Newspaper Page Text
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The Greorgia "W"eekly Telegraph.
THE TELEGRAPH
MACON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1BG9.
Virginia and Ala’ (mma—The Political
tiro: a Ship.
Correspondence oi the Telegraph.
HON. ALEXANDER p. STEPHENS ON POLT.ABD, GRANT,
AND THE STATE OP THE COUNTRY.
Politics in. oar sistc or State seem latterly to
hive been a good deal disturbed by propositions
from some leading me- a—Judge Rice and others—
to acquiesce in and suj (tain Congressional Recon
struction andlthe adm inistration of Gen. Grant.
. In Virginia, there h as also been a wide dis
crepancy of .opinion i n relation 'to the proposi
tion of the ♦‘Committee of Nine” (so called)
who have been busily 'negotiatingwith the Radi,
cals in Washington f< >r such amendments in the
carpet-bag and negro Constitution of that State,
as will countervail ti ie disfranchisement provi
sions of that icstrnm ent, and rescue the bulk of
the white population from the ban of disqualifi
cation for Office.
The. Gonuxdtteo of Nine are sustained by
large majority ofthe press and the people of
Virginia, buffiercely denounced by a minority
of the people proper of that State on the one
hand, and by the Underwood faction of carpet
baggers and .negroes on the other. We think it
is not improbable that the Committee will ulti.
matelydefeat the scheme of the Underwood fac
tion and secure, at last, a Constitution which
will devolve-' the Government of the State sub
stantially in the hands of the white people there
of; although at the cost of the concession of
universal suffrage, which, as an abstract propo
sition, the Committee very pointedly condemn.
They have simply proposed to accept it in the
way of compromise, ns the price to be paid for
universal amnesty. The proposition, however,
is loudly*denounced by Governor Wise and otb-
ersin Virginia, as an injufions and untimely con
cession, nod they say it will be better to suffer
the worstlhat-the Radicals can do, than to at
tempt to make terms with them.
•There-is no other analogy in the cases of Vir
ginia and-Of- Judge Rico and his faction in Ala
bama than, what, may be involved in the general
policy of making concessions to Radicalism, with
the view of averting the extremity of their evil
intentions and malignant disposition toward the
Southern vwhitepeople.
There appears to us to be no other rule of
•conduct--on this subject -than a simple, prac
tical application of principle and common sense
to the case, as it -is presented. It seems to us
inthe case of Virginia, it is vastly important, if
she -can, to- effect snch a modification of the
Underwood Constitution as will allow the whites
self-protection and a tolerable government.
Once saddled with'Underwood’s government,
many years must elapse and much distress fol
low, before it can be thrown off.
The concession of negro suffrage is practical
ly none at till,, because that is certain to be im-
posed har in any (tent; nor does an acceptance
of it,-under.protest, bind Virginia in any way to
the perpetuation of a policy which her judgment
condemns. We understand tho whole proposed
paction to be in the nature of a temporary ac
commodation of existing issues, under which the
State fihalbgo into • the Union, with tho same
liberty and discretion of other States to adapt
her institutions to the judgment and exigencies
of her people.
But <the difficulty in Alabama seems to be
more of a theoretical character. Certain parties
seem disposed to strike bonds with the Radicals
in relation to their leading political theories and
practices in general; and this, a meeting of tho
“old Union seen of Alabama,” held in Mont
gomery on the ,29th ult., eloquently and justly
protest against, and call upon the people of the
State to stand £rm by the democracy of the
country.
There are certain cardinal principles of free
government in America which, we cannot see
how any intelligent .Southern man can abandon,
particularly in the .light of our experience since
the war. When we see what a frightful tyranny
a consolidated government has become in the
hands of vast combinations of the Northern
States and peoples, what conscientious man can
:, for one moment abandon the doctrine of strict
constitutional construction—of a Federal Gov
ernment of delegated powers—and of-State gov
ernments and peoples as the sovereign reposi
tories of all original power under onr system ?
These are the great fixed luminaries in onr
political science and practice, and although
under a total eclipse jost now, -the very dark
ness and gloom which hare followed the obscur
ation, only remind us the more forcibly of the
inestimable value of these great political lights.
Wo cannot abandon them, without giving up all
hope of a brighter future, and therefore any
proposition which lootfs like committing tho
South doctrinally to an abandonment of these
great fundamental truths, cannot be tolerated.
But in respect to these temporary expedients
of policy by which it is proposed to meet exist
ing exigencies, we are reminded of the iron ship
in modem navigation. It is said the mariner, be
fore be adventures to sea with an iron ship, first
takes her out of the dock and swings her round
in all directions, recording carefully tho varia
tions of the compass in all attitudes, and then he
steers her by making allowance for the varia
tions produced by the attraction of the metalic
substance atf which she is built.
The Southern Statesman is in a worse condi
tion now than the master of the iron ship. He
/find3 the constitutional compass not only de
ranged, but practically inoperative, and all the
-constitutional lights out In tho practical ab
sence of these guides, except in the matter of
.the genoral direction of the voyage, he is sadly
at fault. He is forced to take on board such a
miscellaneous cargo and so incompetent and hy
brid a crew that his difficulties are vastly in
creased.
The man of the iron ship, should he steer by
bis compass as it. points, would find himself
thousands of miles oat of course and dashed on
nnffjondlj rocks. The Southern statesman, .still
more puzuled, is afraid to steer at all, and stil)
ho knows be must go. 'That has been our con
dition in the South. Our.ships have been driven
•before Radical gales with nobody at the helm;
'because, as we have said,-(he compass is broken
—the lights are out, and nobody knows bow to
steer. Consequently, wo have been the sport of
external winds and currents/from the time Mr.
President Johnson first undertook to direct our
course, until the present moment, when we are
in a more perplexing and anomalous condition
than we were just after the surrender.
Underihese circumstances it is no wonder that
diversity of .opinion should exist among the of
ficers. Tho wonder u that there has not been
more. 'Where oil laws of judgment and action
are suspended and everything affecting the
present situation left to conjecture, it is not to
be supposed that judgments will harmonize.—
Some will insist on total inaction, and others
open such effort for the common safety as un
satisfactory indications may suggest. What .wo
can all do is to jjold fast to the ancient doctrines
Of American freedpm anfl never give them up.
