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Tlie Greorgia "Weekly Telegraph..
GEORGIA TELEGRAPH.
MACON, FltlDAY, A TOIL 2(5, 1867.
South, and the man who does it, on how tv
small a scale, should ho encouraged as a pa
triot and public benefactor. Air. Jack has
handsome and well-filled establishment, and
wc advise all visitors to Atlanta to call up<
faitai.
The Marietta Paper Mills have undergone
ATLANTA AND IIEP HOSPITALITY.
Bv the AlaoonA Western Railroad—which,
tb. wnv, is among tl.c -moo,to,, hot j complete rocon. " nd «
Jhlpprf .id b„t in tho Southern P««<> « ■TO"* «" “<* d “''» <«*
SZ rnr which nil honor l,,<tao to it. p»- "I"'"' 1""«J <* P»P«'- *-»•
ent hntrf of director, »„<1 cSdent office™- A. J. Bobcrt & Co., ot Atlnntn, « the sole
. eoosidcntble ncntl.tr of Ecntlcn.cn of the | «««•. »” rt g**
Press were safely deposited last week in the
that firm. They will accept our thanks for
attentions. And in this connection wc would
not lorget to name our friend and business
correspondent, Wm. AIcNauglit, of tho firm
of McNauglit, Ormond & Co., the agent of
tho Fulton Paper Mills,from whom we have
care-defying city availed 1 been purchasing our supplies for more than
to illustrate a hos- y par l )ast - We huve f««nd him prompt, up-
goodly city of Atlanta, for the transaction
of business important to the interests ot
themselves and the public. The Southern
Press’Association was announced to meet on
the 17th, and the people of that go-abend
never-tiring and
themselves of the occasion
pitalitv that springs indigenous from the I ri S bt and accommodating in all his dealings,
" * - I while the product ol his mills is equal to any
manufactured in the South. We commend
Southern soil and nowhere else.
Did we protend to go into dotail, and re
count the various courtesies and attentions
that were showered in profusion upon tho
representatives of the Press, we might fill a
page of the Telegraph with the recital; but
time and space both forbid, and we shall but
glance at the surface of a munificent hospi
tality and beg our Atlanta friends to be as
sured that wc appreciate and sbnll gratelully J ect '
remember all their kindness. Their jour- ' ^ ia
him and his business to our brethren of the
Press generally.
Before closing this already too long article,
we would say something of the “Press Gang
of Atlanta, hut, like the man with the ash
cart, only with an opposite impulse, wc do
not feel that wc could do justice to the sub-
Suflice it to sav that our friends of the
Intelligencer, and Opinion, however
nalists, their landlords, their merchants, their I cro °ked some ol them may be in their politi
railroad men and citv officials have all run cal ™y s > wcre a!1 on tbc stra % ht linc llerc
up a long account against us, and we only I and «s gentlemen and brethren did all m their
add that wo would settle in full if ve could.
All took an active interest in our comfort and
pleasure, and no effort was spared to minister
effectively to both.
With many others of our brethren, on ar
riving, it was our pleasant lot to bo consigned
to thc friendly care of those famo is land
lords, mine hosts of the National Hoi el. The
Atlanta papers bavo bragged much over this
institution, and raised expectations most high,
but after several days’ experience of their
hopitality and talent for ministering to the
wants of their guests, we are free to say that
Messrs. Pond & Corey fully merit all the
praise they linvo received. That mar Is truly
great who excels in his calling, wh itever it
may he, and these gentlemen, with ticir po
lite and able assistant, Mr. H. D. Harris, have
power to make tho time of their visitors pass
| pleasantly nnd far more than we had reason
to expect. Such whole-souled, uncalculating
hospitality will long be remembered, and w
shall never rest satisfied till the Association
shall call a meeting in Macon and give us an
opportunity of cancelling at least a small
portion of the debt.
On Friday afternoon the Association was
complimcotcd with an excursion by.special
train over the State Road to Marietta,
courtesy for which we were indebted to the
accomplished Superintendent, Major Camp
bell Wallace. Air. J. B. Peck, Blaster of
Transportation; Ira E. Taylor, Auditor, and
Air. John Flynn, Master Machinist, ac
companied the party on tho trip, which was
in all respects, a most delightful one. The
won a name and made themselves tie bene- 1 ™ 1 and rollin - stock arc > n bet * cr cou ;
factors of thc public. The most perfect sys- d, » ,on than we bavecver#cen tl,cm bcfore ; and
tern and business tact pervade th ,. fcntire reflect the highest credit upon those officers.
establishment, from thc drawing roots to the I Thwo arc no rou S b P Iaces in tbe track ’ the
kitchen, nnd there is hardly a luxury or con
venience that is not supplied to their board
ers. Thc house is elegantly furnished
throughout, and if they had threo tines the
number of rooms, they would doubtless find
occupants for them all. Though crowded
when we were there, they managed to pro -
vido for us excellent quarters and tec that
our every wish was gratified. In fine, wc en
dorse the National as “A No. 1,” and advise
our readers who may visit Atlanta to give it
a trial.
