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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST
THURSDAY, May 13, 1875.-
The following ticket Ims been pro
posed for the indorsement of the Geor
gia Railroad and Banking Company:
John P. Kino, for President.
Directors,
E. E. Jones,
Antoine Poullain,
Jamfs W. Davies,
L. M. Hill,
JO lAH SIBLEV,
Stevens Thomas,
Geo. T. Jackson,
James S. Hamilton,
M. P. Stovall,
D. E. Butler,
Wji. M. Reese,
George Hillyer,
John Davison,
Wm. W. Clark,
C. H. Phinizy,
From what we can understand the
ticket printed at the head of this col
umn bids fair to receive a majority of
the votes of the stockholders of the
Georgia Railroad.
Another year, under the management
of Judge King and the Board of Direc
tors, specified at the head of this
coin mu, matters will work harmoni
ously for the interests of Augusta and
the stockholders of the Georgia Rail
road.
While reform needs agitation, it
should not risk too serious a revolu
tion. Reforms have bt en instituted in
the Georgia Railroad. Now let the
old President and a harmonious Board
of Directors carry them out.
The Savannah Advertiser winch is so
particular about being credited, is re
spectfully referred to the fact that the
editorial it adopted in its Wednesday
edition, headed “Judge Kelley and the
South,” was one which appeared in this
paper originally and not iu the col
uuins of our Broad street neighbor.
Rome had her Brutus and Gieece
her Pericles, butueither bad a Tuccoa
Falls. Germany had her Blucher and
France her Napoleon, but neither a
Tuccoa Falls. Egypt has her pyra
mids aud China her walls, but neither
has her Tuccoa Falls, Stone Mountain
aud Ponce-de-Leon Springs. These
"‘summer resorts” are pointedly spoken
of in our Atlanta letter.
Our Charleston letter is a little rusty.
It was written by an old journalist a
little rusty. It skipped Augusta and
went over to Middle Georgia, and came
back considerably rusty. But our
library will be greatly incomplete with
out this letter. The reader is request
ed to take a level rest and fire at long
3asv.
Regularity of Ocean Passages.
In this busy age, when Europe and
America are closely joined by mercan
tile ties, it becomes daily more neces
sary that ocean steamers should not
only be swiff, but also so regular in
their passages from port to port that
the traveler stepping on board at New
York can tell within a few hours when
lie will arrive at Queenstown or Liver
pool. Our attention has been attracted
to" this subject by the perusal of a state
ment of the passages of the new In
man steamships City of Chester (4,566
tons) aad City of Richmond (4,607 tons),
covering the whole of the year 1874,
when the vessels were subjected to all
the different phases of the variable At
lantic:
CITY OF CHESTER. CITY OF RICHMOND.
Voyages. D. H. M. Voyages. D. H. M.
Uir'-t ...8 1 88 First 8 11 58
Second 8 5 68 Second 8 2 38
Third 8 11 28 I hird 8 9 43
Fourth . . .8 2 8 Fourth 8 W 23
Fifth.... .8 -1 33 Fifth 8 7 13
SJlxth 8 t> 8 Sixth 8 21 48
Seventh 8 8 38 Seventh 8 2 4S
Average...B 5 47 | Average...B 10 3i
This table shows that in no case was
either of these steamers nine days in
going from New York to Queenstown ;
so that a passenger embarking on the
City of Chester or the City of Rich
mond could make an appointment to
dine with a friend in London ten days
iater, with a certainty of keeping it.
This remarkable regularity is no doubt
a result of the superior size and weight
of the steamers as compared with
those built years ago, together with
the mereased power of the machineiy,
which drives the enormous vessels
through the water steadily and with
irresistible force. . . . .
Mr. W, Stevendou is the agent in Au
gusta for the “InnlhJi Line” in connec
tion with the Coastwise Fleet of Steam
ships, sailing from Charleston, aIJ d will
furnish full information to passengers
aud shippers.
A decision that deserves general no
tice has jusff been rendered by the Su
preme Court of Louisiana. It has
affirmed a judgment of $25,000 dama
ges against a druggist whose clerk
made a mistake, causing the loss of
human life. The victim of this mistake
was Mrs. Ellen L. MeCubbin, wife of
William MeCubbin, of New Orleans.
The physician prescribed for her Aqua
iCamphorat, 46.’> hut the clerk put up
•that quantity or tincture of camphor,
which she took, an ait killed “ er m a
few hours. Her husband. sued the
druggist for damages, and , sult >
after long litigation, has ended as fln. ove
stated, _
We are glad to learn that the entire
stock for rebuilding Trion Factory has
been taken. That’s the way to work.
Why can’t Rome do something that
way?
®r fails tetilntionalisl.
GEORGIA RAILROAD.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF STOCK
HOLDERS.
Organization of the Body-Stock Rep
resented—Reports of Officers Re
ceived-Remarks of Col. E. W. Cole.
The city has been alive for two days
with the visitors drawn hither by the
occasion of the annual assembling of
the stockholders of the Georgia Rail
road and Banking Company.
At something past noon yesterday,
the door of the Masonic Hall was
opened and the large number or own
ers of shares in the corporation who
had been some half hour on the
sidewalk made their way into the
building. The buzz of many voices
soon tilled the crowded hall, as low
toned conversation, greetings and in
terchange of words rippled over the
assembly. Iu the course of live min
utes, Judge John P. Kiug, the venera
ble president of the road, entered and
passing alone up the central aisle
placed his hat ou the table in front of
the chairman’s seat, dropped his caue
on the carpet beneath it and occupy
ing the chair with some degree of fee
bleness observable in his movements
quietly surveyed the representatives
of the corporation after once read
justing his glasses. Soon afterward Col.
