Georgia weekly telegraph and Georgia journal & messenger. (Macon, Ga.) 1869-1880, December 26, 1871, Image 4
0 'elogra/plt and Journal & Messenger. Telegraph and Messenger MACON, DE0EMBEB2S, 18.71 Hen Items. Small rox.—We regret to see that small-pox is gfettisg pretty unmanageable about New York. It is spreading in Brooklyn, Jersey City, Trenton, Newark and all about there. The Accident on the Cintbal Railboad, at the Walnut Creek Bridge night before last, turps out to base been not half as bad as re ported. No ears were smashed, but several of thftn'weie knocked hard enongh to break off the bumpers. The Pbixox of Wales is getting along so well that it is said he will be out in three or four days. We hope he will come out resolved to be a good man, and hereafter, in the well considered words of the catechism, "to serve God and keep his commandments.” The Internationals.—Several of the me chanic’s unions gave in their adhesion to the Internationals in New York yesterday. The quotations of kerosene were not given,- but spirits of turpentine went np in a lively man ner- fcerionsly, however, the commune hence forth snpplants the negro as the great element of agitation and discord. The commune , will puzzle the politicians. Information.—Indiana is publishing the re sults of the examination of publio school teach ers in that State. There are a great many of them, such as "Virginia, was so named from the Virgin Mary.” “The Pnritans were so called bekase they were poor charraotera.” "The is a verb in the nominative case.” “Su gar is a mineral.” "Brazil is in Asia and the Bed Sea in Earope. ” All this and much more show that the- hoosiers are growing in knowl edge. Cotton.—The Agricultural Bnrean counts on 3,400,000 bales of cotton as the crop of 1871— or say just about 1,000,000 bales deficit on the crop of 1870. It will be greater than that and yet that is enongh to snstain present rates. Money, however, is very tight in New York— trade dull—nothing doing—publio confidence seriously undermined by political frauds, and financial operations deranged by the Chicago disaster. It is no wonder that New York is constantly giving way while Liverpool remains firm. A Suffusing Lamb.—Concerning one of the Ku-klnx victims in York, negro witnesses for the defense,testified that Jim Williams said “Iintend to rule this country. I'll Ku-klnx white women and children, and if I can’t manage things then, I’ll kill from the cradle to the grave." Another negro witness said that Williams told bim the blacks and whites should fight it out, “and if my side wins, I’ll take from the cradle np. ” Jim Williams, however, instead of Ku-klnxing white women was Kn-klnxed himself, which made a difference with Akerman and the ad ministration. Fwanciebs consider the currency disquisition in the last President’s message as probably the most valuable part of that document. He com plains greatly abont the “fluctuations in gold,” and insists upon getting at a “fixed value” of the currency, which shall be “constantly and uniformly approaching par with specie.” A fixed value, constantly moving np to a point which is "continually fluctuating," is a very lucid expla nation of precisely what is wanted in this rag- oterons and coppernickulated condition of the American finances. Let Grant make Bollock Secretary of the Treasury and we shall see light- Cotton took a small backset in Liverpool yes terday. Cold.—A ileroe Northwester, sweeping from the plains where the mercury is forty degrees below zero, set in after midnight Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning, at snnrise, the ther mometer indicated 32. The wind continued to blow sharply all day, and by Thursday morning wo will not pretend to state where the mercury will be. We gness some where abont ten to fifteen. The Vote of Bibb on Tuesday was as fol lows: Macon, 1,121; Warrior, 84; Rutland, 55; total, 1,2C0, all for Smith, and two scatter ing votes dropped at the Macon polls. 17 col ored votes were cast for Smith in Macon, 15 at the Warrior and one at Rutland. It is impos sible to get voters to the polls where there is no opposition, but we believe Bibb did as well as any county. Govebnob Scott.—A Columbia telegram rep resents Scott as brought to bay by that other Radical worthy, O. O. Bowen, and about to re sign to escape impeachment. Radical recon struction of the Southern States will live for ever in song and story. The best thing the Congressional re constructionists can do, is to bring in an expunging act at once and have all their names erased from the journals in con nection with the Sonthem reconstruction meas ures. Better hereafter to figure in an indict ment for sheep stealing than be complicated in that legislation. Bnt reconstruction has its funny aide. It is inimitably ludicrous to see such men as Bowen come forward to expose its iniquities, and to see that, in spite of their moral obliquities, they are stem prophets of wrath to the still more graoeleea scoundrels into whose hands the Federal Government Dm de livered the Sonthem people. Senatob Nobwood Seated.—Among the pleas, ant intelligence in onr last, was the seating of Mr. Norwood in the United States Senate, and tho consequent final political extinguishment of Foster Blodgett, who, we trust, has at last gene under. The political waters which could so long float such a man as Foster Blodgett, were cer tainly fit for nothing bntmoccassinsand catfish. It is a sign of olearing when Foster sinks at laBt down deep into the mad. Beyond this: it is, no doabt, a good angary that Congress and the Federal Government will respect the action of this Legislature and the Constitution and laws of the State, and refuse to aid or abet the fac tious course of acting Gov. Conley. We repeat tho expression of onr opinion that Senator Nor* wood will at once take a highly respectable posi tion in the Senate, and by the fairness and pro bity of his character, and the soundness of his intellect, daily gain influence and consideration in that body. W. G. Whtobv, Esq.—We were ploased to see this gentleman and qnandam co-laborer on the Teleqbaph in our office yesterday, on a pleasure trip with a bridal party to Macon. Mr. Whidby looks well, although he is a Knight of of Jericho or something of that sort, and is the able city editor of the Atlanta Constitution.— We are gratified to see that age has not dimmed the fire of bis eye or abated his natural force, and his shadow has not grown less but larger.' Moreover, it is a good sign that he still sticks to the ladies, and a better, that they^still stand by him. Heavx Robbery.—The residencejof John Eds all, at Ridgfield, New Jersey, waafobbed on Thursday night of bonds, moneys Kites, etc., valued at one hundred thousand doU*?s. Chlo roform was administered by the bjuflars to Mr. Edsall, who todpsolute, notwithstanding his age —eighty-)lifts—aud always slept, with a pistol under his head. The Nxbeid.—Burke & Oo.