In what we have said we do not intend to
exclude other Atlanta hotels from their just
meed of praise. Our remarks are limited to
our personal experience, but it is only just to
say that our brethren who stopped at the
American and other houses were most cordial
in their commendations.
engines are kept bright and clean ns if just
from the manufacturer’s hands, and even the
freight cars are well painted and in an ex
cellent state of preservation. The road, too,
is pouring thousands monthly into the treas
ury, thus proving the hitherto disputed fact
that there is more than one man in Georgia who
has thc ability to manage it successfully. In
Mr. Wallace and Air. Peck the Governor has
found real treasures, and we hope no in
ducement will be wanting to keep them on
the road. The railroad depot and offices and
all the neighboring buildings, with nearly the
whole of the Public Square at Marietta, were
destroyed by Sherman’s army when they
evacuated it. It was a hard nnd undeserved
fate for that beautiful little city, but we are
glad to see that it is slowly rising from its
ashes. Tbe National Cemetery just back of
The supper with which thc Association I the ‘own nnd in full view, is being improved
was complimented Thursday night at the Na- at an mormons expense, and will be in time
tional, by tbe merchants, was well worthy ot one of tbc moat tractive, in appearance, in
tbe name that was given to it, a “Wrf.” tbe UnioD * Many thousand Federal dead now
“Mino hosts” excelled themselves on that oc- rc P 0Se on itsb,eak sides * and the remains are
casion, and wo doubt if a richer and more be5n S brou S bt in dail y from evcr J battle ~
varied aud bounteous repast could be spread ' ® e * d prom Chattanooga to Atlanta.
ARE WE FREE TO ACT, OR NOT ?
The New York Times of the 19th instant
has an extraordinary article in condemnation
of tbe recent letter of Gov. Jenkins, which it
seems to regard as little less than an act of
positive rebellion against the law. Accord
ingtoits view, it is a crime for a Southern
Governor to advise his people not to accept
the terms of reconstruction—as they
called, though Congress has made no pledge
to admit our representatives, even though we
should comply with every requirement laid
down in the Sherman aud Supplemental bills.
This is not a little strange, and it is time,
when Northern journalists begin to talk that
way, for tho Southern people to ask what tbe
Northern Congress really meant by their en
actments. When we examine them, we find
a discretion accorded to the South in various
measures—in the matters of registration,hold
ing a convention, adopting the constitutional
amendment, &c., &c., in all of which, accord
ing to the express provisions of the enactments
in question, the Southern people may act
affirmatively or negatively, as may seem
to them best. But according to the
Times, this grant of discretion is all
a cheat and a delusion. It is so laid down
in the law, but should we be rash enough to
exercise our best judgments in a direction
not wholly in conformity to the wishes of
our Northern masters, why, forsooth, we are
to be branded as criminals and rebels ! If
Congress did not intend that wo should act
with a free will and in accordance with our
own judgment of what is right and best for
us, why did they give tbe discretion ? Why
did not the Sherman bill go on and provide
a constitution of their own, and then have a
legislature elected, with or without tbe wishes
of the people, to curry it out by legal enact
ments f It had the power and could have
accomplished this quite as readily as it passed
tlie Sherman bill. But it did not so enact,
but to the contrary, left tbe matter of action
on the details of its measures to tbe people,
giving them the privilege of volition and in
dependent action. We cannot, then, see how
any man can interfere with that perfect free
dom of action without rendering himself ob
noxious to the charge of having violated
those laws of Congress.
As to the polity of accepting tbe terms laid
down in the Sherman bill, that is wholly a
different affair. It rests solely with tho South
ern people to decide it for themselves in view
of all the consequences, present and future.—
If thev can see their eventual interest, honor
and safety in a rejection of those terms, and
Destructive Fire in Savannah.
anywhere in the South. Besides the products
indigenous to our soil, the meat markets of
the North, the fruit orchards of tlie West In-1 From the Advertiser, 2Jd Inst.]
dies and tlie vineyards of Italy and France all I On Saturday night Inst, shortly after 10
contributed their share, and a full one, to the o’clock, a fire broke out in the warehouse of
sumptuous board. Tho convivial party was Messrs. Frisbie & Neason, on Bay Street, be-
drawn exclusively from the civil list, and be-1 tween Alontgomery and West Broad. There
ing thus without unduo restraint, the occa- were between five and six hundred bnles of
rion was truly one of a “feast of reason and a I cotton in the warehouse, nearly all of which
-flow Of soul.” ’ was consumed. Alaj. P. B. Belm had 300
Nor were the visitors provided for only bales, about 25 of which were Sea Island,
when at business or at rest. The cavalry and 110 barrels bone dust. He bad an insnr-
arrangements of Drs. Simmons and Orrne ancc of $40,000 in the Southern Insurance
were complete. Carriages, buggies, and Trust Company, Oglethorpe Insurance
saddle horses were at our disposal, thus ena- I CorupMJ''. and companies represented by
bling our party, at leisure hours, to visit all
the objects of interest in tbe far-reaching do
mains of Atlanta. The extensive Iron Works
and Rolling Mills of J. D. Gray «fc Co., on
thc State Rond, about a mile and a half from
tho city, were visited, and attracted much at
tentioD by their novelty. Alany of our party
Woodbridge Bros.
The balance of the cotton was owned by
Frisbie «fc Neason and others, and wa3 par
tially insured. Messrs. F. «fc N. lost ali their
books and papers of every description. They
estimate tlieir entire loss at near $40,000, on
which they had insurance to the amount of
$20,000, in the Phoenix of Chicago, Virginia
State. Selma Fire and Alarine, Eulaula Home,
had never witnessed the operation of the and tbe Putnam, Hartford, Conn.
r , ,. 1 .... I Among other articles destroyed was an old
powerful machinery used in such establish- I T a yi or cylinder press, formerly used by the
ments, and were wonder-struck at the facili- Republican, nnd the machinery for a grist mill
ty with which a glowing and jagged mass belonging to Messrs. R. J. Wade & Bro.
was converted in smooth nnd solid rods or Tba w’ ood . on building adjoining on the
. . . , „ west, belonging to Airs. Afary E. Falun, was
bar;. I lie terrific furnaces in full coinmo-1 p ar tiy destroyed. Loss $3,000, no insurance,
tion were suggestive, and conveyed intimn- The extensive carriage establishment of
tions tho wholesome effects of which wc hope AIcKee it Bennett, on the corner of Bay and
will be practically illustrated in tho lives of West Broad streets, was at one time in iromi-
. .. , , ,, , nent danger, bat thc well-directed efforts of
i f the beholders. • the firemen saved it with only slight damage
The work of the company is at present to tbc third story. The stock was much
confined to the manufacture of bar and rod damaged by water, but the loss is covered by
iron nnd railroad spikes, though the machine- insurance. •
„, ... m .. r •> i » • On the corner of Bay and Montgomery
ryfor rollingTnulsforrailroadsisgoingup s trect s , va sa house occupied by Air! John
and will be in operation in the course of thc I g m jth, an old express messenger. His
coming month. Such an establishment is an | kitchen adjoined the warehouse on the east,
acquisition to the State, and we wish Air.
