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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1870)
TUB WEEKLY OONS TC rUTIOH ALIB T WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEB. 1«, 18T0. II ab BaUi for ike Weekly lomtltettae alut. That every one may be enabled to sub scribe, and receive the benefits of a live Jour nal, we offer the following liberal terms to Cluos ; 1 Copy per year - * - * $8 00 3 Copies per year - - - 750 5 Copies i>er year - - * * 12 : 00 10 Copies per year - - - - 20 00 We trust that every subscriber to the paper will aid us in adding to our list. CROPS AHD CURRENT NEWS. Our subscribers and friends In the coun try will confer a favor on us and our nu merous readers by sending us items as to crop prospects and general news In their different sections. We trust that each subscriber will consider himself a special correspondent for the Constitu tionalist, and thereby add to tho Interest of the paper. WHAT OF THE NIGHT ? The extreme wing of the Radical party recognizes the necessity of perpetual aggres sion In order that Its designs may be con summated. Bo- fur, the success of ultra Radicalism has been almost unimpeded, and. since the forced and fraudulent passage Y>f the XVth Amendment, It would seem that the future had no obstacles worth the mention, and that the people have no spirit of revolt which can not be easily suppress ed. That the leaders of the dominant faction will continue to scheme against the Booth, even after Reconstruction shall have been declared complcto, there can Ik no doubt. Having trampled upon this sec tion, they will spare no effort to maintain their degrading power. The first of a series of new modes of torture Is plainly Indi cated by “Senator” Abbott’s resolution fbr the establishment of a “ National Po lice”—the gendarmerie of Republican des potism. Btatc organizations known as “ loyal militia” arc found to be inadequate. Radicalism can not be upheld by such mum meries. But as carpet-baggers, scalawags and kuaves lu general must have some props which promise to stand, iu place of local militia we are to have a “ Natioual Police." Mr. Abbott based his resolution upon the alleged prevalence of crime In the South. Even as the false-hearted adven turer presented his charge, the South was the most peaceable country on the fhco of the earth, aud the North, New York espc.clalbx Georgia, for example, and let New York and her shamble go scot free? At this very moment, the journals of New York, without distinction ns to politics, are blataut with cries for lynch law, and not a I\jw of them are lauding, under a different name, a projected Ku Klnxlsm of the most bitter character and such as the South has never known save In the imagination of the spies and liars especially sent here for the concoction of slanderous romance. Well, the carpet-baggers may organlzo their “ National Police" and arm them too; but, though such contrivances have a temporary good fortune, they shall be whelmed lu destruction at last. While the portent* of fresh calamity hml outrage blacken the political horizon, there are not wauling streaks of light amid the gloom, to hint of the dawning of a bettor and brighter day. Among the more cheer ing Indications, It has become a mattor of note that many journals, hitherto blind partisans of Butler aud Sumner, are be ginning to scourge the vindictive measures propagated by this precious couple and their colleagues. The tone of these papers has wonderfully changed. The Washing ton County 7b*f (Had.) thus Indicates what Is smouldering In the popular heart: “ Outside of the halls of Congress there “ Is not even a faction of the Republican “party that justifies Sumner’s course “ Even so decided a Radical as Greeley de “ nouuces It. llvorylanly Is sick of this “ eternal reconstrucllon. The whole coun “ try wants peace. The business of the “ country, ground down by the burden of “ taxation, the masses smarting under an “ unjust tariff, demand relief and will have “ It. The i»eoplc have waited patiently and " borne long with the uegro, but now they “ are considering their own rights, and it *• will go ill with the Republican party If “ the present session of Congress Is squan “ dered In fighting over again this dead " question. The old cry of ‘ loyalty ’ rouses “no emotion in the popular heart. We I “ have fought the last campaign on this “ rallyiug cry. Wc must have an adjust “ meat of this tarifl", a reduction of tax-, “ ation and relreuchmeut In public cx *' penses. The klud of reconstruction that “ is needed now is a reconstruction of the “ ultra members of the party.” In addition to this, wc learn that many of the Radicals In Congress are Inclined to junsc before making another step iu the precipltaiion of civil revolution. The negro lias everything bis most sangnlnc admirer can leinaud, except social equality, and Wendell Pniudura’ bounty of one-seveuth of the National wealth. When one or both of them- demands shall have bceu made the policy of Radicalism, <w a party, no prophet need com« from the grave to predict the inevitable result. The Extremist* know that it will be death for them to hall; the “ Conservatives " believe that It will be j damnation as well aa death for them to 1 k proceed one step fkrthcr. That lathedl-ji fleuhaa. TUauk Ood, they have reached R I at last. Now let them plunge on or hesi tate, If they dare. Throurh the negro on doubted ly all this vile Radical misrule has been built up, And so long as the Northern people are mad on the sub ject it may coutiuuc to blight and op press. But it is not in human nature that this frenzy shall last much longer even among the most stupid and fanatical; aud when reason begins to reassert itself, let Sambo beware and his manipulators also. Let the South be patient and true. Her woes may be multiplied and her hu miliations augmented; but she shall have her day of vengeance and compensation. Let the two factions of Radicalism tear themselves to pieces, as they certainly will In the end. Let us not debase ourselves by an alliance with cither. With extreme Rad icals wc cannot be monstrous enough to affiliate. Os cunning Conservative Repub licans we should beware. Both desire our ruin and both must be shunned as the lep rosy or plague. Os the two, we sincerely believe the latter clement to be the more dan gerous. Leaders of this faction openly pro claim, under the pretense of saving the Btatc, that they labor to keep their party from death and condemnation. Demo crats in Georgia may amuse themselves with the Idea that they are using Bryant & Cos., but the greater probability Is that Bbyant & Cos. arc using them In order to accomplish the salvation and reorganiza tion of a Republican party here which will be very hard tb annihilate. Wc despise Bullock, but we do not love Bryant. If we got rid of the party of throne, we would be saddled with the party of the other, just as wc exchanged PorE for Meade. Let them fight their battles among themselves. Let Democrats stand aloof from both. When the signal shall have been given to send Radicalism howling from Georgia, we trust that Bullock will not make bet ter time In his fllghtto Albion than Bryant In the stampede for Skowliegan. THE DIVISION OF PARTIES. The Richmond Enquirer , a true repre sentative of the true chivalry of the Old Dominion—a chivalry which Gen. Grant recently expressed a desire to see perish— Is battling nobly against the sordid desire of some Vlrglnlanatp keep aloof from the Democratic party even to the extent of forming anew political organization. The chief sources of repugnance to Democracy on the part of many persons Is that (1), as Whigs, they can never march side by side with Democrats, aud, (2) that, during the late unpleasantness, Democrats waged bit ter war against the South. The Enquirer, with the anxiety of a truth-seeker and not with the gall of a valorous to brush away these objections. It takes It for granted that Southern Whigs of the oldcu time, cordially detest Radicalism aud desire above all things to sec it annihilated and the majesty of the States restores!. — man y of tlll*SU monstratc, at the same time, a wonderful sensitiveness about aligning themsolves with Democracy, on the curious pica that Democrats were once their focmcn lu days of peace and their relentless enemies in days of battle. To the patriot this first objec tion should not rcmalu for au Instant, since the divisions of Whig and Democrat, In past times, have no sort of comparison with the altercations, In this epoch, between Democrats aud Radicals. Beside, Whig- gory is (lead, lu splto of fate, and Democra cy, howcVor battered by storms and treachery, still survives a mighty engine for weal or woe. Now, let It Ik granted, once ft>r all, that War Democracy was a vile thing. Over and over again In these col umns we have denounced the blunder But let It also be remembered that thous ands who marehod against us under the spell of a delusion are now sorely aware of their error and willing to expiate their crime. Ou this point, wc quote from the Enquirer: ” We are by no means the mast ardent ad mirers the Northern Democracy have; but this we