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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Daily— one year oo six months 5 00 three months... 2 60 Tri-Weekly—one year 5 oo “ six months 2 50 Weekly— one year 2 oo “ six months 1 oo Single copies, 5 ots. TANARUS news dealers. ets. Subscriptiens must in ail cases be paid in advance, The paper will be discontinued at the expiration of the time paid for. JAS. G. BAILIE. ) FRANCIS COGIN. Proprietors GEO. T. JACKSON.) \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,