Southern banner. (Athens, Ga.) 1878-1879, February 19, 1878, Image 1

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Southern banner., February 19, 1878, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text^'iSfiSlS ~ ^ <&£ ATHENS, GEORGIA, FEBRUARY 10, 1878. JENNIE’S MISTAKE- Jennie II n»tl«*y .-vitiIt nightfidlv read! ig two Setter* Tier father-md ImitWr had long since finished iheir hr -ikbis* and di* mrted t-> their daily av*tfj dim is. S’ ill jhc did pot im.vi*; ln*r IriivIv taste -• had grown cold. apd tln> spaniel. Fim**, waited in vaiu-lbr 1 is usual kind. oi sugar. V<wy i»n*ry was Jemii*. though now an anximt* frown contracted Imr di-l i-ati 1 liroiv-. The male jmjmlai ion of Coinwnod were cot tar wroflg when they declared her to lie the belle of the town. N«*t often would jou meet with Mich a ptij'i--tinted complexion, such lust roes such a coronal of glossy • p’aits, or such a perfectly-proportioned figure. At length she row, and ringing to 1 ave the table cleared* went about her usual household occupations. She neglected nothing. The pan try was duly inspected, stores were given out, pastry was made, an i the necessarv amount ot dusting was ac complished. But during the per- ioritiancc of these customary duties, h.*r lace never lost its distrait pre occupied expression. The last post the night before had It ought l er an offer ot marriage. Tie* off*.- was iroin a gcnil»««m whom s.re respccitd much, but cer tainly did not love. lie was, though, Very rich, an tin; owner of consider- able properly in the neighborhood. Then, from l In first post that morning had e*»iuo another propos.l. Straiii**-' losay, Iroin the cousin of her other suitor. He, however, had neither land iKn-mnwyto boast ot, being by profession an artist, and at piesent only an unknown, unappre ciatcd on*. Here arose Jennie’s difficulty. She liked her rich lover, but ala-! for the contrariety of human nature, -he loved her poor one But, then, all Iter life she had to pinch and contrive, and manage. Her father was a poor doctor in a poor parish, and every pound his patients paid him was«pcnt in anticipation long before it found it’s way into his waiting hand. A new pair of gloves or a m-tv rib bon was a subject « f deep rejoicing to bis pretty daughter, while the cunning turnings and twistings and vclriminings that her hounds and dre-scs underwent, would fairly have astou she*l a young lady of more am ple means. Cons- ipieutly, a sharp tempta'ion now assailed her. Should she hid adieu to poverty, and sltaldiiness, and seroiul-r.ati* living, and accept George Motley, and with him the certainty of a -pleiuliil Imme, carriages, ph-uti- fill jewelry, and all lluwe coniitl* ss luxuries t!mt wealth atom* ran pur** chase ? Or should slu—bravely ro sisti gtlu* (>nticing prospect—consent to beeam by ltd' pr and encourage hint tit his struggles and disappointments? It was hard to decide, and all the inortiing slu- hesitated and wavered Vet. even with her desk open and writing material ieady. she paused. Wont should she do? Which should it he? At last, with pale face and comp es-ed tuou'* , she dipped her p: n in tin* ink and wrote two short notes. A’xl the one of acceptance w:.s for George Morlev, and the otlnw one of rejection was for his cousin Guv. These dispatched, site hope i her mind would he at peace. Bnt no, slu* Ic't w e elied and miserable, and in thi* iwihghi, when sue played to her father and sang his favorite old ballad.-, her voice had a harsh, M milted ring, and suddenly, in the inid-t of t o* C'Oic'ndiiig verse of ‘•A dd li ihin Gray,” she broke down complete y and hurst into tears. “ Why, Jennie e did, are you not w-ll If lxan\ilimg the matt r, dear?” eze|:tini<*d her father. ‘•I mv head .dies. 1 -\ill goto be I, I think. Goo I night, papa.” () u*e in rii i'ii, tip* pent up feel- i ig< s.t long r •ini—e l, I ad ta it way. No v tbu't t •v:is too lat*, she would I A sleepless nigWpassed, and she a o-e tired and heav"-eyed. Every knock at the door, «*very ring at the bell, caused her to tromblo with fear and apprehension. She must accept n i*arly visit from her favored suitor; sin- must expect him to* arrive radiant vitli triumph, and bow -should she meet him ? It was evening, bnt be bad not come. Her father had been called to a patient at some 'distarcc, her brothers had gonfe to**6len<l a lecture •hi vivisection, :md>*feimie was alone ill the drawing room. She could not sit still; so out through the open French window she steppi*d, and across the smooth cut grass.j. v., • v ’ i * . At the end of the lawn was a moss- grown path, and up and down this she paced, her dress of grey making iter moving figure distinctly visible against the sombre background of an ivy-colored wall. The sunset hour was past, the opal hues o the sky were darkening, when a step on the gravel startled her, a man’s figure came hastening toward her. Instinctively, she recoiled, and would have fled; but in a moment she was folded in strong arms, and not kisses fell on cheeks, and lips, and brow. ••I l ,” site began, trying to telease herself. Tlte waning light revealed who it was that held her in such close em brace. Resistance was at an end then. Slu* forgot that her troth was plighted elsewhere—forgot every thing but the present rapture, as she let her head droop forward on Guy’s breast, “Oh! my darling—my darling!” he murmured in passionate accents, what havet I done to deserve such happiness? I scarcely daicd to hop that yon would he mine, and when I had your sweet little letter, I think I was nearly delirious with iov for a time.” “ Mv letter? Why, it—whv, 1 ——” You expected me before, dearest! You thought me a tardy wooer, did you not? But I have strange and wonderful news to tell you, only now I can think of nothing but you, my beautiful one “Oh! Guy, stay—stay. Have you my letter with you? Let mo see it, p ease!’* Reluctantly, and with many fond endearments, lie withdrew his arms and produced the precious epistle. Site read it and her blushes were succeeded by a deadly pallor, as she discovered that she must have put t ;C no.es in the wrong envelopes, so li.at the letter of acceptance had from Mr. George Moriey, and I wrote this letter.to accent it ” “ And what was my answer, then ?’’ he hoarsely inten unted “ ft. -1 said I was sorry, but I could not. be your wife, but ” He staggered back Thhe revul sion of feeling was loo much, and lie felt -tunned ard diwev. For the first time since rite had begun Iter explanation she raise** 1 her head and looked at hir. With a cry sprung to him. Oh Guy. forgive me. forgive. It is vou I care for, you I love. 1 have been so unhanpv ever sine • I sent the letters. It was his wealth that tempted me. I have been so poor all my life, and I thought it would be so nice to he rich ; but when I had written I saw my wickedness, know I could nev r bo happy with him, and I did not know what to do. I have been dreading that he would come all day, and I was afraid to see hint ” Site clung to him in agony ; but he was passive and silent, making uo motion to hold her. “ Oh! Guv speak to me,’’ she moaned ;“ say you-do not utterly despise nte.” Gently he disengaged her hands, slowly ho ret real ei I a pace. “ You would have thrown me over because I was poor ; you would have married George because he is rich. “Yes,” she faltered, standing like a criminal before hint, her bosom heaving and her fingers tightly en twined. “ You would have done violence to veur own feelings; you would have deceived him by a pretence of affec tion, when all t* e while his wealth was the attraction ?” Yes.” came the low, pitiful whis- UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA LIBRARY VOL. 62. HENS’ SPEECH. PLUN WORDS runs IIIK SAUK OK LIUKBTY ■ li t LI.. — THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION HID KflfflrroME F.;OM HUMiNITA- KIAN-PBINCIPLE8, HUT A WAR NlfOBSSITY—SLAVER - ^CONSIDERED. readied “G. Moriey, Esq., care of Mrs. Brett, Laburnum Cottage,” and ( the letter of rejection had gone to (it v ”"m < nli* v ’s' wife, ami *‘ G . Mo . rl, ‘>h Esq, Pet ter wood Ilall." ami sympathy soothe Then - initials amt surnames being the same, had rendered such a miscar riage perfectly easy undetectable. Unwittingly, she had obeyed the dictates of tlte heart. Si.ottld she now let things he as they were ? Should die say no word, but allow her lover to remain in blissad igno rance* of her former mercenary deter mination? Mo one had been in her confidence; even her lather had been unawaie of the receipt of her two proposals. But honor and loyalty whispered nay. She* must tell Guy all, and then—and tne..— lie had become* impatient, and would have drawn tier to his side* again, hut she stepped hack. “No, no, w.ii*. 