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T H E OUN T K Y M A N.
VlfKX-WOLJ), GA., FEBRUARY 28, 1805.
The Convention in Georgia.
The tories, traitors, and abolition
ists, in Georgia, arc calling for a con-
venfion of the state. We do not
mean to say that all who call for a
convention are tories, traitors, or abo
litionists : but this we do affirm, and
reaffirm—that wherever you find a
tory, an abolitionist, or a traitor, he
is in favor of a sovereign convention
of the people of Georgia, and his ob
ject, in-that convention, is to with
draw Georgia from the confederacy,
and .give her, in chains, to Lincoln.
This being the case, it is useless for
us to say that we are opposed to the
proposed convention : for those who
read our paper know that we are nei
ther an abolitionist, tory, nor traitor.
In the present aspect of our affairs,
we see nothing <o warrant the call of
a convention. Tint time may come,
'however, when we may need such a
convention. Should an attempt be
made, by our government, to abolish
slavery, then we are in favor of call
ing a sovereign convention of Geor
gians, in otder to provide new safe
guards for our welfare; We believe
that the safety of our republican gov
ernment depends upon the preserva
tion of our institution of slavery.
When that is gone, we think our po
litical and social systems are both
gone, and separate existence is not
worth contending for.
Wo are a true state-rights man—
not ono of the modern, bogus kind.
Wo belong to the original panel, of
whom Jefferson, Madison, and Ma
son were the exemplars. We are not
a state-fights man after the order of
Holden, Morse, and Brown. We do
not believo that state-rights means
faction, toryism, or treason. But
then wo do believe that the states
have certain reserved rights, and
whenever there is a prospect of those
rights being destroyed, then we go
for each state interposing its check
upon any unconstitutional, or wrong
ful measure.
Now, wo began this war for the
preservation of negro slavery, as the
basis of our prosperity, in every res- {
pect, as a state. Whenever an at
tempt shall be m:>do to pervert the
war from its original purpose, by the
agent appointed to conduct the war,
then we “shall advocate a convention
of sovereignty, to call back our agent
to bis duty, or dismiss hiify, as the
case may requiro. But then the eon*
vcntiosft would be withdrawn from the
hands of traitors, and placed under
the auspices of patriots.
If an attempt is made, by the con
federate government, to abolish sla
very, then it will bo for Georgia to
seek safety for her institution, else
where. She may then have to set
up for herself : but if she could form
such alliance with the United States,
or any other nation, as would guaran
ty lier institution of slavery, it would
be her duty to do it. Each state
must do the best it can for itself. Act
ing upon this principle, Georgia was
a member of the old union. Upon
the some principle, she withdrew
from the union, and joined the con
federacy. Our confederate authori
ties will be blind indeed, if they
should foice the same principle to
take her back into the old union.
The Yankees at Turnwold.
‘‘We are sorry to learn from The
Countryman, that the yankees, in
their route to Milledgeville, called
upon brother Turner, at Turnwold,
and made quite free with his property.
They do not appear to have interfered
with his printing office, however, for
The Couutryman comes to ns unshorn
of its fair proportions, and as full of
good reading as ever. Neither do
they appear to have depressed, in the
slightest, the animal spirits of the ed
itor, though the first thing they ob
tained from him was his st-ock of li
quor. (By the way we dou’t under
stand how an editor can afford to
keep oven * sorghum ’ spirits by him,
at present prices.) We copy from
The Countryman, of the 29tfi ultimo,
the fallowing brief allusion to the
yankee visit. The same paper of the
fitii inst., gives a fuller, and more par
ticular report:
Our Guests.—During the last few
day8 we have had with us, from time
to time, some thirty or forty gentle
men, from tho United States of North
America, including a few from Europe.
Wo endeavored to make ourself at
koine with our distinguished guests.
They themselves were quite so. Some
specimens of African gentlemen, of
indigenous growth (homo niger ) also
acted conspicuous parts in the drama
that has been played, on the old plan
tation, for a week past. Wo may
give a further account of these things,
hereafter.”
The above was clipped from some
one of our cotemporaries—we think
the Columbus Enquirer—some time
ago. The secret of our having the
‘ sorghum ’ is that we make our own
liquor. We say to onr brethren of
the quill that, we have some No. 1.
brandy, of our own manufacture, and
if they will call upon us, we will give
them satisfactory proof of it;—By the
way, we are now near the highway of
travel, from east to west, and if any
of our editorial brethren chance to
pass this way, they must certainly
come and see us.
City Point, Va., Jan. 28, 1865,
10, P. M.—“Hon. E. M. Stanton, Sec
retary of War : One of my staff has
just returned from Fort Fisher, with
despatches from Gen. Terry,' from
which I extract the following :
‘On tho 16th, the enemy blew up
Forts Caswell, and Campbell, and
abandoned them, and the works on
Smith’s Island, and those at Smith-
ville, and on Reeves's Point. These
places were occupied by tho navy.
The number of gur.s captured amounts
to one hundred, and sixty-two.
‘A large number of small arras also
foil into our hands, besides quantities
of ordnance, and commissary stores.
Onr casualties prove smaller than at
first reported. They foot up thus—12
officers, and 107 men killed; 45 offi
cers, and 495 men wounded.’
U. S. Grant,
. Lt. Gen.”
New York, Jan. 24. — •* The
steamer, S. R. Spaulding, has arrived
from Fort Fisher, with dates tu tho
22d inst. She brings 445 wounded
soldiers. She has gone up Gape Fear
river, and-was engaged in shelling the
woods, on both sides, to dislodge the
enemy.”
It will be seen, by the perusal of an ar
ticle, undgr the caption of “ Freedom of
Speech put down by the Bayonet," that
a public meeting of the once free people
of Georgia, has been suppressed, by mili
tary authority.—People's^N* C.) Press,