Gray and his company every success, besides
returning to him our thanks for his courte
sies.
Among other places visited was the new
Cemetery, on tho Georgia Railroad, a spot
admirably selected for its solemn purpose,
and which will prove an object of great at
traction in years to come.
Atlanta has risen as Jf by magic from the
desolation and ashes of war. There lias
been nothing like it in tlie past, and the
and was pulled down to prevent thc spread
of the fire in that direction. Ho lost all thc
contents of thc kitchen and a quantity of
provisions. Other pnrtics in thc neighbor
hood suffered more or less in the removal of
their goods.
It was tho general remark of persons pres
ent that thc entire fire departments, both
white and black, never worked better. It
was at one time feared that the entire square
would go, but the men worked with a will,
being determined, if possible, to confine the
fire to the warehouse, although it was sur
rounded by wooden buildings. Tlie utility
of steam engines was well demonstrated on
matchless energy that hati thus spoken a large this occasion, as without them thc fire would
i'i: v, with nias-ive and costly blocks forbiisi- have proved a disastrous one.
no?s and every necessary public building on . T ^ rct \° lmy f record some acci.
. . . ® dents to members of the Washington Fire
ag a , in o sudden existence, is pass , Company, who were, as usual, promptly on
mg all comprehension. Such enterprise need hand. Indeed, they got the second stream on
not stagger at any undertaking. It has been, the fire, though their house is at the other
too, a most beneficent movement. Thous- end oP * be c ‘ t f >
ands would have suffered and hundreds , Mr. Michael Archibald, while in the ware-
, , . , , , , , I house, was overcome by thc smoke and fell
-timed, but for thc labor opened up to them I between two bales of cotton. When acci-
in the rebuilding of the city. We would be j dentally discovered, lie was thought to be
glad to specify many new structures and coni- dead, hut was brought to and conveyed
nent on them'and their purpose, but fear to bo ' nL '- u ; h . ere ^ is . 8t *ll suffering from tbe ef-
m .i..ii,i.i,..i.,i < I i 1 fccts of his suffocation.
make tins hasty sketch too long. Mr . c . p. lirown? the tfllcient Secretary of
ToAIr.tr. W. Jack, wholesale and retail the Company, was struck by the falling roof.
Confectioner, Whitehall street, we desire to I which gave him a deep cut over thc eye, and
make a public acknowledgment in behalf of a ver J st -'’ ere Gruise on the thigh. Yesterday
.he little folks home. Mt. Jmtk m„»f,c-
turcs his own stock on the premises, consist- When the porch of Airs. Fahme’s house
ing of candies of all kinds, preserves, crackers fell, it struck Air. James Hcagney, knocking
of every kind, Ac., &c and in this respect is llim 8Cns tless. He is pretty badly cut about
doing a most valuable service to the South. L h “^ d a , nd B . cve o re,y brui8Cd ’ but hia ^
ine manufacture of our own raw material of After several attempts, the iron safe used
all sorts, instead of sending it North ahd by Alessrs. Frisbie <fc Neason was drawn out
receiving it back again in no better state than tbe burning building, but as soon as it
we can put it here with our own labor is 'T aS g0t l nt0 the 8treet feI1 to P ieces > tbus
somethin.. . , , , , ’ 9 showing it to be no safe at all. Everything
soma inn* is most uccdod for nrnc I %_ , r . *, i
. u iur lue pros- | m it was of course consumed. It was oi
penty and commercial independence of the | some old pattern, now almost out of use.
are willing to take the responsibility, it is
their business, and nobody else’s.
The point we make is, that Congress, in the
very terms of the bill, has granted and guar
anteed to the Southern people, and to nWJ of
them, the right to accept or reject the terms
offered in tbc Reconstruction bills, and that
is in violation of tbe spirit and express let
ter of tho law to seek to deny or abridge that
right. We challenge any man to read tbe
law carefully and come to a different conclu
sion.
Since writing tbe toregoing, we have re
ceived the recent correspondence between
General Pope aud Governor Jenkins, referred
some days since, and which will bo found
elsewhere in our columns. As regards the
rejoinder of General Pope, we cannot justly
omit an expression of our admiration for its
spirit and temper. We think, however, as
regards the argument agninst the address of
Governor Jenkins, lie has misapprehended
the real points in the case, and is in error,
very honestly we have no doubt, in tbe mat
ter of liis duty. Tho argument is, as stated
by himself, that he cannot permit the civil
officers of his district to do acts that “frus
trate the execution of the laws of the United
8tates,” and in another place, “use influ
ences to defeat the exeention of the laws of
the United States.” In this, thc General
clearly misapprehends the scope and design
of Gov. Jenkins’ address. It was not design
ed, nor could its eflect by any possibility be,
to “ frustrate tbe execution of tlie laws of the
United States,” or the Reconstruction Acts.
