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ACI GU BTA, GA.
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 14.
FOR GOVERNOR,
HON. HERSCHEL V. JOHNSON.
Os Baldwin County.
Factious Opposition.
When the dominant party of a free represen
tative coHntry like our own, has thoroughly
whipped, overthrown, and beaten at all points,
the party in opposition ; thus administering the
popular rebuke to its untenable doctrines, and
placing the seal ol popular condemnation upon
all its favorite measures, the people need not
expect the discomfited party to fight the same
battles over again, upon the same ground, and in
a fair, honest and fearless manner. They must
expect unfairness, trick, false pretensions, and
every variety of fraud, humburg and deception.
This is the present attitude of parties in this
country. By an overwhelming majority, the
American people, North, South, East and W est,
rose up in their might last November, and de
clared their preference for Democratic principles
of government, and Democratic measures of
policy ; and designated Fkankt.in Pierce, of
New Hampshire, as the man in whose hands
the rights of the people of all sections, under the
constitution of the country, could be safely en
trusted. The Whig party in every State of the
Union except four, was overthrown, its theo
ries repudiated, its designs fustrated, its policy
condemned. Not a single measure of Whig
policy now stands on the statute books of our
country’s legislation. The people have pro
nounced against the practical wisdom of Whig
statesmen —against their fitness to legislate for
this nation in a spirit of justice and republican
equity. The struggle for political power, there
fore, on the part of the Whigs, has to be made
hereafter on new devises, new flans of party
warfare —under new names and disguises. If
ithey thus succeed, they will, after temporary
ascendency, share the fate of all former Whig
dynasties, and be again crushed beneath the
aroused intelligence and indignation of the Dem
ocratic masses. Such, was the fate which swift
ly followed their delirium of triumph in 1840,
and the military furor of 1848, of which the
American people so soon became heartily asham
ed.
Again the Whig elements are combining to
make head against popular sentiment and Dem
ocratic policy, in order to bring the Whig party,
Whig measures and Whig men,again into power.
‘The President is at this moment the object of
assault. As he advances in his career of duty,
both in regard to the foreign and domestic policy
of his administration —the assaults will be mul
tiplied in number and ferocity. No device will
be left untried to create prejudices, and in
flame public sentiment against him. The good
sense of the American people should he roused up
to suspicious watchfulness of the designs ant
motives of the factionists and demagogues of the
opposition.
The people placed Gen. Pierce in his pres
ent position almost by acclamation. He then en
joyed their confidence, their respect and their
good will. The South relied on his fidelity to her
rights and interests upon the question of slavery,
as *jecured by the constitution of which, his whole
poetical life had been an unbroken pledge. The
whole North, abolitionized Vermont and Mas
sachusetts excepted, pledged herself through him
to adherence to the constitutional guarantees of
the South, and against slavery agitation, wheth
er by abolitionists or others, in or out of Con
gress. All sections, North, South, East and
West, united on General Pierce as the firm,
intelligent and patriotic citizen who would
stand up with sacred devotion to the com
mon bond of our common brotherhood. Both
as to defence of our rights at home and our
honor abroad, the people had no misgivings
when they voted for him.
In no State in the Union was this confidence
more deeply felt than in Georgia. Even the
leading Whigs of the State testified to his pa
triotism, to his manly character, and to his
soundness on the slavery question. The bitter
hostility of the abolitionists only endeared him
the more to our people, and the slanders of Foss
and Fogg only served to strengthen their con
fidence in him.
The Inaugural address of Gen. Pierce con
firmed the good impressions which his entire
previous life had made, and gave renewed assur
ance to the South, and to our entire people
that he was the man for the times. Those
who voted for him saw no reason in the senti
ments of that Inaugural to abate their confidence
Fin him, or object to the policy he therein fore
shadowed.
He has a high and sacred claim upon those
who placed him in his present position to con
tinue to him that confidence until he clearly
forfeits it, and to sustain him in the path of his
arduous duty. When the following declaration
was made by him in the face of the diplomatic
corps of despotic Europe, and before the assem
bled multitude of his admiring countrymen,
there was sublimity in the sentiment which
thrilled the whole American heart.
‘ So long as he can discern every star in its
place upon that ensign, without wealth to purchase
him preferment, or title to secure for him place, it
will bo his privilege, and must be his acknowledg
ed right to stand unabashed, even in the presence
of princes, with a proud consciousness that he is
himself one of a nation of sovereigns, and that
he cannot in legitimate pursuit wander so far from
home, that the agent whom ho shall leave behind
in the place which I now occupy, will not see that
no rude hand of power or tyrannical passion is
laid upon him with impunity, lie must realize
that upon every sea, and on every soil where our
enterprise may rightfully seek the protection of our
flag, American citizenship i? an inviolably panoply !
for the security of American rights.” J j
There was force in it, which has impressed
itself upon foreign nations, and gives this day
respect for the American flag and security
to American citizens in distant lands which
a Whig President never commanded.—
It derives force Irom the character of the
man, and from the fact that he enjoyed the
popular sympathy and spoke the popular voice.
Let not that force be impaired, nor that salu
tary respect for American rights be weakened
by the capricious withdrawal of popular sopport
from this truly American President.
What is the ground on which Georgia is called
upon to array itself in opposition to the Presi
dent of its choice 7
No political issue is made in the resolutions of
the Whig Convention which nominated Mr.
Jenkins, with the declarad policy and measures
of the Democratic party, unless the intimation of
a desire, by the Whigs, to divide among the States
the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, be
eo considered.
The only issue yet made by the Georgia Whigs,
with the administration, is on the federal appoint
ments to office. The different factions in differ
ent sections of the Union, shape their tactics
to the prejudices of their respective sections.—
The Northern factionists —the Whigs, Free Soil
ers and Abolitionett* of the North—charge the
President with too strong pro»slavery proclivi
ties. They assert that his appointments are
made in deference to the Slave power of the
U nion. And they denounce him and his North
ern supporters, as dough-faces, truckling to ultra
proslavery influence.
