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THE FEDERAL UNION,
( Corntrof Hancock and Wilkinsonstreets.)
OPPOSITE TBECOCBTHOrSE.
•OCGHTOIf, IVISBET & CO., State Printers.
Tuesday Morning, October 24, 18G5.
THE OOVERNOH'S MEHSAIJE.
We lay befote our readers this rather extraor
dinary State paper. Ilia Excellency refers to sev
eral matters of legislation, such as the peniten
tiary, the location of the Supreme Court at the
Capital, the repairs he has bad made on the State
House, Executive Mansion, Ac. He recommends
the laying Off the State into seven Congression
al Districts: recommends that changes he made
in the organic law fixing the basis of representa
tion for the legislature. He then objects to the
present mode of appointing Judges. He says the
Judges should be independent of the Executive,
and that the Governor should be deprived of the
appointmont-of judicial functionaries: that exper
iments have demonstrated the necessity of this.—
We do not know what the Governormeans when
he says the Judges should be independent of the
Executive. Every intelligent man in the State,
who has no political ends to serve, must admit
that the Judges are now perfectly independent of
the Governor, ne has not the slightest .control
over them by either the constitution or laws of
the State. What then does the Governor mean
when he says “experiments have demonstrated"
that they should be independent, and that a change
is necessary, Ac? This is certainly an implied
charge that the Judges are now dependent upon
the Executive, and that they are influenced or
controlled by him. Nothing could be more un
just than the charge. At no time within our re
collection has the State had more able, fearless,
independent and incorruptible circuit Judges.
The Governor under the present rule has no ap
pointing power of Judges. He nominates them
to the Senate and the nomination must meet the
approval of two-thirds of that body before they
are appointed. No better mode of appointment
can be devised. It is the plan established by the
Constitution of the United States, and has work
ed well from the commencement of the Govern
ment. Will the Governor say that the Supreme
Court of the United States is dependent upon the
President because lie nominates the Judges just as
the Governor does in Georgia 7 Theobjection ex
ists only in the imagination of his Excellency.
But the main point discussed in the message is
the question of the State debt. And we confess
that our pride as a Georgian was humbled when
we reflected that we had lived to see the day when
a Governor of our noble old State, whose boast
has always been her integrity and good faith,
openly,and apparently without blushing, in a pub
lic message, advocates the passing of a solemn or
dinance by a Convention of her people, not only
repudiating the honest indebtedness (we call
with Georgia as a member of the Confederate States
Government. The govenynentto which she then be
longed, has been overthrown, and with its over
throw, all Confederate debts became extinct. Geor
gia, as a component part of it, no longer exists,
and her debts then incurred, have in like manner
been extinguished.” This is the first time we
have heard the doctrine announced that the inabil
ity of a person or government to pay, extinguished
the debt. The overthrow of the Confederate Gov
ernment in no way affects the justice of her debt.
It simply left the creditor, an English merchant
for instance, with a just debt due him, which the
debtor has no ability to pay. The debtor, in other
words, is dead, and the estate insolvent, but the
debt is not legally nor morally extinguished.—
.The State of Georgia as a debtor, is neither dead
nor insolvent. She is embarrassed, and her cred-
itors must wait on her awhile till she can pay.—
It is true Georgia is no longer a member of the
Confederate Government, but it does not follow
that this fact extinguishes her debts contracted
while she was such. It is a bad rule that will not
work both ways. When Georgia withdrew from
the Uuited States Government she owed over two
and a half millions of dollars. Suppose the Con
federate Government bad been established and
she remained a member of it, would the fact that
she, as a component part of the United States
Government, no longer existed, have extinguished
the debts contracted by her while a member of the
Government ? If the Governor’s rule be a good
one, it would. Who can fail to see the palpable'
injustice and absurdity of any such reasoning 1
The Governor, in his zeal for repudiation,- has per
mitted his imagination to becomo excited, and to
misguide his judgment. If his suggestions are
adopted, the State is disgraced, and her fair fame
and good character forever lost. We are glad the
question is in the hands of a Convention of so
much ability and good practical seuse.
TJie Comptroller CU-u<-rnl'■ Report on the
Public Debt.
Many persons are under the impre a sion that in
his late Annual Report on the State Debt, publish
ed by us last week, the Comptroller General took
the ground that the State should pay the whole of
its Debt as it stands upon its face. Those who
have thus been impressed have not read the Re
port carefully, else they would have come to a
different conclusion. In two places in the Report
the Comptroller intimates that it might be consid
ered honorable to settle differently. In alluding
to the currency Treasury Notes, redeemable in
Confederate Treasury Notes and Public Dues, is.
sued to anticipate a tax levied upon Confederate
valuations, the Comptroller suggests that “the
Legislature might deem it equitable to pay them
upon the basis of what one dollar in specie would
have purchased in corn, meal and other provisions
at the date of their issue,” or it might “deem it
equitable to redeem them at only what they would
have brought in gold at the date of their issue,”
and he offered au estimate of what it would take,
in either case, to pay off these Notes and the
Change Bills. And at the close of his Report,
upon the Public Debt,.he uses the following lan
guage, viz:
“And finally, should Georgia’s good name and
credit and fame go down, and she should be field
as a “Repuimator”— should the good old State
that gave me birth, be charged with the violation
of her most solemn promises and pledges, in mat
ters of dollars and cents—should she bo charged
with having deliberately borrowed money of her
citizens, of her widows and orphans, and of oth
ers, by issuing Bonds and Treasury Notes with
solemn promises to pay the same, and, then, with
out any default on the part of those who gave her
their money and credit, deliberately refused to repay
the same, or any part thereof; and that she did this,
too, because, there was no power to compel her to
do justice—should the good old State that we have
all ever been so proud of. be charged with thus
Election 15th of November.
