Newspaper Page Text
gy Joseph Clisby.
^tOMUTELEGEAftr
^ TSW^* :
• URS, IN ADVANCE.
; c«l? «** w!lCrC ,hC su,,scri I' tior
^ of the Ofliw-
'jjJTCcn«’rnl , sBcpori.
*‘TVi,:G»:.Mr.At’sOrricE, \
(g"££ui* Oct. 20th. 18o9. $
, JOSEPH E. BROWS,
r’i' ^nliaocc with the provisions of
H*.«,]} December. IB-I.I. I have the
•before your Excellency n state*
V ■ „ ' nn ,i disbursements nt the
6 v*.focal year 1859, showing
in tbeTre5n»ry> nt the end of the
rJurts <«•. . .
however, orarefer-
*" Trawler’* Report, this reported
' ‘ the Treasury" is deceptive. Pre-
vriins into office, former Comp*
.’r reported this “balance,” with-
j on . The consequence was.
read the Comptroller’s
• .j that nil of this large balance
*“•, fftdMTy, when such was and
of this $1*14.332 tHl “ bal-
vj,,V.l is altogether murailablc, it
■; f r,ro|>erty. and no more subject to
S into cash than the Western &
Utisd, or other public property,
!T fia be K.ld without legislative nc-
, fallowing items compose this una-
.tort in the Treasury, via:
" Oration Fund *490,900 CO
t.'i.xi :• (l. Uailroad ... '-‘0,000 no
8.ST7 oo
Railroad Script. ... 1,7*4 tw
, J.Ste 00
MACON, OCTOBER 25, 1859.
Volume XXXIV.—No. 5.
I, *323,564 00
3f ,a!yaa available balance in the
00 to meet the balance
*the appropriations for 1859, amount*
’fi im of $238,4® 10. There was an
baiar.ee in the Treasury on the 20th
; |.>, rf $130,354 It.',, to meet appro-
iunpaid, amounting to $110,130 13;
ite sum of $20524 22.. as n balance
roi-nry, after paying all tbc appropna*
IIOOJUW Common School 1 'und, now
A in the Hank of Savannah, and upon
e State is receiving at the rate aft
■ per annum interest, is included 111
re available balance in the Treasury,
it is to be returned at the proper tune
ibution.
make the Reports from She Comp*
aJ Treasurer more simple and iutelli-
wouhl respectfully suggest that these
btaulh prized or directed by the Leg-
heresfttr to report as a “ balaneo in
(jsary” only the actual cosh in the
Th‘n let them report this Dank
iroaJ st x'k. including the stock in the
i Gulf Railroad, and the Western
A Kiiroad. separately, and nil un
ited of • Assets belong ing to the Mute."
ittis, ti e people and their Heprcsen-
eilUot only see at a glance and witlt-
oMtian the true cash condition of the
ktat hv thus having these items of
| *rty ill reported separately mid un
til, they can also see with equal fa-
alassets belonging to the State.—
ar and Comptroller might be di-
port the Western A- Atlantic Rail-
riginal cost to the State Treasury,
r report it without placing anypartic-
a a value upon it.
ioitgoing items of “ Darien Dank
■Westtia .V Atlantic Railroad Scrip,”
nsnwit Funds,” are totally valueless,
Mrthto the State the paper they are
ai pis ted on, they might with all
r. he destroyed or burned, and he left
."arc Reports.
krset trom the books of this otliee ac-
sa this Report, as required by an act
December, lr.'Kl, settiug forth the
4 the several appropriations, both
id special, under their respective
dates and amounts of warrants np-
whosefavor drawn and the balance
d each appropriation,
uired by act of the 2Gth December,
xhibit is herewith submitted show-
nount ot taxes with which the inltabi-
acb county in the State stand charg-
digestj returned to Ibis otliee by the
[reivers of Tax Returns for the year
which it appears that the tax as-
;ounts in the aggregate to $-13ri,*
**< Ihsbursements til iht Treasury.
eipts into the Treasury during the
851*. there was received :
(the litnera] Tsi. iSM....*3Ta,,;u si
•t lii- \V. ,V A. Railroad... 42 ,ooc 00
anticipated receipts in x> the Treasury for the
fiscal year I860, may be stated as follows:
trom General Tax $375,000 00
Nit earning, of W. Jt J. Railroad 420,000 00
Rank tax 33 iw —
Rank dividend,...'.... ....... 1
Railroad Tax •
Miscellaneous items... *
Rnllance after pay i,.g a ipropriatinns for
1859. e
30.000 00
8,096 56
6,595 92
30,335 99
And we have Total $903,305 50
The demand upon the Treasury, for the same
vear, will npproximi te as follows: •
fo pay members of th< legislature.....$100,000 00
“ Civi‘. catabiUlu H'nt, 1860 70,000 00
“ Contingent fui il. I860
“ Printing fund. I860
“ Heductiou o ’ Public Debt
To pay Interest on P ,blic Debt
“ support of panper patients, Lunatic
Asylum
“ salary ofSuperiii.ondcnt, do.
“ M other otficer^wd servants, do.
“ support of pupils Deaf and Dumb
Asylum . ;
** do. \ea<.my for the Illiml,
“ do. cudb-iGa. 3111. Institutes
•• purchase of proVjSiona for Peniten
tiary -
^ •* salary of Chaplain do.
State Library—for pu chase of books...
do. for sal ary of Librarian..
Military Storekeeper it Savannah
do. at Miilodgeviile...
K. r Common School Pond 130,000 00
For extraordinary appmpriatioas ray.. f*o,ooo 00
16,000 oo
21,000 CO
7,000 00
170,000 00
15,000 00
1,800 00
10,000 00
8,000 00
.5,000 00
2,000 00
2,500 00
150 00
-1,000 00
800 00
000 00
150 00
Hank Stock
- L. 8. Military ciim*....
ilunk Assets
items, (a more full
$$ will be tuund in an-
tl.is Kepart.) 6,883 93
‘'the Atlanta .V Gulf K. K. 15o,lo- 33
33.417 52
25, CO5 00
8,026 56
2,000 00
5,323 09
1,500 00
1,500 00
61,032.879 27
avajlabhi funds
-1st October, 1858.... 130,354 C5
a total tuna of 81,163,233 92
^ *een that the iucreuscd receipts of
vV Atlantic Katlroad, this year
^fSSMKNi,
‘Wieaeutsof the Treasury during
land, 1858....
p^Iwkd. 1138
i vq*' Fund, 1858..
H^aUUhment, 185!*.
- *
" i: *««tntf U n<t. IS.Vi.
find.
'"KVffiiuta. 1-MI....
*x.Jtr, Rmt ofliiern of
'j * “* i‘uhlic Dipt..... ■
A'j. do ......
»Atlantic & Gall Kail
‘*. , ca—f w hnildinga....
““—pay „f t'om'ra of
SJKiri id pvipir patients
i V "i.*' J i leriuIt mdent..
n. , Ur ' re mil aervaatl
"Gv (“ r SU P'
‘VlXrItllsd—for build'
, ,Q pport of pupiU
v ~f>r buildings
-*•7 lasiitute, support of
?*/**»««. 1S19
the Pruiteuliary
*t Usilroads of other
.-(w purebaaft of pro-
rj r*® ni c | sppruprin.iona
u* an abstract
ji-rtui, report, amount
913,50?
19
5,816
30
1,867
oa
20,569
00
31
9.045
92
17,203
00
3,145
24
95,529
10
99,250
00
50,563
09
150,000
00
14,500
00
5,000
00
9,577
63
1,800
90
10,000
00
!>,000
00
30,000 000
.3,000 00
15,000 00
na,75o oo
2,500 00
i "• $874,405 OS
e r account of the fiscal
hii!^’“te f„ r the past year, I can-
u ° T ir "l eommemi the promptness
t~Collectors for JRS8 settled
jT 11 ^ ll! Treasury and this office.