The Southern factionists—the Whigs, wheth
er calling themselves openly Whigs, or adopting
the name of Republican Citizens , Conservatives,
or Union Men , —denounce the President as fa
voring the Free Soilers, and strengthening that
faction known as the Free Soil party, by public
patronage.
Both sets of factions combine, for a common
end—to break dow T n the Democratic party, and
climb to power on its ruins. Both misrepresent
the acts and motives of the President, by asser
tions contradictory to each other, and equally
false.
The policy of the President, in appointments
to office, has been founded in good sense, and
patriotic motives. The democratic party, which
nominated and elected him, adopted the policy
of acquiescence in the Compromise Measures,
and opposition to slavery agitation. Every sup
porter of the administration, and every appointee
to office, subscribed to this policy, and is contrib
uting all his aid and influence to this end. Ev
ery patriot should desire a cessation ot agitation
on this subject. None but a demagogue or a
fanatic would keep it up.
Gentlemen have been appointed to office who
were opposed to the Compromise Measures orig
inally. Few the South, approved all of these
measures. Gen. Sam. Houston was the only
Southern Senator that voted fer all of them.
Georgia, in her Convention, in w’hich she ac
quiesced in them, solemnly declared she did not
wholly approve of them. Few, also in the
North, wholly approved them.
But the democratic party, patriotically, acqui
esced in them with a sincerity, and with a de
termination to enforce the only unexecuted fea
ture of the Compromise—the fugitive Slave Law
—in a manner that commanded Southern confi
dence ; and that party, North and South, elected
a Northern Democrat President, in the faith of
that pledge.
Gen. Pierce has appointed no man to office
that did not vote for him and, in doing so, adopt
the platform of his party. Every man, North
and South voted for Gen. Pierce, knowing him
to be pledged to that platform. Every vote so
given was a pledge of acquiescence in the Com
promise.
It is a slander, then, on the good faith, both of
Gen. Pierce and his appointees to office, for the
Whigs to assert that there is any danger from
either, of a disturbance of the public quiet, on
that question.
It is not President Pierce ; it is not the Dem
ocratic party ; it is not the anti-Compromise
Democrats of the North, nor of the South, then,
who seek to disturb that Compromise, or agitate
the Slavery question. It is not from them, the
rights of the South are in great and imminent
danger. It is from the Whigs and conservatives
at the South, and the Whigs and Abolitionists at
the North, who are factiously trying to agitate
this question anew, to obtain power and spoil for
themselves. When such a combination succeeds
in overthrowing a patriotic President, and a pa
triotic party, such as now' embody the popular
voice of this country, then, indeed, will there be
storm and turmoil, and alarm. Then will
there be danger to the best interests, not of the
South alone, but of every section, and to the
Constitution itself, to which all sections look for
security.
The attempt to defeat Judge Johnson, and the
Democratic party of Georgia, is a blow aimed
at President Pierce, also. Its purpose is to array
Georgia in opposition to his administration, side
by side with abolitionized Vermont and Massa
husetts, and place the Whig party again in pow
er. The clamor about secession and the seces
sionists, has no foundation whatever in fears for
the Union, but is a mere speculation upon the
credulity or prejudices of Union Democrats.
The Algerine Law.
We have never felt inclined to wield the Al
gerine law against Mr. Jenkins as a political
weapon in State elections, although, being one
of the disfranchised, we felt, when we first heard
of it, resentful of the outrage and indignity put
upon us as a citizen of Augusta by the invidi
ous enactment. We have therefore abstain
ed thus far from commenting upon the law,
and have waited patiently for the history of the
transaction promised by the Chronicle S? Sentinel ,
a Whig paper and advocate of Mr. Jenkins, in
order that we might give from that source cor
rect and undeniable information on the subject
to our readers.
It is a subject attracting universal attention
in Georgia, and creating some excitement, and
we could not ignore it in our columns if we de
sired to do so: nor would it be proper that we
should be silent, since our readers are entitled to
all the information upon it we can command.
In the Chronicle Sf Sentinel of yesterday, ap
pears an editorial furnishing the material facts of
the inception of the law, and its passage through
the Legislature.
We do not care to copy its arguments in vin
dication ot the law, and in defence of Mr. Jen
kins, as we do not subscribe to them, and do not
now propose to undertake their refutation.
The following is an exact copy of the Memo
rial referreJ to, with the namas of the signers :
“To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives of the State of Georgia :
The undersigned, citizens of Augusta, believ
ing that the permanent prosperity of their city,
would be promoted by a modification of its char
ter, respectfully approach your honorable body
with the request, that you would make that
amendment of it, which they now proceed to
make known.
By the charter of the city, which was granted
in tie year 1798, citizens qualified to vote for
members of the Legislature, and owning a lot or
renting a house within its limits, were alone
qualified to vote for the members ot the City
Council; subs quently the charter was so modi
fied as to extend the qualification of a voter to
all citizens ot mature age. This modification of
the charter seemed to give geneial satisfaction
until lately, when the facilities of intercourse
with our seaboard and the North, bring to the
city at times a large number of persons, who
sometimes control our city election, and yet
only remain long enough to exercise the elective
tranchise once or twice, and then leave us, per
haps forever. It appears dangerous to the un
dersigned to permit persons of this description
to mingle in the election of those who exercise
the power of unlimited taxation, and of con
tracting debts to bind the city and its inhabi
tants to the latest generation. Yet desirous of
treating justly and kindiy those who remain i
with us but a day or an hour, and much more;
those who reside among us long enough to ac- 1
quire the elective franchise; w e do not wish to
deprive the latter of the rights of voting for
those who shall be interested with the superin
tendence of police and the preservation ot order
Our object will be attained by the establishment
of two Boards of representatives of the citizens
—one to be known as the Board of Common
Councilmen,to consist, after the election on the
second Monday in April next, of members,
to be elected by those possessing the qualifica
tions now required by law; the other to be
known as the Board of Aldermen, to consist
of ■ " ■ - -members, to be elected by those who
own real estate to the amount of , accord
ing to the assessment made by persons appoint
ed by the City Council, and acting under oath,
and who may have paid a tax to the city of .