The Convention passed an Ordinance on Thursday
appointing the 15th of November fora general election
in this State, for Governor, Members of Congress and
Members of the Legislature. We doubt not the ac
tion of the Convention upon all the important subjects
brought before it, will meet the approval of the Presi
dent, and the people be allowed to perfect their State
Organization in their own way.
EP*Me?srs Anderson ot Chatham, Cook of M&con,
Mattheas of Oglethorpe, Saffold of Morgan, and Hook
of Washington, were appointed, under the resolution,
to petition the President for the pardon of-Mr. Davis,
and other gentlemen.
CP*Hon. A. H. Stephens passed through Atlanta
on Thursday last, on his way home. His health is
about as good as usual. We expect Mr. Stephens
will visit this city before the Adjournment of the Con
vention.
Correspondence of the Federal Union.
things by their right name,) but denying to our: treating her own citizens, (including helpless wo-
people when prosperity is restored, the privilege
of wiping off the fonl stain, by denying to the
legislature the right, in future, to provide for pay
ment to the creditors of the State.
The Governor states the amount of the debt
prior to the ordinance of secessiou, and says It
should be paid. But he says “the debt created
during the war stands on a very different basis.
It is of no legal or moral obligation, because it
was created to aid in the prosecution of a war of
rebellion against the United States.” Let ns ex
amine this a little. The debt prior to the war, he
says, was §2,667,750. This he proposes to pay.
The balance of about §18,155,775, he says, was
created during the war, and he denies the legal or
moral obligation of the State to pay it or any part
of it. His own language is : “In a word, ordain
solemnly and deliberately that no legislature note or
hereafter shall directly or indirectly, in whole or in
part, assume to pay in any manner these demands:”
Part of this last sum is bonds of the State issued
to pay for stock in the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad,
which the State now owns, and which will be
worth par at no distant day. fho Governor does
not propose to relinquish the stock, but the State
is to keep it, and refuse to pay the bonds she gave
for it; because she was at the time “in rebellion
against the United States”, and, therefore, no le
gal or moral obligation rests on her to pay for this
stock.
Again. Georgia s sons, as brave as ever went
to the field, were sick and wounded, and were
dying for want of attention and comfort. A num
ber of her best sous at home formed an associa
tion for their relief, and the State appropriated
from time to time, the means necessary to have
their wounds dressed and their sufferings mitigated.
Capitalists, upon the pledge of the State, advanced
the means, and the Governor says the State is un
der no morul obligation to pay, because she was
in rebellion when she made the pledge.
Again. The wives and little ones of those
brave men, were actually suffering for bread, and
the State made large appropriations for their relief
as an act of justice and humanity, and issued her
bonds and notes upon which she raised tho mon
ey. But as she was in rebellion, she is under no
moral obligation to pay this debt.
Again. When Gen. Sherman took possession
ot Atlanta, he expelled and drove from their homes
in that city, a large number of poor helpless wo
men and children, and sent them within our lines,
without bread or shelter. The State authorities,
to prevent their death by hunger and exposure to
the weather, removed them to a place of safety,
built shelters for them, and appropriated money to
buy provisions to feed them till they could shift
for themselves. But the State was in rebellion,
and is under no moral obligation to pay this part
of tlie debt.
And still again, it was necessary to maintain
civil government in the State. She must there
fore have State house officers, Judges. Solicitors,
Ac., to administer her laws and maintain order.
These officers gave their time to her service and
received her notes in payment; bat she was “in
rebellion against the United States,” and is there
fore under no moral obligation to pay. How can
the fact that the State was in rebellion, affect her
moral obligation to pay her just debts 7 Suppose
a citizen is living in violation of law ; say for in
stance, in adultery, and while in that condition, he
purchases property and gives his note for it, can
he deny his obligation to pay because he is living
in disregard of his duty 7
Bat we mast notice still another most extraordi-
nay position of the Governor. He says, “further
more, theee contract! from which a liability i,
to reeult, were made with Georgia in molt—
men and children,) or any one else who trusted,
alone, to her HONOR: and in consequence of the
same, she shall never Lave the credit and high
character she once possessed—I desire to “put it
on record” that I had “no part or lot”-, in thus pla
cing her, but, that as an Officer of the State, and
a true and loyal citizen, 1 contended from the be
ginning to the end, for the INTEGRITY and Honor
of Georgia .' ”
This shows that while the Comptroller General
is unequivocally and unconditionally opposed to
REPUDIATION, looking upon it as a stain that
would ever stick to and sink the credit and cnaracter
of the State, nevertheless, he thinks that should
tho Legislature deem it fair aud honorable to re
deem the Treasury Notes of the State according
to the specie value of the same at the date of
their issue, there would be no dishonor in thus
redeeming them.
The Convention.
