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Tlie Greorsda 'W'eekly Teloe:rar>li.
THE TELEGRAPH
MACON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1869.
Georgia Weekly Press Convention.
The LaGrange Reporter, still pressing the
scheme for a convention of the Georgia weekly
press, suggests Macon as the place, and the 14th
of March next as the time for the convention.
We shall be pleased to see the editorial fraternity
of Georgia in this city, and doubt not the city
authorities will take pleasure in providing them
n place of meeting and the conveniences for the
transaction of their business.
Onr Atlanta Reporter.
Our Atlanta Reporter is informed that his
Saturday’s Reports were not received till Mon
day afternoon, when they had been superseded
by an abstract prepared in the office from the
Atlanta papers. "We wish to get them always by
next morning’s train. The papers ordered by
him for subscribers are mailed at this office with
scrupulous regularity.
Letter from lion. A. II. Stephens.
We copy from the Augusta Chronicle & Sen-
fined a letter from this distinguished Georgian,
making a* unimportant correction in a statement
of the correspondent of the Macon Telegraph,
hut substantially affirming all onr correspondent
said in regard to Ms views and present position.
We would call the attention of our readers to
'the card of the Georgia Mutual Fire and Life In-
surance Company of this city. This company not
only insures against firo accidents, but also con-
duets a banking business. We are glad to add
•one mere to the list of onr institutions of that
kind and cheerfully commend it to the confl
uence of the public. The President, Board of
Directors, Cashier and Secretary are all men of
•our community, who rank Mgh as gentlemen of
^business qualifications and integrity. The
•CasMer, Mr. S. M. Farrar, has, in years past,
managed bank agencies for the bank of Savan
nah, with great success and satisfaction, in
Americas and Columbns.
Disability Peddling.
The Times vents itself upon the bills before
Congress for “removing political disabilities”
wMch are passed, now and then, to gratify the
poor creatures who can consent to play the part
of daoquers to the Radical party. .The Times
says:
If the time has come when disabilities may
be safely removed, the better method of proce
dure would seem to be the adoption of a general
measure, based upon n just and intelligible
principle, and obviating all suspicion of invidi-
•ousness or partiality. The present plan may
mot be designedly partial, bnt it looks so; and
the impression upon the Southern mind is not
ifavorable to the fairness or generosity of the
•Government. By enacting a comprehensive
measure, the only remaining source of irritation
in the reconstructed States would be removed,
and the magnanimous promise of the Chicago
Convention would be fulfilled. It would be bet
ter to except from relief the “men who had
gone from the Senate chamber to organize re
bellion”—whose continued exclusion from office
Air. Trumbull demands—than to adhere to a
f process by which the removal of disabilities is
: mafic Vj wear the semblance of partisan favor.
‘Hfrtherime has come,” etc. There never was
'bnt one method of dealing with the matter, and
-’that was, either to have declared at once uni
versal amnesty and restoration, or to have driven
(the people out of the country or exterminated
them. The idea of harassing and mortifying
. six or eight millions of people by prosecution
.gnd disqualification into loyal and affectionate
supporters of tho Federal Government, seems to
}J3 about on a par with negro suffrage and Con-
•gresffional reconstruction generally. “Loyalty”
• 5s not .to be won by blows or by contumely.
Mobile Correspondence.
Trip Down the Bay—The Fleet—A Steel Ship
1 —Bar—Harbor Improvements—Mobile Trade
Prospects—Okra Paper—Gold Life Insur
ance, and so on.
Mobile, February 19, 1869,
The gay, festive and hospitable Mobilians had
the Press Convention, in one respect, at disad
vantage. The round of their hospitalities was
pretty nearly as ceaseless as the diurnal motion
of the earth; bat they could send freshmen
into the field every day, while the veriest Tro
jan in the Convention must flag under the
wear and tear of so protracted a campaign.
Most of the Convention, however, stood up to
the work wonderfully. Some half a dozen of
the older members were frequently missing at
roll call, bnt the younger and better soldiers
steadily reported for duty.
At 8 o’clock on Friday morning, a large and
pleasant party gathered on the decks of the
steamer Annie for an excursion, in Mobile par
lance, “ down to the fleet” Some very interest
ing and accomplished young ladies of the city
honored the occasion with their presence and
seemed to enjoy the trip very much. Many
gentlemen of the Board of Trade discharged the
duty of entertainers with much cordiality and
grace—a band of music—oceans of choice wine,
and, as the bills say, “ all the delicacies of the
season” were among the other preparations for
enjoyment The steamer was fast and in‘beau
tiful order—Capt Baldwin very polite and at
tentive—the morning, though not bright, was a
very pleasant one, and we started off on our trip
of tMrty miles in the most satisfactory condition
possible.
As all our readers are aware, in consequence
of a bar in Mobile Bay, vessels of heavy draft
are compelled to receive and discharge their
cargoes by lighterage at a distance of abont
thirty miles from the wharves. These vessels
in waiting are styled “the fleet” We counted
twenty-seven of them—all but one or two large
cotton sMps, and moored within a radius, say, of
three or four miles. The anchorage is good,
and, although the bay has an ocean-like ex
panse of surface at this point it is very well
protected by a narrow entrance from the swell
of the sea, and it is a singular and fortunate
circumstance that Mobile Bay hasnever been vis-
ited by those terrible hurricanes and cyclones
wMch have frequently scourged the cost of Flor
ida in very near the same latitude.
The only vessel wo boarded at the bar was
one of an entirely new class to us. She was a
^Sequels of Sunshine.”
rtUlwfe sends a man to Congress by the name
’ of John A. Logan. Beside being a member of
that learned body, he has, we believe, some re
putation at home of being a soldier. In the
progress of the late riotous proceedings this
Congressman made a speech in defence of old
Ben Wade who was abont to be consured. We
copy the following specimen brick:
“ Yon aro asked to censure a man who has
been thirty years in harness, a man who has
done duty in tho vanguard of liberty and free
dom for that time—the old captain of the legions
of universal freedom, upon whose head Heaven
has showered its boquets of sunshine, and who
••stands to-day a great living monument of the
;advance of this great age. You aro asked to
•stretch forth the alighting hand of censure and
■wither the flowers that wreath his manly brow,
•and to place a thorn in the peace of his fnture
•existence by passing this resolution, because he
unintentionally did what some conceive to bean
unintentional wrong.”