The two Boards to form the City Council o
Augusta. The Mayor to preside over the Board
of Common Councilmen, and a Chairman to be
elected by the Board of Aldermen from among
the members thereof, to preside over that body.
The Board of Common Council to possess a!
the power now belonging to the City Council
of Augusta, except that of imposing Taxes, bor
rowing money or binding the City of Augusta
for the payment of money or its equivalent,
which said Board shall not possess without the
concurrence and consent of the Board of Aider
men or a majority of them.
Pleasant Stovall,
Greenville Simmons ,
Thomas Barrtt ,
Robert S. Dill,
Samuel Clarke,
W. H. Turpin,
Edward Thomas,
I. Henry,
Thomas Richards ,
Asaph Waterman,
John Rones,
James Harper,
James W. Davies,
James Frazier,
Samuel C. Wilson,
George M. Thew,
George W. Morgan,
Philip Crump ,
John Kerr,
James Hope,
John P. King,
William Harper,
Edwin Snyder,
Daniel W. Dill,
John Carmichael
John B. Turpin,
W. H. Turpin, jr.,
John M. Dow,
W. & J. Nelson,
James S. Simmons,
T. M. Simmons,
Isaac Moise ,
James McDowall,
Joseph Davis,
Andrew Kerr,
David Waugh,
John Hill,
C. B Hitt,
Samuel H. Peck,
T. J. Ogden,
George M. Newton,
Charles A. Greiner,
John A. Barnes ,
Robt. D. Carmichael, Wm. Cumming.
The names in Italics are Democrats.
The Chronicle Sr Sentinel says :
“We state, by authority, that during the ab
sence of Mr. Jenkins from Milledgeville, (with
leaved upon professional business, the Senator
from Richmond received, from Augusta, a me
morial signed by quite a number of respectable
and intelligent citizens of the city, of both po
litical parties , voters possessing, and voters not
possessing the proposed property qualification,
asking a change (to which we shall presently
advert) in the Charter of the City. This me
morial was accompanied by a letter trom a high
ly respectable citizen of Augusta, informing him
that “ a majority of his constituents were
IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE.”
Whilst Mr. Jenkins was still absent, the Sen
ator presented the memorial to the Senate and
introduced a Bill, in conformity with the prayer
of the memorialists, which passed the Senate
and was sent to the House. On the return of
Mr Jenkins the memorial was placed in his
hands, with a statement of what had been done,
and his attention asked to it in its progress
through the House, where it then awaited act
ion. This was the first intimation Mr. Jenkins
had that the Bill bad been introduced, or was
contemplated. When the Bill came up on its
passage, Mr. Jenkins called the attention of the
House to the memorial, asking the passage of
such an Act. and stated that there was neither a
counter memorial, nor any other expression or
indication (so far as he knew) of opposition to it
at home. The Bill then passed without opposi
tion.”
In the course of the ensuing canvass, Mr.
Jenkins being a candidate for re-election, and
being arraigned for his support of the law in the
Legislature, came out boldly defending his vote,
and defining his position in reference to the prin
ciples and details of the law, in a letter of
which the Chronicle furnishes the following por
tion :
“The year following the passage of the act, Mr.
Jenkins, being again a candidate for the Legisla
ture, was called upon to give his constituents
through the newspapers, a history of that act
prior to its passage, and to say what would be,
his future action regarding it, in case of his elec
i tion.
Having replied to the first branch of the in
quiry substantially the same as we have done,
Mr. Jenkins proceeded to answer the second
1 thus :
Augusta, , 1842.
lam asked secondly , “what will be your fu
ture legislation as regards this act, in case of
your re-election ?” I answer, that must neces
sarily depend upon circumstances, which I can
net certainly anticipate. Should the citizens
of Augusta ask no legislative action upon the
suhjeat, by memorial or otherwise, shall propose
none, unless it be to reduce the property qualifi
cation, and thereby increase the constituent bo
dy, which I now incline to think is too small.
There is, however, abundant reason to believe,
that our fellow-citizens opposed to the act, will
invoke legislative action, will petition either for
its modification or repeal. It is impossible for
me to conjecture, with any satisfactory approach
to truth, what modification will be proposed.
I have been told, that the advocates and the
opponents of the measure, would probably unite
in proposing that the act be so amended as to
abolish the proper qualification for voters, re
taining that for Aldermen. I have no hesitation
in saying, I would vote for that, or any other
amendment which would reconcile conflicting
opinions, and thereby give stability to the new
Board, without destroying its utility. In a gov
ernment like ours, the legislator’s first object
should be to enact good laws ; bis second to make
them acceptable to those upon whom the are to
operate. In the present state ot uncertainty, as
to the aspect in which this question will come
before the next General Assembly, 1 can only
add under this head, that if I should be a member
of, I will make that the rule of my conduct.
But it is proper that I should advert to the
other alternative. As an individual, I must
frankly say that I am opposed to the repeal of the
act. Nothing has occurred to change the opinion
I entertained when I voted for it. Your corres
pondent has not asked for an argument on the
subject, and perhaps the proper limits ot this
communication would preclude one.
The citizens of Augusta, however, are divided
unon this question, and circumstances sometimes
render it expedient and proper to dispense with
an institution good in itself. If, therefore, a
majority of those opposed to the act, and of those
originally in favor of it, should concur in the
propriety of its, repeal, I as their common repre
sentative, would not set up my opinions in oppo
sition to theirs, but would vote in conformity
with their concurrent wishes when ascertained.
I must be permitted here to notice an impres
sion prevailing to some extent, that this is onlv
an entering we ige to a limitation of the right of
suffrage in State elections.
Were there space in an article like this, I
would satisfy any reasonable man, that there is
a wide difference in principle in the two cases ;
nay more, that there is a wide difference be
tween limited suffrage for this Board of Aider
men, constituted as it is, and for members of the
City Council. I must, however, content my
self wi h saying, that so far as I am concerned,
the apprehensions is wholly groundless. I have
never contemplated such a movement, and with
out a change of opinion, can never propose or
vote for such a measure.
