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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONALIST- LOCAL DEPARTMENT, Southern Press Association. Chronicle <fc Sentinel Office, 7 Avgusta, Ga , May 6th, 1868, ) The annual meeting of the Southern Press Association, which was postponed trom its regular day, the 20th of April, to the 6th inst., on account of the election in this State, was held at this office on this day. Upon motion of Mr. Stockton, of the Con stifutionalist, Mr. Lamar, of the Columbus Sun A Times, in the absence of the President, Mr. Clark, of Mobile, was called to the Chair, and Mr. Reese, of the Macon Journal Sj Mes senger, in the absence of the Secretary, Mr- Burr, of Macon, was requested to act as Sec retary. The Chairman announced the meeting ready for business ; and, first in order, Mr. Moore, of the Chronicle A Sentinel, moved that the Sec retary find out what papers were represented personally or by proxy. The following were found to be present: Columbus Sun <sr Times, and Columbus En quirer, by Mr. A. R. Lamar. Savannah News A Herald, by Major W. T. Thompson. The Montgomery .Idrertt'ser, by Mr. W. W. Screws. The Macon Journal A Messenger, and the Macon Telegraph, by Mr. A. W. Reese, of the Journal A Mewenyer. The Augusta Constitutionalist, by Mr. Stock ton and Mr. Randall. The Angusta Chronicle A SenftneZ, by Mr. Moore and Mr. Walsh. The Charleston News, by Mr. Walsh. The tri-weekly Madison Auditor, Mr. Shecut. A letter from Mr. Barr, Agent of the Asso ciated Press at Washington, was received and read, and ordered to be spread upon the min utes. In the absence of the Secretary, with the books and papers, it was resolved to adjourn till to-morrow morning, to await his arrival; and a committee, consisting of Mr. Stockton, of the Constitutionalist, Major Thompson, of the News A Herald, and Mr. Screws, of the Montgomery Advertiser, having been appoint ed to prepare business for the meeting at that time, a motion to adjourn was carried. A. R. LAMAR, President. A. W. Reese, Secretary. SECOND DAY. Constitutionalist Office, ) Augusta, Ga., May 7th, 1868. 5 The convention met at 11, a. m., at the office of the Constitutionalist. The proceedings of the first day’s meeting were read and approved. In addition to the papers represented on the first day, there were reported, this morning, the Savannah Republican, represented by Mr. J. E. Hayes; the Chattanooga Union and the Knoxville Press A Herald, by Mr. W. J. Ram age; the Atlanta Intelligencer, by Major John H. Steele and Judge J. I. Whitaker, and the Savannah Advertiser, by Mr. J. L. Ells. Pending the reception of the report of the Committee on Business, appointed on yester day, the letters of resignation of Mr. W. G. Clark, late of ‘the Mobile Register, as President of the Association, and of Mr. S. G. Burr, late of the Macon Journal A Messenger, as Secreta ry, were read and received. The Committee on Business then reported as follows: REPORT. The Business Committee respectfully report: Mr. Clarke, the President, and Mr. Burr, the Secretary of the Association, having severed their connection with the press the first busi ness in order is the election of officers for the ensuing year. The Committee have few suggestions to make which are not already well known to the mem bers of the Association. They would respectfully suggest to the President and Board of Directors that it is highly important to receive at as early an hour as possible the telegraphic news from Wash ington. To accomplish this, they think that the pro per agents should be instructed to send the various market reports together and separate from the miscellaneous and political news.— The markets close by 5 o’clock, and the various quotations and changes, if sent immediately, could be in type long before the hour at which they now leave their offices. We would recom mend that the Washington agent make arrange ments to file his Congressional and other news as soon as it can be done. The use of the period and capitals in the proper place is especially urged, as the labors of editors could be greatly abridged if the messages were pro perly transmitted and transcribed. Messages ifleftinthe hands of compositors are fre quently made ridiculous, which, in our judg ment, the Agent and the operators, with very little trouble to themselves, could in a measure prevent if not entirely avoid. . A proper space between each date is also re quested of the receiving operators, in order that the proper heading may be placed over each item of news, instead of as now running every thing together. Ifany arrangement is made in the way of head lines, the editor has to take the trouble to make copies, thus delaying compos itors and extending labor far into the night. A proper space on the manifold paper would give ample room for headings and interlineations. They, therefore, offer the following resolu tions : Resolved, Ist, That the President of this Asso ciation be requested to correspond with the Agent at Washington in relation to furnishing his telegraphic news at an earlier hour, and particularly in reference to severing commer cial and political matter. Resolved, 2d, That the use of the period and of capitals is urgently requested of all operators at transmitting and receiving offices. Resolved, 3d, That operators receiving dis patches be requested to allow between each date and place as much as one inch of space, to in sert headings, and that they write out the names of places from which dispatches are re ceived and the date of the same ; and that the hours of each New York market dispatch be designated. Resolved, 4th, That the thanks of the Southern Press Association are hereby extended to Mr. W. G. Clark, late President, for his faithful and efficient performance of duty, and that the Sec retary be instructed to furnish him a copy of this resolution. . Resolved, !