The free press. (Cartersville, Ga.) 1878-1883, December 19, 1878, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

KATES OF SUBSCRIPTION. One copy one year. - - - . |2 00 One copy iix months, .... jqq One copy Dree months, ... 50 CLUB RATES. Five coj>tc a one year, - . . . |8 75 Ten coplei one year, - - r . 15 00 Twenty e< pies one year, - . 25 00 Fifty copi one venr, ..... 50 00 To i paid for invarriably in advance. All orders for the paper must be addressed to TILE FREE PRESS. Cards. T. W. H. HARRIS, ATTORNF.Y-AT-LAW, CARTERBVELLE, OA. PRACTICES IN ALL TILE COURTS OF Bartow and adjoining counties, and will t>' '* lifully attend to all business entrusted to him. Office ov* r postoffice. dec,s-ly JOHN L. MOOIV, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. Office at tha store of P. L. Moon & Son, East Main Street. CARTER3VILLE, GA. nlyH R. W. MURPHEY, ATTORNKY-AT - 12, Al W , CARTERSVILLE, GA. OFFICE (u a-stairs) in the briek building, cor ner of Main <fc Erwin streets. julylß. J. A. BAKER, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, CARTERSVILLE, GA. TTTILL p -Betice in all the courts of Bartow V V and adjoining counties. Prompt atten tion given all business entrusted to nis care. Office in Ba lk Block over the post office. Jul ylB, * E. I). OH ATI 'M. A. M. FOUTE. GRAHAM & FOUTE, ATTORN K Y 8 -Al T - 12. Al W. CARTERSVILLE, GA. Practice i all the courts of Bartow county, the Superior Courts of North-west Georgia, and the Supreme Courts at Atlanta. Office wes side public Square, up-stairs over W. W. Rich & Co’s. Store, second door south of Postollice. Julylß. T. W. MILNE't. J. w. HARRIS, JR. MILNER & HARRIS, ATTO ILNEYS-AT-LAW, ( ARTERSVILLE, GA. Office on West Main Street. julylS F. St. JOHNSON, Dentist, (Office over Stokely & Williams store.) C ARTKRBVILLE, GEORGIA. I WILL FILL TEETH, EXTRACT TEETH, and put In teeth, or do any work in my line at prices to s lit the times. Ft®"'Work all warranted. Refer to my pat rons all over the county. auglo-ly. F. M J JOHNSON. JOHN T. OWEN, (At Sayre & Co.’s Drug Store,) ( ARTERSVILLE, GA. WILT, sell Watches, Clocks and Jewelry, Specta des. Silver and Silver-Plated Goods, and w ill sell them as cheap as they can be bought anywhere. Warranted to prove as represented. All work (lone by me warranted to give satisfaction. Give me a’call. juiylS. Chas. J?. ‘WillingcDam, STENOGRAPHIC LAW REPORTER, [ROME .JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.] T MAKE A CLEAN RECORD OF CASES. I taking down the testimony entire; also, ob jections or attorneys, rulings‘of the court, and the charge o’ the court, w ithout stopping tin witness or otherwise delaying the judicial pro ceedings. Charges very reasonable and satis faction guaranteed. Traveler’s Ghiide. WESTERS AND ATLANTIC R. R. The following passenger schedule took effect July 14th, 187s: NIGHT PABBENGER—UP. Leave Atlanta 2:15 pm I Leave Tarter ville 4:09 pm I !.*• Kinga("n 4:Bdpir- Leave Dalion 6:13 p n Arrive at Chattanooga 8:10 pm NTGU.T PASSENGER—DOWN. Leave Chattanooga 5:00 p m Leave Dalton 6:47 p m Leave Kingston 8:16 pm Leave Carter ville 8:42 pm Arrive at Atlanta 10:40 p m DAY PASSENGER—UP. Leave Atlanta 5:10 am Leave (7a rters ville 7:18 an Leave Kingston 7:48 an Leave Dalton 9:28 an Arrive at Cha tanooga 11:00 a n> D -Y PASSENGER—DOWN. Li ave Chatta .ooga 6:15 a in Leave Dalton 8:15 an Leave Kingston 9:46 am Leave Carter ville 10:13 an Arrive at Atlanta 12:10 p r. CHEUOKEE RAILROAD. On and after Monday, June 10, 1870, the trair on this ltoad will run daily as follows (Sunda: excepted): GO IN GWE 'T. Arrive. Leave. Carter: .ville 1:30 pn Stileshoro 2:15 pm 2:20 pn Taylorsville 2:45 pm 3:00 pn Rock mart . 4:00 pm GOING EAST. Roe.Kmurt 6:00 an Tavlorsville 7:ooam 7:15 a u Stilesboro 7:40 a m 7:45 an Carters ville 8:35 am W TLLIAM MACRAE, Sup’t. COOSA RIVER NAVIGATION. On and aftc Monday, November 30tli, the fol low in schedule will be run by the Steamei MAGNOLIA: Leave Rome > onday San Arrive at < lad den Tuesday ( an Leave Gadsden Tuesday 8 p n Arrive at Rom - Wednesday 6 P 11 Leave Rome Thursday a 11 Arrave at Gad den Friday 7a n Leave Gadsden Friday 6pn Arrive at Rome Saturday • ”JP n J. M. F.LLIOTT Gen’l Sup’t. ROME RAI LEO AD COMPANY. On and after Sunday, June 3rd, trains on tills Road will run sis follows: DAY TRAIN—EVERY DAY. Leave Rome 8:1(! a . nr Arrive at Rome 12.00 m SATURDAT EVENING ACCOMMODATION. Leave Rome 5:00 pm Arrive at Rom a 8:0O p m THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN. rTMIEREADITOSOFTHE FREE PRESSTOI I Anil in the Nashville AMERICAN, a flrst class newsprpi r. In news, it enjoys all the ad vantatagesof the Eastern and Western Pres.