And that is what we propose to do. *
Crawfordville, Ga., January 21, 1869.
Your correspondent arrived at this place yes
terday, and resolved upon paying a visit to the
ex-Vice President of the ex-Confederate States,
lost no time in making his appearance at that
plain, but neat residence, which is'observed by
every passer by.
The entrance to the dwelling of Mr. Stephens
forms a striking contrast with the world-wide
fame of its owner. Here is no “pomp of pride,
no majestic frippery that causes tho weary trav
eler to hesitate and turn his longing eyes in
search of a more hospitable resting place. All
is plain and unpretending, and the very air itself
seems to say “come in, it is one of yourselves
that lives here.”
Upon my arrival at the house I was met by
colored servant, who pointed out the door within
which sat her old master. A light knock, and
the words “come in,” uttered in that well-known
voice, soon told me that the object of my visit
was at home. No sooner did he see me than his
hand was stretched forth with all the kindliness
and generosity for which he is so proverbial.
After words of greeting and an introduction to
his nephew, Mr. Wm. G. Stephens, I found my
self seated before the fire, with a small table
separating me from my distinguished host. The
sanctum—for sanctum it is—is a plain, unvar
nished one, and reminds yon, at first sight, of
an editor's private office—all newspapers, with
a slight relief in the shape of books and writing
paper. He was dressed in a suit of neat, com
fortable brown woollen Jeans, of home manu
facture and woven from the fleece of his own
flock, which he informed me was raised on his
own plantation. It is exactly similar to the suit
which ho wore when ho was inaugurated Vice
President of tho Confederacy, and warlike that,
woven by the Misses Sharpe, two young ladies
residing in the same county, who pride them
selves very much upon having been the weavers
of his inauguration suit, which was a present
from them to him.
When I entered he was engaged in looking
over the papers which had arrived by mail a few
minutes before, but kindly entered into a very
pleasing conversation with me without delay.—
ventured to call Ms attention to a paper wMch
contained the article of Mr. Pollard on the flight
of Mr. Davis from Richmond, and particularly
that portion relating to himself, with an urgent
request that he might allow me to publish his
remarks in reference to it. He stated that he
had seen the article, and would grant my request
only on condition that I would give Ms remarks
in his own words. I then took down in short
hand as he spoke, the following:
“ I have a great repugnance to having my
name brought before the public in such a con
nection, even in correction of the many misrep
resentations, wMch I almost daily see in the
papers; yet, I assure yon that what Mr. Pollard,
this article, says, is without the least founda
tion whatever, and Ms information, from what
soever source derived, is entirelv incorrect. I
was here, at my own home in Crawfordville,
at the time referred to. Mr. Davis did not pass
nearer to Crawfordville than Raytown, some
eight or nine miles distant, and I did not
know that he was passing through that part of
the State, until some time afterwards. “Gris-
woldville,” spoken of in the article of Mr. Pol
lard, is at least sixty or seventy miles from my
residence.
“However-widely Mr. Davis and I may have
differed upon public questions and public policy,
either before or during the days of the Con
federacy, onr personal and social relations were
never interrupted Onr terms of intercourse
were always friendly. No act of incivility on
the part of either of ns was ever exMbited to
wards the other, so far as lam aware of. In
this connection I would add that it is not cor
rect, as I here see it in the papers to-day stated,
that I have accepted the ProfessorsMp of His
tory and Political Science, lately created and
tendered to me in the University of Georgia.
The state of my health and existing professional,
as well as other engagements, constrain me to
decline it, at least for the present.”
GENERAL GRANT.
I asked Mr. Stephens what he thought would
be the course of General Grant as President,
and while he says bnt little upon public matters,
Ms reply was as follows: “All the country
wants is good government For General Grant
personally I entertain the Mghest esteem. From
the time I first met Mm at City Point, in 1865,
I have regarded, and still regard him, as one of
the most remarkable men I have ever met He
possesses one of the rarest combinations of ele
ments of character of perhaps any man living.
I do not believe he will be easily influenced,
much less controlled, by any person. He will
act from the dictates of Ms own judgment, and
what he believes to be the line of Ms duty. I
regard Mm as a man of great generosity and
magnanimity, neither selfish nor ambitions;
and I believe be meant all that the words import
when ho said ‘Let us have Peace.’ Gen. Grant,
however, no more than any other man, can have
all things as he might desire. The future of
this country, therefore, is still enveloped in
great uncertainty. All the patriot at the South
can do is to bear in patience tho present—exer
cise a generous confidence and look hopefully
for time’s development.” Of
tions—a man who commands respect by sim
plicity and true greatness, rather than by over
powering pomposity and dogmatism. Mr. Ste
phens is not, I regret to say, in the enjoyment of
even his usual bad health. He has lately had
severe attack, and this has caused Mm to sus
pend his labors upon the second volume of Ms
“History of the war,” but it is hoped that his
illness is not of a serious nature, and that he
will soon be able to resume his work.
Upon taking my leave, Mr. Stephens thanked
me for my visit, and insisted on my making
Liberty Hall (the name of his residence) my
home while I remained in town. In good truth
he has not misnamed his home, for no person
can remain in it long without being convinced
that the utmost “liberty” reigns there.
Maguire.
Since the above was written, we are pleased
to say that the health of this distinguished Geor
gian has improved.
THE COUNTRY
i
No Colored G hitmen Ajcmttid.—It is nowsaid
Mr. Menard, the oolored member elect from New
Orleans, will not get a seat in the present Con
gress, beside the doubts being probably resolved
in favor of the rights of Mr. Jones, contestant
of the late sitting member, Mri Mann.
It appears that the committee does not regard
the argument of Mr. Menard as at all conclusive
as to Ms own right to a seat, so that the advent
of a colored member upon the floor of the House
must be loft to a future Congress, if over.
he said, “ "With good government, there is much
of * life in the old “land we love’ yet.'” He here
refereed to a paper recently furnished from the
Agricultural Bureau at Washington wMch gives
the produets and the great staples of the conn-
try, Indian com and cotton, daring the year
1868, and proceeded:
From this it appears that in all of the States
cast of the Pacific slope, the entire product of
cotton was nine hundred millions bushels. Of
this, more than one-half, to-wit: five hundred
and nine millions in round numbers, was pro
duced in the thirteen Southern States; while the
cotton crop, estimated at two million three hun
dred thousand 'Sales, grown entirely in these
States, at on average market price, would amount
to upwards of two hundred and fifty millions
dollars, wMch will be more than one-half the for
eign exports from tho entire country. These
figures in themselves exhibit what vital energies
we possess, if properly directed under good gov
ernment”
• NEORO LABOR.