>th, That the thanks of the Associa tion are likewise tendered to Mr. 8. B. Burr for his services as Secretary during the past year and that the Srcretary be instructed to furnish him a copy of this resolution Resolved, Gth, That this Association has con fidence in the ability of its Washington Agent Mr. M. W. Bair, and that his series during the past year are satisfactory. Resolved, 7th, That the maintenance of a sep arate and independent organization of the Southern Press Association is considered of vital importance, and that we proceed forthwith to the election of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, and Board of Directors, for the en suing year. Resolved, 3th, That this Association should receive the active support of every journal with in its territory, and to secure this end the Pres ident be requested to address all publishers on the subject. Resolved, 9th, That the President and Direc tors of the Southern Press Association are hereby instructed to apply for incorporation, under the Code of Georgia, to the proper au thority. Resolved, 19th, That the matter of telegraphic service being one of vital importance, involving details and negotiations, it is hereby referred to the Ptesident of the Association, who is re quested to proceed immediately to take the ne cessary steps for the continuance of existing arrangements, or if advisable, to make other arrangements to secure telegraphic news on the most advantageous terms for this Association, we pledging ourselves to abide by and ratify any system that he may adopt, with the appro val of the Board of Directors. Resolved, UM, That an annual assessment be levied upon each daily journal connected with this Association of 810 ; each tri-weekly, 87 ; each weekly, $5. J. L. Stockton, W. T. Thompson, W. W. Screws. Committee. An election for President, Secretary and Treasurer, and six Directors, was then held, under the sixth resolution, and resulted as fol lows : • President—A. R. Lamar, of the Columbus Sun h Times. Secretary and Treasurer— A. W. Reese, of the Macon Messenger. Directors — A. R. Wright, of the Augusta Chronicle A Sentinel; J. I. Whitaker, of the Atlanta Intelligencer; R. B. Rhett, Jr., of the Charleston Mercury; W. J. Ramage, of the Chattanooga Union and Knoxville Press A Herald; J. E. Hayes, of the Savannah Republi can, and W. W. Screws, of the Montgomery Advertiser. The report of the Committee on Business was then taken up as a whole, and on motion, was received and adopted. The Secretary and Treasurer was directed to have the proceedings of this meeting published, using his own discretion as to the form in which the publication shall be made, and the number of copies necessary, and that a copy be furnished each member of the Association. The following resolution, offered by Major J. H. Steele, of the Atlanta Intelligencer, was offered and adopted : That Article V of the Constitution shall be altered and amended by the insertion after the word “ President ” of the wqrds “ Vice-President,” and that Article VI shall be altered and amended by striking out the words “ the Directors shall elect a Chap man of that body who shall act as President until the next regular meeting of the Associa tion,” and substituting in lieu thereof, the words “ the Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the President.” The resolution was adopted, M jor Steele then offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the thanks of the members of. this Association who have visited this city on the occasion of this annual meeting are hereby’ tendered to their brethren of the Chronicle A Sentinel and Augusta Constitutionalist for very many acts of courtesy, and for the generous hospitality extended to them during their stay in it. Memory will ever recur to the reunion of the press connected with the Association in this beautiful city by the Savannah, at which but one sentiment prevailed, that of mutual re gard for and confidence in each other, and but one feeling predominant, that of their deter mination to stand by, as one man, the rights of the South in which they are domiciled, and by the just and natural claims of the race from whence they have sprung. With much heartiness, this resolution was unanimously adopted. Major Thompson, of the Savannah News A Herald, offered the following : Resolved, That the President of this Associa tion be requested to communicate with the pro prietors of the several journals included in its membership, with a view to ascertain the expe diency of establishing in Augusta, or at some other central place, a Paper Depot. That for this purpose, each paper be requested to report to the President the amount of its annual con