Whether or not this explanation will, in the
language of your correspondent, “dispel the
clouds of discontent which now rest upon the
minds of many oi mv friends and constituents,”
I know not. It is offered in a spirit of frankness
and as much concession as may consist with
self-respect, which no man, worthy to represent
intelligent freemen, would consent to surrender.
Charles J. Jenkins.”
It would have been in better taste if the
Chronicle had given the entire address to the
public, instead of undertaking to offer its
°wn commonts as substantially the same as
Mr. Jenkins’. It will be here seen however,
that Mr. Jenkins approved the law, but ex
pressed his willingness to vote for its re
peal, if such were the desire, as was cfearly
indicated, oi his constituents. This pledge
to vote for the repeal of the law, saved
to Mr. Jenkins many votes, (our own vote among
them,) which would have otherwise been with
A W. Carmichael,
John Coskery,
Philip McGran ,
John P. Greiner,
Christopher Low,
George L. Twiggs,
G. T. Dortlc,
John Phinizy ,
Thomas H. Wyatt,
Lindsey C. Warren,
J. G. Dunlap,
T. N. Poullain,
George R. Jessup,
A. Poullain,
Isaiah Purse,
H. W. Risley,
0. E. Carmichael,
J. P. Force,
George B. Reab,
H. Bowdre,
William H. Jones,
John A. Snyder,
James M. V. Cooper,
John C. Carmichael,
Wm. M. D’Antignac,
Harper C. Bryson,
T. Doonan,
William Mackie,
David L. Curtis ,
George McCord,
J. B. Crim,
M. P. Stovall,
Robert A. Reid,
John McKinzie,
John J. Cohen,
John Reilly,
Robert Bleakly,
Joseph A. Eve,
J. M. Adams,
Wm. T. Adams,
J. C. Fargo,
Thomas Davis,,
John J. Maguire,
held from him. Had he gone back, and Voted
to repeal the law, in deference to public senti
ment, while still approving it, the majesty of
the popular will would have been vindicated and
signally illustrated, in our opinion, and we would
have been quite content with such a tribute.—
But so odious was the law, that not even this
pledge of Mr. Jenkins, backed by his high char
acter, his fine talents, and his faithful services
to his constiteunts for many sessions in the
Legislature, and his accustomed majority of
hundreds in this staunch Whig county of Rich
mond, could protect him from defeat.
The law survived only to the session of 1842,
and Mr. Miller, who had proposed the bill in
the Senate, the year before, took prompt meas
ures for its repeal. It was consigned to the tomb
with but few' regrets for its untimely fate. Re
quiescat in pace.
The main provisions of the Algerine Law
were, that there should be an upper Board of
eight, two from each ward, to be called the Board
of Aldermen, whose assent was necessary to all
tax bills, loans and appropriations of money by
the city, and salaries of officers. The act pro
vided—
“ That no person shall be allowed to vote for
Aldermen who, in addition to the qualifications
now r required of voters, does not own real estate of
the value of one thousand dollars , according to the
annual tax assessment next previously made, by
the authority of the City Council, or has actually
paid a tax to said city of twenty-five dollars on
real and personal estate, or either, within the
same year preceding such election ; and no person
shall be eligible as Alderman who does not pos
ess the qualifications herein prescribed for vo
ters.”
Under this restriction, as to the qualifications
requsite for Aldermen, and those entitled to vote
for them, about three-fourths of the citizens of
Augusta, were excluded, among whom were
numbers of our most intelligent, public spirited
and useful citizens. The amount of real estate
to be held, or of taxes to be paid, was left blank
in the memorial. The blanks were filled up at
Milledgeville. What agency Mr. Jenkins had
in filling the blanks, or whether he was consult
ed on the subject beforehand, w T e are uninform
ed.
As an illustration of the odiousness of the law,
we understand that one of the volunteer corps of
our city, under the first indignant impulses
contemplated refusing to assist in the pro
tection, of the property of citizens endow
ed by this Algerine law with franchises, of
which most, if not all its members, were
deprived. So odious was it, that the pro
prietor of one of the hotels in our city, where
ward elections were usually held, refused to al
low the ballot-box for the upper board to enter
his premises, and this portion of the election was
conducted in the upper market-house. Even the
citizens entitled to vote under the law, did not
seem very eager to avail themselves of the priv
ilege, for there were only about ninety votes
polled out of about two hundred and fifty, enti
tled to vote.
The Algerine law was killed so dead, by pub
lic opinion, that it was powerless from that time,
for good or evil.
It was a monster, local to Augusta. It was
conceived here, and designed by its parents to be
confined within our corporate limits. After being
ruthlessly strangled in its infancy, by ourown cit
zens, we thought it would be a refinement of
cruelty to buckle the revolting carcass upon the
back of Mr. Jenkins, to cripple and crush him
in all future elections. We thought it was not
magnanimous to endeavor thus to seek to en
cumber and break down a man of his merit and
ability, when he distinctly disclaimed the de
sign or wish to introduce the principle of the Al
gerine law into State legislation.
Melancholy Accident.
A letter from Lexington, Ga., dated the 12th
inst., says:—
tl A most melancholy end came to one of our
citizens on yesterday, some mile or two beyond
Athens, Ga. Mr. William P. Arnold, a high
ly respectable merchant of this place ,was pro
ceeding with his family to the Sulpher Spring
in Hall count)', and in company with several
friends. He was in a buggy alone and driving
a very unruly horse—and being in the rear, his
friends were a mile or so ahead of him. His
horse, it seems, became unmanagable, run away
and threw him from the Buggy, instantly ta
king his life. When discovered by his friends,
life was extinct—no doubt death being produced
by “ concussion of the brain,” or “ dislocation of
the neck.” A universal gloom rests upon our
village, for no one has “ passed away” more res
pected, or who had more friends to mourn his
loss. He leaves a young wife and infant child:
thus at one fell blow, deprived of a companion
and parent.”