Mr. Stephens still retains all his former ser
vants, both on the lot in town, and on tho old
homestead, none of whom show any disposi
tion to leave Mm. Harry Stephets, who bore
his master s name .long before emancipation,
and filled Ms present place while Mr. Stephens
was in Congress, is still the Major Domo at Lib
erty HalL He is steward, butler and general
manager of the premises. His wife and chil
dren, some of whom are nearly grown, consti
tute the other domestics of tho establishment
At the plantation, about two miles distant, all
Ms former servants still remain, and cultivate
tho land in parcels, as tenants. In Mr. Stephen’s
own words, “they pay one-fourth of the pro
ducts #s rent. They work as well and as faith
fully as over, but I do not think that, upon an
average, the product of their labor is over about
one-fourth of what it formerly was, wMch I attrib
ute to the -want of proper skill in agriculture,
and the general management of a farm.” To
me onr conversation was truly agreeable, and
[For the Daily Telegraph,
Agricultural Progress—No. 3.
“labor omnia vincit.”
There are some difficult problems to solve, as
conditionsprecedent to tho generakprosperity of
the former slave States. One is, how to produce
crops on onr lands without work, or with Com-
paratively little work; and the next is, how to
get a population, on the lands, willing to do that
little. If we could invent a machine, to run by
steam or wind, to dig, and plow, and spade, and
rake; scatter the manure, plant, replant, thin
out, kill insects and vermin; gather, honse, gin,
pack, shell and grind; slaughter, salt, smoke,
bake, boil, fry, stew, and wash dishes, scour
ovens and pots, and let ns all be overseers and
superintendents, we shonld soon reach a degree
of prosperity that would rival the days of slavery.
That negroes are unwilling to work, is true
with many exceptions. That wMte men are un
willing to work—bnt I must not dare to tell the
whole truth; if I did, somebody would say I am
tinctured with Radical proclivities. However,
I will split the difference and say, that neither
negroes or wMte folks in the South are as wil
ling to work as the wants of this country require.
Commercial manures are good in their place,
and so are home-made manures—and neither
will enable ns to dispense with industry—neither
will prove to be worth much without both labor
and skill. Every pound of genuine guano that
is sold and properly used, will to that extent
benefit the country. Every pound of worthless
stnff sold in the name of tMs fertilizer will, to
the extent of the money paid for it, and the labor
of applying it, prove an injury. Every poundof
any fertilizer used, whether foreign or domes
tic, is that much added to the common stock of
the country. Every improvement in agricultu
ral implements, and in tho art of using them to
the best advantage, shonld be encouraged.
But the great question—the one underlying
all the others and antecedent to all—is, how to
get the people of the South ttilling to abandon
their habits of wastefulness, idleness and self-in
dulgence, and apply themselves, not as overseers
and superintendents, but as active operatives,
in producing grain, in raising stock and growing
the great wealth-producing staple of onr section.
We are constantly whining and canting for some
body to come from somewhere that is willing to
work, and that will bring some money to buy
out our land and afford us the means of prolong
ing onr b'ves of indolence, indulgence and ease
few years longer, until we can and will have
spent and lived it out—until we shall seo a hardy
race of foreigners the lords of the rich soil we
possess, and they and their children the rich in
heritors and recipients of the products of their
toil and frugality, when we and our children,
after enjoying the brief run of coveted ease,
shall have sunk down into hopeless poverty and
into qnasi equality with the expiring negro race.
Aye; let all come who may or will. Let them
bring all the money they have, and their habits
and customs—good, bad, or indifferent, and all
their skill and improvements. Let them get
rich if they can. That is all well enough for
them and their descendants, but not for ns and
ours. YTth the institution of slavery, we were
raised in ease; and with it died oar means and
adaptation os a people, to that mode of life. We
are inclined to drag out the remainder of our
days in the same suicidal folly, and too many of
us inclined to bring up our children in the same
fatal errors. We must wake up from this delu
sion, or our race will sink back to poverty and
imbecility. It will not do to so act or so teach,
as to impress our growing families that we still
have a kind of property in the negro, and that
kinky heads and black skins, and hand and mus
cles already hardened and innured to toil, are the
only kind net disgraced by labor. TMs system
will do only for temporary purposes, while the
father’s money holds ont to Mre and feed and
clothe; where there is a successful and labori-
onr merchant, or doctor or lawyer, or mechanic
or fanner, able and willing to provide; and
wMle there are negroes here willing to be
hired. Bnt that state of things is tempora
ry. These successful heads of families will soon
be dead. The negro is being consumed by free
dom like snow in the sun; the candle is lighted
at both ends—they die off faster and increase
more slowly, and soon the race will be numbered
with things of the past. I ask the fathers and
mothers of Georgia, what is to be the condition
of your children and grandchildren twenty-five,
fifty, or a hundred years to come? When your
little savings and accumulations are spent and
they are sent forth into the world with no qual
ities or habits to sustain them in competition
with the offspring of the new race we are inviting
here, and the few frugal negroes who may re
main and acquire property ? Can you conceive
it possible for the daughter or grand-daughter
of a man who owned a hundred or five hundred
slaves in 1864, being the hired servan.- of anegro,
or of some German or Irish laborer’s descendant ?
or begging in the streets for bread, or the in
mate of a criminal resort, driven there by sheer
want ?
Tho great question for the pMlosopher, the
leader in agricultural progress, the divine and
philanthropist, for ns all as a people—not only
for temporary prosperity, but for the preserva
tion, physical, mental and moral, of the race—
is how to awaken our people from their lethar
gy, and indnee them not only to provide sub
sistence, but accumulate wealth by physical la
bor. There can be no question that the negro
is the proper Mreling, so long as we rely on
hired labor, and while Ms race los^p. The idea
of superseding the negro by any other race of
permanent hired laborers to servo oar race in
the South, is fatile. There is no people in
Europe that would not, on what wo pay and
provide for the negroes, in a few years, become
proprietors. The great question that drapes
the future in dark shades for our race, is how
to become a self-relying people. Lawyer.