sumption of paper, size of sheet, &e., and that the President, by inquiry, ascertain from paper manufacturers, the lowest rates and most favor able terms upon which a regular supply of paper will be furnished. Resolved, That the President be requested to take such other steps as may, in his judgment, promote the object contemplated, and report the same to the members of the Association at an early day. Mr. Screws, of the Montgomery Advertiser, then moved the adoption of the following : Resolved, ls,t That our thanks are hereby tendered to Mr. Craig, of the Bath Paper Mills ; Superintendent Hatch, of the Summerville Railroad ; and to the citizens of Augusta gen erally, and especially to the editors and propri etors of the Chronicle and Sentinel and Consti tutionalist, for the manner in which they have treated us during our stay. Resolved, 2d, That our thanks are due and are hereby tendered to the President and Secretary for the satisfactory manner in which they have discharged their duties. Upon motion, the Convention adjourned to meet at o’clock this evening. • BX, P- m., May 7, 1868. The Convention met pursuant to adjourn ment. It was then resolved to adjourn till the second Wednesday in February, and then to meet in the city of Mobile. A. R. LAMAR, President. A. W. Reese, Secretary. The Old Guard.—This staunch Democratic magazine for May contains the following arti cles : 1. “ The Nature of the Rump Revolution,” by the editor. 2. “ Astorre Manfredi ” (con tinued). 3. “ Bead Under the Roses ’’—chap ters XI and XII. 4. “Thine Eyes ” (p.oetry) ; “ The Ivy and the Oak ” (poetry); “ Epigram” (poetry); *• Those Eyes ” (poetry). 5. “ Types of Mankind ” (by Dr. Van Evrie); “ The Es quimaux.” 6. “ Sub Roga,” a maiden’s love story. 7. “Moral and Intellectual Characteris tics of Savage Races.” 8. “ Horrible Persecu tion in the South.” 9. “ Pendleton’s Plan.” 10. “Is the Democratic Party United?” 11. “ History of the Tenure-of-Offlce Bill.” 12. “ Our Book Table,” which is very well done, and the “ Editor’s Table,” which is pungent and piquant, as usual, complete one of the most readable numbers of The Old Guard that we have yet seen. Masonic Polytechnic College.—This in stitution, located in Bainbridge, Georgia, and under the patronage of the Masonic Fraternity of this State and Florida, is progressing toward completion and, we hope, will shortly be thrown open to hundreds of young men who should avail themselves of the peculiar advantages which such an establishment must offer. Rev. Dr. Hooker, who has been in our city for the past week, in attendance upon the meeting of the Grand Chapter, is traveling through the State seeking to interest our citizens, and Ma sons more particularly, In the success of this college. He will address our citizens on this subject some time during the present week, at Masonic Hal), of which due notice will be given. The Southern Cultivator.—The May num ber of the Cultivator is one of the best we have had under the new arrangement. We were much impressed with an article from the pen of Mr. Geo. W. Gift who is striking valiant blows for the resurrection of Southern indus try and its application to a new system of labor. The Maryland Farmer.—The Maryland Farmer for May is, as usual, richly freighted with intellectual stores for the benefit of the agricultural community. The Press Banquet. On Thursday afternoon, in accordance with previous arrangement, the members of the Southern Press Convention repaired to the Planters’ Hotel, where they were joined by a number of prominent citizens and- proceeded to the Banquet Hall. Henry Moore, Esq., presided over the festivi ties; on his right was seated Col. Jared I. Whitaker Editor of the Atlanta Intelligencer, and on his left Col. A. R. Lamar, of the Colum bus Sun. At the request of the presiding officer, Hon. and Rev. II- W. Hilliard offered up grace. In a few pleasant words Mr. Moore directed the attention of the guests to “ the subject be fore us.” When it is remembered that the steward ofthe Planters’ had prepared the fol lowing “ business for the meeting,” it will be readily conceived that the discussion thereof was a pleasant duty : BILL OF FARE. Thursday, May 7, 1868. Soup—Mock Turtle. Fish. Baked Shad, Madeira Sauce. Boiled. Leg of Mutton, Caper Sauce; Ham, Chicken, Egg Sauce; Bacon with Greens. Relishes. Gherkins, Lettuce, Radishes, French Mustard, Walnut Ketchup, Tomato Ketchup. Entrees. Boiled Shad Roe, a la Maitre d’Hotel ; Kidney Santa, Maderia Sauce; Boiled Maca roni, Cream Sauce ; Lamb Chops, Breaded, with Juiee; Calf Brain, Fried in Batter, Rice Cake Glazee with Rum. Roast. Beef, Chicken, Stuffed, Giblet Sauce; Pork, Apple Sauce ; Leg of Yea], Tomato Sauce; Mutton, Baked Ham, Port Port Wine Sauce ; Roust Beef. Vegetables. Baked and Mashed Irish Potatoes, Sweet Pota toes, Rice,-Beets, Green Peas, Spinach, Carrots, Turnips, Onions. Pastry. Farina Pudding, Peach Pies, Sweet Potato !»ies, Cocoanut Pies, Vanilla lee Cream, Strawberries, Cream Puffs. Desert. Oranges, Almonds, Raisins, Pecan Nuts, Crack ers, Cheese. Coffee. Having given the solids due consideration, the guests were called to order by ice President, who proceeded to read the REGULAR TOASTS: Ist. Our Country : No North, no South, no East, no West: The Country of Forefathers— distinct like the billows—one like the sea. Respondent— Hon. H. W. Hilliard. 