Georgia Historic Newspapers

    THE FREE PRESS-
An Independent Democratic Journal*
( . ii ~WILLINGHAM, Editor.
The Free I‘rf.ss is an Independent Democrat
ic .lounial, opposed to all Kings, Cliques and
ombinations, of whatever sort, organized tode
t.-at the will of the people in all public matters
or interests in whatever shape presented.
Cartersville, Clcorgis, August 22, 1878.
FOR CONGRESS, SEVENTH DISTRICT,
JIOjV. XV M. H. FELTON,
OF BARTOW COUNTY.
H HERE STOOD DR. FELTON DURING
THE REIGN OF BELLOC NT
It has been frequently asked by .lodge
T.ester, his friends and the organs of the
“organized” since the present canvass
opened, how Dr. Felton stood
reign of the “Rlaek Prince,” Rufus B.
Bullock, while lie was Governor of Geor
gia, (n answer to .such enquiry, we ap
jH*nd herewith extracts from the general
presentments <f the grand jury of Bar
tow county, of 1871, at the fall term of
our superior court of that year, of which
l>r. Felton was foreman and Dr. 'l'. H.
Baker clerk. The jury was such men as
Rev. J. G. Rvals, Rev. J. T. Norris and
other equally substantial and reliable
citizens. The extracts are as follows:
Before quitting this subject of taxation, we
would take occasion to reiterate the several sol
emu protests which have leen entered by former
‘<rand Juries or tins county against the reckless
extravagance and the disregard of honesty which
lias for several year* characterized the adminis
tration of onr State finances.
We deem it proper in this connection also that
our immediate representatives, Messrs. Wofford
and G-ay, in whom we have entire confidence,
and to whom the oppressed and outraged tax
payers of the county are looking for relief, he
requested to enquire diligently and thoroughly
into tin* financial condition of toe State, expos
ing fearlessly all frauds and peculations, and if
they should ascertain that the testimony which
Mr. Angier, the State treasurer, recently gave
before the Congressional committee be correct,
n far as it relates to the unauthorized issue of
•state Isolds—bonds issued without the knowl
edge and signature of said treasurer —bonds for
which the State has never received a bona Jide
equivalent—then we recommend that they advo
cate measures looking to the unconditional repu
diation of all such State obligations, as we l*c
lieve there exists no law in the moral and social
code requiring the citizens of a State to pay
debts contracted for the benefit of public thieves.
We lw*g leave to express onr unutterable oppo
sition to tiie policy of issuing State bonds, or the
endorsement of bonds by the State for building
railroads. These bonds are often disposed of
before ihc work is completed, and it frequently
happens that after the road is finished it is com
paratively worthless, and would not, with all its
equipments, reimburse the State. We believe
that the manipulators of this policy have attain
ed fraudulently and dishonestly untold treasures
of public gold, and have entailed upon the State
heavy burdens of taxation which will he accu
mulative for generations to come. We recom
mend that our representatives use all their in
fluence to arrest this policy, and that they pro
cure if possible the passage of a bill by which
the State's interest in these roads may be turned
over to the holders of these ixmds, and that said
bonds lie cancelled. Asa remedy for existing
evils, and as a safeguard against future extrava
gance, we would recommend the passage ot a
local law by our General Assembly limiting the
amount of money to be raised for county pnr|>o
s<-3 . u,.. *„, of |]o,ooo annually, except for spe
cial objects aiitiioiizo.i statutes, provided
such amount shall assessments here
after to lie made to existing indebtedness.
, ,'-V. >(. V'HI.’POfJ. Euihmiiiu.
<or. m. baker, C lerk:
it will be borne in mind that at that
time Hon. .1. R. Parrott was judge of the
Cherokee circuit, and an appointee of
Bullock's, and that these presentments or
recommendations to the Legislature were
far in advance of any action on the bond
question by the Democratic Legislature
of 1871-72, as they were made in Septem
ber, 1871. It will also be remembered
that the Legislature took no action on the
fraudulent bonds until its July and Au
gust session of 1872 —only appointing a
committee at the fall and winter session
of 1871-2 to investigate the bond question
and report thereon to the Legislature at
the Jul}’ and August session of 1872. It
will he seen from the foregoing extracts
from the general presentments quoted,
that Dr. Felton, with his grand jury, of
which he was foreman, and of which he
was the author, anticipated the Legisla
ture as to w hat was its duty in regard to
the illegal and fraudulent 1 Kinds of Gov.
Bullock and his Legislature, and asked
that they he legally and thoroughly in
vestigated, and that the Legislature per
form its duty to the people in the premi
ses honestly and fearlessly. The course
asked or recommended by that grand ju
ry has Ik*pu carried out by the Democrat
ic Legislature since that time, and by the
constitutional convention of 1877. The
Legislature, in carrying out the spirit of
the above quoted general presentments
from Bartow county, in 1872, repudiated
many of those fraudulent bonds, as like
wise did tiie Legislature of 1875-76.