Emory College Commencement.
In our recent notice of the commencement of
this institution, we stated that it would take
place on the twenty-ninth of July: we should
have said on the twentieth.
[communicated.]
The 4th of Juiy at Bearing.
Mr. Gardner :—Celebrations of our National
Birth-day have become so rare, that we think all
such occasions shouldbe signified with a notice. It
was oui good tortuneto visit Dearing upon the 4th
and anticipate with our fellow men in the joyous
entertainment incident to the day. The com
pany was large, for we Piny Woods boys turn
out well upon festive occasions. The day was
rather inclement, but as refreshing showers are
greatly needed, we heard no murmuring; it was
the 4th of July,
About mid-day the people began to assemble
under a spacious canvass which was elevated in
a neighboring grove. When the auditory had
assemblad. Dr. S. Beggs read the Declaration of
Independence—that sacred document which
gave birth to freedom—in a clear and distinct
style. It was prefaced by no comment, which
was in excellent taste, for it needs none.
After the Declaration was read, the Orator of
the Day, Doctox H. A. Ramsey, was intro
duced to the assembly. The address of Dr.
Ramsey was chaste, elegant and pathetic. We
wish we could give an extract, but we have not
the pleasure. Let it suffice that the effort was
worthy of the day, and conferred honor upon the
speaker lor its taste and oratory, fully sustaining
the high reputation of Dr. Ramsey as a gentle
man of decided ability.
After the address, which we have imperfectly
alluded to. we were invited to a bountiful din
ner, prepared by the liberality of citizens gene
rally. and which conferred credit on their kindly
feeling and epicurean skill for ot all the fine
barbacues we ever tasted, it was the best. We
longed for some son of the quill to be present,
that he might bear evidence to all we have said
of the Reader, Orator and Dinner.
The audience was orderly—nothing occmed to
mar the happiness of the day, but all appeared
to share with each other in the enjoyment of the
hour.
This celebration will be long remembered as
one of the most brilliant we ever had in our
county, where we are proverbial for doing all
such things up-brown. __ Dearing.
Railroad Stock. —We are happy to inform
our triends (says the Hamburg Republican, of
13th inst..) that the Books for Stock in River
Valley Road, was opened on Monday, and up
to one o’clock yesterday, Seventy five thousand
dollars was subscribed. The work goes bravely
on.
At a meeting of the Provisional Board of Di
rectors of the Milledgeville Railroad Company,
Dr. Tomlinson Fort was appointed President,
and Wm. S. Rockwell, Esq., Secretary.
[communicated.]
To the Citizens of Augusta.
When justice is pointed at its fountain, and
men are left to seek redress at the tribunal of
public opinion, it is a difficult matter to keep
entirely clear of technical absurdities ; as it is
generally believed that the law-makers are justly
charged with fortifying delinquents, of a certain
class, behind the constructive technicalities of
State-Law. We have here in the good city of
Augusta, officers who have been elected to see
strictly to the interests of this growing and
prosperous community ; who are responsible to
the people and the law, for a just and wise dis
charge of their obligations to their constituents,
both in their magisterial and legislative func
tions—justice—impartial justice, ought ever to be
the foundation of every act they may perform,
specially to the people of the city of Augusta
and generally to the people of the State of
Georgia ; from whom they derive their authori
ty. That this is not done in all cases is lamen
tably true: nevertheless, we must have the chari
ty to believe, that most of their mistakes are at
tributable to the understanding and not to intent •
Whether the following case is attributable to
the one, or the other, or both, is left to the judg
ment of the magesterial actors, and their subor
dinates in the transaction, and the intelligent
reader of the present article. A case occurred
before the Mayor’s Court, on the 24th of May
last, that has created considerable feeling ; and
whether the decision of the Court on that oc
casion, was in consequence of a defect of judg
ment, or otherwise, is left for the reader to de
termine for himself. It appeared by the evi
dence on that case, that a woman had been
transgressing the rules established for the good
government of the Augusta Mills, and that the
person in charge of the particular department
where the trespass was committed, went to her
and remonstrated with her, and then took her
by the arm and led or pushed her a few feet
from the scene of the trespass, when she said if
he would release her arm, she would go away,
which was immediately done.
This is emphatically the substance of the evi
dence given on that occasion. Now on such
evidence, why was a summons issued trom that
Court at all ? The defendant was summoned to
answer to the charge of violating the 18th sec
tion, which relates only to persons “ quarreling
or acting disorderly in the streets or elsewhere.”
Not a particle of evidence was, or could be ad
duced, touching that section either constructive
or otherwise. Why then was a summons issued
from that source ? Let the following tell why.
From what transpired at the trial of the case, it
I was evident that the woman was a person of a
1 hasty temper and whilst in the heat of passion
I went to the office of the Clerk of the City
Council and stated the above evidence to him;
he then issued the summons and gave it to a
City Constable, and it is susceptible of proof,
that the orthography of the surname of the de
fendant was not on the summons, and that the
Christian name was to the woman and Clerk en
tirely unknown, such was the haste in the mat
ter. Again, why was such a summons issued ?
If any offence had been committed, was it not
plainly a State offence ? What then could be
the motive of the Clerk in issuing such a sum
mons in such a case? Was it to subserve the ends
jof public justice, or was it to get the fees ? Rea
der you can judge for yourself, and no man can
gainsay your verdict as pertaining to the inherent
sense of justice in your own mind.
The case went before the Mayor’s Court on
the morning of the 24th of May. The defendant
deemed it unnecessary to bring any evidence
touching the 18th section, as none could be given
against him touching that point, but did prepare
himself sufficiently on the Statute or Common
Law principle relating to the case, and then the
counsel lor the prosecution, seeing his defect on
the evidence touching the 18th section, suggest
ed to the Court to place the defendent under
bonds to answer to the charge of Assault
I and Battery at the next term of the Superior
i Court for the county of Richmond. The defen
dant offered as evidence:
Ist. The overseer of the woman to prove that
I she had no permission from him to commit the
\ act she was guilty of, (as he had no power to
i give such permission) and that she had trespass
i ed against the rules of the Mill, but because he
had not particularly and personally notified that
woman, his evidence was ruled out.