say, and challenge refutation : this we say, that during the whole tear, the North ern Democratt si/mpithited, to a great extent, with the South) rn people; and that, if tftf.y HAD HAD THE POWER, THEY WOULD H AVE STOPPED THE WAR ON HONORABLE TERMS in 1881, InlSfM, In 1888, or in 18tH. We say that they fought us reluctantly; and because the pressure at home was so great they conld not help It. Just as many Union men were at the South forced Into secession as the Democrats at the North were forced Into the war. Why did they not help us? It Is asked. They conld uot help ns, without running the risk of being hung by their neighbors. They could not organize to help ns,because the armies and the Government were In the hands of the war party. We have hoard Democrats at the South complain with bitterness of the Northern Democracy In this matter; but we have stated the ease fairly.” | It is shown, too, that, since the war, I these Democrats of the North have fried to | help us, not wisely at all times, perhaps, j but wo must coucedc honesty of motive. | It Is a thousaud pities that they have beeu i hacked and brow-beaten, and ten thousand ' more pities that uo great leader has risen among them to grapple with the monster of Radicalism, as the legend reports St. George to have combated the Dragon. Hut the fact still remains that they are the only real friends the South has; and, while we should not slavishly depend upon them for rescue, we may rely upon it that the country will never be brought back to true | principles without their active co-opera tion. Pretty soon, all sorts of baits will ' | be thrown out to catch the unwary and | dissatisfied among the Southern people. Already Indeed, we hear of new parties 1 almut to be formed Suppose, as the Rn- V uirer states It, “ a genuine middle move-' “ meat should be formed, what would be " the result, except that the Democratic ' “ ranks being broken In twain, the Repub “ Means would walk over the course P* Here I* tHe great danger In Georgia of coquettln/,. with what are called Couaervt live lh pi oilcans. It will not be long, lu ! case the Democrats countenance Ummu, that anew movement will take (dace, uuder the most cunning disguises on one side, and a first-class delusion on the other. Pene trated with this apprehension, we join with oar Richmond contemporary in denoonc lng this project beforehand, and call upon Democrats everywhere, to keep their or ganization Intact, and beware of forming base alliances with either the extreme Radicals, the cunning Conservative Re publicans, or the new party faction. With extreme Radicalism no decent man can go; with Conservative Republicanism no wise person should affiliate. At the same time beware of your restless middle man. He Is on the fence with a vengeance, and only wants half a chance to beat a Republican drum iu a Republican torch light proces sion. GO IT, MAWWORM ! Mr. John W. Forney praises the message of “ Governor” Bullock and is ecstatic over the new born Georgia as Dr. Terry has brought her forth. He indulges the hope that the “ Empire State” will be restored at an early day to the vassalage of the Im perial Government. He thinks the Geor gia bantling would not look half so pretty had not man-mid-wife Terry and nurse Bullock presided over the earliest throes of the little darling. Now that the devil’s work is nearly done, as he pretends, wc get this frank avowal: « Backed by the whole Republican party In Congress and President Graut, they have so consummated their work that he must he a disaffected and daring man Indeed who will attempt to array himself against the thunders of the law and the irresistible ’strength or the Government.” Did It ever licforc take such a mountain of power to bring forth so pitiable a mouse. Even Gen. Ames, the Dugald Dalgctty of black Mississippi, acknowledges that five years will be the utmost stretch of Radical power In that State. How long, therefore, does Forney expect the sham to last in Georgia? He deftly insinuates that, with the restoration of Texas, “ the people of every Southern State will be left to work out their own salvation unrestrained by any Interference from Congress.” But he adds, immediately upon the heels of this assurance—•“ except what may be ne “ eeeeitated by atienqds to obstruct the enjoy 'merit of the civil and political right* of the “ citizen." There! Don’t you see the bayonets of the “ National Police ” in every word of those italics? Aud don’t you see how the senrvy fellow grinned as he emphasized his gloomy sentence? Well, go ahead, Mr. Forney. Lamp posts arc not. out of date, and smarter men tlihn you are have been grievously reminded of failure, when dang ling between heaven aud earth In sorry caricature of the fabled coffin of Mo hammed. Hurly-Burly.