It was the earn ing out the terms of
the presentment* of Dr. Felton that the
lion. George liillver introduced the con
stitutional amendment of 1876 prohibit
ing forever the issuing of any bonds by
the State and the payment of the bonds
declared fraudulent by previous Legisla
tures, and of which Gen. Toombs com
plained that such amendment to the con
stitution was imperfect, as it let in cer
tain numbers of fraudulent bonds and
opened the gates to the holders of such
fraudulent Ixinds as were not by it de
stroyed, and which was afterwards cor
rected by the Legislature iu obedience to
the idea of Gen. Toombs, the amendment
for which was ratified by the people in
June, 1877, just liefore the election of
delegates to the convention of 1877. It
was the carrying out of the principles
enunciated by the general presentments
as quoted aliove that rite convention of
1877 placed in our present constitution
the bond prohibition clause or section.
Here is where the true and tried old
Roman, Dr. Felton, was long before his
friends thought of bringing him forward
for Congress from this district. It was
by entertaining and declaring these hon
est convictions he manifested a statesman
ship and foresighteduess in regard to the
true interests of the people that made his
friends bring him forward as a candidate
for Congress in the national darkness and
corruptness of domestic polities in 1874,
and again in the financial depression of
1876, when the bondholders had fastened
their envenomed fangs upon Congress
ional legislation, and, by poisoning and
corrupting it, brought depression upon
sill kinds of business, and ruin and bank
ruptcy upon our once prosjierous country
and active and remunerative industries.
JUDICIAL PROPRTETY.
Well, we have heard from Canton at
last. It actually occurred that Judge
Lester did sjieak to the Cherokee county
people there on Wednesday of last w eek,
it being the week of the superior court of
that county of which lie is tiie presiding
Judge. We understand Judge Pottle, of
Warrenton, presided in place of Judge
Lester, while Judge Lester patrolled the*
county i>on the hustings, haranging the
people for their votes to elect him to Con
gress. Was the lik ever known in good
old Georgia before? Judge H. V. John
son wouldn’t say a few words for his old
rieml Stephens, when that great ‘states
man spoke at Wad ley, a few days ago,
because be was a judicial officer. .lodge
Martin Crawford refuses to indulge in a
scramble for a congressional nomination
because he occupies the judicial liench.
Judge John [.Hall refused to allow the
use of bis name for Congress in the fifth
because be was a presiding judge.
But Judge Lester is not only a eandi
didate for Congress and is on tiie stump
daily, but lie has actually invaded one of
bis own judicial counties while bis own
court is being held there by a brother
Judge. I!e has patrolled that county
while his own court was in session and
the rights of the people thereof were being
adjudicated at the tribunal of justice of
which be is the presiding officer. As
we have said, it is hoped that such a spec
tacle will never again lie witnessed in
Georgia. l T pon this subject we call the
attention of our readers to an able article
from the Columbus Times published on
our fourth page. What will the writer
in the Time* think when lie learns of
the conduct of Judge Lester in Cherokee
county last week? What does the editor
of the Times himself think of such judi
cial impropriety? Would be now vote
for Lester were be a voter in this district?
Let brother Martin answer these ques
tions, and say if he approves of such im
propriety.
Why don’t Judge Lester resign bis
judgship. If he is bound to lie elected
anyhow as be and bis friends claim, why
don’t*he resign? We understand that
certain gentlemen who aided in securing
his nomination have demanded bis resig
nation. This may or may not be true.
At any rate we may -safely say that Col.
J. R. Brown is ready to don the judicial
ermine at any time Judge Lester will
doff the robes of justice. We say let
Lester resign bis judgsliip or ret ire from
the canvass. J udicial propriety demands
that lie should do one or the other.
THE NINTH DISTRICT.
The campaign is hot in the .ninth.
Speer, the independent candidate, is
making it hot for tiie so-called organized.
He lias a good leverage power upon them
in the fact that Bell was unjustly over
thrown to meet the exigencies of organi
zation. Bell had a vote of forty against
twenty-six in the Gainesville convention,
an evidence that lie had the support of a
large majority of the organized voters of
that district. Even Carlton had a better
shewing than Billups, because Billups
'*. nnt rftstnglit Of 0,.i , |- ivlinl
cmVeil n compromise in the convention.
If there had been any justice in the or
ganized convention at Gainesville, Bell
would have been nominated in response
to the majority of the organized. Bell
was a splendid representative, and bis
record as a Congressman cannot lie assail
ed. As be was a faithful representative,
why was be not nominated?
But such is organization. The choice
of the people is ignored to meeCthe insa
tiable demands of organization in the
conventions of which the voice of the peo
ple is not heard, or not respected if heard.
Hence, we say that Speer has the bulge
on the organized, and ought to use his
advantage effectually. The people ought
to ignore the action of the Gainesville
convention because it ignored them,
For these reasons we hope for Speer’s
triumph. We hope for it in the interest
of the people. We hope for it because
Speer is capable and deserves success
over the thimble-riggers of the ninth dis
trict.
JUDGE LESTER'S WAR RECORD.
