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/ A r , / i/K '/J' ^ 1 • E. MERTON COULTER the cornsrrryman. By J. A. TURNER# “independent in everything—neutral in nothing" $5 Tor Three Months. VOL. XX. TURNWOLD (NEAR EATONTON) GA., TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1865. NO. 13. Political Definitions— Political Tricks — Doty of the Hour—The main test intompe- tencv ot the last general assembly, admonishes the people to a closer scrutiny as t< men who seek to compose the next. The welfare of the people, in its widest sense, will be confided to them. In the last eleciiou, the people were duped, under the delusive cry of ‘no party.' This term, as practically construed by the po litical hacks, whom the people had, again and again, repudiated, signified, to the voter, thit he must, unmurmuringiy, support the candi date whom the clique of ‘ no party ’ men offer, ed to him. The illustrious patriots who suc ceeded, by the whine and cant of ‘ uo party,’ in smuggling into the last legislature the most violent and bigoted party men, who had re peatedly been rejected by the people, now, hyp ocritically, denounce ‘ dissension,’ in thie hour of our country’s peril. But what do they mean by ‘dissension?’ Their practice explains it. Dissension, in their political dictionary, means 4 an unwillingness, on the part of others, to sustain a man for office, whom they, in their modesty, and wisdom, dictate to the people.’ These exhorters of unity doubtless feel that the hearts of the people should overflow with grati tude to them, for relieving the people of all trouble, in the small matter of selecting their rulers. These amiable friends of the people do somewhat more to ingratiate themselves in the confidence ot the people. They, a small por tion of the citizens, will meet at the court-house, or, sometimes, in a private caucus, nominate some one of the clique, and proclaim him the choice of the county. In this way, unless the independent voters of the county counteract it, a few men virtually choose our members ol the legislature. I warn the people again3t these tricks, by which they are virtually dis franchised. Distrust, watch, and oppose the men who cry ‘ no party,’ and yet, invariably, stick to their party prejudices. Such men can find no man, out of their old party associa tions, who, in tbeir estimation, is (he man for the office. My countrymen, whenever you bear a man preaching up unity, in matters of •lection, mark him well, for he has a favorite lor you to unite on with him. The records of our history, as a state, furnish no page more full of partizan bitterness, and hatred, than the journal, and speeches, of the the last house of representatives, of Georgia. A majority of that body gave full vent to par tisan prejudices, and hale, they had conceived and fostered against our most excellent chief magistrate, before the secession ol tlie slate-. Every intelligent citizen well knows that Gov. • Brown has managed the affairs of state with consummate ability, unsurpassed fidelity, and untiring industry. In the practical assistance be has afforded President Davis in the pr.eecu- •tion of the war, for the mantenance ot our ,n dependence, he has no equal. Under his guid ance, Georgia has responded, superabundant ly, to every requisition of the confederate ex ecutive. And it is worthy of remark, that in the counties where he is best known, and pos sesses the greatest influence, the patriotism of the people is the most signally demonstrated. And yet, notwithstanding he is, undeniably, an able, good, prompt, industrious, untiring, and faithlul officer, the no party men denounce him most bitterly, and mercilessly. The mtn who are, apparently, horrified at ‘dissension,’ strive, unremittingly, to stir up 4 dissension ’ against him. I conclude that the old grudge, against the people’s favorite, is still alive. His adver saries have not recovered from the heart-burn ings conceived in past party conflicts. The remembrance of their defeats still chales them. They desire to sully the civic wreaths, which <h« citizens of Georgia have placed on him, by inducing the people to withdraw their confi dence from him, at the last. j In the gigantic war in which the confederacy i is now engaged, every roan, who is a man, is •zpectsd to do his duty to the country, either in the tented field, or at home. The dissemin ation of knowledge, among the people, by the press, the education of tfie young, the exercises of the pulpit, the medical profession, the pre parntion and production of things for the sup port ar d equipment of >the army, are most use ful, and fields in which a patrioi may, a: home effectually serve his country. A man, within the military age, who is able-bodied, and not employed in one of the foregoing occupations, can alone manifest his patriotism by enlisting in the army. It is contrary to the uniform cus tom, and laws of civilized nations, for the young to expect the old to be, as a class, the soldiers of the country. And yet there are young men who remain at home, not employ ed in any occupation useful to the country, who produce nothing for the support of the army, or the widows and orphans of the soldieis, who, aided and brought out by the ‘ no party ’ men, and ‘ anti-dissenters,’ use every effort to shield themselves from military duty, bv filling le gislative offices, to which men of enlarged ex perience, and mature judgment, in this critical juncture, should only be chosen. In this try ing time, no one should be elevated to office who has not, by his acts, illustrated his devo tion to the cause of liberty. The people should rerainly disregard the pretensions of a candi date who is willing to wear the honors of of fice, without deserving them : or who may be willing to go into tbe military service, pro vided tie gets a commission, and, that failing, unwitting to go as a private. Such caudidaies sh juld be defeated, and be compelled to do mil itary duty, in behalf of an imperilled couutry, whose legislative offices, involving no danger, and to be held in quietness, and 1 security, they are so willing to occupy. It is a good rule, worthy of the at optiou of the people, to vote, alone, for men not subject to conscription. At all events, let not the people aid a man in shirk ing military duty, in these ‘times that try men’s souls.’