1—I have some thing to say to »• it.” Very loo mid q livering was her voice. “Yes, darling, I am listening, but do not try my patience too much. You nave noi given me a single word oi welcome yet ’ White. - -lie grew. “ i made a mistake I did not write this letter to you ” *• L)i<! Hot wiiie ti.ai letter to me, Jennie? Uii, Heaven! what tin y*-u mean ?” He had per. “ Ami I—I should have been treated as a daring, presumptions fel low, who—” “No—no! I never should have thought that. Yon do not know how bitterly I repent. Oh ! forgive me, even if vou can no longer love me!” She wailed, her very attitude pleading for mercy ; then sadly and with lagging feet, she turned logo Scarcely a dozen vauls had she proceeded when with a hasty stride or two lie had overtaken her. She shrank away. “Spate me any further reproaches, i You are cruelly just; lor a moment of weakness you would mete out a lifetime oi punishment.” “My darling! She started and turned, ami tin- love she thought was forfeited for ever. she knew was hers sli I. “ I must tell you my news now, dearest I lml aiclcgiam yesterday summoning me to London *i o. ce. I went and found it was front a firm of lawyers They informed me that a distant relation, from whom I had not tuc Slightest expectations, had died and l> li tile a latge foi l line. I stayed j st to sign a lew papers and hurried back, tor I was eager to have your answer. It was waiiiug at my lodgings; and, as soon as 1 read it, I came straight here. So you s-e, dear, you will have a licit hu-band after nli.” “Hush! hush! Don’t, plea-e don’t!” she begged. “Forgive me, dear one! I was wrong to speak mi. But y**u tbrgct that you have not yet sealed your promise to me.’’ “ Wliat do you mean ?” “ Not one ki.-s hate 1 received,and I have been very p.lieut, 1 think Sweetheart, I claim my due now.” She Illicit ltd rosy lips and tlte 8 at was s<*t to their b»trothai Mr. Stephen- said: Mr. President and Speaker—There is hot little left tor me to ftay in the programme as signed mo on this august occasion. On the picture, on tin* skill of th* artist, tny Jriettd from Ohio ha- dwelt at length. In regard to tlftri munificence or the donor, he lias lett me nothing To say. Few instances of thW ktnd have 'occurred in the history of qur country. I know ol none. MwBujr example Jin the en couragement eff art ba followed by others. Mr? President and Speaker, with refercl^te to thy* subject of tin painting, I prop ise, if strength per mit, to’Subnpt a few remarks. Firs , on theoeutral figure—the man ; after that, as to tin* event commemorated. I knew Mr. Liticeln well We were toge. her during one Congress. I was as ituiiuate with hint us I was with any other man of that Congress, except perhaji one. Of his general character, Jjmeed not speak. He was warm-hete||jj& lie’ was generous. He wits, raffe ,afterwards said, pos- ses8<Bd^Yv>«i|:ui which had “ malice to noncand ttfatity to all,”. Iu bod ily form he was above the average and so in intellect. lie was not highly cultivated, but had native genius far above the average of his resistance to the government—had resistance ceased that would have been all. If the emancipation of the colored race be a boon to that rac (and providence has yet to determine that; it depends much on thern-elves) If it is, I, representing the Southern Suite- here, may claim in their lie- half that freedom was never filin'!y consummated until the Southern States sanstioned the thirteenth amendment, which they did every one of them and by their own consti tuencies. They, coining to the con clusion that that institution could n*> longer survive, accepted the position and by their acts and by the adop t:mi of the thirteenth constitutional amendment, Mr. Lincoln’s idea was consummated. Now, ns to that in -titution which was called slavery, many errors were indulged and many prejudices Oh ! that the people ol the United States could divest them selves of prejudice, that moral dis loriion of the mind. What mischief has it not done? Wliat ills has it not caused ? What advancement would cut the world have made if it li.ul not been for ti.is liiug—proju *1 oo. Of all the grand express! of that greatest ot American orators, Daniel Webster, the grandest was i hat in which he told tho people of Massachusetts (when Fanenil Hall was refused to him ) “ You have