E. W. Cole, general superintendent of
the road, ascended the rostrum aud
took a seat beside President King, aud
the two were engaged in conversa
tion for about three minutes. A hush
of expectation gradually fell upon the
assembly, and as if in response to this
silent expression of the wish of the
stockholders, President King rapped on
his table and called the convention to
order. Dr. J. A. S.Aldligau was at his
desk as Secretary, assisted by Mr. Hill
yer, auditor of theroad.
President Kiug said that this was the
day of the annual convention of stock
holders. The first thing to be done was
to call the roll and see if a quorum was
present. The course adopted in several
conventions had been to call the roll in
alphabetical order, and iu accordance
with this custom the Secretary would
examine shares by the letters of the
alphabet.
At the completion of this roll-call,
President Kiug said that ns usual he
would appoint a committee ou proxies
of the customary number of three, if
the Convention made no objection, and
announced Messrs. David E. Buter, M.
P. Stovall and Geo. T. Jackson to com
pose the committee.
Mr. R. L. Moss, of Wilkes county,
moved that this committee be com
posed of two gentlemen from the di
rectorship and three outside, and no
objection being urged, President Kiug
announced the committee under this
amendment to consist, of Messrs. Da
vid E. Butler, Chairman, M. P. Stovall,
R. L. Moss, John H. James and Thos.
C. Ilogue.
Holders of proxies were requested
to report to the Chairmau, Col. David
E. Butler.
On motion of Mr. Henry Moore, the
Convention took a recess to 4, p. m.
Afternoon Session.
4 o’clock P. M.
Promptly on time the Convention
reassembled.
President King stated that the ob
ject of the recess had been to give the
committee on proxies time to report,
and inquired if that comuiitteo was
ready.
The committee being absent, Col.
W. W. Clark, of Covington, suggested
that a messenger had beeu sent to the
committee to learn if they had so far
progressed with their labors as to
know tjiat a quorum of shares was
present so that the Convention could
proceed with other business, allowing
the committee to make a complete re
port afterwards.
In a brief while, Col. David E. But
ler, Chairman of the Committee on
Proxies, entered the hall, and iu re
sponse to the message stated that
there were 10,267 shares represented in
person, while already 13,000 shares in
proxies had been examined aud ascer
tained to be regular, and all the prox
ies had not yet beeu examined. A
little over 21,000 shares were requisite
for a quorum, and the committee could
safely say there w T ere over 23,000
shares represented in person and by
proxy, and there was no doubt of a
legally constituted quorum being in at
tendance upon the Convention.
Major George Hillyer moved that
the partial report of the committee be
received and adopted so far as to be
entered on the minutes that, a quorum
was preset. The motion prevailed.
John J. Cohen, Esq., was requested
to ask if the President would read his
annualreport.
President King replied that he would
if it was desired.
Col. W. W. Clark moved to dispense
with the reading of the report and its
accompanying documen, and to re
ceive the same. Carried, and the re
port adopted.
President King announced the con
vention organized and open for busi
ness.
E. L. Newton, Esq., of Athens, moved
to proceed with the annual election of a
board of directors for the Georgia
Railroad aud Banking Company, as
many Stockholders present were obliged
to leave Augusta iu the evening and
early next day for their homes.
Col. E. W. Cole, General Superin
tendent of the road, said that he beg
ged the indulgence of the body for a
few moments. He was not an aspir
ant for the Presidency, or for the Di
rectorship, or for the Supei intendency,
or for any other office in the corpora
tion. Perhaps there would bo no ob
jection to his remarks save from candi
dates for office, and ho hoped there were
none iu the convention. It was due to the
stockholders, due to the President, due
to Mr. Johnson and to himself, that the
road’s management for the past year
should be fairly reviewed. The many
newspaper criticisms that had invited
public attention should bo squarely
met. He knew not the authors of
these anonymous articles, but he gave
them credit for honesty of purpose,
and if they were known to be in error
he believed these authors would change
their positions.
These criticisms had compared the
management of the Western and At
lantic railway wilh that of the Georgia
Railroad. He himself was Vice-Presi
dent of that road and spoke by the
card. He proposed a comparison of
these two managements by facts and
figures that do not lie.
In comparing the management of the
one road with the other it would be
understood by those without practical
experience in railroading that the rela
tive surroundings of the two railroads
must be considered. If pardoned for
and personal allusion he would say he had
been connected with railroads .all
his life—had begun from his youth,
and if he claimed any knowledge
of railroad management he claimed
but little. He spoke for the interest of
AUGUSTA. CtA., THURSDAY MORNING. MAY" 13. 1875.
the stockholders aud of the whole
country. He did not propose to criti
cise the Western and Atlantic rail
road—it was well managed—he had
voted for its officers and participated
in its business direction. Ho claimed
that the Georgia railroad had been
equally as well managed during the
past twelve months, indeed if not
more economically ; and it behooved
the convention to act prudently aud
to deliberate well before discharging
the old board that have thus conducted
its affairs aud electing one new and
untried.
The Wostern and Atlantic railroad
was a trunk lino, only 138 miles long,
and fed by three roads from the South
and three roads from the North.—
There were only a hundred and thirty
eight miles of road track, depots, and
apparel to be maintained on it and only
one organization to be sustained, while
it was entirely removed from compe
tion.
The Georgia road was pressed by
rivals on all sides, the Air Line towards
Charlotte, North Carolina, and the
Central southward and eastward. It
was in no sense a trunk line.
The earnings of the Western and At
lantic Railroad over this line of 138
miles for a year amount to $1,344,-
932.76.
The earnings of the Georgia Railroad
over its main line of 17 L miles and over
its main aud branch lines of 229 miles,
for the same period, were $1,281,-
907.24; showing the sum of $63,025.-
52 less earnings over a line of
229 miles for the Georgia than over the
shorter lino of 138 miles of the State
Road.
