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\ddre33 all Letters to the Constitu
tionalist office, AUGUSTA, GA.
FOREIGN DISPATCHES.
STARTLING ASPECT OP THE CU
BAN QUESTION.
The Great Powers Favor American
Intervention.
New York, December 29.—A special
from Vienna to the Herald says that
the Secretary of State of the United
States has transmitted to every Euro
pean Government a circular, dated in
Washington, askiog for an explanation
of views of each foreign Executive, re
garding the question of American in
tervention in Cuba. The object of the
American Cabinet Minister is obtaining
of data to be used in the preparation
of President Grant’s supplementary
message to Congress. All the foreign
Governments have replied satisfacto
rily. England is ready to endorse the
intervention movement at the present
moment. The other nations express
their willingness to support the inter
vention, but hesitate to take initiative
steps.
Another Spanish Crisis.
Madrid, December 29.—A special says
Count Puronrastro is now in Paris, en
gaged in the official duty of arranging
for the return of ex-Queen Isabella to
Spain. King Alfonso opposes the will
of the Ministry on this matter. He
defies the Cabinet, declaring that min
isters may resign, but that his mother
must have an asylum in Spain. Her
residence is to be at Valladolid, for
the reason that Madrid is not consid
ered a safe place for her. It. is now
believed that this serious issue has
been forced on Alfonso by Isabella.
The results will bo most disastrous.
The Spanish army will be divided at
ouee if the ex-Queen takes any part in
the direction or counsel of State
affairs. Isabella’s return will even
cause the loss of Senor Sagasta to the
Royalists.
The Turkish Imbroglio.
Berlin, December 29.—Austria’s pro
ject for the pacification of the Turkish
provinces, recently drawn up by Count
Andrassv, Piiiue Minister, has not yet
been sent to the Great Powers, for
some reason unknown. It is reported
that while an agreement has been made
with regard to the control the treaty
powers should have, negotiations are
pending between Austria and Russia
as to what manner it should be axer- >
cised.
Meeting of Americans in Berlin.
Berlin, December 29. — The meeting !
called last Monday by citizens of the
United States residing here, to give
expression to their abhorrence of the
Bremerhaven crime and protest against
the unjust comments of the German
press, was held to-night, and was at
tended by two hundred Americans. A
resolution was adopted declaring that
the act of Thomas or Thomassen is in
no respect a fruit of American civili
zation, but that it affects the honor of
humanity, not that of a particular na
tionality ; and protesting against the
unjust aspersions on American char
acter, which have appeared in some of
the German newspapers in connection
with the crime.
The Orleans Princes Refuse Political
Honors.
London, December 29. —A special
dispatch reports that the Orleans
Princes have decided not to sit in the
Senate or Chamber of Deputies. I)uc
D’Aumale has written a letter declining
the nomination for either house.
Spanish Politics.
Madrid, December 29.—A general
election has been ordered January 20th.
The Cortes convenes February 15th.
Mexican Matters.
San Francisco, December 29. — A dis
patch from San Liego says the true
history of t lie raid on Campo is coming
to light. Almost the entire Mexican
population in that vicinity are implica
ted and would have shared the spoils
in the event of success.
A dispatch from Tucson says the
revolutionist General, Serva, claims to
have recaptured Altar, in Sonora, on
the eighth instant, without a fight and
bis allies, Yaqui Indians, have defeat
ed Pesquiera in three engagements.
Pesquiera’s friends deny the defeat.
Both parties, while in Arizona, refrained
from outrages and paid cash for their
subsistence. Later news just received
from Tucson state that in the light be
tween the State and revolutionary
ft .‘roes’ in Sonora, twenty-five miles
north of the boundary lipe, the former
were defeated with a loss of ten killed
and a number wounded and prisoners.
The revolutionists were marching on
llermonillo. Most of the Americans
here sympathize with the revolution
ist-. considering that they represent
the better classes of Sonora.
No news has been received from
Colonel Biddle’s command.
FROM BOSTON.
Robbery of Securities.
Boston, December 29. —Nathaniel
Carr, a merahant of this city, took a
box containing 850,000 worth of bonds
and papers from the safe deposit boxes
at t lie Blackstone National Bank.—
While examining the contents, his at
tention was attracted by strangers, aud
the box was stolen. Seven thousand
dollars of the contents are negotiable.
The balance is railroad and other
bonds, which can be replaced.
Minor Telegrams
Albany, December 19.—Auditor
Thayer has been suspended.
Boston, December 29.—The Coroners
investigation shows that a drip cock
had been carelessly left open, causing
rapid accumulation of gas, which led
to the explosion.
Washington, December 29. —The sig
nal service observer at Sandy Hook re
ports the bark Geutoo, reported ashore
yesterday, is off.
Labor Convention.
Tyrone, Pa., December 29. — The La
bor’ Convention composed of delegates
from New York, Connecticut and Penn
sylvania, which has been in session
here two days, adopted resolutions op
posing a subsidy to the Texas Pacific
Railroad, and requesting the Govern
ment to give tiie Union and Central
Pacific Companies a to pay
their indebtedness, and failing in that
the Governmentjshould take possession
of the road. Resolutions favoring a
National Labor Convention, to be held
in Pittsburg in April next, aud oppos
ing the third term, were adopted.
Fratricide.
[Special to Telegraph and Messenger.]
Hparta, December 28.—David Dick
sou. Jr., was killed by his brother,
Jas. Dickson, last night. It is thought
that David was asleep, when James at
tacked him with an auger and beat his
head to a jelly. Whiskey is supposed
to be the cause. David and James
Dickson are nephews of Mr. David
Dickson.
®l]ie lAttgugfa Ccmstiiutiondist
Established 1799.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Important Legal Opinion—The Fort
Sugg Report—A Note to Foreign
Powers on Cuba.