conquered the sea, yon have con quered a steril soil, you have con quered the elements, hut you must vet conquer y^nur prejudices^’ Iu here it is not for us to say, but they have a location here, aud I can say for myself, ami for those of my imme diate circle of acquaintances, and for the whole Southern people, that there is not one who would now ‘.hange the condition of things, resub- jugate the colored man or put him in he condition he tvas in before. If there is cue in all the South who would desire such a change I am not aware of it. Men of the North and of the South, of the East and «>f the West, I would to-day, cm th's com memorating occasion, say. let us, one and all, within our sphere of duty, whether in the public or in private life, see to it that ive do not violate that divine trust committed to us Wo live in a nevy era. D oing the conflict of arms I frequently almost despaired of the liberties of our country. Wars always menace liberty, and often result in its over throw. 1 ' tve always thought that' the union of these States, at first, was founded on the assumption that it was the best interests of all to re main united, faithfully, fully perform ing eaeh for itself and its own people as well as for the people of all the States, their constitutional obligations but secession was resorted to as a remedy. It. was only to avoid, as I then thought, a greater evil that I went with nty State, holding that to he my duty, blit, believing all tlte time that after the pa-sions of the hour and day were over the great law winch produced the Union at first, mutual interests and reciprocal spruit* forward an*t have gRert h *r right hand to hav.^ grasped her arm so tienvuv that -lie l*e 'i a *i-- i • retract her decision j winced with pan*. Hi- Lev* win t* .siiioii a*.. i e -iiilorf, dres-e* and : t hast: \, and hi> diamond-,. * •• t value would they her «tin wild entreaty. In- to he** w ' ’ y him? ’ • .J bad. a proposal *>. lu!ge me a moment on this subject of so-called slavery It was not an unmitigated evil, it was not without its co peusations. It is nty purpose now, however, to bury, not to praise, nor aught * f evil to extenuate. I. it was n*>t the best relation for the happiness and welitare of both races mo): Uy, physically, intellectu ally ninl politically, it was wrong and it ou lit to have been abolished. Tfiis I said years before secession, and I repeat it yet, but there is no time now to discuss the question ; let it go. I have seen something of the world. 1 have traveled somewhat and I have n vor yet found on earth a paradi-e. The Southern States were i;o exception. Wherever I have been I have witnessed the truth of thes liius: “ What crowds iu every land arc wretched and lorloru, Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousand's monr.t ” It was so with us. It is so the world over, so fir as I know. The quest on of the relations of the races was mil* hi the most dirt cult problems that statesmen ot philanthropists, legislatoiti or jurists ever had to solve. It is the past with us. I do not think !t in ipp* uptime on this occasion to indulge in some remarks on this sub ject. Simv the South has been re pulsed from all her resp nsibility about it, it has Isren common to speak oft lie colored people as the “ wards fellows. Every fountain of his heart was ever overflowing with the milk of human kindness. So much tor him personally and so much the deeper (from my attachment to him) was the pang in tny own breast as well as iu those of millions at the maimer of his horrible taking oft’ That was the climax of our woes, of our troubles and the sj ring from which came afterwards utmumbi red woes. But of those events, no more now. As a friend, I may say. No tui tlier Beck lim merits to disclose, Or draw liis trailties from their dreud abode There they alike in trembling hone ti|.osu Tile bosom of iiis /ather and God. So much I have felt it my duty on this occasion to say iu behalf of my friend. Now, as to the great histor ical event, which this picture com memorates, aud which we are heie to-day to commemorate. This is a subject, perhaps, as remarked by iin friend from Ohio, (Garfield,) which the people of this day aud generation are not exa -tly in the condition to weigh rightly and judge correctly. One thing has been remarked ; that emancipation tvas r.ot the chief ob ject of Mr. Lincoln. What was his chief object? The myth, the idol with which his whole soul was concerned tvas the preservation of the Union Ni w, let not history eonfu-e events That proclamation, pregnant as it ol fn* nation*” May I not say with was, in point, in faet, originated more j appropriateness and with due rever- from the necessities of war than from e**ce. in the language of Georgia’s A Han Fiacciseo correspondent say* that gold i> carted around there much as lead is earied iu New Yura. Boys cany canvas hag.