—The Radicals are in a JWHYW 4 < sfiTOY&§ r lVltll , hl? "party, and his partisans are denouncing him. Iu Wash ington, Bowen and Howard are waging bloody *war; aud the sable patriots of “Lincoln Hall” hurl their thunderbolts at their sable brethren of “Loyal League Hall," who return the missiles with in terest. In Florida, the carpet-bag “ Gov ernor ” has just escaped impeachment by the skin of Ids teeth. In Louisiana, the carpet-bag Executive denounces the mon grel Legislature as thieves and Imbeciles, aud he, In tarn, Is accused of the grossest malpractice. In South Carolina, the steal ing goes on by the wholesale, but the “ Governor” has cut the Riggers at his pri vate entertainments, and the niggers have cut the “ Governor.” Iu Connecticut, a leading Radical Congressman Is publicly charged with bribery and corruption. In Georgia, “Gov.” Bullock and his syco phants are accused of robbery, and Angikr aud Bryant are the recipients of cart-loads of Executive mud. In Congress, Mr. Dawks has “ made Rome howl ” by accus ing the party of “ all the morals” of crimes against every law In the calendar. It Is true that these snarling critics some times make common headway against tho poor South; but they will very soon rend one another, if some good-natured fools do not play the inopportune part of peace makers. A Model Conservative. Senator Trumrull is the model Conservative Re publican, so-called. He opposed the Vir ginia Bill tooth and toe-nail, lie denounced It. as “unjust and perfidious.” He called Sumner “ cuss names” for advocating it. Yet when the final vote came on, he turned his back upon honor, conscience aud self respect hy voting for the odious Drake amendment. Nay more, he, soon after ward, developed his hypocrisy and malice by reporting a bill calculated to rivet the manacles of the XVth Amendment, forcing uegro equality before and behind the law. In view of such a record, well may the Missouri Republican lash him as a plausible villain who “ violates the promptings of “ his own reason, by humbly obeying the “ dictates of a faction who disown hint for “ his fickleness and despise him for his “ cowardice.” True Doctrine.—ln a recent speech at j Philadelphia, the Hon. Richard Yaux | urged the Democracy to stand hy State Rights, State Sovereignty, as the States were when they made the Constitution. This Is the gr*at battle now to be fought, State Rights, against the usurpations and monarchical tendencies of the Radical party lu Congress. Ifthis Is to be given up; if the Democratic party is to leave this principle, and to go oat to seek issues which the Radical loyalists am making hy violating the Constitution ; and If Democrats are to accept these heresies, then, the mlkslon of j Jeffersonian Democracy Is ended. Let os dishsud as a party, .disband at once! Never let us »ee Its essential principles sur rendered ; let the party die before it be so ' dishonored. | Warn Slavs* —Mias Jennie Collins explains why the groans of 50,000 New England factory girls go unheard and un heeded, thus : “{a consequence of the best men and women being engaged in the slavery ques tion the groans from the factories were not heard- Probably they would not be heard to-day were it uot for the fact that, before the war. workingwomen in the city of Boston coaid get board for $- --J per week. Now they are coin lulled to pay *o, and oftentimes more. As the corporations have boarding houses for their operatives, poverty has driven large numbers of them back to those living tombs.” Sorry for von, girls. Bot get married. If I von can, and bring forth men who love negroes less and white people more. A Good Example.— Speaking of the bishops at the Ecumenical Council, the Catholic Mirror says: ‘•The fathers discuss the questions “brought before them to elucidate pro « blems by sound aud calm argument, and “there is not among the seven hundred “ and odd members of the Conned a man “foolish enough to get up and make an ex “ tempore exhibition of his vanity by speak “ ing for mere buncombe.” The enemies of the Council may find fault with many things, but would not every lover of truth be delighted to have this paragraph written of the American Con gress—that perfidious and buncombe den of thieves ? Wc mcau “ loyalists." Our Satraps.