Newspaper Page Text
CJc dSlecklj) J
Wednesday Morning, Hr '■
Letter from Ml 1
Kroat cor
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cominodutinir. with sny rcwnflPH
ootnfort between one hundred end fifty
hundred end eighty members, but into it
now pecked very neer three ituiidrtd dr
geiett —the sttendsnee being very lull—
them restricted to the umallrst possible tr
of spiece in which it consists with lefr'slajlHf
ideee ol propriety to be squeesed. Vesterdef*
e division of seete took piece, but with no re
sults other then.lhet some who formerly lurk
ed in obscure corners heve been brought out to
prominent plsoes sud trice versa. To continue*
some little account of the appearance of the
body before going into action, it may w! said
that e veaf Urge majority of it are tnor. who
are the exec tret types of the solid country
reprerentaiiye—grave looking ptirsorsgcs, clad
to some extent in substantial homespun—
though no few shine resplendent in Northern
ready-made clothes— decorous in demean r,
attentive to business, and at liotia to got
through and go home. In debate of course
theae gentlemen make no very prominent ap
pearance, confining their parliamentary oratorj
to lotto eoee remarks and a remarkably vigorous
of the aye or no, with which they vote.
Another claasof the Convention motniiers
are those upon whom a life of haranguing, can
cussing, sod wire-pulling has put the tinmlaiak
able stamp of politician. Os all sorts, froVn
the wiry, adult complextoned, keen eyed,
fldgelty delegate whose very looks proclslm
him ss one of the greet unterrifled democracy
of old to the calm, prosperous looking, full faced
gentleman of the old school, beyond sll doubt
an ancient war-horse of whiggery, the Oeorgls
politician is here represenlaled. Not to appear
invidious no particulars ss to this class will lie
entered into, but solße little account given of a
few of those delegates whose names are mom
popularly known throughout the Slate.
First then coqpoa the President of the Con
vention, Hon. Herschel V. Johnson, large
sired, dark haired, strong featured, putting one
much In mind hy hie tout ememWe of It M. T.
Hunter, of Virginie, end presiding with sn effi
ciency that merits much praise over the reson
ant deliberations of near three hundred mem
bars. Then comes Ihe Richmond delegation,
too well known whore this letter will nppcsr
to need description. Mr. Jenkins, who ex
pressly declined to broome a candidate for the
Presidency of the Convention is Chairman of
, tbs Business Committee and is looked to
by the great Itody of the Convention witli a re
spect'and oanfhlenne as complimentary es it is
well deaorvod. Bo far in the action taken thn
positions taken by him have received a very
heavy eodorssl and the ordinances hy him re
ported from the committee nsmed't><w>n adopted
despite a vigorous, though not numerous oppo
sition. But jt threatening to be no brief ac
count that would make some little mention of
each of tbs tnombera of some note, further in
formation ss to the personnel of the Convention
win bo for the present omitted to touch upon
Its action.
The ordinance of secession was yesterday
repealed by a unanimous vole. All resolutions
also of the Oopvenlion of IRI, adopting that
ordinance, whichfwsolutions are Incompatible
with the civil or military authority of the
United States, are alert repealed. The word
•‘repeal" excluid some comment hut no dm
- sentient voice was heard —nothing in fact to
disturb tho unanimity witli which the word
wn« chosen, save a notice from Mr. Joshua
Hill, that ho would amendment, tie
elsrlng said ordiuanoe ‘‘null find void" An
ortiiost.ee fitting the State and Congieraionat
elections for November fifteenth was not only
at onoe adopted hy a re-ooinddcratiou tel used
by £3B to 36—Mr. Joshua Hill proposing the
reconsideration in order to substitute a longer
dato. A resolution to nulhoriis the appoint
ment of a committee of live to momorleli*-
President Johuson for thtveleaae of Mr. I‘avis
and some other dlstingulsPd gentlemen now
In Perioral captivity was amended so ss to in
clude all prisoners iu the hands of the United
Sutra and was then adopted by very nearly e
full vote—the Convention refusing, by trrmeti
does majorities to either Indefinitely postpone
or lay the resolution on tho table. Mi Joshua
Hill was particularly prominent in Ids ttppwl
lion Vo the adoption of this resolution, but si rr
some eloquent remark* from Mr Cohen of h* -
vaunah ands stirring argument from Mr. Ma -
thews of Oglethorpe which evoked appleutw
three eeperate limes the r-»olulion prevailed
Mr. Metheweeelii Mr, Uavle, ceasing lobe e
rcprcaeuieuve tuan, was now only a poor mi-
fnrttitrate individual no more of * trailer than
the delegates themselves were. This met wi'lt
such applause from the Convention, gslleriea,
and lobby an caused the President to tup loudly
to order. Mr. M. further said the right of pc |
titioo was the right of the Convention, since it I
bad taken the oath, his sympathies were with
Mr. Dsvis and he wished to exercise that rigi t ;
la bis behalf. Here the sppiause broke out j
again sod the President declared such maid tes
tations must and would tie prohibited iu future
This debate was very hot and tierce. Much
feeling was manifested and tho votes stood
against indefisite pos'ponement 197 to fit!,
against tabling 148 to 96 sud resolution adopt |
ad without s division
The getters! opinion as to the Congressional {
tost osib is to send Ueorgis s best meu si and let i,
lbs stigma of their rejection, if denied mlmi - :
•100, rest ou the rsdieals.
Repudiation of tbs Georgis war debt finds
few friends A venerable .looking delegate
who, like Torguil of the Oak, had sent seven
sons to batiks, where two were slain and three
desperately mangled, said to the writer “'/!
is'til honest sir," and it is a gratifying fart to
auuounce that this seems the geucral sen time! i
Scaling lbs debt to its real, or gold value, ns
proposed iu the Constitutionalist not long since,
seem* to much tavouT, aud it ia thought will lie
ths plan adopted.
• Hon* 0. H IsHJßaasK.—This distinguished
Georgian arrived iu Macon last Thursday from
Washington, and succeeded in procuring the
pardons of all persons whose cases Vert- en
trusted to him.
liosa or thk Stkamkk Aucx—The steamer
Alice was sunk on the Chattahoochee river on
the 26th, by atriking against aome-obstruction.
Oapt. Wingate aud two other men wets drorut
td The Altos was anew boat, owned prhw
paily ia Columbus, was worth $32,000 aud
Lad on board a heavy freight for the utter
place.
■*— - '■ . ..—&
From the Macon Telegraph.
Georgia State Convention.