Washington, December 29.—The
opinion of the Attorney General, wheth
! er the 8176,257 tax on dividends of
stock of the Illinois Central Railroad,
owned by non-resident aliens, should
be paid to the company or to the non
resident aliens, was given to-day. It
holds the officers of the company are
trustees of the stockholders, and held
the money named in trust for the own
ers of the stock after the payment of
all legal claims against the company.
These stockholders can recover from
the company any money due them, and
the company cannot defend itself in a
court of law on the ground that the
money was paid upon some unlawful
exaction, and especially after the pay
ment has been declared illegal by the
highest tribunal.
The Government unlawfully exacted
the money from the company, and it
should be paid back to the company.
The money already paid to the stock
holders may be deducted and the bal
ance paid back to the road.
The report of the Fort Sugg Com
mission will not be published until
Bristow taked time to read it. It is
true, as stated in a special dispatch
from Vienna, that the Secretary of
State has addressed a circular to all
the European Governments on the sub
ject of Cuban affairs, including a copy
to Spain. Its contents cannot be ob
tained from official sources here.
Revenue Troubles in Mississippi—
Military Wanted.
The Collector of Internal Revenue,
Shaughuessy, at Jackson, Mississippi,
telegraphs the Commissioner of Inter
nal Revenue that his deputy, W. B.
Redmond, had been driven from his
office and home, and from county to
county in his division, while discharg
ing his official duty, by armed bodies,
who publicly defy the authority of the
United States aud threaten to resist,
“if Redmond cannot discharge his
duties without military interference in
struct mo in the premises.” In reply
the Commissioner telegraphed: “Is
your evidence positive of Redmond’s
pursuit by armed bodies? How numer
ous are they, and how large a force do
you require ?”
To this Collector Shaoghnessy re
plied by telegraph : “The evidence is
positive. Redmond was notified by
the Mayor of Summit, Pike county, to
leave at once, as he and the peace
officers could not protect him. Armed
bodies, numbering from fifty to
seveuty-five, assert that he cannot re
main in the division. A commissioned
officer and twenty-five soldiers, if sta
tioned at Liberty, Arnite county, and
instructed to support him for thirty
days, or until the offending parties are
arrested, would be sufficient. Cavalry
is preferred, as the escort could accom
pany him on a tour through the bad
counties, and have a good effect.” The
papers in the ease were transmitted to
President Grant, who directed the mil
itary officer c numandmg the Depart
ment of the South to furnish a suffi
cient force of cavalry to enable the
proper officer to collect the revenue.
A Patent Case Decided.
The Commissioner of Patents to-day
decided the interference case of Wat
kins, of New York city, vs. McCollough,
of Richmond, Indiana, both claiming
the patent for the fire and police alarm
telegraph, which is now generuly in use
throughout the United States. The
Commissioner awards the priority of
invention to Watkins.
Grand Opening of the Centennial Year
Intended.
Dispatches from many points North
say the authorities of respective cilies
intend ushering in Centennial year with
great eclat, firing cannons, chiming
bells at midnight, illuminations, deco
rations, etc.
Commercial Integrity.
[New Orleans Times.]
The circumstances under which busi
ness men can fail without incurring
any criminal or civil penalties have
long been a blot upon the commercial
integrity of the nation. When houses
suspend business one tine morning
and it becomes known that they were
receiving money and issuing paper up
to three o’clock the day before, and
when this thing happens not once but
daily, hourly, it becomes advisable to
inquire into the moral tone of the
community which winks at such pro
ceedings and to consider how long
confidence, the life of business, can
coexist. This has been a year of sh
ing revelations. The suspension of the
house of Duncan, Shermau & Cos. was
attended by circumstances calculated
to alarm aud startle the most confiding
mind, and in scores of other cases—to
which New Orleans has furnished her
contribution—facts have transpired and
developments occurred to prompt the
question why the actors in these events
are permitted to breathe the air with
free and honest men. The penal code
provides for offenders who delude
others into trusting them with money
which they cannot repay. The confi
dence man, the embezzler, the defaulter,
the obtainer of articles of value under
false pretenses, each has his proper re
cognition in the law; but for men
who put out their paper for thou
sands of dollars, knowing that they
can never take it up again, who, in fact,
induce others to give them money and
merchandise when their failure is an
assured and inevitable thing, there
seems to be no adequate provision
made. Such occurrences are common.
Business men negotiate exchange the
day before their suspension, purchase
goods on time and turn it into cash
while thty are in the very act of an
nouncing their failure; and yet the law
permits them to walk the streets at
liberty, and society hears with tolera
tion if not with complaisance their offer
to return fifty per cent, of what they
have just filched from their defenseless
neighbors.
No one can estimate the injury thus
inflicted upon communities. Not only
upon those who are the direct victims,
but upon the entire business class,
does the blow fall with crushing force.
To the former it is actual loss, just as
though a robber had entered aud de
spoiled them in the night. To the lat
ter it is loss of confidence, suspicion,
uneasiness, alarm, stagnation of com
merce and consequent depression of
prices. In countries like France or
Eugland there is neither moral nor ma
terial immunity for such men. It is
our reproach and calamity that in the
United States they enjoy both,
The New Bark Stonewall Jackson.
Norfolk, December 29. —The new
bark Stonewall Jackson arrived to-day
from Boston. A large crowd turned
out, and the Light Artillery Blues sa
luted her. She was visited by many
prominent citizens during the evening.
AUGUSTA, GLA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1875.
FROM NEW YORK.
Freight Matters—Death of the Oldest
Clergyman in the World.
New York, December 29.— Freight on
live stock has advanced five cents per
hundred pounds from Chicago east.
The sioop-of-war Delaware, without
furniture or engines, sold for 820,000.
