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Tin?, GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH.
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Crorjia fifilrckln (Telrgraj)!).
Millt'tlgcvlllo Correspondence.
LETTER I.
Mth.epokvillr, Jan. 22,1860.
Editor* Telcgrajih: The Legislature baa
been in session a week, and apparently made
but little advance in ita business. It is ce>
tain that a long period of time must elapse
before tlic necessary legislation shall have been
completed.
The daily sessions of the House extend
from 0 a. m. to 2 p. m., and those of the Sen
ate from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. Thus the whole
afternoon of each day is left, and occupied,
for the present, in caucussing and election
eering. 1 presume that there is but little room
in the minds of the members for deliberation
on the merits of public measures, on account
of the engrossing nature of the claims of as
pirants lor the offices to be filled by election
of tho General Assembly; and that before a
change shall be made in this particular, Judges
of tho Supremo Court and United States
Senators must be elected.
In the Senate there is no great amount of
•peaking talent, but a great deal of hard,
common sense, coupled with a conscientious
desire to do the best for the State and their
people. In the House there is, perhaps, more
speaking ability, and I may ndd, so far as my
observation extends, tho same honesty of
purpose. I do not believe either house will
trespass on tho patience of the country, ir
continue to draw the people’s money for their
support at Millcdgcville one moment longer
than they deem it absolutely necessary.
It is astonishing how many distinguished
sons of Georgia are here seeking the same offi
ces. There are but four positions to be filled
by election of the General Assembly, and
one (Superintendent of Western and Atlan
tic Railroad) by direct appointment of the
Governor; yet, if I should say there are of;
least twenty distinguished Georgians seeking
those various positions, I should hardly come
up to the mark. All these men have merit.
They deserve well of tho State; but it is ut
terly impossible for them all to receive a por
tion of the five loaves on this occasion. No
miracle ran lie wrought to divide those out
amongst the hungry applicants, so that each
shall receive a portion. The consequence, I
fear will be that the defeated parties will
come to tho conclusion that Republics are
ungrateful, and that hard feelings will be en
gendered which years will not suffice to erad
icate,
As you are aware, tho election of United
States Senators has not been determined upon
by either house. It seems cruel enough to'
ketp so many waiting in suspense when every
day foots up a bill against them with the
Messrs. McCombs for $4. I presume none of
them will feel able to treat besides. If they
do they must have more money than the
memltcrs have; for I question whether all the
members have of money would now amount
to one thousand dollars. But, nevertheless,
this delay seems to give neither the candi
dates themselves, nor the members of the
General Assembly, the least uneasiness. The
question is never asked rehen shall the-elec
tion take place, but always whom shall we
elect. Those who wish Senators elected that
they think will be most pleasing to the Presi
dent are perfectly willing that the election
shall take place immediately ; while others
who wish to consult their preference to vote
for whom they please, say every thing may
' be gained and nothing lost by waiting. Some
of the candidates for this high office arc get
ting uneasy and talk of leaving. I think in
about one week more the number of candi
dates will be reduced to two or three to an
office, and thus the choice of the Legislature
be made more easy.
The position of Superintendent of the Wes
tern and Atlantic Ruilroad has not yet been
filled. Gov. Jenkins must meet with consid
erable difficulty in making the appointment
He is desirous of selecting the man of great
est competency; but is prevented from se
lecting for this position a man of great Rail
road experience, from the fact that by previ
ous act of tlic Legislature such an officer can
receive only $3,000 salary. He will there
fore be under tlic necessity of selecting a ci
vilian instead of a civil engineer. If the Gov
•cmor is as fortunate in his selections from men
of this class as was Gov. Brown, he will do
well, otherwise the State may receive but lit
tle advantage from the road. Some of tlic
friends of the Governor desire liiinj to post
pone his appointment until the Legislature
has hnd an opportunity of increasing the sal
ary ot the Superintendent; whilst others in
sist that the appointment shall be made and
at once, in which case the best Railroad tal
ent cannot lie secured. I presume the Gov
ernor is a good deal troubled with the ap
pointment
The question of Judges of the Supreme
Court is at present assuming a more promi
nent proportion in the minds of the members
of the General Assembly than of all other
questions, solely, however, from the fact that
election is believed to lie nearer at hand than
the election of Senators. A distinct issue is
made between Banning and Lyons—the other
candidates havo not each liis opponent so dis
tinctly marked. There is a disposition on tho
part of tho soldier clement to give Banning
tho placo ns tho reward for meritorious
conduct in tho field. It iB possible this
claim, together with acknowledged ability as
a jurist may elect him; but tho members from
tho wire-grata counties, as well as those from
tho section in which Judge Lyons now resides,
profess to desire of Judge Benning a recanta
tion of his doctrine of the liability oi corpo
rations for tlieir debts after their charters have
expired by limitation. This Judge B. is not
able to do. Still, his friends assert that the
subject matter is a ret adjudicator n thing ad
judged, and that it is not possible for it to
come up for reversal during the term which
-will lie probably allotted to judges, even if
tho term is inado six or ten years; for, say
•they, no bank chnrtcr expires within that
time, except such hanks perhaps whose char
ters havo already lieen forfeited. They fur
ther urge that, according to the Code, a mut
ter once decided by a full bench (as this hns
lieen) cannot bo reversed, except by the ap
proval of a full bench; ami that, as Judge
Lumpkin is already <
danger of such unanimity.
•lured unconstitutional by a majority
Court, and so the prevailing decision
THE BAGDAD
The New York papers
EMEI’TE.
ntertnin diverse
rard to this affair. The New
rsed bv two, if not tho whole, of the opinions in rcgai
York Times culls upon the Government to
the leader of the fillibosters and thus
his involving
Court.