-have just issued an edition of this intereatjp £ hovel, by Mary Faith Floyd, which has appeared in serial num bers of the Farm and Home. It is a story of Sonthem life on ihe Atlantic Seaboard and is told with muoh vivacity and power. Price 50 ants. Go and secure a copy. Bibb ind IIo ns ton Road Law. We print in this edition* the new road law special to Bibb and Houston counties, origi nally recommended by the Bibb county Grand Jury two years ago last fall. Generally Mr. Bacon has approached the original provisions of that bill as near os was possible. In regard toone-of the main features—the levy.of the road tax principally on beasts of burden and vehicles—that was held by some to contravene the provision of the Constitution requiring ad valorem taxation. We believe the bill with all the defects that are now apparent, or may here* after be developed by practical operation, is an approach to something like ajBtemand economy in working the public roads. Bad highways are the most expensive bur dens on the people. In the wear and tear of wagons, carriages and teams—in the loss of time by slow travel and light loads, in general inoonvenience and loss of trade—they cost the people annually far more than it would cost to keep the roads In good traveling condi tion. We saw some ingenious calculations few years ago on the loss in England by not keeping the highways of that country up to the very highest standard and the exhibit was strik ing. What would it show here, where our very beat roads would not be considered passable ? The waste is terrible. And the system of working roads in Georgia is the worst possible. Once a year or six months the people tom ont—fill up the gullies with loose dirt and corduroy the bogs; bnt it may be in a week afterwards aheavy rain will sweep most of the work away and then the washes are left to deepen and the roadway to deteriorate in constantly accelerating ratio till working time comes round again. We all knowhow fast a neglected wash grows in the loose soil of the Georgia uplands. To nothing on earth does the old saying “a stitch in time saves nine, apply with greater force than to timely atten- tion to washes and gullies in the roads and fields. Now, to remedy this, the bill proposes to pnt the repairs and condition of all the roads under responsible contractors, and the general direc tion of three Commissioners in each militia dis trict, to be elected by the Grand Jury of the oonnty. These contractors bind themselves under doable the amount of their contracts, not to repair the roads now and then, but to maintain them in good order. The funds for this purpose are to be raised by a capitation tax of three dollars per head; [which brings ns to a great difficulty in reconciling this tax with Section 29, Article 1st of the Constitution,' which tax can be commuted by six days’ labor, at fifty cents per day; and it also gives power to levy an additional property tax not exceed ing 25 per centnmof tbe State tax on the county. Laying ont of account therevenned details of the system, which wo think may have to be changed, we believe the plan is a good practical one, and if followedent will care the great evil of bad roads in Bibb county, whioh have been a standing misfortune and reproach ever since we knew the oonnty. We think the Legislature, in snbstitnting a capitation levy of three dollars for the special levy originally contemplated, may possibly have avoided Scylla, bnt have rushed on Charyb- dis. The Constitution, in the first article and clause referred to, says "no poll tax shall be levied except for educational purposes, and such tax shall not exceed one dollar annually on each poll’” Bnt if the levy be ruled unconstitutional, another must be substituted and probably in its practical working it will also be fonnd hereafter that the repairs and improvements onght to be prosecuted under the immediate direction of a Connty Engineer, responsible to ihe Commis sioners, in order to be carried on with proper energy, judgment and economy. There is nothing in which judgment, intelli gence and practical information are more es sential than in establishing and working the roads and in maintaining proper drainage and water ways. A thing well done is said to be twice done. We may add that a road badly worked is not only not done at all; bnt in some cases tbe foundation for great injury is igno* rantly laid. We repeat—no material publio in terest excels this in importance, and we are gtad that Bibb and Houston will start ont as pioneers under this new system. No. 2. In conference with Mr. Bacon yesterday, we found that we were in error in saying that tbe Legislature had snbstitnted the three dollars' capitation tax for the tax on beasts of burden and vehicles in the original bill. Both taxes were in the original bill, as reported by the Grand Jury, bnt as that report was made two. years ago, we had forgotten the fact The Leg islature made bnt two alterations in the bill: 1st. Striking ont the provision for tbe tax on draft animals and vehicles, whioh they consid ered unconstitutional, and snbstitnting therefor anthority to levy twenty-five per cent, on the State tax of the oonnty, sbonld it become nec essary ; and, 2d. In devolving the appointment of the Road Commissioners on the Grand Jnry. We learn from Mr. Bacon that the matter of the constitutionality of the road capitation tax was very carefully considered by the Jndioiary Committees of both the House and Senate, and their conclusions were very clear. For al though the Constitution prohibits any other ab solute capitation tax than the one dollar, to be devoted to educational purposes, yet the right to impose road labor on the oitiaan cannot be challenged, and the Legislature has certainly the farther right to permit the citizen to com mote that labor for money if he chooses to do so; and this is all that the bill undertakes to do. In di8cnssiDg the proposed tax on beasts of harden and vehioles the equity of the tax was conceded, bnt the Constitution expressly de clares that “taxation on property shall bead valorem only, and uniform on all species of property taxed." This seemed to be a conclu sive bar to a tax whioh was recommended by the equitable principle of graduating the tax, as near as possible, according to the individual benefit received from the roads. It was thonght that perhaps this idea might be approximately carried ont by a license tax imposed on all horses and vehicles using the connty highways, bnt Mr. Bacon did not feel authorized to pnt the provision in that shape withont some indication of concurring publio judgment. We allude to these matters particularly, be cause no doqbt other connties in the State will be interested in the subject, and the general ideas of this bill will ultimately take the form of law in very many of them. Now, a road revenne might be raised—first, Bjfca lioense tax on horses, males, oxen, wagons and fell other vehicles using tbe pnblio highways—from which, of course, mere