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tionalist office, AUGUSTA, GA.
FOREIGN DISPATCHES.
Canada Items—England aud Egypt-
Stormy Weather—Troops for Cuba—
Italy and the Centennial.
Quebkc, November 25.—The Quebec
Government has decided to send five
hundred barrels of flour to the people
of the Yagelen Islands, who are with
out their winter stock of provisions, |
owing .to the wrecking, a few days ago, 1
of the vessels conveying the same to :
the islands.
Montreal, November 25.—T0-day |
Judge Blandry dismissed Rev. Gaven j
Lang’s action to gain possession of the
temporalities fund of the Presbyterian
Church, on behalf of the Presbyterian
Church of Canada, in connection with
the Church of Scotland. The same
ruling applies to the action against the
Widows' and Orphans’ Fund.
London, November 25.—The Evening
Globe says : “ Our stock market has
been greatly prejudiced by a rumor
which was circulated to-day that Par
liament would soon be summoned to
consider the Eastern question, par
ticularly i.witli reference to Egypt.
We have been able to learn that the
rumor was unfounded. The Evening
Standard, in its financial columns, says:
“ The market closed dull. A rumor
has been circulated that a British fleet
has been ordered to the Mediterranean
Sea.”
London, Novomber 25.—There has
been a heavy and disastrous gale off
the coast of Fifeshire. Some fishing
boats were lost and sixteen fishermen
are known to be drowned, and four
teen are misslug.
Madrid, November 25. —Additional
reinforcements of 365 men have em
barked for Cuba. General Quesada
has captured San Cristobal, with all
the Carlists positions in the neighbor
hood of Pampeluna.
Rome, November 25.—Tira Italiau
Minister, Coinmero, lias taken steps to
assume the representation of Italy at
the Centennial.
Panama Advices—Smoking Ont Ger
man Socialists—Great Britain Buy
iug Up Suez Canal Stock.
Panama, November 17.—A1l quiet.
The people have resigned themselves
to the provisional government. Presi
dent Arosimena has gone to the
interior.
Berlin, November 26.—The police
are searching the houses of social
ist Democrats.
London, November 26 —The Times
has reason to believe that the British
Government bought from the Khedive
four million sterling worth of stock of
the Suez Caual. The Egyptian Gov
ernment is authorized t(\draw ou the
Rothschilds at sight for the amount.
This purchases one hundred and
seventy-seven thousand of the four
million shares.
An Alderman Arrested, for Murder —
Terrible Loss of Life at Sea.
Toronto, November 26. —Ex-Alder-
man Clement was arrested for com
plicity in the murder of Miss Gilmore,
for causing whose death, by abortion,
Dr. Davis aud wife are under sentence
of death.
Quebec, November 26. —A survivor
of the Magdalene fleet says six vessels
were lost and only seventeen out of
sixty-two were saved.
London, November 26. —Telegraphs
from Madrid special says, that the
British Minister Layard, passing
through Bilboa, refused to receive a
visit from Gen’l Burriel, who directed
the execution of the Yirginius cap
tives. It is reported the Minister of
State remonstrated with Layard.
London, November —The Times,
in a financial article, says, in relation
to the purchase by Great Britain of
one hundred and seventy-seven thous
and shares of Suez Caual, a breathing
time most essential to Egypt is se
cured. The value of the purchase to
England is great, and probably will be
taken by the public to mean more thaD
it does. By buying the rest of the
shares aud paying two loans raised by
the company, amounting to four mil
lion eight hundred thousand pounds,
England would be possessed of the en
tire property. The advantage of the
bargain materially is a secondary ques
tion.
The purchase was made for political
reasons, therefore the importance of
the step is hardly to be overrated. For
a considerable time it cannot be pecu
niarily profitable unless England also
redeems to. nineteen years coupons
which the Khedive has heretofore sold.
The Times, in a leading article on the
subject, has the following : “There is
an audacity about it which we do not
generally associate with acts of the
British Ministry. We seem to trace in
the business the hand of Mr. Disraeli.
The nation wakes this morning to
find that it has acquired a heavy stake
in security and well-being of another
distant land, and that it will be held by
all the world to have entered upon a
new phase of Eastern policy.” We
have no desire for an extension of ter
ritory. We do not covet the land of
the Nile since the firman of 1873,
which gave the Khedive the right of
treating independently with foreign
States. The Egyptian Government
has little cause of complaint, and may
fulfill her duties untrammelled by
Stamboul. In this settlement we desire
to make no change, but should insur
rection or intrigue, aggression from
without or corruption within, bring a
political as well as a financial collapse
to the Turkish Empire it might become
necessary to take measures for the
security of that part of the dominions
of the Sultan with which we are most
nearly concerned, and an acquisition of
so commanding an interest in the Suez
Canal is an interest which must in
evitably tend to increase, and will lead
the Government and people of this
country to concern themselves habitu
ally with Egypt.”
London, November 26.—A special to
the Daily Telegraph from Paris states,
that in the Spanish report to the
Washington government, nothing is to
the United States except that the ac
cused may invoke aid of counsel be
fore courtmartial in Cuba. A telegram
from Madrid to the same paper says,
so far as can be learned, Spain promi
ses a reform in the matter of confisca
tion of property, but declines to ad
here to the treaty of 1795.
Foreign Miscellany.
It is officially announced from Mad
rid that Parppeliua is completely re
lieved. Twelve battalions of Garlists
were routed with a heavy loss. The
Paris journals were officially warned
that they will be prosecuted if they
published Cassignac’s speech. Pro
ceedings were commenced against Le
Gaulois and Le Pays, and they were
seized. Thirtesu hundred and sixty
five soldiers embarked from Spain for
Cuba. Diligent enquiry fails to con
firm the reported call of the British
Parliament to consider the Eastern
question. The Mercantile Bank of
Deeds has suspended. liabilities,
£350,000.
