is signed ‘^Raphael” in a bold hand, an exact fao simile of the great artist’s. Fity poor Raphael—compelled, after a long holiday, to resume labor, under the Foxes, and take por traits for $100 a piece, of which he does not get a single shilling! Coming Home.—-The U. S. steamship Quin aebaug, arrived at Charleston, on Sunday morn ing with thirty-four persons, men, women and children, who left the South at the dose of the War to better their condition in Brazil. They were taken on board this ship and famished with transportation by order of President Grant, and brought back to this country. They were found at Pernambuco and Para, in an al moat starving condition. General Haboo, a negro graduate of the Uni versity of Michigan, has received from his alma mater the degree of LL. D. The Georgia Muddle. We are at this writing—2 p. m., July 12th— without any information as to what will be the result of the conference asked for by the Senate on the Georgia bill, reoently passed by the House. The Senate conference committee has been appointed, and consists of Messrs. How ard, of Michigan, and Hamlin, of Maine, both Radicals, and Thurman, of Ohio, Democrat. The House committee has not been named yet In the absence of any definite information by telegraph, we print the following speculations as to the final result, from specials in the New York papers and Forney’s Press, of Saturday, and the Richmond Dispatch of Monday: The Georgia Bill in Conference. —The dis position of both houses at this stage of the ses sion seems to be to settle all matters in confer ence committees. The Georgia bill was taken np in the Senate to-day, and after some debate the House bill was disagreed to and a confer ence asked. It is thought by the friends of the measure that, after all, perhaps this is the best way to settle it. Had it been kept before the Senate, amendments would have been offered, among them the Bingham amendment, all of which would have given rise to debate. The impression is that the conference committee will report the bill as it passed the House. Gen. Batler is confident that the House will not re cede from ita position, and that the measure which passed that body last is the only one that will be accepted by the majority. The friends of the Bepublicans of Georgia are satisfied with it, and believe that it is the best bill they can get. The President of the Senate has not yet announced the conferees on the part of that body.—Press. THE GEORGIA QUESTION REDIYIVUS—A VICTORY FOR BULLOCK* Concurrent with the installation of Mr. Aker- man, the Georgia question was to-day put in the train of speedy settlement by the reference by the Senate of the House bill to a committee of conference. This leaves both the House and Senate bills in the hands of the committee, and it is folly understood that the resnlt will be the adoption of the Honse bill in substance. This is a Bullock victoiy, but it is intimated that the Attorney-General expects the question of the interpretation of whatever bill is passed to ceme before him, in which event a decision may be looked for that will favor to the utmost tha ef forts of the Republican party to maintain its hold on Georgia, bnt will not countenance any plundering schemes in the State.— World. THE GEORGIA BILL was called np in the Senate to-day, and after some debate was referred to a Conference Com mittee. This was rather unexpected; but the friends of the bill profess to be satisfied, inas much ns it will fare better there than it would have done in the Senate. In that body it would have given rise to debate, and probably some amendments would have been adopted which would not have been accepted by the House. Ben Butler says the House will insist upon the original bill, or rather the bill that passed that body, and that any attempt to alter it by the Senate will be met by resistance. Jt is thought the Conference Committee will report the-House bill, which seems to be satisfactory to all par ties.—Herald. From present indications, there is little hope that any definite action by Congress will be taken tbis session on the admission of Georgia. The action of the Senate to-day is regarded by some as the death of the Georgia bill. It seems probable that the Senate Conference Committee will be headed by Mr. Trumbull, and that Mr. Thurman will be the Democratic member of the committee. If Gen. Butler heads the House Committee,, which he is likely to do, there can be little h:pe that any agreement will be reached.—Tribune. The Georgia Bill.—The Georgia bill has gotten into a singular plight. Both Houses have passed bills not at all resembling each other, and have referred them to a conference committee who will have power under the circum stances to frame an entirely new bill, which, in the hurry and confusion in the closing np of the session next week, will doubtless pass with out discussion of its merits or demerits.—Die- patch, 0th. A Hairs in North Carolina. The following paragraphs from the Raleigh Sentinel, of Saturday, will give some idea of the desperate straits in which Holden and his infamous party find themselves, and of the means they are using to secure a fresh lease of honor: Free Speech, Indeed!—We learn from a correspondent at Fayetteville, that a colored man, for making a Conservative speech at the District Convention in that place, was run out of the town by the Leaguers, on the “glorious” Fourth, with slicks and brickbats. The Rads must have a standing army to secure to them the enjoyment of their rights, and assist them to prevent any body else from doing the same. In the Radical Convention, held at Lumber- ton last Monday, it was publicly declared that the success of the county ticket depended upon the Colonel of Militia in that District. That if one Howell, (the recently appointed militia Colonel for that District,) should be nominated for Sheriff, he would secure the election of the whole ticket by the aid ot the militia, but if he was thrown overboard the ticket could not se- cure that aid and must be defeated. Col. Kirk’s arrival at Asheville, with a por tion of his command, we are reliably informed, created a perfect storm of indignation, in which Republicans and Conservatives participated. We also learn that Governor Holden’s calling out the militia is denounced in unmeasured terms by Republican candidates west of the Ridge, as unjust, uncalled for, and unwise. The Radicals themselves admit that