When it is considered that there are three hun
dred and one delegates entitled to a seat on the
floor of the Convention, the dispatch of business,
during the first four days, will reflect credit upon
the body. No State Convention that has yet as
sembled, Lad more than a third of the number
constituting the present Convention. To the ex
cellent Committee, appointed by the Piesident to
report business for the action of the Convention,
the credit is mainly due for this commendable
feature in its proceedings.
We refer the reader to our synopsis of the act.
ual business of the Convention transacted. We
do not pretend to publish anything beyond the acts
of the Convention, as our space will adroit of
nothing more. We congratulate the p.-opl.j of
Georgia, on the wise, just and prudent action of
their representatives, and trust that they may be
equally fortunate iu their future deliberations.
Wisdom, Justice and Moderation, let ns
hope, will be the motto under which Georgia’s
representatives are marshalled for the high and
holy duties of the hour. Without fear, favor or
affection—yet with a due appreciation ot the cir
cumstances surrounding them—they will do all
that becomes the representatives of a people,
whose misfortunes have not dispirited them, and
whose responsibilities have not overwhelmed
them. May the Great God who permits not even
a sparrow to fall to the ground unnoticed, direct,
support and sustain our representatives in the dis
charge of the solemn trust confided to them.
The State Debt.
A resolution to call on the Provisional Govern
or to know whether the information he had from
the President, would authorize the admission of
Georgia in the Union, provided she should decide
to pay her debt, was offered in the Convention on
Saturday; and, after soma debate, was laid on
tho table. What has the President, or the Pro
visional Governor of Georgia, got to do with the
debt of Georgia to her own people! If Georgia
pays what the U. S. Government asks her to pay,
and also pays the just claims against her, in the
name of her own people, nobody has a right to
say a word to the contrary. The resolution above
ret erred to was laid on the table, as it should have
been. President Johnson has .already told the
people what they ought to do, if they wish to get
their rights under the constitution and law of the
U. S. He did not tell them to repudiate their
State debt. Mississippi is in the Union, and her
Convention recommended the Legislature to set
tle the debt of the State cn a fair and honorable
basis. Georgia, we believe, will save her honor
at the same time that she comes np to the full re
quirements of all the proclamations of President
Johnson in reference to the restoration of the
Southern States to the Federal Union.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
Reasons why he should be made our next Governor:
He posseses the purest and noblest intellectual
manhood; his powers being strongly developed,
and not impaired by excesses, physical infirmity,
or enfeebled by age.
The parity of his life, conduct, and principles
presents a splendid type of lofty moral manhood:
resting his smallest equally with his most impor
tant actions npon the finest moral principles.
He is not an erratic genius, uncertain in his
views, strange iu his conduct, leaving the people
hoping, doubting, fearing, trembling.
We Lave tried bim, and the image of Lis lofty
mind is Etamped upon every element of greatness,
prosperity, and glory in our State.
His light is not a rush iight, dimly shining,
gleaming out, then obscured in darkness :but a
steady, constant, burning flame, ever increasing
in brightness.
He came from the people, and is eminently
one of them, with a thorough insight into prac
tical life, with all its realities. He has struggled
aud fought with life's poverties, sorrows, aud
misfortunes.
He is eminently a practical man, not dreaming
amid abstract speculations, and presenting im
practicable propositions to the people in his theory
of government. He has his ideal, and works up
to it upon the basis of the real.
His mind soars above the petty prejudices
that control politicians and demagogues. No
honest man can accuse him of being a demagogue.
The burden of his great mission is not personal
agrandizement, but the elevation and glory of liis
race.
He has demonstrated to us that liis great heart
throbs in its every pulsation with the happiness,
prosperity, freedom, welfare, and glory of the
people. His whole heart i3 the people’s.
His past course clearly shows that he can dis
tinctly see great results from small causes ; and
he indicates singular capacity for working into the
welfare of the State every small as well as great
element of wealth and prosperity.
He is unrivalled in energy and perseverance:
ceaseless iu his attention to every material iuterest
of the State. One of the highest evidences of his j
genius is liis indoinnitable perseverance.
He is au amiable gentle-toned, mild Christian
gentleman : approachable by everybody, from the
humblest to the greatest: with a cordial welcome
for all, and a smiie as gentle as it is benevolent.
His modesty is equal to bis noble worth:
No man of information can question but that
the financial interests of the State were better con
ducted, realizing more material results, under bis
administration, than under the direction of any
Governor with whom Georgia has been blessed
He is comprehensive in his views, comprehen
sive in his action, taking general cognizance of
the whole machineiy of Government.
His reflective powers are of no ordinary stamp;
rapid in arriving at his conclusions, and quick as
thought in their execution.
He is the poor man’s friend, spending not alone
Lis social time amid the circles of the wealthy,
the aristocratic, the great, the learned ; but recog
nizing virtue, truth, merit, and wisdom iu every
walk of life.
He is a true friend to the soldier's widow and
the soldier's orphan, webping with them in their
desolation, and ready to offer them the hand of
encouragement and assistance.
A patriot’s heart beats in his bosom, and no
candid man who watched his splendid career amid
the terrors of the late revolution, can for a moment
doubt the exalted character of his patriotism.
Ilia present political position, his relationship
to the Federal Government, and its Chief Magis
trate, presents not a single barrier to his elevation
to the position of Governor of Georgia.