! 'R ,r the time appointed by
•ttila “ , nt ’ .“11 ,be Sute UJt ’ cx '
t' '' ?*■'' l ,ait * * nto 'be Treasury,
twLT ,taf ‘ er a " l * ,e accounts
t*5f. J 4 r ' > 0 '* u l* at tliis office. It
lb,',' ® 10 sc ! 0 public officers thus
t* -, , I discharge of duty in re-
i^i ‘' Ur .' affairs of tlic State. A
ktfi.,'!” one 'balf of tho tax was
lw-, l ll 1 * u due; but since the
*l«i»in' • ave ' ictn fully informed
i f '’ * n< ^ the duty of the
K - T 40 °bcy tho btw,
11 j™ i 1 * 41 ’ th® law mast be closely
towport the improve-
WtftWU* operations of the
twelve month#, I have
iw^propnafe to allude to and
40 'h® entinsry receipts
01 «>» ensuing fiscal year. The
Total 9t>i;i,;cio oo
It will thus be seen, that after meeting the
ordinary demands upon the Treasury, and re
ducing the public lei it $1,000, ami allowing
$30,000 for miscellaneous or extraordinary ap
propriations. there wilt still lie a surplus of
$,2s9,0i)5 !M> to apply to n further reduction of
the Public Debt, to education, or to any other
purpose the next Legislature may direct.
Although there is but $7,000 of the Pub. Debt
,,’ue the ensuing lisi ai year, still the State can,
if it chooses, force in and redeem $207,0110—
ihe State having, in 184N, reserved to itself the
right to redeem cenain bands at any time after
10 years. These bi nds are due in I8t>3 and
1808, as will bo seen by a more full statement
under the head of ‘ Public Debt—in Bonds."
It will also lie seen that of the bonds Issued and
now unredeemed, $2,0S0,75O aro 0 per cents,
$43i,OOii bear 7 per cent, interest, and $72,000
pay H per cent, iutc cst.
There is still due :o tbc Atlantic & Gulf Rail
road Company the mnn of 350,000; (and tin
Slate is bound for a further subscription of
$500,000, when the private stockholders raissan
additional $000,000 ; i but the act making the
State’s subscription to this work provided also
for the issue of State six per cent bonds, paya
ble at tho expiration of twenty years, in tire
event of there not being money intheTreasury
to meet the instalments as they are called for;
consequently, this subscription has been charg
ed to the Treasury only as the bonds have been
issued and sold to the company.
The Public l)chl—in Bonds.
Since the payment of the bonds due this year,
and die redemption, by order of your Excellen
cy. of $99,250 of seve n and six per cent bonds,
due in the years I860, 180'., 1802, 1863, 1 SOI,
1805, 1868, 1809, 187n, 1671, 1872, and 1873,
the public debt in bonds of the State is as fol
lows
Dtie in 1600,
7 per oent. Central U. bonds
7,000
00
•* 1801,
•* «» “ *• *•»
12,000
00
• 1802,
•* •• «• “
52,090
00
‘ 1862,
7 do
100,000
00
6 do
20,000
00
M 1863,
•* do....................
55,000
01)
** J863.
’• do., nowreditem.ibli’..
62,300
00
M 1605,
*• <1(4 ...................
25,000
oo
•* l?«* f
4 * do., now redeemable..
205,000
00
•• I6t*9,
*• do
272,500
00
” fj.f L , m , , _
72,000
00
•* IrTO,
150,250
00
*• 1871,
161,500
00
“ 1872,
..................
625.500
00
« do, redeemable ill 1862,
100,000
00
•• If 73,
li lt| k i .. , , a (T ....
1711,000
00
** 1674,
•. do
so.odo
00
» do.,.- ,,, ........
let.suo
00
” 1*78,
* do ,
100,000
00
*• 1679,
“ do
130,000
00
*2,004,730 00
Amount Mibsiribid, but imt baaid250.000 O')
•• pledged rimditioiiaUy.•• 5oo,ooo oo
Total *3,351,750 oo
[We are forced to omit much of the matter of
this report. The rcoon inendations in reference to
the tax on Lotteries, Iniurancc anil Express Com
panies, on money loai ed out of the State, the
slaves hiring their own iine, the suggestion upon
Tax Receivers’ bond9, naking titles to property
soil to pay taxes, retur is of tax-payers, tho tax
digest, deduction to non-residents, digest of tax
laws, tho valuable stutiftics in reference to the cost
of public buildings, tho appropriations for colleges
and charitable institutions, the State stocks in va-
rious banks and railroa ls, the capital stock of the
Central Bank. We cai find place only for the
following:]
amknumexts to riiK rkyknck laws.
The Act of 18*21 lmv ng made it the duty of Ihe
Comptroller General to accompany his annual re
port with such"rccoinn! ndations of changes in the
revenue laws, as arc in his judgment best calcu
lated to produce econoi iv, and insure the prompt
and faithful exccut^ of said laws, I shall now
proceed to the discing t of this duty.
THE ACTION or THE LAST LEGISLATE**:.
The last Legislature c id well in passing acts car
rying out some of the s ggestions in my last Am
nual Report. The resu a, to somo extent, has far
exceeded my most si iguine expectations. By
these Acts, the State bt i not only realised about
$5,0ii0 additional tax from Lotteries, Insurance
Uo’mpanics and Railroad, but property has been
uwrc uniformly and fairly valued, and a very tar ye
increased return, in vali e of property, has been
made this year over las year, thereby authorizing
A farther reduction of t,.e per rent, on property
subject to taxation, and also lessening the tax, too,
upon persons who have'heretofore given in their
property at a fair valuation or the market value.—
Last year it required 7i;conts on the $100 to raise
tho tax required by law* In consequence of this
increased return, this rt'trit required only «4 cents
to raise the same amoupt. In addition to this, this
more uniform and fair ’.iluaticn of property, pre
sents the State, at hom and abroad, in a Still more
elevated position—for rl States and Governments
are judged of and respe ;ted much on account of
their wealth and resour es and progrcssivcncss—
and as the late return approximates .nearer than
any other, to "the true condition ot the State, tho
causes which produco such a result can.not but be
approved. The return of the whole amount of
property on tho Tax Digest this year, is $609,589,-
87A aesinst $539,055,114 last year, showing an
increased return this year over last, of $70,534,-
7G-» .
But. while these good results have ensued, by
reference to tho tables accompanying this Report,
it will be seen that one of the objects sought to be
accomplished by the last Legislature has not been
fullv attained—at least in relation to one class of
property. For instance, Bryan county, one ex
treme, returns this year its slaves at only an aver
age value of $142, wliilo Lincoln, the other ex
treme, returns its slaves at an Ajerngo
8752. The average value in the return or the whole
State is $612,03, showing Bryan county to be $170
below tho average value in the whole Statc- Ru‘
it is doubtful whether it can bo ?® r ®
under the ad ratolum system. Under this system,
were Assessors appointed, while some counties
would put one valuation, others would, in aU.pro
bability, put another, and no more ®8“^ "'“f 440 "
than the present. It will be seen, loo that slaves
are valued lowest in ihe lower partofthe State
near the seaboard. It may be possible that the
slaves in these counties are not as valuable as those
in tho upper part of the State. But, however thw
may be, even were there Assessors, slaves would
bo valued differently in different localities, and it
isVuesUonable whether the inequality would bo
esl by further Legislative acuon » t P re *f n, ’“
ian ’ the ad t alornm system is continued. The
Sum Tax of Georgia to so small,* I can not believe
ikon.—with the slight gisnce l have been able
j “ 4,,. u te Tax Acts, within iny reach, of sev-
40 fq^uthern States, I find that in South Carolina,
cral ^'Ta dtfe. U wns, villages, boroughs, Ac.
upon lMd*>nc * o l n t h e $ioo, and upon other
GnAHtU concents on the $100, and slaves pay 70
Unds It i* w ctnu* v and
s»«i3SsiaESwssfs
cents on each slave, in on * ^ |Too
In°Virgin',., ?0 contain the $100 on real and per-
property! ‘ j _1 IVC , those between
erage tax ol r«‘- ' • j In Ten*
15 ami In EonlxUna,
■***5 on tl.c Soo, while in Georgia the tax
that any county or body of citizens in the State,
desire to pay less thsn their proportionate share,
When, then, the citizens of the various counties of
the State—now below the average value in the
Slate—find any oi their property returned below
the average value of similar property in other por
tions of the State, and discover that either they or
their Receiver of Tax Returns have returned their
property at a smaller value than other portions of
the State, is it not reasonable to suppose that next
year, and thereafter, they will do better, and sec
that their Receivers discharge their duty, and that
they will themselves come forward and return their
property at something like the value put upon sim
ilar property by tbeir fellow-citizens of other coun
ties, and that they will thus bear their fair propor
tion of the taxes of the State 7 I can not but tbink
they will. If, then, the Legislature should concur
with me in this view of the matter, perhaps it
would be best for the present not to disturb the
existing mode of giving in and valuing property.—
TERM OE 01 TICE OF HF.CEIVF.RS OF TAX r.ETTRNS AXI>
TAX COLLECTORS.