A Bold and Original Proposition.
Tire. GRAND ERIE CANAL OR GEORGIA.
Early County, February 1, 1869.
Editors Macon Telegraph : From the manifest
interest that you take in the advocacy of any
thing that advanoes the welfare of Georgia, I am
induced to believe that tho following suggestion
will find insertion in the columns of your paper;
and, indeed, casting about, ns yon have been, for
every means to rehabilitate the old State in her
former glory and prosperity, it surprises me
that this should have escaped your observation.
The material history of New York anterior to
the construction of the Erie Canal is known to
ns all; the nnreclaimed wilderness verging upon
the Hudson, the cultivated oases on the interior
river flats—the surplus products of which, exclu
ded from market, were drugs in the producer’s
hands—the widely separated villages struggling
to maintain their precarious existence, the varied
crops of the teeming lake-shore—a tithe of
wMch found a laborious and profitless exit
through the St. Lawrence—these vre all remem
ber ; it was but yesterday that they existed.
This wildernesshasbeenmadeagarden, these
worthless products exchanged for gold, those
scanty hamlets increased to wealthy capitals and
the genius of Clinton has adorned the meagre
shore of his native State with the fairest city
that the world knows. The palm of successful
originality is withNew York—to Georgia remains
a wise imitation.
That vast river system of our continent, the
wonder and admiration of the world, sweeps
down invitingly, in the Tennessee, to onr very
borders on the north-west, and the Altamaha
furnishes a timely abridgement of the labor on
the east, the two together suggesting unmistak
ably the wonderful results to us of their easy
junction.
The length of the Erie canal (364 miles) ex
ceeds, by at least seventy-five miles, this canal
connecting the Altamaha and Tennessee.—
The elovation of the water in the New York
water-way would be avoided in tMs, and last
and greatest, the Georgia canal would never be
the cause of unrecompensed expenditure for the
five most important months of the year, as is
the Erie, by reason of its being locked np with
THE GEORGIA EASE.
A Glance at the Record of “Loyal” and ,
Disloyal Outrages.
Georgia Agricultural Convention.
From the Atlanta -Ve»r Era, !
City Hall, Atlanta, February 2, 1869.
The Convention met at ten o’clock and was
The following is from “Mack’s'-’ last letter to ^erident^ffie^eS A^cultiSs^iety^
the Cincinnati Enqmier : j On taking the Chair Mr. Yancey delivered a
The Senate Judiciary Committee, through Mr. 1 most eloquent and argumentive address, ahow-
Stewart, of Nevada, yesterday, reported against ing the great importance of the Agricultural and
the admission of Joshua Hill, of Georgia, to a Immigration movement now on foot throughout
seat in the Senate, and accompanied the report the State. His address is worthy of being print-
with a long series of pretended facts to sustain ed, and if printed and circulated freely, is capa-
it, and designed to show that Georgia had not ble of advancing the important interest which it
been properly “reconstructed.” The number ; considers.
of “murders and assaults” committed in the 1 Names of delegates from different counties
State daring the past year is set forth to make . were then enrolled.
a startling array, bnt it is an exMbit only of the | A motion was made that delegates from
number of negroes or “loyal whites” murdered ; county societies be invited to participate in the
or assaulted by “rebels.” Not a word is said j deliberations of the body. It was decided that
of the other class of outrages commmitted all ’ such delegates should have seats upon the floor,
through the South, in which the fiendishness j and their views could be heard, but they could
and atrocity of the negroes figure most conspio- { not participate in the action of the Convention
uously. “Three hundred and sixty-six cases of j without first becoming members of the State
U*
Society.
The Chairman announced that the first bnsi-
business in order was to select a President vice
Mr. Dickson declined.
A motion was made and seconded to nominate
and elect by acclamation Hon. B. O. Yancey,’ and
six cases” in ten months and a half, throughout 1 was carried ■rapturously before the Chairman
the State of Georgia—that is, of “murders and could interpoie a constitutional objection. He
assaults.” An analysis would probably show showed, however, that the election could only
murders and assaults, were reported by the
Freedman’s Bureau from January 1 to Novem
ber 15, 1869.”
This is the -weightiest allegation in Mil Stew
art’s report, and the principal reason for not ad-
milting Mr. Hill. “ Three hundred and sixty-
Such a route as tMs, for instance—I merely
suggest for the reflection of those better inform
ed-tapping the Tennessee at Gunter’s Landing,
in Marshal county, Ala., and running from there
to Center, in Cherokee county, Ala., along the
banks of the Coosa and Etowah, to a point in
Cherokee county, Ga., due north of Acworth,
from there to tho Chattahoochee crossing at
Roswell, thence to Sweet Water, in Gwinnett
county, on the head waters of the Yellow River,
down the left bank of the Yellow River to the
Ocmulgee, down its left bank to a point a few
miles sonth of Tarversville, ifi Twiggs county,
from there southwest to a prong of the Little
Ocmulgee, in Pulaski county, and down its left
bank to its junction -with the Ocmulgee, where
uninterrupted navigation will be found and an
outlet to the ocean at Savannah or Brunswick,
would give a distance of not more than 290
miles.
As for its practicability—the trend of the
whole route, except that section from Center to
that point north of Acworth, say a distance of
sixty-five miles, is favorable to the construction
of tho canal, being a decline from its feeder—
the Tennessee, to its outlet, the Altamaha. The
cost of construction would, as it were, be the
entire cost, for a trifling annual sum would pre
serve the original perfection of the work ;
whereas, the preservation of similar works in
more northern latitudes, entails an enormous
yearly outlay.
In tho Erie, for instance, no foresight can pro
vent—no art protect from the ravages of their
severe winters. Its trade and value as an in
vestment can be seen at a glance. It has for
feeders, the OMo and tributaries—the upper
Mississippi and tributaries—the Missouri and
tributaries—the lower Mississippi and tributa
ries as far south, at least, as the Arkansas river,
for ascending from the Arkansas, the Missis
sippi and OMo to the junction of the Tennessee,
ascending that to tho canal, and through it to
the ocean, is a shorter route to the Atlantic, than
via the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Erie, though a prey to political cormo
rants and subjected perpetually to party exper
iments, Is a most valuable property in spite of
its drawing heavily on its summer earnings for
its winter support.