the resnlt will be the (.lection of the Conservative candi dates by a largely increased majority. Wliat a New York Radical Paper Says of Ono or Its Senators. The New York Commercial Advertiser, a Radical journal of weight and repute in that party, has this to say of the Hon. Reuben E. Fenton, ono of the Radical Senators from that State. Fenton has been loaded with honors by the party in New York, having been a member of the House for several terms, and Governor once or twice. Fainted a3 the picture is by a Radical artist, we are bouud to accept it as true to nature: A Senator who represents the great State of New York, it is said, is to make charges, to day, before a Committee of the Senate, against a citizen of the State, whom the President has nominated for Collector of the Port of New York. We are not apprised of the nature of the charges to be preferred. A Senator who assumes the responsibility of accuser, in order that his charges may cany weight should him self present a clean record. It is notorious fcat this Senator has from time to time been narked and branded with charges of the most irfamons character—that these charges were unde over the names of persons pecnniarly re sponsible, who defied him in public prints to caiHhem before a Court of Justice where an op- porUnity could be had to prove or disprove them, Damaging as were these charges, the Senator has made no reply to them. He has remained silent and passive, and has not dared to bring their authors to a test before tho courts or before the people. We submit that it is the duty of the Senate to pat this Senator on trial as well as tho President's candidate for Collec tor. If this is done, we promise to show that the Senate disgraces itself by permitting him to bold a seat in that body. The Visible Supply of Cotton.—The New York Financial Chronicle of the 9th makes np the following table: 1869. 1870. Stock in Liverpool.- bales 574,000 366,000 Stock in London 31,600 75,842 Stock in Glasgow 500 600 Stock in Havre 157,130 43,400 Stock in Marseilles 10.450 10.650 Stock in Bremen 23JOO 13,800 Stock rest of Continent 50,000 20,000 Afloat for Great Britain (Ameri- canL....... 95,000 49,000 Afloat.for France (American and Brazil) 21.209 26,671 Total Indian Cotton afloat for Europe 401,546 668,267 Stock in United States ports... 154,062 47,260 Stock in inland towns 31,892 3,903 The Georgia Press. The Nick King, from Florida, brought to Sa vannah, Saturday, 3,000 watermelons and 55 green turtle. Eleven hnndred and fifty of the melons were shipped at once to Boston. Laying tha new Gray Wacke pavement and the track for the new street railroad from East Broad street to the Exchange, will be com menced very soon, at Savannah. The editor of the Ready Reporter, at Atlan ta, says: Coming np the Georgia Railroad, this morn ing, I noticed in the first-class car, among the ladies and gentlemen, a big buck nigger, seated about the oentre of the car, reading a newspa per. _ Captain Tatt Miller was the conductor, who informed me that he got on at Augusta, and insisted npon his right to a seal in that car, as he paid first-class fare. We get the following Hems from the Sparta Times and Planter: The weather has been exceedingly worm for the past two weeke, and an abundance of rain has fallen. Some fanners complain of much rain and plenty of grass. Others report enough rain, but not an excess. All crops, as a gen eral rule, look well, and promise an abundant yield. We have not as yet heard of any cater pillars on cotton. The effect of a considerable thunder storm was experienced in Sparta last Sunday. Nine trees were struck by lightning within the cor porate limits-of the town. Fortunately, no body was hurt, and no serious damage was done., The lightning-rod business, we think, would flourish here. The Lumpkin Telegraph has a long account of the Fifteenth Amendment celebration in that village on Friday. We make the following ex tract : . When the column reaehed the square they filed around a time or two and broke ranks for the speaking, as by this time they had pre pared a stand of some goods boxes, wMch, about ten o’clock, was mounted by Blount— (known here among the boys by the pet name of “Spot”)—who commenced to harangue them. The attendance was small—only about two hun dred and fifty or three hundred, and only a hundred or so gathered around the stand, and appeared to take bat liitle interest in what he said. He spoke for upwards of two hours. He told them he was their particular friend, and how he had suffered for them; how he had mingled with them night and day, both male and female—[a voice in the crowd, “that’s so,”] and he considered it an honor. He appealed! He denounced! He vociferated! He slob bered! He yelled! bnt not one cheering voice applauded the poor old rogue, in all his frenzied and vehemenf eloquence. In vain did he try to look sweet and affable—in vain did he call them by the fondest and most endearing names. It was evident that “Old Spot” wasn't the man they wanted to hear speak. The Eras says “it is generally understood the Legislative session will be a long one.” The Griffin • Star says Col. A. W. Walker, a citizen of Henry county, subscribed $1,000 to Mercer University, last week. At the recent commencement of Judson Female Institute, Marion, Alabama, the first honor, in a class of fifty-eight, was awarded to Miss Annie King Lumpkin, daughter of Col. J. Troup Lumpkin, the local of the Atlanta Sun. The Star says the late Masonic Festival at Griffin was a success pecuniarily—five hundred dollars being realized. The two prettiest women that ever visited Griffin were present, hailing from Macon and Colnmbns, respec tively. Mr. Matthew Long, aged 91 years, died in Hall county, last week. Thomas Brooks, one of the first settlers of Spalding county, and universally respected, died near Griffin, Saturday, aged 7G years. The Star says: Crops.—The crops in this section are begin- ing to suffer considerably for rain. Cotton is small bnt looks healthy. Some complaint of boll worm. Corn large and fine, but very sappy; will suffer bad if it don’t get rain quick. Letters for Miss N. L. Bacon and Miss Clem- mie Hall, Macon, Ga., are held for postage in the Atlanta post office. The following paragraphs are clipped from the Atlanta Georgian: Mb. Speaker McWhorter.