Rev. Henry Boehm, better known as
Father Boehm, the oldest preacher of
the Methodist Church in this country,
and probably the oldest clergyman in
the world, died yesterday at the house
of his grand-daughter, near Richmond,
Staten Island. On the Bth of last June,
the one hundredth anniversary of his
birth, was celebrated at Jersey City
by the Newark Conference, when
Father Boehm submitted an outline
of his own life and labor in the
Methodist Church, and addresses were
made by other clergymen. The excite
ment of the occasion prostrated him.
Though he rallied, he was again seized
with illness on the 12th of this month,
while attempting to preach in the vil
lage church at Richmond, Staten
Island. He was born in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania. Ho joined the
Methodist church in 1797. Ho served
in the ministry in Pennsylvania, Dela
ware and Maryland, and was the
travelling companion of Bishop Asbury.
For more than thirty years Father
Boehm has been in the New Jersey
Conference, and as early as 1842 was
on the list of supernumerary preachers.
He will be buried on Friday.
Mrs. Moulton and Plymouth Church.
Mrs. Moulton declined to meet the
Plymouth Church special committee
last evening, to confer upon the pre
parations and issue of letters missive
for the call of a mutual council. She
said in her note of declination that tho
time given is altogether too brief for
the grave duty to be discharged. The
better plan, aud the one I prefer, is for
Plymouth Church to submit to me a
proposed letter missive aud a list of
members of the council it decides to
summon, and then I will suggest
amendments to the letter and submit
the names of members I may wish to
invite, or vice versa. I will take the
initiative in the preparation of the pa
per and nominating the members. I
believe the idea of a mutual council
originated with me, and I am advised
that I have some voice in the constitu
tion of the council, the platform on
which it is to proceed aud the time of
its meeting.
The Order of American Union—lts
Aims and Objects.
The evening papers publish the fol
lowing statement of principles of the
Order of American Union : “The Na
tional Executive Committee of the Or
der of American Union deem it ad
visable to promulgate a summary of
principles which underlie and energize
their actions as citizens, aud as mem
bers of the Order. 1. We accept the
Bible as the basis of all moral, religi
ous, governmental and educational un
dertaking. 2. We yield an unhesitat
ing support to tiie Constitution and
Government of the United States, and
of the several States. 3. We urge that
the present system of our general un
sectarian free school organization shall
be maintained inviolate. 4. We claim
that no part of tiie public funds shall
ever be used for the support or main
tenance of any sectarian school or in
stitution whatever. 5. We are opposed
to any interference in political affairs
by any man, or body of men, acting in
behalf or by direction of any ecclesi
astical body or powers, yet we make
no war upon any man’s religious creed.”
Tho objects aud purposes of our Or
der are few and, simple and we give
them publicity. Tho ways and means
of conducting our business matters,
and the methods by which we propose
to secure the desired results are pecu
liarly our own, and we intend to keep
them to ourselves. Third-term or one
term Democracy or Republicanism,
hard money or soft money, crooked
whiskey or straight, are entirely out
side of our aims aud plans and receive
no attention whatever. To sustain aud
advance the ideas above summarized,
we propose to use all lawful aud suita
ble measures at all times that to us
seem propitious with all persons who
labor for their triumph against all agen
cies which seek their overthrow aud
destruction. As in the past, so for the
future, we invite and expect to receive
tho co-operation and aid of thousands
upon thousands of sturdy, starlwart,
patriotic, thoughtful men, who love
their country with an ardor surpassing
that of party, sect or clan.
By order of the National Executive
Committee. Geo. D. Weeks, President;
Henry T. Holt, Brooklyn, N. Y., Sec
retary.
Cot on Lands to be Sold for Direct
Taxes.
A representative of tho Internal
Revenue office here has been sent to
Beaufort, S. C., within a day or two,
for the purpose of attending to the in
terests of the Government in the sale
of valuable sea island cotton lands in
that vicinity which have been ordered
in consequence of the non-payment of
direct taxes. It is probable that if the
lands in question will not bring a
proper price the Internal Revenue
agent will bid them in for the Govern
ment. The sale will take place either
to-morrow or Friday next.
PHILADELPHIA.
The Bible in the Schools—Centennial
parade of Knights Templar.
Philadelphia, December 29.— At a
meeting ot the Common Council, this
afternoon, a resolution was adopted
that the Board of Public Education
be requested to inform the Councils
by what authority the reading of the
Bible has been discontinued in certain
public schools in that city.
In commemoration of the centennial
anniversary of American Independence,
a reunion of Knights Templar of the
United States will take place in this
city May 30th and 21st and June Ist,
1876. A grand parade will take place on
June Ist, which, it is expected, will be
participated in by Sir Knights from all
quarters.
Her name was Belle Harper, and she
lived iu Fuirview, West Virginia. She
had a lover named Hatche, who finally
cooled on her—“gave her away,” iu the
vernacular of the country. This was
not to be quietly endured by a girl of
spirit, so one day Belle loaded her
father’s shot-gun, took aim at her old
lover passing on the opposite side of
the street, prayed to the Lord, (as she
said), and dropped him. Then she went
in and ate a hearty dinner, remarking
to her admiring parent, in the course
of mastication : “Pap, I’ve shot him.”
These are the bare outlines—but what
a touching epic it would make ! The
fpree of tlje ferpale character, its cor
rect aims, its confidence in the Lord,
and its (juiet modesty in referring to its
own triumphs, are here all signally dis
played. Young man, here is'the woman
for your money.
LETTER FROM MACON.
A Bright Christmas, but a Noisy One
—Municipal Affairs -Retrenchment—
An Ominous Exodus—Failures —Im-
provements.
[From Our Regular Correspondent.]
Macon, Ga , December 27.