-QMMynfOa’S MESSAGE
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'•f flay and that hour having
now gentlemen, with your as-
Rial to organise this tody for deli
berstioo, and for tho dispatch of such busincr*
no may come before it. The first business in
order will bo the call of counties, and the mem
here elect prencnt will please respond by giving
»heir names to tho Secretary. Tbo Secretary
will now proceed to call the counties
Mr L. H Brfrcoa, the Governor’* private
Secretary. proceeded with a call of the counties,
and the; following delegates elect responded :
Appling—Daniel G Hcpps, Frederick Doug
las
Baker—W I) tVilliaron, Isaac H Tlr-ard
Baldwin —\ H Kenan, B B I)eGr«ffonreid.
Bonks—Win Turk, J L Jordan.
Bibb—G M Lntrou, T G Holt, C B Cole.
Brooks—W If Tharp, Win Hudson.
Berrien—H K Smith, F 8 Williams.
Bullock —R Melinite, K Hn*water.
Butts—John Barnett, L D Watson-
Burke—Malcom Jones, R T Jones, E T Daw
SOU.
Campbell—W A Turner, 8 0 Johnson.
Csss—J It J R Wiklo, Nathan
Howard.
Calhoun—Goo W Csiuley, Henry Hays.
Carroll—E B Martin, W W Morrell, Charles
Walker.
Calnoafi—Edward Fowler, Win Henry
Chatham —Solomon Cohen, Thos K Lloyd,
Edward C Anderson.
Chattahoochee— D H Burls, Win Bagley.
Chattooga— J OSrott, and a tio.
Cherokee—Jas 0 Dode, W C Puckett, .7 K
Covington.
Clay—B A Turnlpseed.A I) Womack.
Clayton—J C Ellington, A L Huie.
Charlton—J C Sifllth, ,1 F Maitox.
Cofloe—Matt Ashloy, Roan Paflhrd.
Clark—Y L G Harris, J 11 Christy, J C
Johnson.
Cobb—-A J Hansell, 1> Irwin. Wm Anderson.
Colquitt— B 0 Walking, F Clark.
Columbia Jnmos Jones, C S Shockly V M
Barnes.
Coweta—W W Thomas, W F Wright, I K
Binith.
Crawford T J Simmons, A W Gibson.
Dooly—F K Lewis, Wm Roberts.
Dade—J W Curveton, K I) Graham.
Dawson—A* J Logan, D P Monroe.
DeKalb—H T Wootten, M A Candler.
Dougherty J G Wright, Henry Morgan.
FCorly—ll H Robinson, Joel W Perry.
Effingham—M lUwles. J G Morrill.
• Klbort—W H Adams, J H l a«inor.
Fayette—John Huie, P II Brass well.
Floyd—R D Harvey, Itubt H More, T J
Davis.
Forsyth—W H Bell, Steven Clements.
Franklin—N Gunnels. J M Freeman.
Faulting—Bohn B Dickey. John M Powel.
Fulton—N J Hammond, J I Whitaker, Geo
W Adair.
Gilmer—B B Qullliau, C A Ellington.
Glynn— James Cooper, Verbenas Dart.
Gordon—G M Thompson, James lUrUud,
.Tames Rogers
Green— Y 1* King, M W Lewis, N M Craw
ford.
Gwinnett—UD Winn, J TSimmons, J W
Baxter,
Hshersham—Phillip Martin Wm Grant,
lfarrolaon—J H Willuuum, Fletolier Thump
Hall—J N Dorsey, D Welnhel. H C Fraser.
Hancock—S Liwroocc, C W Dubose, D liar
rli
Harris—E 0 Hood, H U Williams, A W
Redding
Hart—Wm Bowurs, James Allen.
Heard— W M K Watts, B I) Johnson-
Henry K H An.aid. John HIM, C T hrr.
Houston—Kli Warren, Julia N Giles, Chat
T Goode.
Irwin— John B Dormant, Jaeoh Voting*
Jaeksou—W f SThompsdh, J B S l>avis, W
L Marhr.
J 'B|»er —fL nrv 0 Glover. Wm F Jordan*
Juff raon—l! N Johnson, George Stapleton.
Johnson—J»*re Parker, NoshTftton.
Jon<s—Jas 11 Blount, D Ridley
Laurent— Wathau Tucker Roht Robinson.
liee—George Kimbrough. Wn» Newson.
Liberty—John R Mallard, H F Horae.
Lowndes—P C Pemhloton, Col Man ing.
Lincoln—J W Barkesdale, John Dunn. %
Lumpkla—Wierd Bovd, II W Riley.
Macon—Phil Cook, L>M FelUm.
Msdlso"—G Nash G W Chaudlar.
Mclntosh—Jsia R Middleton, Armand Le
pile
Marion—M M Bivins O W McDuffie.
Merriwether 0 Warner, J L Dixou, F M
Bran fly. f
Miller—lsaac Bush, Isaac E Bower.
Md'on OP Skelton. Wm IWera.
Ml'chell—lsrael Maples, J A M -Gregor.
Monroe—K G Cabanie*, Wm R Xlurpliv,
John Bhsnaon.
Morgan—Joshua Hill, Thos P S-tfiTold*
Murray—W Fuffman, B F Parker
Muscogee—W Williams, A 11 Chappell,
II no* Holt.
Newton— P Reynolds, J J Floyd, I A Stew-
art-
Oglethorj**—W Wltilngharo, W B Bright
well. J D Matthew*
Paulding—R I. Strickland, J H Wcsver.
Pierce—C H Uopktrs. G M T Wart*
Pickens—Sitome Goodo, R B McCutchen.
Pike—W D Alexander. Giles Driver
Polk—J A (Lance, Jt»el Brower
f‘.ila!*ki—J L Warren, Normou McDuffie.
Putnam— D R Adams. 1? C Humber.
Quitman—J T Turner. B H Rico.
Rabun—o J King, G M Notherland
Randolph M rcan Olloway, LC Sale.
Richmond—C J Jenkins, Joint'P King, A 0
Walker.
Pcldey—C B Hudson, J C L'taaeler.
Scriven—Geo R Black, R W Lovett.
Spa ding- L T D.>val, D H Joimaott.
S . wart—K F Kirksey, J L Wuuhcly, M
Jillis.
.s imler— A vS Cut’s, W W Barlow, W Brady.
Tat hoi—M Betbnne, Wm Holmes. 7 B Trice
Taliaferro—J A Stephens, aud Singleton
I arris.
T v’or—A H R Riley, LQ C McCrary.
Telfair—A J Cameron, Duncan Mcßae.
Towns—J no B Howard, Jno P Kolly.