—We are highly pleased to learn that this gentleman is not in favor of the Legislature holding over till 1872. We are also gratified to learn that he is of opin ion that a majority of the Legislature is of tho same way of thinking. Bullock Eggs.—Democrats in and about At lanta who wonld not speak to a Republican a year ago, are now sacking Bullock eggs! What a change to be sure!! Will somebodv be good enough to post us as to the cause ? The Atlanta Fire Department cost the city about $6,100 last year. The loss by fires in that city for the same period was $76,000. The Atlanta Sun says: Cotton Prospects.—We have recently con versed with several intelligent cotton planters, who have seen quite 8 number of growing crops, and they inform ns that no candid and well informed man, who has had opportunities to see the crop growing, can assert that our present crop is even above the average. We find the following in the Atlanta Intelli gencer : Miscegenation.—Eveline Winn, a white wo man, and Nelson Goldsmith, colored, were ar rested and carried before Justice B. D. Smith, yesterday, charged with living together as man and wife. The evidence showed that the wo man was a very abandoned creature, and was rea ly guilty of the offense, likewise was her colored paramour found guilty. Hia Honor sentenced the man to pay a fine of ten dollars and cost, and the woman to pay a fine of five dollars and cost, or work several months in the chain gang. The Constitution tells the following story of sharp practice—mild term, by-the-by—in the life insurance line: A gentleman of reliability gives ns the follow ing statement, which, if true, is an instance of pretty sharp practice in the life insurance line. It is ramored that an aged gentleman of the highest standing, and a member of a large and respectable benevolent order,being two decrepid and aged to be a snbjeot for ordinary legitimate life insurance, was induced by a couple of men, members of the same order, to join a co-opera tive relief association, for winch they were agents npon the condition that they wonld advance the calls made npon the demise of members, pro vided that in the event of the old man’s decease, the money due on his death claim should be so distributed that his widow should have one- third and they the other two thirds. It is said that this contract was made with the full knowl edge that the old man’s sands of life were near ly ran out; that one of the parties purchased his accomplice’s interest in the risk, and is now in the enjoyment of two-thirds of the money paid over by the association npon proof of the death of the old man. Fretty sharp practice, that! Total.. 1,550,489 1,325,893 These figures indicate an increase in the cot ton in sight to-night of 225,096 bales compared with the same date of 1869. Botham.—A letter from Stanfordville reports very flattering prospects for corn and oolton crop* about the Half Acre. People healthy, in- , dwtrinu and peaceable. How the Wood Goes.—The present consump tion of wood in the United States is enormous, One hundred and fifty thousand acres of the best timber is cut every year to supply the de mand for railway Bleepers alone. For railroad builders, repairs and cars, the annual expendi ture for wood is $38,500,000. In a single year, the locomotives in the United States consume $50,000,000 worth of wood. There are In the whole country more than 400,000 artisans in wood, and if the value of their labor is $1,000 a year, the wood industry of tho country repre sents an amount of nearly $500,000,000 per annum. John Coming this Way.—A San Francisco dispatch of the 8th says: Census Marshal Morris declares that Califor nia is entitled to another Congressman under tne Fourteenth Amendment, counting the Chi nese as population. He has instructed his dep uties to carefully enumerate them. Several hundred Chinamen left here to-day on a special train for Georgia. Booth’s Theatre and the Olympic have closed their doors for the season, following the exam ple of Niblo’s. The Fifth Avenue will do like wise after this week. That will leave only two theatres open, and even these will suspend their performances, it is said, unless they are better patronised than they have been during the past fortnight. The Chinese Labor Question Even the threatened war in Europe fails to divert the attention ot the Northern papers and politicians from the so’Called Labor Question in connection with the immigration of the Chinese. It is the snbjeot of universal dis quisition. Two of the moet philosophical articles .on the topic may be found in the New York Mercantile Journal and in the Commercial and Finanoial Chronicle. The latter assuming, what will scarcely be questioned, that the country needs more labor, and the acquisition considered by itself alone, must be regarded aa a benefit, proceeds to canvass the objections used against Chinese labor. It argues justly that the price of labor' in this country, being regulated by competition between employers, the complaints of the Crispins are without force. They can still find abundance of employment at remunerative prices. Upon the alleged danger of such, an over powering Chinese immigration as shall supplant and ruin American labor, the ■ Chronicle re marks as follows: It is not true, for many reasons. The total Chinese immigration into this country for four teen years past hps been 78,817, the largest number, 12,874, having come in 18G9. If we suppose this number multiplied by ten, it will still be less than one-third of the whole immi gration ; and there would still be fewer Chinese than either German or Irish immigrants. Now “comparisons are odious,” and we shall not dis cuss the comparative value to the nation of these different classes. It is enough to say that, whether the Chinamen are the poorest workmen in the world, or the best, the number of them likely to come during the present cen tury could not add materially to the pauperism and crime of the country on the one hand, nor seriously affect the general market for labor on the other. Moreover, the immigration from China cannot possibly increase as rapidly as that from Europe, which has much more than doub led since 18G0, and which increased last year 55,354, while the Chinese “irruption” increased only 2,190. For it costs more to bring a China man from his home to America than it costs to bring a German or Irishman ; and his resources at home are incomparably smaller. At the low est rate of wages in the west of Ireland, a com mon laborer who manages' to live without spending money