Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN BANNER: MARCH 5, 1878.
H. H. CARLTON, - Editor.
Terms ot Subsorlptlpn.
ONE COPY, One Year...... £2
ONE COPY, Six Months. 1 °°
ONE COPY, Three Months 30
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
gKS£K3SaSBSte=fi8
A pplic ation lor Letters of Dismission Admin- # ^
Appll’Son'iw’SiSSw'tH'DtenSsiwrSniurdiim 5 25
Application for Leave to Soil Lands 5 00
Notice to Debtors and Creditors fi * ™
lalrsPerishtbfe'p^rty. lO day's,"persq... 1 50
ISfrltf 5 00
Tax Collector's bales, per squaie......
Hon. B. H. Hill.
of Clarke county.
Rates of AdvertlslnB*
Advertisements will be inserted at ONE DOl^
f Cr ncr souare lor the first insertion, and FI FT Y
CENTS i>er square for each continuance, for any
time Ti n deVone month. For‘onRger periods A lib
eral deduction will he made. A square equal co
te Nou£i 8 i°n'lical column, less than a square, 20
cents a line.
The President’s veto message; “ a
charge of fraud by a fraud,” that’s the
way Sunset Cox puts it.
We return thanks to the good peo
ple of Jackson county for their most
liberal subscriptions to the Banner
during court week.
\Ye are in receipt ot several inter
esting communications which arc
unavoidable crowded out this week.
Thcv will appear in our next issue.
The vote in the house by which
the Silver hill was passed over the
President’s veto was yeas 106, nays 73.
The vo*e in the Senate was yeas
46, nays 19.
Sunset Cox of New York remarks
that the President’s message to Con
gress accompanying his veto ot the
Silver Bill, was “ a charge of fraud
by a fraud.” Good for Cox.
Senator Hill voted to pass the
Silver Bill over the President’s veto,
and while better late than never, yet
this wiil not prove sufficient to quiet
the dissatisfaction of his constituency
a3 to his original opposition to what
they considered for their best interest
While the passage of the Silver Bill
is a great, just and most gratifying
victory of the South and W est over
the bond holders of the Eastern and
New England .States, yet it is to be
regretted that the all important ques
tion of government'finances should
have to be one of sectional an
tagonism.
Attention is hereby called to cur
agricultural columns, and wo most
earnestly and respectfully request our
agricultural friends to aid us in this
feature of the Banner by furnishing
such articles on practical agriculture,
gardening, horticulture, etc. as they may
feel inclined to contribute. We desire
to make this one of the most attractive,
interesting and valuable features of
our paper, and we greatly trust our
friends will come to our assistance.
President Hayes thinks the Silver
Bill is in the judgement of mankind,
an act of bad faith on the part of the
Government. This comes with bad
grace from a President who obtained
his position as Chief Executive through
an Electoral Commission, which was an
over-ridipg of the constitution he is
sworn to support, and proved the
biggest fraud, the most outrageous
robbery, and the most dangerous blow
ever given our republican institution,
the rights and liberties of the American
people. Let Mr. Hayes first iustify
his presidency, then may he with more
consistency make the charge of had
faith on the part of Congress.
The silver bill has now become law
and our people confidently expect bet
ter times in the country. Well let
them aid this financial measuie by
their own efforts to retain our hard
earnings in our own midst, and the
bringing about a self-sustaining condi
tion in our agricultural, manufactur
ing and various industrial interests, j
such as wiil enable them to use the
cotton crop of the South, for building
us again into wealth and material
prosperity, and as certain as such a
judicious course marks their future
conduct of these interests, so certain
will they realize their fond and cher
ished hopes of financial relief.
Having been an earnest and active
supporter of Mr. Hill for the United
States Senate, wo feel that it is onr
privilege to make a passing review of
his position on the Silver bill.
We are widely and altogether dis-
agreed'with the Senator in his posi
tion upon the currency question, and
arc convinced that the very large
majority, if not all of his constituents,
are likewise disagreed with his hard
money views. Though not disposed
to call into question Mr. Hill’s hon
esty of purpose in his opposition
to the Silver bill, yet, we must con
fess our utter inability to conceive
wherein lie expects to subserve the
best interest of his people, his section
and his country, by a coalition with
those whose selfish interests have un
doubtedly determined their financial
views. Even granting that Mr. Hill
is perfectly honesi in his convictions,
and most soundly convinced that his
position on this question is for the
best interest of his people, yet, he
cannot successfully defend his course.