- Associations, thus securing the latest telegraph ic news from ad parts of tne United States ant. the rest of the world. Its market reports art full and iuclm es all articles in the mercantile lists of the country. It has Dr. Daniel Lee foi Agricultural Editor, who gives it special valut to the farmer. . _ ~ ... THE AMERICAN is Democratic, and ito disem-siou- of the current political questions arc able, and challenge even the respect of adversa ri The miscellaneous columns of THE AMERI CAN embrace all that is interesting and useful, in the various lields of human enterprise; and i* can be safely commended, as a most excellent and valuable paper m the Household, the \\ ork shop, the Store-house, and to all people of ever} vocation. .... THU AMERICAN prints three editions— Dailv. Semi-Weekly and Weekly—specimen copses of which will be sent on application. The terms are, per annum—Daily, $10.60. Semi-Weekly, hM Weekly. *2.00, postage G>aid. Ad()rt , 9 Ttl * STILESBORO HIGrH SCHOOL. TITHE SPRING SESSION WILL BEGIN ON 1 the Second Monday in January next. Punils prepared for admission into any one of rolleire classes. For further particulars, ad drcssg W.R. THIGPEN, Principal. novV-tjanl. Stilesboro, Ga. COUCH HOUSE, (Kingston, Georgia.) rrmrs LARGE AND COMFORTABLE T House is at w kept by W. W Rainey. The traveling uubli will And good, plain accommo dation a ‘Parties wishing board through the summer will find Kingston one of the healthiee and quietest localities in Upper Georpa. Three or four familie* can get comfortable rooms n ICrm " Crr wfw‘RAD.'EY. . VOLUME I. WILLIAM C. EDWARDS, Manufacturer cf and Dealer in Harness, Saddles, Bridles, Whips. Roles, Blankets, Combs, Fly-nets, Cartersvillo, Georgia. £££* Repairing promptly executed. NICE ROSEWOOD COFFINS ALWAYS ON HAND. ALL SIZES TO SUIT octfi. Great Bargains. J. A. ERWIN &, SON ARE OFFERING AN ENTIRE NEW STOCK OF FALL AND WINTER GOODS, FALL AND WINTER GOODS, CONSISTING of Ory Goods, Clothing, Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Boots and Shoes, Crockery, Ac., &c., Crockery, Ac., Ac., AT EXTREMELY LOW PRICES AT EXTREMELY LOW PRICES TO SUIT THE TIMES. TO SUIT THE TIMES. Call and Examine their Goods and Prices Before Buying. J. A. ERWIN & SON. Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 19th, 1878, Yon Can Have Free I A SPECIMEN COPY OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS. It is the most entertaining journal in the world. Its literary standard isof the highest character. Its poems and sketches are universally copied and read. It is witty, gossipy, entertaining and instruet ve. It sparkles from the first page to the last. It surpasses in correspondeuce from all parts >f the country. Its war sketches by noted writers are contribu . ious to history from both sides, and the South is tally represented. A THOUSAND LADIES! In reality many more, the best women in the land, contribute to “THE HOUSEHOLD.” It is a supplement which accompanies The Fkee Press every week. There is nothing like it. Cordial admiration and love express the sentiments which readers •ntcrtaifl for it. Kindly sympathy, good advice, information and instruction upon many topics, characterize its contents. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE Try The Free Press for a year. MAKE HOME HAPPY. Nothing will so commend itself to the family; Or afford as much genuine enjoyment Asa perusal of THE DETROIT FREE PRESS. The rates of subscription are Two dollars a year. Send to The Free Press Cos., Detroit, Mich. NORTH GEORGIA MEDICAL INSTITUTE Cartersville, Bartow county, Ga. F. Wm. MEMMLER, M. D.,j _ LINDSEY JOHNSON. M. D.,j 1 roprietors. THE GREATEST DISCOVERY KNOWN FOR CURING CANCERS. CANCERS AND ALL CHRONIC DISEASES Successfully treated. We cure cancer without the use of the knife under Dr. Memmler’s great internal cancer rem •sdv. Payment after Cancer is taken out and healed. All kinds op surgical oper ations performed. COUNT STITT A TIOINT WliEli: ! Office hours: 9 to 12 a. m.; 1 to 6 p. m. nov2-9 SELLING HATS AT COST. T. B. SHOCKLEY will sell his stock of Men’s and Boy’s HATS, bought this year AT NEW YORK COST. Those in want of a good hat will do well to call on me and get one of those fashionable hats at New York cost as I am bound to Sell. everybody and get anew hat at cost. seps-tf. T. B. SHOCKLEY. LITCHFIELD HOUSE (Aeworth, Georgia.) E. L. LITCHFIELD, Proprietor. CONVENIENT TO THE DEPOT, AND ITS tables supplied with the rery best the mark et affords, augS. THE FREE PRESS. GOV. A. H. COLQUITT. Reports of the Investigation of the North eastern Bonds. After a tedious investigation, the fol lowing reports were submitted to the legislature on Thursday, the 12th: MAJORITY REPOET. To the Senate and House of Represen | tatives: On the 7th day of November, , 1878, Ins excellency, the governor, laid j before the general assembly the follow ing special message, to-wit: “Executive Department, Atlanta, Ga., November 6, 1878.