He has a national reputation, which will be
greatly influential in our relationship and inter
course with the general Government and the
different States.
And finally. hi3 crowning qualification for the
position is, his possession of the first element of
statesmanship,organization. Few statesmen pos
sess more adaptation to the work of harmonising
every discordant element; bringing light out of
darkness, harmony and order oct of chaos.
The whole machiney of the State has been
shattered, dissevered, upheaved. The crisis is
critical and. momentous. A wise and skillful
hand, and the head of a philosopher is demanded.
We have but a few days in which to select a
Governor. We want some one wjiom all can
unhesitatingly trust, and whom all thoroughly
know. Joseph E. Brown’s name is like “house
hold words” to almost every man, woman, and
child in Georgia. The crippled condition of oar
affairs, the wealth and pecuniary prosperity of
onr country, and the noblest happiness and
welfare of millions demand his election to this
important position. AVON EDME.
Georgia Conveotion*
organization.
Provisional Governor James Johnson called the
Convention to order at 12 M. Mr. Briscoe, his
private Secretary, assisted by Mr. L. Carrington,
Clerk of the Honse of Representatives, enrolled
the members, and Judge I. L. Harris, of the Oc-
mulgee Circuit, swore them m.
A motion was then made to proceed to the elec
tion of a presiding officer. Hon. Chas. J. Jen
kins of Richmond, whose name had been promi
nently associated with the office of President,
arose, and nominated Hon. Herschel V. Johnson,
of Jefferson eonnty, as President of the Conven
tion. This was one of the most graceful acts of
this distinguished man’s life Until ti e very mo
meat of the nomination, nine out of ten men in
the Convention believed that Mr Jenkins wonld
be chosen President of the Convention by accla
mation. A ballot was taken, and Hon. H. V.
Johnson received a very large majority of the
votes cast. Without the usual formality of a
committee to wait on the President elect, Judge
Johnson at once occupied the Chair and address
ed the Convention very briefly. He thanked the
Convention for its kindness and confidence; and,
while distrusting bis abilities to discharge the du
ties imposed, expressed his determination to bring
whatever ability he had to the work assigned him.
Without touching upon any of the important sub
jects likely to engage the attention of the Conven
tion, he again returned thanks for its kindness
and confidence, and declared the Convention
ready to proceed to bnsiness- The next thing iu
order was the election of a Secretary. Cincinna-
tus Peeples of Monroe eonnty, Col. Waddell, of
Polk county, Seaborn J. Saflold of Morgan coun
ty, and Mr. J. Walker were pat in nomination
Col. Waddell was elected on the second ballot,
and the oath of office was administered to him
“Uncle Jessie Oslin,” of Cobb county, aud Mr.
Roberts of Baldwin county, were chosen Messen
ger and Door Keeper by acclamation. Th°se elec
tions completed the organization of the Conven
tion.
On motion of Mr. Jenkins, a committee of six
teen was appointed to prepare bnsiness for the
Convention.
A message was received, and read, from Provis
ional Governor Johnson, und ordered printed.
The Convention then adjourned to 9 1-2 o'clock
Thursday morning.
States in behalf of Jefferson Davis and A. H. Steph
ens, and of James A. Seddnn of Virginia, A. G.
McGrath of South Carolina, Gov. Allison and David
L. Yulee of Florida, and H. W. Mereer ef Georgia,
dow confined as prisoners in Fort Pulaski at the
mouth Of the Savannah river.
SHANEFIjL.
Messrs. Editors You perhaps remember
that in 1863, the crops of the mountain region of
our State were cut off and the people there were
neatly in a state of starvation. That winter, del
egates, from that section of tho State, beseiged
the Governor and Legislature for help; they stated
that the people there were absolutely suffering for
bread, and if they were relieved, the corn must be
sent to them, as they had not the means of haul
ing it home, even if the corn was given them.
In pity for their distress, and in answer to their
solicitations, the State came to their relief, and
with her treasury notes (for she had no other mo
ney,) she bought corn and had it hauled to them,
and by this means many families were Sived from
extreme suffering, if not from death. But what
do we see now? delegates from that same section
and some of them the very men that came to so
licit aid to koep them from starvation, are now
here soliciting the Convention to repudiate the
treasury notes of the state, and thus to cheat the
men oat of the pay for the corn that was sent to
keep them from starving, and also to cheat the
men out of their pay for hauling their corn to
their homes, and they do this for fear they will
be taxed a few cents towards paying the very
debt made for their benefit. Messrs. Editors. I
have all of my life tried hard not to believe in
the total depravity of the human race; but when
men for the sake of saving a few cents, are will-
mg and snxious to defraud the men who brought
com to their doors, to save their families from
perishing, I am forced to believe that some men
at least are totally depraved. If their crops should
again be destroyed, who on earth or in Heaven
wonld pity them or coma to their relief 7
SPECTATOR.
IT We were pleased \o"meet Mr. Barr of tbe
Journal * lfemnfer, In ear oltj.
Repeal of Secession Ordinance.
The Commiitee of J6 reported through its
Chairman, Mr. Jenkins, the following ordinance :
An Ordimnce,
To repeal certain ordinances and resolutions
therein mentioned, heretofore passed by the
people of the State of Georgia in Convention.