Although Mr. Hill received no in
structions, as did Mr. Lamar, from
Mississippi, from the legislature of
his State, still, he full well knew that
the popular sentiment of the people
of his section was largely, ves, over
whelmingly, in favor of the silver hill;
and in justice to those who had con
fided to him the highest position and
tru-t within their bestowal, he- should
have respected their wishesin this
matter, if Mr. Hill is -oundly and
thoroughly convinced that his views
upon ihe financial question would ulti
mately result for the best interest ofliis
people, then, we can hut commend
the manhood which induces him so
to assert. But while claiming for
himself these convictions upon which
he had honestly based his position,
and in no wise yielding his manhood
or changing his position, he could,
without inconsistency, and should
have given his vote for the Silver
bill, claiming the light to enter upon
the records his protest. Either this
course, or his resignation, in view of
the fact that the whole people, or the
very large majority of his people in
Georgia, and indeed, throughout the
whole 'South, were in favor of the
passage of the Silver bill, was his
plain aiul unquestionable duty. We
fire sorry of Mr. Hill’s position oil
this question which so effects the
vital interest of our whole country,
and while wc do not incline to that
severe crimination and re crimination
of him which has been so freely
indulged in, it being neither just nor
argumentative, still, wc are frank,
and feel it to he our duty as a
journalist, to say that not only do we
consider him in error as to hispesitioa
upon the money question, so far as
affecting the true interest of his peo
ple and his section, hut that lie has
been equally in error in not i cspecting
the wishes of his constituency.
Now J. Madison, Jet. us beseech
you in behalf of this suffering country,
be calm, and follow the advice of
your beau-ideal of a President, and
“ let us have peace.” For God’s
sake, let your patriotism get.the bet
ter of you, and teach you that it is
“ better to bear the iils you have ”
than plunge this whole country into
an internecine war. ..
Is Athens Growing?,
As to whether Athens is growing
in commercial importance, is u-ques
tion hardly necessary to he pro
pounded to those who are daily wit
nesses of our rapid progress. But
for those abroad and who arc locking
with interest to our advancement as
a city of comm'ercial importance, and
as a proof of all we claim for Athens,
we give the following facts which wc
get from the voucheis of the Nor®,
eastern Railroad Agent at Athens:
Collections at Athens Agency,
from September 1st, 1876, to March
1st, 1878, $108,000 00. .
COMPARATIVE COLLECTIONS.
Sept. 1870—$2,911 33....Sept. 1877—$f7,866 58
Oct. 1876— 6,142 34....Oct. 1877— 11,078 91
Nov. 1S76— 3,528 76....Nov. 1877— 10,523 85
Dec. 1876— 3,057 1 9....Dec. 1877 - 7,785 68
Jar.. 1877— 4,240 42.... Jan. 1878— 8,364 74
The Beiigerent WeUs.
J. Madison Wells has published a
letter in the New York Times in
which lie fiercely assails Judge
Whitaker, Attorney General Ogden
and Assistant Attorney General Ea
gan. Pie charges, that they ai e viie
and corrupt and engaged in a most
unjustifiable and malicious prosecu
tion and persecution of himself and
General Anderson, instituted and
sustained by and with the advice and
pecuniary assistance of the National
Democratic Executive Committee,
lie further charges, that it is a con
test for the office of President of the
United States, and the patronage of
Executive Departments of the Feder
al Government, and that David Dud
ley Field is chief manager.
Mat is evidently becoming rebell
ious as well as beiigerent in his feel
ings, hear how he concludes his wail
of woe, his bellicose pronunciamento.
“ This is a national not a personal
question. It is a renewal in ail in
sidious guise of the tremendous con
flict of 1876, perhaps of 1861. It
becomes the Republicans of the North
to be on their guard and give Louis
iana hirelings to understand that it is
time for them to be quiet or be
prepared for open, determined and
unrelenting war.’’
$19,880 04 $45,619 76
Increase of the past five months
over and above the receipts for the
same five months of tiie preceding
year, 825,739 72. Increase per month,
85,147 94.
The above is a statement of the
receipts ai d collections for the incom
ing freights at the Alhci s depot,
and dots not include the onl-going
freights from Alliens, and which are
large and greatly inei eased to what
they were twelve months ago.
