Newspaper Page Text
Th.e Greorgia, eeldLy Telegraph.
11.;{ !"(i KAPII.
*W^^e*w> I » 0B -— A9 we P re "
if*** 0 , arc tired of the disgusting
K^ debates in this body, wa bayo
om it them, when defined
' k0 up tho best report of the
U ..ntion we can from our At-
J tii'' <** ‘ Thcy may be assured that
<&•', * ou Ul not interest them. The
if**’’J .(..rfornieuces might amuse one
T^ for the «eriouwe» of tottm. •<
*" ' or T^T(X>MPTIlOI.I-KH QeNEKAL.
below it will bo seen that
r***° ,ie bM removed Major John T.
^ Her General of tho State, and
^^e^taid Charles Wheaton, 33d In-
& ,‘ dl#r gc the duties of his office
is no unexpected blow to
FtComptroller, behaving ao-
iff,, «.ion .ta
- sut^:
since tbe recent re
ttTtJ “V, TmRD Military District, )
®M* "u Florida and Alabama,) >
’Atlanta, Qa., Jan. 17, 1868. )
, j1r j frs , Ho. 12.]
0 s * T Burns Comptroller ot the State
I * i w vin» declined to respect the
tfr' T - 1 ' llU j failed to co-operate with,
l«jJcSeral Commanding the Third
“W pistriet, is hereby removed from
r , n |.;„ Charles Wheaton, 33d Infan-
K <Vmv is hereby detailed tor duty
^'n strict of Georgia as Comptroller of
! H 0 f Georgia. He will repair with-
t to Milledgoville, Ga., and enter
pSl^orGeoena Mejd* ^ Q
3W nAMPsnm*Election.—The election
.Stn Hampshire for Governor, Legihl.tture
J other officers will take place on the 10th
fshreh. Great interest will attach to the
U as it will ho the first State election of
The votes of this State at recent
frdons were as follows:
Pern. hep.
—?3.0S4 87^8 S.TO
(&—
AMM
..'S.lxa
Si,aw
3.146
Meeting in Decatur Couuty.
Bainmudoe, Ga., Jan. 14, 1867.
f j'1 digraph: A meeting was held
T <he citizens of Decatur county, on the
iiinit., at the Court House in our city, to
njije „ Conservative Club.
Be Hon. II. G. Crawford was called to the
Jr, and John C. Rutherford, Esq., re-
Hhd to act as Secretary,
the meeting appointed his Honor H. O.
„f or d 8 s Cliairmaa of tho Conservative
.itaitlio to organize Decatur county, with
; power to appoint from the different dis-
Ljnl the county one or more members, in
Ar in complete the standing committee,
fitrrupon bis Honor made the following
;wir.uuenU: J. O’Neal, 8. S. Mann, Wm.
jester, J. T. Fain, Isaac M. Griffin, Jacob
1st, C»pt. Ilcrring, Geo. W. Jones, R. T.
licund Col. W. O. Fleming.
Ike committee were fully empowered to
Mdart through their Chairman all corres-
onJeMe,«il to transact all business with
MksdfWtai of the Conservative Club at
lhri)s.Gi Decatur.
Lkkuxa vs. Georgia.—We present our
ii-rv who have just experienced tbe ef-
:s if military power, the opinion of an
qpcdateeof Gen. Sheridan, in Lousiana; for
iiiiwaey General of Louisiana was ap-
hr that officer:
X'ypoXDESCE BETWEEN TIIE AUDITOR
4ISATT0USBY GENERAL OF LOUISIANA,
have received from the Auditor of the
xt» copy of a correspondence which has
uca place between himself and the Attor-
t.Staenl, touching the duty of the Audi
with respect to the auditing and grant-
few’ warrants upon tho State Treasurer,
ilie mileage and per diem of members of
A'-wlled Constitutional Convention now
»>ion. • ; t
it Auditor is cf opinion that he has no
jM to grant such warrants until there shall
:funds in tbe Treasury, arising from the
^tion of the tax levied by the Constitu
ent desiring to have that of the _ Attor-
7 General, the latter officer states bis opin--
t t* lie that the Stato h as no liability under
■ wts of Congress for any part of the cora-
^lion, fees or salaries ot members of the
-•ration, nor does the law require that the
ito be imposed by the Convention for tho
'. '3 should be deposited in the State
siary, and therefore until the collected
shall have reached the hands of the
*u>nrer, the Auditor has no right to grant
'•"Uits upon the Treasurer of the State, for
^xpenses of the Convention.
legal Dosition we assumed two days
p* Ip the duty of the officers of the State
Louisiana, with regard to this tax, are
i; Mitained by its first law officer whose
■-J n«t 0 advise these agents of the State,
*® Tcr they are in doubt as to their func-
*! it be true, as tbe Auditor says, that the
Me actually paying this tax to the
no time should be lost in testing
guilty of tlie assessment, and an organi
s'd citizens should bo effected for this
I** without delay.
BTlVe find the following in aapsdfcl aois
^Silence of the Chronicle & Owitfad from
is. and give it place that persons may
faction taken in the Convention upon
of complimentary resolutions to
1 Hancock:
y.’ Waddell, from Polk, introduced a rcs-
•-■s resolving that the higheet or hum-
j-.rstizen who bean true fkith and
«ca to true Republican principles was
to countenance, sympatlty and on-
that Gen. Hancock was such a
.The resolution wa3 postponed in—
one hundred and twenty-threo
Jy fur tho postponement and thirteen in
The saints have thus dwindled
^ ie W8» Foster, of Paulding, Gove,
, - Garrison, of Carroll, Holcombe, Ilud-
,' 3 f’^artiu, of Carroll, Stanford. WMw
‘Waddell. (Mr. Christian, of Early,
^-■Mquently recorded bis vote-la the
Davis.-Alfriend’s Life of Mr.
f Widdtwa noticed a few days ago, will
the first of next month, and
• rs m a y expect their copy then. The
“°w canvassing our city, ond from
' - s of the book that we have seen,
^ ■lUre our readers that it is well worth
, "9. as it will give much information
.j ) stDf rally known, and will, in part,
* rii tho justice to which he is cn-
y,* la re seen a copy of the engraving
•ffiristw . .. i.
w
■ “’’Uat accompanies the work, and
tw* 1 ? 1,8a finelikoness,‘gotnp in the
u 5le of art.