TUe average gross earnings per mile
of the State road were $9,746.
The average gross earnings per mite
of the Georgia Road were $5,591.
Upon these questions of economy
and the ciiticisms of anonymous wri
ters, he did not occupy personal
grounds, for he did uot know these
writers but stood to vindicate the man
agement of the Board of Directors of
the Georgia Railroad.
The expenses of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad for the year were
$810,284.90, or $5,871.63 per mile.
The expenses of the Georgia Road
for the year were $931,818.09 or $4,069
per mile, and in these expenses were
included $105,000 for extra cars aud
rolling stock. From this it is seen that
the expenses of the Georgia Road are
$1,802.63 less per operated mile than
thoso of the State Road.
The gross earnings of the Georgia
Road per mile are only $274 63 less
than the gross expenses per mile of the
Western and Atlantic Road.
Upon the question of high salaries*
and further upon the matter of econo
my. figures were interesting.
The President of the State road re
ceived a salary of $7,000 per annum,
while the salary of the President of the
Georgia Road was much less.
On the State Ron l the Superintend
ent was paid $5,000; ou Lhe Georgia,
the same officer received $4,300.
Ou the Western and Atlantic, the
Road master receive 1 $3,000 yer year;
on the Georgia, $1,750.
The Atlanta agent of the State Road
receives $3,000 a year ; the Augusta
agent of the Georgia Road gets $l,lOO
per annum.
Engineers on the State Road are paid
$4 per day for running 138 miles, while
engineers ou the Georgia receive $3.50
per day for running 171 miles.
Track hands on the Western and
Atlantic receive $1 per day, while the
same laborers on the Georgia get 87 %
cents per day.
The track foreman on the State Road
is paid $45 per month, and the track
foreman on the Georgia gets $35 per
month.
The State Road can afford to pay
higher wages with its gross earnings
and be just to the lessees, than the
Georgia Railroad can and be just to
its stockholders. The basis of the
whole thing was the difference in the
gross incomes of the two r.-ads, that of
the Western and Atlantic being $9,746
per mile and that of the Georgia $5,597
per operated mile.
This results to the Georgia Road
from what, may be termed almost
criminal competition ; and in the face
of such rivalries do the stockholders
waut to displace a management under
standing all the intricate complications
of thesituatian?
The mileage of engines on the West
ern and Atlantic Road is 1,053,287, and
on tiie Georgia Road 1.110,269, the
mileage on the Georgia Railroad being
86,982 miles more than 6lia ; of the
State Road, with 91 miles more of road
to maintain.
All of the net earnings of the West
ern and Atlantic Railroad for three
years after the lease was made went
i*ito the road and machinery, greatly
improving it aud putting it into condi
tion to be operated cheaply ; while for
the same years the net earnings of the
Georgia Ruihoad were paid to the
stockholders in eight per cent divi
dends. The managers of the State
Road saw they could be more extrava
vant than could the managers of the
Georgia road in justice to tho stock
holders.
Last fall Mr. Johnson aud himself
recognized that their reasonable expec
tations for business were to be disap
pointed. It was unpleasant to cut
down men’s wages; no inau with a
soul wanted such reduction, but the
stern necessity of the case required
such a step. , With the view to cause a
co-opeiation in this reduction, the pres
ident and himself, In September, 1874,
went to Atlanta to an interview with
ex-Governor Brown, President of the
State Road. The latter agreed to the
co-operation, but said it would be better
to advise with President Wad ley.
President King aud himself wrote a
letter to that gentleman, and in his
absence Superintendent Rogers called
the Central Board of Directors together,
laid the matter before them and they
thought it inexpedient and declined
co-operation. (Col. Cole read a tele
gram from Gov. Brown showing the
date of interview with him to have
been 9th September 1874.)
Then the Georgia railroad manage
ment took independent action in the
matter in March and reduced wages
and salaries from the highest to the
lowest at the rate of 12 per cent., thus
saving a large amount to tiie company.
At the time, the employees of the road
understood tho situation, met the of
ficers like men and there was no strike,
ao interruption of the regularity of
work. Other roads are paying the ad
vanced wages ; the “ model road ”
has made no such reduction even up to
now.
He came to something of a per
sonal matter, the question of
the lease" of the Western and At
lantic Road—not the question as to
the wisdom or policy of the lease by
the State, for that had been twice set
tled by the Legislature, but the ques
tion of the relations between the West
ern and Atlantic Railroad and its man
agement and the Georgia Railroad.—
Prejudices are exceedingly stubborn
and hard feelings, and lie trusted the
prejudices against tho lessees of the
State Road would be limited for the
good of this corporation. These pre
judices were utterly aud hopelessly un
founded.
It had been charged that, because
officers of the Georgia Railroad were
interested in the lease of the Western
and Atlantic Road, they had been in
duced to take action inimical to the
West Point Road, in which this road
has interest. He had investigated the
matter months ago. Whatever freight
was diverted by Rome was caused first
by tiie arbitrary rates of the Western
Road of Alabama. The Rome aud
Dalton Road took advantage of this
the State Road had nothing
to do with it. They also solic
ited this freight through agents at
New York and elsewhere. How much
had the State Road been benefited?
All the cotton shipped from Selma by
way of Rome, Augusta aud last was
2,341 bales, giving freights of $381.62
to the Georgia Road. From the last
by this route the total cotton, merchan
dise, etc., shipped brought a profit of
profit of $769.18 to the Western and
Atlantic Road, and on this Mr. John
son’s interest would have paid him
$8.37.
The importance of the connections
of the Western and Atlantic Road de
manded consideration. He had heard
that the proposed change looked to
diverting freight down "the Ohio to
Vicksburg and thence hither. He
could not conceive of such au idea
finding lodgment in any practical brain.