« . c ! seize
Tbesi* views operate to the prejudice ot ^ ^
Gen. Benning, and render somewhat doubt- ( Thc NfJW Yo rfc World thinks noth
ing important is likely to follow, and asserts
the country
ful tho election to tho responsible ollicc ol
Judge of one whom the whole Assembly arc
disposed to reward as a brave soldier.
In addition to this, the high merits of
Judge Lyons arc the theme of every one.
I have thus given you the true status of the
question, as it is discussed in cnucusses.
will not presume to go further at present, and
express an individual preference for any can
didate.
I had tho pleasure to-day of seeing on thc
streets the lady of lib Excellency, Gov. Jen
kins. Shfc was elegantly and fashionably
dressed. She appears to be about thirty
years younger than his Excellency.
3Iill*edgeville can now boast of having
her midst a bright galAxy of talent. There
are here, at present, Ex-Governor Joseph E.
Brown of Atlanta, Hon. A. II. Stephens of
Taliferro, General Henry L. Benning of Cd-
luinbus, Hon. William II. Dougherty of Ath
ens, Col. J. Y. Ramsay of Harris, Col. Cincin-
natus Peoples of Spalding, Hon. Jchn D.
Clark of Lumpkin, Hon. Richard H. Clark of
Albany. Ex-Provisional Governor James
Johnson, ot Columbus, Hon. Thomas P. Saf-
fold of Morgan, Hon. Warren Aiken of Bar
tow. Capt. George Hillyer of Atlanta, Hon
Joshua Hill of Morgan, Hon. Linton Stephens
of Hancock, Maj. John T. Stephens ot Mon
roe, Gen. L. J. Gartrell of Atlanta, Hon. D,
A. Walker of Whitfield, Gen. John K. Jack-
son of Augusta, Hon. John Schley of Chat
ham, Hon. Richard P. Lyons of Marietta, Col,
Jordan of Jasper, Col. Lewis Tumlin of Bar
tow, Hon. J. J. Floyd of Newton, and Col
William Harris of Worth.
To-night Mr. Jesse W. Jackson addressed
the Legislature and citizens on the Relief of
tho People. The method of relief proposed
was for thc Lcgbluture to wipe out all pri
vate debts. His address was not popular.—
The Speaker, we understand, -received only
55 votes on that issue at the late election in
Morgan county, where he was a candidate for
the lower branch? Richmond.
IMPORTATION OF LABORERS.
The following extract of a private letter
received by one of the editors of the Telegraph
from an intelligent friend in Savannah, is giv
en ior thc information of those who are cast
ing their eyes abroad for their labor. The au
thoris extensively acquainted in Germany,
where he resided for a number of years, and
is, in all respects, a reliable gentleman. Any
further information that may be desired will
lie cheerfully given upon application at this
office:
“Savannah, Jan. 10th, 1806,
*****
“I propose to proceed to Europe in the
Spring for the purpose of bringing out labor
ers for thc field, mine and loom, if required,
from the south of Germany Irom Hungary and
Italy. You are aware of my having received
the greater portion of my education in Ger
many, that I have influential friends there,
some even at the Court of Saxony, from whom
I could expect all thc requisite cooperation.
The great difficulty heretofore in getting Eu
ropean laborers into thc South lias been that
they could, and did, select the locality of
their future homes in the North-western
States, where the climate was similar to that
ot the “Vatcrland,” and when their relatives
and friends had preceded them. Being by
law obliged to have some means, a choice
wa? open to them. My purpose is to bring
ont the needy, though industrious, common
field laborer, Ac., who cannot emigrate with
out help; by no means is he to be a pauper
or beggar, however. I have already commen
ced a correspondence with a relative, who re
sides in Anhelb, Germany, ami have had an
answer.
From Bavaria, also, I am informed that the
crops of silk and wine having failed for sev
eral consecutive years, a great many Italians
have come over the Alps into Germany in
search of work and they are represented
ns manageable, industrious laborers. These
Lombards, known as excellent farmers, ore
on account of the climate they arc accustomed
to, peculiarly well adapted for our latitude
As yon are aware, rice is cultivated in Lom
bardy. I mention this not to recommend them
os rice field hands, but to show the similarity
of climate. To enable me to defray the travel
ing expenses across thc continent of Europe,
in some instances to reach the sea coast at
Havre or Rotterdam, thc latter more conven
ient on nccount of reaching it by tlic Rhine,
and thence over the Atlantic in a chartered
ship or ships, I would need the pecuniary
support of such planters, and manufacturers,
etc., as might need and wish this sort of la
bor. On the importance of thc matter to thc
State ami tho whole South I need not dwell.
I would he enabled, I think, to land n full
grown emigrant at Savannah or Charleston
at from $50 to $55 according ns he might have
to Ikj transported from near the seaboard or
from the interior—Germans for $50, Hunga
rians and Italians for $55.”
Sale ok the Home ok Henry Ci.ay.—
From thc Lexington Observer and Reporter
of yesterday we learn that “Ashland,” so long
the* home of Henry Clay, lias been purchased
by the Trustees of’ thc Kentucky University,
nt the cost of $00,000. Thc farm contains
about 325 acres of thc liest land in thc blue-
gross region of Kentucky, aud hns acquired a
national reputation from its having been so
long connected witli the memory of the de
parted statesman.
The Kentucky Agricultural School, which
is under thc patronage ot the State, as well
as the other schools of the University, will
he established at ‘‘Ashland;” and it is pro
posed to begin thc improvements on a most
extended ami magnificent scnle, one that will
do credit to our State, and serve as a monu
ment to the memory of Mr. Clay.
that there is no probability that these occur
rences will embroil us with France. It thinks
the filibusters were white men disguised as
negroes, and that they have violated our laws,
and that, as they acted without thc privity of
our Government, and in spite of its efforts to
preserve the peace on thc Rio Grande, it can
lead to nothing beyond a demand for cxplana
tions; probably not even to that.