'*•) .'^ cikj b Ochiltree. —The Hon.
^ '•“iltree, a distinguished citizen of
lately % member of tho Confi
kr ‘ 1 ‘»’ely a member of tho C
<iffied at Jefferson, Tt x
■Washington City, Jan. 13, 1808.
In iny former letters nothing was said about
the Presidential question, and yet ’nothing
concerning men and things at Washington
could lie complete without it. It is emphati
cally the question, to which all others Upw
iu obsequious reverence, and to which all the
plans of statesmen, the schemes of partisans,
and even the groat interests ot the nation,
must defer for the time being. It is invisi
bly at the top and palpably at the bottom of
every thing. If the government of millions
of people 13 to bo desired, a six hundred dol
lar clerkship to be filled, or the building of a
sewer to be let, the work must be made
some way to dovetail into the Presidential
plans of this or that aspirant.
It is the surest way of arriving at the mean
ing of any movement on the political board,
to investigate and determine its possible nnd
probable bearings in relation to this all-ab
sorbing question. Such being the case, we
may well pause and inquire what wo have
gained by substituting democracy, with all
its ups and downs, its capriciousncss and
love of self, for those stable institutions and
benign protection even against our own pas
sions and follies, that flow from the unwrit
ten constitution of the land from which we
sprung. Well may tho descendants of Corn
wallis, ofTarlton, and of Howe chuckle in
their sleeves at the results in the nineteenth
century of the victories achieved over their
illustrious ancestors in that which preceded
it
But it is too late now to moralize. We
have got into tho maelstrom of unrestricted
democracy, and must work our way out, on
the bottom, ns best we can. Perhaps when
our ship shall have split upon the nether
rocks, its fragments may be thrown to the.
surface again, to be collected together and by
some skillful builder wrought into a craft
that will be able to steer safely through all
tho dangers of the political sea.
But, we arc not yet wholly lost. The storm
howls and wo are fast settling into a fatal
eddy, but with a strong arm nnd true heart at
tho wheel, we may yet ontride nil present
danger nnd make another tack on the voyage.
Many nnd various are the aspirants for the
-ost, some few with an honest purpose to save
tho ship if they can, while the greater num
ber would take command that they may plun
der her as she goes down, and by some mys
terious turn of luck, which even they do not
understand, save themselves from destruction
Andrew Johnson is beginning to be more
seriously talked of as a proper man for bis
own successor. One thing may be considered
even moro than probable from present indi
cations: if Andrew Johnson does not
triumph in tho election of 18C8, if fairly
conducted, his principles will. Having
been almost tho only man to stand
by them consistently through good and evil
report until they commanded the attention
the respect, and finally tho assent ’and sup
port of his countrymen, it would seem that
above all others he should enjoy in his own
person the fruits of the victory. But this
world is not always just—men arc not always
rewarded according to their deserts. And
then, there is always so much more about a
man besides bis principles and bis courage to
defend them, that the way is opeued up for
prejudice and even reasonable dislikes, to
como in and influence the conduct of others
with regard to him. In any event though, if
this country should bo saved from the ruin
that is planned for it by tlie Radicals, to An
drew Johnson will belong tbf honor, and
such will be tbe righteous verdict of history,
whether the people make him President or
not, and 1 do not think they will.
* Tbe people of tho West are rising up as if
with one accord and proclaiming that gallant
son of Ohio, George H. Pendleton, as their
choice. He is not much talked of here, but
tbat may be from the fact that bis political
friends have butfew representatives in Wash
ington, and that few have their attention
directed moro toward preserving the Gov
ernment than to the question who shall ad
minister it. Tho West is a powerful agent,
in this business of President-making, but I
doubt if the friends oi Mr. Pendleton, in view
of popular sentiment at tho North and his
own past record, would bo acting wisely in
bringing him forward at the present time.
I am satisfied, from what I have seen, that
the Northern States will vote for no man now
whose heart and soul were not engaged in
what is termed “the war forthe Union,” and
this is more than can be claimed for the great
champion of the West. Besides, Mr. Pen -
dlcton is youbg, and can afford to wait for a
day when bis opinions and policy during the
war will be more justly appreciated than
they can be whilst tho billows from that
great storm are still lashing tho shore.
General Grant, equivocal as is his position
on every question of public concern, is not
without his advocates for the Democratic
nomination. Tho events of the next few
weeks will determine tho question definitely
for or against him. He will be forced soon
to tuke sides practically with or against the
Radical revolutionists, whether ho breaks
silence with his lips or pen or not. His op
portunities arc such ns no other man in this
broadband enjoys. He has the power to throw
himself into the breach and turn back a tide
of untold horrors that threaten to engulf
both government and people, not only with
out risk to himself, but with a certainly of
immediate reward iu the highest office of the
government, bestowed by almost a unani
mous voice. Will he have the sagacity to
see it—the virtue to embrace the opportuni
ty ? are questions to be determined. I may
say, though, that lie is in bad and subtle
hands, nnd may be misled. Otherwise than
the manner indicated, ho can rule only
as a military chieftain over a people who
have lost their liberties. And it is to
such evil destiny that bad men would entice
him. They have speedily proclaimed their
contempt for constitutional government,
knowing full well that it is only through po
litical and social tumult that they can hold
on to the power‘with which, in an evil hofir,
they were intrusted by a terrifiod and de
ceived people. It is hard to believe that
Gen. Grant will consent to bo the leader of
such a faction, and yet things look very much
that way at tho prerent time.