— A distinguished Major General of the United States Army told the editor of the Columbus Sun that the satraps commanding In the South were purposely selected because of their hatred of our people. Wc did not have any Major General to give us similar information, but wc have ever regarded them as natural tyrants and willing tools, upon whom “solt soap” would be worse than wasted. The Mormons. —A Mr. Cullum ha 9 in troduced a bill In Cougress to suppress the Mormons. They arc to be treated as outlaws. Every one practicing polygamy, will be fined fI,OOO, and imprisoned in the peniten tiary not exceeding five years. The United States army inay be called upon to enforce this law. Whcu Cullum gets through with the Mormons, let him invade Massachusetts and cxtrlpate free love and foeticide. Transmogrified.—A few weeks ago, the Rome Courier accused us of poking fun at the Georgia Legislature, being “ cynical ” in that quarter, etc., etc. In the last issue of our esteemed contemporary wc find that this august body is characterized as the •* Speckled Legislature." Fie ! fie ! brother Courier, this looks “ cynical.” You should call up the “ Coldstream Guards ” to make another cavalry charge at Balaklava. Going, Going, Gone !—The New York »r IJ tK,t nuilptxMm nt. West Point and Annapolis have been advertised for sale by certain virtuous Congressmen. Pooh! Pooh! The Presidency will Ik put up at auction, one ol these days, if the times do not change, and some shoulder strapped functionary, like Terry or Ames, will edge In a bid on the point of discretion ary bayonets. Bothered.— Considering the squabbles of the loyal in every Southern vassalage, the Radical leaders confess that “ Recon struction is not a perfect work.” Profanely iudignaot persons think it is perfect— “ perfect hell.” Candid.—The Edgefield Advertiser does not like Wright, the new negro Justice of the Supreme Court, but freely acknowl edges that he is far the most honest and decent man sitting on that mongrel Bench. An Occupation Gone.—Tlie Odourless Rubber Company at Middletown has de cided to discontinue business, in view of the probable adoptiou of the Fifteenth Amendment. A Fiction.—We hate to spoil a capital joke, but It Is dually stated that Revel, the colored Scuator, lias no wife at Wash ington, and hence Sumner and Tipton did not get introduced in Hie gallery. Queer. — The Atlanta New Era sums up the complexion of the Georgia Press as K. K., Democrat, and BRYANT-Deinocrat.— To the Macon Telegraph and Messenger it gives no designation at all. How is this ? A John Bull Journal.—Nearly all of the editors of the New York Times are Eng lishmen. Pen Pictures of Legislators.— The Rome Courier has an editorial correspond ence, in which the portraits of some of the members of the Agency are drawn. Os the Richmond delegation the following embel iishtneut appears, which seems to have the merit of correctness at least in respect to speaking of Bryant as having “ a good eye.” With the other, he squints continually. Bryaut is a slender, lithe and handsome man—has a prominent forehead, neatly trimmed whiskers, a good eye. He is a very watchful man, indefatigable in his la bor, aud j et is always ready to catch at the least chauce of putting iu his protest. Bold, fearless and sharp, he has won the undying hatred of the Radical faction, and deserves the gratitude of all Democrats. The most despicable (that’s the word!) creature iu the whole concern, is Tom Tit Tweedy. The poor little fellow is so start lingly insign'fleaut, ami so supremely inane that we should laughingly pity his refresh ing minuteness, were it not for the active malignity with which the dem’d little thing seeks for commands from his masters. The first impression upon seeing the tre mendous emptiness of expression that char seterizes his face wouhl be to laugh st the cheerful little idiot that hops md chirps about lu such frisky inanity. Rut 'when we find that hi* activity Is not due to any vital spark that may have dropped Into bis brain-pan, but rather to Foster Blodgett, then we thank Providence that the English language contains the word detpiee. [ Froa tie Sew York D»y BojST Shall the Democrats Leave Congress m a Body? A telegram says that the Democratic members of some of the Congressional Com mittees have had a caucus to discuss the policy of resigning their membership on such committees, on the ground that they are not only deprived of being of the least service to the country by the unfairness of the majority, but that they are subjected to constant insults. Now, the whole coun try knows this charge to be entirely tree ; and It has for a long time astonished us that any Democrat who sufficiently respects