can earn his passage in three months, while a Chinamen in Fuh Chow must work nearly three years to do tho same. It is therefore only the better class in the Central Flowery Kingdom, those who have means of their own, or at least long practice in saving, who can come at all. The Irish and Germans here are constantly bringing their friends to Ms country, with their own earnings, bnt whether tho Chinese have no friends, or wheth er their own ambition always is to return with their earnings, it seems to be true that no Chinaman ever yet sent money home to bring another out. The probability is that the num ber of immigrants from China will increase but moderately, and will never be eo great as that of the Irish and Germans who now come every year. But even if the greatest emigration everknown in history should now take place, we insist that the event woutd bo a benefit., not only to the American people as a whole bnt especially to the intelligent American laborer. In every na tion the introdnetion of abundant physical force has improved the condition of the working man. The principle is the same as when ma- cMnery is constructed to exercise the brute force which has hitherto required human muscle. The result always is that laboring men are ele vated in the nature of tho work they do. So, if inferior labor is brought here in abundance, the more active, fertile and dexterous brain cf the American citizen will have this labor to dis pose of, and will find in the gaidance and im provement of it a better work than that from wMch it is relieved. And speaking of the farcical pretence that the employment of CMnamen under contract is a system of slave labor. - ''e Chronicle says: Bat there can be noth. a at all resembling slavery in the relations between capitalists anc any Chinamen whom they may import into the United States. In thi3 country, employers are practically at tho mercy of laborers. Employ ers may eBgage them (either Chinamen or Irishmen) under contracts for five years at twenty dollars a month; but they will work at that only so loDg as they cannot earn more. Let them once learn that their wages are under the market rates, and they will leave. What remedy has the capitalist in that event? It may be answered he can enforce the contract. Imagine an employer sueing fifty Irishmen or fifty Chinamen for a breach of contract for work or labor. The resnlt of suoh suits would be fifty jndgmentsfor damages wMch could not be collected out of irresponsible men, and fifty bills of costs, which the capitalists would have the pleasure of paying, and the Chinaman or Irishman (as we do not imprison for debt) would go to work for some one else at higher wages. In a word, then, not until the fugitive slave law is re-enacted, (a law wMch, we fancy, no one fears will be on our statute books again) or nntil there is a remedy against the body of these laborers, can contracts such as those which are now made with Chinamen be en forced. This whole cry, therefore, of the re vival of slavery is only a subterfuge, and shows the weakness of the cause of those who are opposing this movement when their chief ar gument is based npon false premises. Letter From General Young. Washington, D. C., June 30, 1S70. Editors Constitution: As there seems to be some misunderstanding between certain persons as to my position in Washington, I desire to say right here: That I am not now taking, nor have I taken means to get a seat in the Forty-first Congress. I came to Washington, in March, at the earnest solicitation of certain distinguished Democrats of my district; and from the day of my arrival I labored incessantly to bring to a successful solution the troubles and issues inci dent to tho Georgia case. I have ever held tho opinion that the people of Georgia elected the present delegation to the Fortieth Congress, and that they fully expeoted to hold an election for the Forty first Congress; and it is a fact well known to many members of the Georgia Legislature, that I have been most urgent and anxious for an eleetion for the Forty- first Congress, and that I have urged from time to time that an enabling act should be passed by the Legislature for that purpose. I still hold to my original opinion, which I advocated a year ago to the Democrats of tho Honse of Representatives, and no matter what construc tion may be placed upon the law, I believe that the people expected an election, and that they have a right to that election under tho law. I shall be the last one to give my countenance or consent to any act that will deprive the people of my State of a single right or liberty guaran teed to them by the Constitution of the United States or by the Constitution and laws of any State. I shall therefore never take a seat in this Congress unless directed by my constituents. P. M. B. Youxo. Fighting Resources of France and l'rnssia. Tho Boston Post says tho fighting resources of the two countries, which events now rapidly gathering may plunge into a war of gigantio proportions, are ample for a lengthy continu ance of the strife if once begun. Fiance, the military Colossus of the We3t, has, according to the latest and most accurate advices, 414,G32 soldiers on the peace footing, 047,171 of a field army, or 1,250,000 men in all her entire ordi nary war strength. Of these, 370,000 men are ready to march at the tap of .the drum. Aus tria, who is looked upon as the ally of France in this emeute, has 2S7,470 men on the pe establishment, 838,700 of a war strength, 300,000 fully prepared to move. If the group of South German States should be found on the same side, they have 6G,540 men on tho peace, or 184,406 on tho war footing, with 107,000 of tMs number ready for instant servico. Suoh a coalition would give Napoleon the control of 777,000 fighting men at once, with a reserve of 1,596,106 trained soldiers. On the other hand Prussia has 726,000 men on the peace or 1,266,- 000 on the war footing, with 300,000 now ready for operations on her Western frontier. North Germany, going with Prussia, has 315,526 on the peace, 551,993 on the field or 944,321 on the war footing, of whioh 516,000 are instantly available. This would place at Bismarck's dis posal 840,000 men ready at once, and 1,364,321 in reserve, or 69,000 men more on the instant, and, hereafter, 231,785 less than the French alliance. Should Southern Germany lend a helping hand to Prussia she would have 1,053,- 000 men, or 176,000 more than France, to move at once. This wonld leave Prussia still a re serve of l,44l;727 men, or only 154,379 leas than that of France and Austria coalesced. Fire in Manchester, N. H.