plantation animals and conveyances would be exempt. Second, by a comma table capitation tax, as provided in this bill; and third, in case the revenne from these souroes fell short, by assessing a proratum npon the State revenue tax of the ooanty. As this tax, like all others, should be levied with a conscientious regard to all the equities of the oaae, we think the capitation tax should be low, and it -might well be left 'to the discretion of the county authorities, the. Legislature fixing only h^naxiumm. WithV good revenue for the purpose—intel ligent road commissioners and contractors, and steady work npon the highways by gangs just as railways are worked, people wonld soon see. the economy of tho plan and traveling and lutnl-, ing over the pnblio roads wonld oease to be a scandal and a vexation. If all the roadways to the market to#6srwere In fine order they wonld see a great dflferjptoe in trade and the econo mies of life. dt $ Death of er Prominent Citi- Georgla. We deeply regret to learn the death at the residence of hi#Aon, Frank M. Reese, Esq., of Auburn, Ala. Dr. DAvid A. years a citizen Dr. Reese North Garolit liberty—on thi therefore,in turday, the 16th iust., of le, formerly and for many asper oonnty in this State, m in Mecklenburg oonnty, e first cradle of American of March, 1794, and was, th year of his age at the time of his death. His father was a gallant sol dier in the first revolutionary war, and his unde,' for whom he wsuamed, was one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence whioh antedatift that at Philadelphia by five years. At an early age he was brought to South Carolina where he Tesided until grown, when be removed to Montieello and entered npon the active praotioe of his profession. He married there, and fcijgapy years" was one of the moat prominent and popular citizens of Middle Geor gia. He represented Jasper oonnty in the State Senate for several successive'terms, was a Trus tee of the State University at Athens for near! a quarter of a' oentnry, and in 1858 succeeded Hon. A. H. Stephens as thdBopresentative of the 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives at'Washington—Mr. Stephens, by a change in the connty composi tion of the diatriot, taking the 8th, so long rep- THE GEORGIA FBEP. resented by Gen. Toombs. Dr. Reese was an ardent Whig, bnt never al lowed partisan asperity to interfere with his personal relations towards his friends, of whom he bad more than most men conld boast, and by whom he was' sincerely ^beloved. He was a man of rare oommon sepae, well poised judg ment, 8trong,elea^mind, and stainless inte; In every relation of life he was almost beyond reproacb, and the writer, who knew and loved him well, canjfay, in very truth, that the grave never closed over a more kindly, loving father, a mere warm hearted, generous kins man, nor a more genial, courteous, polished gentleman. May the earth rest lightly on a spot where is entombed the' casket of so noble spirit! Dr. Reese removed to Russell connty, Ala . daring the war, and had resided there and in Macon connty, ever sines. For the last two or three years his health hNs been visibly declining, bnt death came rather unexpectedly. His mind was clear to the last, and he passed away from earth In the full possession of all his faculties. His remains were bnried in tbe family cemetery in Chambers oonnty, near. West Point, in this State. >v Threatened Crashes and Panics The Charleston Courier's New York corres pondent says that it is the general belief of leading financial men in New York that a crash is coming after the holidays, when balances will fall due and the fall effeot.of the Chioago dis aster and Tammany frauds comes to be felt. Financial men have predicted a crash every year since the war, bnt, nevertheless, nothing like general crash and panio have come—simply be cause we have been floating along on an insol vent and non-specie paying currency; and there is, therefore, really no occasion, under any cir- circnmstances, to prodnoe a disastrous cramp by sadden and severe contractions in the cur rency circulation. We hope, on tbe contrary, that after January business will revive generally all over the coun try. Trade has been dull and light now for loDg time, ard the amount of goods in consum ers’ hands must be very small. Federal taxation is likely to be rednoed and tariff restrictions and burdens also modified, to some extent. We have had a long lane of dulL times and should come to a turning. Let ns hope for bet ter things and hope will contribute to bring them about. When everybody is hedging and fortifying for tight times and clinging to every dollar, instead of paying ont freely as far as they can, that alone creates doll times and pe cuniary stringency. In the past six years we have answered every constantly recurring prophecy of a coming financial convulsion in mnch the same way, and whether there is any reason or philosophy in this view of tbe matter we will not assert; bnt one thing is certain—we have yet had no gen eral panio and crash like those of 1836 and 1857 since the war, and we never expect to see one until the business of the country is done on a special paying circulation, and therefore the circulating medium may at any time, by a sad den and general panic, be suddenly rednoed to within a comparatively small margin of the specie basis, from a volume of three or four times that amount. When that is the case, we can understand how almost universal bank ruptcy may follow a general panic-^-even one which bad no better foundation than that of 1857. Bnt where the currency is confessedly irredeemable, there is jap cause for any snch wholesale contraction., Concert ol the Pupils or the Acade my of the Blind, We are sure every one of the visitors who were present at this moat interesting and won derful exhibition, feel more than compensated for the temporary inconvenience experienced whilst facing the icy atmosphere. This benev olent fonndatioa reflects credit npon onr great State, and Mr; Williams is eminently qualified for tho difficult position of Superintendent- The building is commodious, and very elegant and complete in its arrangement and appoint ments. Every Georgian has an interest in the property, and should rejoice that the poor un fortunates domiciled here, are so comfortably provided for. In singing, the pnpils kept admirable time, and several performed on the piano and violin with consummate skill and taste. One piece, embracing three violins, a Ante and piano, was exquisitely rendered, and would reflect credit npon the most accomplished masters. Indeed, the entertainment was charming throughout, and gave the highest evidence of the superior skill and tinning of the instrnotors. The children were also examined in arithme tic, solving severd sums with ease and rapidity, by the aid of the enriohs slate devised for the blind. The reading, too, was excellent, and it is wonderful with what ^fjcility even the little girls conld find any chapter in the Bible whioh might be indicated. The rontine of stndy includes the higher branches of 'study also, snch as geometry, phil osophy, logie, rhetoric, eta Prof. Williams an nounced that several of the more advanced pnpils are now perfectly competent to teach mu sic, and are .desirons of forming classes. He will give tkssa his unqualified endorsement. The Academy at this time numbers thirty inmates, waiwill be all fitted for useful posi tions in society, and forever bless the mnnill- oenco which hsscued them from a long lifeof darkness and despair. What FbySat*.