The New York News looks at thc matter
in a more serious light, and says:
“Tlic attitude of the United States towards
Maximilian, and our relations with Napoleon
in regard to Mexican affairs, will not admit
of such rough demonstrations,” and adds —
It will bo difficult for Mr. Seward, with the
record of his hostility to thc Mexican empire
in thc hands of M. Drouyn de l’Huys, to con
vince thut not over aimablc diplomat that tlic
capture of Bagdad and of its Imperial garri
son was not inspired by the policy of this
Government. Of course, the Administration
will deprecate such acts of violence and will
seek to be absolved from responsibility for the
offenses of a so-called filibustering expedition;
but when a force organized, armed and
equipped in one of thc United States, in
vades the territory, claimed by Maximilian
and inaugurates an offensive campaign by
capturing and holding possession of one of
his garrisoned towns, something more than
an apology will be demanded. Napoleon
will claim, not without reason, that thc pres
ence of a large Federal army upon the Mexi
can frontier, with ordinniyzca! and vigilance,
could compel the observance of a strict neu
trality, if such were the instructions and pur
pose of those in command. If thc -‘filibus
ters,” or any of them, lie captured by the Im
perialists, they will undoubtedly be marched
away to immediate execution. Should they
escape back into Texas, Maximilian, in de
fault of their delivery into his power, will
hold this Government accountable for their
deeds. In cither case there would be en
gendered a popular excitement, mutual re
sentments, passion, vindictiveness, defiance
and retaliation.
We have no hesitation in saying that, in
onr opinion, no serious consequences will re
sult immediately, although, some complica
tions may occur, simply for the reason that it
is not thc interest of France to enter upon a
war with us, and we ourselves are not prepar
ed for any such undertaking, and will not
make thc issue. Maximilian, as yet unrecog-
ized by our government, can make no com
plaint to us for want of a channel. And as
for thc Juarez fuction, that is not likely to
make any complaint at all. France cannot
well regard any complaint SInximilian may
make to her, for she has avowed that for
grievancies against Mexico, we must apply
for redress to the government of that country.
And if France, as in her recently published
reply, of lier Minister of Foreign Affairs, to
Mr. Bigelow, our minister at the French Capi
tol, declines to listen to our complaints
against Maximilian, on thc ground that his is
an independent government, capable of an
swering for itself, she must equally decline to
listen to his complaiut against us for the same
reason. So that we can see no good reason
to apprehend a war.
From Last Night’s Mails.
On thc 18th, the House of Representatives
passed thc bill to permit negroes to vote in
the District, by a vote of ycasllG; nays 54.
The tenor of thc bill runneth in this wise :
Re it ordained by thc Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America, in Congress, assembled, That from
all laws and parts of laws, and for prescri
bing thc qualifications of electors for, any
office in the District of Columbia, the word
white” and the same is hereby stricken out,
and that from and after the passage of this
act no person shall be disqualified from vo
ting at any election held in thc said District
on account of color.
Tlic singularity in the passage of this bill
is that it was voted for by Democrats, who,
foreseeing its passage in some shape, voted
for it in the above form, as being preferable to
any other.
The effect pf the discussions, on the above
and kindred topics, upon the American citi-
any State outside of the government shall
be admitted to it. I do not care tor that
purpose whether it is a Territory of the Uni- (ir '
ted States, or whether it is a State that lias
forfeited all right and all ability to act for
itself.” ’
Both Houses of Congress passed a resolu
tion authorizing the joint committee to send
for persons and papers, and the question of
appointing a sub-committee to travel through
thc South is now being agitated, and it is not
improbable that it may be adopted. The
fact that they hare authorized the com
mittee to send for persons and papers may
lie set down as conclusive that this committee
do not intend to report during this session;
thus continuing it over to the next Congres-
lcttsional election.
This 13 a virtual break between thc Presi
dent and the Radicals;for it shows that they
are not willing to accept official informaton
concerning the state of things at the South,
and that they are going to obtain and act
upon tlieir own information, thus setting up
and maintaining an opposition to the Presi
dent's reconstruction policy. Wc foresee a
war between the President and the Radicals
in Congress, tlieir policy being to keep up
strife and prevent the healing or thc wounds
by war.
Wc publish telegrams this momiug that
present different i spccts of thc Bagdad affair.
It appears that thc guiding spirit of the ex
pedition was Gen. Crawford, recently an ofii
ccr of the United States, now a Major General
in the army of the Mexican Republic, regu
larly commissioned by President Juarez. The
expedition was under the immediate com
mand of Colonel Reed, thc Chief of General
Crawford’s staff.
Gen. Crawford has apparently been veiy ac
tivc and successful in organizing a .force in
Texas for sen-ice in the Liberal cause. He
has issued commissions to several cx-Fcderal
officers, furnished them with money, and au
thorized them to recruit for thc army of Ju
arcz. The commission thus issued, read ns
follows :
Mexican Republic, American Div. (
near Matamoras, Mexico. f
“The Mexican Government having duly au
thorized Major General Crawford to raise and
equip a division of troops for the Mexican
service, and to appoint the officers of said di
vision, you are hereby appointed Captain,
and authorized to raise a company of sixty
men. “A. F. REED.
“Chief of Staff.”
It is doubtful if we have a true account of
the matter, and so speculation upon it will be
useless, though it appears to attain more se
riousness the more we become acquainted
witli it.
. Letter from Mr. Stephens,
Reply of Jlon. Alexander II Stephens to invi
tation to addret* the Legislature on public
affaire.
SIlLLEDGEVILLE, Ga., J«H. 22, I860,
Meters. J. F. Johnson, Chat. II. Smith and oth
ers.