TMs Georgia canal, besides enjoying the ad
vantages of economical conduct and experienced
management wMch all industrial associations of
private, have over those of a publio character,
would have as much greater a freightage than
the Erie as is the area of a great portion of the
North, the Northwest, the West and a great pari
of the Southwest of the United States—greater
than the area of the lakes.
Yet, tho Mghest authority informs ns that
daring last summer there arrived at Albany over
the Erie canal 39,000 tons of freight daily—a
greater tonnage than that of all the railroads
running into New York—and tMs was stopped
not by tho exhaustion of freight, but by the
freezing up of the canal.
The cost of the 364 miles of the Erie was es
timated to be $4,880,000—certainly $5,000,000
should bnild the 290 miles of tho Georgia canal.
Upon an investment so permanent as tMs,
and involving so little annual outlay to keep in
repair, 12J would assuredly be a satisfactory
per centage; to obtain it, let us find the necessa
ry tonnage and toll. The railroads are now ad
vertising—with a profusion of exclamation
marks—to bring coal from Chattanooga to Mil-
ledgeville—a transportation considerably short
er than tMs canal—at $4 per ton; and the At
lantic and Gnlf Road, forced by strong compe
tition, has been carrying cotton from Bainbridgo
to Savannah—equal in distance to the canal—
for S12 per ton. Now, concede that this canal
would have freight within a twelvemonth equal
to that wMch offers itself to the Erie, in six
months, one-half the time, and a toll of eleven
and one quarter cents per ton will pay the 124
per cent on the $5,000,000 cost; leaving, in all
conscience, a sufficient margin for the boat own-
■ to compete successfully with railroads.
But it will be objected that the delays incident
six murders and three hundred and sixty “atf.
saults,” and a comparison with the criminal re
cords of other localities would undoubtedly show
Georgia, according to the Senate Committee’s
statistics, to be a most peaceable and law-abid
ing State. The last census gives Georgia A
population of 1,057,000—or or about four times
that of the city of Cincinnati. According to this
ratio, and to the Senate standard of morality,
about a hundred assault cases per annum in our
city would be sufficient to call for Congressional
interposition, and a denial of onr right to rep
resentation in Congress. If Mr. Stewart will
take the trouble to look at the docket of the
Cincinnati Police Court for the past year he will
find not less than a thousand “assaults” equally
as unprovoked as any that the Mstory of Geor
gia can furnish.
Then take the criminal record of New York
city, with a population less than the State of
Georgia and compare it with the three hundred
and sixty-six cases raked up by the Freedmen’s
Bureau, and now made the pretext for excluding
a State from representation in Congress. There
is more crime committed in the city of New York
in a single week than the Judiciary Committee
find to nave been committed in the State of
Georgia in a year. Or, if you will, take Mr.
Stewart’s own State of Nevada as a basis of com
parison. There are more murders, more as
saults, more villainies of all kinds, committed
every year by the half-civilized constituency of
less than twenty thousand whom he represents
than by the million people who inhabit the State
of Georgia. If the insecurity of life and prop
erty were made the general cause of the denial
of representation in Congress, Nevada would be
kicked out at once, for it is well known that
among the inhabitants of that State murder is a
fine art, and throat-cutting a pleasant pastime.
But Georgia is excluded from the halls of
Congress, first, because she gave a Democratic
majority at the last election, and, secondly, be
cause Mr. Hill, who has been elected as one of
her Senators, is a Southern man, and not a car
pet-bagger. The intention is to keep her out
until she shall give assurance of n Radical ma
jority, and until she shall select as her Sena
tors and Representatives some of the scoundrels
from the North, who have gone down there
to serve in that capacity. Such as the feast of
“reconstruction,” and its consequent “peace, 1
to wMch the country is invited by the new re
gime. Since the world began there has not been
snch a cruel parody of all the principles of civil
government, and till the world ends let ns hope
there will not be another.
From lVashington.
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal;]
GEN. GRANT.
Washington, January 30.—Gen. Grant has
prepared his resignation as General of the Army,
and will tender it to President Johnson next
week, on the day after the electoral vote for
President is counted and declared by Congress.
CONGRESS.
The feature of to-days’s proceedings in Con
gress was the passage by the House of the
Constitutional suffrage amendment by tho re
quired two-thirds vote. But two Republicans,
Bingham, of OMo, and Baker, of Illinois, voted
against it.
THE GENUINE ATI 1 ! 1 IfiT.TL
The following is a correct copy of the pro
posed 15th article, wMch is yet to pass the Sen
ate, and be ratified by three-fourths of the Leg
islatures of the States:
Sec. 1. The right of any citizen of the United
States shall not be denied or abridged by tho
United States, or any State, by reason of race
or color, or previous condition of slavery, of any
citizen or class of citizens of the United States.
Sec. 2. The Congress shall have the power
to enforce by appropriate legislation the pro
visions of tins article.
THE CABINET.
Gen. John Cochrane, of New York, has been
here in consultation with prominent Republi
cans. His friends wont to make Mm Attorney
General, but by general consent that place is
now mortaged in behalf of John F. Wilson, of
Iowa; at any rate it is conceded that Mr. Wil
son is to have a place in the Cabinet. -
BANK FAILURE. Ill'll
The failure of the Merchants’ National Bank
of Little Rook, announced yesterday, is a pretty
bad one, with indications that its management
was characterized by extreme looseness, if noth
ing worse. It is said that depositors will lose
heavily, and that a considerable amount of Gov
ernment funds are swallowed up in tho smash,
bnt it is likely that it has some security that will
protect it from entire loss.
MISSISSIPPI.
The Reconstruction Committee held a’meeting
this morning and examined ono witness relative
to affairs in Mississippi. The committee will
next week take final action upon the questions
before them as to the admission of Virginia and
Mississippi, and also upon the resolution of Gen.
Payne, of Wisconsin, instructing the committee
to inquire into the eligibility of the Georgia del
egation in the House, that State not having com
plied with the reconstruction acts. Tt is thought
the committee will report against the delegation
and declare them ineligible to their seats.
THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS. "
There was an informal gathering of Democratic
members of the House, who had a free inter
change of views on several matters of publio
policy. Among these tho proposition to buy
or annex San Domingo and Hayti was referred
to. There were a few, but very few, who ex
pressed themselves in favor of that project
Brooks, of New York, Payne, and others, among
the members, squinted at it, bnt the body of
the Democrats were strongly opposed to the ac
quisition of any more negro States. "There were
other propositions beforo the meeting, to wMch
no reference can be made.
take place by ballot Accordingly ballots were
prepared and Mr. Yancey was elected by every
vote save four. The vote was then made unan-
m ° QS . iHPNMil
It was then decided to elect a Vice President,
nice Mr." Yancey,’ elected President Col. David
C. Barrow was elected.
Thanks were returned to the City Council for
the the use of the City HalL
A committee of three was appointed to notify
Hon. B. C. Yancey of Ms election as President
of the society and request Ms acceptance.
Mr. Yancey ;resumed the chair and thanked
the society in a very brief but pleasant manner.
Reports of standing committees were next
called for. None of the committees were ready
to report. ■ i
Rev. C, W. Howard, chairman of a special
committee to memorialize the Legislature upon
the subject of forming a Land and Immigration
Department, reported the condition of that mat
ter before the General Assembly. At the re
quest of the’Convention, CoL Howard delivered
an address upon the subject of the report. The
address was delivered in his usually profound
style, using facts as the most potent weapons of
oratory. : ■- -•
Members of the General Assembly were invi
ted to seats in the Convention, and a committee
appointed to communicate the fact to the Presi
dent of the Senate and Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Mr. Rees, of Bibb, spoke very pointedly upon
the subject of immigration.
The Convention then adjourned to meet at 3
o’clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention re-assembled at 3 o’clock.
The Special Committee appointed to see the
Governor and solicit the payment of the appro
priation to the Society made by a permanent law
ef the State made its report.
CoL T. 0. Howaid, of DeKalb, offered a reso
lution in reference to manures. It involved the
appointing of a Committee of seven to investi
gate tho subject of manures and tho chances of
cheapening manures. CoL H. supported his
resolution in his usual fervent manner.
Mr. Logan, of Clayton, followed with some
eminently practical and useful suggestions in
regard to the manipulation of manures. The
gentleman evinced a thorough knowledge of
both the theory and practice of preparing fer
tilizers.
Rev. C. W. Howard followed in support of
the resolution.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. J. Norcross, of Fulton, offered a resoln-
tion that a committee of three be appointed i> promise.
The -IrreprcwiMe Conflict” <■
Inauguration Ball.
GEN. GRANT s INVETERATE Disuse TO
JOHNSON.
The Herald's special Washington dispatch of
the 30th has the following interesting revela,
tions, by wMcb it will be seen the negro
very heavily interspersed and stowed away ^
the superincumbent woodpile which crushed out
the “inauguration ball.” Some who thought the
correspondent of the Baltimore Grzette was j<*.
ing will now recall their opinions. “ It ar a f ao '
dat Equality Dinah and Sambo jes use up ^
ball complete. Missey Grant and Miasev Golfer
she no dance jnba wid Jumbo Jim, ’kaseshesa
Of nigger good enuf to be Gnbnor downSouf, he
no good enuf to commix widde wMte ladies and
Brudder Sumner of de free Norf, an’ dar’s equal
ity for you, spite of de dbil rights bill nebeid e !
Removal of the Macon Western and Rail
road Shops.—We are sorry to see the following
in the Atlanta Constitution of Monday:
Col. G. W. Adair, our popular Real Estate
Agent, has effected a sale of a lot on Mitchell
street, near the now Macon Railroad depot, to
Capt. A. J. WMte, President of the roadL The
object of this purchase by the road is for the
purpose of moving the Macon and Western
Railroad shops to this city. The sale was for
$13,000, cash.
The Macon and Western Railway sheps in
this city, being located near the swamps end
sloughs of the city reserves, have, within the
last few years, proved so unhealthy that the
company have been contemplating removal of a
portion of their machinery for some time. But
boforo I sat many minutes with tMs great, and, j their establishment in Macon is so large and
iu facL wonderful man, I felt That I had met'j complete, that we stillhope a large part of their
with one out of the sphere of our daily associa- j work will bo done in Macon.
THE GEORGIA QUESTION,
together with the avowed purpose of the Radi
cals to oust the Congressmen from that State, is
disenssed freely in political circles. ’ The Dem
ocratic members generally seem to tMnk the
Legislature of that State ought to authorize their
__ the canal would’drive away freight. TMs is j Supreme Court to take up forthwith and decide
true of certain kinds of freight, but of how ! the case now pending whore a negro was clerk
small a portion of tho aggregate! Was a sav-1 of a county office, now expelled therefrom on
ing of time considered by those sMppers who, ! account of Ms color, and to wMch action he de-
this winter and every winter, fill Bnffalo to over- 1 murred in the shape of a civil suit. Tho con
flowing with freight shut up by the frozen Erie? j strnction tho court would put on the vexed
Is dispatch sought by those dealers who send i question of the political status of the negro in
grain from St Louis to New York via New Or- J that State, it is thought, would go far towards
leans and the Gulf, at a saving of 17 cents per harmonizing and settling impending troubles.
Supremo Court of Georgia.
From the Constitution.1
1 .• Saturday, January 30, 1869.
Argument was concluded by Judge Lyon for
Mrs. Johnson, in the cause vs. the Macon and
Western Railroad, from Bibb.
Robt O. Bryant, not. executors, plaintiffs in
error, vs. Zena Doolittle, complaint from Hous
ton, was argued by the Reporter for S. D. Kil-
len. There was no appearance for defendant in
error. asm; i\‘j jJ*
S. T. Bailey, plaintiff in error, vs. E. L. Stro-
hecker, Mandamus from Bibb, was argued bv
the Reporter for plaintiff in error, and B. Hiu
representing L W. Cowles for defendant in
error.
bushel in transportation ? WiU the iron master
of Tennessee,, the cotton planter of Arkansas,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia
pnt their products into market at an extra cost
of from two to eight dollars per ton, for which
they receive nothing ? A canal is no more a
natural adversary of railroads than is a river—
there is freight suited to each and plenty for
alL
Politically the influence of such an enterprise
is astounding. It makes Georgia the collector
and disburser of the results of a continent’s la
bor. It puts Savannah and Brunswick in direct
water communication with Pittsburg, Pennsyl
vania, St. Paul, Minnesota, Omaha City, Ne
braska, St Louis, Missouri, the whole of Ar.
kansas, and the greater portion of Mississippi—
a semi-circle, in fact, capable of supplying the
world’s wants.