We correctly represent thc sentiments of the
whole people of Georgia when we say that
no man has any such design, or the slightest
wish to interfere with Gen. Pope in his exe
cution of the law so far as that duty has been
imposed upon him. The object of Gov. Jen
kins was simply to enlighten his constituents
upon certain matters which the Reconstruc
tion Acts have, in express terms, confided to
their discretion, and upon which they are ex
pected, in the contemplation of the law, to
act, with all the lights they can obtain on the
question of duty. This is the sum total of
Gov. Jenkins’ address, and there is not one
word in it that counsels or countenances re
sistance to law, or to thc military authorities
entrusted with its execution. Thc sole object
was to counsel the people of Georgia in the
matter of a proper exercise of a duty that
the Reconstruction Acts themselves had im
posed upon them, and wherein can such action
be justly held as illegal or improper ? If the
people have a discretion under tbe law, they
also have thc right to use every sourco of
light for its proper exercise, and we cannot
see how any one of them can be rightfully
closed against them ?
Wc will do Gen. Pope the justice to say
that wc believe he is acting conscientiously,
for his -whole course 6ince his assignment to
duty here has been such as to repel all idea
of harshness and injustice ; but we feel as
sured that in this matter of tbe 3d Section
of Orders No. 1, he has made a grave mis
take, and. if carried up, will not be sustained
by tbo authorities at Washington.
^Written for the Daily Telegraph.
Flaftit Corn, or Perish.
It would ^ive to madness and despair the
majority of jpber thinking men of Georgia
and Alabama if they could be convinced of
the extreme want and destitution to which
the two .'states are now about to be brought.
It is now ascertained, beyond a doubt, that
neither of these States have rations for man
and beast for thirty days. It is believed, by
the best informed, that fifteen 'days would ex
haust tlie entire supply on hand, if equally
distributed among all. Is this not nlnrmin
Could anything be more so ? Ia there any
condition so humble—so full of terror and
demoralization ? Have we any hope ip our
selves ? Is there any immediate relief for us ?
If so, where is it to come from ? It may be
answered, that some arrangement will be made
—some plan adopted, by which starvation
will be avoided. This is tlie hopo and this
is tbe curse of our suffering, perishing coun
try. Our independence seems to consist en
tirely in our confidence in and dependence
upon the liberality of a few merchants at
home, and the ability of the Western country
to protect us against a worse fato than negro
suffrage or Radical confiscation. But will
this remedy avail us much longer t Can we
expect—can we hope always to be thus
protected in a courso of stupidity nnd lazi
ness, that ought to destroy, and will destroy,
the proudest people tbc sun ever sbono on?
No! the time is near at hand when thc
strength and credit of commission mer
chants, the liberality of relief societies
as well as tho abundant stock of Western pro
duce, must all yield to the pressure of unpre
cedented t demand, and the whole country
be svfckli'V.fy thrown into a state of confusion
and desperate necessity, unparalleled in tlie
history of the South. And thoso who read
this article aud flatter themselves that “ the
time is not yet,” will suddenly awake from
their delusion, and shudder at their igno
rance. Sxty days will develop a state of
uffairs in Georgia that will paralyze tbo stout
est heart. Already is the daily cry heard, on
the streets of the cities and highways of tlie
country, “we can’t go niore than a week
longer.” And who is «t that is making thi;
sad and humiliating confession ? It is the
best farmers of our countiy—men who, five,
three, or even two years^igo, boasted of their
fat smoke-houses and loaded corn-cribs.—
“ Can't go more than a week longer /” No,
some of them can’t go a week; they are out
now—not a grain of corn, iiot a pound of ba-
ities than bar-rooms, billiard saloons and ten
pin alleys. Our old men must encourage in
dustry, nnd see that less cotton and more
corn is planted. And we must all indulge
less in tbc extravagant luxury of cursing ne
groes and Yankees, and go to work ourselves,
on the principle of making our own meat
and bread.
If we fail to do this we shall soon find ne
groes our equals and Yankees our masters.—
Let the young men of the cities nnd towns
give up i dieir favorite haunts, and repair to
the country and go to work. Let them take
hold of the plow handles. There they will
find health, riches and honor. Yes, let them
go to work—we want more farmers and less
lawyers and doctors.
Henceforth, let cr: Aristocracy, if we have
any, be an aristocracy of labor and merit—
Let our young men all over the country for
get, as soon ns possible, how muny negroes
their daddies had ; and let them go to work
and show to Radicalism and thc balance of
the world that they ate masters of thc situa
tion, under any and all circumstances. Gur
country must be saved—the young men and
farmers must do it; and to do this, they
must plant corn—yes, plant corn or perish.
Obsekver.
Our Relations with
Policy and
Duty of thc
People.
Southern
BETTER FROM EX-GOVERKOR PERRY, OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
con, and not a dollar to buy it with. And
Radical Spirit in Tennessee.—The
Jonesboro’ Flag, edited by one Capt. Gris
ham, of the “Loyal Alilitia,” lias the follow
ing notification:
The man that docs not understand that
this State is to remain under the control
ot its friends at any cost or sacrifice, is cer
tainly too far behind the times to make a
safe and successful legislator. The Radicals
will rule this State “peaceably, if they can;
forcibly, if they muet.”
This is a candid confession as to what an
officer of the “loyal militia,” having liis com
mission direct from the Governor, regards as
tho purpose of thc Radical party, and he en
dorses this purpose:
Executive Department, Nashville,
Tenn., Alarcb 4,1867—To all whom it may
concern: I take great pleasure in recom-
mendiug the patronage of the loyal public to
the Jonesboro’, (Tenn.) Union Flag. It is a
truly loyal sheet—ably conducted, and is do
ing good service in the Radical Union cause.
W. G. Brownlow, Gov. of Tenn.
There is a day of reckoning coming for
these bad men.
Geu. Howard estimates that within
the last four year* over a million of negroes
have “kicked the bucket.” Under the old
regime, during the same time, not half that
number would have perished.
the question arises, where is it to come from ?