—A fire broke out in Manchester, New Hampshire, last Friday, which destroyed an ana of wooden buildings esti g ated at five to six sores. m The Great Steamboat Race. The repeater of the Memphis Avalanche, who boarded the Robert E. Lee at Memphis, on her great raoe against the Natchez, gives a lively idea of what a steamboat race on the Missis sippi may be to a passenger: boarding the t.we in the darkness of night, and filled with all the excitement and terrors of the sUnation, the Avalanche reporter looked around for some as surance of safety, and searched diligently through the hidden depths of his pMlosopby for comfort. He had succeeded in a measure, so as to feel tolerably comfortable and brave, and sufficiently knit in the nerves to take a dis passionate view of the situation—dispassionate view! Good heavens! how grievously was he disappointed. His first care was to procure a room, which the imperturbable clerk let him have at once. “Yon can oocupy,” said he, “No.-7.” No. 7 turned out to be situated ex actly over the boiler. Tbis was not “Balm of Gilead;” on the contrary, it was “gall and wormwood” to the reporter. He tried to find consolation in the reflection that coal was not the worst sort of a combustible, and perhaps there might be lack in it. He explored tMs subject, bnt fonnd that the coal was fearfully bituminous, and that it was all in nice lumps, not less than a pound each, with rosin scattered through it, just as one would scatter bran through chopped feed. This discovery was comforting. One of the hands informed the reporter that the pine knots were nearly all out, but it was a pleasure to discover that there were at least twenty barrels of coal oil still unused. This oil was used with judicious calmness, and a man of judgment and nerve took a bucket full of it round, and, with a large dipper, while a fireman opened the doors of the fire-boxes, he dashed a half gallon into each with periodical precision. This was done to add a little tone to the sluggishness of the bituminous coal mixed with rosin. The pine knots, of wMch a second supply was taken in at WMte River, were near ly out, and they were used sparingly. This sort of fuel made it particularly safe to have a berth over the boiler. The reporter was again comforted when he visited the engine-room and found oim hundred and thirty pounds op steam up, and all the anxiety of every officer on board was to get np more steam. The fact is, owing to the unusual size of the Lee’s cylinders, she uses steam faster than she can make it. The Natchez has the same power for producing steam, and not near the capacity for using it. Both steamers have eight boilers each, while the cylinders of the Lee are much larger than those of the Natchez. TMs tMng of Mgh pressure is doubtless very fine for fast running, bat it is mighty nerve-disturbing to a peaceable man, who wants to have no fuss on board steamboats no more than anywhere else. The room No. 7, exactly over the boilors, had the effect of sending the reporter on to the hurri cane deck to reflect a bit before retiring to en joy that sleep that belongs to a good conscience and a well regulated stomach. The hurricane deck of the Lee at midnight on the Mississippi, above Memphis, the sky covered with leaden clonds, the dark river falling turbidly beneath the parallel volumes of black smoke, mnch blacker than the black sky above or the black river beneath, falling away in our wake, THE BED GLARE . of the open fire boxes gleaming over the river, the snorting of the steam pipes like a whale that is chased in the Southern Ocean, and the dark outlines of the low lying wooded shores of the river, made up all the circumstances of this tre mendous. race that were then within reach of observation. The engineer, of course, was at his post with corrugated brow and compressed lip, a flat eye sharply set and a hand oily and bony, bnt steady as if its nerves were made of steel. He throws his eye at onee over every foot of the machinery and walks around with noiseless step, touching a cock here and a wash er there, evidently feeling satisfied that the en gine was remarkably sonnd and safe, and that every tMng was in mighty good trim. Then the pilot was away aloft looking ahead with prac ticed and steady vision, and guiding the rapid course of the boat with confident and artistic touch. Presently the steam is slacked off, there is a rapid ringing of bells, a noisy blowing down the tubes from the pilot-honse to the engine room, a man in a red shirt sounding appears at the bows slinging out a lead and crying out con stantly for nearly an hoar such sea-faring slang as this: “Quarter less three, three-fourths less four,” and so forth; the meaning of wMch is that the water is from seventeen to twenty feet deep. When it reached tMrty feet the sound ings ceased, the whale snorting was resumed, the creaking of every individual stick on the boat began anew, and THE WHITE FOAM in our wake became smaller, the dark forms at the fire-boxes move continually before the red glare, and opening and shutting, shovelling in coal and rosin, or raking out ashes without in termission. 1 Capt. Cannon, a man of medium height, with a tremendous deep chest, rather stooped shoulders, and a steel face, for his hair is dark, moves from place to place, a person of weight, yet not lacking in agility. He spares not his oaths, bnt Ms voice is not loud nor Ms talk voluble. He wants to win the raoe, and he is resolved that no Mtch shall occur anywhere wMch will jeopardize his well founded hope of success. The fire doors, the engine room, and the pilot honse, are the types of life on the boat. They must be kept in harmoniusand effective action, and not a particle of force or moment of time is to be wasted. The Natchez at no time approached nearer than a couple of miles after leaving New Orleans. During the whole way up the Lee gained on her opponent, and the on ly thing wMch could be discovered of rivalry on the river was the SMOKE OF THE NATCHEZ. curling darkly np in the distance, and growing more attenuated every time it came in view across the bends of tho river. Wherever there was a log shanty along either shore, a delega tion from it invariably stood on the most prom inent bluff to have a few rays of recognition and welcome across the intervening diluted mud, and congregations of hovels usually sent out a crowd that managed somehow or other to improvise a gun and fire! off a salute, wMch was invariably answered by three or four hoarse whistles from the Lee, the great champion. The Currency Bill.