• >
ffl|c Constitutionalist.
Established 1799.
THE COMMERCIAL WORLD.
Failures in Boston, Montreal and New
York—Labor Submits to Capital-
Run On New' York Banks.
Boston, November 25.—Royal, Gilkey
& Cos., extensive coal and lumber deal
ers in Watertown, have failed. Their
liabilities are estimated at $250,000.
The failure was caused by inability
to collect from a large number of mas
ter builders and carpenters indebted to
them.
Montreal, November 25.—Baldwin &
Sleeper, of the Coaticooke Mills Com
pany, have failed. Their liabilities are
between $40,000 and $50,000. One hun
dred skilled artisans aud laborers are
thrown out.
Albany, N. Y., November 25.—The
stocking and woolen knitters have sub
mitted to a reduction.
New York, November 26.—The Cen
tral Park Bauk, a small savings insti
tution up town, will be wound up. The
Manufacturers’ and Builders Bank has
suspended. There is a run ou the
People’s Savings Bank, but the officers
took advantage of the sixty days’
notice aud closed the doors. There is
a slight run on the Security Savings
Bank.
Boston, November 26.—The creditors
of Lee & Shepherd have accepted
twenty-five cents on the dollar, in eight
installments.
E. Wuitzfelder & Cos., dry goods and
cotton commission merchants, have
failed.
The liabilities of the Manufacturers’
and Builders’ Bauk, exclusive of the
capital, which is SIBO,OOO, are $300,000.
The officers say they have sufficient to
pay depositors aud have a handsome
surplus.
London, November 26. —The reported
failure of the Manilla House of Sturges
& Cos. is confirmed.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Loss of a Mountain Operator—Mur
der by a Lunatic—The Fatal Tra
peze— Conflagration—Deaths from a
Coal Oil Explosion.
Portland, Me., November 25.—The
Signal Service Operator at Mount
Washington started to descend the
mountain on Tuesday and has since
been unheard from. It is feared he has
perished in the storm.
Gettysburg, Pa., November 25.—A
lunatic named Hile, at the county hos
pital, killed a woman named Beaty,
who went into his room to clean it. He
choked her until insensible and then
drove the small end of a broomstick
into her brain. She had been repeated
ly forbidden to go into his room wifh- *
out one of the keepers.
Cleveland, 0., November 25.—A boy
named Lazette, aged eight years, while
performing at the Theatre Comique
last night made a leap from the tra
peze and struck on a carpet held by
attendants. In some way the carpet
slipped from their hands, throwing the
boy on the stage, and so severely in
juring him that he is not expected to
live. •
New York, November 26.—The six
story brick building, No. 102 Nassau
street, and 36 and 38 Ann street, is
entirely gutted by fire. The losses and
occupants are: John Dougan, hatter,
$20,000; A. Stern, cigars, $8,000; S. Pe
rasky, diamond broker, $3,000; J. G.
Pesoa, lithographer, $2,000; Colyer &
Judson, hatters, $25,000; John Polhe
mus, printei, $15,000; A. Mormondear,
silver plater, $15,000; G. A. Joseph, dia
mond broker, $1,000; Frank McElroy
and J. Vinton, printers, SI,OOO. The
building, which beiongs to the Fowler
estate, is damaged to the amount of
$30,000, nearly all covered by insurance.
Philadelphia, November 26.—A coal
oil lamp, burning on the mantle of a
sleeping room, exploded. A mother
and daughter who were sleeping in the
room were fatally burned, and a son
severely. The inmates were asleep
when the lamp exploded.
Schooner Lost.
San Francisco, November 26.—The
schooner Sunshine bound hence for
Cooso Bay, is ashore, bottom up, at the
mouth of the Columbia river. It is re
ported she had thirty passengers and
ten in the crew and all are supposed to
be lost.
Milford, Pa., November 26.— A barn
aud sheds of Win. Garrison were
burned with three cows together with a
valusble horse and a tramp who slept
in the barn.
San Francisco, November 26. —Benj. F.
Gerts, of Boston, Mass., Chas. Knight
aud wife, of Waltham, Mass., were lost
on the Pacific.
CROOKED WHISKEY.
Trial of Avery at St. Louis—The Wis
consin Distillers.
St. Louis, November 25.— McGrue re
peated the most of his evidence in the
McDonald trial against Avery. “Pack
ages were marked for Avery and given
to Joyce. I saw Avery ia Washington,
at Brasher’s request, and told Avery it
was a foolish fight. Brasher, Avery
and himself had received money for
crooked whiskey, aud if Avery fought
Brasher all would be found out. Avery
said he was not fighting Brasher. Avery
took sides with McDonald and Joyce,
keeping Bras her from St. Louis. He vis
ited Avery at his house iu Washington in
1874, to pump him as to whether he
was still giving information to the ring
here. He did not order me out of the
house, nor did I shake my fist at him.
We parted in a friendly manner, shaking
hands.”
Milwaukee, November 25. —The jury
in the case of Weirth & Kilwort, dis
tillers, brought in a verdict of not
guilty as to Weirth. As to Kilwort,
they could not agree aud were dis
charged. Moeller, the guager, who was
convicted several days ago and was
waiting sentence under bail, has disap
peared.
FROM NEW YORK.
Arrival of Cardinal McCloskey.
New York, November 26. —The Abys
sinia, with Cardinal McCloskey on
board, has arrived. Mgr. McCloskey was
met at the landing by a delegation of
clergy and laymen and escorted to his
dwelling.
Flatbosh, N. Y., November 26. —1n
an altercation, one woman killed a child
in the arms of another woman, with a
poker.
Treasurer Jones Removed.