Gentlemen : Your note of invitation to
me to address the General Assembly on the
State of the Country, and assuring me that it
is the almost universal desire of thc members
that I should do so, if consistent with my
feelings, etc., was received two clays ago.
have considered it maturely; and be assured
if I saw any good that could be accomplished
by my complying with your request, I would
cheerfully yield my personal reluctance
to so general a wish of the members of the
Generally Assembly, thus manifested. But
as it is; seeing no prospect of effecting any
good by such an address, you and your asso
ciates will, I trust, excuse me in declining.-—
My reasons need not be stated; they will
readily suggest themselves to your own minds
upon reflection. In reference to the subject
of the election of United States Senators,
which is now before you, allow me to avail
myself of this occasion to say to you, and
through you, to all the members of the Gen
eral Assembly, that I cannot give my consent
to the use of my name in that connection.—
This inhibition of such use of it is explicit
and emphatic. I wish it so understood by
all. As willingly as I would yield my own
contrary inclinations to what I am assured is
the general and unanimous wish of the Legisla
ture in this respect, if I saw any prospect of
my being able, by thus yielding to render
any essential service to tiie people of Geor-
gio; and, as earnestly desirous as I am for a
zens of African descent in the country's capi- speedy restoration of civil law, perfect peace,
tal is to make them exceedingly inso!ent-so bann «“J « d P«»P«ty throughout the whole
WU IB " * * country, yet, under existing circumstances, I
much so that they crowd the galleries
to thc exclusion of respectable ladies and
geptlcmen, and to thc disgust of the mem
bers themselves. On tho 18th they predomi
nated to such an extent as to make it appear
that a dark cloud was hovering over the
House, and it became so dark that it was
almost impossible to see to write. Mr. Johnson
of Pennsylvania, rose to a point of order, and
said that the hall was very dark, particularly
in thc galleries, and it ought to be lighted
We know something now of Egyptian dark
ness—such as can be felt and smelt.
In a brilliant speech in Congress during the
discussion of negro suffrage in the District,
Mr. Thomas, of Maryland, asserted that the
passage of a law, allowing such suffrage in the
District, would be the opening wedge to the
assumption by Congress, of the power to force
negro suffrage upon nil the States. That this
istlie design of the Radical party in Congress,
evident from what Mr.Shcllabargerof Ohio
said in his speech a few days ago. He boldly
took thc ground that Congress had absolute
powers of legislation over all thc Southern
States, and argued that tlieir representatives
ought to be kept out of Congress until those
States had adopted negro suffrage. He then
said: “If I were asked, how long will you
keep the Southern States ont of Congress, if
you cannot secure that condition of pence t
would sorrowfully, but inexorably, answer,
** Forever !”
Reconstruction progresses slowly in
Congres, and the late speech of Mr.
Doolittle, of Wisconsin, ir. favor of Mr.
Johnson's policy, lias had thc effect to draw
out the Republicans, in the person of Senator
Me understand that a greater portion ol -\y a ,] e who declared that though President
the farm Will he Dvnnmnontnl
devoted to experimental ” ” " , . " \ . out damage. CiL Mejia, Escobcda’s post
ami most effectual me ms J“l ,I1 " ,n ha- done much, m h:i- not done eotninamler. lui- only about a do/.en reliable
r-h. there 5- no
fanning, as tlic best
of securing to the students of the Agricultu
ral School a thorough knowledge of practical
farming.
Thc great object witli the founders of this
University is to furnish thc young men of thc
country the most ample facilities tor obtain
ing a thorough education, and in order to ac
complish this object, no effort will be spared
in obtaining the most eminent talent in the
various departments of the University, wheth
er chemical, scientific, or practical.
We hope that the State Legislature will at
once make appropriations for the benefit of
. . , , , ... , . , i the “Agricultural School,” and that the peo-
On the other hand, thc friends o •>>'"' ‘ pie of the State will liberally give the funds
demand that Benning shall satisfy the mem- j necessity to erect all suitable buildings. At
bere of tl
repeat hi
Legislature that lie never woukl least $1,000,000 should be applied in tlii-
decision on banks. They say that
if another with Banning'* opinion* on that
subject -houhl be elected, and Judge Lump
kin should resign or die, and a Judge should
be elected in his place with the views of Ben
ning, the matter already adjudicated might
be reversed by a full bench, and great evil to
the i .mult;, follow; or l! :
in the Code bearing on thc
wav. —Lou is rifle Jon r;i a l.
Fat and Lean.—A man, praising porter,
-aid it was so excellent a beverage, that,
though taken in great quantities, ir always
: made him fat. “I have seen the time." -aid
another, “when it made you lean." “When!
I should tie gla.l to know,” inquired the colo-
longerago than last night—
enough. lie darners for universal negro suf
frage, and says: “I say to President John
son, to the Democratic party and to thc peo
ple of the United States, that I never will
yield the controversy until all men in Amer
ica shall stand upon an equal footing—equal
before the law in every respect;” and in an
other piece a-serts, that be is not convinced
do not see such prospect of thc availability
of my sen-ices to these ends in any public
position. Moreover, so far as I am personally
concerned, I do not think it proper or politic
that the election should lie postponed with
any view to a probable change of present
circumstances, or a probable change of my
position on the subject; and I do trust that
no member will give even a complimentary
vote to me in the election.
Yours, truly,
Alexander H. Stephens.
From the Rio Grande—Different Ver
sions op the Bagdad Affair.—A dispatch
from New Orleans, dated January 18th, says:
A private letter from the Inspector of Cus
toms at Clarksville, Texas, says the 118th
Colored Infantry, under Col. Davis, took all
the skiffs in his charge, crossed the river and
captured Bagdad. They then began plun
dering the plate, and killing people. The
scene was indescribable. The negroes shot
men down for refusing to give up their
money.