We have received a letter from a pri
vate soldier of the forty-first Georgia reg
iment. He gives its an account of about
tlie time the J>.idg< served as a Confeder
ate soldier. It will be remembered that
the forty-first regiment w.c made up in
March, 18(12, when Gov. Brown wss about
to make a draft for Georgia’s quot., for
soldiers. The Judge was a captain in
that regiment, which was first ordered
to Big Shanty, the camp of instruction
at that time for Georgia soldiers. The
regiment was first ordered to Chattanoo
ga, from thence to Corinth, Miss, at which
some skirmishes were had with the ene
my with the loss of one man. The regi
ment then fell back to Tupelo, Miss.,
then to Bridgeport, Tenn., then to Perry
ville, Ky., when the regiment had a gen
eral engagement, in which Judge Lester
lost ins arm in line of battle on the Bth
of September.
It will be seen that Judge Lester was
in the war but little over six or seven
months, except a short time be served
in the State militia near Rome in 1863,
a colonel of militia, in which the editor
of Thk Free Press was a gallant soldier
also, during which time be never saw a
Yankee.
Judge Lester lost an arm honestly in
the war, but that is no reason why he
should lie especially called a hero. Gen.
Loring fought through the v'hole war
with one arm and Gen. Hood with one
leg. Judge Lester quit fighting when be
lost his arm, although an officer.
Didn’t “Old Aleck” just lasli the
thimble-riggers of the eighth district into
organizing upon himself? “Old Aleck,”
as little as be is, physically', is too big a
man for the thimble-riggers, “Old
Aleck” is a whale done up in a few skin
and bones. The only persons we are
sorry for are the wild Irishman, Pat
Walsh, and the white-handed Greg.
Wright, of the Augusta Chronicle and
Constitnttonal 1st —they take it so hard.
Hurrah for “Old Aleck*.”
The [.ester l>oys won’t bet! Well,
yes, they will if von will give them two
or three thousand.
THE RONE COURIER AND HEADINGS.
It is amusing to see the avidity with
which this journal catches up with any
thing Dr. Felton may have said four
years ago, or that Judge Wright may say
now of Judge Lester’s early life.
G. N. I,ester, four years ago bad not
signed Joe Brown’t receipt, or rather he
/uerjslgned it and kept it hid until Gov.
Brown exposed him.
If George X. Lester had made that
transaction plain the seventh district and
Dr. Felton would have said as much of
him as was said of Trammell. lie al
lowed Traimnell’s record to be con
demned, all the time rolling bis saintly
eyes to Heaven, and never bad the moral
courage to stand by bis side and say “I
did it, too.” Xo, sir, be would have bid
it to this good day—all the time abusing
Bullock and the Republicans, all the time
“saving the State,” all the time abusing
Dr. Felton’s ugliness, all the time pa
rading his war record, (that is a very
lean record told by anybody but the
Judge,) all the time holding up his hand,
“Xo, man, woman or child ever beard
me say a word for Henry G. Cole,”
every time singing a camp-meeting tune
on the stump or laughing over a dirty
joke in private. Yes, this is the man
who hid bis lobby work under the garb
of holiness. “I am pure if I do lobby.
T am hottest, if I took the State’s money
under Bullock. Take me, Dr. Felton
said I was pure four years ago.”
THE FREE PRESS.
The Free Press is just five weeks old
this morning. It is the outcome of free
and independent aetion. • It is the child
of the free Democracy of the seventh dis
trict. It is the creation of bold and inde
pendent thought and action in politics.
It is the result of honest opposition to the
thimble-riggers who use the Democratic
party to promote ring rule in the seventh
district. It is the child of the people ,
born and nurtured by the honest toil of
labor. It is backed by honest labor and
nothing else. It depends upon the pet,pie
for its existence.
Well, The Free Press is just five
weeks old this morning, with a hona Jide
circulation of over one thousand. It is a
fixed institution in Bartow county and of
the seventh Congressional district. It is
an organ of the honest, toiling jieople.
It is the free and untrammeled spokes
man of the free voters of this section of
Georgia. It will live in the hearts of a
struggling people in the support of Dr.
Felton tor Congress, because lie is one of
the struggling people and represents the
people faithfully in Congress.
Now, let the people of the seventh
Congressional district stand by The Free
Press. It is their friend and the friend
of labor and reform in the highest sense,
and there is no power or any amount of
money sufficient to swerve it from a firm
advocacy of popular interests,
STAND FIRM, BOYS!
It is no longer a question as to whether
Dr. Felton will be elected or not. It is
only a question wiiaf ,l,f *
will nc. we want that as large as possi
ble, so that the thimble-riggers of this
district will be forever suppressed, and
we shall bear no more of ring rule. The
so-called organized of the seventh are in
the hands of the men Who hung around
the Bullock regime like buzzards around
a dead carcass. They are organized for
office under a pledge to put each other
into office whenever they can. “You
take this and I’ll take that” is their mot
to. Their idea is to control the politics
of the seventh in the interest of a mutual
admiration society,
We tell ihe honest and free voters of
the seventh to stand firm in the right.
Don’t listen to the “blow and bluster” of
the Lester organs and yearling clubs.
They constitute no criterion for popular
sentiment. They are merely political
bummers, many of whom can be bought
for a very few dollars to the interests of
any party. Many of them are Democrats
just for what they can make out of it.
Suppose we divulge what we know on
this line! Suppose we could produce a
few letters in order to show how the po
litical principles of some men are con
trolled ! A few hundreds dollars are
very convincing arguments in minds of
certain honest (?) newspaper men.