Before closing these suggestions or “recommcn
dations r.f such changes or amendments of tho rev
enue laws of this State, as in his (my) opinion may
tend to insure their more prompt and faithful ex
ecution," Ae. I can not but allude to the present
short term for which Receivers of Tax Returns aud
Tax Collectors of the State are elected. Although
there are no laws iu which the people arc more in
terested in than the proper administration of the
tax laws, still, from the frequent changes wade in
the officers selected to carry them out, it would
seem that less care than usual is felt by the people
as to their proper and faithful execution. The re
ceiver ol Tax Returns is quite an important officer
in the administration of liie tax laws. It is not
only his duty to receive tho returns made to him
by the various tax-payers, bat it is also his duty to
sec that property is returned to him at a fair and
uniform valuation, and he is required, too, to sec
that all tho property liable to taxation be taxed.
If not given in by the owner or agent, he is to
hunt it up, or Cud it out, aud return it on his book
as in default, and double tax the same. In dis
charging this duty well, and in a “prompt” and
“faithful” manner, lie ought to be well acquainted
with the tax laws. But how is it under our pres
ent system ? The Receiver is elected annually on
the 1st Monday in January in each year, and with
out knowing any thing, or but little, of the laws
he is to execute, on the 1st of April following, or
thereafter, he proceeds to the discharge of bis du
ties. As lie progresses with his work, various
questions as to the law came up, and not being
very familiar with tho various provisions for esch
particular case, he has to hunt it up. Even if he
jiad read it before, he docs not know where to find
it readily, and at the time he may not find it all,
but look* it up at another time. Thus he goes on,
jearning the Jaw and becoming more familiar with
it for three or four months, and by tho time he
gets to understand it and his duties tolerably well,
he has gone through the county the legal number
of times, and the time for closing and making up
his book, aud forwarding it to this office, has ar
rived. ' Front want of a proper knowledge of the
law, he may have committed errors, and over
looked projierty liable to taxation in different parts
of the county, but he has not time to visit those
sections again and to make the corrections. But
then knowing the law and understanding better
his duties, were he Receiver longer, he would not
fail to discharge his duties more efficiently and
beneficially to the State the next year aud there
after. Bis term of office is out, however, when his
book is received aud accepted by the Comptroller
General, and peiliaps at tbc next election lie is
defeated; then his successor is in the condition
that he was when he commenced bis duties. Can
the public interest be promoted by this state of
things ? My exjierience, for tho last four years in
this office, lias satisfied me that it cau not be. In
most, if not in all eases where Receiver of Tax Re
turns have beeu in office more than one year, I
not only find their Digests made up more correctly
and intelligibly, but 1 find their duties generally
better discharged. Iu carrying out the late Act
as to receiving returns, I find that in i.iost cases
the largest increased returns have been furnished
by Receivers who have heretofore held tiie office.
Aud w.hy should not all this be so? If a person
in the habit of handling au axe, a plow, a jioe or
a jack-plane, can make better use of the same, and
is more profitable to his employer than one totally
unused to such things, I can not see why tho same
advantage would not result in tiie holding and ex
ecuting the dutiea of an office by a faithful officer.
If “practice makes more perfect,” and if an over
seer or fanner improves, and does better and bet
ter every year, as lie has more experience, or if a
lawyer who has had practice, aud is familiar with
the law is deemed tiie safest and is more relied
upon for a “prompt” and “.efficient” discharge of
duty, than one with no practice and with no fa
miliarity with the law, then I can see no reason
why one in office that attends to his business, who
has a sense of right and is faithful, and who has a
laudable ambition, should not also improve from
day to day, and be better able to serve those who
trust and employ him, than one altogether inexpe
rienced in such matters.
With these results, then, and believing that a
“more prompt” and ‘‘faithful execution” of the
“revenue laws” will be “ensured” thereby, I can
not but express the opinion that the public good,
in the administration of the tax laws, would be
promoted by prolonging the term of offi.-o of Re
ceivers of Tax Returns to two or more years.—
There is not the same necessity for prolonging that
of the Tax Collector, as the duties of that officer
are not so complicated as those of the Receiver.—
Still, I have also found an improvement in Tax
Collectors who have served more than one year,
and if the Comptroller General properly discharges
his duty, even under the present laws* no harm to
the State could come from the change. Ill addi
tion to this, every two years ail other county offi
cers arc elected, and tiie people at that lime are
more careful in the selection of their officers;
whereas, under onr present system every other
year, none are there elected jfcept-Reccivcrs and
Collectors. The conscqucndJis, every other year,
but little interest is taken in these elections, and
in many counties not half of the people select or
vote for these two last named officers. Should tho
Legislature, therefore, determine to prolong the
the State, l>y the Census returns, will be about; to the Baltimore Sun, says that the Baltimore
J,024,009. ; troops and the Marines are under the command
In these 130 counties there are returned 299 . of Col. Lee. the army arrived near the Ferry
Deaf and Dumb, 400 Insane and442 Idiots. There a { one o’clock last night, and learned that the
against a delay in levying and collecting the taxes,
it perhaps might be well to amend the present
laws, so as to provide for the summary removal of
an incompetent or unfaithful officer before his term
has expired, and the appointment or election of
another, in the event any of the cminties should
be so unfortunate as to elect such persons to these
offices. In Decatur county, at this time, by spe
cial statute, the Receiver and Collector arc now
elected bicnniallv, and I take pleasure in saying
that so far as I have been able to judge, there are
not two more prompt and faithful officers in <he
State. *
STATISTICS OF TAXABLE* IS GEORGIA FOR 1859.
As various important questions will be before
the ensuing Legislature, in the consideration of
which a partial knowledge of the condition of the
State—of her present wealth and resources and
•progrcssivencss—may aid in the promotion of wise
legislation, I have again, at some expense and
trouble, voluntarily prepared several tables for the
use of the Legislature, which accompanies this
Keport. They consist of tables A, B, C, D, E, F,
4J and H. . . ’
Table “A” contains the number of acres of Und,
its total value and average value per acre, in the
various counties throughont the State, for 1858
and 1859. Table "B w contains the uumber of
slaves, their total and average value in the same
counties for 1S5S and 1859. Tables “C, “D and
“E” contain tho various items of taxation—except
Dentists and Dagucrrean Artists—in all the coun
ties in the State for 1859. Table “C” also contains
the number of children in esch county, between
the ages of 8 and 18, returned on the Tax Books
oTbuiTaod'slaves and other property—except
Bank and RsHroad capital—it is now but 6* cents
on the 8100. , , .
It will therefore be seen that while the tax in
Texas want* but i cent oil tbc $100 of being dou
ble our tax; the per cent, tax in the various other
Southern States above named, is more than double
that of Geotgia, while AUbama and Kentucky are
more than three times larger; Louisiana is more
than four times Urger, and the per cent, tax in
Virginia ia more than six times larger than it is in
t,C |!,*\visconrin it is Hi cents on the $100, nearly
double: New Hampshire and Maine it is 20 cents
on the $100, over three time* as large. In Penn-
••tvania it is 25 cents on the $100, nearly four
times as Urge, and fa Minnesota it is 2G cents on
tho 8100. being four times Urger than our tax.