The continued ebbing and flowing of this
wave of wealth through the State would people
our towns, cultivate our lands, utilize our water
power, attract and diffnse capital, build roads,
dig mines, and, in short, make Georgia what a
bountiful nature intended her to be, the weal
thiest and most powerful nationalitv on tMs
continent.
Should these crude ideas, Messrs. Editors, ar
rest tho attention and excite the interest of thoso
more competent to prove the feasibility, and
display, the advantages of this project, i shall
have accomplished my purpose. Georgian.
investigate the cultivation of tho grape in
Georgia, and what varieties are best adapted
to our soil and climate, the committee to re
port at the next State Fair. Mr. Norcross
warmly supported Ms resolution, entering
largely into a discussion of grape culture.
Mr. Walker spoke facetiously for a few min
utes upon tho grape question.
The resolution was adopted.
Dr. Newton introduced a resolution that two
hours of to-morrow morning’s session be de
voted to the discussion of contracts with freed-
men, and one hour to improved plows.—
Adopted.
By Rev. C. W. Howard, a resolution was
offered reorganizing the Executive Committee,
having it composed of three from each Con
gressional District, and that if anyone fail to at
tend the meeting it be considered a sufficient
excuse for the appointing, by the President, of
another in his stead. Adopted.
Convention adjonmed to meet at 74 o’clock.
Business in the Committees—Anoth
er Omnibus Bill.
The World-dispatch, of the.29th, says : The
Congressional Committees are practically in
continuous session at this time, allowing for the
intervals of rest and Congressional meeting.
Tho principal committees of the Senate have
been recently engaged, and are now occupied
as follows: The Foreign Relations Committee
considering the cable question and the St.
Thomas treaty, with the certainty of rejecting
the latter. The Judiciary Committee are en
deavoring to frame a general bill of reconstruc
tion, to include Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas. They meet at 10 a. jt.,
andfjp. m., daily. ■
The Pacific Railroad Committee are endeav
oring to fix up a bill wMch only wants’ Congress
to guarantee the interest on bonds, and wMch
avoids other subsidies. The Pension Committee
have been considering principally Mrs. Lincoln’s
petition, and have, even after having agreed to
Mr. Morton’s bill, had to re-examine it, and re
port that, under existing laws, they can recom
mend bnt thirty dollars a month, and ask a spe
cial act to make it $10,000 a year. The Military
Committee are busy patcMng up : Mr. Wilson’s
bill reducing the Mgh grades in number, and
abolishing some altogether. The Finance Com
mittee h .ve combined most of their material
into Mr. Sherman’s bill, though there are many
amendments to it, wMch are to be considered,
one by one. - .ia ■ i« m»
A Continental “Damn.”
A* <■ -” '• 5TTTTTT? i ... ' (« -J.
A correspondent in Atlanta, Ga., offers the
following plausible explanation of this term.
He says:
“I do not claim to be versed in slang phrases,
tint I must confess that my knowledge of them
is sufficient to explain the origin of an expres
sion of this nature, of which Mr.' Richard Grant
WMte admits he can give no account. In Ms
article .entitled ‘Words that are not Words,’
which wns recently published, he says, with re
gard to the combination of words, ‘Not worth a
continental damn, I am at a loss to assign a
source,’ etc.
Those who are familiar with American histo
ry will know that, during the revolution of 177C,
the continental currency was counterfeited to
snch an extent that it became necessary for the
government to take some steps to ascertain
wMch was genuine. To this end they required
that. it should all be brought to the common
treasury. Here the spurious were distinguished
from the genuine notes, and such counterfeit
notes had the wofit dam., an abbreviation of
the Latin word damnatus, (condemned,) stamp
ed upon their face. When the very small value
of the genuine continental notes, and the utter’
wortMessness of those marked dam., is consid
ered, it will be easy to assign a source to this
phrase. Tho addition of the letter » to the ab
breviation requires no explanation.” ’
The “ Tallulah ” at Haivltinsville.'
The Dispatch of yesterday announces the ar
rival of the “Tallulah,” the WMte Oak Com
pany’s boat, at Hawkinsville, on the same day,
and says :
The “Tallulah” is now lying off the landing
near Dead river, a few miles below here, where
shelters are being built for the hands on board,
and preparations made to cover the boat, so as
to protect' the machinery and enable the work
men to labor in bad weather.
Very little work, if any, has yet been done,
but everything will be in readiness during the
PBWjPWBW.. .. present week, and wo understand the entire force
The First National Bank of Macon, plaintiff will bo employed in filling contracts for sHp-
in error, vs. Charles Mason & Co., Equity from , knees, etc., which were placed in hand at the
Bibb, was next called. Lanier & Anderson, B. j commencement of the enterprise.
Hill for plaintiff in error. Harris & Hunter, |
for defendant in error. j More Land and More Negroes.—At a meet-
Pending the opening argument by Mr. Ander- ing of Committee on Foreign Affairs, of the
T "“’!
. olution on Monday, declaring in substance that
■ »:•
CoMiiERCLAL Bank of Gkiffin.—The Star the Government would cheerfully accept and
says : The Legislature has chartered this insti- ratify any negotiations coming from the pepper
tution and it will commence business soon. It civil authorities and people of Hayti and San
has also amended tho charter of Griffin, but in Domingo, having in view an intention to be-
what-respoct we are not advised. come a part of the territory of the United States, i order to perfect the organization.
leaf and notwithstandin •
The inauguration ball question seems to
as far from a settlement now aa it was ifi ft
beginning. Now that it is definitely decifcj
that General Grant will not appear at any ban
or reception held on the 4th of March, and as *
consequence it is more than probable that tha.!
will be no ball and reception, it may not b.
uninteresting to give a brief Mstory of the ef
forts made to arrange for these entertainment
and to state the present condition of the oneZ
tion. .