Here are some refreshing metaphors: “A
man who has been thirty years in harness,
then tamed into a soldier “upon whose head
heaven has showered its boquets of sunshine,
“ and who stands to-day a great living monument
of the advance of this ago.” “Yon are asked
•to stretch forth the blighting hand of censnre
and wither the dowers,” etc. In another por
tion of his speech he says Old Ben had at one
time been “a great pillar" beneath the “rock
ing and reeling fabrio of an assaulted and man
gled constitution.”
success has been remarkable. In the last two
months they received $45,000 in gold premiums,
and they are making arrangements to push their
business in all parts of the country. They ex
pect to do far more of it North than South of
Mason and Dixon’s line.
I have spoken of the oysters of Mobile, and
am indebted to my friends, D. J. Files & Co.,
wholesale and retail dealers in oysters, foot of
St. Francis street, for some noble specimens,
wMch I should like to show to an assembled
world of doubters who do not believe that oys
ters get to be four or five inches long. These
gentlemen sMp oysters in every form all over
the South and West, and I cannot see why they
should not do a business amounting to millions
a year.
I shall leave this fair city fip-morrow, inditing
you one more letter before bidding it good-bye.
C.
The Mississippi Bill.—Tho 40th Congress is
•virtually dead. The session has passed away
without anything of much importance being
•done with reconstruction. Strong efforts were
made at various periods to take the case of
Mississippi in hand; bnt the fall of that bill is
told in the following Washington dispatch of
the 20th: “Mr. Boutwell, who had charge of
•the bill, stated that he understood that Demo
cratic members proposed to contest the passage
•on every point, and as it was certain that the
President would veto it, under these circum
stances, he weald not report the bill, bnt at the
same time he would give notice to those on the
other side of the Honse that they would see it
passed immediately on the assembling of the
41st Congress.”
The London Thm on the Alabama. Claims.
Referring to the treaty of Reverdy Johnson with
England, that the Alabama claims should be set
tled by an international boardof arbitration, the
London Times says:
“We have done our best; we have gone to
the verge of national humiliation to Recnre a
settlement of the question at issue. We shall
now wait for a proposition from the new admin
istration of Gen. Grant.”
This treaty, it will be remembered, was re
ceived with scorn, and rejected. England re
plies in the paragraph quoted, and we now see a
disposition on the part of Congress to accept it.
The effort to bully John Bull into payment
whether or no is a failure, as might have been
supposed.
Cincinnati and Charleston.—A railroad is
now being constructed between Cincinnati and
Knoxville. Its -ultimate termination has been
fixed at Charleston. It is tho aim of the com
pany to make it as direct as possible and open a
shorter and superior route from the OMo to the
sea than is now in operation. The people at
the brftui point will furnish most of the capital,
for at tho other end there is little money to be
had for t.hia or any other purpose.
Magazines.—Putnam's for March, Lettell’s
living Age for 20th February, and the Galaxy
(for March, were received yesterday. They can
he had of Messrs. Havens A Brown.
A Bet.—The reticence of General Grant
touching his cabinet appointments has very
much puzzled Washington circles and set them
to guessing. Naturally this has run into betting,
ana it is said that a bet was offered at Willard s
a few days since of $1,000 that Governor Car-
tin, of Pennsylvania, would not be invited to a
jmat in the cabinet.
steel sMp—one of four said to have been origi
nally built for transport service in the late Brit
ish Abysinnian expedition, for the purpose, (as
we suppose,) of combining great strength and
carrying capacity with lightness of draft Ex
cept her decks—a strip of timber about her
waist, and her lighter spars, she was built wholly
of steel plates. Her masts and bowsprit were
made of these plates bent in a tubular form and
rivetted boiler fasMon, and must have combined
great strength with unexampled lightness.
The plates used for her spars and upper works
were three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and
that was said of all the plates used in her con
struction ; bnt I think down near the water-line
they increased to a thickness of a half or five-
eights. Her rigging was composed chiefly of
steel wire, bnt the mainstays were wound in the
ordinary fashion.
At the time we boarded her she had on board
3587 bales of cotton and did not draw quite sev
enteen feet of water. Her bold was nearly full,
but with deck and cabin storage she could have
considerably exceeded four thousand bales. She
was, of course, an English sMp, and when we
left, after a very Mnd reception, she dipped her
flag—manned her yards and gave us three hear
ty cheers. The cross of St. George was the only
flag floating off the bar, though much of the
sMpping there was American.
Among the many important schemes cherished
by the Mobilians to improve their trade, per
haps the most favorite one is the deepening of
the water on this bar to a sufficient point to ad
mit heavy vessels to the wharves of the city.
This done, they feel that a glorious future is as
sured. Their town is very healthy. Their com
munications with the interior numerous and
cheap. They lie in the direct track of trade be
tween the great productive regions of the West,
and the most important West Indian and South
American ports, and if oriental trade, as it pro
bably will, is to find its main passage through a
canal across the Isthmus of Darien, that will be
just in their hand also. All that is wanted is a
deep and permanent channel through a quarter
of a mile of bar.
They think it can be obtained at no great ex
pense by dredging, and afterwards kept open
by closing up one or two of the snperflons out
lets of the Mobile river to the bay, and so in
creasing the force and volume of tho main cur
rent to the ocean. They are shaping their ef-
forts to test this problem, at their own expense,
if the government will not help them.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad now gives them
a direct connection with the whole lake, river
and railroad system of the West. The Mobile
and Montgomery Railroad opens communica
tion with the South and East—their great rivers
—the Alabama and its tributaries—the Tombig-
bee and Black Warrior and their tributaries—
give them extraordinary facilities for Stato trade.
They Aave already commenced a railroad direct
to New Orleans, and with all the disadvantages of
the bar they are receiving a good deal of cotton
from that city for shipment, because they can
ship it more cheaply. All these points consid
ered, one is compelled to take a flattering view
of the commercial prospects of Mobile, which
I hope will be realized to the fullest extent.
We have digressed largely from the steamboat
party, but may just as well close that account
by saying that what with good company, princely
entertainment at the table, fine music, joke,
mirth, and a capital display of amateur ventrilo
quism from Carr,a Memphis editor, the trip was
as pleasant as it could bo.