The answer is easily given : Some men, upon
the strength of their reputation for prompt
ness and reliability will qbtain it through their
merchants at home; others of more extensive
acquaintance and established responsibility,
will go West and obtain it there; and there will
be a large class of respectable and good farm
ers who will fail to get it at all; ahd the
abandonment of their last hope of a “farm”
this year must come, and with it such a state
of affairs as can be better imagined than
described. Some might ask—“why not make
arrangements for all to obtain corn and bacon
at least to make this crop with ?” Aud
humanity, mercy, and everything else good
and charitable, suggest and urge this; but
thcre is neither capitol, credit or confidence
sufficient in the country to afford it. The de
mand is unusual and alarming: as well as
increasing, and without the assistance of
something like a great National Relief
Society the destiny for this year, of many
good and worthy fanners, is sealed and sealed
in misery and suffering.
And this brings us to the point to be urged
in this article. And it is for us all to do the
best and most we can to encourage and as
sist the planting interest of our country. Beg
and insist upon tbe farmers to plant corn.—
In them is our hope and destiny. With
them, we, as merchants, bankers, doctors and
mechanics, must rise or fall. Ours is no
country without them. And what is tlieir
duty as men and Christians ? It is to plant
corn. It is not too late. Plant corn ! Aban
don now, before it is everlastingly too late ?
that ill-fated idea of “two thirds cotton” and
“one-third corn.” Reverse tlie old-fogy ax
iom, and plant corn. Yes, plant much corn
and little cotton, for one year at least. “Two-
thirds cotton 1” abandon it. One year more
of such policy will put you aud the whole
country where the West can’t help you. It
will put you where confiscation will not trou
ble you. It will put you and your proud old
State where negro suffrage will have no ter
ror for you. It will put you in the midst of
famine as intolerable as Radicalism itself.
Will you plant com and live, or will you
plant cotton aid perish ?
Wo know' that the policy of planting cot
ton in Georgia aud Alabama, and of purchas
ing with its proceeds the supplies of fami
ly and farm, is an old and cherished one; and
next in terror to the idea of yielding the ne
gro, with many men’ is this fond theory of
raising cotton to buy corn. But in thelossof
one must follow a change in the other ; for
nothing is now more clear that at least one
year must be applied to thc filling up of our
corn-cribs and smoke-houses.
Already has tho price of corn reached
a point where poor people could not afford
to buy it, even under more favorable circum
stances. The constant and increasing de
mand, together with the late floods in the
West, by which over five per cent, of the com
product of that entire countiy was destroyed,
has so excited the prices that, even now, a
feeling almost akin to panic prevails thcre
and in the South, and God only knows where
it will end. It is now but Spring-time—the
Summer not yet at hand; and yet prices are.
higher than they should be in July and Au
gust Can tlie wisest head tpll where this
will stop!
Last year thc farmers in Georgia started
their crop with provisions sufficient, in most
instances, to last them till May and June; this
year the majority of them started with less
than two months’ rations. Some had none
at all, and have been on the market from the
beginning. Hence the conclusion is positive,
that with one year more of “cotton planting,"
we will be where there will be no start at all,
and that great system of “ hog and hominy ”
from the West will have forever played out,
and that worse one of Georgia, attempting to
count her cotton htys without her negroes, will
have vanished, and the sooner the better.
We are a poor, subjugated people, in a poor
country. Our past habits and customs must
give way to others better adapted to our
wants and conditions. We must improve
our habits as well as our lands. 11a must
plant less and work more. Extravagance m ust
yield to economy, and fashion to good taste.
Our young women must wear less silk and
The following letter from the Hon. Benj
P. Perry, a life-long Union man and late Pro
visional Governor of South Carolina, will be
read with interest at the present crisis of na
tional affairs:
The United States shall guarantee to
every State in this Union a Republican form
of government.”—Section 4, Article IV, Con
stitution of tbe United States ot America.
Under this authority the Congress of the
United States, after excluding from their
seats thc Senators and Representatives of ten
Southern States, has established in all of the
excluded States a Alilitary Government, ab
solute and unlimited in its powers. It is well
known that these States have exhausted their
power and resources in a gallant and heroic
struggle for independence and self-govern
ment. They now have no alternative but
unqualified submission to the military des
potism thrown over them. It is to be hoped,
and it is generally believed, that the military
commanders in the Southern States will ex
ercise their despotic powers wisely and hu
manely. It is the administration of a gov
ernment, and not the form of a government
which makes it odious and oppressive. A
despotism, wisely, justly and virtuously ad
ministered, is the most perfect government
that can be established. It is the govern
ment of God, established by him for the gov
ernment oftbe universe.
Five or six months ago South Carolina,
with all the other Southern States, rejected
with scorn and indignation the Constitution
al amendment, which proposed to exclude
from office their leading men, and reduce
their representation in Congress unless they
permitted universal negro suffrage. Now it
is proposed by tlie Alilitary bill not only to
exclude the class of persons from office, but
to disfranchise them and exclude them from
voting in all elections, and at the same time
to enfranchise their former slaves, and give
universal suffrage to the negro. Strange to
say that there are many persons in the South
ern States whose high sense ot honor would
not let them adopt the Constitutional amend
ment, who are now urging the pcole to vol
untarily swallow tho Alilitary bill, regardless
of honor, principle or consistency. I am
happy to know that they are secessionists,
and never were Union men.
The inquiry is, which, then, shall we do ?
Whilst I have been writing, the telegraph
brings the glorious news that Alississippi and
Georgia have appealed to the judiciary for
thc protection of their constitutional rights
as sovereign States of the American Union.