A letter from Brazos of thc 7th, to the
Times, says Bagdad was captured on the
morning of the 5th. The attacking party
consisted of sixty men. They captured nearly
three hundred prisoners, half of whom turned
Liberals and formed a garrison of the town,
thc attacking party disappearing. The Lib
eral loss was four killed aud eight wounded,
and thc Imperialist'* .loss was eleven killed
and twenty-seven wounded.
Gen Crew find and Escobcda, on receipt
of thc above intelligence, started for Bagdad.
Gen. AVeitzel ordered Col. Hall, the assistant
revenue officer, not to allow any one to cross
until the arrival of Escobedn. Gen. Craw-
lord arrived in advance of Escobeda, and
assumed command. Escobcda requested of
Gen. AVeitzel two hundred men to preserve
order, which was agreed to, and the men
were ordered down. A French corvette
•helled the town, oq the Ctli, all day, with-
nien in Bagdad. The rest have joined Gen.
Crawford, who hns them on hoard a steamer,
tied up to thc bank of the river at Bagdad.
Caught.—The Legislature of Oregon du
ring its last session passed an act compelling
barber shops to close business at 10 o'clock
a. in. on Sundays. This has given rise to
many practical jokes; among the best is this:
. , .P j . , .. . . , A few Sundavs since, the Govenor of thc
that the time has como when it usafe to ad- j State Pepped j nt0 a barber shop about 9.50
"re ' ‘ ‘ a. m. awl placed himself in the chair to be
shaved, at the same time giving his boots to
TIIE MERCER TRIAL.
At last thc trial of Brigadier General Aler- \
of the late Confederate army, on the i
charge of having murdered seven U. S. sol-
diers, lias commenced and ended almost at
the same time. After diligent advertising
for witnesses, thc Secretary of War succeeded
in collecting three men who professed to be
Fully posted in the details of the foul transac
tion. They came to Savannah, gave their
testimony, which, so far as proof of thc alle
gation is concerned, amounts to just nothing
at all. Three witnesses were also examined
for the defense, highly respectable gentlemen,
who proved conclusively, first that the execu
tion of tiie seven “galvaniz.ed Yankees” was
just; and secondly, that Gen. Mercer knew
nothing of the trial, sentence or execution
until thc whole affair was over. The testi
mony received, the case was submitted with
out argument on either side, tiie counsel
for the accused regarding innocence his
clients so clearly established that a word of
argument was unnecessary. Thc report says,
“after a very brief deliberation, thc Commis
sion came to a decision upon tlieir findings
in thc case and adjourned sine die." Tho re
sult has not been ■published, but there is no
doubt of his triumphant acquittal.
In this connection, as evidence of Northern
fairness even when a man is on trial for liis
life, wo present in contrast two documents in
relation to thc same subject matter. The first
is a AVashington dispatch to thc N. Y. Herald,
which has been telegraphed all over the coun
try. It reads as follows:
New York, Jan. 19.—The Herald’s AVash
ington special says AVm. H. Evans, late Lieu
tenant of tlic 21st Penn. Regt. has been, sum
moned as. a witness in the trial of Gen. Mercer,
now pending nt Savannah, for executing sev
eral prisoners just before thc occupation of
that city by our forces.
lie will testify that on a given day, just be
fore tiie Federal occupation of Savannah, Mer
cer rode over to the post prispn and ordered
tlic summary execution of seven Federal sol
diers, merely to prevent. their recapture by
our forces. The Lieutenant remembers the
order given by Mercer to be as follows:—
“Bring out and hang those damned Yankee
soldiers higher than Hainan ever hung, and
send them to hell, where they ought to have
been long ago.”
The second document is the testimony of
this same witness Evans, given under oath on
the trial. Wc quote from the report in the
Savannah papers:
Q—By Judge Advocate. State what you
know of the execution of thc seven Union
soldiers hero in Savannah, in December,
1864?
A—I was in Savannah in December and
heard it rumored that certain soldiers were
to be executed within thc first line of the
fortifications around thc city. I went to the
supposed place of execution. It was about
8 o’clock in thc evening. I saw an assem
blage of men. I did not know their rank
owing to the darkness and the distance I was
from them. Nearly half an hour afterwards
I heard musketry firing, a small volley, and
screams followed, which told me of the work
of death. I then left the spot for the city.
■ Q—Did you see the accused, Gen. Mercer,
on that night ? What did he have to do with
the death of these men ?
A—I did. I saw him out on the lines in
company with other officers. He had noth
ing to do with the execution, to my knowl
edge.
Q—Did yon hear Gen. Mercer give any
order to try* or shoot those men ?
A—I did not hear it myself.
Q—AYashe present when they were shot ?
A—I could not say.
Q—nave you told all you know of this
matter ?
A—Yes. ’
So much for the Herald’s witness.
The true history of the whole tranaction is
given by Capt. George A. Mercer, one of the
witnesses for the accused, and a gentleman of
the highest character for truth and veracity
We copy from the Savannah papers his testi
mony as given in on the trial:
George A. Mercer called. Am a lawyer by
profession. Reside in Savannah.
I was on the staff of the prisoner in Decem
ber, 1864, ’ as Assistant Adjutant General.
Was ordered here from the army of Tennes
see; went out with him on the lines on the
9th December. On the night of the 15th of
December, the night of the alleged execu
tion, I was all night at thc headquarters of
the prisoner, the house on Lawton’s farm,
about seven miles from the city. Neither
tlic prisoner nor myself left that house from
dusk in the evening till daylight the next
morning.
Q—State what connection the prisoner had
with the alleged execution ?