And 2nd. The superintendent of the establish
ment to prove that the defendant had a perfect
and undisputed authority over the premises on
which the trespass was committed, —that too
was refused. The latter in itself was sufficient
evidence to silence the whole case, as the veriest
Tyro of the law knows, yet in the face of these
facts the defendant was publicly reproved for
violating one of the statute laws of the State in
assaulting a defenceless and unprotected female ;
and required to give bond in the sum of two hun
dred dollars for his appearance at the next term
cf the Superior Court, to answer to the charge.
After passing to the Clerk’s office to give the re
quired security on the adjournment of the Court,
the defendant asked the Clerk what the fees
were for the bond ? his answer was two dollars
and a half, the defendant objected to the amount
when the Clerk rejoined that “ he’d be d—md if
he would take one cent less.” Although it is a
well known fact that the statute relating to fees
allow only 62£ cents for drawing similar instru
ments. The defendant thought it proper to
await the decision of the Grand Jury, never for
a moment doubting the issue. And here it may
be proper to say that years may elapse (speak
ing of the jurj as a whole,) ere a more intelli
gent and impartial Grand jury will be empan
nelled in the city of Augusta. The result was,
as every common sense man would have antici
pated, that on the exparte evidence of the case
the jury ignored the bill as worthless. On the
above concise statement, a few questions nHff 1
be very appropriately put.
And first, was the Clerk justified by either the
law or the fact, in issuing the summons in the
first place ? Was he justified, in exacting ex
orbitant fees for the bond 1 Was the Mayor
justified, in refusing the common law evidence of
the case, and then deciding on that point alone ?
Was he justified, in reproving the defendant in
open Court, as having violated one of the Stat
ute-Laws of the State, after refusing to receive
evidence on that point ? Does not the act in
corporating the city of Augusta, with its amend
ments, require an investigation in all cases be
fore the Court ? Was that investigation had, in
the case above mentioned ? If it was, it entire
ly escaped the notice of many intelligent men,
who were present on that occasion. As to their
having been any grounds for the charge, let the
action of the Grand Jury answer. The reader
will naturally inquire, what on earth could be
the motive of the Court, in deciding that case
as it did. Let his Honor the Mayor, answer
that himself: we are not making any charge at
present; our purpose is simply to state the facts
of the case, and ask a few questions. However
we will leave this point of the case and turn to
another.
On the sth day of the present month, a me
morial was presented to the City Council,
from the defendant in the above case, setting
forth the above facts, and asking the fees to be
refunded) that he had been mulcted of by the
Clerk. H®w Was it met ? By lightness and
laughter. By who? By the members present,
from the first, second and third wards, of the
City of Augusta. The memorial, was a respect
ful one, simply asking justice at the hand of the
Council, and it was met by—shall we say, a
sneer. A member ot the first ward moved to
lay it on the table, and one from the third
seconded it, and it was carried by the members
from the three lower wards voting against
doing justice to the defendant: and those
from the ward in favor of granting the request
c? the memorialist—they doubtless manifested
more self-respect and a greater regard for justice,
than their compeers from the lower ward. Is
this to be regarded as a specimen of the justice
that the citizens of Augusta are to expect from
the present Council ? If so, voters of Augusta,
note it down ; keep it in your remembrance, that
a majority of the City Council of Augusta, did
on the sth day of July, 1853, virtually endorse
the principle of mulcting a man in two and a
half dollars for drawing a State bond, under the
plea of violating a Statute of the State of Geor
gia, when, in reality, he had done only what the
Law aad common sense required him to do, and
no more. Os this fact, they had, if they requir
ed it, abundant evidence at their command to
prove, if a doubt existed in their minds. These
gentlemen may, for the present, think them
selves secure but they may rest assured that a
day of reckoning will come, when that and sim
ilar acts will be presented with names and dates,
before a tribunal that has power to check pre
sumption, arrogance, and injustice ; and when
that arrives, as it must, there will be those lound
who are both able and willing fully to expose
the incapacity and injustice of all unfaithful
public servants. More anon. Vindex.
Jult 13th, 1853.
Col. Thos. H. Benton’s great work, entitled
“ Thirty Years in the Senate,” is now in the
hands of his publishers, the Messrs. Appletons,
and will shortly be issued from the press. This
work is looked for with considerable interest,
and it will doubtless be an important contribu
tion to the political history of the country.
We see from the Huntsville Democrat, that
the Northern Bank of Alabama, at that place,
will go into operation in a few months. SIOO,-
000 in gold, a portion of the capital, had been
received and deposited in the State Banking
House.
A fetter from Gen. Anthony Wayne, is just
published, dated at Ticonderoga, April 1, 1777,
and closes thus: Be assured that whatever may
be the fate of this garrison (as I have a mind
that cannot brook contempt) you will never
hear or see ranked among the number of prison
ers, the name of your faithful friend and mest.
obedient humble servant.
Fire. —A fire broke out last night about half
past ten o’clock, in the Wheelright shop of Mr.’
S. Z. Murphy, on St. Julien, between Montgom
ery and Jefferson-streets, and this shop and the
blacksmith shop adjoining, also occupied by Mr.
Murphy, were consumed. The surrounding
buildings were all wooden ones, but were saved
by the prompt efforts of the Savannah Fire
Company.
The buildings were owned by Mr. A. Minis
who has an insurance of SSOO in the Savannah
Mutual Insurance Company, which will proba
ly cover his loss. Mr. Murphy’s loss is probably
$2,000 to $2,500. He had some insurance in
the London Phoenix Office, but his loss must be
considerably more than the amount insured, as
he is known to have been making ineffectual
efforts recently to get additional insurance.
Tho fire was undoubtedly the work of an in
cendiary, as no fire had been on the premises.
and the same shop was a few weeks ago fired
in the day time, and providentially discovered
in time to save the building.— Sav. Rep.. 12th
rnst.