From figures and distances Col. Cole
proceeded to show that St. Louis was
the only point West that could bo af
fected by such a project and from St.
Louis only one-fifth of Western freight
was received. In trying to control this
due-fifth, four-fifths of those freights
were to be sacrificed now possessed.
Long delays, bad storage, an elevator
at Vicksburg, for grain were heavy dis
advantages, and this effort now dis
cussed had been repeatedly tried aud
iugloriously defeated.
A ear at St. Louis was loaded on tho
track, safely locked, rolled securelj’
through to Atlanta, with advantages
in time, safely and insurance.
The new idea was to cut loose from
the Western and Atlantic Road, by
which $200,000 of the best paying
freights were received over the Geor
gia Road. Now under the lessees
through freights were divided pro
rata as 171 is to 138, while formerly by
arbitrary action the State Road got an
equal freight.
The next point on the river West
was Cairo, which was 483 miles, all
rail, from Atlanta. From Vicksburg
to Cairo the distance is 600 miles, and
it is only nine miles longer, by all rail,
from Cairo to Atlanta than from Vicks
burg to Atlanta.
From Louisville come three-fifths of
this Western freight, and the distances
are the same 474 miles—from Louis
ville to Atlanta and from Vicksburg to
Atlanta. This gives the management
a long open stretch of many hundreds
of miles.
Last year $15,000 constituted the
proportion of the Georgia Road from
the earnings of the Montgomery and
Selma; and yet it was proposed to
stretch to Cairo and make it SI,BOO.
He had charity enough to believe
that the gentlemen who have been most
industrious in circulating these criti
cisms would not, when informed of the
facts, continue to repeat them.
Ho had heard rumors on the street
in regard to a special friendship with
one road in Augusta. It would be de
trimental to the Georgia road to have
any preference given to any road here.
The crowning suggestion of the now
organization was to tear up the build-,
ing on the corner of Broad and Mc-
Intosh, to tear up the machine shops
and depots here and move them to
the Gate City. This was to take capi
tal out of the pockets of the stock
holders to build up Atlanta! He had
no prejudices against Atlanta—was
proud of her enterprise and progress,
but ho protested against squandering
the money of this corporation to build
up that city.
The present was an important mo
ment in railroad history, requiring har
money and union. Competing lines
grasp at these disaffections.
Ho remembered when first associa
ted with President King and the Board
of Directors, a certain competing
line’s stock was 130 and this stock
from 60 to 70; tinder their safe and
wise management this stock now
marks 78 while that corporation’s stock
rates at 75 cents.
All the railroads had suspended
dividends—the Georgia was tho last to
do so ; and perhaps it may be that
the Georgia vrill be the first to resume.
At the conclusion of Colonel Cole’s
able address, which was received with
closest attention, Mr. Newton renewed
his motion for an election of officers.
Suggestions were made that such a
motion was premature in this really
unorganized condition of the convention.
Col. Z. H. Clark had not expected to
say a single word; but the people of
Augusta should have some regard for
those who live in the country. If tho
convention adjourned, a few would fix
up tho matter as heretofore. He wanted
a change. The gentleman had ques
tioned their right to put in anew board.
They had a right to make a change,
and they were goiug to do it. (Ap
plause.)
President Kiug said he would be glad
to accommodate the matter. He iiad
understood that the opposition had its
chief strength iu proxies ; if the vote
was now taken, not a proxy could be
voted.
Mr. Henry Moore did uot design to
gag anybody by the motion to ad
journ.
Mr. John W. Maddox said he didn’t
propose to teach those present the
geography of the United States they
had learnt forty years ago. He had
been accustomed to hear that when a
Director got too old or Judge Kiug
died, things were to be torn up and the
Mississippi river emptied. He pro
posed to elect officers that would wait
for their money until dividends are
declared—elect officers, that cun wait.
Mr. Newton further explained his
motion, and Maj. Geo. Hillyer said that
the Committee on Proxies would re
port iu ten or fifteen minutes.
Mr. Newton wanted to get through
with the election.
William Hope Hull, Esq., asked if
the motion to adjourn had been with
drawn.
Col. Z. H. Clark begged that the mo
tion to adjourn be not pressed; he
wanted all given a chance to yote.
President King said he desired to
give every one a full chance.
Mr. John Davison said he was not
ready to go into an election at present,
and could not say aye or nay as to the
board. He wanted to ascertain for
whom to vote. It had been usual to
hold the election after all business was
over. Important questions would come
before the Convention which should
be about full.
Mr. Henry Moore said the stockhold
ers had more to do than to elect a
board. The bill of the Legislature
linking the Western road of Alabama
to this road should be discussed. The
endorsement of Port Royal Road bonds
by Georgia now in the hands of a re
ceiver demands attention.
A number of unimportant sugges
tions were made.
Major Hillyer moved that any share
holders present who desired to get off
should be allowed to deposit their
votes with the secretary to be put in
the ballot-box by him.
This motion was carried, and after
half dozen suggestions the convention
took a recess to 9 a.' m. to- day.
THE LATE BAPTIST CONVENTION.
Sketch of the Last Day’s Proceedings.
Charleston, May 11,1875.
Our convention has adjourned, and I
send you another hurried letter for the
benefit of your readers. The sensation 1
of the day has been tiie resignation of
his secretaryship, by Dr. M. T. Sumner,
of tho Marion Board, its acceptance,
and the election in his place of Dr. Ba
sil Manly, of Georgetown, Ky. The
convention had appointed a committee
on now business, aud receiving an inti
mation, I suppose, that it was the in
tention of this committee to elect a
new and different secretary, Dr. M. T.