—The Fresident yester day approved “An act to provide a national cur rency secured by a pledge of United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof,” approved June 3,1864,and and the acts amendatory thereof, and to amend same. It provides far an inerease of fifty-four millions of bank-note currency, retires forty- five millions of three per cent certificates, re distributes twenty-five millions from the excess held by the North and East to the South and West, and provides for free banking on a four per cent gold bond. It does not inflate the volume of currency a dollar. Legal-tender notes will take the place of the three per cents as the bank reserve, while the additional bank notes will supply the place of the legal-tenders thus withdrawn, to wMch, however, must be added twenty per cent more as reserve for tho afore said new issue of bank notes. In this way the present equilibrium of the volume of currency is preserved, being neither contracted nor ex panded. According to a statement prepared at the Treasury, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mis souri, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Iowa Rnd Kansas will gain in the redistribution of the twenty- fivo millions, while Massachusetts, Rhode Is land, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania will lose. The hill makes the redistribution gradual and on tbe basis of the new census.— Washington Republican, 0th. Chinese in New York.—The Philadelphia Press <tf the 8th sayB: A prominent manufacturing honse of New York, it is understood, has quietly made ar- rangments to employ one thousand Chinese hands. They are expeoted to begin work in the fall Now let the foreign Democrats of New York prepare themselves for a massacre of these foreigners who have Come in later thun them selves. No; let Senator Wilson and tho RMW 1 Crispins of Massachusetts head the onslaught. Queen Isabella’s abdication was executed in triplicate at the BasHewski Palace. One copy- was sent to the Emperor,' another to the Duke de Sesto, and a third to the Marquis de Mira- flonres, an intimate friend of the Queen. Its condition is that Don Alphonso, her son; should be recognized aa lawful King by the Constitu ent Cortes; if this is agreed to Isabella engages to live voluntarily in exile and return to Spain o more. The President and the CoNHEcncumss.— We see from the Connecticut papers. that the people were very much disappointed in tha ap- pearanoe of the President, bnt console them selves that he is of the nature of a singed mt- » good deal more than he looks to be, Comptroller General’s Office, Atlanta, Ga., July 8,1870. Mr. Editor: Quite a number of verbal and written inquiries have been made of me in regard to the constitutionality of the Act taxing the sales of spirituous and malt liquors 20 cents per gallon. That all may understand my views on the subject, I have to request that you publish this letter: V The latter clause of Seo. 27, Article 1st of the Constitution of this State declares that “taxation on property shall be ad valorem only, and uniform on all. species of property taxed,” and hence the conclusion arrived at by manjr that the specific or special tax on liquors is unconstitutional. And such would be a legitimate conclusion, but for the fact that another part of the same Constitution expressly authorizes the Legislature to lay special tax on the sale of spirituous and malt liquors, and thus takes liquors out of the pro visions of the language above quoted. Arti c!e VI. Section 3, declares that, the “poll tax allowed by this Constitution, any educational fund now belonging to this State, except the endowment of and debt due to the State Uni versity, or that may hereafter be obtained in any way, a special tax on shows and exhibi tions, and on the sale of spirituous or malt liquors, which the General Assembly is here by authorized to assess, and the proceeds from the commutation for militia seivice, are hereby set apart and devoted to the support of Common Schools.” It would seem that if the attention of those who are engaged in re sisting, before the courts, the collection of this tax on account of its supposed unconstitution- ality, could be directed to the clause last quot ed, that they would at once abandon the ground as wholly untenable and thus save themselves, as well as the State, the unneces sary expense of litigation. Another ground of resistance as it is under stood is, that the tax act of 1869 was limited to that year—that the act taxed the sales of 1869, and expired at the end of that year. By reference to Paragraph 8, Section - 2d, it will be seen that this ground is also untenable, and that the paragraph by its own language is perpetual, from year to year, until repealec. or suspended by a new tax act After speci fying the tax levied, the act goes on to say that “quarterly returns shall be made on the first days of April, July, October and Janu ary "in each year,” etc., clearly meaning the year 1869 and each succeeding year. This is the plain letter of the law, as well as the in tention, and any other construction would be forced, and contrary to all known rules for the construction of statutes. I£ however, any one should still doubt as to the act being per petual by force of its own language, it is pre sumed that no one will doubt that the resolu tion of the Legislature, approved 4th May, 1870, continues it in force. This is the reso lution : “Resolved 2d, That for the same reasons the tax act of 1S69, be, and it is hereby con tinued in full force and effect, until otherwise ordered by the General Assembly.” I would also call special attention to the penalty imposed by the latter part of Para graph 8, Section 2d, of the tax act of 1869, which says: “If any person shall fail or re fuse to make his return and pay said tax, he shall be assessed by the Collector, a specific tax of one thousand dollars, and the Collector shall proceed to collect the same by execution,” etc. I would remark that those who resist the tax by a resort to the courts, will never theless, in my judgment, be subject to the penalty, should they fail to succeed before tbe courts. While the constitutionality of the law cm only be determined by the courts, I have deemed it not improper forme (it being my duty to enforce the revenue laws of the State) to state this much of my views of the law in question, with the view, if possible, of saving litigation, and, perhaps, much expense to complainants as well as to the State. Respectfully, Madison Bell, Comptroller General. Yla® Fria«e of te.,,. [London Correspondence of the Evening Gazette.]