The orignal committee wto'ch started the pto.
ject of having a grand inauguration ball,
wMch applied for the use of the Rotunda ua
old Hall of Representatives of the Capitol for
the purpose, was composed largely of repubfi.
cans. The arrangements went smoothly on*
there was no doubt entertained that Congress
would allow the Capitol to be used for the Uu.
the committee proceeded to develop the minor
arrangements in regard to the management of
the entertainment.
Here they came vis a vis with an unforeseen
obstacle. That obstacle was the negro. Sone
insisted the ball should be free to all who pur
chased a ticket, negroes included; others wen
not prepared to go to that length, arguing tha
such a rule would mar the success of the ball
The contention over this important point gre*
warm, and, in some way or other, the advice of
General Grant was sought in the matter. The
General examined both horns of the dilemma
and settled the dispute effectually by : requesting
the committee to drop the matter just where it
was, informing them that the project did not
ineet Ms approbation.’
Thereupon, the committee resolved to abandon
the idea, in accordance with the Generals
views. At this juncture the citizens took np the
project, tMnking it much to be regretted that so
commendable a measure should fall without an
other effort. Prominent among the citizens were
H. D. Cooke, ex-Mayor Wallach, Mr. Moiran
and Mr. Sheppard. They were aided by a num
ber of other well known citizens, most of whom
are conservatives and democrats.
This committee examined the National Thea
tre, and one or two other buildings, which did
not appear suitable for the purpose, so they fi
nally applied for the north wing of the Treia-
ury.
Their application was favorably considered,
and to-day they were informed that tho Treasu-
ry could be used for tho purpose on certain con
ditions. The Secretary stipulated that no injury
should be done to the bunding; that the pro
gress of the workmen engaged in finishing the
extension should not he retarded, and that none
of the government funds or employees should!
be used in making the necessary preparations. 1
The supervising architect, who has the imme
diate charge of this portion of the Treasury,
consented, provided General Grant promised to
attend the ball. All these provisions were ac
cepted by the committee, and negotiations were
at once opened with Grant to obtain the desired
At this stage of the proceedings, however,
fresh obstructions presented themselves. The
original committee had boen watching the move
ments of the citizens’ committee very closely.
They soon saw there was a strong probability
that they would succeed, and they became
alarmed. They called another meeting, alluded
to the effort of their rivals as a Democratic
scheme to get hold of General Grant and deprive
the negroes of their unquestionable right tt
dance in tho same room—yes, even in the sum,
set with the President. ,
They resolved that thc-ir meeting was an aa
joumed meeting, drew up a formal request I
the Secretary of the Treasury asking for the priw
lege of holding a ball and reception in the nort
wing of the Treasury, and claimed that this id*
originated with them. Another attempt ws
made to-day in the Senate to procure a recd-
sideration of the vote refusing the Capitol fos
ball, and asking that it be granted for a rece-
tion.
■ The motion failed, and on the heels of tte
defeat came another, wMch will doubtless pree
decisive. In reply to the letters from both co|-
inittees, General Badeau stated that Genekl .
Grant would not attend any ball or receptions
inauguration day. So the matter stands.
. It has been intimated by those who clairdo
he thoroughly informed that even had tore
been no contention among the projectors of be
hall, General Grant would not have conscubd
to attend, for the reason that the ex-Presidtat
would be .present, and he js unwilling to met
Mm. It is also stated that important change
will need to be made in the proceedings usrnl
at inaugurations, inasmuch as General Grant
is stated, has intimated- that he will not occupy
the same carriage with Mr. Johnson in going to
and from the Capitol.
The Eligibility Question.
Yesterday was the day assigned by the House
to consider the question of tho relations of tho
State with Congress. The Atlanta New Era
says :
We want no committees sent' to Congress.—
That body understands the situation thoroughly.
They are familiar with all tho facte and circum
stances of the case. They understand the issue
quite as well as any committee that may be se
lected to visit Washington.
The only thing now necessary is a resolution
by our Legislature, referring the question to the
Supreme Court of the State, and pledging ac
quiescence therein by members oi all parties.
TMs, in our opinion, is all that is necessary—is
all that Congress requires, and will, if made in
good faith, and honestly adhered to, put a qui
etus to this controversy. cqqi — v. ■
President Johnson.—In calmer times, and
in the hearts of less passionate, if not bet
ter men than we, the record of Andrew John
son’s public life will be elevated to a Mgh moral
point It will then be said of Mm that he pre
ferred patriotism to party, and written law to
tho unsafe expedients of policy. That he was
as cautious, cold, and unimpassioned in official
conduct as he was impulsive, warm, and blunt
in his popular utterances. Posterity * will see a
logio in his conduct whose premises are deeply
rooted in the Constitution of the United States,
and in the example of tho good fathers of the f
Republic. They will fail to trace a taint of sel
fishness or bad ambition in Ms action. They
will readMs state papers, and reflect upon them,
and than him for the wise, able structure ot
thought wMch they create.— National IntelU-
g nicer.
Terrible Disaster—Several Lives Lost.
Danbury, Conn., February 1.—A terrible dis
aster, destroying a number of lives and much
property, occurred here last night. Tho upper
Eopansa Dam, wMch supplies (he borough with
water, .gave way forcing another dam below,
where the two bodies rushed forward carrying
all before them. Flint’s Dam and three bridges
were swept away. Houses and several small
buildings were destroyed and carried off in a
flood of ice, rocks, trees, eta A. A. Clark s
dwelling was carried away with Ms family, con
sisting of himself, wife and boy, in it, and au
drowned. Miss Humphrey, Mrs. Husted and
Mrs. Charles Andrews, her mother, were also
drowned. A number of other persons are miss
ing. It i3 supposed that twelve or fifteen lives
were lost-
items from ti»e Americas Repub
lican.
Election of Sheriff.—Mr. A. B. Baiford was
re-elected Sheriff of this county on Saturday
last, without opposition. We hope there will
be no farther cause for not oommwKoning Mr.
R, thia frirpA, TTa makes ons of w most eio-
cient officers the county has ever had.
We have bad an abundant supply of rate
during the past twenty-four hours, and from
present indications, we think it will oontmue to
fall for the next twentydour.
Meeting of Stocxholdibs,—All persons who
have suhsoribed to the building of the Cotton
Factory in rhiV place, are requested to mee. u
the. City Hall, on Thursday next, the 4Li m«.
It is important that there be a full meeting m
irinWitiiu
* e -
■buhH