Would to God that South Carolina stood by
tne side of Alississippi and Georgia, in this
their last noble effort to maintain their dig-
nity and hoaftr as States, and the just rights
and liberties of their citizens. If this last
grand effort in favor of freedom should fail,
then the South will have to quietly meet the
tyranny of Congress; but, in meeting, she
need not embrace the hideous thing. When
the military order is issued for a registration
of voters, let every man, sot disfranchised,
go forward and register his name. When the
election is ordered lor a convention, it will be
the duty of every voter to cast his vote for
the wisest, best and most trustworthy men,
who are eligible to seats in that convention.
This much lie is forced to do for self-protec
tion, and to keep the State government from
falling into the hands of unworthy and base
men. He need go no further. Let him then
endorse on his ticket, “No Convention.” If
ho is a patriot and an honorable man, he can
not desire the change which the Alilitary
bill contemplates, and he should not vote a
Ue
With the cunning which always character
ize the tyrant, Congress has enacted that the
people themselves shall endorse the call of a
convention, in order to give legal validity to
its acts. Without this indorsement, the whole
proceeding might be regarded as forced on
the States by the military government, and
therefore null and void. Hence, thc trick of
making the people endorse the call of a con
vention. It is to be hoped that they will not
be caught by this cunning device, and that
they may be able to influence the freedmen
to act with them. But should a majority of
thc votes be for a convention, then it is to
assemble, and not otherwise. When it assem
bles, thc honor and destiny of the State will
be in its keeping.
But if thc people should vote “no Con
vention,” what then ? The honor and dignity
of the States will, at least, not be thereby
sacrificed by their citizens. We shall remain
as we are, under military rule, until there is
a reaction at thc North. It has already com
menced in Connecticut, and will, sooner or
later, sweep over the whole Northwestern
and Middle States. Then wo shall be re
stored to our rights in the Union, with honor
nnsullcd and the right of suffrage unchanged.
Let us await this Democratic triumph, be it a
hundred years, rather than seek new associa
tions with our Black Republican tyrants and
oppressors, and be guilty of the baseness of
abandoning our friends at the North, who
have nobly defended our cause for two years
past, and sacrified themselves in the struggle
for Southern rights and constitutional free
dom. . •'
If we are unwilling to hear the ills’to which
we are subjected, for the maintenance of hon
or and principle, then wc deserve our destiny.
It is said that, it we do not accept the degra
ding terms now offered, worse will be im
posed ! Have wc any assurance that worse
may not be imposed, if we do accept l Like
the woman who consented to her own dis
honor to save the life of her husband, and
was then made to witness his execution!—
There is no faith in tyrants. Threats of con
fiscation are futile. Almost every one has
been pardoned by taking the amnesty oath
or by special application. The Southern
people may be robbed and murdered, but
their property cannot be confiscated.
In order to debauch prominent Southern
men, offers have been made in Congress to
remove their disabilities, and, it would seem,
not without success! Threats to the many
and bribes to a few, is thc policy adopted for
radicalizing the Southern States. With uni
versal negro suffrage and debauched politic
ians, we may bid farewell to all hope of re
publican institutions. Virtue aud intelligence
alone can sustain a republic. When the
negro has acquired intelligence to understand
his political rights, and property to make
him feel an interest in the proper exercise of
them, he should be allowed to vote. This
lea.
The reported sale of R U ; si . ln
the Government of the United
caused a very considerable deer** ^
among us, and even by n repV.
her Majesty's Government hasbee? t4,i h
in a rather serious tone. It i s not 5politt
that any such bargain has been ^
completed, but that negotiation, Sr 01 ®
carried to the point of completIL • H
certained thing, and that they
making the United States Governm ^
of Russian America is more tlein,,
What such a result may mean for
question which we need approach 1 * ^
considerable perturbation. Ther • ^
in it to make any great difference^!? 1
position in America, or in our rei„- 0
the United States. Its real iinpo^!® 0 **!
showing us clearly once
position in America actually is ami IS 81
relations with tlie United State,
likely to be. are *n<3
If we consider what motives ,
duced tlie President's Cabinet ^
negotiations for the purchase of R^l
ritory in America, we shall lindnothi^
startled at, nothing that should P i ?ta
alarm for thc present, nor anyt£! Si ‘
should increase that alarm ti.r o? ; l
which no Englishman can avoid M
around him, and then far forward Y ;
remember in the first dIh™
first place that *1
and ambition of Russia are ail' tar
the course of American ambition and i
it is wicked to put ballots in the hands of
those who will be the passive tools of their .
employers, or the mischievous agents of Black , From the Pall J’ali Gazette, v.ril j i
Republican emissaries. 1 ””— - ‘‘
Nothing can be more unjust and iniqui
tous than the discriminating disfranchise
ment of the Military bill. A Union man,
whose life has been spent in trying to main
tain the interests of the Union, but who was
a member of the Legislature or a Judge ten
or twenty years ago, and who, after liis State
seceded, fed or clothed a son in the Confede
rate army, is disfranchised! But the man
whose whole life may have been spent in
treasonable efforts' to l Ustroy the Union and
involve the country iafa bloody civil war,
who was a leading member of the Secession
Convention, and afterwards a distinguished
General in the Confederate army, hurling liis
command against the army of the United
States forces in a hundred bloody fields of
battle, is not disfranchised, unless he had
previously taken an oath to support the Con
stitution of the United States! There are
many instances of this character which might
be mentioned,showing the injustice and folly
of this disfranchisement. It is believed that
neither Generals Beauregard, Hill, Aragruder,
nor General Lee himself, tho illustrious com-
mander-in-chief of the Confederate forces, is
disfranchised. But the humble Union mag
istrate, who relieved the distresses of a soil or
friend in the Confederate army, is disfran
chised !