—Putnam.—Confederate Union, 1863. Yazoo Fraud — Quarrelof Clark and Gunn. - “We copy the following correspondence, Ac , from ihe Savannah Republican, of the 10th inst , by which it appears that Gen Clark was not content with the very moderate por ion of 2b.POO acres ol land, but insisted on a full share: Augusta, Saturday evening, Jan. 10,1795. Sir In* conducting a business like that which was the subjectof our dispute, this after noon, it was necessary that some should re>t their rights upon the confidence which they had in others. You, as well as others of vou’r company, assured me that I was down for a share in the territory you have lately purchased from the state: but, sir, you have deceived me, and, to aggravate the deception, when 1 de manded my right, you insulted me, and offered violence to my person. I now demand that satisfaction, which, from disparity of bodily strength, I am obliged to resort to, and 1 hope you will be just enough to meet me in such a way, as will place us upon a footing of equali ty.—My friend, Col. G., will settle the time, and place. John Clark. To Gen. James Gunn. Sunday morning, Jan. 11, 1795. Sir ;—Your note, of last evening, was hand ed me by Col. G., in which f find your asser tions are false, as your conduct, of yesterday, was insolent. I am not in. the habit of neglect ing the invitation of any man who merus at tention, but previous engagements prevent my attending, at this time, to the call of a man who acts from an angry disappointment. If this answer is satisfactory, you will wait my convenience : if it is not, have the goodness to make the occasion to do yourself justice. I am, sir, your ob’t. servant, James Gunn. To Gen. John Clark. Sunday evening, 11 o’clock. Sir :—I this moment received your answer to my note ol list evening. Be obliging enough to let me know your time of convenience, for, be assured, sir, I am as little in the habit of be ing trifled with, as you are of refusing invita tions of this kind. John Clark. To Gen. James Gunn. I do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of a letter delivered by me to Gen. Gunn, on Saturday evening last, and that the answer, herewith inserted, was delivered to me. by Col. Wade Hampton, on Sunday evening, 11 o’clock; and that the answer of Gen. Clark, which is also herewith stated, was offered, by me, to Gen. Gunn, on the monday morning follow ing. He did not receive it, but referred me to bis friend, Col. Hampton, who, on receipt there of, refused to continue the correspondence any longer. Ambrose Gordon, 12th January, 1795. It is unnecessary for me to comment on th e above statement of facts. I (inly wish the pub* lie, in their opinions, to'do the concern ed equal justice. I shall leave town td-n v ;P rro ^ r morning, ai 9 o’clock, having indispensabiJ business at Greene court, which will sit on the 13th inst. John Clark. Augusta, Jan. 12th, 1795. I do hereby certify that the letter presented to me, on monday morning last, said to be from Gen. Clark, and addressed to GeQ. Gunn, was never delivered to that g*aReman. For, having declined tbe correspo: assur ing Col.,Gordon, when he hooded* Trie tfi.’ ’let ter, that Gen. Gunn had ttvken his measures, by giving an alternative, from which it wa« not probable ho would depart, the Col and my self parted, and I thought no more of the letter, nor ever saw a word of its contents. Jan. 13th, 1795. W. Hampton. Note.—It is within the recollection of sever al respectable citizens, that the Brigaoier might have made the occasion to do himself justice, at the door ot bis lodgings—at least one hour previous to the time he so prompty fixed on for his departure from Augusta.’’ Victory vs. Numbers.-History is replete with instances where victory never failed to ■crown the arms ol brave and determined war riors, though the odds were much greater against them, than we hav* to contend with, to-day- Ailison tehs us that Clive took the camp’ of Surajt-e Dowiah, and, subsequently, de throned him, with 2,600 men, against 59,000 horse, and loot, with 5U guns Wellesley won the battle ot Assaye, with 8,000 men, against 50,000 men, and 100 guns. Lake stormed Delhi, and won Laowaree, with 5,000 soldiers, when it was garrisoned with five times that number. • The array of Italy, when Bonaparte took command of itT was but 42,000 strong, and had no magazines, no rations, pay, shoes, cloihing, tents, nor shelter, yet, with his army in this condition, he loughtsfour pitched battles, all triumphantly, and conquered the whole of nouherii Italy, including the Eternal City, re- Laming master of all, Trom the Tyrol to the l iber, iu one magnificent campaign, of a few months duiation. The history which our own fathers made in the revolution of ’76, pleads to us, by every thing that is near, and dear, and sacred, to stand firm in the noblest cause iu. which free men ever enlisted, and inoependei.ee will yet be written upon our blood-stained banner, be- nea'h which so mauy gallant sons have fallen, to rise no more forever.—Augusta Constitution alist. “A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong.”