himself should consent to be the foot-stool of such a set of superhuman scoundrels. — Their presence on sach committees gives an odor of official importance to the ma jority reports, which they would not other wise possess. Better that they should go forth to the country naked as the secret schemings of the Mongrel conspirators in Congress. And all that can be said of the wisdom of Democrats, refusing to acton snch committees can be uttered with vastly greater force in favor cf the retirement of every Democratic member from the House of Congress. In the first place, they are not of the slightest use there. The internal majority arc not mitigated nor softened in the slightest degree by anything the Demo cratic members can say or do. Indeed, the Mongrel majority are rather kept together, and consolidated in their criminal course, by the opposition which the Democrats try to make to them. Thieves are always kept from falling ont with each other by the presence of honest men. The Mongrel mem bers are such a set of rascals that they would very soon get to pulling each other’s hair, and unmasking each others villaiuy, if left entirely to themselves, without the presence of a political op ponent If the Democrat# should resign in a body and go home, the action of Congress would be stripped of every show of legality. Let them publish a calm address to the people, setting forth the fact that they are so stripped of all the rights of minorities that they can not be of the slightest service to the country in such a bodv, and that It must be apparent that it is best to throw the whole responsibility upon the shoulders of the conspirators. While this patriotic act on the part of the Democratic members would startle and arouse all the thoughtful masses of the people to a realizing sense of the enormity of the crimes of Cqngress, It would leave that pesileut body to the speedy fate of the “Kilkenny cats.” Instead of watching the Democrats, they would fall to devour ing each other with a ferocity which be longs to such unprincipled scoundrels. How can a Democrat who has been nsea to the society of gentlemen, and who possess es an ordinary amount of self-respect, sit in such a body ? The foul Mongrel papers all over the country are in the habit of de scribing the general stampede of the Mon grel members whenever a Democrat at tempts to speak—or, if they do not leave the hall, they only remain to langh, and sueer, and spit their venom. No Democrat can speak In this Congress without being lusulted by the ferocious majority, now can a gentleman who respects himself remain in such a body ? If the good of his country demanded the sacrifice, he would, we grant, be compelled to endure the humiliation ; but, as we have shown, it docs not. On the other hand, it would be best for the country to leave the whole responsibility with the godless party which assumes it. Fliug the question to the people, aud it will be the last of snch a party for a thousand years to come. Perhaps ft wm uc pH thnt. thp nuoiiiiDii wns flU ll to tI)C people at tne last Presidential election. But this is not true. No question was flung naked to the people, except the one of the spoils of office. Democrats fought a weak and foolish defensive battle. That was a sight to make the gods weep and devils rejoice to sec honest men fighting a poor, defeusive battle against thieves and knaves of every description. The same thing is going on everyday in Congress. With hands and feet tied, and their months gagged, the Democratic members sit there a helpless target for the blazing majority—and that, too, a majority procured and kept up by the most impudent and shameless frauds the world ever saw. If this insnltcd and spit-npou minority would go out of such a body, and then submit the question of their re-election to the people of their districts, every one of them would be re-elected, and the discussion of the canvass Would bring, for the first time, the enormity of Con gressional despotism squarely before the fiiee and eyes of the people. We are folly impressed with the ultimate good which would be accomplished by the Democratic members leaving the fraudulent, one-sujed, aud illegal pest-hole in a body. But it they will remain, for God’s sake let them show the pluck and indignation becoming men of honor. Let them uso words like sledge hammers to break in. pieces the hor rid images of Mongrel legislation. Let them fling back scorn for insult, contempt for threats, aud words of wrath which shall flay the backs of the sneering scouudrels, until, taught some good manners from