Of Sir. Chase, it is hardly necessary for a
word to he Raid. lie is steeped to the eyes
in Radicalism and thoroughly identified with
every odious doctrine and measure oi that
detestable party, and must go down with it
in tho certain destruction' that awaits it in
, tho early future. He will never b : ]’re>ideni
! of anything but the- Supreme Court, and it is
the country’s misfortune that he is that, for
j lie lias been a purtifan alibis life, ami is
without qualification for that responsible
post of duty.
There arc some lesser lights of both parties
that have their eyes anxiously fixed on the
Presidential prize; Seymour, of New "i ork,
Wilson, of Massachusetts, Sherman, of Ohio,
Sheridan, Speaker Colfax, Ben Wade, Banks,
and even that burlesque on humanity, morally
and physically, Ben Butler, are looking with
nrdent longing to the chair of Washington.
But this is merely by way of diversion; not
one of them stands the ghost of a chance.
I have said that in a certain contingency
Grunt would be President, possibly dictator.
He may fail in both, and in that event who is
likely to come in as Mr. Johnson’s successor
in the constitutional Presidency ? This is by
no means clear. There is much fog around
the whole subject which must be cleared
away before anything like a satisfactory ob-
ervation can be taken. A surmise, though,
may not be out of place, even at this early
day. It lias been remarked that the West is
powerful element in the manufacture of
Presidents, aud I shall not be surprised
to - see it the controlling one in the
coming contest. She has power, strop
now and daily augmenting; and besides
this she has the wkw—one whose splendid
abilities, profound knowledge of political
science, practical statesmanship, undoubted
patriotism nnd courage, and exalted personal
character, place him prereminent and beyond
all others named on the score of marit, while
his record for tho war will challenge impeach
ment. We have reference to the Hon. James
R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin. Ho is no as
pirant that we have heard, bnt tbe people of
tho United States, in this day of their trouble
and degeneracy among public men, should
aspire to him. He is one of tho few men of
whom our country can now boast who would
have been considered great among the states
men of the generation just passed; and if we
would restore the nation to its former great
ness and glory, the first step is to eschew
small men and demagogues in selecting our
rulers, and avail ourselves of tbe talent, wis
dom and experience of the country. Put
them in command, and we shall soon steer
clear ot all our domestic troubles.
What have our Democratic friends in the
North to say to the suggestion ? Mr. Doolit
tie is a Democrat of the old school, ond dif
fered with that party only on the question of
coercion, which has been finally settled
against them, and, consequently, should be no
barrier to a cordial co operation in future.—
He is for restoration on tbe principles of the
Constitution, uwl opposed to all further
persecutions, conditions and delays, and in
this vital respect his views arc in full har
mony with the party. On the other hand,
having acted with the Republicans during
the war in all lawful measures necessary and
looking to the one great and only legitimate
object of the struggle, the salvation of the
Union nnd the Constitution, the Conserva
tives and all right thinking men of that party
must find in him an acceptable candidate.
Mr. Doolittle is preparing a great speech
on the state of the country, and will probably
deliver it in the Senate, during the present
week. It is looked for with much interest
by men of all parties. S.
Railroad Convention.
A Railroad Convention was held at this
point (Atlanta) yesterday, the 15th inst. Col
E. W. Cole, Superintendent of the Georgia
Railroad, was requested to issue a circular to
the Southern Railroads, calling their attention
to the importance of encouraging immigrn
tion to tbe South, which reads as follows:
Believing, as we do, that the prosperity of
the Railroads, as well as every other interest
of the South, is dependent on attracting to it
an extensive immigration from the North, as
well as from abroad, we especially invite the
attention of Railroad managers to the impor
tance of early and energetic action, with the
view of affording all possible inducements to
immigrants and immigrant societies, who may
wi6h to settle or operate in our country.
To this end, we suggest that the Southern
Railroads shall adopt the following tariff for
the transportation of Iona fide settlers and
their goods:
For each adult passenger one (1) cent per
mile.
Fof children between five and twelve years
of age, half price.’
For children under five years old, free;
and that each full passenger be allowed one
hundred and fifty (150) pounds of baggage,
wbicb shall be carried free of charge, and
that they shall be charged at the rate of two
(2) cents per ton per mile for extra baggage,
which shall include household furniture, farm
ing implements, machinery and tools intended
to"bc used by such person.
And furthermore, that l hat road on which
immigrants shall settle, shall transport him
and his goods free of charge.
It is the wish of this convention that this
suggestion should become an agreement, and
you are requested to communicate to E. W.
Cole, Superintendent Georgia Railroad, Au
gusta, Ga,, your acceptance or disapproval
of tlii3 proposition at as early a day as possi-
blc.
When any twenty roads or more shall have
agreed to this proposition, a second circular
will bs issued by E. W. Cole, calling together
the general ticket agents of the roads agree
ing to the tariff, at some convenient point, to
arrange the details ond carry the agreement
into effect.
Tbe members of this Convention are fully
impressed with the belief tbat an increase of
tbo industrious population in tbe South will
add greatly to our prosperity; wc, therefore,
confidently ask the press of the country to
give this circular publicity, and request them
to call the attention of their readers to fbe
action of this Convention, which action will
show that the railroads of the South arc anx
ious nnd determined to do all in their power
to restore the country to its former pros
perity. _ .,
By order of E. W. Cole, President
Charles H. Irvin, Secretary.
[.Atlanta Intelligencer.
Tlie Assault upon tlie Supreme Court.
Prom the JVi? orJ:' Ti-nrr.] ....
The extremists are reckle?: 1 , it no* desperate.
For twelve mouths past they have been en
gaged in tying the hands of the Pres 1 Jent^
and stripping him oi authority coulerred by
the Constitution; and now they are about to
attempt the same operation upon the Supreme
Court, with the view of preventing an adverse
decision upon the Reconstruction acts.