Sumner promptly sent it a note posi
tively declining a re-election. This
left the way open, and the board pitched
upon Dr. Basil Manly, President of the
Georgetown College, Kentucky, as a
proper man to occupy the vacated sec
retaryship, and he wits elected. When
the report was brought iu announcing
Dr. M. T. Sumner’s withdrawal aud Dr.
Manly’s election., some very pathetic
and elegaut speeches were made by Drs.
Mclntosh, Jeter, Fuller and others, and
encomiums were passed upon Mr.
Sumner and his fidelity, energy and
business qualities. But it was felt
that the time had come for a change in
tho administration, as, for some rea
son or other, the denomination was
somewhat dissatisfied with Dr. Sum
ner’s management of your Home
Board affairs, and, therefore, his resig
nation was accepted. Dr. Sumner has,
by thirteen years of faithful and la
borious service in tho Home and In
dian Mission cause endeared himself
to the great Baptist heart of the South,
and there will be many a regret at this
severance of nis official connection
with the Board. His is an imperial
nature ; ho is a proud, doctriual man,
who can hardly brook contradiction or
rebuke ; bold and plain-spoken, and,
perhaps, on that account, in some de
gree unpopular, but still greatly be
loved and admired by many. So, after
all, peihaps, as Dr. Fuller said, he had
taken the proper course in resigning ;
for the reports for the last two or three
years showed that the Home Board
was not properly or adequately sus
tained.
. The new Secretary elect is one of our
best men—an amiable, pious, learned,
energetic man, who is said to possess
great administrative and organizing
capacities ; but whether or not he will
accept the position is not known. There
is reason to believe it, however. Dr.
B. Manly is the President of a Baptist
College in Georgetown, Ky., aud is the
son of Dr. Basil Manly, Sr., (well known
in South Carolina and Alabama) who
said of the Federals, when they were
depriving us of so much, just after the
war, “Thank God, they can’t deprive
us of four years of freedom !” Most of
your.readers know, by reputation, Dr.
J. R. Graves, of Tennessee. You might
have noticed in the list of Sun
day appointments I sent you
in my last, that he was ap
pointed to speak in a Lutheran church
oa Sabbath afternoon. A large assem
bly convened to hear him, and the pas
tor of the church, dressed in a long
black robe, escorted him into tiie
pulpit. Now the Doctor has a favorite
sermon on the “Priesthood of Christ,”
which embraces the strongest sort of
anti-Ritualisticideas aud language, aud
in which sarcastic aud indignant refer
ence is made to priests and priestly
robes aud all other Ritualistic practices,
and yet it is said that many Pcdo-Bap
tists agreed with the sermon, and one
Episcopalian was converted to auti-
Ritualistic views. The; sermon created
a great sensation for its boldness and
strongly pronounced opinion. Dr.
Graves is one of tho ablest men in our
denomination and is the accepted head
of what is called “old landmar liison.”
Buite a lively debate was had to-day
as to whether or not the two Secreta
ries of the convention should be paid,
but it was at length decided to give
them SSO each, a sum none too small,
considering the amount of duty to be
performed, both during aud after the
session of the convention.
Mass* Meetings.
Three mass meetings of great inter
est, were held during tho Convention.
The first one was that of foreign mis
sions, on Friday night, when Dr. Tlch
nor, of Alabama, and Dr. F. Fuller, ad
dressed a large audience in behalf
of foreign missions; the sec .nd,
that of domestic missions, on Satur
day night, when Dr. J. L. Bur
rows, of Louisville, made a most ex
cellent missionary address, which, by
maj r is pronounced decidedly the
speech of the convention, surpassing
all others. If success is a test of ex
cellence, he made au excellent speech,
for it resulted in a successful eollee
tiou—five or six hundred dollars being
collected for the Home Mission Board.
The third Mass meeting was that of
children of Sabbath afternoon—a thou
sand of them, probably, assembled in
the Citadel Square Church, and their
singing was somtimes wonderful. Capi
tal addresses were made by Dr. Wil
liams, of Baltimore, Dr. J. S. Broad us
and others.
Several of your Augusta citizens
were here, among whom were the elo
quent Pastor of the Green Street Bap
tist Church, Mr. Wharton, and the gen
tlemanly Superintendent of the same
church. Tho convention will meet next
year in Richmond, Virginia, aud Dr. I.
T. Tichnor, of Alabama, is appointed to
preach the introductory sermon.
A First-Class Swinder Arrested.
Richmond, Va., May 12.—A special to
the Dispatch says that detective Knox,
of this city, who went to Chicago with a
requisition for J. J. McKenon, Agent of
the American Bond Funding and Bank
ing Association, limited, of London, has
arrested that person in that city on tiie
charge of defrauding J. L. Carrington,
hotel keeper here, out of one thousand
dollars with worthless drafts on Lon
don. McKenon spent some time in
Richmond last Winter for the alleged
purpose of effecting some settlement
between the Sta te and its bondholders
abroad and seemed to be well
backed by credentials and was
treated with respect and confidence.
In .Vermont they give Patent Office
reports as prizes in spelling mstches.
CARPET-BAG SPENCER.
HOW A YANKEE SUTLER WAS
MADE A SENATOR.
The Beauties of Reconstruction—Con
fessions of Fraud and Infamy—Some
Potent Reasons W hy the Country is
Sick of the Abominations of Con
gress.
Montgomery, May 12. —The Legisla
tive Committee to investigate the means
whereby Spencer secured the claim to
the Senate took a recess to-day. Over
500 pages of manuscript testimony by
Republican witnesses prove the fol
lowing facts: Before the election
Spencer went to Louisville to see Geu.
Terry, and urged him to send troops
to Alabama, the purpose being to use
troops &s a political machine to intimi
date Democratic votes. After the elec
tion a separate court room in the Leg
islature was organized because it was
ifeared that if both parties met together
tho Democrats would have control of
the organization and defeat Spencer.