At tho table CoL Clarke was drawn into a dis
course upon manufacturing in general, and par
ticularly upon paper-making. CoL Clarke was
enthused upon the result of some experiments
in manufacturing paper from the okra plant,
and was confident that it would be each a suc
cess as to open a mine of wealth to the Sonth,
where alone the okra can be advantageously
raised.
Every part of the plant is used, and the ge
latinous nature of tho pulp produces a strong,
smooth paper, of so good a surface that sizing
was unnecessary to adapt it to writing purposes.
We have some samples of the paper manufac
tured purely of the okra and in combination
with rags. It is undoubtedly a valuable discov
ery, and in a very short time the okra plant, cut
dried and baled for the paper manufactories,
will be another market crop of the Southern
States.
Mobile is wide awake in every department—
pulling all the strings of progress and prosper
ity. Among the recent projects of her mer
chants is “ The Alabama Gold Ufa Insurance
Company,” which started three months ago un
der the auspices of her leading merchants, upon
a paid in capital of $200,000 in gold. This was
founded, first, to stop the drain upon Mobile
Capital in Northern life insurance premiums.
It was found to exceed $350,000 annually in Mo
bile alone. Secondly, they have no great confi
dence that a Life Insurance capital in bonds and
green backs will do to bet on. They think it
may turn up missing some of these days, and
the whole vast Insurance capital based on gov-
vemment paper go with it. They have, there
fore/ organized on a gold basis, with premiums
and losses payable in American gold only. Their
Things In Atlanta.
From our Special Correspondent.]
Atlanta, Saturday night, February 20.
REPUBLICAN MEETING.
According to previous announcement, that
wing of the party calling themselves “ Conserv
ative Republicans” heldtheir adjourned meeting
to-night. Yon will remember that the crowd,
with Sam Bard at its head, had to fly from the
hall of Representatives, last Thurday night, and
make way for the “black cloud” which is spread
ing over the land. Accordingly, theyfixed upon
this night for delighting the people and telling
them that Georgia is in the Union. Well, how in
the Union? how reconstructed? I’ll tell you. Sam
Bard, the ingenious J. E. Bryant, and that low
est of all hypocrites, J. C. Caldwell, have found
out a new “ trick," which is, that we are recon
structed “ according to law” bnt not “ in fact"
Would not the world be surprised to hear such
language coming from the lips of men? but,
coming from such men, who, that knows them,
will be astonished ? Attempting, with the sweet
odor of loyalty thrown around them, to choatthe
very Congress they pretend to love, and venting
their spleen, as disappointed sharers in the
booty, against those who were fortunate enough
to head them off in the race of plunder. It is an
indisputable fact that rogues will fall out sooner
or later; but there is a big one above Mason and
Dixon’s line who watches over all and prevents
the plundered and the honest from getting their
own.
Now, Sam was “trooly” happy to-night And
why was ho so ? Why, because he was “monarch
of all he surveyed.” Having the chair and the
right to “dictate terms” to all around, and every
body knows that he loves to be ordering, Sam
uel Bard was in Ms glory, and in fact the prince
of good fellows. Let me give you a short sum
mary of the proceedings.
Mr. Bard took the chair by previous arrange
ment and called tho meeting to order. There
was a military band in attendance wMch he or
dered to play a piece and they did play and play
well, for they are in truth excellent musicians.
The music having suspended itself, Sam ordered
J. E. Bryant, who was his “right bower” on the
occasion, to speak a piece, and said Bryant did
speak.
Bryant said he was an honest man and would
not go before tljo people now and tell them that
the State was not reconstructed after he and all
such telling them in the Presidential campaign
that she was. There was no consistency in such
conduct and if any person or number of persons
said he was not a Republican because he would
not do so he conld only reply that he did not
care what they called him. He proved accord
ing to the acts of Congress and tho authority of
leading Radicals at the North (such as Boutwell)
that it never was the intention of Congress to
apply the iron clad oath to the members of
the General Assembly in any Southern State,
and the fact that there may be some men in that
body in the State of Georgia was no reason why
the entire General Assembly should be broken
up. Why he argued, men have from time to
time been sent to Congress who were ineligible,
but who ever thonght of breaking up the entire
Congress on that account ? The idea was absurd
and none bnt evil disposed persons would think
of it.
He did not say that Georgia was reconstruct-
in fact, but as a lawyer he would say that she
was reconstructed according to law and the re
construction act of Congress, all of which she
had complied with. In fact, he could not see
much difference between the Democratic party
now and the party to wMch he belonged, only
that the Democrats denied the negroes the right
to fill the position of legislators. He, for his
part, would argue against it in the same way
they do, if he were a Democrat. But, said the
highly gifted orator, they are fast coming to it,
and I have no doubt that they will abide by the
decision of the Supreme Court in that case. So
far, they (the Democrats) had the best of the
argument, but if the matter went to the Supreme
Court and that tribunal decided that the negroes
were entitled to hold office, then it would re
main to be seen what the Democrats would do.
If they, after that, persisted in denying the col
ored people their rights, then the Republican
party could go before the people and have the
best of the argument. He was proud that he,
with his party, had reconstructed Georgia. It
was the boast of Ms life that he was in any way
instrumental in bringing it about, and he hoped
that, with Grant for President and the great
Republican party directing the affairs of the
nation, we would soon be in theUMon on a more
solid basis.
He said a great many other things wMch
would be of no earthly use to the people, and I
leave them to the Era to record.
The Chairman then said, “Let there be mu
sic,” and there was music by the band.
While Bryant was speaking, the Honorable
and Rev. J. H. Caldwell, who had been ap
pointed one of a committee of five to draft res
olutions, made Ms appearanco, and read the
same; stating both before he commenced to
read and after he got through, that the commit
tee had recommended that he should address
the meeting, to expound the principles of the
resolutions. He was brimful and burning with
thought, and he would make a speech.
The Chairman said, “Thou shalt have a few
minutes when Mr. Bryant is through,” and ac
cordingly, when that gentleman concluded, the
other gentleman intruded and proceeded, the
Chairman, however, assuring the meeting that
it was only for a fow minutes.
Never before hath Samuel made such a blun
der in his life. A person would have thought he
knew Ms man better than to let Mm take the
floor. The gentleman proceeded in a most ex
quisite tone and style to address the audience,
wMch, before he had spoken ten minutes, com
menced to grow beautifully less by the dozen.