We are in the midst of fine showery weather,
cool air, and corn and cotton will begin to re
deem themselves from the drouth. The crops
look better in Tennessee than Georgia. In
South Carolina on the low’ lands, corn is better
than farther West.— Chattanooga Advertiser , 12 th
inst.
City Improvements.—At no time since the
settlement of Macon, have we observed a great
er number of Houses going up. On Cherry and
Third-streets, Mr. James A. Ralston is erecting
a splendid range of Brick Buildings—further up,
we notice preparations lor the new’ City Hall,
and on Second-street, the Baptist Congregation
are commencing the erection of a new and
elegant Church, and we understand, that the
Presbyterians are about to build a splendid
Church, on the corner of Mulberry and First
streets.—Macon Telegraph , 12 th inst.
Wesleyan Female College.—The annual
Commencement Exercises in this Institution,
opened on the 10th inst., the Rev. Mr. Cross of
Charleston, preached the Commencemeut Ser
mon, to a very large and attentive audience, in
the Methodist Church in this city, on Sunday
morning last. We learn that the Hon. Herschel
V. Johnson, will deliver the address to the Grad
uating Class on Thursday next. We notice
thus early in the week, an unusually large as
semblage of visitors from all parts of the State,
to witness the ceremonies of the occasion.— lb.
Awful Catastrophe.—On the afternoon of
Wednesday, 22d ult., Mr. Ragland, the over,
seer of Col. Wm. Porter, with twelve negroes
and about as many horses and mules, took shel 1
ter from the storm in a large shed on the plan*
tation, which was struck by lishtning, knockin'
out the end of the building, and killing two negr®
men, four mules and tw 7 o horses. Col. Porter’ g
place is situated about 7 miles south of Jackson
in this county.— Jacksonville (Miss.) Union , 8th ’
instant.
Jackson and New Orleans Railroad .—We
are gratified in having it in our power to an
nounce that this work has commenced, under
the direction of Messrs. DeGraff, Lindsey & Co.,
contractors, about two miles in a southwest di
rection from town. Laborers are in demand on
the road, to whom liberal wages is offered.— lb.
The Weather.—For the last ten days we
have had copious showers, and on one or two
occasions heavy rain, with thunder and light
ning. The crops look finely in this vicinity.—
lb.
i
Likely Young Negroes at Private Sate .
AT 16 STATE-STREET, and Hamburg, S. C.
Consisting of
PLOUGH BOYS,
FELLOWS, NURSES.
SEAMSTRESSES, WASHERS
AND IRONERS, CHAMBER MAIDS, <tc.
We will continue to receive, throughout the season,
fresh supplies of N egroes, of every
description, both at our office
in Charleston, and Ham
burg. SPIRES & WILSON,
Brokers and Commission Agents,
No. 16 State-st, Charleston,
feb 5 ts and Front-st. Hamburg, S. C.
Commercial.
Savannah Exports—July 11.
Per schr. Satilla, for Baltimore—9B bales Domes
tics, 3 do. Sheep Skins, and 48,000 feet Lumber.
Savannah, July 11, P. M.— Cotton —No sales re
ported to-day.
pipping intelligence.
cleared for charleston.
Steamship Palmetto, Jackson, at Baltimore.
sailed for charleston.
Brig Waitstill, Morse, from Rockport, Me.
Schr. L. 11. Nickerson, from Rockport, Me.
Schr. E. J. Talbot, Rockport, Me.
up for charleston.
Sehr. Pauline, Styles, at New-Orloans.
Savannah, July 12. —Arrived, schr. Wm. Hone,
Bolles, Havana.
Cleared, sohr. Satilla, Staples, Baltimore,
BY TELEGRAPH '
Reported for the Constitutionalist & Repoblj
Charleston, July 13, p
Cotton. Sales to-day, 400 bales, at’mii.
ranging irom 9to 111 cents. Market firm. *
New Orleans, July
Cotton. The sales on Tuesday amounted t I
200 bales, and on Wednesday to 1,600. M ?
dling is quoted at 10*. The Atlantic’s new
was received at noon to-day, but it had no e ffJ
on our market. Stock 47,000 bales.
Tobacco.—The market is active and verv
firm. ’
[Telegraphed, far the Baltimore S M «.I
Arrival of Steamer Atlantic.—Four davs L a(
from Europe. ’ A<ater f
New York, July io
Ihe steamer Atlantic has arrived, bringintr I
140 passengers, and Liverpool dates of the 1
ult. The city of Manchester, arrived out ;
the evening of the 27th ult. n j
England.—The British news is uninteresting
The income tax bill had finally passed Parlia
ment. 4 ‘
Long debates had taken place in regard to the 1
Indian governments.
Very little was said about Turkish affairs I
The general belief was .that peace would b e 1
maintained. Insurance risks to the Dannhl 1
were advancing.
An Australian Steamship Company via Can.
acoa had been chartered.
The strike at Stockport and Blackburn amon®
the cotton operatives contiues partial, but at
Manchester the employers and workmen have
not come to an open rupture.
Mr. Van Buren was at Birmingham. M rs
Stowe was in Wales.
The crops in Ireland were luxuriant, and the
weather in England generally favorable. In the
North of Scotland rain was much wanted. ?
France. —The proposed action of France in ’
regard to the Turkish question was not officially f
known ; but it was reported that the Emperor 1
had prepared a formal note to Russia, demandin®
to know whether her intentions were for peace I
or war: being ready for either. The report adds |
that Napoleon had consented to withhold the v
note at the earnest entreaty of M. Kisselef, the I
Russian Minister.
M. Lemonie had been charged with a private 1
mission to La Plata.
The Bank had declared a semi-annual divi. 1
dend of 70 francs.
Agricultural accounts from the Southern De.
partments were bad, several districts having §
been inundated.
Spain.—The frigate Constitution passed Gib. a
ralta on the 15th ult.