We, the people of State of Georgia, in Conven
tion at our seat of Government, do declare and or
dain, That an Ordinance adopted by tbe people,
in Convention, on the 19th day of January, A. D
1861. entitled “An Ordinance to dissolve the
Union between the State of Georgia and other
States united with her under a compact of Gov
eminent, entitled the Constitution of the I'nited
States of America,” also an Ordinance adopted by
ihe same, on the 16th day ot March, in the year
last aforesaid, entitled “An Ordinance to adopt
and ratify the Constitution of the Confederate
States of America,” and also all Ordinances and
resolutions of the same, adopted between the 16th
day of January and the 24th day of March, in the
year aforesaid, subversive of or antagonistic to,
the civil and military authority of the Govern
ment of the United States of America under the
Constitution thereof, be, and the same are hereby
repealed. The Ordinance was adopted.
Redistricting the State.
Mr. Jenkins also offered the following:
An Ordinance,
To establish Congressional Districts, aud to pro
vide for certain elections:
The people of Georgia, in Convention assembled>
du ordain. That conforming to the the last appor
tionment of members of the Honse of Represents*
tives of the United States Congress, there shall he
in the State of Georgia seven Congressional Dis
tricts, constituted as follows, until changed by act
of the General Assembly, viz:
The First District shall inclnde the connties of
Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Wayne,
Glynn, Camden, Charlton, Ware, Pierce, Appling,
Tatnnll, Bulloch, Effingham Scriven, Emanuel.
Montgomery, Telfair, Coffee Clinch, Echols.
Lowudes, Berrien, Irwin, Laurens, Johnsou,
Brooks, Colquitt and Thomas.
The Second District shall include the counties
of Decatur, Early. Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Worth,
Dooly, Wilcox, Fulaski, Houston, Macon, Chat
tahoochee, Sumter, Webster, Stewart, Quitman,
Clay, Colhoun, Randolph, Terrell and Dough
erty.
The Third District shall include the conntieB of
Muscogee, Schley, Taylor, Talbot, Harris, Troup,
Merriwether, Heard, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton,
Carroll. Campbell, Harralson and Panlding.
The Fourth District shall include the counties
of llpson. Pike, Spalding, Henry, Newton. Butts,
Monroe, Crawford, Bibb, Twiggs, Wilkinson,
Baldwin. Joups, Jasper aud Putnam.
The Fifth District shall include the counties of
Washington, Jefferson, Burke. Richmond, Glass
cock, Hancock. Warren, Columbia. Lincoln.
Wilkes, Talliaferro, Green, Morgan, Oglethorpe
and Elbert.
The Sixth District shall include the counties of
Milton, Gwinnett, Walton, Clarke, Jackson, Mad
ison, Hart, Franklin. Banks. Hall, Forsyth, Pick
ens, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Habersham, Ra
bun, Towns, Union, Fannin and Gilmer.
The Seventh District shall include the counties
of DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Polk, Floyd, Bartow,
Cherokee. Gordon, Chattahoochee, Walker, Whit
field. Murray, Catoosa and Dade
Sec. 2. There shall be held, on the loth day of
November next, a general election in the several
counties aud election districts of this State, for
Governor, Senators, (by senatorial districts) and
Representatives (by counties) to the General As
sembly, in conformity to the Constitution which
this Convention may adopt, and of members of
the House of Representatives of the United States
Congress by districts as herein before arranged,
one member for each district.
Sec. 3. The election herein ordered shall be
conducted, aiid returns thereof made, as is now by
the code of Georgia provided.
SEC. 4. And the Convention do further ordain.
That the election for Miyor and Aldermen of the
city of Savannah shall be held on the 1st Wed
nesday in December, in tbe present year, and that
at such election all laws appertaining thereto shall
be in force, except the law reqairing the registry
of voters.
The above ordinance was adopted.
Mr. Kenan, of Baldwin, offered the following;
An Ordinance,
To request and authorize the Provisional Gover
nor of Georgia, to borrow, on the credit of this
State, a sufficient sum of money to pay what
may be due on the civil list, and what may be
come due thereon, UDtil. by the collection of
taxes, the State may dispense with loans ; and
to extend the power to the Governor to be elect
ed by the people in a certain contingency.
The People of Georgia by their Delegates in Con
vention assembled, <ft> hereby declare and ordain.
That the Provisional Governor of this State be and
is hereby respectfully requested and authorized,
upon the faith and credit of the State of Georgia,
to negotiato a loan or loans of money, or U. S
currency, sufficient in amount to pay whatever is
due on the civil list of tbe political year 1865, as
abo to pay whatever may become due on the ci
vil list of the political year 1866, inclusive of ap
propriations for the support of the Lunatic Asy
lum, aud other governmental purposes, uutil the
State of Georgia, by the collection of taxes to be
imposed hereafter by the Legislature, and other
resources of the State, shall be enabled, without
embarrassment, to dispense with a resort to torn
porary loans—the money so borrowed, to be de
posited in tbe Treasury, and to be paid out by the
Executive warrant aa is provided b j existing laws.
And be it further ordained by the authority afore
said, That, should the Provisional Governor, from
any cause, fail to make a sufficient loan or loans
to effectuate the intention of this ordinance, that
the Governor to be elected by the people, as his
successor to*all the executive powers of tbe State
Government, be, and is hereby empowered to
make, from time to time, such loan or loans for
the service of the State of Georgia as is herein
contemplated.