What a delightful slice of Summer
came sandwiched in between the crispy
days of ice-fringed December! Its
freezing algidity expunged, purged of
its hereditary ooze and slush, the days
labelled Christmas holidays wore an air
both charming and agreeable. Now
and then the far-ofl sky frowned, as if
impatient to array a phalanx of dark
spongy clouds, and squeeze out their
aqueous contents upon the naughty
people; but no rain fell, nor did the at
mosphere take change. Therefore,
weatherly, Christmas was a suc
cess. Enjoyably, however, save by
Young America, it was a failure. The
old war-horse, Hardtimes, plodded
wearily along the unkempt byways of
slow old Macon, and banished hopes of
even a liberal visit from toyful, candy
ful Kriss Ivriugle. The old patron
saint of the well-springs of joy never
carried a lighter load than on this oc
casion, though his spir|ts were as buoy
ant as of yore. Sonkiw dimmed the
wonted merry twinkle; of his eye, and
regret gnawed at his heart-strings.
But the boys—those young offshoots
of idolizing paters—took the matter in
hand and right royally dispelled the
brooding care, and made Rome howl.
Every mother’s son of ’em managed to
get possession of tin horns and “ pop
pers,” and fire and lungs were in con
stant demand. The agoziug bang of
the drum; the lively capers of the
fire-cracker and the soaring fancy of
the aspiring rocket; the yelps and
yells of the small boys, and the terrific
shouts that sprang from whiskey-lined
throats awoke the neighbors and won
the reputation of having cast-iron
throats. A full carte blanche seemed to
have been given the boys by parents,
aud thus cut loose from the apron
strings, they spread themselves. Few
er cities than Macon afforded so much
scope to the wild, untamed pranks of
the boys, for at night the town is cov
ered with the sable mantle of night—
the retrenchment schedule of her al
dermen having dispensed with gas
light—and the bonfires were a sort of
blessing. Then the same wise meas
ures of the City Fathers have reduced
the police force to about four men, and
there was no danger oi' being locked
up. On Friday night, so they tell it,
this quaitet of city guardians attempt
ed to stop the boys from manipulating
their fireworks. The boys arrested
the police, carried them to tho bar
racks, locked them up and then held
sway undisturbed! The Christmas
frolics were not, however, without the
usual moiety of damage. Black eyes
and bunged heads were quite common
next morning, to say nothing of hoad
aches superinduced by ’copious quaffs
of cheap nectar.
RETRENCHMENT.
Macon is heels over head in debt.
Various and carious have been the
means resorted to for bringing her out
of this dire dilemma, but as yet the re
sult has been far from satisfactory.
Indeed, it seems that every effort to
decrease the debt only increases it.
For several years past the newly elect
ed Counciimeu rush into their first
meetings with sleeves rolled up and
with miens that forbode the long
waited attainment—the withdrawal
from the quagmire of indebtedness—
and the first thing done is the stopping
of imaginary leaks, curtailment of the
police force, the abolition of sinecures,
and the general abridgement of every
expense that woos the currency from
the treasury. The Aldermen now in
office have cut off the gas supply, low
ered tiie salaries of all city officers, re
duced the police force to a mere hand
ful, abolished several offices, and, in
fine, left the city without gas, police,
street hands, and all else that go to
make up a respectable to wn. Her wide
streets are full of rubbish, and even to
her own people—to say nothing of
strangers—are unsightly. Tho Park—
tiie pride of all Georgia—is left for its
beautiful walks to beiswept only by
friendly winds, its floWcrs and shrub
bery to live or die, and its buildings to
care for themselves as best they can.
The Mayor, enterprising, energetic
Huff, seems to have been, forced by tiie
circumstances to drop "all interest in
the city’s welfare, ami run tiie old
machine in the old monotonous, me
chanical way. The people:are taxed and
re-taxed, and double-taxed, until for
bearance has discontinued residence
among the virtues, and the best people
are
MOVING AWAY.
You would be surprised at the num
ber of Macon people who have taken
up their entire beds and moved away.
Business men, mechanics, and men who
have just started in life, have bid the
old town farewell. Many have gone
into business elsewhere, and still call
Macon home, because jof social and
kindred attachments. And to give you
an idea or the number of this class of
people who live in Atlanta, let me tell
you that on the down train of last
Friday nearly every passenger belonged
in Macon only a year ago, and now
lives in Atlanta ! They went down to
spend Christmas with friends and rela
tives. A great many have gone to
Florida. I heard of no less than five
families—and they are among the first
families, too —who will leave in less
than a month for the Land of Flowers.
The cause of this emigration and city
troubles is attributable mainly to the
prevalence of hard times, but these
times are of course due, in a measure,
to the “monopoly of monopolies,” the
Central Railroad. Once beautiful and
prosperous Macon, now retrograding
with a crawfish obstinacy, is to be
pitied.
FAILURES.
Although the Telegraph and Messen
ger persistently denies it, nevertheless
it seems to be well known hero that
one or more of her biggest houses have
failed. It is also said that one of tho
merchants who had gone to the wall,
sold his private residence which cost
him 860,000 for 815,000 in order to set
tle with his creditors. I don’t how true
this is—the story is very bad to be so
well accredited and confirmed.
Much unfavorable comment is made
here on the recent suspension of the
Planter’s Bank. It seems as if the
high character and high esteem in
which General W. J. Lawton has here
tofore been held is not enough to drive
away suspicion of wrong doing on his
part in connection with the bank fail
ure. He was president of tiie bauk, as
you know, and as such is receiving se
vere and caustic criticisms—not to say
downright abuse—from depositors.
These Macon people are very slow in
letting out a secret, but when they do,
it comes with a vehemence truly and
refreshingly astonishing
IMPROVEMENTS.
Withju the past two or three years
something in the neighborhood of a
half dozen brick buildings and about
twice as many of wood have been put
up. Otherwise the improvements with
in that time are scarcely enough to at
tract the attention of the occasional
visitor. In the few buildings mentioned
scarcely any attempt at modernizing
has been made. The usual squatty,
two-story building for stores and the
high gables for residences is about the
order of things. Martha.
letterT^om"atlanta.