* 11 It is hard to conceive how the foil,.: • should have fallen from the baaS*V&h was intended, or how any timenta of a gentleman could W ^ 4 licity. As it i. going the round* ft »l papers, I think I should give itru- is addressed to the Dukeof Ed^t? 6 India. I insert in brackets rach ^’ as seem desirable: London, March i, My Dear Alfred : Your W, , - Calcutta, has delighted ns h 0 et4& > M strange to ns to be receiving ’letterT^ ' dated India- Imyself did not <*£***; going to India, but sinoe yon W and are so mnch pleaeed withitT i there one of these days, if la , /le p e J Speed on the Mississippi and Hndson Rivers. From the Philadelphia Inquirer. | It having been settled by actual trial that a certain Western steamboat, bearing the disloyal name, Robert E. Lee, is faster than another steamboat bearing the name of a once disloyal town, Natchez, it might be hoped that the country would be satisfied with the important information. To obtain it has cost, we are told, $1,000,000 which was wagered on the speed of the respective boats, and the captains and crews of those steamers, who, if they had their lives insured, could scarcely expect pay ment of the policy in case of accident, ran tbe risk of collapse and explosion in order that a most important controversy should be settled. The population on the banks of tbe Mississippi have been intensely excited, and, whenever daylight wonld permit the progress of the con tending boats was watched for with the almost anxiety, and when the leading steamer made its appearance, salutes were fired, bonfires kin dled, and shouts rent the air. ' The distance by the river from New Orleans to St. Louis is eleven hnndred and ninety-four miles. The swiftest of these two boats made the passage in three days, eighteen hours and fourteen minutes, including all stoppages. The speed was something over thirteen miles an hour, wMch really does not seem very wonderful, in comparison to the time made by the great boats on the North River npon ordinary occasions without any special effort. The only fact that will survive tMs controversy is that the trip has been made between the two cities in ninety honrs and fourteen minutes,. wMch is said to be three honrs and forty-five minutes less than the shortest trip previously made. The only gratifying fact wMch may be deduced from the struggle is that machinery is being improved, models of boats better adapted to speedy passage, so that the saving of time in ordinary interconrse, in wMch no racing is ne cessary, becomes important, because time is money. When the New Orleans, the first steamboat that went from Fittsburg to New Orleans, made her voyage at the beginning of steam navigation upon that river, she left Fitts burg some time in October and reached Natchez some time in the first week in January, 1812. Of course they had great detentions. They had to stop frequently to procure fuel, and daring a portion of the voyage the great earth quake of 1811 had taken place. But even when the navigation of the river had been settled, ten days and two weeks’ voyage be tween New Orleans and St Louis, in ascending the stream, was a common average. It was gradually reduced to a week, and then to five days; possibly in a few years it may be re duced to three days. The Daniel Drew has made twenty-two and a half miles an hour on the North River, and at the same rate could go from St Louis to New Orleans in fifty- three honrs, without stoppages. Allowing eight hours for such detentions, the Daniel Drew, under ordinary circumstances, wonld be able to make the passage in less than three days, thus T0ice - saving three quarters of a day on the time of a steamer over the exploits of which the "West is now undu3y excited. approves it I am delighted to hZ: *3 [Earl Mayo, GOvemor^sS ceived yon so well. He dined with .tK 1 ! ally, and Bertibua [the Prince oMvv°S son Albert] was very fond of see mnch of bun. It is out of the question to hone i ' ery body well. The Counter (Ma° small; she does not talk muck 48 ? ble. Alex., (the Princess Alexandr7> Tety,i intimate with her. The MordauetlbL? 8 * noyed us extremely, as you may @ But as I had done nothing for »h; A ir ? u ft| blush, I felt I should not be gageed expressed a wish that my namelfemW S* pear in the business. Mordaunt 1 sent to tMs, and, after all, I am did not, because all sorts of storiest ^ i about me, wMch I had hard work to Harris, (one of the Prince of 'WaW„ 8et 1 So I told Gladstone I wished to be witness when the trial came on. * * with the other Ministers, went sevf-s’* 6 ^ Windsor, and at last it was should take the public into our confid-5? r My appearance in Court was aa disagreeable trial to me; bnt, afUi " went off better than I had hoped, for P ' (the Judge of the Divorce Coart j aoj '.^! yers were extremely oourteoas. t .7,^1 whole truth, but I bore in mind H-.CJ 'N (the Lord Chancellor,) advice to bo iS to go straight to the point. 0f c <w!? newspapers fell foul of me, and the Titaes’ 1 me a lecture. But I am getting ae^toLu this sort of tMng, and if the newspar^ pleasure in it, they are welcome, jj-, £] like this, bnt she is as unable as I & m t 0 a remedy for this nuisance. It I m ing or pigeon-shooting, I am called a W7 a fool, and if I exert tne least influene-1* lie affairs, I am told I have no right to ao iTl Again, I am continually reminded ota.T, father’s memory, and am bidden to follows example—as if my position was the sameb**. cupied. I should not do this; I Bhonld atw] I should always be good! I wonder dot persons think constantly of their fathers» are long Bince dead and buried. I ka 0 j“, than one young man who does not sees gj to be aware whether he ever had a father,» as for me, although our poor father has t_ dead these nine years, I must contimnJj^J saekcloth and ashes to honor his mecorr ? a truth, this is a little too strong, and I lay ginning to get fhorougMy tired of it, uj Alex. Yon often said to