^TThe following Resolution was offered by Mr.
Anderson of Chatham, which, after some discussion,
was adopted. It was amended bo as to include all
prisoners of war now in confinement.
Governor’s Message
Gentlemen of the Convention :
The circumstances under which yon have as
sembled, make it proper in my judgment, that you
should have set before yon a summary of the fi
nancial condition of the State, that you may be
the better prepared to give appropriate directions
to Executive officers touching the discharge of im
portant duties necessary to be performed before
:he Legislature will assemble. Upon entering on
the duties of my office, I ascertained from a
source deemed reliable, that the cotton which had
been previously purchased by the State, had eith
er been captured or consumed by fire; and that
all of the assets the State held abroad, had been
drawn against to the fall extent of their value
The Western & Atlantic Railroad yielded us no
income, and the stock belonging to the State
in Banks, and other Railroads, were entirely una
vailable. Our charitable Institutions, the AeAde
my for the blind at the city of Macon, and the
Lunatic Asyinm at this place, were without funds,
and are now compelled to resort to such credit as
they may obtain to procure supplies necessary for
the maintenance of their uufortunate inmates.—
The Penitenitary with its shops and machinery,
has been nearly destroyed—to such an extent, as
to render it wholly inadequate to accomplish the
purpose designed—and nearly all Of the convicts
have either escaped or been discharged.
It will be necessary therefore, to make some
provisions to cairy into effect, the judgments of
the courts against certain criminals for offences
committed in violation of existing laws, or which
may be committed, until new laws shall be made
prescribing new penalties and other modes of in
flicting punishment for crime.
During the progress of tbe war, the Western &
Atlantic Railroad was alternately destroyed and
rebuilt by the contending armies, until by the op
erations of last Spring, it finally fell into the pos
session of the military authorities of tbe United
States. By them, it was temporarily repaired and
put in running order, and by them retained until
about the 25th of last month, when it was turned
over to the State upon certain terms aud condi
tions proposed by the United States. Most of the
depots on the Road, and the work shops on it, are
to be repaired or built; many cross ties to be
furnished, and much of the iron to be relaid.—
The bridges over the streams weTe found to be
frail and liable to be swept off by the first heavy
freshets. Such being the case, the Superinten
dent aud Directors did not hesitate with my ap
proval to enter into contracts for the immediate
construction of permanent and substantial bridges.
They are fourteen in number, and by the terms of
the contracts are to be completed by the 15th ot
December next. The rolling stock on the Road
being insufficient, the Superintendent and Direc
tors purchased of the U. S., nine engines and
about one hundred cars. This outlay cannot be
met by the proceeds of the Road, but will re
quire, it is estimated, more than a half million of
dollars.
J have caused some repairs to be put upon the
State Honse and the Executive Mansion. These
will require further appropriations, to replenish
er <ff3er. Having no avail-
^ a -“L”? h °l d / de8 P«™te cun,.
odions words and opprobrium,
dens art already great and our It ' Our h.,
diminished. Tbe assumption of
still add to onr weakness.i mpa " C
AfOssa Anv tavan • «
. ^<*1 r
Oar
debt
credit
»i.l
crease onr taxes, deter immimtinn
Ual from .eeking an invest*^ ‘° a '•>t
will embarrass ns in a variety of w 2
come. ’’Of jean
To transfer this great question totk.r
ture will be considered as a n aa .: Legi,
its justice. The Legislature will h ° r ** la ent c-‘
peculiar hardens to bear, and will be own
business beyond that ot any one l ,e<1 *itS
bled in onr day. It will be charged i|l? s «**it
and passing tax laws, police laws “
laws relating to contracts, and to all’ll? 611 * 1 Uw,
relations of life. Such subjects willt n5ar f:' ;
to cousume the time and the talents 0 f''^en
able and industrious of men, and the t * 16 ® 0 *’
fare will demand that to these subiecu^ 1 ' 0
beraof the Legislator* shall gi ve t ij.< *
best and undivided efforts.
ff>ve their***' 8 -
Let nnf ti ** rr iee
Resolved. That a committee ot five be
tie eoair, to aeporiaUfe tip JfrwMeat
ted hr
e United
and put them iu proper
able assets with which to pay the mileage of mem
here of the Convention or their per diem, I bor
rowed on the faith of the State, from citizens ot
Augusta, about the sum of fifty thousand dollars,
to be used by the Convention for that pnrpose.—
Special contracts have been made with the citi
zens lending the money, to which contracts I in
vite your attention aud respectfully ask that they
be approved, and that provisions he made to meet
them promptly.
Since our last election for members to the Con
gress of the United States, a new apDortionnumt
of Representatives has been made under tbe Cen
sus Returns of 1860; and by that apportionment,
the number alloted to the State of Georgia, is re
duced to seven. It being desirable that Repre
sentatives should be elected at as early a day as
practicable, it will be proper that the Convention
shall, by resolution, or otherwise, divide the State
into the requisite number of districts, and order
that the election for members of Congress be held
on the same day as that on which the Governor
and members of the General Assembly may be
directed to be holden.