Those are unmistakable evidences
of the commercial growth and. pros
perity of Athens, and further, goes
to prove that the endorsement of the
Northeastern Railroad bonds l>y
Governor Colquitt was a safe action
as regards the liability which the
Slate thereby incurs. The receipts
to this road since the engine made
its first trip between Athjjps and
Lula, its junction with the Air-Line
road, have been over and above all
expenses of the road, and since,
within a few months of thefiomple-
tion of this forty miles, have^heen so
far in excess of all expenses as to
meet the interest on the bqmls and
leave a considerable surfjlasrecoipt
to the road. With the above showing,
and with the rapidly increasing re
ceipts to the Northeastern Railroad,
there can he no question as to the
road’s ability to meet the interest on
their endorsed bonds, and besides,
proves conclusively that Athens is
fast growing in commercial impor
tance, making it one of the best
markets in Georgia, and that the
slock in the Northeastern Riihoad is
second to none in this or any other
Southern State.
The Washington telegrams state
that quite a sensation has beep created
at the White House, the president
having recieved a letter, from what
is considered a reliable source, stating
that negroes had been kidnapped in
Florida, transported across the Gulf
of Mexico into Cuba and there sold
into slavery. The President has
dispatched Judge Leonard, the Re
publican member from Louisiana in
the House of Representatives, as a
confidential agent to Cuba, that he
may ascertain if there is any truth in
this statement. Should this informa
tion given the President prove correct,
of course, immediate measures will be
adopted to prevent all suefy future
outrages upon the colored citizens of
Florida and violations of international
law. But should it prove to be sim
ply a radical trick for the purpose of
creating a sensation in Congress aud
firing the Northern heart, then the
fact should be exposed and the in
formant hoisted by his own petard.
•' [Advertisement.]
An Active Deputy.
The newlv appointed Deputy Mar
shal, ]. E. Ritch, has signalized him
self by arresting Mr. Oliver and Mr.
Collins under a charge of retailing
blockade whisky. Mr. Collins is a
citizen of Union county and Mr. Oli
ver is a young gentleman, son of D.
S. Oliver, one of the most prominent
citizens of Habersham. They are
both now confined in the Clarke
countv jail. The evidence against
them is, we learn, entirely circum
stantial in its character, but if the
gallant Captain brings anything like
the ability into his prosecution that
he exerts in his political campaigns
the persumption of innocence will
avail them nothing. In the mean
time they have our heartfelt sympa
thy.—Southern Watchman.
Mr Editor—The above appeared
in the last issue of the Southern
Watchman, and in reply thereto, I
beg leave to make the following
statements:
1st. I have no doubt but that Mr.
Speer, now editing that paper, is the
true author of the article, as it hears
so plainly his ear mark.
2nd. The statement that the men
captured by me were captured upon
circumstantial evidence is absolutely
and altogether false, as I do not pro
ceed in the exercise of the duties of
my office in that way, and Mr. Speer
nor no one else had authority for mak
ing such a statement.
3rd. The allusion to my using my
office for political purposes is likewise
false, and as malicious as it is false. I
know no politics in the discharge ot
the duties of niv office, and such a
practice, as is well known to be the
case on the part of the author of the
above, is the father of the thought, or
suggestion. I accepted thu position
I now occupy with the distinct under
standing, and the full obligation on
my part to discharge faithfully and
impartially the duties of said office,
and shall do so to the best of my
ability, though it should interrupt
Mr. Speer and his political plans. As
he was loitering around the jail in
Athens Sunday evening after the
arrest of the parlies mentioned, I
suppose in the diw.iarge of my duty,
I had interrupted some of his whisky
clique, and thereby some of his con
gressional arraugements. I am sorry
for the parties concerned in this
violation. I know them well and know
them to be clever men. but at the
same-time they were violating the
known laws of the country, and I
have no fears that while they would
have l*eeu glad to have escaped, they
will at least give me credit for having
done my duty, and carried out the
obligations of my office as a faithful
officer.
Pardon me, Mr. Editor, for thus
troubling you aud the public with this
communication, but, as several inuen-
does regarding me in the discharge
of the duties of my office have appeared
in the Watchman, 1 deemed it but
justice to myself, the service and the
public to make the above statements.
Very Respectfully,
J. E. Ritch,
Deputy U. S. Marshall Northern
District of Georgia.