Judge “Lester reads that part of Judge
Wright’s letter that refers to himself and
leaves the impression on the minds of
those who hear it that he reads all of
it. Can a reghteoiis Judge descend to such
deception? Judge Lester said at Dallas
that Dr. Felton did not vote for the sil
ver bill. Dr. Felton showed him (from
the Congressional Record) that his vote
was there recorded. Judge Lester made
the same charges at Cedartown three days
later, and left the impression that he be
lieved It. Can an honest man do such
low-handed work?
Ten years ago Pierce Young was nom
inated for Congress, and George X. Les
ter was a delegate to the convention that
nominated him. Lester gave his mor
al if not active support to 11, G. Cole, an
an independent Radical for Congress.
The consequence was, Pierce Young got
185 votes in Cobb and Cole over eleven
hundred! How is that for Lester as an
organized ? Can Pierce Young vote for
a man who turned the cold shoulder to
him ten years ago! If he does, Gen.
Young is a man of infinite forbearance.
Hurrah for Speer in the ninth. The
organized kicked Hiram Parks Bell, the
choice of the people, out of the Gaines
ville convention. If Speer can’t come in
on that disregard of the people’s wishes,
then the voters of the ninth are slaves to
ring rule. If Parks Bell can submit to
such indignity and support ring rule by
sustaining the action of the Gainesville
convention, we dont know that he really
ought to represent a free and independ
ent Democracy any longer
— #
A little paper published at DeSoto, a
suburban village of Rome, called the
Rome Daily, or the Daily Bulletin, is
rampant against Dr. Felton. Its op
position amounts to but little Tieeuuso its
circulation is limited. Shall we have to
tell “what’s the matter with Hannah”
in regard to that little sheet ?
- OLD ALECK” AND Tltl^^gTH.
lion. A. 11. Stephens
nmtisly nominated for < the
F.ighth district last week ar PRmpson.
The old man literally defied tldmlffe
riggers and the thimhle-riggers re
sponded to the lash of He
made them “come to time.” jjfehev dared
not to oppose him. They eoiffd not beat
him for the reason rliar the people were
for Stephens, whether nominated or not,
and Stephens intended to ‘stand” for
Congress whether nominal or not.
Therefore, Mr. Stephens is flHost inde
pendent candidate in Georgi lt , lie asks
the ]K>liricians no odds, and the politi
eians had to nominate him in order to
save themselves from disgraT ,>£u] defeat.
“Old Aleck” just whipped\rofn out by
making them nominate liim anyhow.
Felton is going to be elected pretty much
on the same line. The hlnggold con
vention was called expressly to beat Fel
ton and the people are determined they
shall not. Stephens and I-T^ u are the
best representatives Georgia lyi* bad in
Congress for yeass.
THE EFFORT TO GET THE'COLORED
VOTE.
The Ringgold convention had four col
ored delegates from Bartow. They went
after night, hut they went m that pur
pose. Their way was paid DJf a very rich
man in Cartersville. lie hat nearly all
the money in town. He cater* the bets
and is general financial manager of the
Lester crowd. The colored delegates
told all about how they we™ Introduced
on the floor at Ringgold, and how good
they felt in that organized But,
too much whisky told the tale, and the
the white delegates repudiate them now.
Judge Lester at Kingston could not
have a poor colored woman in his sight,
when be spoke there some years ago.—
He derided their thick lips, ami black fa
ces, they got away from him, too. Now,
he wants their vote, They are very nice
—they can ride on the cars as delegates
—if they go after night. They can eat at
Lester’s barbecues and welcome, and
they can vote for Lester welcome,
too. Don’t you see the effort? Remem
ber Kingston.
Judge Lester says he took the fee of
SI,OOO as a lawyer. Where was his pa
triotism when he deliberately took a
bribe to work on the Legislature against
the people of Georgia! If be can do
things as a lawyer that are disreputable
as an honest citizen; what are we to think
of the law? What are we to suppose be
would not feel justified in doing in the
Congress of the Flitted Srates ,, when lie
could take money to injure his native
State? A word to the wise is sufficient.
-
We publish this week the reply of Col.
B. E. Green to the article of Col. L. X.
Trammell published in the < barters ville
Express two weeks ago, Wo publish the
article of C’ol. Green lieeause there is no
assault upon Col. ’Trammell except upon
his political record, which is public prop
erty. We huvti <>n tu #v *rriblieation
next week the rejoinder* of .FTW*. Tram
mell. The want of space prevents its ap
pearance this week.
The Constitution is a great paper. It
is a spread eagle sheet. But nobody be
lieves any' of its reports in regard to the
Congressional campaign in the Seventh
district. It lias lost all character for ve
racity in tl|is section of Georgia. When
ever a fellow tells a big political yarn it
is at once colled a “ Constitution lie.” A
“Constitution lie” is the way' it is called
in this section. We mention this fact to
put the conductors of that paper on guard
| as to its assertions.
The Constitution has not carried Bar
tow for LesterTyet. ft has its sappers and
miners at work somewhere around the
edge of the county. We tell our citizens
to keep a sharp lookout. The explosion
will take place some where—where, no
one can tell. When the Constitution ex
plodes it explodes sure enough. It is
bound to cany Bartow for Lester before
the campaign is out —on paper.