Such a canting rigmarole it would be hard to
imagine, and many a “few minutes” passed
away ere it was ended. The audience began to
weary and it was only those who had deter
mined to “see the thing out” that remained. It
was more than evident that he was up for all
night, and if his hearers did not kill time laugh
ing at him they would have been in a sorry con
dition indeed. He came to his concluding,
and last word, abont two dozen times, as if he
would keep the attention of the patient assem
blage by making them believe that he was go
ing to quit.
He did quit, however, and the resolutions
were adopted, when the Chair announced that
there would be music, adding, in his own mod
est way, “and after that a short address, if the
audience chooses, by the Chair.” This delicate
invitation of himself to make a speech, on the
part of the presiding offioer, createdsome laugh
ter, bnt Sam. passed it off as one of Ms jokes.
His speech being nothing more nor less than
what you see every day in the Era, barring the
melifluons melody of Ms agile tongue, I shall
not bother you with any of it here,Dut simply
say that, loyal and eloquent as it was, he aid
not forget to tell them to subscribe for the New
Era, and thus commence a new era in the histo
ry of the country. The Doctor considers every
rnnn reconstructed that takes the Era, and I
have no doubt that when he gets on Grant’s
cabinet, as I understand be expects to do, he
will recommend all his readers for pardons.
He’s very funny, and deals considerably in hard,
dry jokes, but the principal part of his oratory
consists in impertinence and open defiance of
his audience and everybody else bnt General
Grant. He felt mightily hurt abont being out
witted by his colored brethren Thursday night,
but being one of the meekest and mildest and
THE CONVENTION.
Rumor still continues to bring the Convention
of. 1868 together. It would be hard to tell how
it is to be convened. Parrott, tho president,
persists in refusing to obey Bullock, and says he
will not have anything to do with it, bnt it is
thought the Governor will find a. ready tool in
the vice-president, J. E. Dunning, and there
seems to be no doubt that the matter must be
done, for Bullock is bound to succeed in his de
signs. The Radicals now play a game of scare
with the Democrats, who have a majority in the
Legislature. No sooner do the latter attempt to
do anything, wMch does not meet the approba
tion of the former, than they are told at once,
“stop, or we’ll tell Congress—Congress will
make that all right” And indeed I was told by
a Radical to-day, that if the Democrats had
moral courage in them or manhood, or would
act up to their principles, they would go on and
legislate, not thinking of Congress. That is to
say, they would not pay any attention to a power
in wMch they do not believe, bnt taking the po
sition that the State is a sovereign State in the
Union they would act independently of Congress,
and tell that body that it had no right to inter
fere in their State government. This, said my
friend, would be the true Democratic faith and
the only course wMch is left for the Democratic
party. He concluded by saying that, were he
one of the party, such would be Ms position,
because it would not moke any difference with
Congress any way nor change its action, and
that he knew it was nothing but fear that kept
them from impeaching Bullock and taking the
State road out of the hands of the party.
The weather is very gloomy and damp here,
wMch seems to cause a slack in business about
town. t*i
most forgiving of men, he does not hate them.
When he addressed himself to Hie colored
friends, a few of whom sat in the gallery, one
of them stood up, and made desperate tracks
for the door, so that not even the importunities
of the Great Mogul, of Republicanism could
get Mm to come Back. The poor darkey
couldn’t standit, and he made his way through
the seats in the gallery, no doubt halloing to
himself “my kingdom for a velocipede!”
The Chairman,after concluding, issued another
mandate, accompanied by a dignified wave of grams.
Mf.kend to the Band to play ‘‘the Star Span- ness-like character of the debate and the direct-
gled Banner,” wMch no donbt he hoped the
hearers would sink to sleep and dream of, and
awake on the glorious Sabbath morning recon
structed and ‘Trooly loiV’feelingsorrowfor their
position and folly determined to sin no more
against the most glorious government the world
ever saw.
There does not appear to be any hope of a
reconciliation between the belligerents; and
Bryant, who appears to be-Bard’s angel, I have
understood, says that if the Democrats do not
present articles of impeachment against Bullock
he will do it himself.
WASHINGTON S BIRTHDAY.
There does not appear to be much preparation
making for a celebration on Monday, and save
the adjournment of the Senate I do not know
of anything in that line, unless it is a ball in the
basement of the Opera House by the owner, Mr.
Kimball, on Monday night. I understand that
nearly all of the Legislature have been invited
to attend and I know that active arrangements
are being made to give whoever goes an oppor
tunity of indulging their taste for dancing.
STATE PATRONAGE.
I suppose you have seen in the New Era, of
this city, that its publisher is quite wrothy
because the Daily Intelligencer is gaining rap
idly in favor with the Governor, and sooth to
say, it is causing no little surprise among the
friends of the latter paper, who assert that they
cannot believe it until they get much better
oroof than tho word of tho Era. They aro
oath to give up their old’and time honored idol,
for the Ietelligencor has long stood Mgh in the
affections of the wMte men of Georgia, and I
trust that, whatever way tho matter terminates,
its respected proprietor will maintain that in
tegrity and Mgh gentlemanly bearing wMch
have ever characterized Mm. Do not take the
authority of a disappointed rival, however, in
such a matter as this, and who can say why the
Intelligencer should not do business for the
State of Georgia, as well as the Era; or who
will assert that it has not a better right to
get it?
The Congressional Election.
la WIN TON, Ga., February 19, 1869.
Editors Telegraph : I noticed in your paper,
of the 18th instant, an inquiry relative to the
will of theDemocratio party of the Fourth Con-
Ijressional District, as to a representative in the
As to Wilkinson, I think she asks no other
than the Hon. Thos. G. Lawson. He stands
fair before all, and has both an educated head
and heart—which makes Mm well suited to the
position. Wilkinson.
Presuming that there will be no movement to
change the ticket, although some of tho nomi
nations were conditionally made, in event the
bill to bring on an election becomes a law, we
will reprint the ticket at the head of our col
umns and do what we can to insure its success.
An Era of Better Feeling North and
South.
A Washington dispatch says:
“A meeting of prominent Radicals and South*
em Conservatives was held a few nights since,
wMch was intended to ba private until other
meetings of a similar character could be held.