A—The prisoner had no direct connection
with the execution whatever. The circum
stances were these:
Several days before, a battalion known as
the Foreign Battalion, was put by General
Hardee on our line. On the 14th of Decem
ber, some ot the officers of the battalion
reported that their men were becoming
alarmed, fearing that they would be sum
marily dealt with by General Sherman
if they should be captured in arms.—
The •jattalion was then acting as a support to
a battery of artillery. This battery swept
two of the largest rice fields along the line.
Two of the pieces were manned by detach
ments from this battalion, under Lieut. Simp
son. On the night of the 14th, twenty of
the battalion forced a picket on one ol these
dams and went over to General Sherman’s
line. This fact'was reported to General Mer
cer on the morning ot the 14th, with the
statement that these men were very much
afraid of being captured. It was the Gen
eral impression that we would all be cap
tured within a few days. Gen. Mercer, there
fore, directed me to issue an order, which I
did, that the battalion should be marched to
the city, with a view to enabling them to be
removed from the city in the event of its cap
ture. Thc men were so informed, and they
knew that thc movement would he so execu
ted that night.
AVe were afraid to move them during the
any report made of it to him ?
A—He knew nothing of the court-martial
till the execution was over.
Witness was dimissed.
A Bill
To he entitled an Act to exempt from lenj and
sale ecrtfiin property of every debtor, mid to
repeal the 2013th and 2017th sections <f the
Code of Georgia.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and
it is hereby enacted. That from and after the
passage of this act, the following property of
each and every debtor, shall be exempt from
levy and sale, by virtue of any process, what
ever, under the Laws of this State, nor shall
any valid lein be created thereon, but the
same shall remain for the use and benefit of
him or herself, and family.
1st, One hundred acres of land and five
additional acres for each of his or her chil
dren, under the age of eighteen years, which
in all cases shall include the dwelling house,
and out-liouscs; and if such dwelling house
be in the limits of any city or town, then, and
in that case, one acre of land with the dwell
ing house, shall be exempted as aforesaid;
Prodded, that none of the afore-mentioned
lands include any cotton or wool factory, saw
or grist mill, or any other machinery, pro
pelled by water or steam.
2nd. One horse or mule, two cows and
caives, twenty head of hogs, five hundred
pounds of pork, bacon or beef, one hundred
and fifty bushels of corn, and all the meal,
that he or she may havo on hand, for family
purposes; the beds and bedding, for him or
herself, and family; two spinning wheels and
two pairs of cards; and one hundred pounds
of lint cotton, ordinary cooking utensils,
table and crockery, common tools of trade of
him or herself; wearing apparel of him or
herself and family; religious and school
books, and the library of professional men in
actual practice.
Be it further enacted, That section 2013
and 2017 of the Code of Georgia, and all
parts of laws repugnant to this act be, and
the same are hereby, repealed.
LATEST BY TELE^
RAPH,
ning.
NEWS ITEMS.
Thc ladies of Richmond arc getting up an
entertainment for the benefit of the widow of
Stonewall Jackson.
Colonel E. M. Yerger of thc Confederate
army, is editing the Jackson (Mississippi)
News.
Lieut* G. G. Alderson, late of the Confed
erate army, has reached his home in Kansas
safely.
Brigadier General A. II. Lawton is in Sa
vannah and has entered upon the practice of
his profession.
Brigadier General G. M. Sorrel is also in
Savannah, and has commenced business a
merchant.
Gen. Armisted L. Long, one of General
Lee’s staff, and subsequently in the Confed
erate States artillery, has the superintendency
of the second section of the James River anil
Kanawha Canal.
General Jolin.C. Breckinridge, General Mc-
Causland, Col. Harry Gilmore, Major John
Castlenmn, Capt. Hinds and others, who had
been officers in the armies of the Confederacy
are in Toronto, Canada.
A letter from New Orleans states that the
returned Confederates are collecting funds
wherewith to erect a momument to the mem
ory of Mumford, who was executed by order
of General Butler, for pulling down the
American flag.
A writer in the Chicago Tribune urges
steam communication with tlic South from
that city. He says grain can be loaded there
in canal boats and be taken to Richmond,
Va., without breaking bulk, by being towed
down the Illinois and Mississippi, up thc
Ohio and Kanawha, and through the canal to
Richmond, thus gaining a communication
with the ocean, and escaping the high prices
demanded by the Eastern shippers.
Col. Mosby has published a card in the Bal
timore Gazette to the following purpose:
“The life of ine, advertised by somebody
in Urbana, Ohio, is a pure fiction. The au
thor lias neither my countenance or sanction.
Whatever lie has written must, of necessity,
be a mere romance, concocted for sensation
purposes, and to put money into some impos
ter's pocket. Major John Scott has in liis pos
session, and will publish during the Spring,"
an authentic history of our command, from
the time when I first crossed the Rapahan-
nock, *a youth to fortune and to fame un
known,’ in command of fifteen men, to the
day of our disbandment. It is impossible for
anybody else, without my co operation, to
present any thing that will be anything more
than mere disjointed and isolated facts, or
fubulous stories, and have no origin except
in the imagination of the writer.”
A movement is on foot in the Southern
States to erect a memorial cathedral to thc
Confederate dead. As embraced in the cath
edral system, it is proposed to build a house
of refuge for the widows of fallen heroes, and
a college for the sons. Thc whole to be
placed under thc jurisdiction of the Conven
tion of the Protestant Episcopal church in the
United States.
In Lynchburg on thc 8th inst., the negroes
voted for Judge of the Frcedinen’s court.—
There was an excitement between tho “old
issue,” or aristocratic party, who had been
born free, and the “undercrust,” who had
been “sot free.” The latter carried thc day,
and elected John T. Slaughter, by 400 major
ity over Capt. G. AY. Latham.