Atlanta, November 26.—Ten days
ago, the Governor required State
Treasurer Jones to make anew bond.
The time expired last night, and Jones
having failed to file anew bond, the
office became vacant by the operation
of the law. The Governor reserves the
appointment of a successor till a future
day. The Treasury business will be
done through the Comptroller’s office
till an appointment is made,
FROM WASHINGTON.
Wilson's Funeral—Gathering of Con
gressmen.
Washington, November 25.—The day
was delightful. A constant stream of
people passed through the capitol to
view the remains of Wilson.
Kerr, Wood and Cox, mentioned for
the Speakership, are here. The Sena
tors and members are coming in rap
idly.
Washington, November 26. —The
weather is wet and cold.
Minor Telegrams.
Virginia City, November 26.—The
new Ophir mines commenced hoisting
from the thirteen hundred foot level
to-day.
Milford, Pa., November 26.—The
small-pox has broken out along the
Hudson and Delaware Canal. The
company has quarantined all boats
showing the least symptoms of the
disease.
Philadelphia, November 26.—1n the
case of the President of the Bank of
the Republic, for SSOO penalty for re
fusing to allow Supervisor Tutton to
search the bank for misstamped checks,
the Judge said the Supervisor was not
the proper officer to make an examina
tion. The verdict was for the de
fendant.
RESERVED SEATS.
A Serious Complaint Against the
Opera House—Who is Responsible ?
Meanness Charged Against Hall’s
Combination.
[Communication.]
The reputation of Hall’s Combination
Troupe, had preceeded them to Au
gusta, and last night, in company with
hundred of others, armed with tickets
for reserved seats, procured two days
in advance, I proceeded with my
family to the Opera House anticipating
an agreeable entertainment and pleas
ant evening. But, alas! as Bobbie
Burns says, “the schemes of mice and
men oft gang aglee,” and so it proved
in this case. For when we arrived at
the Opera House, some fifteen minutes
before the rise of the curtain, I found
our seats occupied. I produced my
checks for them, and requested the
usher to have them vacated, but the
persons in possession did not have the
politeness or good breeding to remove
when they were informed the seats
were engaged, although they saw there
were several ladies waiting for their
own. I then applied to the manager,
but he only replied “what can I do?” I
replied put me in possession of the
seats you sold me and got my
money for. You certainly have the
power with the aid of the police if
necessary to give people the seats you
have sold them. But through indiffer
ence or some other cause he did noth
ing, so I made the best of it and took
some seats, the only ones available, far
in the rear where we could neither see
nor hear half that was done or Baid,
and thus my hopes of spending a
pleasant evening were not realized. I
found on looking about that I was not
alone in misfoitune, for many others
were in the same predicament as my
self. This is not the first time that
such unnecessary and disgraceful man
agement, or rather mismanagement
has attended the seating of persons at
tending entertainments at the Opera
House, and who held tickets for re
serve seats secured in advance at ad
vanced prices that they might go at
their leisure and feel sure of no
trouble when they arrived.
To-day, I learned the trouble com
plained of last night grew out of the
fact that the regular ushers, who had
everything properly arranged, were
notified at the last moment by the
manager that their services were not
wanted. No reason was assigned for
this, hence we may infer that it was
simply done to save the sum of two
dollars, one dollar each being the hand
some remuneration allowed ushers per
night.
Thus, nearly the whole of a large and
intelligent audience were terribly an
noyed and made uncomfortable, in
order that someone might save the
sum of two dollars. Such mismanage
ment should be tolerated no longer by
a suffering community. Purchasers of
reserve seats either have or have not
rights secured to them thereby. If
after taking the trouble, and in most
eases going to extra expense, to secure
such seats as they desire, they have
still got to take chances with those who
secure no seats, then the system of
reserved seats is a swindle.
There are those, however, who be
lieve that holders of tickets for re
serve seats at entertainments have
rights that cannot be thus lightly set
aside in order that someone may profit
at their expense, and we hear it said
that most likely action will be taken
before the proper court to ascertain
whether the parties selling tickets for
reserved seats and failing to furnish
them are not liable to be mulcted in
damages for the same. It is proper to
add, that no blame attaches to Mr.
Oates, the seller of tickets for reserve
seats, for the different entertainments
given here, as his duty ends when the
tickets are sold.
Amusement Seeker.
Augusta, November 26, 1875.
GLEANINGS.
There are 50,000 locomotives in the
world.
England has been treated to lunar
rainbows.
Russian Horses never wear blinkers
and never shy.
Nine churches in Jersey City are
deemed unsafe.
The Crockery Journal cantaios
wareous articles.
The hose that women run with—
Striped stockings.
The Empress of Austria’s pet poodle
is valued at §40,000.
The Roman vintage Is unusually
abundant this year.
Gone to meet Butler Son-in-law
Ames, of Mississippi.
“They say,” remarks the Rochester
Democrat, “that at a recent review
Gov. Tilden sat on his horse like a
granny dear.”
They say that Mrs. Bloomer’s hus
band is about to die. It is perfectly
marvelous that the idea didn’t occur to
him years ago.
King Kalakaua has been dancing at
a grand ball with a Kanaka beauty. So
it was the can-cans, not the jim-jams,
which laid him low.
An Alabama paper complains that
between chicken cholera and protract
,ed colored meetings the poultry rais
ing industry is seriously depressed.
A Washington correspondent tells
about a woman who encourgages her
husband in talking about his first wife’s
virtues. When that man gets It be will
get it ail in a lump.
AUGUSTA, GA., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1875
HON. JOHN P. KING.
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
By Judge Jas. S. Hook.
IFrom the Sunny South.]