In Ohio, the per cent. 31 cents on the $100, is
nesrlT five times Urger, and in Illinois the per cent,
tax 67 cents on the $100, is over leu times larger
th Thus ft wiU be seen that the tax of Georgia is so
far below that of other States, that it may be
,„_.i almost a nominal tax.
tltmsybe proper here to remark, that, by an
lets the Governor was authorized to sell
Ae RMd, prided the s.mo was not sold for less
one million of dofiars. The Act also prori-
dad lh*t « the purchaser shall in addition to said
aum ofone million of dollars, pay whatever sum
^ he expended on said Road from this time
nS43) to th® 4*y of The sections of e
Act of 1 S1S authoriafeg the sals ofths Road, war.
repealed in 1S50. .
for 1859, by which it will be seen that the whole ,as I only went into an investigation to ascertain,
v t .LflJaaaa aatnunArl An ilia Tow ilnnlro fnP /If lIAtlI* /Ism Ai*a*Ai'ai«/ aoef o/ /!,* Pa/>.7 4a
number of children returned on the Tax Books for
a participation in the CommonScbool Fund amounts
to 117,070; and table “E" also contains the total
return of property in the several counties in 1858,
and columns showing the increased and decreased
returns of taxables, Ac. in the State in 1859. Ta
ble “F” contains the total value of land returned
in the several counties in 1856, 1857, 1858 and
1859; and table “G” contains the total Talue of
city or town property returned in the same coun
ties for the same Tears. Table “II” contains the
number of polls returned in 1858; the amount of
Poor School Fund paid from the State Treasury to
each county for 1858; the amount paid to mem
bers of the Legislature for the same year; the to
tal amount drawn from the Slate Treasury by each
county for the same year: nud the net amount of
tax paid by each county for the same year.
It will be seen, by reference to tablo “E,” that
the total increase on the whole property returned
this year (1859) orer last, (1858,) is $70,534,762.
The increased return of 1858 over 1857 was but
$11,226,151. But, as it may be well to sec upon
what items of property Ihe greatest increaso has
been made, I have compared tlio return of 1858
and 1659, and the result is as follows:
.1 Table shotriuy the increase anddeerruse in the
different items of taxation since 1858.
Vs!. In '5S i Vat. in ‘59
Land.......
Slave*
City prop’jr
Mon. 4k sol. dt*.
Merchandise...
Ship, k Ton...
For. Bk.Cap..
Sto’s, mV*, etc.
HM. k Lit. fur..
Prop, not turn.
$189,S59^70 $-49^7,SnO
• 221,469,9*7; 271,420,465
30410,844, 82,129.314
89,702,747 l$| J
10*463*61 li
763,235
773,413
3.S6S.736
2,054^05
34,923,^56
90,1 4,701
It £31,637
031,731
’ *4’423,132
24260,937
89,315,089
No. Polls
No. Profes’*...
No. f. p. color.
No.ac’s land..
No. Slaves....
97,04s, 93,945
2,973 2.333
1,0931 1,213
S3,730,S05j 83,759,228
482,124 443,804
Increase. Dccr’e.
near at pouiblt t the original coil of tht Road to
the State Treatuay, I shall here bring my Report
upon this subject to a close, except to remark that
during the last twelve months the Road has paid
into the State Treasury as net earnings the sum of
1420,000.
HARPER'S FERRY REBELLION.
Rebellion at Harper’s Ferry-Unit-
ED STATES TROOPS CALLED OUT-
BLOOD SHED!
Washington, Oct. 17 Rumors rcpched
this city, this forenoon, that a serious insur
rection has broken out nt Harper’s Ferry,
Virginia. The trains on the railroads leading
there have been stopped, the telegraph wires
cut, and the town and all the public works arc
in the hands of tho insurgents.
At first, it was believed that this story was
merely an exaggeration of an affray among some
Government employees at the United States
Armory. Later dispatches, however, from
Monocacy. the nearest station to the Ferry,
confirm the first statement.
The trains have been stopped on the several
railroads, and the employees killed. The ne
groes on the plantations on the Maryland side
of the river have been seize,], carried over, and
made to join the insurgents.
AH statements concur in sa ving (hat the town
10.0SI2HO ..
44.15t.4TS .
2,019^1*1) ..
7,861,9,4 .. _
s,069,its,—j is in complete possession or the.rebels, together
. .. ... W.'. |7T8,4is ; with the United States Armory. Arsenal, JPay
Office, and the bridges. The insurgents are
«.iis6^w!::::::: composed Of whites and blacks, and are sup-
; i posed to bo led on by Aliolitionists.
1-691 "'lii | ft « supposed by some that the object of
"i«o plundering arms, ammunition, and Government
• 5!1 ’ 5 ' si money, is for the purpose of effecting a general
" 1 j rising among the blacks of Maryland and Vir-
Last year Foreign Bank Capital was returned on j ginia.
the Tax Digests but by an Act of the last Legis- 0 ne hundred marines, with two twelve-pound-
lature these Banks now make their returns.directly from Washington barracks, went up this
“fh-’VGoon to the scene of hostilities; and will
tion. There were also returned 92 Dentists, 57
Dagucrrean Artists, 1 nominal Slave and 5 Slaves
for hiring their own time.
It will be seen that much the largest increase in
value of property returned, has been upon Slaves;
Land comes next, and then Merchandise. The
main cause of tliis extraordinary large increased
return this year over last, having been allnded to
in another part of this Report, 1 will not here say
more in relation to it.
It will also be seen that the increased return of
polls is but 1897 over that of 1858. This, how
ever, is better than the return of 1858. as the re
turn then was 101 less than the rear before. It
will be seen, too, that while Professions have fallen
off 140, the return of Free Persons of Color have
increased 120; and that while the return of the
number of acres of land is 21,582 acres less than
last year, the increased value in land is $10,687,-
910." In 1858, the increased nnmbcr of acres re
turned orer 1857 was 495,136, while the increased
total value ol land returned in 1858 over 1857 was
but $2,169,011. The number of Slaves has in
reach there about 8 o’clock, P. M. They have
orders to clear the bridge at all hazards. Three
companies of artillery from Old Point arc also
on the way thither; besides which six or seven
couqianics of military from Baltimore and Fred
erick City, Maryland, hrve offered their servi
ces, and have been accepted by the President.
They have gone up on an extra train.
Tho insurgents arc said to number six or
eight hundred, and that they arc under the
leadership of a man by the name of Anderson,
who but recently arrived at the Ferry.
One report from a merchant there says that
most of the citizens have been imprisoned, and
that many have been killed. All the roads
leading to the town have been barricaded and
are guarded.
It is believed here to be a move of the Aboli
tionists. Secretary Floyd received some weeks
ago, an anonymous letter, informing him that
there would be a rising, and nn attempt made
creased but 11,240 over 1858, still the return of to capture the Arsenal; ‘but the letter was too
the value of the same this year over the last is indefinite and improbable to be believed. The
$44,154,478. The increase in number in 1858 over | ma .. nonr (> e greatly exaggerated, but
1857 was 5,558, while the increased return of total; there is undoubtedly a serious disturbance oc-
T The "verage° value of fend the wtote State in 1 currin S at 4he Ferr y* «nd representatives of the
1856 was $4 09 per acre ; in 1857, $4 10; iu 1858,1 P«*s have gone up with the troops to the scene
$4 11; in 1859, it is $4 43.. The average value j °* !u4l,>n ‘
of Slaves in 1856 was $505,21; iu 1857, $524,97; I second dispatch.
in 1858, $526,39; and in 1859 it is $602,63. j s Washington, Oct. 17—9.30, P. M.—Nothing
This is indeed a gratifying exhibit for Georgia, J f urt hcr lias been heard from Harper’s Ferry,
and presents her in a still more flattering and pros- excC pt that the reports are generally confirmed,
perous a condiuon than at any former time. The insurgents have fortified the bridge with
cknscs for Georgia in 1859. | cannon. The suspicion here is that the dis-
Accompanying this Report will be found a table turbancc was caused by the failure of the con-
containing tbe Abstract of the Ceusus returns of tractors on the- Government dam to pay the
ISO counties in tbe State for 1659, by which it will
be seen that the total population in these 130 coun
ties is 1,014,418, *viz: 571,534 whiles, 439,592
slaves, and 4,292 free persons of color. The same
counties, or territory, in 1852 gave 919,076 as a to
tal population, showing an increase since 1852 of
S0,256. The increase of slaves bus been 45,487,
and ol whiles 31,477- If the remaining two coun
ties increase in like ratio, the whole population of
employees, several hundred in number, and that
tho negroes liave been pressed into service.
Several companies have been ordered from Rich
mond, and they will probably leave in a.special
train to-night. Governor W ise is cn route for
Washington.
Additional from Harper’s Ferry.