Be virtuous and you’ll he happy—hut
you wan’t have much fun.’’—Chroni
cle tfe Constitutionalist'
We would like to know if Govern-
I or Vance speaks from experience.
Letter from Jefferson.
Jeffer30n, Ga., March 1st, 1878.
Dr II. H. Carlton : Dear Sir
The Spring term of Jackson county
Superior Court convened on Monday
last, His Honor, Judge Rice, presid
ing. We did not have the pleasure
of hearing liis Honor’s charge to the
Grand Jury, but heard it spoken of as
having been replete with legal advice
and wisdom, and characterized by a
spirit of determination to make the
law a terror to evil doers if properly' the surrounding hills are beautiful
There will be no delay in carrying
out the provisions of . the silver bill.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
already made the necessary arrange
ments for the coinnge of silver dollars.
He has prepared the form of the silver
certificate and approved the device for
the new silver dollar, which was sub
mitted to him by the Director of the
Mint.
Generals Banning and Bragg, who
were Union Generals during the late
war, are at Washington urging the
passage of the bills proposing to
correct the abuses which have grown
up in the army. These bills contem
plate great reduction iu the, now
extravagant, pay of army officers and
such reorganization ot the army as
will muster out of service all useless
officers. This is much needed and
healthful legislation, and it is the great
desire of the country that such reform
and retrenchment should at once be
inaugurated, notwithstanding it pro
duces great excitement and unrest
in military circles. This country is
now at peace within itself, and with
all the nations of the earth, and a
large and expensive standing army is
a great outrage, a gross injustice to
the already burdened and oppressed
tax-payers.
A Few days since Colonel Bradley
T. Johnson, of Richmond, Va.,
requested permission from Govern
or Vance for the Walker Light Guard
to pass through the State of North
Carolina, on their way to Charleston.
Governor Vance responded ns follows:
" Permission granted to pass through
North Carolina with your command.
supported by the law-abiding citizens
of the county
the bar.
In addition to the local bar, com
posed of the Messrs. Howard, Cols.
Pike, Silman and Morris, we note the
presence of the following visiting At
torneys : Col. Nash, of Danielsville;
Maj. Walker, of Monroe; Judge
Floyd, of Covington; Cols Thurmond,
A. S. Erwin, T W. Rucker, Emory
Speer, P. G. Thompson, L. W.
Thomas and Solicitor General Mitchell,
ot Athens; Cols. Es;es, Langston,
Marler, C. It. Simmons and G. H.
Prior, of Gainesville; B. F. Wofford
and R. T. Nelms, of Harmony Grove,
and Geo. Bell, Esq., of Forsyth, son
of Col. II. P. Bell. We learn Mr.
Bell was in r.tteiidance 'upon Court
for the purpose of suggesting certain
recommendations to he embodied in
the Grand Jury presentments.
llUSINK.SS of the court.
j Monday and Tuesday were devoted
) to the trial of civil cases. The case
which attracted most attention under
this head was that of Crane, vs.
Jackson, for the payment of a guano
claim—T. W. Rucker, Esq., for
plaintiff, and L. W. Thomas for de
fendant. The jury rendered a verdict
for plaintiff, hut we learn the counsel
for the defense will take the case up.
The civil docket having been closed
on Tuesday evening, on Wednesday
morning theciiminal docket was tak n
up. The most important case called
was that of the state vs. J. N. Simp
kins. Our readers are already familiar
with the charge against Mr. Simpkins,
as his case has been in court for several
sessions. Suffice it, after two da vs
hard labor on the part of sheriffs and
bailiffs, who rode day and night, a jury
was secured for the ttaal of the cause,
about 11 o’clock this a. m. Sol.
Gen. Mitchell, (than whom Georgia
has not a better officer) assisted in the
prosecution by Col. Barrow, of Athens,
after the jury had been made up,
were confident of a speedy consumma
tion of this much regretted trial; but,
just as the examination of witnesses
was about to begin Mr. Simkins,
fearing the tide was against him, and
by virtue of a good bond feeling he
had some privileges, walked out of the
court house, and when called did not
answer.
The other cases that will come be
fore His Honor during the session of
the Court will be of minor importance,
and on Saturday evening we dare say,
the hall of justice will be closed for
another six mouths.
politics.