—The New York Sun says: A Philadelphia detective, after a long chase, has captured and sent to Georgia for trial, a State agent wried Joseph Fry, who is accused of defrandiaaMpM State. He was stationed in Philadelphifrso purchase railroad supplies, and by forwarding‘bills for goods that were never bought, snjsagded in pocketing about $50,000 for himseB To the offioer who arrested him he acknowlediAdAi* guilt, bnt pleaded that he was only folio wjgwthe example of Bullock, Blodg ett, and other*, who had formed a riog for the transaction^ just such business, and expressed the belief m3?he wonld never have been ar rested if he had divided the plunder with his superiors. A somewhat notorious person named Bard, who once published a Badioal paper at Atlanta, has filed his petition in bankruptcy, placing his liabilities at $38,000. Gen. W. T. Wofford has taken charge of that portion of the Alabama and Chattanooga Rail road ranning through Georgia, as Receiver. Mm Busbee, of Atlanta, made a desperate effort to commit suicide last Sunday evening, by hanging herself. Her husband had aban doned her an/ t was living with another woman. Wa find the following in the Atlanta Sun of yesterday: The Pakpebed Tools or Despots andTy- BANTS—PERSONAL LtBEBTT OUTRAGED AND FbES doh of Speech Sutfbessed.—A few days sgo, while Mr. 'Andrew Merritt, Tax Collector of White ooanty, was on his way to this city to make return and- settlement with .the Comp troller General, he was arrested near Gaines Tills, Ga., by Lieutenant Taylor, in charge of t squad of United States soldiers. He demanded the authority of this unwarranted proceeding, bnt they were unable to prodnoe any warrant, and failed to give any satisfactory reason for Mr, M. B. Palmer, a leading lawyer of Cleve land, who has, in many instances, generously volunteered his counsel and assistance to his fellow-citizens in similar circumstances, imme diately hastened to Mr. Merritt’s relief. He was permitted to have no communication with Mr. Merritt, exoept in the hearing of a guard. Unable to render any assistance, he was about to retorn, when he was requested to remain until Tne principal offioer in command, who was then absent, should return to camp. He did so, and when the officer retarned Mr. Palmer was arrested, without warrant or affidavit. He protested against snch lawlessness and outrage on his personal liberty, but in vain. He was denied tbe privilege of bail, habeas corpus, or the benefit of counsel. Mr. Berry Hicks, of White connty, was also arrested, and the party of three driven, like felons, to the train at Gainesville, and, under a strong guard, trans ported to thiscity. Beaching the passenger depot they were placed in an ambulance and carried to the office of the United 1 States Mar shal, amid tbe hoots and yells of savage negroes, who called them Ku-klux. Here, Mr. Palmer requested to see Capt. Harry Jackson as coun sel, bnt was refused, and not allowed to see or bold conversation with any one whatever. After remaining here awhile, locked np close ly in a room, they were informed that they had- been discharged, and without any apology, withont a word of explanation, and without any provision for retnrning home, were dismissed friendless and alone. Mr. Palmer frequently demanded the anthor ity, for the warrant and affidavit for his arrest, but was never satisfied. After he was dis charged, he called on Judge Pope, United States Distriot Attorney, who has been absent from the city daring these arrests, and was astounded at snoh unheard of proceedings, and expressed his intention of making a close investigation of the matter. It is believed that Palmer was arrested to de prive Mr. Merritt of his legal assistance. It farther believed that the arrests were made on the affidavit of a disreputable old negro wench who has been a pest to that vicinity for years. The prisoners were very kindly treated by the gnard until they reaohed the train at Gainesville, where their kindness was somewhat relaxed. These high-handed proceedings appear to have the sanction of the Government officials, except Judge Pope, who has been absent for t time past, bnt we are glad to know that be con demns snch lawlessness, and will investigate, expose, and condemn it as it deserves. The grocery store and wood house of W. J. Barks, of Henry connty, was burned last Snn day night. Loss about $2000. In the Savannah Advertiser’s report of the proceedings in tho U. S. District Court, on Sat urday, we find the following: United States vs. William Krjzanowski. Re cognizance on two indictments forfeited, amounting to $10,000. Geo. Marshall, Wm Hone, Jnlins Peter, and Robert Waggenstein of Macon, sureties. A negro named Wesley Walker, shot and killed another named Jacob Cowart, on Major Randolph Whitehead’s plantation, in Bnrke connty, one day last week. Thos. W. Hammond and Jnlins Gatewood, of Milford, Baker connty, had a pointed argnment last week, and the latter was oonvinced to the extent of a severo gash in his breast, that his antagonist had the best of it. A little daughter of Dr. Handoock, of New ton, Baker ooanty, was severely, if not fatally burned a few days since. Mr. G. M Renfroe, a well known merchant of Columbus, was stricken with paralysis San day night. The Columbus Enquirer makes this extract from the statistical report of the South Georgia Conference: Aggregate membership in South Georgia Con ference 24,326; inorease daring past year 1,179; number of local preachers 213—decrease 3; adults baptized 1,724—increase 241; infanta baptized 719—decease 76; number of Sunday School pnpils 11,538—decrease 1,285; numbor of churches 388—decrease 7; value of churches $403,550; collected for snper-annnated preach ers, widows and orphans $5,431 81; missionary collections $6,198 15—75 per cent, on amonnt due; Bishop’s collection $1,502 38—increase’ of $578. These reports show a gratifying increase in financial operations, a fair increase of member ship, but sad decline in the attendance npon Snnday Schools. Washington county will be ont of debt by the 1st of January next, and have $2,000 in her treasury, besides. The Sandersville Georgian says a gentleman who has traveled extensively throngh that coun ty gives the following as his observation.