Washington, Oct. 18.—A special dispatch
arc also returned 81,719 males betwecu the ages
of 6 and 16; 73,480 of females between G and 15;
62,109 males, and 59,895 females under 6 years of
age; 131,592 malesover 1C years of age; and 138,-
323 females over 15 years of age.
n
Virginia regiment, and the Frederick, Maryland
troops had entered the town on the opposite
side. There was a good deal of firing heard,
and it was reported tlint nine persons were kil-
returns were received, T have not been able to ex-1 arsenal, and were willing to surrender; but
amine or correct any of them. / have merely eo- j they demand safe conduct out of the difficulty;
pied the Abstracts at they appear on the Census ! otherwise, they threaten to sacrifice the lives of
Hooks, (except iu one or’two instances,) and have i two of the principal citizens, whom they bold
made the sums total from them. By reference to j as prisoners.
the number of slaves returned by the Receivers o I Among tiie insurgents aro Kegg, Seaman.
Tax Returns, aud the Census-lakers, it will be seen j an j ]{ rou - n of Ohio. Todd of Maine."
tlmt there is much discrepancy in some, if not many ; Aaron Stephens, Connecticut, now dying,
c0 ij n i!?.^.i". rcI * , !i > I , i. f °-. t !!!LJI. 1 ™! i *i^. 0 ! makes the following statement: The plan has
" been concocting more than a year—the parties
rendezvoused at a farm, a few miles distant,
which had been hired for the purpose, by Cap
tain Brown, of Kansas notoriety, under the as
sumed name of Bill Smith.
Later.—Therbattle, last night, was fought
mainly by the railroad men; one conductor
was killed, and two others were wounded. ,
It is thought tiie Abolitionists will be hung
as soon as thevare taken.
All
there was a chance of his living to he hung,
was quiet.
The troops and rangers, under the President’s
orders, are now in pursuit of the fugitives,
and the District Attorney has gone up to take
charge of the legal proceedings against the pris
oners.
The arrangements of Governor Wise, of Vir
ginia, to prevent the spread of the disaffection,
were complete and admirably executed. Seven
companies of infantry, two of riflemen, and
one of infantry, besides several local compan
ies, were under orders and en route to the Ferry
in less than four hours after the news was re
ceived by him. He accompanied them in per
son, hut arrived too late to take part in the fight.
STILL LATER
Advices lroni Harper’s Ferry to noon to-day
state tliat no signs of the fugitives had liecu dis
covered. The Chambersburg and Bedford
Rangers are searching the mountains. Last
cveningadetachmentofMarines and volunteers
visited Brown’s house and found a large quanti
ty of blankets, boots, shoes, clothes, tents, fif
teen hundred pikes with large blades affixed,
and a carpet bag containing documents which
throw mucli light on the affair. They found
the printed constitution and by-laws of the or
ganization, showing or indicating ramifications
in various States of the 1 'nion.
Letters were also found from various indi
viduals at the North, one from Fred. Douglas,
containing ten dollars sent by a lady; also ono
from Gerrett Smith, on money matters, and
containing a check or draft nude by him lor
$100, endorsed by the cashier of a New York
bank, name not recollected.
All these are in possession of Gov. Wise, who
lias issued his proclamation ottering a re war* 1
of $1,000 for the arrest of Cook. Large num
bers of armed men are now scouting the moun
tains in pursuit of him. Cook took tea at the
house of his fathcr-in-b.w, near the Ferry,
Monday, night, only a few hours previous to the
arrival of the Marines. It was reported Tucs-
•day morning that he was seen in the mountains
only a few miles of)'.
Two wagon loads of government arms have
been recovered of the insurgents. They did not
rob the office, as reported. A large amount of
money was there.
Among the letters found at Brown’s house,
the following is a specimen:
Dear Sir: Been disappointed at not see
ing you ere this. Take charge of your freight.
They have been here two weeks, and as I had
to superintend providing for them, it has im
posed on inc no small task; besides, they are
discontented, and if not taken charge of soon,
will go back to Missouri. They cannot he
kept here much longer. If any of them go
hack, there will he a bad termination to your
enterprise.”
It appears that the insurrectionists had a
printed constitution and by-laws for the provis
ional government of the United States, and had
issued commissions front their War Office near
Harper’s Ferry. The following is a specimen :
“ Whereas, \\. Ii. Lccman has been nomi
nated Captain of the army established under
Provisional Government, now therefore, in pur
suance of authority vested in me by said con
stitution do hereby appoint and Commission said
Leeman Captain.
Given at the office of the Secretary at War,
15th of Oct., 1859.
John Brown, Comr. in Chief.”
II. Keys, Sec’y War.
CONNECTED-ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN
AND PROGRESS, AND OF THE PRIN
CIPAL ACTORS THEREIN.
THE DESPATCHES FROM BALTI
MORE AXD HARPERS FERRY.
THE BROWNS, FATHER AND SON.
raid counties, and there appears to be error some
where. This tieing the case, it may be prudent to
have the Census Books rc-added, by competent
persons, before an apportionment is made uuder
them by the Legislature.
Tiie two counties from which no Census Book
has been received, arc Butts ind Montgomery.
WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
As before stated, 1 liave found it impossible, un
der existing circumstances, to arrive at the true or
exact cost, to the State Treasury, of the Western
A Atlantic Railroad, either from the books in this
or the Treasury Office, or the various Acts of the
Legislature, since the Road was commenced. The
first appropriation for this Road was made in 1836.
By this Act, $350,000 were annually appropriated
towards building it. The npxt Act ol 1 $37 to
‘alter and amend” the Act of 1830, authorized the
Governor and Commissioners of Lite Western A
Atlantic Railroad, “from time to tfme, and in such
sums as to them may seem most expedient, to sell
— „ or dispose of stock to be created oil the credit of
term of office of Receiver and Collector, to guard 1 the State, bearing an interest of not more than 6
per cent, per annum,” Ac. The stock not to be
redeemable under 30 years, and not more than
$500,0ii0 in any one year authorized to be issued.
The next Act, of the" 24th December, 183$, au
thorized the Commissioners of the Road, with the
concurrence of the Governor, to sell Script or Cer
tificate of State Debt to the amount of $1,500,000,
to make such Script of such size, form and denom
ination as they may deem most advantage to tbe
State, provided the rate of interest does not exceed
C per cent, per annum, aud the reimbursement
may not be required within a term of 30 years.”—
By Act of 1839, the interest on the Script was au
thorized to be paid at tiie State Treasury. Tbe
next Act of appropriation was in 1845,f which au
thorized the Governor and Chief Engineer to issue
bonds for not exceeding $60,000. And the next
and lost Acts of 1847 and 1852 authorized bonds
to be issued for $1,100,000, viz: $375,000 in 1847
and $725,000 in 1852.
It will thus be seen that while appropriations and
issue of State Bonds and State Script were author
ized from year to year, there were no specified
amounts named until 1845, 1847 and 1852. Pre
vious to that time, the amounts were discretionary
with tiie Governor and Commissioners of tbe Road,
provided they did not go beyoud a certain amount
i n any one year. As bonds and script were issued,
both by the* Governor and the Commissioners, and
a portion were paid by the Central Bank, and an
other portion were paid at the Treasury, and as no
schedule or record of tbc script issued by the Com
missioners can be found at the Capitol, there is no
possible way of findiug the precise amount paid by
the State for the Road, without a thorough exami
nation of all the Books of tbc Treasury, the Cen
tral Bank and the State Road, und of the uumber
of bonds and script issued and paid since 1837.—
Tbe nearest approximation to the original cost'of
the State Road to tbe State Treasury, will be found
below.
Clias. F. M. Garnett, Chief Engineer of the
Western k Atlantic Railroad, in bis Report to
Gov. Crawford, made on the 30th September, 1847,
submitted tbe following as the cost of the Road np
to that.time, viz:
Amount expended to Sept. 30, ’46. .$3,192,694 04
during 4th qnar.’46.. 51,484 36
“ 1st- “ ’47.. 22,805 74
“ 2d “ ’47.. 7,179 32
“ 3d “ ’47.. 26,602 37
Script redeemed 4,500 00
$3,305,165 88
Add to this amount paid out 4th
quarter, 1847 13,866 27
Add to this amount Bonds turned
over to W. L. Mitchell by C. F. M.