After Christmas —Accidents—The
Weather —Rex’s Car ing—Leah Mor
decai—Tears Versified—Dots.
[From our Regular Correspondent.]
Atlanta, Ga., December 28.
The Rubicon is crossed, Christmas
has passed and the sober, sedate frown
again settles upon Atlanta’s dirty face.
The noise, trouble and cheap whiskey
have gone their several ways and we
have buckled down to work in earnest,
even if our heads do ache a little. The
chapter of accidents was hefty. Several
attempts to murder were made among
the shadowed brethren, which may yet
give strength and pungency to Grant
& Alexander’s force. One negro exer
cised his razor on the rueful counton
ane; of a fellow sinner and sliced him
up'severely. Another, David-like, slung
a rock and keeled over, Saul-like, a
brother manumit. Another broke a
double-barrelled shot-gun over the
head of a policeman who attempted to
arrest him. Rut I haven’t time to run
over the list of a thousand and one
set-tos and tussels, ami scrimmages
participated in by our citizens on the
festive occasion of Christmas. Suffice
it to say that the list is large and the
suffering much.
From Friday to Monday night the
weather has been of Summer warm
ness. To-night the city is aflood with
rain. The clerk of the weather cer
tainly favored us with good days, per
haps to make up for the absence of
lucre.
THE COMING OF REX.
An edict has been issued from his
royal highness commanding his loyal
subjocts to raise the usual colors—yel
low and black—and soon the highways
and byways will be streaming with the
royal buuting. For the information of
those o? your city who may wish to
attend his grand ball, it is published
that only male members of the brother
hood will be admitted (they to carry
ladies) but several gentlemen from
other cities will perhaps receive com
plimentary cards. The gallery of the
Opera House will be used for visitors
who will pay an admission fee. Last
year the supper was a diabolical
failure. They will look to it that it is
gotten up in a style commensurate
with the grandness of the occasion this
year.
LEAH MORDECAI.
Atlanta enjoys somewhat of a mo
nopoly in the way of getting out books.
The latest is a novel of the above name
by Mrs. Bello Kendrick Abbott, from
Carleton’s press. It has a fair sale at
our book stores, though the critics do
not “ ecstacize ” over it very much. It
is her first book, you know, and the
fair author must look for harsh com
ments and slow sales. By-aud-by, her
books may be as well received as the
charming “ lufelice ” of Mrs. Wilson.
A PLAINTIVE SONG.
To the bred and born Southerner,
there are few things sweeter than the
recollections of long ago on the old
plantation, when the negro lived his
best days, and times were good, syre
enough. It is only now and then in
these hurryful days that wo are re
minded of them—only when Milt. Bar
low personates the old negro on the
mimic stage, or when the genius of
some writer clothes his rhyme in the
broken words of the venerable darkey.
To-day, however, Sam. W. Small, the
accomplished city editor of the Consti
tution, gives us a song from “ Old
Uncle Ben,” which forces a tear by its
touching pathos of genuine regret from
Ben for the absence of the good old
days of yore.
NOTES.
It is thought to be a certainty here
by the knowing, that suit will be entered
by Gov. Smith against ex-Treasurer
Jones for the amount due the State by
him. In case the money is not forth
coming from Col. Junes, then Messrs.
Grant and Nutting will be made parties
to the suit. These men claim that they
were only temporary bondsmen anti
not on the socond bond given by
Jones, but the Governor says no notice
was properly given of their discharge
from the responsibilits and hence must
ante up. No doubt their claim will
prove a fine point for lawyers to wran
gle over and make money on.
Cal. Wagner, who gave a poor per
formance here last week, is here to
night, to make friends again. The rain
will prevent the arrangement.
A. M. Alderman, a man who came
here Saturday and scattered his wealth
rather promiscuously, has been ar
rested on the eharge of stealing
money from Wooten’s Express Com
pany while acting as messenger for
that company. He will be carried to
Wilmington, N. C., to fix up the mat
ter.
Josh Billings will lecture here Feb
ruary 17th.
The Governor is hard at work on his
annual message. It will bear quite
heavily on the Treasury matter.
The next meeting of the State Agri
cultural Association will be held in
Brunswick.
The number of New Year callers will
be quite large this year. Full lists of
the ladies receiving callers are to be
published in the morning papers, ala
New York.
Fresh shad can now be had at the
fish stalls. They sell high. Sox.
What an Old Man Has Seen.—An old
man of much experience says:
I have seen a young man sell a good
farm, turn merchant, and die in a luna
tic asylum.
I have seen a farmer travel about so
much that there was nothing at home
worth looking at.
I have seen a man spend more money
in folly than would support his family
in comfort and Independence.
I have seen a young girl marry a
young man of dissolute habits, and re
pent of it as long as she lived.
I have seen a man depart from truth
where candor and veracity would have
served him to a better purpose.
I have seen the extravagance and
folly of children bring their parents to
poverty and want, and themselves to
disgrace.
I have seen a prudent and indus
trious wife retrieve the fortunes of the
family when the husband pulled at the
other end of the rope.
I have seen a young man who de
spised the counsels of the wise and ad
vice of the good, and his career end in
poverty and wretchedness.
GEORGIA GENERAL NEWS.
The Atlanta Bar Association has be
come a permanent institution.
Judge James W. Green died sud
denly at his residence in Upson county
Friday evening.
The Atlanta Hqrald says B. H. Hill
will appear as counsel for ex-Treasurer
Jones.
Trion factory, in Chattooga county,
Ga., is ready for business again. The
cost of reconstruction was $190,000.
The livery stable of Sandy Doherty,
at Cedartown, was burnt up a few
days ago. Cause—fire-crackers.