— Planters are finding no difficulty in procuring an abundance of labor. The tendency is to reduce rather than inorease the area cultivated last year. An unusually large quantity of small grain has been sowed. Not more than a fourth of the amonnt of commeroial manures used the past year will be used next. The people have imt tittle money, bnt the supply of provisions is good.. Planters generally intend to raise pro vision crops next year. The oonnty is in a healthy and prosperous condition. Tbe cotton crop has fallen far short of what planters be lieved it would be even a few weeks since. The freedmen have generally worked well the past year and are contracting freely for the next A good state of feeling exists between the two roots. The gTeat cotton lawsuit between Garsed and the Bealls, in the Gircnit Court of the United States—the approaohing trial of which we noticed some time ago, and which came to a hearing last week in Savannah, was decided in favor of the Bealls. An appeal has been en tered, taking it up to the Supreme Conrt of ihe United States. The ownership of nearly 10,000 bales of cotton is involved in the ease. The Rome Commercial says a day or two sinoe seven families stopped in that place en route from the West, to their old home in De- Kalb county in this State.. They were in a very dilapidated condition. Parties "down” with the “Western” fever, will please take notice. Atlanta is to have a City Judge after January. Term of office four years, salary $2,500 per an num, and eteoted by tbe Mayor and - Council. In consequence an Alderman oan’t walk half a square withont being invited to take something by three-fourths the lawyers of the town. Some of them waylay the Aldermen as they come ont of their doors in the morning, so as to get ahead of their competitors. Mr. George H. Eddleman, of Atlanta, was thrown from his buggy Tuesday morning, and severely injured. B. F. Bell, at present Ordinary of Sumter oonnty, has been appointed United States Rev enue Collector for this (the 2d) district, with headquarters a* Macon. . iUelsaivJf The Rome Commercial, of Tuesday, says: Pebbible Affaib near Rome!—A Neobo Fiend and hm Atmos.—Dock Williams a negro living at OoL H. W. Dean’#, has developed ter rible traits in the last day or two. He ravished his step-daughter, beat his wife very cruelly, threatened to kill, her, did strike her over the head and leave her for dead, and then ran to; Alabama. On Snnday he came back to Deaxl’s, 1 and Dean arrested him, and looking him np iq the smokehouse, pnt a fellow negro to gnard him, intending to send him to Judge Perry as soon as possible. The negro called for water, and while Dean was getting it for him the negro threw a brick at him striking him In the eye, probably knocking the eye-ball dear ont, and certainly inflicting a terrible wound; the negro thou jumped on Dean and attempted to get. his j r , _ •* », | lD8 ’tAZftUOD Ot Ujo uipmj w ** S collection may be stayed until the ^gistamre him. In the ecnffls Dean got possession of the gun, and shot the negro throngh the back. The fellow was then overpowered, and brought to jail, where Dr. Holmes dressed his wound. Mr. Dean is in a terrible condition, and will suffer a long time. <4 a* Peter Perdne and Hilliard Wolf, both of Au gusta, had a tittle disagreement last Monday morning, which resulted in the former’s re ceiving a probably fatal stab in the right side. We find the following in the Atlanta Consti tution, of yesterday: cl -;; /a:. Conley’s Repudiation Thwarted—The In- T»ni-T on Oua Old Georgia Bonds—The Texas - ubeb Undeb the Code'will Pat this Interest in Spite of Conley.—The Code contains the following section, No. 959: “An amonnt of money stands annually appropriated sufficient to pay the principal and interest of any bonded debt of the State becoming due daring the year. Under the above seotion of the Code, which provides for the payment of interest dbe on the bonded debt of the State,-the Treasurer, Dr. Angier, informs ns and requests ns to state that he has made and is making preparations to pay the interest due on onr old bonds, and appropri ated by the Legislature, but vetoed by the act ing Exeontive. It will be seen that an act of the Legislature is not really necessary for the payment of interest, thongh in an excess of oantion it has been done. Bat as the actiDg Executive is disposed to nsehis influence to pnt the btate in an attitude of a repndiator, against the will of the citizens, the enacted purpose of the Legislature and against the law, the Treas urer has with his usual promptitude and nerve stopped forward to relieve the State from the most odious and damaging position in which Mr, Conley has tried to place it. Thus are the real repndiators thwarted. Thus does the State show its determined purpose to pay every dollar it legally owes. Thus is the infamons charge of repudiation falsified, and driven backupon its maltcions and disappointed originators. Collection of tbe Press Tax Suspend- ed—Correspondence. From the Atlanta Constitution ] Atlanta, Ga., December 16, 1871. Eon. Madison Bed, Comptroller Oeneral : Dkas 8m—We bey; leave to present to your consideration a few thoughts in connection with the taxation of the press, so that, if possible, v olution restricting the Presidency to Mr. Sumner’s resolution, it is needless J** will not go through—otherwise it out Gen. Grant from the eccompliakmasit TI ail-cons suing project for re-election to thiV? I idency; aad to this he holds a large majJ* Congress already secured. Bnt Mr. £”*** I when he brings forward that resolntioa^^ doubt, support it ia an elaborate so.*** elaborate spe**— . the mieehioviona results upon the ; '' meets in January, 1872, when a full investiga tion dan be bad. The immediate collection of taxes for several past years will work great kSSUpi vsilob siSao sioeo >hUi wag oltoec It has not been the onstom to tax the press. Newspapers are classed among the vocations whose encouragement is a matter of public benefit, #a in oeae erf schools; churches, eta. On this aooount tbe tax earns unexpectedly. To collect the eooumulated taxes of yearn is to suddenly cripple if not entirely break down the business of many good citizens. Time at least should be given for payment. An exoellent ar ticle from tbe Maoon Teleqbaph places ihe matter in itr. proper light, and we hereto attach it We invoke your interposition to suspend. - the oolleetion of this sadden and unexpected I den * re-election, which will he, y . taxation, until the next session of the Legisla-1 very annoying to Grant and his men if tore. Reepeotfoliy submitted, not add tone to the growing pnblio I* ^ Jno H. Oheisty, Watchman, and President interests of their own succession. Thin# of Press Association. I bring np the whole subject in the Sen»t* " J. J. Toon, Index. make a lively time after the holidays From time iSTm^al to^Jes and presses ™ f f ^ £ of the printer have been held in Georgia as me-1 kiax ™ tbe Southern Rebels are togi M „v chanioal tools, and exempted like tbe tools of | in Congressional debates, at length to L othor mechanics from taxation. In 1868, how- 0 fher matters. ever, the question was raised again under the She has *ow returned to her ^ ! tty, resolved at last to enter the p^>- field. Her recent ocmerta at Stria were a aeries of brilliant auoce*^ - % Mr. Sumner, on Tuesday, atnmm, J- Senate his purpose to hring forward a l persistent and systematic intrigues ofthlp!