Garnett, Jan. 1, 1848 22,500 OO
Appropriation of 1847 375,000 00
“ “ 4852 725,000 00
$4,441,532 15
This U the largest amount, by a close examina
tion, I can find tho orginalcost of the Road to he
to the State Treasury. For several years, tho net
earnings of the Road were used in the construc
tion of, and repairing, and building new bridges on
the saint, but as I have not had an opportunity of
axamlning the books of ths Road, and especially
Further from the Harper’s Ferry
Insurrection.
.THE BATTLE WITH THE TROOPS.
Prominent Citizens ftlassncrcd.
BROWN NOT PEAK •
Harder's Ferry, Oct 19.—The dying con
fessions of some of the insurgents state that
Ossatvatainic Brown was the sole concoctor of
the ailair. Several months ago he hired a farm
iu tiie vicinity of the Ferry and gathered arouml
him several impoverished Kansas discontents
and abolition fanatics. They there laid a plan
to seize the U. S. Armory at the Ferry, hoping
thus to insure the co-operation and concentra
tions of the slaves in the neighboring counties
of Virginia and Maryland, and ignite a general
and wide-spread destruction.
The insurgents stated that they were to be
reinforced on Sunday with fifteen bundled men,
On Sunday night, many citizens and govern
ment employees were forced out of town by
armed squads of whites and blacks. The for
mer immediately spread the alarm and caused
the assembling of armed men and military in
the neighboring town, who concentrated around
the Ferry and thus alarmed the negroes who
had intended joinlhg in the insurrection. The
Railroad Companies ottered every facility for
the transportation of troops and before the rio
ters were aware of it, every outlet from the
town was guarded and themselves completely
penned np.
Previous to the arrival of troops, a portion of
the abolitionists effected a stampede of the De
grees on the neighboring farms, forcing them
away against their will, while others conveyed
the government army munitions to distant hiding
places. It is also said that they plundered the
government pay offices of fifteen or twenty thou
sand dollars in money.
About dusk, Tuesday night, tho local milita
ry simultaneously attacked the town from dif
ferent points and drove the insurgents into the
Armory enclosure for refuge. The fight in the
street was very severe. Fifteen insurgents and
two or three of the assailants were killed and
several wounded. Matters thus rested till the
arrival of the Marines and Baltimore troops,
about daylight, when the Armory surrendered.
Tiie demand to surrender was refused, where
upon the Marines battered down the door and
were met with a brisk discharge from the in
surgents within. Ono Marine was killed and
one, it is feared, mortally wounded. The Ma
rines then forced an entrance, took all the in
surgents prisoners and liberated tiie prisoners
tvholn they (the insurgents) had threatened to
murder in case they were attacked. The num
ber of prisoners is not stated, but out of the
original insurgents fifteen arc dead and two be
lieved to he mortally wounded.
Among the citizens who have been murdered
by tho insurgents are Messrs. Fountain and
IJcckfiatn, two prominent and highly respected
citizens, the Agent of the Railroad Company,
Joseph Burnley; George Turner, one of the
first men in the vicinity was killed in the fight.
Evan Dorsey the Railroad Conductor, George
Richardson of Martinsburo, andsever.il soldiers
were seriously wounded.
At latest accounts Brown was not dsad, and
The principal originator of this short, hut bloody
insurrection was undoubtedly Captain John Brown,
whose connection witli scenes of violence in the bor
der warfare in Kansas then made his name familiar-
ly notorious throughout tho whole country. Brown
made bis first appesrauce iu Harper’s Ferry more
than a year ago. accompanied by his two sons, all
three of them assuming the name of Smith. He in
quired about laud iu the vicinity, and made investi
gations as to the probability o'f findiug ores there,
and for some time hoarded at Sandy Point, a mile
ist of the Ferry. After an absence of some months,
ie elder Brown reappeared in tbe vicinity, and
rented, or leased a farm on the Maryland side, about
four miles from the Ferry. They bought a large
number of picks and spades, and tins confirmed the
belief that they intended to mine the fortress. They
were frequently seen in and about Harper’s Ferry,
but no suspicion seems to have existed that "Bill
Smith"was Captain John Brown, orthathe intend-
ed in embarking in any movement so desperate or
extraordinary. Yet the derelopements of the plot
leave no doubt that his visits to Perry, and his
lease of the farm were all parts of his preparation for
an insurrection, which lie supposed would be suc
cessful in exterminating slavery in Maryland and
western Virginia.
JOHN K. COOK.
Browu s chief aid was John E. Cook, a compara
tively young man, he has resided in and neai Perry
some years, lie was first employed in tending a
look on the canal, and afterwards taught scho'ol on
theAlarylaud side of the river, and after a brief res
idence in Kansas, where it is supposed lie got ac
quainted with Brown, returned to Perry, aud mar
ried there. He waa regarded as a man of some in
telligence, and known to be anti-slavery, but not so
violent In IUe expression of his opinions as to excite
any suspicions.
TnE OTHER WHITE MEN.
These two men. with Brown’s two sons, were the
only white men connected with the insurrection that
hsd been seen about Perry. Ali were brought by
Brown from a distance, and nearly all had been with
him in Kansas.
A CONNECTED HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR.
The first active movement in the insurrection was
msde at about half past ten o’clock ou Sunday night
William Williamson, the watchman at Harper’s
Ferry Bridge, whilst walking across toward tbe Ma
rylaud side, was seized by a number of men, who
said he was their prisoner and must come with them-
He recognized llrown and Cook among the men,
and knowing them, treated the matter as a joke ;
bnt enforcing silence they conducted him to the ar
mory, which he found already in their possession.
He was detained till after daylight and then dis
charged. The watchman who was to relievo Wil
liamson at midnight, found the bridge lights all out
and was immediately seized. Supposing it an at
tempt at rubbery, he broke away, aud bis pursuers
stumbling over him, he escaped. The next appear
ance of the insurrectionists was at the house ot Col.
Lewis Washington, a large farmer and slave owner,
living about tour mites from the Ferry. A party
headed by Cook, proceeded there, and ronsingCoI.
Washington, told him he was their prisoner. They
also seized all the slaves utnr the house, took a car
riage horse arid a large wagon with two horses.—
When Cot. Washington saw Cook, he immediately
recognized him as the man who had called upon him
some months previous, to whom he had exhibited
some valuable arms in his possession, including an
antique swotd presented hv Frederick the Great to
George Washington, aud n pair of pistols presented
by Lalayette to Wasbioglon, both being heirlooms
in tbe family. Before leaving. Cook wanted Col.
W. to engage in a trial of skill at shooting, and ex
hibited considerable skill as a marksman. When
he made the visit on Sunday night, he alluded to his
previons visit, and the conrtesy with which he had
Deen treated, and regretted the necessity which
made it his duty to arrest Col. W. He however
took advantage of the knowledge he had oi -’ained
by his former visit, to carry off all the valuable col
lection of arms which the Col. did not reobtain till
after the fatal defelt of the insurrection.
From Col Washington’s he proceeded with him
as a prisoner in tho carriage, and twelve of his ne
groes in the wagon, to the house of Air. Aldstadt.
another large fanner on the aame road. Mr. Ald
stadt aud his sou, a lad of 16, were taken prisoners,
and all their negroes within reach forced to join tho
movement. He then returned to the armory at the
Ferry.
All these movements seem to have keen made
without exciting the slightest alarm in town, nor did
the detention of Cspt. Phelps' train. It was not un
til the town thoroughly waked up and found the
bridge guarded by armed men and a guard station
ed at all tbe avenues, that the people found they
were prisoners. Apsuic sppears to hsve immedi
ately ensued, and the number of insurrectionists st
once increased from fifty—which was probably
their greatest force including the slaves who were
forced to join—to from five to six hundred. Jathe
meantime a number of workmen, not knowing any
thing of what had occurred, entered tho armory and
were successively taken prisoners, until at one time
they had not less than sixty men confined in the ar
mory. Those thus entrapped were Anubtead Ball,
Chief Draughtsman of the Armory; Benjamin Alills,
Master of the Artnorv, and J. K. P. lMngerfleld,
Paymaster's Clerk. These three gentlemen were
imprisoned in the engine house, which afterwards
became the chief fortress of the insurgents, and
were not released until after the final assault. The j
workmen were imprisoned in a large building far-
pauied by thirty stares, and taking with them Col
Washington's larqe wsgon, went over the bridge
and struck np the mountain road towards Pamstila.