On the part of those who share the views
of Mr Stevens the talked-of measure will be
consistent. Whatever else may he charged
a"»inst them, they at least have not resorted
to faR* pretences to justily tlie Congressional
poliev. No Constitutional scruple has been
allowed to stand in their way. They have
boldly confessed that policy unconstitutional,
and have rested its defence upon tlie plea ot
revolutionary necessity. The Constitution,
according to their theory, is forthe time sub
ject to the higher law of the conqueror, as in
terpreted by apartisan majority. If essential
to their plans, they would disregard every
Constitutional right of the Executive, and
make the Supreme Court in all things sub
servient to their will. * * * *
If this projectj prevails, tho higher attri
butes of the court will bo destroyed. The
principle will be, in effect, affirmed that par-
tisan exigencies, real or supposed, constitute
the supreme law; that the court, created by
the Constitution in part to judge of the va
lidity of Congressional action, shall hencefor
ward be powerless, whatever tlie character of
that action may be. To day the proposition
is that, instead of a majority of the judges,
two-thirds of tho whole shall concur; to
morrow, if necessary, the concurrence of all
may be required. There is no limit to the
interference if it be commenced—no restric
tion save tbat which a majority of -the dom
inant party may tor the momentimpose upon
themselves. They proclaim th&t they may
enact what they please, nnd may obviate ob
jection on the ground of unconstitutionality
by usurping power to mould the decisions
of tbe court in any shape which to them
selves shall seem best. It it be umtanagea
ble after exacting a two-tbirds judgment, or
a unanimous judgment, tho niinber of
judges may be increased ; and thus, by one
dcvYco or another, the independent jirisdic-
tion of the court may be destroyed.
No more significant commentary on the
reconstruction legislation—no more startling
illustration of the unscrupulousness which
actuates the Radical leaders—can be con
ceived, than that wbicb this affair affords.—
The cowardice as well as the bravado oi guilt
is stamped upon its face. It shows an utter
absence of confidence in the constitutional
cfhcacy of the measures which are applicable
to the* South, and an utter want of moral
courage to uphold tbo principles that aio in
volved. A consciousness of right usually in
spires calmness and strength, and the party
which realizes it seldom shrinks from the
contingencies incident to political warfare.
These extreme Radicals,' however, seem to
show their eyes when they rush ahead. They
are afraid of the ground they tread upon, and
of phantoms at every turn. Now it is of the
President, anon of the district commanders,
and yet again of the Supreme Court. We
suspect that they also begin to fear the peo
ple in whose name they act, and whose in*
stinctivc sense of justice revolts against the
abuse of their delegated power. The idea
seems to prevail in the Reconstruction and
Judiciary Committees that there is no time
"to lose. The thing called reconstruction:
must be pushed through, even though it be
necessary to muzzle tho Supreme Court
Judges.
How the Court will treat the attack upon
its independence remains to- be seen. It is
not likely to respect or to obey A law which
interferes with its constitutional functions,
notoriously for the accomplishment of an un
constitutional purpose f What, then ? Sup
pose the Court, by a majority of its members,
declares the Reconstruction acts constitution
ally invalid, and refuses to recognize as con
stitutional the law defining the conditions of
a judgment? Will Congress, having failed
to legislate the Court into compliance, un
dertake to legislate it ont of existence ? Will
a party majority make the General-in-Chief
the judge of the Judges, as well as the supe
rior of the President ? Will they at last avow
tbeir contempt for the Constitution and their
resolve to proceed regardless of its provis
ions ? To this position their steps unques
tionably tend, and the only influence tbat can
restrain them will be fear for their own safety.
Of what possible value, then, will be the pol
icy of Congress when’pushed to extremities ?
A party whose leaders trample on the Consti
tution because it impedes their operations
cannot long retain the confidence of the
country, and when their overthrow comes—as
come it mu3t—what will be tho fate of their
K licy ? wbat the upshot of their plotting and
pslating and usurping ? These are inqui
ries which concern more than themselves, for
they indicate the reopening of the Southern
question and the reconstructing of recon
struction, as consequences of the recklessness
which marks the Radical programme.
pT Gen. Meade last week telegraphed to
Gen. Grant for instructions with reference to
the removal of the Treasurer of the State of
Georgia, in ease he should resist the execu
tion of any order directing that the members
of tho Convention be paid out of the State
Treasury. Gen. Grant has instructed Gen.
Meade to remove the Treasurer at once if he
makes any resistance to his orders. This
will probably be done during this week, and
the officer said to bo selected by Gen, Meade
for the position is Brevet Brig. Gen. Thomas
H Ruger, Colonel 33d United States infan
try, now on duty in Georgia. Gen. Meade
also has the subject of the removal of the Gov
ernor under consideration, but that will pro
bably depend on developments hereafter
[Philadelphia Press, 18th.
New York Dislikes the New Recon
struction Bill.—Tho reports from Wash
ington this afternoon announcing thatthe
new Reconstruction bill, placing the Southern
States under one military government, to
gether with the rumor that ex-Secretary Stan
ton is to be reinstated in tho War Departmen t,
have a very disquieting influence on the pun-
lie mind, quite independent of partisan or
political considerations. Theyear, willisnch
beginnings as these, it is feared, will be one
of ”feverish excitement, and needing clear
heads and steady hands at the helm to avoid
disastrous results. That, at any rate, is the
wav men are talking on and oil' ’Change this
afternoon.—Nc r York letter to Philadelphia
Ledger.
Female Duelists.
The mania for dueling was not con
fined to the sterner sex in France; witness
the exploits of the better half of Chateau
Gay de Murat. This virago used to appear
on horseback in great boots, with her petti
coats tucked up and carrying a sword at her
side, and pistols at her saddle bow. Having
a bone to pick with a M. Cordieres, she
called him out. He came up smiling, and
played about with his sword till he found
that the lady was seriously bent on sending
him to tho ancestral vault. Changing tac
tics, he pressed her so hard, avoiding wounds,
that at last she dropped to the ground
through sheer fatigue, and had to cry for
quarter. Quarreling afterwards with some
gentlemen, she happened to meet them at
the chase, and made preparation to charge.