^ * Jonathan Wild Akerman Departs Under this head, the New York World of Friday, gives Grant’s late law officer the follow ing highly appreoiative notice. We have*read nothing in many months so true to nature and faot, and which will be more heartily endorsed by the decent people of Georgia and other States, North as well as South. Bays the World: Jonathan Wild Akerman, late Attorney-Gen- eral of the United States, departed offioe yes terday, the occasion of this demise being the utter and shameful failnre of his pimping cam paign in the matter of the Kn-klnx law. When Mr. Akerman was first mentioned as having been appointed Attorney-General of the United States he was spoken of as to all appear ance he then deserved. It. was said he was t man of good private character, of fair legal ability, and of some prominence in the meagre ranks of Georgia Republicanism. What little was known of him was taken to warrant the persuasion that he wonld introduce into the ad- ministration a respectable degree of information respecting the real needs of the South and tem per by his influence and representations the rigor too often manifested towards the unfortu nate section from whioh he came. So far from justifying these rather fond persuasions the new Attorney General was soon known as —leaving out Stanton—the most supple tool of despotism that ever disgraced a Cabinet chair. No work was too dirty, no triok too fonl, no malignity too great. His record reads like that of some old crown lawyer of the Stu arts, save that with equal servility as a man he compared as a lawyer only as a tallow candle compares with the snn. For this latter failing he has been removed. The revolting swiftness with which he daBhed his fangs into the unpro tected bodies of his own people wonld never have moved a man so incapable of greatness of soni as Mr. Grant; the utter lack of d'gnity with which the Attorney-General of the United States played the spy and bnmbailiff,would not have seemed improper to the Administration; bnt with all his venom Mr. Akerman lacked ability to be venomous enough. His fangs were planted in snoh places that they wonld not hold, and henoo the "resignation.” 1870. 385 000 60,569 1,000 65,500 7,800 4 550 20,000 310,000 929 16,996 135,000 468,254 104,346 Cotton Figures- The visible supply figures of last Saturday are reported by the Chronicle as follows: 1871. . Stook in Liverpool bales 458,000j Stock in London 154,449 Stock in Glasgow 250 Stook in Havre 137,570 Stock in Marseilles 19,238 Stock in Bremen. 14,609 Stock rest of Continent 85,000 Afloat for Great Britain (American) 147,000 Afloat for France (American and Brazil) 42,703 Afloat for Bremen(Amerioan) .4,605 Total Indian Cotton afloat for Earope 283,041 Stock in United StateB ports 406,472 Stock in inland towns 71,435 Total 1,824,374 li579,944 These figures indicate an increase in the cot ton in sight to-night of 244,430 bales compared with the same date of 1870. The following is from the market] report for the week: The market the past week has been excited and higher. This renewed buoyanoy is the re sult of various causes. Holders have for some weeks shown a growing confidence, based on the falling off in tho orop and the enlarged con sumption. The late snow and cold weather served to strengthen the position of cotton, as it encouraged the belief in a smaller crop, while at the same time receipts began to fall off, last week’s total being only abont two-thirds of the total for the corresponding week of last year. The present week also began with small re ceipts at onr ports, and an advancing market at Liverpool. All these circumstances,have beon operating in favor of higher prices, while a large short interest in contraoto helped on the movement until Tuesday, when the exoitement became very great, December contraots for low middling reaohing 20 3-16o. At this figure how ever, there were very few buyers, and a break soon came, the market falling at once to 19§&, and oloBing feverish and nominal at that figure for low middling, for December and also on the j c t. Sinoe then the market has been more qniet, the daily receipts at onr ports showing a considerable inorease, and the more - conserva tive portion of the trade believing the advance to have been too rapid, onr prioes being consid erably above the Liverpool quotation. The Ohroniole represents that its latest India advices are less favorable and indicate rednoed. receipts, and a diminution of floating power. How the Missouri Radicals have Dc» vcloped the School Fund of that Stale. A St. Louis dispatoh to the Western press says: The State Board of Education have made a report, whioh is published here this morning, in which they give a detailed statement of the enormous frauds practised in the disposition of the swamp lands donated for school purposes. It is stated that, if the sales of these lands had been honestly conducted, the State wonld now have a connty sohool endowment of $12,000,000, which, added to the present fund, would make not less than fourteen million. Over one mil lion and a half of acres have been squandered. The responsibility of this is charged npon the oonnty courts. The report says that many coun ties have drawn npon the school fnnd to erect conrt-honaes, jails, bridges, railroads and exca vating rivers, eto. In one ooanty one hundred and fifty thousand aores were subscribed for a railroad. One hundred and seven thousand were sold on execution to satisfy a judgment against the oonnty* and afterwards fifty thousand acres of the land so sold were given to an attor ney to get the land back. This is bnt one of the many similar cases. The board recommends that the oonnty court be required to levy a spe cial tax to replaoe the sohool funds illegally used. They ask that the Sohool Board attorneys be authorized to institute proceedings to recover the funds and lands squandered by oonnties, end, when necessary, to mandamus the oonnty courts to levy taxes. . xJ jl When yon decide to buy a wagon go and see the Jackson at B. H. Wrigley’s, No CC and 68, Second street, before you buy. tax lew of that year, and the Governor not be* I „ ... ' , ing clear on the subject, directed assessment to „ . A mneajy for the Soto be made, bnt a levy of tax suspended, until the Frcm tbe Christian Union.] pleasure of the Legislature should be known. There is one question awaiting Conpea Nothing, however, was done abont it until the its coming session which ought to be cotuiJ. present session, when the Legislature directs ously met and made an end of. There mat the levy and oolleotion of the tax, involving, of no popular clamor