Terrell—Cß Wooten, D A Cochran.
Thomas—J 1* Seward, J U Alexander, A T i
Mclntyre.
Troup J S HUI, RAT Ridley, N L Atkin I
Twiggs—!ra K Dupree, Lewis Solomou.
rps-'n—Joel McUhews, O 0 Sharman.
Walker—Lawson Black, T K Patton, T !
Parker
\v» ton—n D MoDanM, J l! Sorrells, )V \
Arnold.
Wnro-n—J M Roberts, N(' Bacon
>'«btugton—J S Book, I. 0 Matthew?. 0 R
Cumnnng,
Wrh ter—Simpson BeH, U R Moore.
White—A V Underwood !»»»• B
Whufieid—J F B Jackson, J M Richardson,
D Tatliaferro.
Wilcox—Stephen Bowen T> Johnson.
W.lkea—G G Norman. W M Reeee.
Wilkiot n—J f Hudson. R j Cochran.
Worth—W m A Hurri.*. Jos \\ K >u*e
Wayne—J D Kumja, Jes Highstuiih.
The St'cretary aanounced that a quorum was
present.
j Governor Johnson GanUamon. 1 *m in.
etructed to administer to you, before et.iering
1 Ufa* the JuK'Large of your duties, au oath—the
amnesty oath, which has already been taken
by you. The Honorable I verson L. Harris,
judge ot the Ootniiigee circuit wi 1 administer
the onto. The Secretary will call the list and
the members will rouie forward and take upon
themrelvea the obligation.
Judge Harris then Administered the amnesty
oath to the members present, in bodies of
eight, as follows .
‘You, and each of you. do solemnly swear, in
ibe of Almighty God, that you will
beneeforth faithfully support, protect and de
fend the Constitution of the United .States,
and the union of the States thereunder; and
that you will, in like manner, abide by and
faithfully support all laws and proclamations
which have been made during the exiting re
bellion, wi»h reference to the emancipation of
slaves : 8o help you God!”
Governor .Johnson : The next business ir>
order, gentlerm-n, will be the selection of a
permanent President of tho Convention The
election will be by ballot, and a majority of
ihe whole number of ballots will be necessary
to a choice.
Mr. Jenkins : I beg to nominate, for the of
fiee of President of the Convention, Hot. Her
schell V. Johnson, of the county of Jeffer-
son. __
Mr, Harris, of Worth: I nominate Hon
Charles J Jenkens, of Richmond county, for
the same position.
The lstter nomination was withdrawn.
Mr K«*nan :—I move that Hon. Herschell
V. Johnson b** elected President of thisConven
lion by acclamation.
Gov. Johnson: Gentlemen will please re
member that it has been announced by the
chair, that tho election will be by ballot, and
that a majority of die ballots will be necessary
to a choice: but, if there is no objection, the
election can take place bv acclamation.
Mr. Chanpell : I much prefer that 'he elec
tion should be bv ballot, and I trust the Con
vention will so decide. I think it due to the
b>Ay that a Convention assembled to deliber
ate upon the most important matters that
could come before Any body, shonld hare all
its proceedings ebarwtemed hy the utmost
solemnity- It is familiar to this Convention
that elections by accaraation usually take
place in party conventions, or in county
meetings, but this Is a point of solemnity far
above such bodies, and I prefer that the elec
tion should take place in the manner the Gov-
ernor has designated.
Governor Johnson : Does the gentleman ob
ject ?
Mr. Chappell; I do object.
Governor Johnson : Objection being raised,
the election will proceed by hailot.
Mr. Kenan :—I move that we elect vivevoee.
That is die usual way in which elections have
be**n made bv the Georgia Legislature.
Governor Joh son put the question, and
the motion prevailed.
Tho Secretary then called the list of mem
bers, snd the vote was announced as follows :
Herschell V. Johnson, 245 ; Charles J. Jenkins,
Gov. Johnson : The Hon. 11. V. Johnson
having received a majority of the whole vote
cast, he is hereby declared elected President of
tho Convention.
Mr Renan : I rnovo that without any fur
ther ceremony tho Hon. II V. Johnson bo re
quested to take his scat as President of the
Convention.
The motion prevailed, when Mr. Johnson
was welcomed to his seat hy Gov. Johnson,
amid the applause of the body.
The President : Gentlemen of tho Conven
tion Please accept my grateful acknowledg
ments for this evidenco of your kindness and
confidence. I regret that I cannot promise
any great efficiency as your presiding officer,
for lean bring to my aid neither experience
nor natural adaptation for the discharge of the
dull#* assigned me. I will, .however, do the
very best I can, relying upon your generosity
to forgive error, and sustain me in the mainte
nance of order and decorum.
Wo are convened under extraordinary cir
cumstanoea, and charged with grave and re
sponsible trusts. The past, with its Beenes of
chastisement and of sorrow—tho present, with
its stern and tangible realities, admonish us
to act with caution and wisdom. It is not for
me to say what you ought or ought pot to do.
That is your province. Upon you rests the
responsibility to a confiding constituency. 1
may be permitted, however, to suggest that
the duty of tho Convention is clearly indicated
by surrounding circumstances. L«t us do wtyit
these circumstance* indicate. Lot ill do noth
ing more, lent, hy attempting too much we
should engender eclrsm and excitement, and
hazard tbo uncffillnew of our deliberations
Wo cannot correct or euro the errors of the
past; blit It Is our duty, as far n* possible, to
reseuo ourselves and our posterity from their
ooiisequenei s. L**t us address ourselves to the'
taik with tho dignity of manly purposes, hum-
My relying upon the Father of Light to illume
our understanding*.' '
Gentlemen, renewing the nxpression of my
gratitude, invoking u spirjt of conciliation
harmony and patriouttm, sod Aeepoaking your
nupp rt aud your auuounce the
Oonveution as organized, and*prepared to en
ter upon the performance of Rh duties.
Gov. Johnson and Judge J. L Harris with
droig.
The Convention th*n proceeded to the clec
i ion of n ■ Secretary. * Messrs B»>ifi>ld, Fee pie*.
Waddclj. Walker and Harrhou, were placed in
nomination. On the firm ballot the result was
ns follows: Saffoid, 60; Walker, 14; Wad
dell, Jo£; Peeples, 47; Harrison, 5; Wil
liams. 4.
There being no choice hy a majority vote,
tho Convention then proceeded to n second
ballot, with tho following result; Waddell,
154; Peeples. «8: Ratfdd, 62.