It was then believed that a large wagon was used
to convey away :he Paymaster's safe, contaimnj
*17,000 government funds, and also that it was fillet
with Aliirle Rifles :aken out to supply other bands in
the mountains, who were to eome down upon Har
per’s Ferry in overwhelming force. These supposi
tions proved untroe, as neither money nor arms were
disturbed. As day advanced and news spread a-
ronnd, and people eame into the Ferry, the first de
monstrations of resistance were made to the insur
rectionists.
A general wartime commenced, chiefly led on by a
man named Chambers, whose house commanded the
armory yard. Tint colored man named Hayward,
a railroad porter, tras shot early in the morning for
refusing tojuin in tbe movement.
The next man shot was Joseph Barley, a citizen
of Perry. He wai shot standing in hb own door.
Tho inaurrectionUs by this time, finding a dispo
sition to resist them, had withdrawn nearly all with
in the armory grounds, leaving only a guard on the
bridge^
About this time, tlso, Samuel P. Young. Esq., was
shot dead, lie wao coming into town on horsenack,
arrving a gun, wh at he was shot from the Armory,
receiving a wound of which he died during the day.
Ho was a graduate of W est Point, and greatly res
pected in tho neighborhood for Ilia high character
and noble qualities.
At about noon ths Charlestown troops, under ths
command of Col. Robert W. Bayley, having crossed
the Susqnehannali river some distance up, and
marched down the Maryland side to (he mouth of the
bridge; firing a volley, they made a gallant dash
across the bridge, clearing it of the insurrectionists,
who retreated rapidly down toward the armory.—
In tliia movement of the insurrectionists, a man nam
ed Wm. Thompson was taken prisoner.
TheShepherastotra volunteer troops next armed,
marching down the bhenandonh side, and joining
the Charleston forces at the bridge. A desultory
exchange of shots followed, one of which struck
Air. Fountain Becltbam, Alayor of the town and
Agent of the Railroad Company, entering his breast
aud passing entirely through nis body. The ball
was a large elongated slug, and made a dreadful
wound. Mr. Beckham died almost immediately.
HeVas without fire arms and was exposed for only
a moment, whilst approaching a water station. His
assailant, one of Brown’s sons, was shot almost im
mediately, but man »ged to get bark to the engine
house, where his holy was found next day.
Tho murder of Mr. Beckham greatly excited the
populace, who immediately raised a cry to bring out
the prisoner Thompson. He was brought out on the
bridge and shot dotrn from the bridge. He fell into
tiie n ater, and ton e appearance of life remaining,
he w as riddled with bails.
At this time the general charge was made down
the street, from the bridge toward the armory gate,
by the Charlestown and Shepherdstown troops and
Ferry people. From behind the armory wall a fuai-
iadc was kept up, aid returned by the insurrection
ists from the armory buildings.
Whilst this was going on the Martinsburg levies
arrived at the upper end of the town, and entering
tho armory grounds by the rear, made an attack
from that side. This force was largely composed of
railroad employes, gathered from the tonnage trains
at Martinsburg, and their attack was generally spo
ken of as showing the greatest amouut of fighting
pluck exhibited during the day. Dashing on, firing
aud gallantly led by Captain Alburtus, they carried
the building in which the armory meu wore impris
oned, and released the whole of them. They were,
however, bnt poorly armed, some with pistols and
others with shot guns, and when they came within
range of the engine house, where the elite of the in
surrectionists were gathered, and were exposed to
their rapid and dexterous use of Sharpe's rifles, they
were forced to fall hack, suffering pretty severely.
Conductor Evan Dorsey, of Baltimore, was killed
instantly, and Conductor Geo. Richardson received
a wound from which he died during the day. Sever
al others were wounded, among them a son of Dr.
Hammond, oi Martinsburg.
A guerilla warfare was maintained during the rest
of the day, resulting in the killing of two of the in
surgents, and the wounding ofathird. Onecrawled
out throngh a culvert leading into the Potomac, and
attempted to cross to the Alaryland side, whether
witli the view of escaping or conveying information
to Cook, is not known. lie was shot while crossing
the river, and fell dead on the rocks. An adventur
ous lad waded out and secured his Sharp’s rifle.—
The body was afterward stripped of a part of its
clothing. In one ot his pockets we found a captain's
commission drawn.up in full tonn. and declaring
that the hearer. Captain Lahanf, held that commis
sion under Major-General Brown.
A light mnlatto wasshotjust outside the armory
gate; the bail went through the throat, tearing awny
the principal arteries and killing him instantly. Ilfs
name is not known, hut he is one of the free negroes
ulio came with Brown. His body was left in the
street until noon yesterday, exposed to every indig
nity that could he heaped" upon it by the excited
populace.
At tliis time a tall, athletic man named Evan .Ste
phens, eame out from the armory, conducting some
prisoners, it wrs said. He was twice shot, once in
the side and once in the breast. He was then cap
tured and taken to a tavern, and after the insurrec
tion was quelled was turned overto the UnitedStates
authorities in a dying condition.
During the afternoon a sharp little affair took place
on the Shenandoah side of the town. Tiie insurrec
tionists hud also seized the bails of the rifle works,
and a party of their assailants found their way in
through a mill race and dislodged them. In this ren*
contre, it was said, three insurrectionists were kil
led ; but we found but one dead body—that of a ne
gro—ou that side oftlie town.
Night by this time had set in, and operations ceas
ed. Guards were placed around the armory, mud
every precaution taken to prevent escapes. At
eleven o’clock the Monday night train with Balti
more military and marines arrived at Sandy Hook,
where they waited for the arrival of Colonel Lee,
deputized by the War Department to fake the com
mand.
-The reporters praised on, leaving their military
allies behind. They found the bridge in the posses*
sion of the military, and entered the besieged ’town
without difficulty, the occasional report ot a gun or
singing motion of a Sharp’s rifle baft warning them
that it was advisable to keep themselves out of the
range of the Armory. The first visit tvas made to
the bedside of Stephens, the wounded prisoner.—
They found him to be a large, exceeding);
man, a perfect Samson in appearance, lie tvas in a
small room, tilled with excited arm ed men, who more
than once threatened to ahoot him where he lay
groaning with pain, but answering with composure
and apparent willingness every question in relation
to the fray in which be was engaged. He said he
was a native of Connecticnt, bnt had lately lived in
Kansas, where he knew Capt. Brown: he had also
served m the United States Army. The sole ob
ject of his attempts was to givothe negroes freedom,
and Brown had represented that aa soon as they
seised the Armory the negroes would flock to them
by thousands, aud they would soon have force
enough to accomplish their purpose, one for which
he would sacrifice his life: t at he said he thought
Brown had been greatly deceived. He said that
preparations had been making for some months for
a movement, but that tne whole force consisted of
seventeen white men and fiv e negroes.
This statement was repeated without variation by
all the prisoners with whom w e conversed; all agreed
as to the number in the movement, and as to its ob
jects, which some called the ,vork of philanthropy.
It is said that the affair at Harper’s Ferry is tho
first case which has ever occurred in this country,
involving at the same time both State and Federal
jurisdiction. AVliile the State is affected as to slave
ry and locality, the General Government is interes
ted with regard to public projierty, it having exclu
sive control over arsenal grounds independently of
the State, and also with regard to the mails.
Already in distinguished quarters the question of
jurisdiction is discussed, as Go renter Wiso will, it is
said, claim tho prisoners now held by the United
States troops, to he dealt with sccordingto the laws
of Virginia. In this case tho question of juriadic
tion will have to be determined by the Judiciary.
Lewis Leary, a negro, shot at the rifle mill, stated
that he enlisted with Cant. Brown for the insurrec
tion at a fair field in Lorraine county, Ohio, and
received the money to pay his expenses. They all
come down to Chambersburg Pt., and from there
they travelled across the eountiy to Brown’s farm.
The night passed without serious alarms,
but not without excitement. The marines
were marched over immediately after their ar
rival, when Col. Lee stationed them within the
armory grounds so as to completely surround
tho engine house. Occasion illy shots were
fired by country volunteers, b it what for was
not ascertained. There tvas only one return
fire from the insurgents.
The broken telegraph was soon repaired
throngh tbe exertions ^Superi ntendents Wcs-
tcrvelt and Talcotf, who accompanied the ex
pedition. The announcement that communi
cation was opened with Baltimore gave the
press representatives abundant employment.