Her groom cried, “Come off, madam—come
off; they arc three against one.” “Never
mind,” quoth tho dame; “no ono shall say
that I met them without charging them.”
And charge she did for the last time, for her
adversaries had the bad taste to kill her.
In the gallery of femmes sallianies, La
Beaupre holds a foremost place. After an
exchange of strong language with La des
Urlis she rushed away, and came back,
bringing two swords. Des Urlis took ono,
thinking no ill; but La Beaupre pressed her
hard, wounded her in tho neck, and would
certainly have killed her had not timely help
come.
Further on in the point of time comes La
Maupin. This magnificent swordswoman
had been lightly spoken of by Dumcsnil, a
male fellow performer at the opera, and, in
fact, the eccentricities of her manners af
forded wido scope for comment. Determined
to have satisfaction, without any waste of
words, she dressed up ns a man, and waited
for Dnmensil as ho left the theatre. As soon
as ho appeared, she touched him with her
sword, and bade him draw. Dumeusil, who
was not iu a dueling humor, tried to sheer off,
when La Maupin produced a stick and laid
it lustily about his shoulders, finishing by
taking his watch and snuff-box.
The next day, the actor was complaining
at the theatre of having been set on by a
band of robbers, who had ill-treated and
despoiled him. “You lie,'’ broke in the
virago. “It was my doiBgs. I thrashed you
because you hadn’t the heart to accept my
challenge; if you want proof, look here at
your watch and snuff-box.” On another oc
casion she was at a ball in male costunc, and
managed to provoko three gentlemen. They
all went out to fight, and tho actress killed
tho three, one after the other.
Another singular affair was tlie duel be
tween tho Marquis do Nesle and the Count
ess de Polignac, in the Bois du Boulogne.
The former proposed pistols; the countess
accepted, and generously .gave her adversely
the first shot. Tho marquis fired, and missed,
breaking a biancli from a tree. “Anger
makes the i; ...1 .-hake," W.tS the c• ■ • >l nen-
incnt of the countess, who fired, and carried
away the tip of her adversary s car.
In order to induce emigrants to set-
e*in Florida,lands are given away along the
me of the Florida Railroad.
VEA TH OP THE OLD YE’AJt.
BV.U.FBHD TENSYSOX.
Fait Itnec-ilocp lies tho W'intcr snow.
An t the Winter winds are wearily sighing;
Toll ye tho church boll, sad and slow,
And tread softly and speak low,
For tho old year lies to-dying.
Old year, you must not die.
You come to us so readily.
You lived with us so steadily—
Old year, you shall not die.
Ho lieth still: he doth not move;
He will not seo tho dawn of day—
no hath no other life above.
He gave mo nfriend, nnd a true, true lovo.
And tho new year will take them away.
Old year, yop must not go;
So long as you have been with us.
Such joy ns you have seen with us—
Old year, you shall not go.
Ho frothed his bumpers to the brim;
A jollier year wo snail not see:
But though Mi eyes are waxing dim.
And though his foes speak ill of him.
He was a friend to irto.
Old year, you shall not die:
Wo did not laugh nnd cry with you,
I've half a mind to die with you,
Old year, if you must die.
Ho was full of joko and jest;
But all his merry quips are o cr.
To seo him. across the waste.
His son nnd heir doth ridopost-haste.
But he’ll bo dead before.
And every one for his own.
The night is starry and cold, my friends, .
And tho new new year, blitho and bold,my frieaus,
Comes up to tako his own.
Hew hard he breathes! over tho snow
I heard just now the crowing cock.
The shadows flitter to and fro;
Tho cricket chirps—tho light burns low;
'Xis nearly twelve o’clock.
Shako bands before you die.
Old year, we’ll dearly ruo for yon.
What is it wocan doforyou?
Speak out, before you die.
His faco is growing sharp and thin—
- Alack! our friend is gone.
Closo up his eyes—tie up his chin—
Step from tho corpse, and let him in
That standeth thcro alone.
And waiteth at tho door. —
There’s a new foot on tho floor, my friends,
And a new faco at the door, my friends.
, Tho new year’s at the door.
Official Order from Gen. Meade.
Headers, TniRD Military District,
(Dept. Georgia, Florida and Alabama.)
Atlanta, Ga., January 15,1S68.
General Orders No. 10:
The frequency of reported outrages, and tho
accompanying expression of opinion of sub
ordinate officers, that no justice is to be ex
pected from the civil authorities, require no
tice and action on the part of the Major Gen
eral Commanding.
I. The Commanding General desires it to
be understood that the trial and punishment
of criminals is to be left to tbe civil author!
ties, so long as the said authorities are ener
getic, active, aud do justice to the rights of
person and property without distinction of
race or color. Whenever the Major General
Commanding is satisfied lrom evidence pro
duced that the civil authorities fail to do
tbeir dutv, then prompt action will be taken
by him both for tho punishment of criminals
and the removal from office of derelict civil
officers.
II. The military are to co-operate with and
aid the civil authorities in the detection, cap
ture, and custody of criminals, and they are
further authorized in cases where they have
reason to believe the civil authorities are not
disposed to do their duty, to retain criminals
in custody until the fact becomes evident
whether the civil authorities will or will not
perform their duty—immediately reporting
their action on all such.cascs to these Head
quarters.
ITT Writs of habeas corpus,.issued against
criminals in the custody of the military will
be obeyed so far as to produce the body of
the prisoner in court, and the making of a re
spectful return, setting forth the grounds and
authority by which the prisoner is held—
should the court fail to respect the authority
under which the prisoner is held—the cus-
todv of the criminal will not be transferred
to the court without a reference to these
Headquarters.