Two shocks of an earthquake were felt at the |
Canaries on the 27th and 28th of May, but did f
not damage.
The crops in Spain were indifferent. It is 1
reported that the Spanish ports will be opened l
for the free import of wheat.
Switzerland. —The prospect of a settlement 1
of the Swiss difficulty is brightening. It was 1
expected that the blockade of the Piedmontese
frontier would soon be raised.
Italy.—The reported attempt of an outbreak
in Lombardy is unfounded. The appointment
of Count Burger to supercede Strasoldo, excites
hopes of milder dealings towards Italy.
Turkey and Russia.— Hostilities had not yet 1
broken out between Turkey and Russia, and 1
the belief gains ground that war will not ensue.
Russia however continues to collect troops along S
the Danubian frontier, and the Turks do not I,
ceasp their warlike preparations.
Baron Bunck, the Austrian Envoy, arrived at I
Constantinople on the 14th, and was understood :.
to be charged with conciliatory proposals, of i
what nature was not known.
Persia—Advices from Ezeromu to June 3d V
bring intelligence of an extraordinary earthquake
which had occurred during the night, by which j
12,000 persons were killed. The plague broke
out next day from their unburied corpses.
Inundations and the cholera had fearfully |
ravaged Teheran, and the locusts had done ino- J
rnense damage at Ispahan.
The city of Shiruz was also totally destroyed 1]
by an earthquake on the nieht of May Ist.
India.—The Indian mail is telegraphed from j
L’Orient. with Calcutta dates of Mcy 16th, and |
Hong Kong dates of the 6th. Nothing definite I
from Rangoon. Trade at Calcutta languid. 1
There was nothing later concerning the Chinese I
insurrection. Australian advices favorable. i
Markets.
Liverpool , June 29.—Cotton lias continued J
steady since the sailing of the America. The i
sales of the three day’s foot up 20,000 bales, of J
which speculators took 5,000, and exporters 2,000 ||
bales. The quotations are far Orleans 6Jd. M
Middling 6 16d., fair Uplands and Mobile 6jd,, u
Middling 5 15-I6d.
New York, July 10. 9
Terrific Storm ancl Loss of Life. —A tremen- ~j
dous hurricane, accompanied by thunder, light- j
ning, and torrents of rain, passed over this city 1
and vicinity yesterday evening. A building at |]
Tarry town, occupied by several families, and S
containing fifty persons was blown down: and 'll
only six of the inmates are known to have es- 1
caped. Seven dead bodies had been taken out 1
last evening.
A large brick store and dwelling house in 1
course of erection at Brooklyn, on the corner of |
Hicks and Montague streets, was entirely de- 1
molished. and the passers by buried in its ruins. 1
Fatal Casualty— Two Lives Lost.—At j
about a quarter before three o’clock yesterday I
afternoon, while the workmen were engaged in |
pulling down the brick building at the corner of ||
East Bay and Broad-streets, to make way for the 1
new Bank Building, about to be erected for the I
State Bank, the joists of the second floor gave ||
way and the South wall fell in, killing John 9
Johnson, mortally wounding James Maher, and 11
slightly injuring Samuel McLaughlin, all of fl
whom were prying the centre wall at the time, t:
Mr. Earle, the contractor for the erection of the
new building, having his time fully occupied,
had given out the work to Mr. James Woodside, g
and of course left all the arrangements to that m
gentleman. An inquest was held shortly after i
the accident by Coroner J. P. Deveaux, on the ®
body of Johnson. :§]
The jury, having heard the evidence, returned |
a verdict to the effect that, in taking down a J|
wall at the corner of Broad-street and East Bay ■
the wall fell on John Johnson and killed him |
instantly, and that “he came to his death by |
accident.” 9
We cannot conclude our notice of this sad 9
occurrence without honorably mentioning the ■
conduct of C. C. Trumbo, who on hearing of the J|
accident immediately sent for the hands employ- 8
ed by him in erecting the new’ building for the ||
Farmers’ and Exchange Bank, and, with their m
assistance, removed the unfertunate men from S
the ruins. McLaughlin and Maher were imme- 1
diately taken to the Alms House, where they I
received every attention from Dr. Ford Prioleau, Jj
Physician to the House, assisted by Drs. Steele H
and Kinloch. Medical skill, however, in the I
case es Maher, was of no avail, as he died last 1
evening, at about eight o’clock. McLaughlin’s ffi
injuries, we are happy to learn, are not very 9
serious, and hopes are entertained of his recove- |j
ry.— Charleston Courier , 13 th inst. _ W\
SUMMERVILLE “PROPERTY. I
SALE, a very desirable Building LOT.
adjoining the Garden of Mr. Charles Delaigl® |
on the Sand Hills, and near the Turknet Spring 3 ' g
For terms, Ac., apply to
Mrs. E. A. BYRD,
july 13 4 upper end Broad
TOWN LOTS FOR SALE. I
TWO fine Building LOTS for sale in the rearo* jaj
Mrs. Florence’s House, upper part of Bros |
street. For terms, Ac., apply to „ vS
July 13 4 W. H. BYRD „ M
OLD BUILDING FOR SALE. fl
THE BUILDING on Campbell street be
tween Broad and Reynolds, partially
troyed by fire, to be taken from the premises'
For sale by GEO. W. LEWIS,
july 13 No. 1 Warren Bl°J> Jj
Office of the Augusta Southwestern j
Plank Road, Augusta, July 12th, 1853. J 1
PROPOSALS will be received at my Office ’ on. 1
Saturday, the 23d inst., for Grading, a m
ing and Laying down, the Augusta S W- j? a ...5J
Road, from the Terminus at D Laigle’s gate, - I
Boundary street, to Richmond Factory, m se
of two miles each. . - a ti fl
The Survey, Profiles and Specifications, -•>
g-i °° a s J touvitgl
Office Aootot.ilssi:*a»oe*Banii!™i»-J I
rpHE BOARD OP DUREOTOKS have 1
be paid to the st< j^g° E ß T WALT ON, Cwtefif 1
july 12