There were no beds to behal and daylight
was awaited with anxiety. Its earliest glimp
ses were availed of to survey Ihe scene."
A visit to tho different localities in which
the corpses of the insurrectionists were lying
stark aud bloody, a peep clos3 or far off, ac
cording to tho courage of the observer, at the
Malakoff of the insurgents, wiis the establish
ed order of sight seeing, varied with a discus
sion of all sorts of terrible runors.
The building in which the insurgents had
made their stand was the fire engine house,
and no doubt the most defensible building in
the Armory. It has dead bri:k walls on three
sides, and on the fourth large doors with win
dow sashes above, some eight feet from the
ground. *
A dead stillness surreundol the buildings,
and, except that now and then a man might be
seen peeping from the nearly closed door, and
dog’s nose slightly protruding, there was no
sign of life, much less of hostility given.
\ anous opinions were given ns to the num-
r „ - L her of persons within, and tho amount of re-
ther down the yard, and were rescued bya brilliant distance they would be able to offer
Zouave dash, made by the Railroad Company’- Tho „„„„„„ »V i -,i „ ,
men who cams down from Martinsburg. , 4 lle . cann < )n could not be tit ed without en-
Thia was tho condition of things at daylight, about Hungering the safety of Colonel lYashmgton,
which time, Cspt Cook, with two whiteun n,accom- i Mr. Dangerfield, Mr. Ball anc other citizena,
wbom they still held prisoners. The doors
and walls of the building had been pierced For
rifles, but it was evident that from these liolr-
no range could be had, and that without open
ing the door they would be shooting in the
dark.
Many thought that the murder of the priso
ners held was determined upon, and that a
fight to the death would be the ending of their
desperate attempt. Whilst the people thus -
looked and speculated the door was opened
and one of the men came out with a flag of
truce, and delivered what was supposed to be
terms of capitulation. The continued prepa
rations for assault showed they were not ac
cepted.
Shortly after seven o'clock Lieut. J. E. fi.
Stuart, of tho First Cavalry, who wa3 acting
as aid for Col. Lee, advanced to parley with
the beseiged, Samuel Strickler, Esq., an old
and respectable citizen, bearing a flag of
truce. They were received at the door by
Captain Cook. Lieut. Stuart demanded an
unconditional surrender, only promising them
protection from immediate violence, and a trial
by law. Captain Brown refused all terms but
those previously demanded, which were sub
stantially:—
“That they should be permitted to march out
with their men and arms, taking their prisoners
with them; that they should proceed unpur
sued to the second toll gate, when they would
free their prisoners; the soldiers would then be
permitted to pursue them, and they would
fight if they could not escape.”
Of course this was refused, and Lieut Stu
art pressed upon Brown his desperate po ition,
and urged a surrender. The expostul ition,
though beyond earshot, was evidently very
earnest, and the coolness the Lieutenant and
}he courage of his aged flag bearer won warm
praise.
At this moment the interest of the seen i was
most intense. The volunteers were arn nged
all around the building, cutting off an escape
in every direction. The marines, divided in
two squads, were ready for a dash at the door.
Finally, Lieutenant Stuart, having exhausted
all argument with the determined Captain
Brown, walked slowly from tbe door.
Immediately the signal for attack was given,
and the marines, headed by Col. Harris and
Lieut. Green, advanced in two lines on each
side of the door. Two powerful fellows sprung
between the lines, and with heavy sledge ham
mers attempted to batter down the doon.. The
doors swung and swayed, but appeared to be
securct^with a rope, the spring of which dead
ened the effect of the blows. Failing thus
they took hold of a ladder, some forty feet
long, and advancing at a run brought it with
tremendous effect against the door. At the
second blow it gave way, one leaf falling in
ward in a slanting position.
The marines immediately advanced to the
breach. Major Russell and Lieutenant Green
leading. A marine in front fell. The firing
from the interior was rapid and sharp. They
fired with deliberate aim, and for a moment
the resistance was serious and desperate
enough to excite the spectators to something
like a pitch of frenzy. The next moment the
marines poured in, the firing ceased, and the
work was done, whilst cheers rang front every
side, the general feeling being that the ma
rines had done their part admirably.
When the insurgents were brought out,
some dead and others wounded, they were
greeted with execrations, aud only the precau
tions that had been taken saved them from
immediate execution. The crowd, nearly ev
ery man of which carried a gun, swayed with
tumultuous excitement, and cries of “Shoot
them,” “Shoot them,’’ rang from every side.
The appearance of the liberated prisoners,
all of whom through the steadiness of the ma
rines escaped injury, changed the current of
feeliDg, and prolonged cheers took the place*
of howls and execrations. In the assault pri
vate Ruffert of the marines received a ball in
the stomach, and was believed to be fatally
wounded. Another received a slight flesh
wound.
The lawn in front of the engine house after
the assault presented a dreadful sight. Lay
ing on it were two bodies of men killed on tbe
previous day, and found inside the house:
three wounded men, one of them just at tin-
last gasp of life, and two others groaning in
pain. One of the dead was Brown’s son. Ot-
erway, the wounded man, and his son Wasson,
were laying on the grass, the father present
ing a gory spectacle. He htd a severe bayo
net wound iu his side, and his face and hair
were clotted with blood.
A short time after Captain Brown was
brought out he revived, and talked earnestly
to those about liim, defending his course, and
avowing that he had done only what was
right. He replied to tbe questions substantial
ly as follows:
Are you Captain Brown, of Kansas?
I am sometimes called so.
Are you Ossawatamie Brown ?
I tried to do my duty there.
What was your present object ?
To free the slaves from bondage.
Were any other persons but those with you
now connected with the movement ?
No.
- Do you expect aid from the North.
No. There was no one connected with the
movement but those who came with me.
Did you expect to kill people in order to *
carry your point ?
I did not wish to do so, but yon forced us
to it.
Various questions of this kind were put to
Captain Brown, which he answered clearly
and freely, with seeming anxiety to vindicate
himself.
He urged that ha had the town at his mercy;
that he conld have burnt it and murdered the
inhabitants, but did not; he had treated tin-
prisoners with courtesy, and complained that
he was hunted down like a beast. He spoke
of the killing of his son, which, he alleged,
was done whilst bearing a flag of truce, and
seemed very anxious for the safety of his woun
ded son. His conversation bore the impression
of the conviction, that whatever he had done
to free slaves, was right, and that in the war
fare in which he was engaged, he was entitled
to be treated with all the respect of a prisoner
of war. He seemed fully convinced that he
was badly treated and had a right to complain.
Although at first considered as dying, an ex
amination of his wounds proved that they are
not necessarily fatal. He expressed the desire
to live and be tried by his country. In his
pockets nearly three hundred dollars were
found in gold. Several important papers found
in his possession were taken charge of by Col,
Lee, on behalf of the government.
The following fragment of a letter was found
in Brown’s pocket:
Capt. Brown—Dear Sir:—I have been d«F
appointed in not soeing you here ere this to
take charge of your freight They have been
here now two weeks, and as I have had to su- .
perintend tho providing for them, it has impo
sed upon me no small task besides; and if no.
soon taken on, some of them will go back to
Missouri. I wish to know definitely what vou
propose doing. They cannot be kept here
much longer without risk to themselves, and if
any o£ them conclude to go back to the State
it will bo a bad termination to your enterprise. .
The foregoing occupies a page of fine not;
paper, straw tinted, is written in pencil and no:
dated, and was evidently written by a person
of education, and tho freight he had was. nn
doubt, that usually carried on the nnderground
rail-road.
Besides Captain Brown, the prisoners taken
aro his son, who is seriously injured in the ab
domen, and is not likely to live, Edward Cop-
pich, who belonged to Iowa, and a negro named
Shields Green, who came from Pittsburg to
join Brown. The stories of all these men are
precisely the same. They agree as to the ol
jects proposed to be accomplished, and tin-
number of persons in the movement
Young Brown, in answer to a question, sa:d
there were parties in the North connected with
tho movement, thus differing with his lather on
this point.
Coppieb, the other white prisoner, is quite
young, and seems less shrewd than the other *
He said he did not wish to join the expedition,
and when asked, gave a reply which showed
the influence which Brown had over him. in