We have a rejoinder from Col. L. X.
Trammell to Col. IL.FL Green's reply to
him for publication. As our space was
already' pre-engaged for this week before
receiving it, we are unable to give it pub
lication in the present issue. If will ap
pear next week.
—
The Free Press is full of political
matter—so much so we are unable to
give little news. The cause of justice
and the interests of the people demand
all our space in the present campaign.
Our friends will excuse this for us.
If Dabney, with a spotless political re
cord as a Democrat, could not beat Fel
ton, how can Lester defeat him now since
it is known lie was a retained lawyer in
liehalf of a great cheat upon the State in
the State road lease?
*
The most reliable news from all parts
of this Congressional district gives assur
ance that Dr. Felton’s majority over
Judge Lester will lie greater than that
over Col, Dabney', two years ago. -
It is stated that. Hon. S. A. Corker,
of Burke county, at one time a member
of Congress, will lie an Independent can
didate in the first district for the same po
sition.
—
There are some editors in this district
who are opposing Felton, all because
there was no money' bandy' to buy them
in his favor. We speak whereof wc know.
We are still crowded with the favors
of correspondents and cannot give them
alia bearing. We shall give, them a
place as soon as possible,
We print this week an edition of 2,468
papers, and wc fear wc shall not be able
to meet the demand for The Free Press,
the people’s paper.
Lester patrols Cherokee county while
Judge Pottle holds his Court therein,
the like of which never was known in
Georgia,
1 ♦ t
There is not a paper in this Congres
sional district with a hop a tide circulation
of two thousand. Who will make the
test ?
SHAME, WHERE IS THY EH Sir ?
A aorros]>ondont in Sunday's CMmstitu-i
ttyi from Acworth, sig%incjpimsiaf “Ob
seYvcSf attempts, to take our*
aceount of the \r%orth msgrace. Of
course his “stuff” will onlyoe 'lulled at
by those who know anythtng al>out the
affair. But Op* finest point lie makes is:
“Those whom lie (we) chooses to call the
■pawling: dull are .our best and most lu
tel igent citizens.” Did we fora minute
believe those yeljiers were the best and
most intelligent, citizens of Acworth, her
hanged if we wouldn’t sign a petition to
the North Georgia Conference to send a
school-teacher and a missionary there at
once, or else try to get them to migrate
to the Fiji Islands. Happily though they
were discountenanced and their conduct
was condemned by the "best and most
intelligent citizens” of Acworth.
Lester is still relating his stale jokes
over the district, lie spent last week in
Cherokee county and made his stole
speech at every precinct while his court
was in session, and yet Cherokee will go
for Folton by a thousand majority.
Thk Free* Press is just tivc weeks old
this morning and has a bona tide circula
tion of over one thousand. We don’t
imii nt orders for extra copies, which
amount to over thirteen hundred this
week.
The yellow fever is still raging fatally in
New Orleans and at points along the Mis
sissippi as far upas Memphis.
Don’t you hear the footsteps of the
mountaineers for Felton? Don’t you
hear the sound thereof?
BILL. AP.P, JR.
To Bill Arp, Senior, in Care of the Edi
tor of The Free Press.
Dear Cousin Bill. —When T writ to
you last I reminded yon of what St. Paul
says about evil communications. But
when T praised your good mannered way
of dodging an answer to my conundrums,
as being so much better than Mr. I,lis
ter’s bulldozing way of dodging the hard
pints of Dr. Felton’s arguments, by jump
ing behind a passion and erying out,
“liar,” “hypocrite,” I didn’t antici
pate that 1 would so soon have occasion
to say, “bye! bye! cousin Bill, bad com
pany has spileil your good manners.” I
see that the Constitution noospaper lias
published another letter from you, and
they call it, “Bill’s Philosophy reaching
out.” It starts out by insulting all the
voters in the seventh congressional dis
trict who don’t intend to vote for Mr.
Luster, and cousin Bill, that’s more’ll two
thirds of the whole voting population,
“regardless of age, or sex or color.” It
tells them that they are actooated by
mere envy of the “rich and shifty ” Mr.
Luster, and that they are only mad be
cause they, too, couldn’t use Bullock to
draw money out of the Georgia State
Treasury, like the monkey used the cat
to draw his chestnuts out to cool. Do
you think that’s good manners, cousin
Bill ? No, indeed, it isn’t, and it isn’t
true. The voters of the seventh eon
gSPSSlOllill awtrlrt nte not, actoonto.l
any such base motives as this “reaching
out philosophy” attributes to them.
They are not going to vote for Dr. Felton
because they envy the “ rich” Mr. Lus
ter’s “ shifty ” way of drawing SIO,OOO
out of the State treasury for bringing one
dutch gal into Georgia;’ but because they
want a man to represent them in Con
gress who has the brains to defend their
rights and interests and an integrity that
“philosophers reaching out” for public
plunder by “shifty” ways dare not ap
proach with their schemes.