It has, however, leaked out that there were
present about forty persons, including General
?remont, Col. Forney, Congressman Cooke,
Morrill and Morehead, Generals Longstreet,
Ridgeway and Barbour, of Virginia, and Colo
nel Duncan, of Kentucky, and several Southern
Senators. The object of the gathering was an
interchange of views towards harmonizing the
people of the two sections.
“Forney said the time had arrived for the ex
ercise of a wise and magnanimous legislative
policy toward the South, so as to bnng that
people into full accord and brotherhood, and he
avowed his intention to devote Ms energies to
this great purpose. Fremont endorsed heartily
his views, and others spoke in a similar strain.
Forney’s conservatism has surprised Ms friends,
who are mostly the intensest Radicals.”
It is indeed gratifying to note this change.
All good men of both sections will hardily re
spond to it. With the inaugaration of General
Grant, we hope the angry quarrel wMch has
distracted the country for fifty years, will cease.
The country has everything to gain and nothing
to lose by bringing about an era of better feel
ing between the North and the South.
Letter from Hon. A. H. Stephens.
Crawfobdville, Ga., 19th February, 1869.
Dr. H. IL Casey, of Waverly, Columbia coun
ty, Ga.
Mx Dear Sip.—Your kind letter of last week
was duly received, but it found me in an almost
helpless condition. I could neither move or be
moved without the most excrutiatingpain. This
was the result of an accident. I went to open a
large gate, not noticing that it was barely stand
ing against the posts, without hinges; and on
my giving it a pull to open, it tumbled over, and
earned me under it, straining the left ankle and
seriously injuring the sciatic nerve of the left
Mp. I am now slowly recovering, and though
not yet able to stand or walk, I can slip from
tho bed to a chair on rollers, and thus be moved
about the room.
You ask if the statement of the correspondent
of the Macon Temoraph, recently published,
of an interview with me,. is correct ?
In reply, I can only briefly say that it is sub
stantially correct—though there must have been
some great typograpMoal errors in the publica
tion. For instance, I did not say that the pro
duct of my tenants was one-fourth of what it
formerly was; bat what I did say was, that tho
then average prodnot was abont one-f ourth short
of what it formerly was.
What I said of the com crop of the United
States, (East of the Pacific slope,) last year,
was that of the nine hundred and odd millions
of bushels produced, five hundred and odd mil
lions of these were produced in the thirteen
Southern States 1 I was speaking of com, not
cotton. The cotton crop at an average price
would be over two hundred and sixty millions of
dollars, more than half the exports of the whole
country! This the statistical paper at Wash
ington, referred to by me, clearly showed.
What I was reported to have said of General
Grant and Mr. Pollard’s article, is entirely cor
rect. Yours, truly,
Alexander H. Stephens.
Planting Corn.—The Bainbridge Argus of
the 20th, says: Some of our fanners are be
ginning to plant com, and the plantations here
about present quite a lively and animating
sceno, the plowers being engaged everywhere
actively turning up the. sou, preparatory to
planting.
Our advice to fanners is to plant grain large
ly, and also sugar cane, potatoes, etc., and raise
plenty of stock of all kinds, taking oare to pro
tect them against tMeves.
The Southern Press Convention,
Editorial Oorretpondence of tie TtUprapi.}
Mobile, February 18, 1869.
Some forty-odd delegates were in attendance
upon the Press Convention to-day, representing
nearly as many Southern newspapers. Some
constitutional amendments were adopted and a
long conversational debate took place upon the
subject of a new arrangement for press tele-
I was struck with the practiced busi
ness, point, force and brevity of all the speeches
made. No decisive action on the point was
taken to-day, and the Convention adjourned
from one to five o’clock p. m. to-morrow.
The fact is, the overflowing hospitality of the
Mobilians makes business np-hill work. It
would be difficult to overstate their kindness.
The Board of Trade have turned over their hall
to us, and at 12 m. to-day served up a splendid
lunch to the members. Invitations and propo
sitions for rides, fetes, drives, and entertain-
ments of divers sorts, are as tMck as bills to
amend the Code in the Georgia Legislature.
think the engagements ahead will pretty much
fill up the time till Saturday 12 midnight ’
To-day there was, as I have said, the collation
at noon. Then a parade of the fire department,
to show us their steamers, at 4 o’clock. A visit
to the theatre at 8. A reception by the Manas
sas Club afterward. To-morrow, an excursion
down the bay—then a grand drive on the shell-
road, and sundry other appointments and invita
tions in city and country.
The Board of Trade follow us with civilities
every where, and they have even placed the
livery stables at our disposaL Their hospital
ities are boundless and magnificent.
The Western Union Telegraph also placed
their lines at our disposal for social purposes.
And the last invitation filed was one from tho
St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, to visit that
city and accept entertainment daring onr stay
at that grand Southern hostelrie. Wherever we
go, in Mobile, the hand of welcome grasps us
and a proffer of attention and service is heard
with the first opening of the lip.
The display of steamers this afternoon was
very fine. Five of them were out, all of dif
ferent patterns, and most of them of great
power. They moved down to city wharf, put
their suction hose into the river, stationed them
selves abreast about seventy-five feet apart, and
played at right angles with the course of tho
water. But as the breeze was blowing pretty
sharply from the bay, and discomposed their
jets very much, they all, with one accord,
obliqued and played as nearly as possible in the
direction of the wind.
Now, whether by accident or design, I am un
able to say, but so it happened, No. 5 gave the
hose men of No. 4 a dash of their water. No. 4
suddenly reversed stream and returned com
pliment. No. 5 then rallied to the charge in
force, and erst ensued a watery duello of grand
proportions. The engineers put on all steam
and sounded the onslaught with their wMstles.
Men and boys cheered, shouted and cleared the
field to give the combatants a wide berth. Hiss
ed and sputtered the water fiercer and faster.
Louder and louder hummed and moaned the
brassy smoke-vomiting and water-propelling
imps. Firmly and more firmly grasped their noz
zles, and braced themselves the water-spouting
and water-defying heroes of the strife, gasping
under the seething floods. But all fights must
have an end. “Honest Abe” himself said
yon cannot fight always,” and so it happened
with this battle of the squirts. No. 5’s stream
at last took No. 4 fairly off its legs. They lost
hold of their nozzle and scattered, leaving their
hose to gyrate and sputter about promiscuously
on friend and foe.