The history of the remote past Is
strongly commended to our youth,
and it is sought after and devoured
with avidity by readers generally. But
It may be a question whether history,
in its highest office and function, that
of bringing man acquainted with his
own nature and true characteristics, is
not better read and studied in the men
and events moving around us, than in
the musty narration of ancient wars,
“ And feats of heroes little known.”
Pope has said, and with as much
truth as poetry, that
“ The proper study of mankind is man.”
And how better can we pursue this
great study than by contemplating in
dividual cases as they unfold and de
velop their real characteristics, and
impress themselves upon the people
and policies of their day ? Biography
is the soul of all history ; for, at last,
it is the special aciions of meu who
have risen by their deeds into notice,
that give interest to all narrative,
whether sacred or profane. Nothing
is more instructive, or more improving
and intensely interesting, than the per
usal of the lives of those who, by their
own inherent energies, valor and capa
city, have won and had assigned to
them the distinguished position of rep
resentative meu. Nor can anything
in the experience of the race be better
adapted to the important work of
arousing laudable' ambition and incit
ing to noble emulation. Every man’s
life, be be ever so humble, has interest
in it—an interest more attractive and
fascinating, of course, according as he
has developed himself into a high
order of social, intellectual and moral
manhood, resulting in an exalted de
gree of usefulness to his fellows.
Would not the press of the country
subservo a gooo end for our common
humanity, and far better enhance the
real Interests of society at large, should
they add the feature of biographic
sketches of men and women in all
branches of trade, science and art who
have achieved honorable success there
in, to their present system of journal
ism, even though it might materially
curtail the present practice, of doubt
ful propriety, which gives special
prominence and thrilliugly graphic de
scriptions, in leaded lines with blazing
captions, to criminals aud their loath
some crimes ? But this, iu passing,
It is my purpose to submit for the
perusal of your many readers a brief
and necessarily imperfect sketch of the
life of a prominent citizen of Georgia,
whose name stands at the head of this
article, and whose life has been ever
useful and humane, as his talents have
been marked and his modesty pro
verbial. It is unfortunately too often
the case, that men of high capacities,
mar their usefulness by an obtrusive
and unseemly van ty. But when this
sketch is completed, and it is seen how
its subject has preferred and pursued
an unostentatious life of devotion to
duty away from the gilded halls of
political renown for which his high
talents fitted him, and to which an ap
preciative constituency called him, the
reader, it is believed, will be ready to
admit that Judge King, at least, pre
sents in his own person an exception to
the sweeping declaration of M. Thiers,
of France, that “the only connection
to bo traced between modesty and
merit is in the fact that both commence
with the letter m.”
John P. King by birth is a Wes
tern man, having been bom in Barron
county, in the State of Kentucky. He
was born in April, seventeen hundred
and ninety-nine, and is consequently
in his seventy-sevafith year. His fa
ther’s family moved to Bedford county,
Tennessee, when he was of tender
years. The countr y there and around
about was at that, time sparsely set
tled, new and uncultivated, affording
few, if any, advantages for education —
especially in the higher branches. He
continued to reside in Tennessee until
he was about fifteen years old, and
then came to Georgia, tarrying for a
short time in Columbia county,
where ho had some relatives, and
from thence to Augusta, where
he has resided ever since. By dint of
that resistless industry, energy, and
will, which has ever characterized him,
young King obtained money enough to
enter the Richmun(| Academy, and by
constant, unremitting attention to his
studies, received a lair education, such
an education as inis limited means
(which only permitted him to remain
there a short yea i or two), and the
high character of Jr,hat justly famous
old school, which it? still (on a more en
larged scale) dispensing its benefits to
our people, were aide to bestow.
Immediately upon completing his
academic course, Ijo entered upon the
study of the law with Maj. Freeman
Walker, then a leading lawyer of great
eminence in this Btate, and an advo
cate of superior eloquence and accom
plished oratory. jMaj. Walker soon
perceived the energy of mind and the
sternness of inflexible principle which
marked the character of his pupil, and
at once became his*fast friend. It was
not long before afi opportunity pre
sented itself for a {dgnal manifestation
of this friendship. ? King had been ad
mitted to the bar, find was already giv
ing unmistakable -evidence of future
success and prom-aence as a lawyer,
when his distinguished friend and pre
ceptor was elected!: by the Legislature
of Georgia to the Senate of the United
States. He had already found in Maj.
Walker a friend aifd counsellor whose
kindness and advtioe had materially
aided him in his professional pursuits,
and he felt under deep obligation ; but
now he was to be brought under a still
deeper sense of gratitude. Maj. Walk
er, before taking leave of his home for
Washington City, fiteraliy overwhelm
ed the young barrister by a most un
expected display of bis high confidence
and warm esteeuh in unhesitatingly
commending him : to his numerous
friends and patrols, and leaving no
doubt of his exceedingly gratifying and
complimentary course towards his
young friend, by in his care,
and for his management, all his un
finished business. jWith such commen
dation and such marked expression
of confidence from such a source,
young King’s suec ess at the bar could
no longer be a question, unless he
should in some way prove faithless to
the high promise In had already given.
But he started out; with the purpose to
know no such wort? as fail, and to yield
nothing that energy and zealous effort
could attain. Am: ere long, by con
stant, close attention to business and
scrupulous punctuality in meeting pro
fessional engagements, he acquired
reputation and secured and ably main
tained a large and lucrative practice at
a bar that was noted at the time for its
ability and eloquence and learning. To
his other qualities and capacities was
added that of beiug a good financier,
and now the whilom poor boy, who had
struggled to get sufficient means to ob
tain a limited schooling at the Academy
had grown to be a prominent lawyer and
a man of w r ealth. But Mr. King, not sat
isfied with his own attainments, and
anxious to increase his facilities for
knowledge and general usefulness, re
linquished for a time his large practice
and went to Europe, where he sojurn
ed for several years. While there he
made close observation of men and
things, and attended lectures ia Paris
and Edinburg. To a mind naturally
endowed as was his, this tour of ob
servation and the mental drilling to
which he subjected himself while there,
aided by extensive and judicious read
ing of history, ancient and modern, as
vvell as works of science, art and polite
literature, could but be vastly improv
ing, and well fitted him for the high
and responsible duties which, as we
shall see in the sequel, were to be de
volved upon him.