to press it, it may be po^ki* coarse, an accumulation of taxes for successive again to postpone action on it without imaS years. The press will feel under obligations to I and visible rninons consequences, jet even^T Senator Sunmons and others who were disposed I sideration of patriotism and statesmanship {T to pursue a liberal policy on the subject; but mands that action be taken We say, then, | e * r whatever may be the thonght about .the pro- have done with punishing the South; let nt r» priaty of the levy, there onght to be no doubt j longer humiliate those who have had fo bit! of the fact that the Legislature should have ex-1 humiliations. Is not the nation strong e tended the time for the collection of arrearages. I to risk the admission of these men to ful] It will be easily seen that: a levy of three or I ical privileges ? Are we not forgiving' four years’ accumulated taxes on the people at I to have done with the infliction of pains large upon a few days’ notice, in this financial penalties ? Are we not wise enough to m* pinch, would send the tax-payers into almost I trying to promote peace by a policy of eiipw. universal bankruptcy; and we are certainly not j stion ? There is especial reason for decreed aware that the printers, as a dans, are above universal amnesty at this time. The contri the - average':pecaniary -oondttion. Moreover, I of the national government was never so seem the majority of the printing-offices have changed I to the Republican party. There is no loa» hands since the- tax aeonmnlation began, and j any danger of a reversal of the mesiuraetS time should have been alloved to adjust the I secure the black man’s rights. Toward; & personal rights and liabilities involved in the I other great source of disturbance, Congress m premises, before peremptory levy on the prop-1 tbe President have taken every measure of re erty should follow failure of payments not | pression. Let them now torn to the otha equitably due from present holders. If it is | half of the work. They have struck at the not too late the manifest eqnities in this case oat-cropping evil weed; now lei the should be consulted by extending the time for deal with the soil whence the weed sprita collecting these arrearages of tax. I We can never get to the root of tbe Kci!® j trouble, we can never restoro the South to pot Comptbollek Gxnebal’8 Office, . > j parity and. weld it in union of heart with th Atlanta, Ga , December 16, 1871. j I rest of the nation simply by measures of rtprs Messrs. W. A. Hemphill & Co., 8. IF. Grubb, j sion. There is a work of magnanimity yj John H. Christy and. others : j trust to be done as well, and it is full timatk Gentlemen—I have received yonr commnni- I the work was wrought. The great me*s» cation presenting, for my consideration, certain I should not be marred by any reservations u] reasons why, in ypnr judgment, the oolleetion I exactions. If five hundred or fifty or fire os of tax on printers’presses, material, etc., should I are singled ont to remain under the ban, ib be stayed until the reassembling of the Legisla- I practical benefit of the measure will be greitlj tore in January next,.and have to say in reply, | impaired. We want it to speak to tbe Sootier, that I Lave no authority, under the law, to grant I people a message of free and fearless good-ail the request. Section 70 of the Code, vests the I It can only bear that message effectively, uit power in the Governor of the State alone, to I ia unqualified and absolute in its terms. suspend the collection of any portion of the — : mm taxes, and I have therefore referred your com- | REPUBLICAN PREACHER®. muni cation to him. As the Legislature will gome Letter. Abo«t Washington Miniate, again convene at a very early day, I see no mate- _ xbf> Methodist Qu^tion in Politics, nal iDjury that can result; to the State by gr^nt- I #^ , ing your request, and I have therefore asked I [^®° r S e Albert Townaeud (Gath) in Chicago Tri- the favorable consideration of the same by the I . . . ..V? n0 1 , . T Governor. I deem it bnt proper to state, how- * the ™ ever, that I see no reason presented why the al , y 0al , le i^ r - Newman by virtue of somecou decision heretofore made by this office,^ that P l >“entary degree finahfying him to prescrib said material is taxable undei the laws of this I ? or 1110 8 ? ula of . fo1 ^ been getting an-*- State, should be disturbed. Very respectfully, Madison Bell, Comptroller General. Executive Depabtment, ) State of Geoegia. I The Comptroller General will suspend the collection of taxes on printers’presses, mate rial, etc., until the next meeting of the Legis lature. Benjamin Conley. Governor. Atlanta, Deoember 19,1871. COMPTBOLLEB GeNEBAL's OFFICE, > Atlanta, Ga, Dee., 16, 187t. ) In accordance with the above order, Tax Col lectors will suspend the collection of tax on printing presses, material, eto., until the next meeting of the General Assembly of this State. Madison Bell, Comptroller General. tor to deny that he (Newman) ever trotted around the departments at Washington to get offices. His denial was swiftly followed up by as many as a dozen people reporting at my hoots with direct instances of this man’s audacityb office-begging. Last year tbe Chaplaincy it West Point was recommended to be vacated, by a conple of these preachers, in order that j oneor the other of them might get into the place. It is currently reported here that tbe ne. ommendations of these clerioal visitors ic eomplished the retirement of old Fatherh- han, the engineer there, and that his soidk resulted from the mortification of the blov. Mr. Gorham, the Secretory of the United j States Senate, gave me an instance of clerical audacity only yesterday. A certain chapUto came to him and said: “Mr Secretary, as lie j the Chaplain of this body, and have been elected to fill the place for tbe period of this Congress. I wish to ask if yon have any objection to id- vancing my salary for the whole of tbat time, and I will use it to purchase Government bondt whioh I will pnt in yonr hands as security, *5 that in no case canyon lose anything.” Gorham, with mnch apparentsimplieity, looked up at tbe Sirs. Charles Moulton. From Frank Leslie’s Magazine for January ] The portrait herewith presented in one of the . _ most distinguished American singers who has I reverend inventor, and said:" “Well, Mr. —, yet won the admiration and ontical praise of I of course, being a clergyman, yon are apt noth Earope. Mrs. Charles Monlton, although nn-1 see the whole situation in a business matter like known to the profession as a pnblio Binger, has this. .These bonds.will.bear interest while they attained to a position in lyrio art seldom oo- are in my hands, and,- as the government dote copied even by the great artists who have given I not owe yon anything, yon can readily see that their talents to the world. 