To illustrate what may be called an excess of
friendly complaisance, take this: Night before
last as Col. T. of the News was looking at the
lions under the escort of the excellent Captain
Maguire, the Colonel observed, every now and
then, a cast iron wheel with a handle, attached
to an iron post projecting upward from the curb
stone. “What is that?” said the ColoneL “Sir,"
said Capt. M., “it is a fire alarm. Should I
turn that wheel every fire alarm in the city
would sound in a second.” “I should like of
ollthing8 to see it operate,” said the Colonel.
“Most certainly you shall see and hear it, if you
wish,” said the friendly Capt. M., and with a
single turn of the wheel, he had Mobile in a
general uproar in half a minute.
Unfortunately an envious negro policeman
beheld the Captain in the act, and this morning
the latter was summoned before the Mayor to
r. The Captain plead that it was only
proper deference to the curiosity of a distin
guished guest of the city; but the Mayor could
not see it, and fined tho Captain fifty dollars.
The fish and oysters of Mobile are almost be
yond praise. The latter exceed in size all that
I have ever seen elsewhere. Speaking of them
to-day at lunch, a friend took me down to the
establishment of D. J. Files & Co., Oyster
Packers, and here I saw monsters as large as
any lady’s hand ought to be, and as fat and
white as oysters ever are. The largest were
five orsix inches in length. They lack flavor just
now, owing to the fresh; bnt undoubtedly the
Mobile oysters distance in size and beanty any
I ever saw in any part of the world. But I must
close tMs hasty scrawl. C.
Manufactories at Columbus.—In and witMu
two miles of Columbns there aro three cotton
manufactories that run 14,000 cotton and wool
len spindles, and consume daily, on an average,
ten bales of cotton and several thousand pounds
of wool. Within the radins of two.nty-five miles
are six factories, running 20,000 spindles and
consuming fifteen bales of cotton per day. A
fourth factory is to be in operation by next falL
By that time, Columbus alone will have four
nulls, of a total capacity of 30,000 spindles and
average daily consumption of thirty bales of
cotton, and in tMs immediate neighborhood,
manufactories running in the total 36,000 spin
dles, and working up daily at least thirty-eight
bales of cotton, besides many thousand pounds
of wooL No place can claim superior or equal
water power with Columbus. One factory only
is run by steam. By next winter the manufac
tories of Columbus and vicinity will be enabled
to consume some 11,000 or 12,000 bales of cot
ton per year of 300 working days.—Columbus
Su n and Times.
by ^legraph,
FB&q ATLANTA.
Honor to a Bhqngutohed Rebel.
Removal or the Capitol Gaining
Fritudg.
Hopeless Split In iUdieal Ranks.
Special to the Macon Telegraph.]
Atlanta, February 22cL
This being the birthday of the Father of his
Country, the Senate by a resolution on Saturday ad
journed until Tuesday.
House.—The friends for the removal of the Capi
tol to Milledge villa are gaining ground. .
Mr. Sisson, of Fulton, made an effort, which fail
ed, to reconsider the reading of McComb’a bill for
the first time, touching that subject. The point
made was that the rules had not been suspended.
Fitzpatrick moved to reconsider the hill passed on
last Saturday, to elect the municipal officers of Ma
con, Ga., bat the motion was lost.
The Honse refused to adjourn on Fitzpatrick’s
motion in honor of Washington’s birth day.
The Educational bill of Rryant was taken up. He
consumed most of the session in discussion, the
main point of which was, that if the negroes were
not educated, they would relapse into barbarism.
Scott replied, butyielding the floor to Fitzpatrick,
he finally carried his motion to adjourn in honor of
the birth of Washington.
The friends who favor the movement of re-assem
bling the State Convention seem about to abandon
the scheme. Blodgett is here, and hence arises the
thought that Congress will yet interfere—not, how
ever, before Grant comes into office. So many se
cret plans are agitating the Republican ranks that it
is jocularly thonght they are turning to Ku-klux.
The fact is apparent that the party is split into frag
ments—one wing for peace and Grant and the other
po peace. W.
Badical Wranglings in Atlanta.
Atlanta, February 22.—Foster Blodgett, Chair
man of the Stato Central Committee of the Repub
lican party, issued a call on Saturday for tho com
mittee to assemble in Atlanta to-day. Many of the
committee living at a distance were not able to come
at such short notice. The meeting was packed and
finally broke up in confusion. Judge Harris, CoL
Bryant and Dr. Bard were contending for peace and
harmony, bnt finally retired, leaving the committee
without a quorum.
The Convention will be called here on the 5th of
March.
From Washington.
Washington, Febmaiy 22.—Senator Saulsbury
fell from a carriage to-day and broke his leg.
E. B. Washbume is improving.
Gen. Breckinridge is here. He leaves to-night to
see his children at Washington College.
In replying to the Committee inviting Mm to Bal
timore, Mr. Johnson said: “His whole aim had
been for the general good of the country, without
regard to any present or future personal popularity.
His constant aim was the restoration of prosperity
to the country and the happiness and peace of all its
citizens.”
In vetoing the copper bill, the President says:
Tho bill would diminiRh the public receipts and
impose an additional tax on an overburdened peo
ple, who shonld not be further impoverished; that
monopolies may bo fostered and corporations en
riched : but it will be detrimental to the sMpping in
terests, and would increase tho price of blue vitriol
wMch enters into many industries. The seventy
per cent depression in copper mining is attributable
to the newly discovered and rich mines, and the
substitution of other materials for copper; hence
the tariff, instead of fostering into existence the
new industry, would simply be imposing a perpetual
tax on the people to support an unprofitable busi
ness.”
In a Senatorial caucus this afternoon, 22 Senators
voted to postpone action on the tenure-of-office bill
until the next session. The bolters hope, with the
aid of the Democrats, to secure an immediate and
unconditional repeal.
Tho friends of the 32d parallel road are mnch
elated over the House’s action to-day, claiming that
the vote indicates a determination on the part of
the House to foster Southern interests.
Congressional.
Washington, February 22.—The Senate has cau-
cussed on tho repeal of tho Tenure-of-Office Act.
The caucus was quite stormy—Morton, Thayer,
and Bobertson favoring repeal, said it was not a fit
caucus question and they would vote regardless of
caucus dictation.