terror, they shall be compelled to respect | the presence of an honest minority. t From the Fait MaH Gazette. Government by Negroes. A NEW VIEW OF RADICAL TACTICS—MAKING UT FOR ABSTINENCE FROM BLOODSHED. * * * Except in the case of the United States, there has been great uniformity in the history of the suppression of rebellion m modern times. First, there has been severe aud often sanguinary punishment inflicted on the chiefs of the revolt; then has succeeded a period duriug which the successful empire has enforced strict obe- I dience to itself from its subjugated depen dency ; aud dually has come "a strong de sire. growing sometimes out of policy, sometimes out of a sense of justice, and sometimes out of mere emotion, to win its affections, or, at all events, its voluntary acquiesceue in accomplished facts. Eng land is just at present feeling an almost passionate wish to tie reconciled to Ireland, and to be beloved by the natives of India; Austiia has done her best to come to terras with Hungary, and there are signs that the sufferings of Poland are beginning to cause discomfort and compunction even in Rus sia. The United States seem destined to an experience of a different kind. On the | morrow of the conquest their treatment of the Southern leaders was marked by a gen tleness which will always be remembered to their honor. But in the next stage of their relations with the South the necessity for combining despotic rule with something like the forms oflocal self-government forced them to adopt a policy which has more than made up for their abstinence from bloodshed. Nobody whose intelligence has ' not been impaired by the habit of repeat ing formulas about universal suffrage can 1 doubt that the punishment inflicted on! the Southern whites Is far the severest which one community has ever inflicted on another. England governed Ireland through a minority which the maaa of the Celtic population, however It might hate, never, dteamed of despising; the United States I rule the Sou'h through a majority of nr-; gross, contempt for whom was almost a raltftoa with the planter before the attempt I at secession. We are not considering whether the punishment was deserved, or whether the Northern States could possi bly help Inflicting it; we merely say that, after the capacity of the negro for improve ment has been rated as highly as possible, and after all possible dednetions have been made from the credibility of the stories published by the Democratic the fact remains that government of white men by colored ex-slaves is the acotcst form of moral torture which has ever been applied to a community. How unfortunate it has been that the punishment of the South has taken this shape the United States are not likely to feel uu(il. the time comes (and it will certainly come) wh-n the people of the North will be animated with the strongest wish to be reconciled to even the most obstinate zealots oT secession. We should be sorry to lay down that the United States would have done well to shed blood like water in the first moments of triumph if only they could have devised some less degrading contrivance for the provisional government of the South. Yet it is quite certain that bloodshed is easily forgotten; personal outrages with the greatest difficulty. The Hungarian nobles appear to have forgiven the Emperor Fran cis Joseph for his wholesale executions of tlieir'brethren; bat nobody can fail to see that the “ irreconcilability” of some of the most emminent of French politicians is greatly dne to recollections of the personal dishonor to which they were subjected on the memorable morning of the coup d'etat. At the present moment we are well aware that nothing seems less important to the great majority of the Northern people than that the experiment which they are trying in the South causes excessive discomfort to a parcel of conquered rebels; but they will probably hereafter view this experi ment with other eyes when there comes the inevitable waking to sympathy and pity, and when, much about the same time, it appears that the negroes, who are the in struments of punishment, have become not only a Southern, but a Northern power, weighing heavily in the scale whenever a national decision has to be taken. The Destructives in a 'Ferment. THEIR CONTEMPLATED PLAN OF ACTION. The Atlanta correspondent of the Savan nah Republican writes: Angler’s news from Washington was a terrible blow to-the Bullock party. As he tells It, Grant and both the Shermans, Senators Edmunds, Trumbull, Carpenter and others assured him that under their construction