But if bad company lias spiled your
good manners, what must be said oii the
score of good morals ? You say: ‘iWhy
sur, that money has all been spent long
ago. It’s been eat up and Avore out—
Luster ain’t got a dollar of it.” Now,
’pon honor, cousin bill, do you really
think that’s a good reason for setting
aside a good man like Dr. Felton, of
whose great abilities and spotless virtue
and genuine democracy every Georgian
has good reason to be proud, in order to
send Mr. Lustes to ('ongress ? W 1 int for V
Is it because all those thousands of dol
lars that he got out of the State treasury
for bringing one dutch gal to Georgia
have all been spent and eat up and wore
out ? Or is it, as the story about Jerry
Murphey suggests, that he may “poot
one hand into the threasury” and draw
out more thousands of dollars to he spent
and eat up and wore out in the same
way? Cousin hill, more’n two-thirds of
the voters will say in November, that’s
neither good morals nor good democracy.
Agin, as a reason why Mr. Luster
should hold on to his judgeship while
running for Congress, you say: “An
oilis is an ottis and money’s money, don’t
it ?” Do you mean by this that a judge’s
offis is no better than the town scav
enger’s, and that there is no reason why
the judge’s ermine should be kept any
cleaner than the scavenger’s overalls?
Cousin hill, see where had company Avill
bring a man to.
And you say: “Money’s money, don’t
it?” Do you mean that it don’t matter
how a man gets money, so he gets?
That money made by divvies Avith Bullock
and his legislator, which you call “dem
ocratic,” is just as good as money made
by the hardworking tax-payers, by the
sweat of their faces? No, no, cousin
bill; that, too, is neither good morals,
nor genuine democracy. It’s too much
like “reaching out” for the fruits of oth
er men’s hard labor. In these hard
times the tax-payers don’t Avant the mon
ey they have to pay out of their scanty
earnings into the “threasury” spent aiid
cat up and Avoro out in the Avay that let
ter suggests.
I axed you a conundrum, cousin bill.
“What’s the difference between the Ring
gold convention and the Trammel 1-State
gold-bonds-Ring?” and you don’t an-
SAver, but ax another conundrum,
“whit’s the difference betAveen holdin’
an offis under Bullock’s democratic legis
lator and holdin’ one a un
der a radical congress and drawin’ pay
out of a radical treasury?” Well, your
ideas of democracy and of othe* things
have got awfully mixed. If you thimk
there Avas any democracy in Bullock or
his legislator, it ain’t the kind of democ
racy that the voters of this district are
AA'illing to take in theirs. It’s too much
like Boss TAveed’s democracy. And
moreover our congressman, the good and
great Felton, God bless him! understands
his position too \yull to feel that he
“hold of Ms under a radical congress.”
He holds his offis under the honest dem
ocratic voters of the 7th congressional
district of Georgia, who elected him and
are going to elect him again Avith the
largely increased majority due to a good
and faithful servant, He’knoAvs that the
treasury at Washington is not a radical
treasury any more than Bullock’s legis
lator was democratic. It don’t belong
to the radicals. It belongs to the tax
payers, who pay their money into it, and
part of it to his oavh constituents. They
don’t want it dkvfed out ami spent .and
eat up and wore out, as that so-called
democratic legislator did with the money
in the Georgia state treasury in 1809-70?
fThlt’s what the matter with Mr. Luster,
and that’s why the honest voters of this
district, white and black, democrats and
republicans, are going to send Dr. Felton
back to Washington ; because they know
that he will neither spend, nor eat up
nor wear out, the money they have to pay
into the “threasury,” nor let anybody
else do it as long as he can prevent it.
If it was ever true. thatjcjthe voice of
the people is the voice of God, ”
it was when the people, tired of
having their money spent and ear up and
wore out by so-called democrats, called
Dr. Felton, as Moses was called, to lead
them out from under the bondage of the
State-gold-bonds-Rings, whose “philoso
phy reaches out” in this one*idea that
“an nfits.is an ottls, and money’s money,”
no matter how one comes by it.
Yours, truly, Bill Arc, Jr.
CAMPAIGN NOTES.
Some Late Accounts from the Seventh Con*
gressional District.
We do nor propose to do as the Atlanta
Constitution does nor the small fry who
ape that unreliable journal. We expect
to give truthful reports and nothing else.
Such reports as will tally with the final
Votes. A journal’s honor is worth pro
tecting for the sake of the future. We
hope til will rememlier this,
liecause if they should give a fair report
of themselves, at some future time, the
public will not he disposed to give them
the propercredit, they will suppose they
are talking for the Ring:
Chattanooga, Aug. 10.
1 pop men ever}' day from Walker, Catoosa and
Dado. Lester gained no votes by liis speeches.
After the speaking at Graysville the people were
asked to stand up to see how many voters there
were for Lester. About one-fourth stood up.
Eagle Cliff, Lookout, August 18.
1 met a man from Dade to-day, by no means
on enthusiast, who, when asked about the politi
cal situation, said “Felton would get in the neigh
borhood of three hundred votes in that county.”
LaEayettf., August lii.
I saw several men who heard Lester speak in
the Cove. They say he had no argument, only
his war record. Felton will gain largely on his
former vote.
Atlanta, August 15.