The annual election of the Central
Railroad and Banking Company will
take place at the company’s banking
house in Savannah, on Monday, the
third inst.
A man named Williams was waylaid
recently by highway robbers, near
Rome, who persuaded him with pistols
to surrender his money.
Gabriel Watson, of Crawford, made
this year on ten acres of land a frac
tion over six thousand pounds of lint
cotton, or a bale and a half per acre.
Chief of Police Anderson, of Atlanta,
vvas severely reprimanded by the Po
lice Commissioners of that city for un
gentlemanly conduct.
Criminals in Atlanta have recently
attempted the revival of the garroting
process in robbing victims. The last
case reported did not turn out favor
ably for the garrotors, as one of them
vvas shot.
Mrs, Waddell, relict of the late Prof.
James I’. Waddell, and mother of Prof.
W. H. Waddell, died at the residence of
her son in Athens, on Sunday night,
last. Mr3. W. was the daughter of the
Rev. Hope Hull.
Solomon Nettles, an old citizen, while
in the act of crossing the railroad, near
the Junction, just above Rome, was a
little ahead of the outgoing train, and
was struck by the engine and instantly
killed.
A difficulty occurred ou Monday be
tween Dr. Johnson, a prominent phy
sician of Columbus, and J. T. Holland,
of Alabama. The former was cut, but
not seriously. The origin of the difli
culty has not transpired.
Columbus Enquirer: Mr. Joseph
Hull and Miss Eliza A., daughter of
Col. A. R. Lamar, were married in Sa
vannah last Tuesday. The bride, whom
Columbus knew as a handsome maid
en, has grown to be one of the most
eloquent and accomplished ladies in
Georgia. Mr. Hull is one of the rising
young business men of Savannah.
A German named C. Hugo Jaquot
was shot in the left eye near the nose
Monday at Eden on the Central Rail
road, it is charged, by A. N. Sollee.
Trouble between Jaquot and his wife is
said to be the cause, the latter having
called on Mr. Sollee for protection from
her husband. Both were arrested at
the instance of each other.
Atlanta Herald 28tli: No word less
severe will answer for a description of
the manner in which Christmas day
was spent in Atlanta. All daylong the
pavements were crowded by uproarious
boys and half-drunken negroes, while
the streets, far and near, resounded
with hideous yells and the continual
explosion of powder-charged missiles.
It was impossible for a lady or a child
to be out. It was the most dangerous
of undertakings to drive a vehicle
through the streets. The city was one
seething mass of delirious drunkenness;
those who were not drunk with liquor
were crazy with excitement.
At the matinee of the Japanese
Troupe, in Savannah, Tuesday, Que
Taro, who had his right baud hurt on
Christmas by the explosion of a toy
cannon, fell from the sliding rope a
distance of forty feet, upon a cushion
ed seat, and was considerably stunned.
Ho caught the rope when ho slipped
with his wounded hand, which caused
the fall. Upon reviving and starting
to ascend the rope again, most of the
audience threatened to leave the the
atre if ho attempted it. He desisted, but
performed other feats afterward.
A First-Class Scoundrel on the Road
■ [St. Louis Republican. i
A man named Wharton, alias Jack
son, is on the load. Ho is a ladies’
man. Courting is his trade, winning
his luck, promising to marry his play,
and never marrying his game. Ho has
been very successful in this pursuit.
He started the business three or four
years ago in Louisville, under the name
of Wharton. His outside pretension
was books —sometimes agent, some
times peddler. Then one day he ran
off with Miss Mattie Raymond, a re
spectable girl of Louisville. Under
promise of marriage, he took her with
him to Chicago, and the couplo lived
there. Mattie’s father did not believe
that everything was right, and in about
a year went to Chicago to see about ;
it. He found that Wharton was
known everywhere except at home as
Jackson, and that he had a Mrs. Jack
son living in the suburbs. This Mrs.
Jackson was a Chicago banker’s daugh
ter, whom the scoundrel had lured
away from home. Raymond learned
that his daughter had never been mar
ried to the man, and he took Mattie
home to Louisville, and back to his
heart. To escape arrest, Wharton fled
from Chicago, and loft his Mrs. Jack
son pining there without home or
friends. The banker refused to re
ceive his daughter back, and she fives
for just one purpose—to pursue her
supposed Jackson and bring him to
Justice. Eight months ago Wharton,
alias Jackson, appeared in Atlanta,
Georgia, and soon made the acquaint
ance of a blooming widow, who had
health and a big son. Jackson was
about to marry her, when the bank
er’s daughter stepped in and spoiled
the game. Sho sought an interview
with the widow and told her all about
Jackson—how he had committed crime
in Germany, and robberies in Chicago,
and laid his track waste with ruined
reputations everywhere. The widow
did not thank her imformant for the
interest she had taken in dashing her
dream at happiness; refused to believe
the story, and told Mrs. Jackson to go
about her business and attend to it.
She went and attended to it. Undaun
ted, Mrs. Jackson sought the widow’s
big son, and told him all abont his
prospective step-father. The boy
collared the man on the first
opportunity, smashed his face, and
biacked his eyes and kicked him pretty
well all over. He then drew a pistol
and made Jackson march before him
to the depot, get on a train just start
ing and leave town without settling up
his affairs with the widow, or even bid
ding her good-bye. The train went to
wards West Point, and the next day
the Chicago banker’s daughter follow
ed it in order to keep an eye on her
betrayer. She promises to perform
her one mission in life with fidelity,
but it will be well enough for the girls
to beware of any ono who might pos
sibly be_ Wharton alias Jackson.
New Series—Vol. 28, No.; 106
IS BABCOCK GUILTY i
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION
DISCUSSED.
How the “Sylph” and Other Dis
patches Were Discovered-—How
Third Term Hinges on Whiskey—
The Secretary’s Explanation Before
the President.