8be was born in it wonld not be exaotly right for yon to take in- Cambridge, Mass., inheriting from American terest from it. I am sure I have only to Kg- parents the most characteristic virtues of Pari-1 gest this (o yonr mind in order that you oansee tan stock, and the mnaioal talents of a whole the fall force of my objections.” The clergy- generation of cultivated Bingers. At a very I man went away sorrowfully, for he hid «• early age she evinced remarkable vocal gifts, I peoted great possessions, and the temperament of an artist, which at- I the ghubch-hooexb. traded the attention of observing friends be-1 This next story is told here by the brothel' yond the immediate family circle of admirero. I in-law of General Sherman, npon another eto- So prononnoed were her vocal powers, so nn- I gyman. This clergyman was one of those vhe usually delicate her perceptions, and so marvel- went to New Orleans early in the war, deputed ons her execution of mnsio, that she became the I by the Board of Methodist Bishops to hook t prima donna of a seleot world by divine right, church from the 8outhem organization of the Agirl who at fonrteien canring “Casta diva," I Methodist body, and transfer it, under Fedenl and "Srnani duvolami," at a pnblio ooneert. j protection, to the Church of the North. Thu and arrest the attention of a critical assemblage species of eccleaiastioal grand larceny i« P 8 ; by the skill of execution and the mature delioa- feotly consistent with a certain grade of posh' ey of her method, is a phenomenon in art. co-religions morals. The attempt was * failnw. Mrs. Moulton’s talents were, however, kept for the United States Courts came down ops strictly within the arena of private life. Evety I it- Bnt the story, whioh I began to tell, iq* facility that generous and influential relatives I follows: A certain lady of New Otleses, » conld offer was granted to develop and mature whom onr clerical ambassador had letters ct her gifts. When but eighteen she was sent to introduction, and who sympathized with hs Germany, to stndy under the best masters. Here I holy offioe and with hia temporary penoo» she attracted the attention of the King of Saxony I misfortnna of being without a home ia » almost immediately, and in spite of every pro- | strange city in time of war, offered the rerer- oantion to prevent pnblioity, she was forced into end gentleman accommodations in her boo* the distinguished conrt oiroles of Dresden, and To the mortification of the family, However, almost at onoe made the object of the most ex- it was fonnd that onr clergyman held a rego* traordinay attentions from the mnsioians reaid- I daily levee, from fifty to a hundred per* 8 * ing there. The flattery of so eminent an as- daily oaliing npon him, as if it had ***“j* semblage did not deter .her from the proseen- military headquarters. The lady sought w* tion of her studies. She went to Paris with her advice of her friends as to what aheshoow^ mother, residing there some time in studious end she was told that the shortest way.**® retirement, and then proceeded to London, I best and frankest. So abe was obliged to j where she became the pupil of the famous Gar- to the olergyman that, when he first »PPfr” cia. Her progress under the instruction of this in the city, she had expected that it wotw eminent master was snch us to win from him J pleasure to entertain him, bat that, ana« jr exceptional praise. He coupled her name with oironmstanoes, it was <no longer so, , that of Malibran, and wrote of her that she hoped he would take the suggestion kind.' possessed the most exquisite voice that he ever seek other accommodations. Instead of heard. I ing gratitude for past kindnesses, it w ***®t After a preliminary coursf she went to Italy, I that this clergyman, smarting with re 6e° u “ ’ and beoame the protege of the veteran maestro went to the military headquarters °f * lvomain, who added hia tributes to those of and reported hia host for rebellious smliati Garcia. On again visiting Paris, she beoame and had her house' seized and oou&» 0 *‘rj~ the favorite in a select coterie of musicians. Snch a tale as this would appear to be tac™"* Rossini said of her, when he heard her stog for ble, bnt it is familiarly told here. the first time : “ Viola la Voix /” ‘ ‘I have heard j — it before in my imagination.” I “Lightning Changes.”—The above c*P It was during this residence in Paris that she i a certainly applicable to the condition of « £onl- | wefttber <lat th5fl Ume preseat „ 0a TuestoJ ton, whom she subsequently married. Here, I ~ "—”1— *• w also, an intimacy BptatQ np with Mme. Jenny night at 12 o clock it was so warm as ^ Lind Goldsohmidt anS Hme. Schiaader Devrient. long walk, snoh as we take nightly, w rea " It was throngh the influence of the latter that our domicile very unpleasant In walking Mra. Moulton began a regular conrae of operatic uu ^ half amUe w6 were thrown^ studies, and prepared herself for a profesional I , , e iW life. a heavy perspiration ; at raven o dock 7“*^ On retnrning to America, however, her friends morning shawls and overcoats combined ^ opposed the step, and she abandoned it, never barelv sufficient to make one oomfortable. Th® for a moment relinquishing her studies. Not , .... catbu hoaft * long after, she visited Paris again, and was mar- “ n8t have been, withra six or seven u ried. The festivities incident to'this event threw j ohange of at least fifteen to twenty her into the most exclusive court circles of that | the temperature of the weather. Such temperature < ■ gay metropolis. She became an intimate friend j changes must necessarily be injurious to Ud it behooves os all to mse every P*°» a ** at the Tnileries was reckoned complete withont the American belle. She was flattered, feted, | *® prevent pneumonia, and sought after. Anber composed a benedietus for her. She sun gat the chapel of the Tnileries, will* 0 * Fine Aew.—We bore onr citizens and the piaoe was besieged'by all tbe resident I forget that the sale o# the* raagniA and visiting nobility. Probably no other Amer- j ng8 i n t jj e ojj noetoBtm bttUdiug wilt loan woman ever received so many social hon- - . ’ , 7 -y-rfoeV We ins’* 1 , ora, or is more generally beloved. «« B0 * they «•»>■ When in America, she waa besought on all there be a large attendanoe end tn« hands to appear in pnblio; and theoneboearion feet a liberal dfspMftMs fa their npon whioh aha consented moat be fresh ia the Hnoh •— opportunity to procure reel minds of the musical people of New York. It . . jtl eltlaen* of wee at tbe Dramatic Fnnd Concert, given two art ia rare y afforded ^ th»k®* years ago at the Academy of Music. Nor ©an we can assure them that ***» .. ^ tbe Bucoeee she then achieved have been for- daring the day Will folly kartefy tne gotten. Her sweet, emotional mento-soprano no { genrt 0 f the truthfulness of our * 8 * w tal voice seemed a revelation in art, and her ex- -- v f.it mil and the oolleotioa “ m sOeleei tern *-J a- » -r » tr ac * mt vett jrff’f? arts P.’ei S'ffo S'BTtna S’JTSr S’* W3V PS’S 2. ess.