There is not the remotest hope or proba
bility of the Southern States being restored
to thc Union till after the next Presidential
election. Why, then, shall we voluntarily
degrade ourselves, and give up our dearest
political rights for a delusion ? If we are to
wear manacles, let them be put on by onr ty
rants, not by ourselves. If a man threatens
to kick you, self-respect would forbid your
exposing your person to him and asking him
to kick you at once aud be done with it.—
We have lived already two years under mili
tary rule, in great poverty and distress, and
have been cheered all tho time by thc con
sciousness that we are not a degraded, though
a conquered people. We can continue to live
in the same way two years longer, or, if need
be, ten years, and feel a pride in knowing
that we have maintained our honor, and
made every effort possible to preserve our
freedom and constitutional rights. A man
who feels that he has dishonored himself, is
lost, and so it is with a people.
Let us live quietly and peaceably, attend
ing diligently to our various vocations in life
—obeying patiently the powers that be; but
never think of voluntarily voting away our
rights os a State or honor and freedom as
men. Let us trust in a returning sense of
justice on the part of our oppressors, which
sooner or later must come. Have patience,
forbearance and long suffering. The South
ern States fought four long bloody years for
what they believed to be a sacred right pro
claimed by all the American people in their
Declaration of Independence. Can they not
now afford to live four years longer out of
that Union, rather than sacrifice their honor,
their rights, as States, and the great republi
can principles of freedom ?
B. F. Perry.
can energy. There is no annarZ' 41
whatever why Russia should ^to t
single foot of territory i u America. ^
are many reasons why she should JLJ
feelings of friendship in the United
m due time should constitute a i
ditional claim to alliance; in ^ 61
could make the sale »■;»)> ort '
could make the sale with ncrfertVs
to herself, and without
cause of offence to anybody 0°n H
hand, it is manifestly a great point Iff ^
policy in the United States also to f
friendly reeling between tlieir -- ^
and the Russian Government.
Thc Selma Bank Slobbery—-Full
Statement.
Special to the Montgomery Addcrtiscr.]
Selma, April 20.—The following official
report concerning the National Bank affaii
will appear in the Selma Times to-morrow
morning:
At request of Arajor Gen. W. Swayne, the
undersigned were present on the 17th instant
when the vault of the First National Bank in
this place was opened, and we assisted in the
examination made on that and the succeeding
day. For the information of those concerned,
we submit the following statement of facts
disclosed by the investigation. The book
keeper of tbe Bank has furnished a trial bal
ance taken from the books on the 15th mst.
It has been deposited with the Chamber of
Commerce for public inspection. If the bank
on that day was in thc condition represented
by the statement, gross frauds were subse
quently committed, for, instead of $177,961-
26 in cash, we only found in currency $3,293-
OS, and in coin 5,452 18, assuming that a
sealed bag of gold marked $5,000 actually
contained that amount, nnd excluding $123 80
supposed to be a special deposit lrom tbe
memoranda attached.
The bills receivable are stated to be $155,-
126 96, besides $32,715 87 in suspense—all
the papers reported to be in suspense were
found except a check lor $150, but of the
$155,126 90 we only found about $105,000.
We had no means of ascertaining what dispo
sition had been made of the remainder—more
than two-thirds of the amount shown by the
hooks to be on deposit stands to the credit of
the United States aud of officers of the Gov
ernment in their official capacity. The assets
reported in the form of exchange on Alobile,
New Orleans and New York may prove to be
available, but the books furnished the only
information we could obtain in regard to it
—cheeks may have been drawn against it not
reported by thc President of the bank to the
cashier or book-keeper. We regret that we
cannot be more specific, but tbe manner in
which the bank was conducted, (it appearing
from the evidence before us that the Presi
dent, who has absconded, managed the affairs
generally), rendered it impossible to obtain
data which would enabler us to give thc cred
itors a satisfactory opinion as to the amount
which may be realized from the assets. Aluch
depends upon the skillful management in the
liquidation, as many of the notes and drafts
actually on the books, as well as those ab
stracted, are of doubtful value.
(Signed) Levi W. Lawler,
AL J. A. Keith,
Wm. Byrd, Jr.
Selma, April 20—3 p. m.—John Parkman,
late President of thc Selma National Bank,
was arrested yesterday in Wilcox coupty,
supposed to be making bis way to the Ala
bama & Florida Railroad. He will be
brought to this city to-day. Thc arrest was
made by ‘city and county officers.
AroRE of tiie Selma Robbery.—In addi
tion to the telegraphic information elsewhere,
we are informed by a party acquainted with
the facts in the case that it is evident from
the books of the Bank that the capital stock
was never paid in—that the bonds to secure
the circulation were borrowed and paid for
by the circulation received from the Treasury
Department and deposits; that the $100,000
of bonds to secure the Government Deposits
were bought with the deposits in the Bank.
The $182,000 00 cash that appears from the
books to be in thc vault, less $9,000 actually
found, lias been used by Parkman in his pri
vate speculations in iron and cotton. It is
not supposed that he could have carried away
exceeding $25,000 in money, and it is sup
posed that the Bank has been “rotten” from
tho beginning, and thc “monthly state
ments” false.—Add.
Mississippi.—It is said Governor Sharkey,
of Alississippi, has expressed liis intention,
should thc Supreme Court refuse to entertain
his petition for an injunction restraining the
execution of the Alilitary Reconstruction bill,
to make up a case for the indictment and ar
rest of General Ord, commander oftbe Fourth
Alilitary District, for treason against the State
of Alississippi. He is determined to make
the Supreme Court decide the question,
whether agreeable to the judges or not, be
fore Congress can “get a hit” at him, as he
expresses it.
AIateuial for the Canvass.—Tho Nash
ville Press and Times says : Three hundred
and forty-eight boxes of ammunition, filling
three cars, and directed to Governor W. G.
Brownlow, arrived by the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad yesterday. A quantity of
arms are now awaiting transportation at
Louisville. They are for the State militia
now being organized in this State.