Iu 1825 Mr. King returned to the city
of Augusta, aud with a mind enlarged
and developed by its accumulated
stores of learning and experience, and
his professional powers enhanced and
brightened by the advantages sought
and enjoyed iu Europe, it is not at all
surprising that with but little delay he
entered again into a large and highly
remunerative practice. This he retained
down to the year 1829, when he once
more retired from the profession, and
now resolved to confine his whole at
tention to his own private interests,
which by this time were becoming quite
considerable. Judge King, from first
to last, while engaged with his profes
sion, showed a striking aptitude for
the law and its intricucies, and iu the
management of cases, at once saw and
seized the strong points and maufully
grappled with them, leaving the weaker
points to take care of themselves.
His mind was of that clear aud
analytical caste, and his reasoning
powers so exact and incisive, and emi
nently to fit him for the discussion of
legal propositions before the court. If
ho had adhered to the law, and his
ambition had led him in the direction
of professional preferment, he could
have reached, and would have adorned
the highest judicial positions in the
land. He would have made a judge of
the Marshall and Mansfield type. To
high courage and iudornitable will, were
added many of the social virtues in an
eminent degree, so that, while he was
ever a resolute antagonist when occa
sion demanded, he was also the genial
friend and w'arm-hearted sympathizer
with human distress aud suffering, in
whatever form it presented itself.
Thousands can bear testimony that
while he grew rich his heart never
grew hard, and his purse-strings have
always been untied to aid the needy.
No man has better record in this
respect, and yet no man has more rig
idly observed the Divine injunction in
matters of charity—“ Let not thy left
hand know what thy right hand doeth.’
It is not to be presumed that such a
man as Mr. King had shown himself to
be, would be permitted to remain in
the unconspieuous position which his
own inclination and taste had pre
scribed. While, in common with all
intelligent and patriotic citizens, he
ever felt a lively interest in the politi
cal questions of that day, still his
tastes and inclinations, if they did not
cause him positively to eschew, certain
ly did not lead him to select the politi
cal arena as the preferred theatre of
his actions and ambition. And perhaps
no man was ever more surprised than
was he when, ou his return from a dis
tant trip on private business out iu the
far West, he learned from letters re
ceived upon his reaching New Orleans
that in December, without being a can
didate, he had been elected to fill the
vacaucy in the United States Senate,
occasioned by the resignation of the
illustrious Troup. This was in the
winter of 1833, and in those days
there were no telegraphs to her
ald news on the lightning’s wing
from one part of the country
to another; and hence Judge King
knew not of this distinguished honor
conferred upon him until many days
after, and while on his return home
ward as above described. It is indeed
refreshing and delightful in these days
of immodest scramble for office to
recall this good old by-gone time, when
merit, without uuseemly demand for
its own recognition, was ever duly ap
preciated and honored. It was a mean
ing, glowing compliment the Union
Democratic party of Georgia paid
Judge King when it awarded to him
the successorship in that high council
of the Uuiou to the gifted and far
famed George M. Troup. But it was a
still higher compliment, after he had
served out Governor Troup’s unexpired
term to re-elect him for a full term of
six years, which was done.
In those days, the nation’s great in
tellectual gladiaxors were figuring upon
the floor of the American Scuate. Cal
houn, Webster and Clay were there,
aud Benton and ,Wright, Buchanan,
Bayard and Forsyth, and others, all
kuown in the shining records of a death
less fame, were there. Many aud grave
questions were buforo the country then,
demanding wise and patriotic solution.
That most wonderful man, of whom it
was aptly said, “his every step was a
contest aud every contest a victory,”
was swaying with his iron will and
resolute,-patriotic heart, the destinies
of the ruling hour. Andrew Jackson
was President. His was an eventful
administration, aud distinguished by
the introduction and fearless main
tenance of bold original policies that
arrayed against him all the concentra
ted fury of the money power, and the
bitterness of disappointed ambition.
Any other man would probably have
shrunk from a contest with a groat
moneyed monopoly like the United
States Bank, sustained, as it was, on
the question of the removal of the de
posits by the associated strength of the
three great senators, who perhaps more
than all others, illustrate the power,
the genius and the eloquence of our
American nationality.