Mr. Jauhs 1). Waddell, of Polk county, hav
ing received a mujuity of all the votes cast,
was declared elected, and appeared and was
qualified hy the ad tuinisiration of an oath simi
lar to that administered to tho delegates, and
the cuitotusry oath of office.
Mr. Harris—l propose as a candidate for
Messenger to this body, the name of ray old
friend Jessie Odin, and move that lie he.
chosen by ucelatnriou. The* motion prevailed.
Mr Win H U >bcrts, of Baldwin, was elect
ed Doorkeeper by acclamation.
Mr. Jenkins—i offer the following resolu
tion :
Resolved, That the President appoint* com
mittee o*'l6, one frou| each judicial district,
to prepare and report business for this Conven
tion.
The reaoiutlon was adopted.
Mr. Floyd : I move that a committee cf
three bo appointed by th* President, to wait on
h a KvecHeucy, the Governor, and inform him
that the Convention is organised and readv to
receive any conunuuicatiau ho may deairo to
make.
The motion was carried.
Messrs. Floyd, Haosell and Chappell wore
appointed that committee.
Mr. Mollard : 1 move that a committee of
three be appointed by ihe chair to ra*ko ar
raugemetit* for opouiug the daily seseioo* *cf
the body with ppayer.
The motion was carried.
Mc'sra. Mallatsl Cabaui*B and 0010 were ap«
pointed that committee.
The conmPtee appointed to wait s>n his Kx
collency, reported that they had performed
that duty, aud that the G* vernor would snh
mit a <'ommunicaiion in writing immediately.
The Governor seni in the following
Message :
Gektlxmem or th* Corvkstion ;
The circumstance* under which you have
sembied, u.ake it proper in my judgment,
that you should have et before you a summary
of V e financial conditional the State, that you j
maybe better s prepared to give appropriate
direction* to Executive officers touching the
discharge of important duties necessary to be
wfoumd before the Legis'ature will assemble.
Upon entering on the duties of ray offic I as
certained from a source deemed re-iable, that
th - cotton which had Wn previously pur
chased by the S:a e cither been cantnred
or consiiraed by fire, and Natali of the assets
the StA’e held abroad, had been drawn against
to the full exient of their v du*.
The Western A Allan I c Railroad yielded us
to income, and the stock belonging to ihe
Slate iu BaiA* and other Railroad-* were en
tirely imavs M.V Oor charitable lnstitu
| Uono. ihe fi r the bi nd at the coy
of Via.Mii, \be l.imado Asylutu at this
j p*»ee, were without funds and are now corn
pefied to rwn to such oredit as thev may
I obtain to procure supplies necessary for the
‘ maintenance of their uutonunsic i -mates.—
The Banitentiary with ils rhopa and rusoiono
ry, ha* bet-n nearly destrv7y<d—to eucti en
extent, eg to render it wholly inadequate tj
accomplish the purpose defdgned—and nearly
all the convicts have either escaped or been
discharged.
It will Iw necessary therefore to make some j
provisions to carry into effect the judgement .
of the courts against certain criminals for of
fencGft committed in violation of existing laws,
or which may be committed, until new laws
shall be made prescribing new penalities and
other modes of inflicting punishment for crime.
During the progress of the war, the Western
A Atlantic Railroad wag alternately destroyed
and rebuilt by the contending armies, until
hy the operation of last spring it finally fell
into ihe possession of the military an’horities
of the United States. By them it was tempo
rarily repaired and put in running order, and
b** them retained until about the 25 th of last
month, when it was turned over to the State
upon certain terms and conditions p-oposed by
the United States. Most of the deposits on the
road, and tl e workshops on B, are to be re
paired or rebuilt; many cross ties to be fur
nighed and much of ihe iron to be relaid.—
The bridges over the streams were found to be
frail and liable to be swept off by the first
heavy freshets.
Such being the case, the superintendent and
director* did not hesitate, with my approval, to
enter into contract for the immediate con
struction of permanent and substantial bridwes.
They are fourteen in number, and by the terms
of the contracts are to be completed by the
15th of December next. The rolling stock on
the road I cing insufficient, the superintendent
and directors purchased of the United States
nine engine* and about one hundred cars.—
This outlay cannot be met by the proceeds of
the road, but will require, it is estimated, more
than a half million of dollars.
I have caused some repairs to be put upon
the State House and tho Executive Mansion.
These will require further appropriations to re
pleoinh and put them in proper order Having
no available apsets with which to pay the mile
age of the members of the convention or their
per diem, I borrowed, on tho frith of the State,
from citizens of Augusta, about the surfl of
fifty thousand dollars, to be used hy the con
vention for that purpose. Special contracts
have been made with the citizens lending the
money, to which contracts I invite your atten
tion and respecifully ask that they bo ap
proved, and jhat provision be made to meet
thorn promptly.
Since our last ehetion for members to the
Congress of the United States, anew apportion
merit of Representation has been made under
the Returns of 1860 ; and by that ap
porlionment the number alloted to the State of
Georgia is reduced to seven. It being desir
able that Represents lives should be elected at
as early a day as practicable, it will be proper
that the Convention shall by resolution or other
wise, divide the State into the requiste num
her of Districts and order that the election for
members to Congress be held ou the game day
aa that on which the Governor and members
of the General Assembly may be directed to be
bolden.
Tho changes which the war and its results
have made in our property, population and re
sources, suggest that some corresponding
changes or modifications bo made in ihe or
ganic law, fixing the basis and the mode'of
representation in each branch of the General
Assembly, To approximate perfect jus'ieo on
this subject, Is. under tho most favorable cir
cumstances. almost Impossible ; but with us, a'
present, it is still more difficult, because of tlie
want of accurate statistical information. For
the purpose of aiding you in performing the
delicate task, I have procured for tho use of the
Convention “Vol Population” of the census of
1860, and which will be furnished when de
aired.
Within tho past few years wo have made
several experiments on oar judicial system.-
These experiments, I think, have demonstrated
that the judges should he independent of the
Executive, and that sound policy and tho
wholesome administration of law, require that
the Governor be deprived of tho appointment
of all judicial functionaries. Tho administration
of justice will, under the now condition of so
clety, require that the organic law he so made,
ns to allow the legislature to*ealablish interior
tribunals in each county with jurisdiction over
certain classes of civil and criminal causes. Tho
sessions of such courts should bo frequent, so
os to dispatch business without delay, and
should be held subject to legislation from time
to time, as tbo public exigencies might require.