A stranger in our midst would be
surprised to witness the interest felt in
the politics of the country, and allow
me, Mr. Editor, to say, that your firm
advocacy of an organized Democracy
and your splendid editorial in the last
issue of the Banner on the “ Silver
Bill ’’ has made your paper
many friends. The people are aware
of your able advocacy of Mr. Hill for
the Senatorship, and after he took
the position he did on the questicn of
finances, were anxious to have your
views on that question. Allow me
to say that a large majority of the
people of Jackson think that von are
on the right line as to money and
party politics, and only trust that
you may continue to give battlu to
“ax-grinders” and the enemies of
good government generally.
FARMING INTERESTS. (
I It is gratifying to know that the
farmers aro in better condition than
since the war. One of the best
farmers in the country said to your
correspondent that at the spring
term of the court last year, drovers
offered their stock in vain to farmers
because they had no money with
which to buy. This year, lie said, a
number of mules and horses had teen
sold for the cash, and many farmers
thought they had corn and meat
enough to do them. (After all I
would like to ask, by w ay of paren
thesis, if this is not the solution to
the financial problem.) Much of the
land intended for cultivation the
present year has already been broken
and is now ready to receive the seed.
Fertilizers are being very extensively
used.
JEFFERSON.
This ancient village is somewhat
romantic in appeal ance, and while on
plateaus upon which the village
could have been built, still the founs
der thereof, on account of two mag
nificent springs which com sc their
way through the valley, determined
to plant jthe village in the valley.
We admire his judgement
The question of building a now-
court house is being agitated. The
old structure being of ancient de
sign, and greatly out of rep; ir, and
Jackson county having a surplus ot
over three thousand dal la is in her
Treasury, we would be very ghul to
see a more comely court-house than
they now have.
MARTIN INSTITUTE.
This time-honored institution is
still the pride of the county, and the
principals thereof, Messrs. Orr and
Glenn, are second to none as educa
tors. The attendance upon t e
spring term is not so full as usual,
nor is it thought it will increase a
great deal This is owing, we suppose,
to the fact that a majority of the
fund is in Georgia railroad stock and
that corporation having failed to de
clare a dividend will temporarily
diminish the resources of the Institu
tion.
While speaking of the Institution
we will be pardaned lor suggesting,
(and believe we will be seconded in
the suggestion by a majority of the
good citizens) that the Institute he
properly inclosed by a substantial
fence. It is known to all the peo
ple that there is an organization
which follows the court known
as the “Hoise Brigade”—men
who follow horse-swapping as a pro
fession. The jockey grounds at
Jefferson embrace the yard and
grounds of the Institute, and not un-
frequently the teachers have to leave
their classes and go out and comm and
the peace. Besides this, it is impossi
ble for children to study when there
isso much confusion and so much to
draw their attention away from their
books.
“THE FOREST NEW'S.”
Jackson county boasts of one of
the best country papers in the State
in the Forest Feins. The Editor, J.
G. N. Wilson, is an accomplished
writer, whose opinions on all general
questions arc universally respected.
The Business Managers, Messrs. W.
GV and R. S. Howard, are shrewd
financiers, and by their efficient
management, the paper has been
made a paying investment to the
stockholders. Mr. M. Stafford, to
whom the company is largely indebted
for the success of the paper, is an
excellent and industrious worker in
the “ art preservative,” nr d never
allows the paper to “fall behind’'in
mechanical appearance.
A SAD FAMILY.
Sadness pervaded the entire town
when the announcement was made, at
4 o’clock on Thursday evening last,
that little Joshua Hammond, intant
sou of Mr J. E and Elizabeth C.
Randolph, was dead. This dear little
hoy W38 the first born of parents
whose ties of love had existed for
many years before the iqarital union
was cousumated. The loud hopes of
father and mother were centered
upon the little prattler, and just
about, the time when his infant tongue
was about to be unloosed, when lie
could say mama, papa! the destroyer
came. The last, sun of the barren
winter was about to set beneath a
cloudless sky. Its victims lere and
there had been numbered by thou
sands, but before being succeeded by
balmy spring, another had to be
added, and hovering around the bed
side of suffering little Joshua Ran
dolph, the tender little form was
touched by the icy coldness of the
lingering season, and he passed awav
from earth. May the God of love
comfort the bereaved parents and
friends in this sad dispensation of
Providence. A Friend.