Nothing short of the strongest convic
tions of duty, the highest statesman
ship, the most ardent patriotism and
dauntless courage, could have stood
the shock and force of such a combina
tion ami overcome it. But Jackson was
equal to the occasion, and moved suc
cessfully forward to the triumphant
accomplishment of his great purposes,
the wisdom of which the future vindi
cated. It was at a time like this when
not only the questions of currency and
finance, springing out of the action in
regard to the National Bank, but also
the questions arising upon the disposi
tion to be made of the public lands, the
removal of the Indians across the
Mississippi, Internal improvements by
the general government, the tariff, the
French Spoliation bill, the reception of
abolition petitions, and many other
important questions were up for
discussion and settlement, that Judge
King entered and held his seat in
the United States Senate. Speaking,
but seldom he took part in the de
bates upon most of these grave issues,
and at once won position in that body
as a man of fine abilities and culture,
and as an inductive reasoned - aud logi
cal debator, whose powers were of a
superior order. As evidence of this
many compliments from Senators and
warm discussions maintained with him
by the ablest iu that body, might be
adduced ; but it will suffice for this
purpose to mention the fact that
Thomas H. Benton, the great Missouri
Senator, himself one of the first men
in the country, and notml alike for his
great powers as a logician aud his vast
and varied learniug, in his speech de
livered in the Senate on the French
spoliation bill, took occasion to special
ly compliment the speech of Judge
King, delivered iu the Senate on the
same subject. He said, among other
things : “ The gentleman from Geor
gia (Mr. King) has given a vivid and
able picture of the exertions of the
United States Government in behalf of
these claims. He has shown that they
have been paid, on our part, by the in
valuable blood of our citizens. Such Is
the fact,” etc. But in his most inter
esting and readable book, entitled
“Thirty Years iu the United States
Senate,” Mr. Benton pays a further
compliment to Judge King by repro
ducing in it a short debate between
him and Mr. Calhoun, and which is ad
verted to here, and will be briefly no
ticed for the purpose of illustrating a
characteristic trait exhibiting itself
through the whole life of the subject of
this sketch. Mr. Calhoun had asked
for the appointment of a special com
mittee, to which should be referred so
much of the President’s message as re
lated to the mail transmission of in
cendiary publications. This was op
posed by Mr. King, of Albatna, and by
Mr. Grundy, the Chairman of the Com
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads,
on the ground that that was the appro
priate committee for such references,
etc. Mr. Calhoun insisted, however, on
his view, that the committee should be
a special one, and be appointed mainly
from that section whose security and
rights were threatened by this unlaw
ful use of the mails, and the Senate
yielded to his wish and permitted him
to name the committee, which he at
once proceeded to do, as follows : Mr.
Calhoun, Chairman ; Mr. King, of Geor
gia ; Mr. Mangum, of North Carolina ;
Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, and Mr.
Linn, of Missouri. A bill and report
were soon brought in by the committee
—a bill subjecting to penalties any
postmaster who should knowingly re
ceive and put into the mail any publi
cation or picture touching the subject
of slavery, etc.
When the report was read, a motion
was made to print 5,000 extra copies of
it. This motion brought several of the
committee to their feet, among them
Judge King, who protested that some
of the views (Mr. C. had injected into
it some of his peculiar nullification
doctrines) were not concurred in by
him, though many parts of the report
had his hearty concurrence. It was
also the view of Judge King that by
giving to the matter such special
prominence, excitement would be en
gendered, and thus produce injury
rather than benefit. In the progress
of the debate, Judge King used the
following sententious and somewhat
severe remarks, to-wit: “That posi
tions had been assumed, and princi
ples insisted upon by Mr. Calhoun not
only inconsistent with the bill repor
ted, but he thought inconsistent with
the Union itself, and which, if es'tab
fished and carried into practice, would
hastily end in its dissolution.” With
out quoting further from this dis
cussion, let it be remembered that the
sole use designed to be made of the
quotation given is to present in bold
relief a striking characteristic of the
man, and which has ever given his
opinions and positions commanding
weight and influence—to-wit: his self
reliant and manly independence of
thought and wifi—tfie ever-sure indi
cia of strong intellect, and tfie un
failing harbinger (when wisely re
strained in limits of prudence aud
modesty, as was the case with him) of
usefulness aud success.
It was no ordinary compliment for
Mr. Calhoun to suggest his name firs!
on that special committee. Lesser men
than Judge King might have been so |
flattered by it as not to have been con- j
scious of a subordination of their
own views and conviotions on grave
questions raised in committee, to the
masterly power and will of this truly
great statesman. Not so with Judge
King. Nothing could bend or swerve
his mental Independence. And the de
bate which was participated in by Clay,
Webster and others, will show with
what vigor and ability he boldly dis
sented from the great Carolinian.
Mauy and very interesting extracts
might be introduced.here from his va
rious speeches while in the Senate on
the questions of deep pubficjconcern in
that day, that would go to show the
high capacities of their author for the
duties then devolved upon him, and
excite regret that his inclinations led
him away from a position of so muoh
distinction and responsibility, and for
which he was so eminently fitted. It
would ' k be manifestly out of place to
lengthen this sketch beyond the usual
limit assigned to such productions, by
quoting at all extensively from any of
these speeches ; but the indulgent
reader will pardon two or three short
extracts that will illustrate other pre
dominant traits of Judg King. He
had no toleration for injustice, but de
manded equality and perfect equity in
all matters. And he ever especially op
posed the practice of officials taking
liberties, even to the smallest extent,
with the public property or funds en.
trusted for the time, to their guardian
ship.
In his speech on the bill to prohibit
the sales of the public lands except to
actual settlers, the question before the
Senate being on the motion of Mr. Clay
to strike out the fourth section, which
contained the pre-emption principle, he
said “he viewed the bill as establishing
a system of partiality, plunder and
perfidy—a system in which those who
had the least merit would make the
most profitable speculations. If the
bill passed at all, he was indifferent as
to the details of it; perhaps it would be
better for the country if it should pass
la the worst shape in which it had beeu
presented. It was not surprising that
it should be popular with those who
were to be so greatly benefited by it;
but that those whose constituents
were to be plundered should tamely
and quietly submit was not and ought
not to be expected. But he was muoh
mistaken if this measure could be pro
tected from that discontent and indig
nation with which the great majority
of the United States always visit a
course of injustice and oppression.
They should recollect that the public
lands were public treasure, and
longed as much to the whoje people of
1 the United States as the money in the
treasury, and should be protected pre
cisely in the same way, and should be
distributed among tbe States with as
much equality as possible, 4 very
New Series —Vol. 28, No. 97
large portion of this property was
acquired by the common blood aod
treasure of the old thirteen States, and
the other portion was purchased with
the money of the whole derived from
taxation on the consumption of the
country, the consumers being princi
pally in the old States.”