of the reconstruction act all was accomplished when the negroes were reseated, and the Ineligible Democrats dis placed—that the substitute doctrine was uot in the bill—that all the afits done, or elections had, or officers appointed and con firmed, before the blacks were unseated, would be held good., and that upon a com pliance with the law and the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment, Messrs. Hill and Miller would be admitted to their- seats in the Senate. When this news got abroad, the swearing was “ tremendous,” and Grant and Sherman and the Senators named were charged with falsehood, double dealing and almost all other crimes by the extreme Radicals. The gang of carpet-baggers were espe cially “ flustrated,” and Prince and Clift put out yesterday for Washington to recti fy things and reinstate the falling fortunes of Skowhegau. It is thought that a heavy and desperate fight will- come off between Prince and dirt, ana inorrm other carpet-baggers who are in Washington, and the men who desire to act with some show of principle and justice towards the down-troddeu and persecuted people of Georgia. I am in formed, from reliable Republican sources, that Bullock and the carpet-baggers are in bad odor at the capital, and' there is a very general disposition to give them the cold shoulder. My informant says that Gen. Grant is becoming restive, aud has frequently expressed the wish that Georgia should be brought back without delay.— The next ten days will tell the whole story, and I look with some hope for good re sults. In this busy, sensational town one hears all sorts of news. I give you some of the plans proposed for action when the Legisla ture convenes: * Ist. It is proposed to pass a law requir ing a test oath from all persons holding office in Georgia, and it will be so drawn as to “xclnde all persons but carpet-baggers and runaways. '2d. It is understood that the Supreme Court is to be reorganized. Warner is to be ousted and Dawson aud Walker put in his place. 3d. Changes in the Superior Court Judges are also to be made. It is conceded that Judge Schley will be displaced by that sturdy patriot and much beloved citizen of Savannah, a Mr. Stone, who has been dis playing his beard about the executive head quarters for the past week. This is glori ous ! 4th. Heaven and earth, and hell if neces sary, will be invoked to displace Dr. An gier, for if he remains Bullock thinks re construction a miserable sham and failure. sth. The Opera House must be bought or the bottom is out. AH the elements of power will be invoked to carry this iniqui tous scheme, aud every “ Bullock Demo crat ’’—and there are a dozen of this hybrid breed in the Legislature—will be required to do their best to carry the opera. . Since the last session, Kimball has raised his sights, and will now want a half mil lion to cover all his outlay and make any thing by the “spec.” The Opera House and contents will not sell in the market for more than one hundred thousand dol lars, but the Legislature will be asked for five times that figure, and this is the way the people’s money goes. No More Imprisonment for Debt in England. —Tfibre is a theme for a story of intense dramatic interest in the scenes that transpired in the prisons of England on the last night of December, 1889. To many a poor, heart broken man the chimes that welcomed the new year were the sweetest music that earth could give. With the last hour of 1869 the infamous law which for centuries has legalized imprisonment for debt, expired, and at midnight, as the prison doors were opened there were exchanged the greetings of a happier New Year than those poor victims of penury had ever known before. At the White Cross street prison in London were ninety-three prison ers whom the law set free. These poor creatures longed so ardently for liberty that they packed their few goods together as early as four or five o’clock in the after noon, and coanted the seconds until the hoar of their release arrived, while in many cases their families, women and children, waited for them outside the gates, and watched as anxiously the slow flight of time. It is a sad commentary upon tht*6ld law that dixty ihree of the prisoners begged to be allowed to remain in the jail until the next day, on the plea mostly that they had no homes to go to. Deatu or an Old Former Citizen or Georgia.— Mr. John C. Gordon, a native of Union District, 8. C-, and for several years a resident of Franklin and Burke counties, On., died on the 10th tilt., at Coffoevllle, Upshur, county, Texas, aged 87 years.