[New York Herald.]
Washington, December 26. —The re
port that the President contemplated
exerting the pardoning power in favor
of Joyce was not only utterly unfound
ed. but in direct opposition to the
President’s views as to Joyce’s claims
to Executive clemency. Having had
unusual opportunities for ascertaining
the opinions entertained by General
Grant concerning Joyce’s criminality
in the fraudulent and thieving opera
tions of the whiskey ring at St. Louis,
I can state confidently that the Presi
dent regards Joyce as the greatest
criminal of all whose names have been
prominently mentioned in connection
with the whiskey frauds.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES.
He believes that while some men may
have been incautiously led into the
ring and others may have been forced
into it to avoid failure and ruin of
business, Jbyce belongs to neither
class, but stands prominently in the
foreground as one of the original sin
ners, one of the organizers and con
stant managers of the ring from its
inauguration to its exposure. And to
Joyce and his cunning manipulation of
letters and telegrams is much of Bab
cock’s present sorrow and apparent
disgrace attributable.
curious facts.
Notwithstanding the almost daily
accounts which have been published
broadcast throughout the land con
cerning Babcock and his connection
with the Whiskey Ring, the public,
save a glimpse at certain published
telegrams purporting to have been
sent and received by Babcock, remains
in ignorance as to the inner history of
the case, whether relating to the
prosecution or defense. Knowing the
deep interest already manifested
throughout the country touching the
guilt or innocence of Babcock, and that
upon the verdict of the jury empanelled
to try Babcock may depend the determi
nation of the question who shall be the
next President of the United States, I
have been actively engaged for several
days in obtaining for the readers of the
Herald as many facts as could be
gleaned upon the Babcock case, and
am prepared to briefly summarize all
the points of both the prosecution and
defense which are likely to reach the
public in advance of the trial. It seems
that Babcock’s connection with the
Whiskey Ring was first discovered in
this wise: During the prosecution of
Joyce and McDonald, or rather during
the investigation at St. Louis which
led to their prosecution, it became
necessary to overhaul and examine
carefully all telegrams from Washing
ton to the members of the Ring at St.
Louis. These were found among the
retained copies of dispatches kept on
file in the telegraph office at St. Louis.
Hon. Bluford Wilson, Solicitor of the
Treasury, acting under the special
orders and instructions of his chief,
Bristow, was the person charged with
this duty.
THE “ SYLPH ” DISPATCH.
Among other telegrams ho came
across the now famous ‘ Sylph ” dis
patch, dated at Washington. Follow
ing up this clew, he proceeded to
Washington, and from the telegraph
office here obtained the original tele
gram signed “ Sylph,” of which a fac
simile has siuceappeared in the Herald.
Still iguoraut as. to its authorship, So
licitor Wilson carried the dispatch to
the office of the Secretary of the Treas
ury and submitted it to Bristow, who,
familiar with Babcock’s handwriting,
no sooner east his eyes upon the pa
per than he exclaimed, YVhy this is
Babcock’s ‘writing.” After consulta
tion it was decided by Bristow and
Wilson that the proper course to pur
sue was to proceed at once to the
White House and lay the matter be- j
fore the President. The latter read
the dispatch and at once summoned
Babcock to his presence. The tele
gram was shown to him, and ho at
once admittted it as having been writ
ten by him. He then and there sub
mitted to the President an explanation
as to the true meaning and occasion of
the sending of the telegram, which
explanation satisfied the President that
Babcock’s action, as explained, not only
was free of all criminality, but was
really a step taken by Babcock to pre- !
vent rather than commit fraud. The !
Idng established confidence of Gen. ;
Grant in his favorite aid and private
secretary remained unshaken. Accord
ing to Babcock the dispatch had been
signed “Sylph,” instead of having his
real signature appouded, simply owing
to the fact that the word “Sylph” was a
favorite ono with McDonald, and the
adoption of it would at once convey to
its recipient the source from which it
came. It is claimed, however, by some
of the officials prominently connected
with the prosecution of the Ring, that
Babcock’s innocence, as explained to
the President, depended upon his
solemn statement then and there made
that the dispatch in question, the only
one at that time discovered by the law
officers representing the Government,
was the only one he had sent to the
St. Louis members of the Ring, whereas
later investigations unearthed several
other telegrams, all in the handwriting
of Babcook, addressed to the now con
victed leaders of the Whiskey Ring at
St. Louis, the authenticity of which
has since been acknowledged by him.
PRESIDENTIAL LOGIC.
This apparent discrepancy in Bab
cock’s explanation to the President
does not receivo much consideration
from the latter as tending to Babcock’s
guilt. The President says that while
Babcock may have sent many telegrams
and letters, and undoubtedly did send
several telegrams to parties in St.
Louis who were subsequently discover
ed to be defrauding the Government,
yet of all these telegrams but one—that
one signed “Sylph”—seems to require
explanation as having contained any
allusion to Whiskey Ring matters, and
as regards that one the President ac
cepts Baboook’s explanation as correct,
and to this day the confidence of Gen.
Grant in the innocence, integrity and
honor of Babcook remains unshaken,
thus furnishing another example of
that oft-remarked and certainly com
mendable trait in the President’s
character which renders his friendship,
when once formed, lasting. Once a
friend always a friend seems to be his
motto. While the President admits
that Babcock, while discharging his
duties as private Secretary, had fre
quent occasion to receive and answer
letters intended for the President, yet
the latter does not hesitate to assert,
n conversation with his friends, that
To Advertisers and Subscribers!
On and after this date (April 21, 1875.) all
editions of the Constitutionalist will be sent
free of postage.
Advertisements must be paid for when han
ded in, uniess otherwise stipulated.
Announcing suggesting Candidates fox
office, 20 cents per line eaoh insertion.
Monet? may be remitted at our risk by Express
or Postal Order.