Let this suffice from this admirable
speech, which attracted much attention
then, and well bears and fully repays a
perusal at this late day. Senator Bay
ard, father of the present distinguished
Senator of that name, followed Judge
King, and spoke in very eulogistic
terms of his speech, commencing with
the remark that “he had listened with
great delight to the Senator from
Georgia, who had [given a true exposi
tion of facts as connected with the
speculations going on in public lands,
and the effects which would result
from passing this bill.”
This speech was one of the ablest
delivered on that question, and no man
can read it now without understanding
how it was that Judge King so thor
oughly commanded the attention of
the Senators, as he always did, when
he went fully into the discussion of a
question.
Judge King has been, from his youth
up, an eminently practical man. One
short sentence uttered by him in pass
ing, while making a speech of much
power in the Senate on the currency
question, plainly but fully illustrates
his character in this particular. Said
he : “We should never resort to the
ory when we have the lights of expe
rience to guide us.”
One more brief reference, and I am
done with this meagre notice of his
Senatorial career. It was soon after he
had taken his seat as Senator from
Georgia, alongside of the eloquent and
powerful Forsyth, that a proposition
was being discussed that Judge King
instantly condemned as being an un
authorized attempt to bestow favor
upon the Representatives of the peo
ple in an unconstitutional way. The
resolution authorized the purchase of
thirteen copies of the American State
Papers, and Messrs. Frelinghuysen and
Ewing explained that this work was in
despensible to members of Congress in
the performance of their legislative
duties, and was already printed; and
the object was only to supply those
new Senators (Judge King was one of
them) who had not obtained them.
Judge King opposed the resolution on |
constitutional grounds—‘‘that it was
taking money out of the Treasury for
the purchase of books for the private
libraries of members without an appro
priation by law; and that any other
works might with the same propriety be
purchased, and to any amount and ex
tent.” He admitted “ that works might
be purchased which were necessary for
the use of the members in the perform
ance of their public duties ; but that
they should be confined to the office,
and not to bo given as an absolute
property to the officer ;” and he moved,
though unsuccessfully, to lay the reso
lution on the table for the balance of
the session. He also, and for the same
reasons, opposed the clause in the ap
propriation bill for the purchase for
members of Congress of the Document
ary History of the United States. He
said “ he should vote to strike out the
clause from the bill, and should then
vote against the amendment of his
colleague. Ho thought there was no
more authority in Congress to set up a
book shop than to set up a milinery
shop—to buy books for members or to
buy bonnets for ladies. He referred to
the constitutional powers of Congress,
and declared that from none of them 1
was the authority derived. He ex
pressed the belief that the work, if au
thorized, would cost the Government
three or four millions of dollars. He
disclaimed any intention to cast cen
sure upon the contractors, but was of
the opinion that the contract was erro
neously and unconstitutionally entered
into ; and that the Secretary of State
had been taken in.”
This has been a fixed principle of
Judge King’s whole life when dealing
with funds not his own, as many will
admit who know with what pertinacity
and uncompromising hostility he has
for the last thirty-three years, as
President of the Georgia Railroad,
opposed any and every species of dead
headism
Judge King, though ever a thorough
Union Democrat, did not at all times
approve and endorse every feature of
party policy put forth by those who
claimed to be its leaders; and he would
thus sometimes subject himself to
severe criticisms aud censure from the
merely partisan press and politicians.
Even in those days of high party ex -
citement and passion he differed from
some of the measures of the Jackson
administration, for then, as ever
through his whole life, he was opposed
to what he considered extremes, and
always had the fearless independent
manhood and honesty to oppose them
even when advocated by his warmest
political friends.
Who now, in recalling the past, does
not have oooasion to regret that ex
treme men were not made to take a back
seat, and leave the Government in the
hands of the more prudent, practical
thoughtful and far-seeing statesmen
like Judge King?
But the jars and wrangling atid con -
stant excitement incident to political
life were unsuited to his tastes and
habits of thought, and in 1837 he re
signed his seat in the Senate. And
now again he avowed his intention of
retiring to private life. But the greais
and almost universal revulsion in com
mercial and financial affairs that pros -
trated so many enterprises, paralysed
those of Georgia as well uh elsewhere,
and he was pressed by the stockhold
ers of the Georgia Railroad to assume
the management of its affairs as Presi
dent—under a pledge, as it is under
stood, that he should be relieved from
the office at the eod of two years, if he
desired it, Accordingly, in 1842, he
became its President, and finding its
affairs in an embarrassed state, at once
placed his own private fortune and
credit at the oommand of the com
pany ; and ere long, by good manage
ment and close economy, put it on a
safe and remunerative footing, where
it has remained ever since, with com
paratively slight fluctuations in the
value of its bonds and stooks.
As evidenoe of his masterly manage
ment of the road, and its extensive and
varied interests, but two or three facts
need to be stated.
First, He has never to this day been
released from its presidency, though
he has often reminded the stockholders
of their promise, and urged them to
put another in his place.
Second, The Georgia Railroad and
its branches, and somo of its connec
ting lines mainly built by its generous
aid, has greatly added to the material
wealth and business enterprise of both
Augusta and Atlanta, and the entire
section of country on the intermediate
lines, as well as greatly aided in the
inorease of wealth and general develop
ment, of the resources of the State at
large,
To Advertisers and Subscribers.
Os AND ajter this date (April 21, 1878.) all
editions of the Constitutionalist will be sent
free of postage.
A-Dvkbtisements must be paid for when han
ded in, unless otherwise stipulated.
Announcing or suggesting Candidates foi
office. 20 cents per line each insertion.
Money may be remitted at our risk by Express
or Postal Order.
Oobbespondenok Invited from all sources,
and valuable special news paid for if used.
Rejected Communications will not be re
turned, and no notice taken of anonymous
letters, or articles written on both sides.