The changes which the wa r and its results have
made in our property, population and resources,
suggest that some corresponding changes or modi
fications be made in the organic law, fixing the
basis and the mode of representation in each
branch of tha General Assembly. To approxi
mate perfect justice on this subject, is under the
most favorable circumstances, almost impossible;
bat with ns, at present, it is still more difficult,
because of the want of accurate statiscal infer
mation. For the purpose of aiding you in per
forming this delicate task, 1 have procured for the
use of the Convention “Vol. Population” of the
Census of 1860, and which will be furnished when
desired.
Within the past few years we have made sever
h1 experiments on our judicial system. These ex
periments I think have demonstrated that the
judges should be independent of the Executive;
and that sound policy and the wholesome adminis
tration of law, require that the Governor be de
prived of the appointment of all judicial fane
tionaries The administration of juatic will, un
der the new condition of society, require that tbe
organic law be so made, as to allow the Legisla
ture to establish inferior tribunals in each county
with jurisdiction over certain classes of civil and
criminal causes. The sessions of such courts
should be frequent, so as to dispatch business
without delay, and should be held subject to Leg
islation from time to time as the public exigen
cies might require.
In this connection, I cannot forbear earnestly
recommending to your deliberate consideration,
the propriety of ordaining that the Supreme Court
shall hold its sessions at one place, and that one
place shall he the seat of Government for the
State. The advantages resulting from it will be
many and great. It will better secure the con
venience of snitors, and approximate more nearly
in distributing jnstice at each man s door. It will
add consequence to our capital, give more digni
ty to the Court, and more authority to their de
cisions.
The public debt of ihe State, as reported by the
Comptroller, amounts to about 20,813,525 dollars.
Of this sum 2,667,750 dollars, were contracted
prior to the commencement of the war, the bal
ance, aboat 18,135,775 dollars, during its exist
ence. On the amount incurred previous to hos
tilities, there is now due and unpaid, abont the
sum of 231,000 dollars. The liabilities incurred
before the war is in every sense a debt, and tbe
State is bound by every consideration of good
faith and public, morality so to regard it, and to
make provision for the prompt and faithful dis
charge of such liability. No reasonable doubt
can be entertained that such will be her pleasure
and her action. But the debt created during the
war, stands on a very different basis. It is of no le
gal or moral obligation, because it was created to
aid in the prosecution of a war of rebellion against
the United States. The purpose songht to be ac
complished, was unconstitutional, and all who
participated in anywise in the effort to sever the
country, were violators of law, aud can therefore
setup no claim either legal or equitable for mon
ey advanced or for services rendered. Further
more, these contracts, from which a liability is
said to result, were made with Georgia in revolt—
with Georgia as a member of the Confederate
States Government The Government to which
she then blunged, has been overthrown, and with
its overtoil-\, a.i Confederate debts became ex
tinct. Georgia, as component part of it, no long
er exists, and her debts then incurred, have in
like manner been extinguished. She is now no
longer in revolt. She is one of the States of the
Federal Union, and in her return to reconciliation,
her allegiance to the Government requires that the
act of secession be cancelled, and all other acts
done and performed in aid of the rebellion, be de
clared void and of none effect. The ultimate re
demption of the currency, both State and Confed
erate, was made dependent in fact, and in terms
upon the result of the fatal straggle. No one ex
pected payment if finally defeated in onr efforts to
seenre independence, and therefore no plighted
faith is violated by a refusal on the part of Geor
gia to assume to pay an indebtedness on the issue.
Tbe currency and tbe cause flourished together
while in life, and now that the cause has no long
er a being, the cjrrency that sostained it may
well be interred in tbe same grave.
To call a refusal od the part of the 8tate to ac
knowledge or pay these extinct demands, repudi
ation is bat a perversion of the nee of language,
and presents aa appearance of m attempt to sua-
when in session, be beseigned from
by claimants and their agents and attorn *°
ing the assumption, iu whole or in part *’*' 9r f'
unconstitutional demands. Let tbe ho ° f
ward in such efforts be entirely cut off-i r *-
overflowing fountain of corruption be /'
forever dried up; and let tbe record of y 0 n°*
on this subject discourage, m the future 'o' 101
mature efforts to overthrow long an j a Po
lished Government. In * word,.ordeia
and deliberately, that no Legislature B, 7
hereafter, shall, directly, or iudirect/ r . /‘ T or
or in part, assume to pay. in any m 4 ' n ’ n
demands, unconstitutional in their ct e4t -' lhese
many of them without even the co anten / 8llli
equity to support them.
The events of this year will constitute Wl
history. Slavery has been abolished i n n
States. Georgia, in Convention, is called
to put on record an acknowledgment of the ac.-^
plished fact, to give assurance to mankind th?
involuntary servitude shall not hereafter, i n ..
form, or by virture of any device, exist within*?,
borders; to enjoin on succeeding legislators
they shall guard by law the community from/
evils of sadden emancipation ; shall secure the*,
emerging from bondage, in the enjoyment of the j
legal rights; and shall protect the humble, the ,-
norant and the weak from wrong and aggression
Such are some of the nnforeseen and wonder*'
results of war. In passing through this revel;,
tion, onr chastisements have been severe, andev
calamities have been heavy: hnt we should £
well to remember, that this great change is of Him
who does all things wisely, and “according toil,
counsels of His will.’
J. JOHNSON,
Prov. Gov. of Gs,
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Wa*hla|toe Correspondence.
Washington City, Oct. 20, ]*65.