J-SF-Tbomas H. Clay, the son of Henry Clay
and lately our Minister to Honduras, arrived
yesterday by thc Nicaragua route.
auu me uu»um woverameDt
loo much to say that those naivcN ,
divide the world between them
but there does undoubtedly enst J ,
belief not yet so sure as toVpLX?'
speak out-that it is their dS „
what is more, there is » both a constamt
reaching, determinate effort to that en,i ’
The ultimate hope of the Russian UtZ,
the East, ami so to make hi* nation md
m Europe also. The ultimate hone of ^
American is to fill the Continent of
with great republican States, all eovem!
under the stars and stripes, and comps-
into a union of such credit, prosneritv -
strength as would not only give them
commerce oftbe world, but the powu'
protect it from any foe or any comhinah,,
foes, by land or sea. The ambition of tU
two Powers is nowhere opposed; in eachc
it is vast and hopeful. It is easy to ian-v
many contingencies where the prosecution
the one coukl be made to serve tho gw
and therefore it is that much sympathv
exist between the two peoples as well u.
tween tbe two Governments. TohsveZ
ened the feeling at any moment would 1 '
been quite worth thc cession of teritory..
paratively valueless to one party, and tl*H
penditure by tbe other party of a fewmuJ
of dollars for what might not be venrnk,
ble to it either. Even if the bargain veil
that simple character, and if no other cos;
erations came into it, it would be a wi* R
for both parties.
Russia loses nothing of more imports
iier than that $7,000,000 are, probably:!
she gains immensely in a political mm,
seeming to acknowledge readily ami ps
fully the pretensions arrayed by the Aec-I
cans against the rule of any monare!;
where upon their continent. Wk
Americans gain is that acknowledgna
gain of no small importance in thtiiw
and what is more, the transaction helpsi;:
still deeper in the minds of the whole W
can people a belief iu the expediency o:s
ambitious aud momentous policy wuictfr
cessfully opposed the Emperor Napoli.:
Mexico, anti will ultimately turn anotkb
peror out of it. This alone would be tfi
gain to both parties, we repeat, if there*
no other considerations in the matter, i
we know there are. At the present mass
when Russia is again very active in pm
ot her own cherished designs, it is no: st
gather an unimportant thing to exbihi:toi
world what at any rate may seem anotb
proof of good understanding with Amtri;
There may not be mucb in that, but lb
is something in it; aud what there is is clu
benefit without any drawback whatever-
While as to the United States, the acquisiti.
of the Russian American Territory, kippi:
down upon onr own possessions as it doe
serves as a timely move in answer to the cot
federation of tfaoM possessions. It docs iw
and canuot, amount to a threat, as some peg
pie seem to think. It is a hint, a protest,;
declaration of feeling more effectual awli
more politic than anything in the shape ol
dispatch could be. It means, “Yea bavee
established your American Provinces into:
confederacy ; the avowed object of that a
federacy is less to establish relations betvi
the Provinces fer. their own better
ment than for the establishment of a
ry Power—of one great State which i»*
course of time may be able to resist whit ■
call our rapacity, but which we think of*
something different There is, in
this confederacy scheme some vaguei^-
setting up a strong monarchical State*!--,
doors. We do not intend that any
State shall exist. The time must come
the British possessions in America shL^j
ours. You yourselves know very well
that question depends more upon wiut •
wish to do than what you have power to 1 -
Now this purchase of Russian America -- -■
show you that’wc quite understand the p»
pose of a confederacy which we
sonable excuse to prevent, andto* ^
do not by any means find in it*
abandoning those ideas of anneution w , f
have hitherto been used to us, by way 01 t
hinted threat, in many a dispatch,
•diplomatic conversation.’” _ v
This we take to be the real sfgnuM^ ^
tlie proposed arrangement and ®y* B “ ’ ;
not be carried outfits purpose will , l
That the purchase was ever designs -
necessary or particularly useful ii"''- ^
military sense, it is difficult to be“ eT ®; •
United States are strong enough, sn (
probability will remain strong en0 ®w’ t( j]
overrun our possession in Canada an<
them whenever they please. R 15 ‘‘
imagine that they want fresh vantage? ^
for that operation whenever the tun ^
come to attempt if: so that whet
really buy Russian America or not, s» ^
- uieiu, ue siiuuiu uu unu»v>, -un. misj J3F”Ex-Gov. Foote, formerly of Alississippi, | eral. ihbji icgiuu u>» —-- - , rs js *
larger bonnets. Our young men must find | principle has been adopted in most of the j is in St. Louis, where he is announced to de- 1 the violent secession office-boio
exercise and recreation in more healthy local- * Northern States, and is wise and just. But | liver a lecture on “the times.” j lutely necessary to the executio
ns a matter of no reai importance. ■
of importance, is the manifestation o
tion which the negotiation makes
the consideration that as affairs stanu, #
they are likely to stand for many a . .
come, (during which anything o*J .Jgg
wc should find ourselves helpless a- y
serious attempt to carry the inten-
effect. ______
Gen. Sheridan’s District—^ory:-:^
TION AND THE REMOVAL OF ClVH- ‘ ’,j,L
The following items come from gt
source : Several of the prominent • ^
of Texas arrived in New Orleans o ^
inst,, and had an interview with ’ ^ .y;
dan uyion the condition ot aits 1
State. They received the assuraw** ^ |
General that he should do everyt ? ^
power to carry out the reoonstruc :
its spirit and intention; and that
favor and protect those who a ? Jjt
faithful to the Union, as tar as
sistently with superior orders Iron t
ton. He has made an issue upon
of Gov. Throckmorton, and woiim
few days whether or not he win j' > 5 «
to set him aside. If so, other re ■ ^ •„
follow. He will appoint Union - ne gr-C
. boards of registration, end ° iti };
! whenever they shall be found qui - , f ^ .
I The Texans were well satisfied'' .
They regard the removal ■