In this connection 1 cannot forbear earnestly
recommending to your deliberate consideration,
the propriety of ordaining that the So promo
Court shall hold its sessions at one place, and
that one place shall be the seat of Government
for the Slate The advantages resulting from
it will be many and great. It will better secure’
the convenience of suitors and approximate
more nearly in distributing justice to each
man’s door. It will add consequence to our
Capital, givo more dign ty tp the Court, and
more authority to their decisions.
The public debt of the State, as reported by
the Comptroller amounts toabout $20,813,525
Os this sum $2,667,750. were contracted prior
to the commencement of the war, the balance
about $lB 135,775 during its existence. On
tho amouut incurred previous to hostilities
thero is now due and unpaid, about tbe sum of
$234,000. The liabilities incurred before the
war is in every sense a debt, and the State is
bound by every consideration of good faith and
public morality ao to regaiu and tC
provision for the prompt and faithful discharge
of such liability. No reasonable doubt can be
entertained that suph will be her pleasure and
her action. But tho debt created during the
war, stauds on a very different basis. It i- of
no legal or gioral obligation because it w.is
created to aid iu tho prosecution of a war of
rebellion against tho United st©tes. The pur
pose sought to be accomplished wag unconsti
tutional and all who participated in anywise in
the effort to sever tho country, were violators
of law aud can therefore set up no claim either
legal or equitable for money advanced or for
services rendered. Furthermore these eon
tracts, from which a liability is said to result
wero made with Georgia in revolt—with Geor
gia as a member of the Confederate States.
Government, The Government to wh ch the
ihen belonged, has been overthrown, and with.
i:s oven brow all Confederate debts became ex
tinct Georgia as a component p »rt of it, no
longer exists and her debts then incurred, have
in liKc manner been extinguished. She is now
no longer in revolt. She ia one of the States
ol the Federal Union, and iu her return to recon
ciliation, her allegiance to the Government re
quire* that the act of secession he cancelled,
and all other acts done and performed iu aid of
the rebellion be declare*! void and of none es
feet* The ultimate redemption ot the currency,
both State and Confederate, was tn tde depen
dent in fact, ami in terms upon the result of
ihe fatal struggle. N*\one expected payment
if finally defeated in our efforts to secure inde
pendence, and therefore no plighted faith is
violated hy a rental on the part of Georgia to
assume to pay an indebtedness dependent on
the issue The currency and the cause flour
idled together while in life, and now that the
cause has no longer a being the currency that
sustained it may well be interred in the same !
grave.
To call a refusal on the nnrt of the Sia’e to !
acknowledge or pay those ex inct demands re
puliation, is but a perversion of the use of |
language, and presents an appeararce of an at
tempt to sustain and uphold a desperate cause '
by a resort to odious words and oprrohivua
epithet* Our burdens are already great and !
our strength greatly diminished. The assum
ption of such a debt will still add to cur w ak
ties* impair our credit. Increase our i
deter immigration,* prevent capital from seeking j
! au investment among us and will embarrass
( us in a variety of ways for ye i-s to come.
To transfer this great question to the Isegis-
I lature will be considered as a quasi endorse- j
; ment of its justice. The Legis’aiure will have
! its own peculiar burdens to bear, and will la*
I pressed with business bc)on*l that of any one
that has assembled in our day. h will be
i charged with framing and passing tax laws,
I police lawj. penal laws, Uara relating to eon
i tract*, and to all the in* n hold relates of life.
I Such subjects will be sufficient in c nsume the
| time and the talents of the most able and in
dustrious of and the public welfare will
| demand that, to those subjects. He members
of the legislature sh ill give their earnest, b< i
I anu undivided eff *rts. Lft not that body,
when iu session. t«e besieged, from day to day,
Iby claimants and their ag?a J s and attorneys,
urgiug tue assumption, in whole or in part.* of
its uncoDsdtutiooal demands. Let the hope
of reward in such efforts be entirely cut off ;
Jet this overflowing fountain of corruption be
now and forever dried up; and let the r cord
of your action on this eubp'Ct discourage, in
be-future, all premature efforts to overthrow
long and well establisned governments. In a
word, ordain solemnly aud deliberately, that
no Legislature now or hereafter, shall, direct
ly or indirectly, in whole or in part, assume
to pay, in aDj manner, these demands, uncon
stitutional in their cieation, and m-»ny of
them without even the countenance of equity
to support them.
The events of this year will constitute an
era in history Slavery has been abolished in
these States. Georgia, in Convention, is called
upon to put on record an acknowledgement of
the accomplished fact, to give assurance to
mankind that servitude shall not
be hereafter, in any form, or by virtue of any
device, exist witbiu her borders; toenjoin*on
succeeding legislatures that they shall guard
by law the community from the evils of sud
den emancipation ; shall secure these emerging
fr< m bondage, in the enjoyment of their legal
rights; and shall protect the humble, the
ign raut and the weak from wrong and ag
gr* ssion. Such are some of the unforeseen and
wonderful results of the war. In passing
through this revolution, our chastisements have
been severe, and our calamitiss have been
h*avy ; bat we should do well to remember,
that this great change is of Him, who does
all things wisely, and “according to the coun
sels of His will.”
J. Johnson, Prov. Gov. of Ga.
After the reading of the message, the Con
vention then adjourned until 9} o’clock to
morrow.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE FIRST DAY—CONCLUDED
Mr. Harris, of Worth : As this is an im
rtant document (Governor’s Message) I move
that 500 copies be printed for the use of the
Convention. Tho motion wafl carried.
Mr Barns ; I offer, Mr. President, the fol
lowing :
Resolved, That editors and reporters of tho
Press be admitted to seats on the flwjr of the
Convention.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Hansell: In view of the arduous labors
devolved upon the Messenger, and in accord
ance with the precedent established by the pre
ceding Convention of the State, I move that the
Messenger be authorized and directed to em
ploy an assistant. We have upwards of 300
members in this body, and it will be difficult, if
not impossible, for one man to wait on the
whole. I therefore make the motion.
Mr. Seward : I move that the Convention
adjourn till to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock.
The hours of and 7 o’clock were also pro
posed, and on putting the question tho Con
vention adjourned till to morrow morning at
9A o’clock.
SECOND DAY.
The Convention met at the hour of 9} a. ra.,
pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Crawford, President of
Mercer University.
The minutes of the preceding day were read
and approved.
Mr. Hansell : I beg leave to call np a reso
lution which I introduced on yesterday, and
which I hope will be acted on immediately,
notwithstanding its apparently insignificant
character, for it relates to the comfort of us
I all. The resolution was to authorise the
Messenger to employ an assistant:
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Keenan: I beg leave to present to the
Convention an ordinance to enable the Pro
visional Governor of the S'ate to borrow
money.