The Senate took a business recess to 7 o’clock this
evening, ostensibly to honor the day, but really for
the caucus.
The House is filibustering on the Memphis Elpa-
so Railroad.
The Reconstruction Committee have considered
Texas matters without action, and is also preparing
another renewal of disability bills.
The President vetoed the copper tariff act.
Fremont’s 32d parallel (known as the Memphis
and Elpaso) road bill will pass the House. It asks
nothing from the Government bnt the right of way
and an act declaring it a post road.
The following bills were introduced under tho reg
ular call: A bill recognizing the independence of
Cuba: a bill devoting a part of tbe public lands in
Alabama to internal improvements.
The joint resolution granting right of way to the
Memphis, Eipaso and Pacific Railroad, from Elpaso
to the Pacific, was passed by 122 to 45.
In discussing the precedence of business it was
stated that the Legislative, Judiciary and Postoffice
appropriations were pending, and there are seven
privileged reports from the committees wMch may
provoke debate.
Schenck’s bill to strengthen the public credit was
considered without action.
House went into Committee of tbe Whole on the
Postoffice appropriation bill, providing for the exten
sion of the letter canying system to cities having
ton thousand inhabitants. The bill passed. Recess.
Low Tide.—For the past three or four days
the tide has fallen unprecedentedly low in the
river and along tMs coast. At Fort Pulaski, we
learn, the water at low tide subsided to such an
extent that a person conld walk upon the beach
around the point upon wMch the fort stands—
wMch is something very unusuaL We also
leam that the man who attends to the sonth
light has had no ocoasion to use his boat for
several evenings past to reach the light, there
being a path left for him to walk over when the
tide went out wMch is something that has never
occurred before, so far as we can learn.—Sa
vannah News.
Retributive Justice.—The Knoxville Press
and Herald says that the days of miracles have
not passed away. Some months ago the Rev.
Mr. Neal, a minister of the Methodist Church
South, was tied to a tree and flogged, while on
his way home from church. The perpetrators
of the outrage were not arrested, but says the
Press, “a stronger power Hum that whioh ad
ministers human law has brought retention
upon them. Out of the entire nnmberof ruf
fians three have since died, one was recently
thrown from his hone and received injuries
wMoh are belived to be mortal, while another is
now lying in jail for crime. Even tho tree to
wMch Mr. Neal was tied by his peneontoro has
been smitten by the same unseen, bnt over-
watchful power, and is dead.” ,
Mss. Lincoln.—In reply to Mrs. Lincoln's
application to Congress for a pension, the fol
lowing statement is made in regard to her in
come last year: “From her husband's estate,
$30,000; from Congress $25,000; from general
contributions, $50,000—grand total, $105,000.”
From North. Carolina.
Raleigh, February 22.—It is well understood that
the Supreme Court sustains the injunction against
the Chatham road. It is supposed that this decision
cuts off nearly three millions of recent appropria
tions.
The Legislature is engaged on the revenue bill,
but adjourned early to-day in honor of Washing
ton’s birth day.
Great Republican Meeting la Atlanta.
Large and Enthusiastic Demonstr*.
Hon.
GEORGIA DECLARED RECONSTRUCTED.
, Vi 6 AuwMAia, vuo w mo most re.
spectable ever assembled in Atlanta—of Be
publicans who believe reconstruction a fact M
law—was held at the Hall of Representatives
lastnight
Sfhcoordance with the action of a previous
meeting, Dr. Sam. Bard, of the New Era M
mmed the Chair, and Mr. A. J. Williams ’%
(barged the duties of Secretary.
On taking the Chair, the Doctor very briefly
at*ted the object of the meeting, and announced
ths Chair ready for business.
On motion of Mr. J. H. Caldwell, a committee
of five was appointed to prepare business for
themeeting. That committee consisted of Mr
CaUwell, Gen. Bethune, Mr. Holden, Mr. Os',
good, and Mr. Spalding.
Duing the absence of the committee, after a
tune by Hie fine band wMch was in attendance
Hon. J. E. Bryant addressed the meeting.
Before Mr. Bryant concluded, the committee
returned, and, through its chairman, reported a
series of resolutions, wMch affirm as follows:
That Georgia was legally reconstructed when
the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted by the
Legislature; when the Governor was inangu.
rated, taking the oath prescribed by the Confti.
tution; when military authority became subor
dinate to civil, and when six Representatives of
the State were admitted to seats in Congress-
that no subsequent act of the Legislature could
invalidate the proceedings by wMch Georgia
was restored to the UMon. We believe Con.
greBs has full power to protect, by appropriate
legislation, all inhabitants of the State in the
fufl enjoyment of all the rights, privileges and
immunities secured them in the Constitution of
the State and United States. We recognize the
election of Grant and Colfax as the voice of the
American people, calling for peace and a basis
of true loyalty, and pledge onr firm support to
the incoming administration. That these reso.
lutions be adopted as a whole, and a copy for-
warded to the President of the United States.
The meeting was a large and respectable as.
semblage, many ladies being present. The ut
most harmony and good order prevailed.—
The galleries were filled with wMte and colored
people.
Resolutions endorsing Gen. Grant and plat
form, and also resolutions endorsing General
Meade’s administration, were adopted The
meeting then adjourned while the band was
playing the Star Spangled Banner, Dixie and
Hail Columbia,—Atlanta Era.
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
From the Atlanta Constitution.1
Saturday’s Session, Feb. 20, 1869.
Senate.—The Senate reconsidered its vote of
yesterday concurring in the House resolution ap
pointing a joint committee to save the State the
loss of $35,000, etc.
An ineffectual attempt was made to pass a
resolution from the Auditory Committee, direct
ing the Secretaiy of the Senate to discharge
fourteen clerks from Ms list. The vote upoa
the resolution was yeas 14, nays nineteen.
Think of that and weep. Finally, a resolution
submitted by Mr. Wellborn was adopted, that a
special committee of five be appointed to look
into the clerical department, what deduction
should be made and in what manner.
The following resolution submitted by Mr.
Speer was adopted:
That, in respect to the Father of his Country,
no session be held on the 22d, and that when
this body adjourn to-day, it adjourn till Tuesday
next, 10 a. m.