2d. The Union : The prayer of every patriot: Esto perpetua: Not a Union of force, but a Union of Fraternity—May the Sword be turned into the Sickle and the Bayonet into the Plow share. May the winds of November bear South ward, and from the East and from the West, that the memory of Washington and of Adams still lives and breathes in the hearts of our countrymen. Respondent— John E. Hayes, Esq., Savannah Republican. 3d. The President of the United States : In the hour of misfortune be stands more no ble, more trulj’ great, than in the day of pros perity. Respondent— Judge Whitaker, of Atlanta. 4tb. Our State : Although her precious guarantees as a member of the Old Thirteen have been almost annulled, may her true sons treasure the relics, which, like the Svbilline leaves, are all the more precious for the'partial loss. Respondent— Major J. B. Cumming. sth. The Press : The oracle of the many sides of thought—the medium of communion among the civilized. Its mission is to instruct, im prove. enlighten and reform. Tyrants and evil doers may fear it, but the faithful and true are sustained, when its mission is honestly and honorably fulfilled. Respondent— Col. A. R. Lamar. 6th. The Judiciary: May the day be hastened when Justice, clad in her robes of State, shall reign supreme and bid the fife and drum be still; and the martial court be d«mb in the presence of civil law. Respondent— Hon. Geo. T. Barnes. 7th. The Medical Fraternity : Quacks in health; in illness ministers and friends; the priests of the body, as ministers of the Gospel are priests of the soul. Respondent—J. Ganahl, Esq. Bth. Commerce : When commerce fails the world stagnates. May Southern agriculture support and sustain her. Respondent— Wm. Stevenson, Esq. 9th. Manufactures : The guardian of agri culture and commerce. May the next decade inaugurate the South as a worker as well as a producer. Hitherto we have supplied raw meat to those who malign us; let us cook it at home. Respondent—lP. E. Jackson. The Telegraph : It transcends the dreams of fairy land. It has captured the lightning of Heaven and harnessed it to the car of thought. Respondent—J. A. Brenner. 11th. The Craft : The champions of the art preservative of all arts; the sturdy co workers with the members of the press. Respondent— L. P. Ashby. 12th. The South : Always true to the Con stitution of our Fathers. If destined to perish she will exclaim in the language ol the gladia tors— Dying, we salute thee. Respondent— A. W. Resse, of the Macon Journal Sj Messenger. 13th. The New York Associated Press : The great connecting link between the sections. May it be in future, as in the past, a Prime affair. May our interests be always identical. Respondent— P. Walsh. 14th. The Ladies : God bless them. The earth was blank. Creation was a wild, And man, the HerrrTt sighed, ’Till woman smiled. Respondent— Col. Thompson, of the Savannah News § Herald. The response to the sentiments were happily conceived and eloquently delivered, and we re gret our inability to report them all, but must content ourself with giving the substance of the very appropriate remarks of the newly elected President of the Southern Press con vention—Col. A. R. Lamar: Mr. President and Gentlemen : The history of the world is filled with monu ments commemorative of the services and triumphs of the great leformer just toasted by you. Every niche in the long corridors of time, running back to the day when the brave barons of old won at the dagger’s point the precious boon of personal liberty, free speech, and a free press, contains garlands twined in honor of the Press. While I feel that some gentleman more competent than myself should have been selected to respond in behalf of the profession to which many of us are attached, yet 1 should be the veriest craven that crawls amid the crowd of cowards who desecrate this fair land, if I should fail to say something in reply to a compliment so handsome and so just. I should be unworthy of the position your kindness and partiality have assigned me, if now I should fail to speak for the men who have spoken for us all, not in hours of peatie and security, but in the perilous moments when it took stern hearts and strong arms to stand and strike for the right. But how shall I speak of the glories, the hon ors and the triumphs of the Press? Where shall I find words to tell of its labors and services?. Shall I tell of its honors when before me sit Steele and Whitaker, veterans of the “old guard,” who have come from an hundred fields of intellectual combat “covered with wounds and with glory ?” Shall I refer to its record of wit and humor when Thompson fronts me, who has made the wit of the American Press familiar to the people of two continents ? Shall I gather the laurels it has culled in the gardens of poetry when I look upon Randall, whose grand and matchless war hytnns enthused thousands of hearts that now’lie cold and pulseless under the sod from Marvland to the Mexican border ? Shall I tell of its fearless honor and integri ty, when Hayes is here to show bow a man born on. Northern soil, reared with sentiments antagonistic lo those held by many of us, may conquer passion and prejudice, and in the face