The Republicans who approved Spencer
were bought over with money and the
promises of appointments to office. In
order to get a quorum for the court
room a body of men were sent for and
paid to come and represent counties,
not only without certificates of elec
tion, but without any pretences of
election. In order to defeat a quorum
iu the Capitol Legislature, one
member was bribed by Hinds, and an
other was drugged to insensibility.—
The money used in corrupting mem
bers was government funds borrowed
for that purpose from post office and
revenue officials. When a campromise
was proposed by Attorney General
Williams, it was found that unless one
Democratic Senator could be unseated
and a Republican put in his stead, the
record would show that the Court Room
Legislature had uo quorum in the Sen
ate, and that Spencer’s election was
void. Thereupon one Glass, the Re
publican Senator from Macon coilnty,
was paid from S3OO to SSOO to pair off
with a Democratic Senator in what was
known as the Miller and Martin con
test, and violate his pledge. The Lieu
tenant Governor, McKinstrey, was to
rule, and the Republican Senators were
to sustain his rulings so as to settle
the contest before notice of the treach
ery could be conveyed to the absent
Democratic Senators. The testimony
of Robert Barber, Clerk of the Court
Room Lower House, and also clerk of
the same house after consolidation, is
a sample of the whole mess. Barber
being duly sworn, testified as follows ;
“I was Clerk of the'Lower House of
the Court Room Legislature, and also
Clerk of the House in the Consolidated
Legislature. The object of the Court
Room Legislature was to secure the or
ganization and election of General Spen
cer to the United Slates Senate. We
did not think this could be done if we
met at the Capitol.”
After detailing the means employed
by Spencer to shelve ex-Governor Par
sons and Alex. White, whom he had
heard would be rival candidates for the
Senate, the witness proceeds:
“ I have letters from Spencer relative
to the use of troops, but as they are
confidential, I do not propose to intro
duce them.”
The committee insisted on securing
the letters, aud Barber, after consult
ing counsel, introduced them. Letter
No. 2, dated Decatur, October 22, 1873,
after stating what troops had beeu or
dered to Alabama, and where stationed,
proceeded thus;
“ I wish Randolph, Deputy United
States Marshal, would use the
company at Opelika in making
arrests in Tallapoosa, Randolph
and Clebourne counties. I wish you
would go to Talladega and block the
game. I must uot however, be known
in the matter, feigaed, in haste, yours
truly, Geo. E. Spencer.
To Robert Barber.
The witness continued: “I knew
Spencer’s handwriting, and these let
ters are written aud signed by him and
bear the impress of his seal and motto,
“ Dieu defende le droit.” The expres
sion relative to arrests iu Randolph and
other counties referrs to a letter re
ceived by me from Randolph county,
in which it was stated that if troops
could be sent into the counties named
to make a few arrests, enough votes
could be run out of them to secure the
electiou of the Republican candidates
for the Legislature. I informed Gen.
Spencer of these facts, and this is what
that part of his hater relates to. As
Assistant Secretary of the Republican
State Executive Committee, I was
familiar with the plans of Spencer and
the Republican party. J. J. Hinds was
Spencer’s confidential man, and repre
sented him in every particular. He
had control of every movement.
Colonel Sheats, Colonel W. H. Butts,
D. C. Whiting, J. J. Hinds, Charles
Pelham, W. S. Marshal, A. R. Baker
and I had the especial management of
Spencer’s election. In our conferences
I was informed that all the money
needed to secure Spencer’s election
was provided and in the hands of
Hinds. It was said that tho Lowndes
county delegates, except Major Hun
ter, were disaffected. This would de
feat Spencer’s election. We were in
formed that $2,000 had been raised to
disaffeet these members, and that it
had been deposited subject to the or
der of Senator Jones. This we after
wards found to be untrue, but not
knowing any better then I was in
structed to say to Senator Jones that
we had $2,500 subject to his order,
conditioned upon his holding the
Lownes county delegation. In the
court room assembly, learning that
Jones was attending a colored ball I
sent J. W. Beach to interview him and
report. Sandy Bynum, John C. Hen
drix and myself were selected to
watch the Lowndes county repre
sentatives, except Hunter, all
night. Just before day assistant
sergeaut-at-arms, Dan. Norwood, came
out of the house where they were stay
ing, and I gave him five dollars to re
turn to wake them up and tell them I
wanted to see them. They came out,
aud we went to the Madison House,
where Spencer had ordered breakfast
for their especial benefit. I then went
to Spencer’s room and informed him
that I had them. He told me to con
duct them to his ro*om, which I did. I
told them that Spencer had made up
his miud to give each of them an ap
pointment, and Spencer, who was pres
ent, promised them route agencies.