The bill to amend the charter of the city of
Macon, providing for an election in December,
passed and was certified to the Senate.
House—Mr. O’Neal moved to reconsider so
mnch of the journal as relates to the appoint
ment of a keeper to take charge of the furniture
lately removed to Atianta from Milledgeville.
A bill to legalize the election of Jnstice of the
Peace in the 451st district of Ware county.
Mr. Hundson moved to amend by legalizing
the election of Justice of the Peace and Con
stables in January, 1869.
The bill, as amended, passed. _
A bill to appropriate money now due colleges
and schools for the education of indigentmaimed
soldiers. Passed and transmitted to the Senate.
A bill to prevent laborers and tenants dispos
ing of crops. Laid on the table.
A bill to facilitate settlements between copart
ners in case of death. Passed and transmitted
to the Senate.
A bill to repeal an act changing lines between
the counties of Irwin and Berrien. Passed.
A bill for the encouragement of agricultural
interests in tMs State. Passed.
An act to regulate the hiring out of convicts.
Laid on the table.
A bill to exempt from taxation all capital,
foreign and domestic, invested in this State, in
the manufacture of cotton, wools, and other
fibrous material, and also all invested in the
manufacture of agricultural implements, for the
space of five years.
Mr. Lane moved to amend so that all capital
both foreign and domestic, that shall be invest
ed in the culture of cotton, com, wheat, oats
and rye, within the next three years, shall be
exempt from tax return for the space of five
years from the time of investment.
On motion, this bill was made the special or
der for Wednesday next.
A bill to change the time of holding the Su
perior Court of Cherokee county was taken up
and Senate amendment agreed to.
On motion, the bill changing the line between
the counties of Quitman and Clay, and Miller
and Baker, was taken np and Senate amend
ment agreed to.
On motion, the substitute of the Special Com
mittee reported for the Land and Immigration
bill was made the special order for Monday
next.
A bill to reorganize the Georgia Military In
stitute and appropriate the buildings at Milledge
ville, was read the second time and referred to
the Educational Committee.
A bill to repeal an act changing the line be
tween the counties of Upson ana Crawford.—
Passed.
A bill for the relief of debtors, and the ad
justment of debts. Passed.
A bill to amend section 12 of an act to set
aside a Homestead. Passed.
A bill to change section 1055 of twin’s Code.
Passed.
A bill to change the line between the counties
of Habersham and WMte. Passed.
A bill for the relief of S. K. O’Neal and oil
ers of Talbot county. Laid on the table.
A bill to provide for the election of a Mays
and Council for the city of Macon. Indefinite
ly postponed.
A message was received from the Gove mo-'
approving the resolution appointing a Commit
tee to examine the claims of the Brunswick a? 1
Albany Railroad against the State of Georgia.
From New Orleans.
New Orleans, February 22.—The day being ob
served as a holiday, the Legislature adjourned.
The pnblio offices are closed, and the newspaper
and foreign Consular offices are flying their flags.
The 1st Infantry and 4th Artillery, and a number
of German Turner societies paraded.
A number of members of the Southern Press
Convention are here on invitation, at the St. Charles
hoteL
From Coba.
Havana, February 22—The Havana merchants
have agreed to guarantee eight million dollars in
legal tenders.
Dulce wants a list of the American residents.
The steamer Louisiana has arrived from Vera
Cruz with three millions in specie. A telegram
from the City of Mexico says: “Negrete, at Hie
head of a revolutionary army, is within thirty
leagues of the capital, on which he is marching.”
Rumors regarding the situation was conflicting. One
report says Negrete defeated Cuella, the command
ing general of the national troops. Another says
Negrete was routed and forced to fly. Dan has de
feated the rebel forces at Pachuca.
General News.
Auburn, February 22.—The Catholic congregation
is resisting the removal of Father O’Flaherty, who
had been their Pastor for twenty-three years. A
large number of members, pushing their way to the
altar, took the newly appointed Pastor by the arm
and led him from the church.
At a meeting it was resolved that the new Paator
should not occupy the paetorage.
Foreign News.
Tbest, February 22.—The frigate Bediaky ex
ploded her powder magazine in the Adriatic, killing
nearly all the officers and crew.
Madrid, February 22.—The ironclad Yietena has
been ordered to Cuba.
Bremen, February 22.—The North German bark
Beinenkorb has sailed on a Polar expedition.
The horrible sufferings off tho African co*st
of the wrecked crew and passengers of the b* :E
Florence Nightingale, are recounted by the
lish journals. The twenty persons ;mclah^
seven women) were nine days in an open boat,
during which they drifted 200 miles under a
tropical sun, and had only twenty pounds «
provisions and not a drop of water all the tin*
Their provisions were soon exhausted andtwf
began to drink sea water, wMch soon made
man, a sailor named Brown, crazy. When all Oj
food was exhausted, they drew lots who shoi*
Mil Brown before he died. The lot fell on>
colored boy, who, however, refused. At tnjj
moment the Captain caught a fish, three pouiw»
weight, having made a fish-hook from a worn®
hair-pin, wMch he bated with a portion
crab caught in a seaweed. While the fish ’•**
being devoured Brown expired and was thro*“
overboard. Previous to this the crew and
gers had greedily sucked up some blood ww
came from Brown’s body when the Captain hi
him to moderate his frenzy; some crabsw
butterflies were also voraciously devoured. ^ 9“ >
were finally rescued by an American whaler.
Tax Returns of Barer County.—W-
Spurlin, Esq., Hie popular and efficient Receive
of Tax Returns of D&ker county—who is new.
a carpet-bagger nor Radical—sends us the 1
lowing statement as the returns for 1868:
Number of white polls. jj
Number of professions. gji
Number of negro polls 1708#
Number of acres of land • ••
Valued at
Total amount of property........:
This is a remarkable exMbition of one of
best landed counties, and, before emancipa**
one of the wealthiest counties in the State,
land, it will be seen, some of which used
cheap at twenty and thirty dollars, is valneui
an average, at one dollar and fifty-six cent* r
acre. —Bainbridge Argus.
The Mcrderkb of Dr. Bcrdell.—-R .
ported that Jeffords, who was murdered
Sing, left a confession that he was the muro*£
of Dr. BurdeU, abont twelve yeara ago,
connection with Mr*. Cunningham o»®*e°
much excitement
HHH EHMnni