Correspondence 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.
he knew nothing of and never saw the
contents of any of the dispatches sent
by Babcock and made public during
trial of the leaders of the Whiskey
Ring at St. Louis until after the invita
tion brought them to light,
NOT IN THE WHISKEY RING.
The effort, therefore, by certain un
scrupulous parties to connect the Pres
ident in some criminal manner with
the operations of the whiskey ring is
udj ust in the highest degree. He may
have erred in the choice of his friends,
and his confidence in their official hon
esty may have been misplaced—in fact
of this there is not a particle of doubt
—but beyond this his culpability does
not extend. Opposed to the grounds
upon which the President bases the in
nocence of Babcock, the prosecutors of
the whiskey ring, guided by Bristow
and Wilson, claim to be in possession of
evidence which fails to coincide with
Babcock’s explanation to the President.
Neither Bristow nor Wilson was satis
fied with the manner in which Babcock
endeavored to dispose of the “Sylph”
dispatch. Hence thoy continued their
efforts to discover further evidence.and
by their success brought upon them
the disapproval if not the ire of the
President, who, maintaining his belief
in the innocence of his Secretary,
gradually acquired the impression—
probably inspired in this respect by
his intimates—that the attempted im
plication of Babcock with the frauds
upon the Treasury was nothing more
or less than an indirect attack upon
him and intended as a movement hos
tile to the third term as well as an en
deavor upon the part of Bristow to
make Presidential capital for himself.
This idea has grown day by day since
its organization, and notwithstanding
the oft repeated statements put before
the public in the press attempting to
show that the relations existing be
tween Grant and Bristow are cordial
and sincere, there is no doubt that
Bristow as well as Bluford Wilson, the
Solicitor of the Treasury, are under tho
ban of suspicion ; and, but for the out
cry raised by the public press upon
Henderson’s removal as public prose
cutor of the Whiskey Ring leaders ono
or both of the two officials named
would have been removed from office.
BRISTOW AND THE THIRD TERM.
Bristow is looked upon by the advo
cates of the third term as" one of the
most dangerous stumbling blocks in
the way of the success of the third
term. Home who are experienced in
predicting future political events go so
far as to say that if Grant fails to se
cure the nomination for the Presidency
Bristow will be the successful man.
Whether to disparage the man or di
minish his chances of success, it is as
serted by the third termers that, so
anxious is Bristow to obtain the nomi
nation for President in 1876, he would
accept it from that party which is the
first to extend the offer.
The officers of the Government
charged with the prosecution of the
Whiskey Ring leaders at St. Louis are
prudently reticent as to the evidence in
their possession against Babcock. They
claim that to make this public at the
present time would be to defeat the
ends of justice. At the safhe time they
are confident that a fair trial will re
sult in Babcock’s conviction. From
strong hints thrown out by va
rious parties connected with the pros
ecution at different times, there is good
reason to believe that they expect to
show on the trial that valuable consid
erations have passed between the load
ers of tho Ring and Babcock. Even
should this prove true such facts might
be susceptible of explanation, as it is
well known how applicants for official
favors frequently prepare the way by
the bestowal of munificent gifts, and,
while their acceptance might be, and
almost invariably is, of doubtful pro
priety, innocent and unoffending per
sons might be drawn into a trap the
steps to which have been made invit
ing.
DREAD OF A CONVICTION.
Notwithstanding General Grant’s un
shaken belief in the innocence of his
secretary it is safe to assert that not
only he, but every member of the White
House circle, shares the belief that if
Babcock is arraigned and tried at St.
Louis the almost inevitable result,
owing to the highly excited and preju
diced state of public feeling in that
locality, would boa conviction. It is
altogether probable, therefore, that an
effort will bo made to effect a chango of
venue from St. Louis to some other
point where an impartial trial can bo
had.
Should Babcock be convicted and tho
President still maintain ids belief in
Babcock’s innocence, tho latter would
inevitably receive a pardon.
Why the Other Worlds are Unin
habited.
“ Since it is clear that the earth has
had and will have a period without
living creatures, aud its period of life
is a fiaito between two comparatively
infinite periods, a mere ripple,” said
Mr. Proctor in Steinway Hali, New
York, last Tuesday evening, “ the
chance is small that any planet taken
at random is at this time inhabited.”
Mr. Proctor gave various data, from
which his inferences were that the
moon is dead ; that Mercury probably
never had life, and being now in its old
age as a planet, is cooled off complete
ly, its; own cold, however, counter
balanced in considerable measure by
the heat of the sun ; that it is not cer
tain that the planets came into being
at the same time ; that some of t ern
may now be growing, and that, we can
know but little about Mercury, as be is
so near the sun that the sun blazes in
our eyes when we try to inspect hitn.
It was proved at the late transit of
Venus that she has an atmosphere ;
and although she must have a climate
so warm that earthly beings could not
live there, possibly she has people who
can.
Mars in 1877 will be in that part of
his orbit in which he will shine the
brightest and reddest. There is not a
feature of the history of Jupiter and
Saturn resembling the earth. Indeed,
there are two families of planets in the
solar system, the lesser orbs and the
giant planets. These great planets are
suns, having a little system of their
own. But when Jupiter has cooled as
much as our earth, he will be smaller
than the earth and one-sixth as bright
as he is now. The satelites of the
giant planets may be advanced in their
life career. Some parts of Saturn, said
Mr. Proctor, suffer eclipses of the sun
two years long. In the star depths, he
continued, thero are probably millions
of living beings; aud as wo extend our
domain of the known, we extend our
immagination of the unknown.
“Fifty oents for biled isters ?” said a
oountryman at a restaurant yesterdav.
“It’s stew much.”
A whale suckles its young, and there
fore is not a fish.— Rochester Union. A
cow suckles her young, aud therefore
is not a fish either,