There lias just returned an Atlanta man who
says the rare is over now—that Felton’s vote
will he larger than Iwdore. He is also a strong
friend of Lestev.
Rome, August 13.
1 thought you would like to know how thing.>,
are moving on in Rome. Felton’s stock is largely
on the increase. The Lester men are badly
hacked. There was a bet made and the money
put up that Lester would come down.
orange P. 0., Cherokee Cos.
I was coming from Gainesville, met twenty
four hands on the road. They took a vote and
there were 22 for Felton and 2 for Lester. I af
terwards took a wrong road and struck another
squad of sixteen—ls for Felton, 1 for Lester. I
also stopped at a country store—the storekeeper
says Felton has also gained a great many votes
around hint.
Buchanan, Aug 9.
1 know of no man who voted for Felton before
w ho is not for him now, and a great many others
say they will vote for him who did not before,
lie lias certainly gained largely.
August IG.
I saw a man from Dade to-day. lie said Dade
will be close. I think it will be very close in
Walker this time.
Summerville, August 16.
Tell Dr. Folton to iv iu un here. He
will certainly hold his ow n in this county. 1 hear
of several changes even in Summerville.
Marietta, Auguse 16.
A Lester man who was at Canton saysthat in a
crownl of 1,000 men there were not over 180 Lester
men. C. D. Phillips made a speech of no efleet.
Tunneli. Hill, August 16.
The vote was taken at Ringgold on the Grand
Jury, eleven for Felton and ten for Lester. Felton
will gain fifty votes in the lower corner of Ca
toosa county. Let us hear from you. The Les
ter men claim Cobb and Cherokee both.
Cedar Grove, Walker County, Aug. IC.
Lester spoke here on the loth. I never heard
of one vote fie made. Some of our country
crackers could beat it. lie said there was but
one Democrat running and that Avas himself.
Some say if Felton can’t beat Lester’s talk they
shall not vote at all. His was a poor thing.
Kbd Clay, August 18.
Tell Dr. Felton to make us a speech up here.
He has a great many friends here.
Kennk,saw, August IT.
Dr. Felton has lost no friends here. The Ac
worth disgrace strengthened him and is killing
Lester. Every pit the enemy digs for Felton is
tilled at once’ Avith the enemy’s tricksters, j
never saw people so firm and solid in my life.
Rome, August 14th.
After all the fuss and racket, Feton is ahead
in this city. The Lesterites have given it up.
Yorkville, Paulding Cos, Aug, 12.
Felton’s prospects are bright here and else-
Avhere.
Brownville, Paulding Cos., August 9.
It is my honest conviction Felton will carry
this county by a large majority.
Ckdartown, Aug 17.
From best information I am satisfied that Fel
ton’s majority will be considerably increased in
Polk and Haralson counties.
You can see these private letters if
you like. The honest farmers haA’e no
reason to bloAv for effect. If you Avill go
out among them you Avill hear for your
selves.
FELTON IN CATOOSA.
Ringgold, Ga., August 20.
To the Free Press:
I have been thinking for some time,
I would Avrite you a feAV items from
this place if no one else more experienced
w ould uot. Mr. Editor l never did vote
for Dr. Felton, hut as times change, so
must men change.
As you knoAv, Col. Dabney got 240 ma
jority in this county, blit I assure you
there has been quite a change since then.
I hope you Avill not lie surprised when I
tell you that Dr. Felton Avill get 100 more
votes in Catoosa county than he ever got.
I mean to say that he Avill get 100 more
votes if the election Avas to come off’ noAV,
than he ever got, and as all the changes
are in his favor, you may rest easy for
the result in November. Judge Lester
made a little talk here on the 12th ult.,
to about 250 persons, nearly one-half of
them for Dr. Felton. His arguments
Avere so thin that his most sanguine sup-
porters Avere ashamed of them.
I have only one question to ask you, I
Avant to know where consistency comes
in? Judge Lester is getting $2,500 a year
as a salary and says if he is elected he
proposes \o introduce a bill cutting down
the pav of Congressmen to SI,BOO a year.
Does lie want us to believe that he Avould
rather serve his country for SI,BOO a year
away from home anti with his family and
have a $2,500 salary. Please let me knotv
if consistency has played.
As you know the Superior Court was
in session here last AA'eek. The grand ju
ry took a vote—2l jurymen—Lester 11,
Felton, 10. We tried to get this vote
published nearer home, but could not do
so.
Tell Dr. Felton he will he av ell repre
sented in the upper counties. As this is
the first thing I ever wrote for a newspa
per I aa ill he very short.
One Against the Lawyers.
THE THINNEST DODGE OF ALL,
To the Fret Press:
Some Whitfield politicians who can
start a false report, ami swear to it, are
telling in Whitfield and Murray that Dr.
Felton hi tide red the Mexican iiensiou
lill by amending it to include all vete
rans under fifty years of age.
I pronounce it a bold faced He.
Read Dr. Felton’s speech.
Certain parties are running another
story, that he tried to pension General
Shields. He did. Gen. Shields was a
gallant Mexican soldier, and the Demo
crats of the House voted solidly to pen
sion him. lie is old and infirm and has
but a little time to live. Why should he
not have a pension as well as those who
fought later battles?