IV. The Major General desires to impress
on tho officers under his command the exer
cise of a sound discretion nnd good judg
ment. It is his determination to afford tlie
civil authorities every opportunity to dis
charge their duties untrammeled by any ac
tion on tho part of the military but such as
they, the civil authorities, may invite and de
sire. He makes this public notice to the
civil authorities that they may be governed
thereby—assuring them they shall be re
spected in tbe exercise of their powers so long
as impartial justice is meted out to all; but
tbe Commanding General is determined to
exercise to the fullest extent the plenary
powers with which he is entrusted to secure
protection of persons and property in the
district he commands.
By order of Major General Meade.
R. C. Drum, A. A. G.
* *
A Splendid Banquet.
One of the most elegant parties of the sea
son was given at the residence of Mr. J. R.
Bostwick on Tuesday night. Notwithstand
ing the exceeding inclemency of tlie weather
there was a very large attendance of guests,
among whom wc mention Gen. George G.
Meade and staff, Gen. C. C. Sibley and staff,
Gen. John B. Gordon, late C. S. A., Gen. Wm.
M. Dunn, G?n. G. T. Anderson, late C. S. A.,
Gen. Wm. M. Browne, of Athens, Ga., Col.
Melino and other officers of this post, and a
large number of the best citizens and leading
business and professional men of Atlanta.
The evening was a most agreeable one to all
present. There was no reserve between
guests, but all entered with a hearty will into
the social enjoyments. Those who had faced
each other on the field, now faced each other
across the banquet board, and eyes that look
ed into eyes had no meaning beyond peace
and good will. During the evening eloquent
and feeling speeches were made by Gen.
Meade and Gen. John B. Gordon, both of
which had tho tendency to bring all parties
closer together, and arouse a still deeper cur
rent of good feeling.
The banquet spread by Mr. Bostwick nnd
bis excellent lady was magnificent in the
extreme, and they deserve the highest praise
for having furnished an occasion which we
earnestly hope will mark the beginning of a
new social era in Atlanta. Such an occasion
as that will do more toward a permanent re
construction than a hundred political enu-
CU The ladies present, wives nnd daughters of
officers of the Post ns well as of our most re
spected citizens, were not behind the gentle
men in making tho evening an agreeable one.
They entered heartily into all the social fes
tivities, manifested no reserve, and enlivened
the occasion with superb vocal and instru
mental music. The party broke up at two
o’clock, and wo are sure that we but utter
the sentiment of all present when we hope
tliat there may bo many more such occa
sions.—Era.
The Governor of Georgia.—Gen. Thos.
H. Ruger is a native of New York—grad
uated at West Point in 1854-entercd the
service as Colonel of the 3d "Wisconsin regi
ment at tho commencement of the late war
—wrs appointed Brigadier General cf volun
teers November 2£>, 1862; breveted Major
General of volunteers November 30, 1864,
and was made Brevet Brigadier General of
tbe regular army March 2, 1867. In April,
1867, nc was assigned to the post of Atlanta,
which lie held till January 14, 1868, when he
was appointed by Gen. Meado as .Military
Governor of Georgia. Gov. Ruger is thirty -
four years of age, and has a family.
Report of the Minority of the Committee on
Relief.
The New State Treasurer.—Capt. Chas.
F. Rockwell, United States Army, who is ap
pointed State Treasurer by General Orders
No. 8, is a native of Brattl.-ioro, A t., from
which place be was appointed to West Point
Military Acndemy, where he graduated June
the 11th, 18G3.
He is a young man, about thirty-seven, and
has won a fine standing in the army by his
attention to duty, his faithfulness wherever
assigned, and his prompt obedience to orders.
Tlie following is the minority report of the
Committee on Relief of the Georgia Negro-
ladical Convention: ‘ .
The undersigned, members of the Com
mittee on Relief, respectfully present some of
their reasons for disagreeing to the report of
tlie majority, and certain resolutions which
they recommend to the adoption ot the Con
vention :
The majority propose, both by Ordinance
and by a provision in the Constitution, to
deny to courts and officers all power to col
lect debts originating prior to June 1, 18Go;
that is, in effect, to abolish all such debts.
No exception is made, even in favor ot tbe
most helpless hnd dependent classes, or
against those who still hold valuable prop
erty for which they owe. Widows and or
phans, whose property went before tbat date
into the hands of faithless trustees, will be
lett penniless and without remedy by this
merciless enactment.
The instincts of justice and humanity
which impel us to protest against it are iu
strict harmony with the principles of the
supreme law of the land.
Without discussing the question whether
the proposed measures can be reached by the
Courts so a3 to be set aside as unconstitutional,
we content ourselves with saying.that one of
the most important provisions in the Con
stitution of the United States will become ut
terly worthless if such attempts as this can
succeed. When our fathers ordained in that
sacred instrument, that no State should pass
laws impairing the obligation of contracts
they meant that no State should prevent a
creditor from getting his dues; and it this is
done by withholding jurisdiction from Courts
or in any other way, the spirit, if not the let
ter of the Constitution is violated, and one of
the main purposes for which the Constitu
tion was made is defeated.
We can be parties to no contrivance, how
ever skillful, for evading the Constitution of
our country. "We wish to return to the Union,
from which Georgia unwisely tried to sever
herself, with unfaltering loyalty to-the prin
ciples on which the Union rests. The best
atonement which our State can make for her
past aberrations is an increased- alacrity in
performing everything that the Constitution
commands, and an increased carefulness to
abstain from every thing that the Constitution
forbids, in letter or spirit. Rebellion against
the principles of the Constitution is morally
as criminal as rebellion against the Govern
ment which the Constitution creates.