To-day being Cabinet day. the White Hons-
was closed to promiscuous visitors. Among tho? •
who were admitted to interviews with the p r ,. s ..
dent previous to the meeting ot the Cabinet were
A. H. Stephens, of Georgia, and Major Genera'
Butler. Mr. Stephens is hardly as much chanc-’
by the trials of the last four years, and his recem
imprisonment, as was expected by many of/
former friends, who have called upon himto-dav
in great nnmbers.
He is unreserved in his expression of satisfac
tion at the conclusion of the war, and the hope of
a speedly and effectual reconstruction of a civil
government in the South and the restoration of
Southern prosperity.
Among the arrivals here to-day wer; those of
Pierre Sonle and Robert M. T. Hunter.
The throng of Southern visitors of lata has
been so great that the arrival of these disha-
guished rebels failed to create any sensation. Is
Washington, as in New York, the people from tte
North and South now mingle together with.-a;re
serve. There is, in fact, at this time, here, less
sectional antipathy than was noticeable for a year
before the beginning of the war.
Mrs. Stover, the daughter of President Johnson
resumed her residence at the White House to-day,
after several weeks absence attending to the h-
neral ceremonies of her deceased husband, fh?
late gallant Colonel Stover, of Tennessee. Then*
are abundant evidences here of a vast infer of
Northern capital and labor in the Southern Sts
daring the autumn and winter months. Whojj
colonies of foreign immigrants are turning tie..-
attention to Southern lands, and preparing to
erect homes in the late rebel States Virgin
and North Carolina are the first to experience the
benefits of this tide of emigration 1 rbich sill
soon extend itself all over the South, had settle
the labor question practically. All the lm that
can be devised by New England Radicals wiV.be
ineffectual to place the Samboes 011 an equality
with these free white emigrants in tbe contest
about to be inaugurated between black and white
laborers.
Some dissatisfaction having been occasioned bv
th» retention of negro caulkers iu the Gosport
Navy Yard, Secretary Welles has issued an order
that no distinction of color shall be made in tfca
employment of laborers, where their other qual.
fications are equal.
Hon. Henry J. Raymond was rtn amions but
unsuccessful applicant for admission to tbe Exe
cutive office for several hours yesterday. Promi
nence as Repnblicans and party wire-workers ii
not now, as it once was, an ever successful open
sesame to the doors of the White Rouse.
The State Department has information this a:
ternoon of the appearance of cholera at South
hampton. and other cities on the coast ot Eng
land.
— « mm*—
Eife compared to a Clock.
Our brains are seventy year clocks. The ange.
of life wiuds them up once feral!, than closes the
cases and gives the key into the hand of resur
rection. Tic-tac! tic tac.' go the wheels of
thought: onr will cannot stop them; they cam: 1 :
stop themselves; sleep cannot still them; madneii
only makes them go fas'er; death alone canbreux
to the case, and seizing the ever swinging pen
dulum which we call the heart, silence at iasttus
clicking of the terrible escapement we have car
ried so long beneath our aching foreheads. 1-
we could only get at them as we lie on our pic.ows
and count the dead beats of thought after thoogm
and image after image, jarring through the over
tired organ ! Will nobody block those w!:^ s-
uncouple their pinion, cut tbe string which holds
those weights? What a passion comes orerm
sometimes for silence and rest, that this dreadful
mechanism, unwinding tbe endless tapestry o*
time, embroidered with spectral figures of ma
and death, wonld have bat otfe brief holiday
0. W. Holmes.
Treble Sentiment*.
In his address to the South Carolina delega
tion, President Johnson used the following - w '
So far from pandering or looking to
vation. he must be believed when ha sail “ .
not aa eye to such preferment. If, he c0Dt '^/
j could be instrumental in restoring tie f®
mentto its former relations, and see the
once more united and happy, I should teel
had more than filled the measure of mv am
If I could feel that I had contributed to
any degree, my heart wonld be more tb* a *
fled, and my ambition fall. rA .
Upon which the Journal of Comoerc
marks; -r,
A nobler ambition no msn could ,he
store the “former relation” of the govern®*"
blood and treasure of the past four ' flD -
been poured oat- The countless g ra '’ e ° - o3
the banks of our mighty rivers were J
for this. The innumerable tears of w: . J ', jB <2
orphans were shed for this. The a rO D ' es , i j-nz.
number or expression, the long griefs, tw*
the watching of millions, were all f° rf '‘ J f0V em*
for this, because, since God left man 10
ments of his own devising, there b»* y *
elsewhere on the surface of this 8ad .j k l l er ;c»n
government so beneficent as the eld A _ ' n! ,
Union. Under it we were happy. P f0 ’-j, »{
strong. The very exhibition we have ^
onr strength in this struggle is the pro , - a
goodness of the old plan And that ptonj*
chief merit in the “relations, of the gorev g*
And is this moment any less importsn ^
paet, than any moment for four years,!
of restoring those relations? I s he ,i, e Co’- 03
enemy of nis country who now oppos o£ , : »
than he who opposed it four years , pe-
period of danger, as imminent as any .
riod? If w. go forward 4*
shall erect again tbe magmficen the
fathers. If we go wrong, we ^
memory of the repnbhc as the ]eti ,»
the bietory of netioua. The WT *» W iti ■'*
tbe re-establishment ef tbe old
old powers aad Uml*