Cap. Robert B. Pegrnm has lieen appointed
superintendent of the Petersburg and AYel-
don railroad, vice K. M. Dunlap, resigned.—
The pay is §3,000 per annum.
DISPATCHES TO THE ASSOCIATED p n
COTTON DECLINED
New York, Jan. 23.—Cotton is dccli
sales 1,500 bales at 49 to 50.
Gold 39 3-8.
CANADIAN NEAYS.
New York, Jan. 22.—The Herald’s T,>
ronto correspondence says the reasons for the
postponement of the meeting of the Canadi^
Parliament until May next, is the fear of th.
Fenian invasion.
FROMJ i IANANA.
New York, Jan. 22.—Havana advices o|
thc 17th, state that Secretary Seward had
had not arrived. The Captain General **
fitting up liis country house, preparatory tt
receiving him in a hospitable manner.
FREEDMEX’S BUREAU—TEST OATIU
TRIAL OF LEADERS.
Washington, Jan. 22.—The Senate pro.
posed amendment to the bill enlarging the
Freedmen’s Bureau and restricting the limits
of its jurisdiction to the late rebellious State
was idiscussed. Air. AVilson spoke in oppo
sition. Mr. Cowan, of Penn., said if such*
bureau must exist its operations ought ndt
to bc*fclt in the loyal States. On the ques
tion be taken the amendment was rejected.
In the House, Mr. Finckc introduced a bill
to repeal the Test Oath—referred to the judi
ciaiy committijp.
Air. AVilliams offered a resolution calling
for thc trial of thc leaders of the rebellion kv
court martial or military commission, asser
ting that it would not answer the purpose in
view to have them tried by a judiciary tri
bunal South, where their peers are equally
guilty with the persons charged with crime,
CONGRESSIONAL.
AVashington, Jan. 30.—Senate to-day, was
engaged in a discussion of the bill enlarging
the privileges of the Freedmen's Bureau. 31r.
Guthrie, of Kentucky, made a conservative
speech in opposition: lie looked upon it as
invasion of the rights of thc States, calculated
to imitate rather than quiet the feelings of
the peopje.
NEAV YORK MONEY MARKET.
New York, Jan. 20.—Quotations of Gold
to-day, 138 3-4;
LATEST FROM MEXICO.
AYashinoton, Jan. 21.—Official intelligence
received from El Paso states that President
Juarez had arrived there on the 18th Decem
ber, having been driven from Chihuahua by
the French.
FREEDMEN’S AFFAIRS.
AVashington, Jan. 21.—The House Com
mittee on Freedmen’s Affairs intend making
a tour of inspection South.
FENIANISM IN CANADA.
New York, Jan. 22.—The Herald’s Tor-
ronto correspondent says thc reasons for thc
postponement of the meeting of the Canadian
Parliament until May next, is for fear of a
Fenian invasion.
Bold Roguery.—AInj. Gen. King, com
manding at Augusta, was robbed of his horses
lately, whilst taking an evening’s drive with
liis wife, about three miles from the city.—
The deed was committed by two men on
horseback, aided by shooting irons. A gen
tleman, accompanying a lady, who was one
of thc party but a short distance behind, was
also robbed of his horse. Gen. King, on his
return to thecity, sent a detachment of mount
ed men after thc robbers,and we sincerely trust
that they will be arrested and punished se
verely for this high-knndcd outrage.
The Constitutionalist say, that the General
is an officer of the old army, and has, by his
day in order not to attract the attention ofj judicious and impartial administration of all
the pickets of the enemy, which were not i matters coming under his jurisdiction, won
over two hundred yards distant. Thc dams the respect and esteem of our citizens, and
were but slightly protected, and therefore j we sincerely regret the occurrence of this dar-
they were to be remeved that night to pre- : ing highway robbery..
vent their being seen by General Sherman's j
pickets. "
Between eight and nine o'clock that night
several officers of the battalion came to our
The South Carolina Railroad.—Tlic
Columbia branch of the South Carolina rail
road was completed on thc 19th inst. Trains
are non- running daily between Charleston
headquarters and reported, with considerable ., n( i Columbia.
The Southern Express Telegraph
Line.—This line, recently established be
tween Augusta and Atlanta, is now in thor
ough working order.
agitation, that they had just discovered from
members of this battalion that the great ma
jority of the battalion—all, I think, with
some few exceptions—had organized a con
spiracy, when the order was given them to
fall in to march to the city, to seiz.c their
arms and buck and gag their officers, to kill
all who resisted them or were obnoxious to
them, including Gen. Mercer and staff, spike
thc guns on the fortifications, and desert in a
body to Gen. Sherman’s lines, carrying all
their officers not killed. Gen. Mercer's senior
colonel happened to be in the room at liis
headquarters at the time this report was
made. He told him that it was a moment of
the paragraph "'A l»y, n*.
question might against a wall.
mit any of the Southern States into th
Union: and he claims this as thc peculiar priv
ilege of Congre-*. “Where,’' says lie, -in the
constitution do you find that the President is
authorized to invoke or bring in the States
of this Union, and who but we, therepresen-
tatives of the people of the United States,
are sent here to do this 1 AVe. undsrthecon
stitution of tho United States, are the people,
and the only tribunal that Cin .-ettle the
great question of the admission ot" a State.—
AVe are the only men who ought in a free
government to declare upon a liat principle
thc hoy to polish. The barber lathered bis
Excellency’s face and the boy industriously
brushed on liis boots. About the time, one
half the Executive heard was 3horn, and one
boot satisfactorily polished, tiie clock struck
ten. The brush dropped from the boy's hand,
and the barber began hastily te> place liis in-
instruments on the-shelf. The Governor de-j
sired him to proceed. Can’t do it, Mr. Gibbs;
the Sunday law is in force, was the reply.