And third, the company now, not
withstanding the general financial ruin
and dismay, affecting materially all
persons and enterprises all over the
country, maintains its wonted credit,
and is to-day, confessedly the best
railroad, and under better manage
ment, than any other in the State,
except perhaps one, and that is the
Atlanta and West Point Railroad,
which is also under his supervision as
president.
During all the long time that he has
been President of this company he has
abstained from politics, though bis
name has from time to time, at differ
ent periods, been often suggested in
connection with various prominent
offices in the country, and in 1865, at
the close of the late war, he was pre
vailed upon to take a seat in the Con
stitutional Convention of that year.
All the members of that body, the
writer among them, felt and strongly
appreciated the high value of his
sound judgment, patriotism and emi
nently practical wisdom in shaping its
action.
Some most valuable features of or
dinances and provisions of the Consti
tution received their impress from his
strong mind and matured experience.
The Judge was a vigoi’ous and forcible
writer, as well as oral debater, as could
be amply attested if space permitted
us to give extracts from many able ar
ticles contributed from time to time, in
important political crises of the coun
try, to the journals of the day, and
from important reports that emanated
from his pec.
J udge King did not marry until the
year 1812, and then, full of honors and
with fortune, the product of his own en
ergy, professional ability and rigid econ
omy, offered his hand to the accomplish
ed and charming Miss Woodward, who
accepted it, and has ever since graced
and adorned his home, filling it with
the cheerful sunlight of wedded love.
And now, near this city of Augusta, in
their quiet and elegant but unostenta
tious mansion, accompanied by their
only single daughter, the beautiful and
gifted Miss Lou King, honored for the
whole-souled humanity and benevo
lence which have shown themselves in
the obtainmeut of a State law for the
prevention of cruelty to animals, and
the institution and successful organiza
tion of the Widow’s Home of Augusta,
they are with Christian serenity and
composure enjoying the evening of
their days, and dispensing a warm and
generous hospitality to all who pass its
happy threshold.
Thus, in my unsatisfactory way,
have I attempted to sketch the lire
and habitudes of thought aud action
and characteristic principles of a man
who commenced a nodr boy, and by
his own energy, integrity/ sobriety,
physical and mental activity and un
swerving devotion to justice and right,
reached a high place in the public con
fidence, and might have won a still
prouder niche in the temple of our
political fame had not his tastes and
inclinations drawn him from the politi
cal arena to the more quiet but perhaps
not less useful pursuits to which he has
devoted the last thirty-three years of his
life. And now,commending the bright ex
ample of his bright life to the emula
tion and imitation of young men every
where, we drop the curtain with this
closing remark : If Kentucky may be
justly proud as beiug the home of his
nativity, Georgia gladly adds him to
the list of her jewels, and with pride
claims him as her adopted son.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Benjamin D. Lazarro, of Charleston,
died on Tuesday last.
There were twenty-seven deaths in
Charleston last week.
Col. N. G. W. Walker, a distinguish
ed citizen of Barnwell, died at that
place on the 23d inst.
The Sheriff of Laurens county adver
tises twenty-eight land sales for sales
day in December, aggregating some
thing over eight thousand acres.
Miss Belle Boyd, the famous Confed
erate spy, who took such an active
part in the late struggle between the
North and South, is in Charleston.
The Governor has pardoned Charles
Sims, convicted of burglary and lar
ceny at the October, 1875, term of the
Court of Sessions for Union county and
sentenced to six months in the peni
tentiary.
A colored man named Simon Taylor
was oaught between two cars on the
Wilmington, Columbia aud Augusta
Railroad, ou Tuesday, at Columbia,
while in the act of coupling them, and
seriously, if not fatally injured.
Negro brigandage is rampant in Ma
rion county. The premises of Mrs.
Hughes, Mr. Sesaum, Mr. Alex. Calcutt,
Mrs, Susie Parker, and quite recently
the house of Mr. Alison Brown, all re
sidents of Mars Cluff and vicinity, have
been robbed.
The Monumental Association ot Sum
ter have determined to hold a fair,
commencing on the third Monday in
January, to oontinue during the week,
A report from the construction com
mittee indicates that about $1,500
would complete the monument entire.
Jacob Kinloch, the Charleston negro
now confined at Abbeville for burglary
and attempted murder, tried to escape
on Monday night by firing the jail. The
jailor, however, discovered the attempt
and subdued the flames before auy
great damage had been done to the
building.
Mount Casa, the residence of the late
Mrs. John C. Calhoun, near Pendleton,
was sold last week for $3,000 cash, to
Mrs. Catharine Cornish, the widow of
the late Rev. A. H. Cornish, who for
many years was pastor of Trinity
Church, Abbeville.
Edgefield Advertiser : Ex-Sheriff
Hardy Wall informs us that he sold a
check of $l4O against the county for
S2O. This accent was for dieting
prisoners. Bah! at this rate, who
would not turn the prisoners loose?
Certainly it pays better to turn them
loose than to feed them.
On Friday, December 3d, Jerry Cole
man, colored, will pay the extreme pen
alty of the law for the murder of Adam
Hackett, unless the Governor sooner
than that exercises his power to par
don or grant a respite. Of this there
is very little hope, although Coleman’s
counsel have been and still are hard at
work for their unfortunate and miser
able client.
One day, after dinner, Curran said to
Father O’Leary, a priest famous for his
wit and amusing conversation : “Reve
rend Father, I wish you were Saint
Peter.” “And why, Counsellor, would,
you wish that I were Saint Peter?”
| asked O’Leary. “Because, Reverend
i Father, in that oase,” said Curran, “you
would have the keys of heaven, and
you would let me in.” “By my honor
and consoienoe, Counsellor,” yelled the
divine, “it would be better for ymt that
I bad the keys of the other place t toy
then I could let you oqt, H