AN ORDINANCE.
To request and authorize t e Provisional Gov
ernor of Georgia to borrow, on the credit
of this State, a sufficient sum of money to
pay what may be due on the civil list, and
what may become due thereon, until, by the
•ollection of taxes, the State may dispense
with loans ; and to extend tTie power to .the
Governor to be elected by the people in a
cerUin contingency.
The people of Georgia by their Delegates in
Convention assembled, do hereby declare and
ordain, That th * Provisional of this
State he and is hen by respectfully requested
and authorized, upon the faith and credit of
the State of Georgia, to negotiate a loan o"r
loans of mooey, or United States currency,
sufficient in amount to pay whatever is due on
the civil list of the political year 186S, as abo
to pay whatever may become due on the civil
list of the political year 1866, inclusive of ap
propriations for tho support of the lunatic
Asylum, and other governmental purposes,
until the State of Georgia, by the collection of
tax-8 to he imposed hereafter by the Legisla
ture, and other resources of the State, shall be
enabled, without euibanassment, to dispense
with a resort to temporary loans—the money
so borrow *d to be depositpd iu the Treasury,
aid to he paid out by the Executive wartant
as is provided by existing 1 iws.
And he it further ordained by the authority
aforesaid, That, should the Provisional Gov
ernor, from any cause, fail to makea sufficient
loan or loans to effectuate the inten’ioH of
this ordinance, that the Governor to he eletted
by the people, os his successor to all the eif
ecutive powers of the State Government, be,
and is erapow red to make, from time
to time, sqch loan or loans for the service of
the state ot Georgians is herein contempla
ted.
Mr. Ken on . t gi ve notice that on Saturday
or Monday next, I will call ua this ordinance'
for final action.
The President announced the followiug aa
the committee of 16, appoi ted under tho
resolution of Mr. Jenkins ;
Middle Circuit .0 J Jenkins,
Biue Ridge “ . . David Irwin,
Brunswick 44 .J C Nichols,
Ohaltaehoochee“ AH Chappell,
Cherokee “ J F BJackson,
Cow.ta 44 RAT Ridley,
Flint 44 E G Cabiuess,
Macon 44 C B Cole,
Northern 44 Wm M Reese,
Omul gee 11 .AH Kenan,
Pataula ' 44 J h Wimberly,
Southern - 44 .. J L Seward,
South Western" Henry Morgan,
Tallapoosa 44 .W F Wright,
Eastern 44 T E Floyd,
Western 44 J T Sunrnon.
Mr. Jenkins : Being very de irous, as ff.r as |
it may be practicable, to expedite the business
of this Convention, and to assure an early ad
journment as the business of the body will
allow, I adc permission for leave of absence
this morning for the committee which lias just,
been announced. If that leave be granted, 1
'will take occasion to say if I am not mistaken,
I think it not impossible that if this Convention
will remain in session an hour or two, the
committee wiil be able to present matter for the*
consideration of the body.
Leave of absence was granted to the com
miuee.
Mr Hopkins offered the following resolution
Whereas, His Excellency, the Provisional
Governor, declared in his message that the
cotton which had been previously purchased by
the State has either been captured or consumed
by tire: and that all the assets the State held
abroad had been drawn against to the fall ex
lent of their value, be it therefore
Resolved, That His Excellency,, the Govern
or, be requested to inform the Convention
where, and at what time, the cotton was cap
tured or burned, tho number of biles lest, and
their probable value: also, the amount of
assets held abroad, to whose credit they wen*
held, by whom they were drawn, and what
disposition was made of them.
Mr. Dußose, of Hancock, came forward and
was sworn.
Mr Hansell of Cobb, offered a resolution I
to the effect that the rules of the Convention j
of 1861 be the rules of this Contention, and |
that 500 copies be primed for the use of the
Convention.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr . Hammond, of Fulton, offered the fol
lowing :
R.solved. That 390 copies of the annual re
port of the Comptroller General made to the
Governor on tfcje IC.h iust be printed for th •
use of this Convention.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Anderson, of Chatham—l offer the fob
lowing :
R■•solved, That a committee of five be ap- :
pointed by the exair. to memorable the Pres - !
ideit of the Tailed States in behaif of Jrffer- J
•oq Davis and A. H. Stephens, and of James I
A. Seddon, of Virginia, A. G. Magiath, es
South Carolina. Governor Allison and David
L. Yulee, of Florida, and H. W. Mercer, of
Georgia, now confined as prisoners in Fort
Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah river.
Mr Hill: I move that the resolution be in
definitely postponed. I think this Convention
4ias been called for a higher purpose than to
instruct the President of the United States in
relation to his duty. I have heard it sug
gested, since my arrival here, that the Con
vention would be called upon to nomiu&te
some citizen for Governor of the State. In my
opinion we have been called together for a
higher and nobler purpose than any of these.
The President of the United States under
stands his situation better than the Conven
tion can, and I submit we would be but em
barrassing him by the action proposed. He is
a man of iron will, and will do what he thinks
his duty, regardless of theopinion of this Con
vention. I hope the resolution wili not be
adopted.
Mr. Anderson: Mr. President, I simply pre
sented the resolution, as an set of mercy ; not
for the purpose of dictating to the President.—
We all ataud here, to-day, as pardoned, and
we are but asking the same clemency toothers
that has been extended to ourselves. Some of
the gentlemen, whose pardon is asked for by
this resolution, are citizens of this State, and*
we caDnot butfi el a deep iuterest in their wel
fare. General Mercer is at present confined in
Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah
river. Mr. Stephens has been released ouly on
his parole, and has not yet been pardoned. I
can see no reason why this body should not
interest itself in behalf of these distinguished
prisoners.
Mr. Hopkins : I do hope this resolution will
uot pass. The President of the Uuited States
already knows that every man who has a
Southern heart, feels for the prisoners, to whom
reference is made, in this resolution; and so far
from expediting their pardon, it will have a
tendency to retard it. The resolution will only
tend to embasrass him in his action. He is al
ready doing as much for the South as be has it
in his power to do. He knows the circumstan
ces of the case better than we can here, ad I
have no doubt, in due time, they will all be
liberated. I am as ready as member of
this Convention, in ray individual capacity, to
sign a petition for their pardon ; but I am ut
terly opposed to the Convention having any
thing to do in the matter Let us not embarrass
the President in his action. Let us not at
tempt to gain too much, lest we should injure
the parties we seek to benefit. Mr. Davis is
now held .as guilty of treason against the Gov
ernment. Let him be tried. If he is innocent
of the charge he will not wish to shun the
trial; and if he is guilty, he should not be
screened by this bodv.