Dunugjtheinight I left Bynum on watch
and went to Spencer’s room to suggest
the propriety of sending to Lowndes
county for Bryant and Bryant arrived
the next day and, as I understood, re
ceived S3OO from Hinds. This seemed
to fix the Lowndes county delegation
all right. The Legislature convened
that morning and the Lowndes county
delegation were present and voted for
Spencer, Many members from other
counties were promised offices, and I
was authorized by Spencer to promise
members as many offlees as I
might think necessary to secure their
support. It was understood that Cal
vin Goodloe was to get a Federal ap
pointment, and that at the proper time
he was to join the Court Room legisla
ture a,l d vote for Spencer. Meanwhile
he was to remain in a position to have
access to and the confidence of the
capital assembly until his vote was
necessary at the Court Room Legisla
ture to * elect Senator Spencer. He
ascertained all he could of their move
ments by going to the rooms of mem
bers of that body and leading them
into conversations and reported to
Spencer. We tried constantly to de
feat a quorum of tho Capitol Legisla
ture and I was given to understand
that the plan had succeeded by disaf
fecting two members aud drugging
another to insensibility. I was given
to understand that Mr. S, was to be
drugged and was afterwards informed
that ho had been drugged and was
lying somewhere insensible. This
was tho night before the day
fixed by law for the election
of United States Senator. When the
Capitol Assembly would proceed to
elect on that, day, I learned that the
drugged member was still lying insen
sible.” Witness then proceeds to de
tail how Parker and Chisholm, two
men from distant counties, generally
known to have been uot elected, were
sent for aud induced by tiie promise of
office to enter tho Court Room Legis
lature as Representatives of their re
spective counties, and proceeds as fol
lows : “ Baker was appointed Clerk of
the House Committee on Internal Im
provement by Gen. Dustan, the Chair
man. lie told m'e that he had also
promised a Federal appointment, aud
he was afterwards appointed United
States Marshal for the Northern Dis
trict of Alabama. After the consolida
tion of the two Legislatures, Chisholm
was appointed to a position in the Cus
tom House in Mobilo. In tho Miller-
Martin contest for a seat iu the con
solidated Senate it was decided by the
friends of Spencer, the managers
before referred to, that Miller
should be seated. This was to be
accomplished by sustaining Lieut. Gov.
McKinstry s rulings, whatever they
may be. In order to secure the suc
cess of this plan arul get McKinstry to
make such rulings as would seat Mil
ler before the abseut Democratic Sen
ator could return, it was necessary, we
thought, for McKinstry to so rule as
to cut off all debate and secure a final
vote. It was thought that if McKin
stry so ruiedjthe Democratic Senators
would either bolt or fight. To provide
for the latter contingency, picked men
were, by agreement, in the lobby of
the Senate Chamber. Among these
were W. H. Betts, Chas. Pelham, Sam
Oliu, M. G. Caudee, Milo Barber, J. J.
Hinds, a rough from Georgia, whose
name I did not know, and some five or
six others whose names I cannot re
member. I don’t know that McKin
stry kuew our plans, but he knew the
men we had stationed in the lobby,
and we believed that he would so rule
as to seat Miller at all hazards, and
that he would be strengthened by their
presence. The purpose was to show
him that he had friends there who
would back him. We apprehended
some dilatory action by the Democrats
which would prevent final action
until the return of the absent Demo
cratic Senator, Edwards. It was there
fore necessary to have final action that
day and seat Miller before Edwards
got back.” In answer to a question as
to what means were used to induce
Senator Glass to remain in Montgom
ery after Edwards, with whom he had
paired off on this question, had left,
the witness said : “It was understood
that Glass was to pair with Edwards
on this question ;’that the two should
go to the depot, and at the same time,
and that Glass should then return to
the city seemingly or apparently, un
known to Edwards, the idea being to
make others believe that both men
had left at the same time. Both did
go to the depot at the same time, but
Glass returned aud was secreted in a
room at the Madison House. To give
him an excuse for violating his pledge
I served a subpoena on him to appear
as witness in some case in which Chas.
Pelham was attorney. I found A. R.
Baker acting as his doorkeeper, aud
Baker, at my request, handed Glass
the writ. Glass was kept out of sight
until the vote was beiug taken in the
Miller-Martin contest, when he was in
formed by signal given from the front
of the capitol that his presence was
required. He appeared in the Senate
chamber and gave his vote for the
seating of Miller, I understood that
he was to be paid three or four Irun
dred dollars for breaking faith with
Edwards.”
FROM KENTUCKY.
Surgical Operation Performed on Gen.
Breckinridge—Hopes of llis Recove
ry.
Louisville, May 12.—Secretary Bris
tow accepts an invitation to deliver the
address upon the decoration of graves
of Union soldiers at Cave Hill.
An important surgical operation was
performed upon Gen. John C. Breckin
ridge, at his home in Lexington, Ky.,
on Tuesday, by Dr. Gross, of Philadel
phia, and Dr. Sayre, of New Y"ork. His
chest was penetraled by tubes inserted
between his ribs and some relief was
afforded. Tho physicians are of the
opinion that the General’s liver was in
jured by a blow received during the
war from a fragment of shell, aud that
liis present suffering is due entirely to
that cause. The physicians entertain
hopes that the operation will prove of
permanent advantage to the patient.
Gen. Breckinridge Dying.
Louisville, May l£—A special to the
Courier-Journal from Lexington, just
received, says Gen. John C. Breckin
ridge is sinking rapidly, and death may
be expected at any moment.
Bporting News.
Lexington, May 12.—The races to
day were very exciting and closely con
tested. The track was in better condi
tion. The first race was a sweepstakes
for three year olds which have never
won a race ; mile heats ; three started ;
won by Bob Woolley ; EinrnaC. second,
Novelty third. Time: 1:46, 1:45.
Second race—two miles, for all ages ;
three started. Won by Monmouth;
O’Neai second, Millionaire third. Time:
3:39}.
A Distillery Case
Milwaukee, May 12.—Yesterday
afternoon Thos. O’Neall applied to the
United States Circuit Court, Judge
Drummond presiding, and asked that
an appraisal of hi3 distillery be made,
and that he be permitted to give bond
and resume operations. The petition
was granted. In the course of his re
marks Judge Drummond characterized
the law under which the seizures were
made as a severe one, and one which
ought to be carefully executed. Further
applications will be made to-morrow.
ISTew Series—Vol. 3. ISTo. 93
FOREIGN NEWS.
Another General Leaves the Carlist
Canse—Roman Catholic Bishops Dis
solve Religions Orders—The Insti
gator of Bismarck’s Assassination
Supposed to be Caught.