Passin" from the particular provisions of
the Constitution of the United States, we ob
ject to the proposed measure, because it is ut
variance with the ends which are professed by
all governments,civilized or savage. “Protec-,
tion to person and property is the duty of
government,” is the formula in which Georgia
has expressed an elementary truth. Propertj
which a citizen has entrusted to another is
as sacred as property which remains iu his
own hands. If you deny him the means of
recovering the one you may also subject him,
without redress, to robbery of the other; and,
in either case, what becomes of his right of
protection ? .
The reasons for relief, stated in the pream
ble of the proposed ordinance, arc all resolv
able into this, that debtors are poorer than
when their debts were made. It i9 a new
and inadmissable doctrine that men, still able
to pay their debts, should be released from
them because their fortunes have been dimin
ished since tbe debts were contracted. If so
strange a principle should bo recognized at
all, reciprocal justice would require tbat the
debts should be enlarged where the debtor s
fortune ' has been increased—a proposition
too ridiculous to be seriously considered.
It should be remembered that the same
public calamities which have reduced the
estates of debtors.have equally reduced tbe
estates of creditors, so that, relatively to each
other, the two classes stand as they did be
fore their common misfortunes. The same
causes which make it hard for debtors to pay
make it equally hard for creditors to do with
out their mone v. If there must be distress,
it is better that* tbo distress should come by
taking from debtors what is notmorally their
own than by withholding from creditors what
is morally and legally their own. M e sym
pathize with needy debtors, but we sympa
thize with needy creditors, too; and it is our
belief that one class is nearly as large as the
other. But if it were otherwise, our judg
ment would be unchanged; for we abhor
the principle which would sacrifice the rights
of one class to the interests of another, be
cause the latter is more numerous. We are
persuaded, however, that the number of per
sons who really desire the proposed or any
similar relief is comparatively small. A few
iu every neighborhood, stimulated by inter
est and unrestrained by principle, have con
trived to give to their selfish clamors the
semblance of a popular voice. Countenanced
by influential politicians, who are more anx
ious to accomplish their ends than careful
about the means by which their ends are
attained, they have pressed their views on
legislative bodies and military commanders:
and, audaciously representing themselves as
the people, have obtained a consideration to
which they are not entitled by _ their num
bers, their characters or their objects.
Wc cannot forget that many of these men
took advantage, during the war, of an un
righteous stay law, of which they were the
zealous advocates, and refused to pay their
debts, when they might have done so in a de
preciated and abundant currency; and that
since the war they at first deceitfully dis
claimed all purpose of ultimate repudiation,
and asked for temporary delay only, and
when they got that relief from a heedless or
interested Legislature, they employed the
respite in industrious labors to pervert the
public mind and to prepare it for the mon
strous consummation that is reached in the
report of tho Committee. Such men deserve
neither sympathy nor respect. While we
arc sorry that tlioir innocent families should
suffer, we have more pity for the families of
those who will be beggared if their iniqui
tous schemes prevail.
The affirmation in the third clause of the
majority’s report that “it is impossible for the
debtor to make even partial payment,” is dis
proved by this very effort to relieve him from
paying. Why undertake to prevent impos
sibilities ? No law on earth can collect what
a debtor cannot pay. Perhaps the majority
simply mean that it is inconvenient for the
debtor to pay. This wc admit. But when
tho legislation of the State was controlled by
tho classes to which most of tho present
friends of “Relief” belong, they solemnly en
acted that all of an insolvent’s property, ex
cept a moderate exemption, should be sold to
pay his debts. They cannot complain if the
law metes out to themselves with the same
measure. If the present exemption was
enough when the standard of wealth was
high, it is surely enough when the standard
Ib We* do not oppose a reasonable enlarge
ment of it as to future debts. But let the
debts of the past be settled on the principles
that controlled in the past. The argument
that forced sales at present prices will not
bring enough to benefit the creditor is suffi
ciency answered by tlie consideration that in
all such cases the creditor will have no in
ducement to bring the property to sale, and,
of his own accord, will wait tilL better times.
The majority cite the ordinance of the Con
vention ot 1865, repudiating the State war-
debt as a reason and a precedent for the
action now proposed. It is remarkable that
the action of a body which the call for this
Convention assumes to have been unauthor
ized, should be expected to influence ours.
But supposing that Convention to have been
legal, there is nothing to warrant the infer
ences which the majority draw from its action.
If the tax paying debtors of the Stale hnve
been relieved from their part of the public
debt, they are so much abler to pay their pri
vate debts. The principle of the Ordinance
of 18G5 was one well cstabbshed at common
law,
James Buchanan will be seventy-seven
vears old on the 12th of April, 18GS. Ho was
born on the 12th of April, 1791.
We also object to the proposed action be
cause it leaves to a non-resident creditor,
whose claim is laige enough for the jurisdic
tion of the Federal Courts, advantages over
creditors who reside in Georgia. A creditor
to whom those Courts are open will collect
his debts in spite of our Ordinances and the
prohibitions in our Constitution. While
willing tliat citizens of other States should
enjoy equalrights with ourselves, wc are not
i*h!e of that romantic generosity which
would accord them privileges that are-do- -
nied to our own people. It has been said
that ordinary rules are not applicable to the
present question because a large amount of
property has been lost by the action of the
Government. AV'e cannot see why a dcstrue
tion of property by public authority should
affect the legal relations of debtor and credi
tor, any more than its destruction by private
persons or by usual or Providential causes.
Whatever reason there may be in the-prop
osition tbat the Government ought to pay for
the losses caused by its own acts, there ia
certainly no justice in imposing any part of
the debtor’s losses by the Government as a
special burden on his creditor.
It has been said that equity requires tbe
creditor to share the 'debtor’s losses. But
who is to share the losses of the creditor ?
It is an abuse of language to apply the
term of “Relief’ to a measure tbat takes from
one aud gives to another, for no fault in the
loser and no merit in the gainer.
Before the policy of our conquerors wa»
disclosed some of our people were apprehen
sive that their property would be confiscated
by the United States Government for their
part in the rebellion. The danger has ceased.