Ami in spite of liis protestations, the Grvr-
Statk’s Evidence.—A good story^is told
of George AVhite, a notorious thief in
Westchester county. lie was once arraigned
for horse stealing, when it was supposed that
lie was connected with an extensive gang,
which was levying contributions upon all the
stables around about. -Many inducements
were held out to AA'hitcto reveal ;Le names
ofliis associates, but lie maintained a dogged
silence. An assurance from the court was at
last obtained that he should be discharged.
great peril, and that something must be done
to defeat the conspiracy, and that he must , . , , , ,, J , ,
, , ,, i upon which he made oath to reveal all lie
proceed to the camp of the Inittalion and . 1 .... —
1 - . . „ ti,knew of his accomplices. Die pin- were ac-
i measures as were necessary to tnat ,. , .* . . . •' • ..
take sucl
end.
Q—Who was Gem ral Mercer's senior col
onel 2
A—Colonel Brown, of the Local Brigade
at Augusta, acting Brigadier General at the
time.
Q—Do you know anything of the execu
tion of those seven men of your own knowl
edge
A—No. sir; only by report.
Q—Did General Mercer order the cxecu-
irdingly suffered to bring in a verdict ol
“not guilty.” when he was called upon for the
promised revelations. "I shall be faithful to
my word," said lie; “understand, then, chat
the devil is the- only accomplice I ever had—
we have been a great while in partnership—
you have acquitted me, and you may hang
him if vou call cateli him.”
. rnor was obliged to leave with one side of t 1 '* 1 •
liis face unshaved and one 1 oot covered with -*■ ®* r - .
j—t i Q—Did be order thc court-martial, or wa:
New York Tribune, in its
view of Mr, Buchanan'* publication, say.*:
Air. Douglas had been elected President
ltf.'A he probably would have postponed
“irrepressible conflict twenty years.
Telegrams from onr Exchanges.
New Orleans, Jan. 15.—The Matamoras
Rancliero, of the 0th instant, contains the fol
lowing highly important and exciting intel
ligence :
Several officcis and men crossed from
Clarksville, Texas, and took up quarters appa
rently for tlic night.
Shortly after midnight thc guards at thc
ferry and along thc river were surprised and
disarmed by tho party.
Such lighters as were at band were imme
diately seized, and with them the party cross
ed the military force at Clarksville, about one
hundred strong, mostly composed of negroes,
and entered Bagdad.
The Imperial garrison in Bagdad, about
one hundred and seventy-five, was complete
ly surprised and captured. The Commander
of the Post and the Captain of the Post were
taken prisoners while in bed. It is reported
from Lellia that the latter escaped.
■ The fillibusters immediately upon capturing
the town inaugurated a system of plunder
and pillage. The warehouses were gutted
and their contents crossed over to the Amer
ican side of the river.
The Imperial gunboat Antonio was called
upon to surrender, but she answered with a
broadside, which for a time scattered tho fil
libusters ; a second demand for the surren
der of thc boat was subsequently made,
which was answered in a similar manner.
The Antonio at the time was en route up the
river. An Austrian sergeant on hohrd of her
was killed.
At day light the French men-of-war in thc
harbor opened fire upon the fillibusters, com
pelling them to take refuge in the upperpart
of the town.
The last accounts state that the fillibusters
still held the town.
The deaths reported on each side are thirty
one.
It is stated that the fillibusters arc coiu-
mahded by General »Rced.
General Crawford has started from Browns
ville to thc scene of action.
The last accounts, say that 1300 Imperial
ists have left Mattamoros to attack the /fili
busters.
New Orleans, January 1C.—Intelligence
is just received that four hundred fillibusters
under the command of General Reed crossed
the Rio Grande, from thc American side,and
captured Bagdad on the Alexican side, below
Matamoras, taking prisoners the Imperial
garrison, numbering about one hundred and
seventy-five men.
CONFIRMATORY REPORTS—inK FRRKCH FALL
ING HACK TO SAN LUIS FOTOSL
New Orleans, Jan. 1C.—Intelligence is
just received that four hundred fillibusters,
under the command of General Reed, crossed
the Rio Grande from thc American side, and
captured Bagdad, on the Mexican sidS, below
Alatainoras. taking prisoners the imperial gar
rison. numbering about one hundred and
seventv-fivc men.
A citizen arrived at San Antonio, Texas,
on the 3d instant, alter a ten days’ trip from
Monterey and Saltillo. He gave the infor
mation t hatthe French troops had tallen back
to San Luis Potosi.
THE RIO GRANDE ROW.
[Special dispatch to the World.]
Washington, Jan. t7.—The difficulty on
the Rio Grande is the general topic of con
versation here, and the judicious friends of
the Juarez.cause say ii will do them great
harm. Such advocates as Chandler in the
Senate, and Read on tho Rio Grande, are not
likely to help any cause. Tnere is a curious
rumor here, to the effect that this outbreak
was precipitated by a belief that some under
standing had been reached between our gov
ernment and Maximilian, involving a with-
Irawal of the French troops, and a quasi-
recognition of thc empire. The raid was
made, so Hie report goes, to prevent any such
result.
Fiction and Truth.—Waller, the poet,
who was bred at King's College, wrote a pane
iryric on Cromwell when lie assumed the pr°
turship. Upon thc restoration of Charier.
Waller wrote another in praise of him, a®®
presented it to the king in person. Alter hu
majesty bad read the poem, lie told "Wall* 1
that he wrote a bettcron Cromwell. ••Pies-'
your majesty,” said Waller, like a truo cour
tier, -we poet* arc always more happy in
tion than in truth.
Money’s Worth.—A
asked a poor person if In
advantages arising from
they give a rogue an advantage over an
est man.” was the reply.
rich upstart once
bad any idea ot.“ 1L
riches. “1 belie' 1
hon-