of threats, violence and persecution, rally to the standard of justice ? Sir, when under my eye sits Hilliard, who has honored the press and been honored by an association with it, when to the right and to the left of me on either side of this festive board are ranged gentlemen who have given assur ance to the world of the truth of the noble lines of one of the brightest lights of literature : “ Beneath the rule of men entirely great The pen is mightier than the sword.” When th? brave, the virtuous and honest peo ple of our country are filled with apprehension, lest the last palladium of liberty shall bestruck down by its natural and mortal foe—the sword— mj' heart swells under the impulses waichrush to its very core, and yet I cannot find language to do justice to the high calling which com manded the labors of my earliest manhood, and to which the most arduous intellectual labors of my life have been devoted. As the gentle Cordelia replied to the petulant Lear, I can only say, “ My love is richer than my tongue.” Mr. President, the swift falling shades of evening remind me that you have yet to hear from lips more eloquent than my own, but I cannot close without a word to those whose guests we are to-day, the true men of this beau tiful city of Augusta. Within bow-shot of where I now stand I was born. Near by are scenes hallowed by the happiest reminiscences of my boyhood. Though like others, I have turned my back upon my birthplace to seek fame and fortune among strangers, I remember with pride and pleasure that I have not stepped beyond the borders of this proud old Common wealth. I beg to assure you, gentlemen, that I have not forgotten Augusta in the days of her prosperity and happines®, and that in the hour of her disgrace, at the hands of ignorance and vice, ray heartstrings have reached out to share in a desolation that came without dishonor. In conclusion, permit me to offer you : The Beautiful Women and the Brave Men of Augusta : The first will see to it that the race of renegades dies out with the present generation; may the latter be found willing and able to assist them in the interesting and patriotic duty. From among the volunteer toasts weremem ber the following, not only on account of the sentiments themselves but for the eloquent re sponses which they called forth : By.Mr. Walsh— The man who through evil and good report has upheld and defended the true principles of constitutional government—Major Steele, of the Southern Press. This brought the Major out in one of his characteristic neat little speeches, which was loudly applauded. By Mr. Reese— The unity of the Southern Press upon the only safe line—Conservatism, as opposed to the Radicalism of-rule and ruin; Radical, as opposed to the Bourbon Conservatism, which neither learns nor forgets. Responded lo by J. R. Randall. By Gen. A. R. Wright— To the Memory of the Hero Dead: Those who fell on either side defending their conscientious views of right. Drank standing and in silence. By Mr. Ells— The Rightful Governor of Georgia— Exiled yet honored—Charles J. Jenkins. Major J. B. Cumming responded with an eloquence worthy the sentiment. The concluding sentiment was proposed by Judge Whitaker, who prefaced it with a pleas ant review of some memorable facts in the his tory of our city. The sentiment was : The City of Augusta : May the memories of her great men and past glories cause her not to despair of the future. The hour having arrived for the evening ses sion of the Press Convention, the party separa ted in the best of humor with all the world and the rest of mankind. ——• -*■>- The White Sulphur Springs.—This water ing place, which was re-open ed last season for the reception of invalids and other visitors, has during the past winter undergone thorough repairs. The proprietors have largely added to their accommodation, and are now prepared to entertain fifteen hundred guests. The White Sulphur Springs are situated on Howard’s Creek, in Greenbrier Co., W. Vir ginia, and upon the Western slope of the great Apalachian chain of mountains which separate the waters that flow into Chesapeake Bay from those that run into the Gulf of Mexico. The situation of the Spring is elevated, and beautifully picturesque, surrounded by moun tains on every side. Kates Mountain is in full view, and about two miles to the south ; to the west, and distant about two miles, are the Greenbrier Mountains, while the towering Alle ghany, in its magnificent proportions, is found five miles to the north and east. The Spring is surrounded by mountain scenery of great beauty, and blessed with a most delightful summer and fall climate. Independently of the benefit to be derived from the waters, a better situation for the resi dence of invalids and delicate persons, during the summer and fall months, can scarcely be imagined. They have here the advantage of a most salubrious and invigorating air, and the most agreeable temperature—cool at morning and evening, and at no*time oppressively warm. The thermometer ranges here, during the summer, between 55 deg. and 65 deg., and rarely attains a greater height than 80 deg. at any time of the day, while the atmosphere is so elastic and invigorating as to enable invalids to take exercise in the open air with out inconvenience or