Mr. Matthews, of Oglethorpe: Mr. President,
I respectfully urge upon this Convention, that
our object in sustaining a resolution of this
kind, is one of sympathy for the unfortunate
persons who are now incarcerated by the Gov
ernment of the United States, nothing more,
nothing less. The past, with all its calamities,
its griefs and its sacrifices, is not now the sub
ject of debate. It ean never be revived by the
first or second resolntion. It is gone forever.
The chief person whoso pardon is asked for, is
Jefferson Davis, late President of the Confeder
ate States. He is now no longer a representa
tive man. When tho Confederacy was strug
gling for life, Mr Davis represented Southern
independence. That Government hate passed
away, and he is, therefore, no longer its repre
sentative. No principle is therefore involved
in our asking for his pardon. We have all re
turned to our allegiance to the Constitution and
Government of the Uuited States. We have
taken the oath to support the Union thereunder,
and we intend, as true and loyal men, to abide
by that oath. I cannot, therefore, see how it
would embarrass the President for us to ask the
pardon of Mr. Davis. On the other hand, I
believe that our silence on the subjeot would be
liable to be misinterpretea into indifference as
to his fate. The Southern men have, during
th<» struggle of four years, illustrated Southern
valor upon many a hard fought field, and they
have illustrated Southern manhood in return
ing to their allegianoo when the cause was lost.
I see no impropriety whatever in adopting the
resolution.
Mr. Hill, of Morgan : Mr. President, I wish
to say tha fit is not my fault this debate has
assumed.so wide a range. I objected to the
resolution, because I thought it was not ex
pedient, at the present time, to call upon the
President, to do more for the South than he is
already doing ; and because, I thought it more
important to restore Georgia to her former con
nection at the earliest period. I did uot think
that it was tho province of this Convention to
memorialize the President upon this subject
1 think our first duty is to attend to the legiti
mate business for which we’ have been culled
together,
Mr. Gabon : ) regret that the resolution of
my colleague has met with the opposition which
has been manifested. it is true that tho peo
ple < f Georgia did not instruct the members of
the Convention to vote for this measure They
did uot instruct us on any subject connected
with our duties here. They have left this
question, as vyjdl as all others, to our own
discretion, but we all know very well what
their wish w-uld be on this subject. I be
lieve that almost every muu in the length and
breadth of this land approve of what Mr.
Johnson has nlreedy done, and desires siu
cerely that he would pardon the prisoner that
are meutioned in this resolution. Are we to
be told that the President ba3 a heart ofstope,
and would not listen to the language of our
petition ? Ur, that he would be embarrassed
by ogr action ? Would the judge who s i ls
upon the bench be embarrassed by *» ue p et j,
Mon ot the jury for mercy so c t ’ n ‘ e criminal
whom they have found guilt? On the con
trary, he would be ready, if it were possible,
in a<*Cordrtuce with b; j views of the extonua
ting circumstances connected with the guilt of
the prisoner, to grant the petition ; and so, in
my opinion, would it be with the President in
regard to the resolution which we propose to
pass.
The resolution was amended so a9 to includ*?
in the petition for pardon all the prisoners now
in confinement by the Goverument of the
UniUd State?, and passed.
PUBLIC PRINTER.
Mr. Reynolds ; I understand that arrange
ments has been made between the two presses
of this city, by which the profits derived from
the public printing of this body are to be
devided between them: and that the Messrs.
Orme. of the Southern Recorder, are to be the
candidates before this body. As there are no
other candidate for that office, I move the
Messrs. Orme be elected printers for this body.
The motion war agreed to.
REPEAL OF SECESSION ORDINAOR.
The committee of 16 reported, through its
Chairman, Mr Joukins, the following ordi
nance :
AN ORDINANCE
To repeal certain ordinances and resolutions
therein mentioned, heretofore paused by the
people of the Buue of Georgia in Convention
We, the people of the State of Georgia, in
Convention at our seat of Government, do de
clare and ordain, That an ordinance adopted
by the same people, in Coavfe• iiotr. on the 19th
day of January. A. D. 1861. entitled “An
ordinance to dissolve the Union between the
State of Geo'gia and other States united with
her under a compact of Government, entitled
the Constitudon of the United States of Amer
ica,” also an Ordinance adopted by the same,
on the 16th day of March, in the year last
aforesaid, entitled 4 An ordinance to adopt and
ratify the Constitution of the Confederate
States of America.’* aud also all ordiancea and
resolutions of the same, adopted between t*e
16th day of January and the 24th day of March
in the rear aforesaid, subversive of orantag
lonistic to, the civil and military authority of
the Government of the United States of Ameri
ca under the Constitution thereof, be, ajid ths
same are hereby, repealed.
The ordinance whs adopted.
REDISTRICTING THE STATS.
Mr. Jenkiua also offered the following :
AN ORDINANCE
To establish Congre«s:onal Districts, and to
provide lor certain elections :
The people of Georgia, in Convention as
serabled. do ordain. That conforming to the last
apportionment of members of the House of
Represents live* of the United States Congress,
there site 11 be in the Suite of Georgia seven
Oooeressioaal Districts, constituted as follows j
unt.l changed t*y act of the General Assembly,
viz;
The First DteTicr shall include the counties
of Chatham, Bryan. Liberty. Mclntosh, Wayne
Glynn. Cemden, Charlton, Ware, Pierce, Ad’-
ping, Tatnail, Bullock. Effingham, Scriyen"
Emanuel, Montgomery, Telfair. Coffee, Clinch’
ijeholß, Lowndes, Berrien, Irwin, Laureni
Johnson, Brook-, Cos quilt and Thomas.
The Second District shall include the coun
ties of Decatur, Early, Miller, Baker, Mitch
ell, Worth, Dooly, Wilcox, Pulaski, Houston.
Macon, Marion, Chattahooehe, Sumter, Web
ster, Stewart, Quitman, Clay, Calhoun, Ran
dolph, Terrell, and Doughterty.
The Third District shall include the counties
of Muscogee, Schley. Taylor, Talbot. Harris.
Troup, Merriwetber. Heard, Cowata, Fayette
Clayton, Carroll, Campbell, Harralson and
Paulding.
The Fourth District shall ioclude the counties
of Upson, Pike, Spaulding, Henry, Newton
Butts, Monroe, Crawford, Bibb, Twiggs Wil’-
kinson, Baldwin, Jones, Jasper and Putnam.