me you should Bi J change places with me, but you wonld raj* regret it, old fellow, if you could peisnde* friends—and our enemies—in WesttnEnfl ace to make this little arrangement. I assure yon when I pass in the n&» a comfortable houses of private citizens a neighborhood of London, and ebsem itJ happy they seem, 1 often think they hi;:J reason to envy my fate. Neither have jwji| as sprightly Thyra (Princess of Wales' sal says: “Alfred is too good to be a king!’ ij came near being one once, and George Kii] Greece) hastened to go where you were aftiid reign. Poor George! The Greeks are hist please, and never know when they are vd i| There is nothing new. We go often to is & ter, and I hunt now and then. We nary Ireland next autumn, bnt Alex is no: tad crazy to make the exenrsion, and says wistaB not court the chance of being shot at. hte is in a bad predicament, and Gladstone i» wi mnch concerned at tbis state of affair-. I im pose the Irish know what they want, bat I rf do not. It is deplorable that they should bo sodisat- tented; their way of shooting at batons from behind hedges is really too had. hssjifc all this, I should willingly spend thesnmn«« autumn in Ireland, Visit the country, andnu all risks, if this conld do any gooi inti there are Irishmen who wish to kill me, wri they not try to do eo in London, instead i waiting until I visit their country? Idou mean to say I should like them to lire on bcj am too good a lover of whale-banes. Batr" a-days one must put up with a great n things. Moreover, I am getting tired of a life I lead here, and I should be delighted s® something to make myself friends in IreW The Irish have excellent hearts, and eau best soldiers in the world. Do they sabd good sailors ? Childers (the First Lord o! 4 Admiralty) pretends they do not, and I din* he ought to be a good judge. i I hope that you will return in July, are then in England we reckon on your vafl your new rooms at Sandringham(tho PrisM Wales country seat.) The house is nearlj S ished, and will really bo quite pretty. A.«s Bertibus send their love to you. Bertibns si coming a little impertinent, and someuM seriously think of summoning th® Usher Black Rod; but be certain if the exeesnij inevitable, it shall take plaoe inira vr\ Joking apart, he is a nice little fellow, w] growing fast like the other chicked ®j know you lucky bachelors cannot sjmp* with the father of five bairns. Alexssji-' bachelors are so selfish!” I am of bet op but Thyra will not hear a word said agaiMj? Of course yon do not care a snap wW WL says, and yon will excuse the simplicitjdj fair maiden of seventeen.” She ie more beantifnl than ever) but she loA 1 like Dagmar (the Princess of Wales sidf • the wife of the hereditary Grand Dnks® 8 sia.) than Alex. I wish you a safe vo«T Your affectionate brother, Pius IX entered npon the twenty-fifth year of Ms pontificate on the 17th ult. His Holiness was congratulated on the occasion by the Sacred College and the bishops, and Ms reply to their felicitations has now been published in the Fans Univers. In the course of his remarks he refers to the errors prevailing in the present day, and declares that they arise in gTeat part from ignorance. “Bnt npon whom does the task devolve of dispelling this ignorance?” he asks. “Upon whom, if not upon us and yon ? It is for ns to remove the errors wMch exist even in minds wMch are upright, but wMch do not know the significance of certain principles and the peril of oertain doctrines.” The Pope speaks in strong terms against the liberal Cath olics, and certain bishops, “sentinels established bv God to watch over tbe salvation of the peo ple, who so tax forget the grandenr of their dnty as to leave the devices with which the chnroh honors them in order to adopt those of the world and live as' it lives.” In his reply the Pope relates a couple of anecdotes, and pre faces them with the remark that he will be brief in order to avoid imitating “oertain orators,” allusion being here made, it is assumed, to oer tain members of the Council who have spoken against the dogma of infallibility. The women of Connecticut had another field- day on Tnesday before the Legislative Com- Mrs Ha mittee, when 1 i Brown and Hannaford asserted that when women have the ballot they will enforce the prohibitory. liquor law. Mr. Pratt asked how they would was answered in & te le : to more thiut OMs A Singer among the Lunatic* On the day of Miss Clara Louiw recent concert in Utica, New York, it posed to show that young lady the Sat»u* ic Asylum. While there, she kindly sasjJ roomful of the more quiet patient?, . to their surprise and delight. Not C’t-’jf, gratifying these, however, she begged*^*, might be .allowed to visit the more patients. “Let me sing to the F-jj she pleaded. Winning consent, and nied by some of the Faeulty, that Iw* ^ the matron, she prooeeded to the f the most noisy and destructive suhjeeii confined. One wonld think her voice "f'-j failedher at the dreadful sounds that£ re r7, entrance, at the glaring eyes turned the indications of wrath in thosepooy? ^ faces. Not so. The brave heartedIgt’ ^ power. In an instant all discord was hushed under the spell of that ■ e voice. It rose and floated above in traded creatures like a blessing I to fall npon their upturned, listening . soft, refreshing shower of j effect was wonderful. The ct ^t stricken women were not so utterly o , after all, but that they could rt 5 i* Some smiled, some nodded, ana her with streaming eyes. “She is , cried one. “Yes, she is an angst- ^ others, as they crowded about touch gently her hand, her g own .’ feet, while she, happy and fcsrl® 83 ’ effort to escape. , „ -j as . “She is my girl! my Estelle • ® it> : i woman, suddenly. “She look* *7^1^ sings like her! Let me kiss her. ; Kellogg bent and kissed the tuie, almost as if she were indeed r> The Proclamation of *•** Proposed Ceremonial®"^ sions, Salvos of Cannon t of Bells. Rous, July 8.—The dogmaof inf* 111 be proclaimed on the 17th in®*®?7 tions are being made for a m»g"’ tion of the event. nnnow The oeremoniak attending *" e *7, «f I the dogma will be held in the Char* — Fourth. The Pope will ooeapT ***. chair of St. Peter. The OordtariV and Bishops will attend^in «» the various religions orders wffl 8® ‘ , procession.. TOAostoctaiga <f g, ceremonies will be hWsldei;*^/^ with ealvoe cC cannon sndl ' hl_ m .-S. Bi .'• ' .f. ' v v yt-’.'q' ' ' yY. '■ * ... (r'4 ; . 7.-v . -V