fatigue. Warm and hot bathing, especially in highly medicated waters, is a remedy of leading im portance, in a large number of the eases that resort to mineral waters for relief. The water used for bathing at the White Sul phur flows from the Sulphur Spring of which the visitors drink. When we look at the analysis of this water and find it to contain about one hundred and fifty grains of active medicinal salt to the gallon, we cannot fail to see that, so far as the medication of waters can favorably affect the bath for which they are used, that the White Sulphur baths have the strongest claim to confidence, inasmuch as no other waters in America that are used for bath ing, except the Washita Springs, in Arkansas, are so highly impregnated with mineral salts. Os Kansas hotels, General Sherman says: “ The price is three dollars a day—board and lodging extra.” [ the Baltimore Sun. Church and State—lreland and England. The adoption in the British House o.' Commons of the first of Mr. Gladstone’s resolutions on the Irish Church question, by a majority of sixty-five, was announced in our cable dispatches of Saturday. The remaining resolutions, it is stated, were to have been called up yesterday. The whole series is epitomized as follows: First. That in the opinion of the House the Irish Church should cease to exist as an establishment, due regard being had, how ever, for personal interests and the rights of property. Second. That no new personal rights should be created, and the commis sion on the Irish Church should limit its operations to matters of immediate neces sity pending the final action of Parliament upon the whole question. Third. That a petition should be presented to the Queen, praying that the church patronage of Ire land be placed at the disposal of Parlia ment. It was mentioned in the cable dispatches publishes yesterday that Disrieli tendered his resignation on Saturday, but that it was not accepted. Perhaps, if the Premier made such an offer, it was not without an idea that it would be declined. This second de feat, by five more majority than his first, may have inclined sie minister to resigna tion, though that is said to be one of the virtues he has never been given to. It is the custom when prime ministers accept the office to stipulate that; if beaten in the Commons, they should be empowered to appeal to the country in a general election. The present House of Commons was elected about two years and a half ago, under Whig auspices, which would seem to justify an appeal to the country if Mr. Disraeii chose to-take it. The defeat of the Govern ment party on this question is no matter of wonder, as it entered into office (in June, I 860,) with a majority against it. If Par liament should be dissolved, the great con test for power will have to be decided by the new House of Commons, which will be elected by the reform bill of 1867. It is probable that in a body elected by the en larged constituency provided by that bill, the majority for the disestablishment of the Irish Church will be even larger than at present. Whether such a measure will’pass the House of Lords is more than doubtful. The Irish establishment receives $700,000 a year from members of all religious per suasions in Ireland. It is true that the Presbyterian Church is in like manner es tablished in Scotland, but Presbyterianism, though not the religion of the majority of the landholders in Scotland, is the religion of the majority of the people, whilst in Ire land the Protestants constitute only about one-tenth of the whole population. It is not complained of by the Irish that they have to support a church, though no tithes had ever been paid in Ireland to the clergy when Henry 11. conquered that country. But though England compelled them after that period to support the clergy by ths English system of taxation, it was their own clergy that they supported, and no great complaint was made. The grievance is that England compels Ireland to support an English church. So manifest has the progress of liberal principles made this in justice to all men, that it is doubtful whether any serious opposition would be made in England to its removal, but that the disestablishment of the Irish church is looked upon by many Englishmen as preliminary to an assault upon the union of church and state in their own island. Such is evidently the convic tion of Mr. Disraeli, as expressed in a late letter to a clergyman in Buckinghamshire, in which he adds his belief that the disso lution of church and state in England would cause a greater revolution in that country than foreign conquest, and charges that a certain faction in the Church of England (supposed to be the Ritualists) does not con ceal its ambition to destroy that union. This would seem to confirm what has been before alleged, that some of the most intel ligent members of the Church of England, believing that it would be more prosperous if separated from the state, are willing to see the establishment at an end. Desirable as such a result might seem, it is more than doubtful whether the disestablishment of the Irish Church would have any percepti ble effect for a long time upon the union of church and state in England. However that may be, the question of the disestab lishment of the Irish