- ol gold through the i-nceis. Kegs aud bags of gold ars turouu into carts ns though they were kegs of nails. In the Bank of Nevada .... , ,. , irate t gold rest on the counter, u*t Erovi.lenco above ns which “Shape- any purely humanitarian views. Let this lie noted in our history. Lite is all a mist, and in the dark ottr fortunes meet. Mr. Lincoln, like all the rest- of us, in nty opinion, was an instrument in the hands of that a ed and n ireil as the East, but with as iiine guard as is tltroau around sPk- in a dry g<»*d store. a - a girl married in itt a letv day-ago. aged '* * live-mo ths. and i -e t pounds. _ . onr ends, rough hetv them h»*w wi will.” I doubt much if he kno v the time or realized the great re-uV ' ull *ni uvd r * of tin* net. Tlte proclamation it set ;i.,*h**l t** r did not make free or declare <n*e all tl* * the cc/ored race. It was only t*>' M XV 1 • ; ••rate in thos: parts which, were in >.*y greate»i intellect, that they are rat her'the wards of the Almighty. Tln-y are com eitted now under the n w -t .to ol things to the rulers—the law makers—the law expounders and the law executors— within their le-p-etivi; eoiistitiniqii tl s|ih**res, to t k'M'.'in* iif and to provide for in *his en:r.j. 1 ;. a. ed sys cut of govern- h:p'.i we live, I am •ird them. I speak Xe.*|>; ioual ease-, but advantage, would necessarily bring us together again. In some mode nihnuvfo be dammed np; t little to flow; tht* jieople .at.South’ and at the West ana Htin<DpiR% ’ community of interest, and I believed that after a while there would be a, restoration. The time come sootier than I was apprehensive it would. But even if what is called the sov- eignty of the States, and which I think the basis and foundation of our fabric, had been acknowledge!!—(Mr. Stephens left the sentence uneomple- t**d and went on to say)—lint let these questions he hurried so deep as never to be resurrected. Wliat shall we do in the future? Down sonth tve are doing the best that we can for the colored people, hoping earn estly that they will fit themselves for a higher civilization. The flag no longer floats over provinces but over States—no longer over subjects but over citizens, white and black. Why can we not look hopefully to tho fu ture? NIr. President atul Mr. Speaker, is it a delusion, is it a fancy which I have indulged in that there is a nobler and a grander future f<ir these United States than anything that we may have yet attained? It may be a delusion, but it is ono of which I do noi wish to divest tny mind while I linger on this stage. Let all parties and all sections do just ive to the component elements ol our community. Everywhere ac cording to our constitutional power and right, let harmony reign and peace prevail. Let. sectional strife he done aw y with and then there is a higher and a gran* ler future for us. But if the embers of the last most lam* utahle war are lelt, and a little additional fud emiMsto flame them tin ajfaitt, if tiie subject of classes, tho conflict of la <>r a i t capital, the con flict of race (it t pi*<f<mid ethnologi cal qin*sti*>n wi n h we have all got to settle amt the must •iiflicult one ever committed t<* t u* <*o::sid::r.tion of statesmen of philanthropists), shall break out, and these dangerous ele ments he again aroused, I greatly fear but t e recent troubles and dis asters tin* ugh which we have just passe*I will prove but the shadow, the petienihra **t it deeper and m**rc dreadful eclipse ivliici* wilt come upon this coiii■mini, blighting and LI sin-g the highest tin ; tin- si Imp:* i.f uiHiikimi. S-iott'd luai mi then M ’! r.c:r future »:*r.. tuny i-isr. Tun stmt* Inin*. litneH t'l'K Tue slur of liberty, t c lui.:, * • l .m*. til.* i t* ti] en Wi i !*! • t . tl'O prov’dt»nei- of And bope uinl lievdoio li. v »i 4 - rn it»t. *1 -t, cute (Ucueiiii^pp.aasi.)