London, May 12. —The Post publish
es the address of the Carlist General
Aguirrre to Navarese and Basque Car
lists, inviting them to turn their arms
against their leaders, who prolong the
war to enrich themselves. He declares
events of the past two years only show
the inaptitude of Don Carlos, who has
lost the right to the crown before God
and the world. Aguirre is exceeding
ly popular, and it is confidently claim
ed his entry into Spain will cause a
large defection from the Carlist
ranks.
Berlin, May 12.—The Czar, Gorts
chakoff and Bismarck, had a long con
sultation to-day.
The Roman Catholic Bishops of Prus
sia have decided to dissolve even the
religious orders, which the State tole
rates, being uuwilliug to see them sub
jected to governmental supervision.
London, May 12.—The Daily Tele
graph's Vienna special says Bismarck,
with the aid of Russia, intends to ob
tain a public written guarantee of the
status created by the treaty of Frank
fort. Russia and Austria are ready to
support it.
Berlin, May 12.—1 tis stated that
the instigator of the plot to assassinate
Bismarck has been arrested abr >ad.
The papers give confused statements
of his relationship to several arch
bishops. It is loosely stated that the
plot included the assassination of Em
peror William.
THE SCHILLER DISASTER.
Holding Inquests and Burying the
Dead.
London, May 11. — An inquest was
held to-day at St. Marys on twenty
bodies from the steamer Schiller. H.
Hillers, first officer of the Schiller, tes
tified that when the vessel struck, Cap
tain Thomas and another officer were
on the bridge. Two men were looking
out forward, and two others were on
the bridge with the Captain.
The jury rendered a verdict of ‘‘ac
cidentally drowned,” coupled with are
commendation that a telegraph be es
tablished between Bishop’s lighthouse
aud the shore. They express the opin
ion that if such communica ;ion had ex
isted all on board the Shiller would
have been saved. Officers Hillers and
Daleman concur in this opinion.
The remains of Mrs. Hermine West
were buried after the iuquest. The
bodies unclaimed were also buried.
The funeral was attended by Dervin
Smith, owner of the Scilly Islands, the
coroner and members of the jury, and
nearly all the inhabitants of the island.
The bodies were first numbered, and a
careful record made of the valuables,
marks, etc., found on each, and then
enclosed in separate coffins. Two
grave;? were dug, each 25 feet long,
and in these the coffins were placed in
two layers. Since the iuquest 50 more
bodies have been recovered The total
number now recovered is nine. The
following have been identified : Miss S.
Dimock, Mrs. Clara Just, Mrs. Anna
Eisner, Mrs. Susanne Duckfield, Mrs.
Altman, Mrs. Augustus Men ter, Mrs.
Line, Augustus Menter, Henry Friend,
Herman Spritz, P. A. Paulsen, Raoro
Sayers ; also the doctor, butcher and
third engineer of the Schiller.
London, May 12. —Weather fail.
Boats plied between the. Schiller and
the shore. Many bodies, much car.ro,
and tweuty-two mail bags have b-on
recovered.
Only Fifteen Passengers Saved.
New York, May 10. —There were out
few visitors at the office of theEa'le
Line this morning. About a do; on
friends of lost passengers were pi ;s
--ent, but soon left on hearing the *T >l
- cable dispatch read :
Plymouth, May 10.—Consul Kubne,
New York; Only fifteen paeseng *rs
were saved from the Schiller, the names
of which were telegraphed you yester
day. We are doing everything* to re
cover and identify the bodies.
An Incident of her Sailing.
New York, May 11.—One of the most
singular and touching incidents con
nected with the sailing of tho Schiller,
was that concerning Mrs. Ooverly and
her daughter Amy. Henry Gellen,
master painter of the Eagle company,
being detained by business of the
steamer, remained on board until it
reached Sandy Hook, where the pilot
left the ship. Gellen accompanied the
pilot. He had become acquainted with
Mrs. and Miss Coverly, and they, fore
warned by some mysterious presenti
ment, were anxious to leave the vessei
on the pilot boat. They were dissuaded,
however, by Mr. Walter aud Mr. Gellen,
and determined to remain, although
their trunks were packed and ready to
be carried on deck. They sent letters
to their friends, who reside in East 43d
street, by Gellen, and as he descended
to the pilot boat they called out that
they would never see the highlands
again.
The Bodies of the Dead to be Em
balmed.
New York, May 12.—The ageuts of
the Eagle Line, this p. m., received the
following dispatch from Mr. Banfield,
the German Consul at Seilly: “Em
balmers arrived to-night. Will have
all bodies you wish embalmed and sent
on. Inform all parties interested that
orders for embalmment will be attend
ed to at once.”
FROM NASHVILLE.
Final Action of i%pthodist Bishops.
Nashville, May 12.—The College of
Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, which had been in ses
sion for several days in the city, just
before adjourning sine die, announced
the following Committee oi Fraterni
zation to the next General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church:
Rev. Lovic Pierce, D. D.; Re v. Jas. A.
Duncan, D. D.; and London C. Garland,
L. S. D.; and, in accordance with a
resolution of the last General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, the following commis
sioners to meet a like commission from
the Methodist Episcopal Church, to
remove all obstacles to formal fra
ternity between the two churches,
were also announced; Rev. E. H.
Myers, D. D.; Rev. R. K. Hargrove,
D. D.; Rev. Thoa. M. Finney, D. D.;
and Hon. Frusten Polk, of Missouri,
and Hon. David Clayton, of Alabama,
Laymen.
Sporting News,
San Francisco, May 13.— Edington
beat Defiance, winning the second,
fourth aud fifth heats, '.rime, 26%,
29, 26, 26.
“Truly,” remarks a reader of the
Sun, “we know not what a Dana may
bring forth.”— Rochester Democrai,