But intelligent men now propose to make a
virtual confiscation of a large amount ol.
property- for no crime in the owners, tiniest
it be a crime to have accommodated, in th«
past, those who are to be the beneficiaries Of
the nefarious project.
This can be justified by none of the high
public considerations which have avowedly
prompted the act of emancipation. In our
judgment it will work terrible injustice .
among our people; it will shock the moral
sense of our best citizens; it will place among
the opponents of our Constitution many good
men who would otherwise ratify it; it will
be a pernicious precedent for luture times; it
will repel capital from investment here; iu
its influence it will sap private morals and
destroy all faith between man and man; and
it will* fix on the character of our State a
stigma that will never be effaced until th«
events of this day shall have passed from tfi'i
memory and the records of mankind.
There is, however, one species of “Relief”
to which our reasonings do not apply—a r»-
lieffrec from all Constitutional objections,
and recognizing the grand principle of jus
tice—that a man shall not be permitted to
keep his property to the injury of bis credi
tor. This relief is offered by that Govern
ment whose heavy hand brought poverty
upon our people.
The Bankrupt law clears a debtor of all
liability, upon giving up his property, except
the amount reserved to him by the provision*
of that law; nnd thus answers tho ends of jus
tice to the creditor and humanity to the
debtor.
That law, to accomplish it3 beneficent da-
signs effectually, requires some amendments,
and these, we believe, would soon be made, If
the wants of our part of the country were
known to Congress. AVe therefore offer the
following resolutions, as a substitute for the
ordinance and resolution introduced by the
majority:
1. Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully requests the Congress of the U. States,
in view of the condition of the Southern Sta.Aes,
to amend the Bankrupt Law of 1807 in bne fol
lowing particulars, to-wit: 1st, Sy provid
ing that the reservation of property to the
bankrupt be made uniform in all the State*,
and sufficient for a frugal support to him and
his family until their own industry can main
tain them in comfort. 2d. By providing
that tbe relief given by that law be-extendefl
to fiduciary debtors who have not been faith
less or otherwise culpable in their trusts. 3d.
By reducing the expenses of the proceeoling*
when the estate of the bankrupt is small.
2. Resolved, That the foregoing resolution
bo sent by the President of this Convention
to the President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives of the Unite!
States, with a request that it be laid before
those bodies.
3. Resolved, That all ordinances and reso
lutions now before tho Convention cn the
subject of Relief, except the foregoing, be i*-
definitely postponed, and that the Committee-
on Relief be discharged from further consid
eration of the subject.
Respectfully submitted,
Amos T. Akerman,
Tnouis P. Saffold.
Ten Guineas’ Worth of Advice.—The
following anecdote is told of the celebrated
Henry Fielding: “The son of one Bonz de
Paba, a celebrated Jew. was on the point Cf
marrying a Christian lady. His father made
no objection to the intended wife’s religioa,
but was greatly dissatisfied with the match on
accountof hersmall fortune; in consequence of
which he refused his consent. The son, who
was desperately in love, threatened he would
marry her without his consent, and the father,
in his turn, threatened that he would not give
him a shilling. The young Jew answered that
he would force him todo’it; and thatifher*-
fused dividing his substance with him, he
would get himself baptized to enjoy the ben*-
•fit of the English law, which (then) assigned
to a Jew child becoming a Christain the hall
of the father’s property. Boaz, confounded
at this answer, went to consult Fielding, to
know if such a law really existed. Fielding
told him that it did exist, and was in full
force; but added, if he would give him tcs»
guineas he would put him in a way of frus
trating liis son’s hopes, so*that he should not
be able to get a farthin g. Boaz instatnly toled
down ten guineas. Fieldinghaving pocketed
the money, told him that his only remedy wm
to ‘turn Christian himself.’ ”
fcgr°Steam is apparently a perfect disin
fectant as far as yellow fever i3 concerned,—
Commander Chandler, of the United Statee
steamer Don, lying in A'era Cruz, on tbe
breaking out of it very malignant type of thrt
disease, closed the hatches and filled the
room with steam, bringing the temperature
up to 225 degrees, then dried them, and ef
fectually killed the disease. Such success in
an infected port i3 remarkable. The method
is not a.new one, however.
man in AYisconsin was recently
buried by the caving in of a well, seventy-
five feet'below the surface. For one whole
day no attempt was ma-.c at rescue, but when
two days more had been spent in excavating
what all supposed to be a tomb, the man
was found to be alive, but very hungry.
Just as the safety of Dr. Livingstone
is becoming a certainty, the report comes
from New Zealand that there is a strong pro
bability that Leichardt, the explorer, long
supposed to be lost, is still alive near the
Gulf of Carpentaria. By-and-by we may
hear that Sir John" Franklin is still alive in
the frozen regions.
— — -O*-
In France, there has been introduced
a new gold coin. On one side- is stained “5
dollars—25 francs.” This is the first step to
wards a universal decimal currency, adapted
to all nations, and the bill regul^tinu tae
coinage of the Uni‘°d States, which >• as in
troduced into the United State Senate on
Monday last, by the Finance Committee, is
iu accordance with it.
jggfThe Florida negroes, having come to
the conclusion that the ioitj, acic3 and a mule
talk was a humbug, show a disposition to
make contracts on reasonable terms.
—
is said that the Austrian Govern
ment is using its influence to indi.ee the
. Cabinet of the Tuileries to recognize Senor-
'tha^debts*contracted'" for an illegal pur- i Juarez as President ot the Republic of Mexico.
pose, such as to nitl in resting a lawiul gov- i
eminent, arc void. AVe cannot see how the
repudiation of an unlawful debt can justily
the repudiation of debts made in the ordinary
lawful course of business.
A lady visiting the capitol at "Wash
ington, on Thursday last, gave birth to t
still-born child in ouo of the cni-ridors and
left it there.