Church is one of jus tice and of right, not of expediency, though justice and right are themselves the highest expediency. It is curious to observe that both Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli have changed places upon this question, the for mer having been in favor of the very church policy which he now opposes, while Mr. Disraeli, about twenty years ago, lamented that the Catholic majority of Ireland had to support the Protestant Church as well as their own. The Morale of Radical Representatives. The Radicals, says the Macon Telegraph, have elected a number of negroes to repre sent them in the Georgia Legislature, and, from all indications, repugnant as it may appear, they are likely to be the most re spectable and intelligent portion of their representation. From all we can learn— —we have no acquaintance with them per sonally—the negro delegate from this coun ty is, in all moral and intellectual points, a head and shoulders taller than either of his White colleagues. The following description of the white delegates from the good old county of Troup—represented in the past by such men as Hill, Ridley, Ferrell and Bingham— will afford a pretty just idea of the class of whom the Radicals have converted into representatives and elevated to posts of honor. It shows the moral status of the party: Representatives from Troup : By reference to the returns of the election it will be seen that Caldwell and McCormick are elected to the Legislature. The first is said to be a minister of the gospel ; but he has been repeatedly charged in this paper as being anything but a pious man. He formerly belonged to the M. E. Church, South, but since the war has joined the Northern Methodists, and has resided in LaGrange, preaching to the negroes and teaching them to “ read and write,” osten sibly, but, in fact, teaching them radicalism principally. We have published sworn testimony to the effect that he is not only a preacher, but a very lecherous man, guilty of repeated acts of adultery during his min isterial career. The other, a poor, crazy, half witted creature, J. T. McCormick, is guilty of having burned the house of one of our citi zens not quite two years ago, but owing to the mental condition of the miserable crea ture, and the fact that he had three small children dependent upon him—he having been divorced from his wife as charged by him (McCormick) with adultery—Mr. Burke did not prosecute him. A stranger seeiii" him would be astonished that even the negroes would vote for such a man—dirty and filthy in appearance, and, perhaps, lousy in fact. Heaven defend us ! Daring Attempt to Destroy Thomasville by Fire. On Thursday night last, near midnight, the alarm of fire aroused our citizens, who rushed forth to find the old stable building near the residence of Mr. T. J. Mcßain, at the east end of Broad street, completely enveloped in flames. Neptune Fire Company soon arrived upon the spot, and, with the valuable .aid of other citi zens, succeeded in confining the flames to the old stable, which was entirely consumed. Scarcely had they saved the dwelling house of Mr. Mcßain, when another alarm was given up town, and immediately the flames burst through the roof of a barn connected with the livery stables kept by Major Wm. Stegall, consuming the barn with a large quantity of corn, but again prevented from spreading by the vigilance and activity of the fire company, ably seconded by soldiers and citizens. An alarm was now sounded towards the centre of the chief busi ness block on Broad street, and fire was dis covered in rear of the old wood warehouse of Messrs. E. Remington & Son, but as this tire had only commenced to burn, it was extin guished without damage. Still another alarm was given about daylight, and the fire found to be an attempt to burn a stable on 'he premises of Mr. J. 8. Merrill, northwest from the Pres byterian Church. This was likewise extin guished before any damage resulted. During the excitement of the fires men tioned, strenuous efforts were being made by the Mayor, marshal, police and military under Lient. Johnson, commanding post, to overtake and arrest the incendiaries, and one was fired at by a soldier in making his escape from the scene of the burning of Mr. Stegall’s barn. Two others were hotly pursued from a stable in the rear of Messrs. Schiff & Brother’s store, which they were preparing to fire, and bold attempts to fire other portions of the town were pre vented by the timely arrival of police forces, rapidly distributed by Lieut. Johnson. None of the perpetrators, however, were ar rested during the night; but a numerous body of colored men, estimated at from one to three hundred persons, armed and very much ex cited, had assembled at the place of residence of Jacob Wade, a colored preacher, one of the managers of the election, which had just closed, and who held the charge of the ballot4>ox each night during the election. This assembly was in the immediate vicinity of the first fire near the residence of Mr. Mcßain, and though called upon by members of the fire company, in pass ing, they positively refused to aid in extin guishing the flames. Lieut. Johnson promptly dispersed with the soldiers under his command, and trans ferred the ballot-box, which they declared they assembled to defend e gainst the Ku-Klux-Klan, to safer hands. White men were among them at different times, and who are supposed to have counseled them in the course they pursued.