Dr. Felton is accused ot lobbying
Southern claims by a writer in the Rome
Courier. Now show the receipt —the de
mand for a fee —or any showing of a fee.
We demand the proof..
You can’t hide Judge Lester’s big fee
under such a false charge.
Dr. Felton did all he could in even
honest way to aid the men who applied
forYelief before the claims commission.
He did his full duty as the friend and
representative of these men. He served
both friend and foe. Now produce your
lobbying proof ! Gov. Brown’s receipt
will clinch your argument, if you can
show it. That settled Lester.
With the steel trap hanging to your
man’s foot, you may cry “lobby,” to your
heart’s content. We take no such in
ours. We are glad our candidate did
not nose around Bullock. Your man did.
We arc glad lie let the immigration
swindle alone. Lester can’t escape that.
We are glad our man didn’t talk so strong
for the State road lease as to give Gov.
Brown satisfactory reasons to lielieve In*
would sell out for SI,OOO. That is what
is the matter with Lester. Hide the
steel trap before you holler “Lobby.”
Independent.
THE SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.
A Few Notes from our Irrepressible Young
Correspondent.
To the Free Press:
There is a certain individual in this
district Who is trying to make capital for
Lester by telling the colored people that
the Lester men were the friends and de
fenders of the four colored men who were
charged with burning the store-houses at
Stilesboro, while the Felton men were
their persecutors, and were trying to
hang them. I will give you the name of
this individual if lie don’t hold his peace.
Messrs. W. R. Colbert’s and Peal
Dodd’s railroad hands took a vote last
week while working the road. They
were fifty-six in number and only three
for Lester.
Is it a fact that there has lieen sßoosent
to this district to buy Lester votes with ?
The good citizens of Stilesboro and vi
cinity would like to know what motive
the gentlemen had in bonning Jack Nol
iie out of jail who has been tried for arson
and is now awaiting his trial for bur
glary . (’an It V>e for a potitkml V
Your paper has become a favorite
among the people of this district. They
say they w ish there were two Thursday’s
in every week, so they might see Tax
Free Press oftener.
The Lester boys won’t back their judg
ment with money in the old 17th.
We are informed that Mr. Seaborn
Wright, of Rome, will make a speech at
Stilesboro next Saturday, the 24th, in
Dr. Felton’s behalf. We hope that there
will be a good turn-out to hear Mr.
Wright as the citizens of this place will
not allow a yearling club to he there to
paw and bellow. (’. 11. C.
ISHE AN INDEPENDENT?
What a Columbus Organized Paper has to
Say about the Seventh.
The Columbus Enquirer-Sun , of recent
date, has the following to say in regard
to the Congressional race in the seventh
district:
We have the opinion of Hon. A. 11.
Stephens that Dr. IV. 11. Felton has as
much brains as any man in ('ongress.
We Avant such men to stay there. We
have the authority of Senator B. H. Hill
that the chairman of the executive com
mittee of the seventh district told him
that a Democratic coeven vent ion Avould Ih;
held for the express purpose of beating
Dr. Felton. Jf a man’s course deserved
approval it was certainly Felton’s. The
first ttme he ran for Congress he forced
down a man who was charged openly
with having the money of the enemy in
his pocket. It is now alleged that sev
eral of the papers opposing him were se
cretly bought, by Ex-Gov. J. E. Brown
in the time of the tstate road lease, one
receiving $5,000. No one attempts to
impugn Judge Lester’s honor, yet, he Avas
paid heavily for office-holding under Gov.
Bullock’s regime, and Gov. Brown re-
! tained him, and his brother was Bullock’s
| private secretary. Judge Lester holds a
| commission as judge of the superior court
of Georgia, and does not resign it, though
j engaged daily upon the stump and high
way soliciting another place. He aa as a
gallant soldier, and lost an arm in the
war. Has his course since been any bra
ver than Felton’s? Has it been as much?
Has he fought in the Democratic ranks
as Felton lias against fraud, monopoly
and bribery —against those who endeav
ored to throttle Ids State? Does it make
Dr. Felton an Independent because he
refused to have anything to do Avith a
convention, .the caller to which stated to
Senator Hill* it was convened for no oth
er purpose than to )>eat Felton? Would
any man aaTiosc Democracy had lecu
tested in four active years of Congress
ional service been foremost among the
boldest and best debaters, universally
acknowledged by his compeers to he
among the very ablest of Georgians, have
tamely submitted to such injustice?
Judge Lester Avill not resign hisjudgship
until he is elected to Congress. That is
a question of delicacy and taste avc will
not discuss. If he fails to reach Wash
ington he will have the judgship. The
salary and place help in the campaign.
Dr. Felion Avill not resign his honors
and his cause of Democracy at the dicta
tion of the politicians who Avant a man
of his brains and sterling sense out of the
Avay. We are Avith the people in this
race, and hope to see Dr. Felton elected,
for he has been tried found honest and
true. We hardly believe he can be term
ed an Independent because he asserted
his independence of a*body formed accord
ling to the expression of its executive
head, for the express object of attempt
ing to shame a faithful, eloquent advo
cate of the people and true Democracy.