The Fifth District shall include the counties
of Washington, Jefferson, Burke, Richmond
Glasscock. Han eek, Warren, Columbia
coin, Wilk s, Talliaferro, Greene, Morgan
Oglethorpe and Elbert. ’
The Sixth District sh 11 include the counties
of Milton, Gwinnett, Walton, Clarke, Jackson
Madison, Hart, Franklin, Barks, Hall, For
syth Pickens, Dawson, Lnmpkin, White Ha
bersham, Rabun, Towns, Union, Fannin and
Gilmer. .
The Seveuth District shall include the coun
ties of DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Polk, Floyd
Bartow. Cherokee, Gordon, Cba' ooga
er, Whitfeld, Murray, Catoosa ad Dade.
Sec. 2. Thore shall tie held, on the 15th day
of November next, a general election in the
several counties and election districts of this
State for Governor, Senators (by senatorial dis
tricts) and Representatives (by counties) to the
General Assembly, in conformity to the con
stitution which this Convention may adopt, and
of members of the House of Representatives of
the United States Congress by districts as
herein before arranged, one member for each
district.
Sec. 3 The election herein ordered shall
be conducted, and returns thereof made, as is
now by the Code of Georgia provided.
Sec. 4th. Ami the Convention do further or
dain, That the election for Mayor and Aider
men of the city of Savannah shall be held oa
the Ist Wednesday in December, in the preseut
year, and that at such election all 'laws apper
taining thereto shall be in force, except the
law requiring the registry of voters.
Mr. Parrot moved that the ordinance ba
postponed for consideration till to-morrow.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Kenan moved to strike out the word
Isth of November, and insert the 22d Nov
ember.
The motion was lost by a vote of S2 to (86.
Mr. Hill, of Troup proposed to amend by
electing the Governor ou the first Wednesday
in December, and to elect members to the
Legislature at the same time, and to remain in
office until the first Wednesday in November,
1866.
The Convention then adjourned until 34,
p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION—SECOND DAY.
The Convention met at 3.1 o’clock, p. m.
Mr. Atkinson, of Camden, came forward and
was sworn
Mr. Doyle, of Spalding : I move to suspend
the rule, in order to take up the resolution in
regard to tta drawing of seats.
The motiOT was carried.
Mr. Riley, of Taylor. I offer the following
resolution :
Resolved, That the Secretary call the coun
ties iu alphabetical order, aud on the call of
each county the members thereof shall imme
diately select their seats.
Mr. Reynolds, of Newton : I move to amend
tho resolution by requiring the Secretary to*
put the names of counties in the hat and draw
for seats.
The amendment was adnp'ed, and the reso
lution as amended was agreed to.
The delegates then proceeded to draw their
seats.
Mr. Parrott, of Cass: I mwe to add the
names of J. J. Floyd, BT Karri., J P King, C
,11 Shockley, J D Matthews, J R Alexander, R
D Harvey and L TDoyle, to the committee of
16, appointed to report business.
The motion was lost.
The election ordinance was taken up.
Mr Hill, of Morgan : T offer an amendment
to limit the term of members of Legislature aud
Governor, to bo elected, to one year.
Mr Soward, of 1 homas : I move tho provious
question.
The motion was sustained.
The question was then put, upon tho adop
tion of the ordinance as reported, upon which
the yeas and nays were required to be recorded
and were—yeas 233, nays 35.'
The ordinance was passed.
Mr. Jenkins : I move that 1,500 copies of
the ordinanoo bo printed for public distribu
tion.
Mr. Kenan, of Baldwin : I more to amend
by inserting 5 000 copies instead of 1,500.
The amendment was lost, and the original
motion was adopted.
Mr. Chappell, of Muscogee : I offer the fol
lowing resolution :
Resolved, The.* the following be adopted as
a rule of this Convention, in li?u of the exist
ing rule c,n the subject : The yeas and nays
ot members of this Convention, on any
.oration, shall be entered on the journal at tho
desire of one-filth of the members present, and
uot a less number.
The resolution lies on the table, under tho
rules, until to morrow.
Mr. Hill of Morgan : I move that General
Tillson be invited to address the members of
the Convention, to-morrow evening, in this
Hall.
The motion was carried.
Mr. Wright, of Coweta : I offer a resolution
to invite the following named gentlemen to
seats on this floor: Gen. A. R. Wrinht, Gov.
J. E. Brown, H. Y. Miller; Robfc, Triope aud
B. H. Hill—carried.
Mr Greene: I offer a resolution to allow the
Secretary to employ an additional assistant—
carried.
The Convention then adjourned until to
morrow morning, at 9£ o’clock.
MORNING SESSION—THIRD DAY.
Milleugbyille, Oct. 27th, 1865.
The Convention met this morning at 9$
o’clock, and was opened wth praver by the
Rev. Wra Flynn, pastor of he Piesbyterian
church of this city.
Mr. Lewis, of Greene: I move to reconsider
so much of the journal of yesterday as referred
to authorizing the Secretary to appoint as
sistants.
Which motion was lost.
Mr. Hansell. of Cobb: I ask leave of absence
for Mr. Harris, of Worth.
The leave was granted.
Mr. Jenkin3 : I ask ha»e for the committee
of 16 to retire to prepare businets.
SPEECH OP MR. HILL.
Mr. Hill : Mr. President—l gave notice on
yeatorday that I would this morning move the
reconsideration of tho ordinance repealing tha
ordinance of the 19th of January, 1861, and
subsequent ordinances and resolutions. I
made this motion in no captions spirit, and
with no desire to make procrastean bed for
any min t*. be laid upon It was made with
no purpose of producing schism between those
who opposed the secession ordinance and
those who condemned it. Mv onject was to
give expression to ray individual sentiment
upon the su>j«»ct. lam notin the habit 9P
governing my conduct by considerations of
policy N It Is a habit which X think I shall ad
• ere to. On this occasion, at the solicitation
o many friends, who four years ago agreed
cordially with me in opinion, upon the Bnb
r<*t of secession, and for a varietv of. ftlaons,
tne best of which is the harmony of this body
and the danger of distracting its cooncijs I
have been iad ced to reconsider this motion.
Th- appeals of my friends, and the induce
moots they suggest, do not fail unheeded upon
me. I declare upon this floor that even after
the sorrows and disasters which have come
! U P°R this land, I have no personal bitterness
towards anv man In Heaven or on ear’h, who
has contributed to briDg about the secession
ot this State. There are to-day higher, no
bler considerations than the mere discussion of
this subj ct which w?igh upon my mind ; and
it is not my purpose, nor is it my feeling, to
limit my associations with men politically, by
the test of catholicity, in regard to opinion^