— The object of this assembly, we are informed, was to repel a contemplated raid on Wade’s premises by “sixty cf the Ku-Klux-Klan, mounted on white horses,” with the view of capturing that eminent Divine and carrying off in triumph the precious four days’ deposit of “ free suffrages,” which that individual shielded under the strong arm of colored patriotism. [Enterprise, 27th ult. The “Conditions Precedent.” —The. fol lowing, says the Journal $ Messenger, arc the conditions found in the bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr Paine, ol Wis consin, (Rad.) to admit Arkansas to represen tation in Congress. We suppose the same test will be applied to all the “rebel ” States. We hope now to hear no more of the “ liberality ” of the Atlanta convention in the matter of dis franchisements. They knew very well that Congress would not endorse that part of their Constitution. It has served its purpose, how ever, with “relief,” and various other hum bugs, that helped to carry the constitution through: The bill introduced in the House to-day by Representative Paine, admitting Arkansas to representation in Congress, is similar to that reported in March last by Mr. Farnsworth. It declares that Arkansas, having formed and adopted a State government which is republi can in form, shall be entitled to representation when the Legislature of the State shall have duly ratified the fourteenth article proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the Uni ted States, and on the condition that the State constitution shall never be amended or chang ed so as to deprive any citizen or class of citi zens of the right to vote who are entitled to vote by the constitution herein recognized, nor so amended or changed as to allow any person to vote who is excluded trom office tv the third section of the fourteenth article of the amendment to the Constitution until the disa bilities proposed by the said section shall have been removed in the manner therein pro vided. ■—-» The Ship Island Mystery Explained.— From an article which appeared in the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin, of the 30th ultimo, headed as above, we extract the follow ing card, which gives flat contradiction to the article which we published on yesterday : A CARD. New Orleans, -April 28, 1868. Editors Bulletin: It is with feelings of deep regret—not unmixed with contempt—that I find in your paper of this morning an article under the title of “The Ship Island Mystery ” in which the family of Gen. Mower are made to figure in a most painful light. The whole story of the alleged outrage upon Gen. Mower’s daughter is false from beginning to end, and has no better foundation than the following- One night, after the family had retired, one of the men belonging to the command entered the room where three of the children were asleep, with the object, no doubt, of stealing some of the valuable trinkets belonging to the girls. One of the children, aged eight years was awakened by the noise and screamed out’ thus giving the alarm. The man was at once secured, and ordered to undergo some light punishment. At the time I left Ship Island it was reported that he had deserted. As a relative of Gen. Mower, I feel it a duty to give the above plain statement of facts which have been so shamefully exaggerated as to call for this reply to your article. I’. B. Perkins. Marriage of Gen. Hood.—We find the following pleasant announcement in the New Orleans Picayune of Friday : We have a pleasant surprise to give out readers. The gallant, brave and universally beloved Gen. Hood was married vesterday evening to Miss Anna Hennen, daughter of the late Duncan N. Hennen, Esq. The hero of this, as well as of a great many other, but very different engagements, was sur rounded by a number of his comrades in arms, among whom we noticed Gens. Buckner, Bragg, Hays, Wheeler, Maury and Scott. Also such friends of his In peace as Messrs. M. Musson, T. A. Adams, Pike, etc. General Hood may rest assured that from every Southern household will go up, upon reading this announcement, most hearty pray ers tor the continued happiness of himself and of her who has linked her destiny with his, and surrendered her name to one whose own is witten on the tablets of fame indelibly. Arrest of Citizens for Discharging Negroes.—lt was reported on the street yesterday afternoon that Col. Crofton, com manding this post, had received orders to ar rest ten or a dozen prominent citizens for the alledged offense of discharging Radical ne groes, and that they are to be taken to Atlanta to be tried by military commission. [Macon Journal % Messenger, st/i. Chicago thieves cover their canes with glue, and marching into drinking saloons plunder the till by reaching over the counter into the piles of currency while the attention of the bar-keeper is engaged in compounding bev erages. T. Tilton recently said that Michigan was “ sitting with her finger on her forehead, pon dering the question, ‘ Is the negro a man ?’ ” She now sits with her thumb on her nose, gyrating the aforesaid finger at T. Tin on. [ Boston. Post.