—T0 the General Assembly: A grievous necessity has been imposed <n ne o demand at your hands a thorough investigation oi my motives and conduct, as executive of Georgia, ii. placing the state’s indorsement upon the bonds of the Northeastern railroad. This necessity has been created by widely cir culated slanders and inuendoes, vile and malignant, and so mendacious and wick ed as to make all comment and para phrase upon them utterly futile. Noth ing but a thorough sifting of my every motive and act in regard to these bonds, as far as human insight and judgment can reach these,"can satisfy an aggrieved honor, or give such entire assurance to ihe people of Georgia, as they hxye a right to demand in the premises. To a man who values his good name far more than liie, it would be an act of supreines. injustice to deny the most plenary vindi cation, rendered in the most august am authoritative form known to the laws, oi to public opinion. “To the people of this great common wealth it is of the last consequence that they should know, beyond all peradven ture, that the man who Alls, at their call, the chief seat of authority, is above re proach or suspicion. “My denunciations of an awful and stupendous slander, forged and uttered to dishonor me, will not be enough. The general assembly of the state—a co-ordi nate power—is appealed to for that jus tice which, while it will, I know full well, exonerate me as a man, will also vindicate the fair fame of Georgia, assail ed by cruel slanders on her chief execu tive. “Alfred H. Colquitt.” In response to the foregoing, the gen eral assembly passed the following joint resolution: “Resolved, That in response to the spe cial communication of his excellency, Governor A. 11. Colquitt, on the subject of the indorsement by him of the bonds of the Northeastern railroad, a committee of five from the senate to act jointly with a committee of eight from the house be appointed to investigate the whole mat ter and report their action to this body, and that the house he notified of the ac tion of the senate in the premises, and that said committee be authorized to compel the presence of persons and pro duction of papers.” And subsequently the following ad ditional joint resolution was adopted, to wit: “Resolved by the senate and house of representatives, That the joint committee to whom was referred the special mes sage of his excellency, asking an investi gation of his indorsement of the bonds of the Northeastern railroad, be instructed to report not only the conclusions at which it shall have arrived, but also the evidence on which the conclusions are based.” The committee appointed under the first of the foregoing resolutions submit the following report: Impressed with the gravity and magni tude of the matter submitted to it, the committee have patiently and rigidly in vestigated every charge and every rumor which might in any way affect the mo tives and conduct of the governor in fix ing the state’s indorsement to the bonds of the Northeastern railroad company. Every witness in any way connected with the transaction has been subjected to a most thorough examination. The committee has not been able to find any proof that lias, directly, or indirectly, im plicated Governor Colquitt in this trans action inconsistent with the honest and conscientious discharge of the duties of his high position. They also find that he has not been guilty of any illegal conduct or corrupt practices in the matter of said indorse ment. In the opinion of this committee, the reports and rumors that connect the name of the governor with any improper conduct in the matter of t he indorsement of the bonds of the Northeastern rail road company are vile and malignant slanders. This committee did not investigate the legality of the state’s indorsement of the bonds of the Northeastern railroad com pany, except in so far as the same was calculated to illustrate the motives and conduct of the governor, because they did not believe that the investigation of this purely legal question was within the scope of the investigation ordered by the general assembly. In investigating the motives and con duct of the governor, the committee have found it necessary to examine into the conduct of Mr. John W. Murphy, a clerk in the treasury department of the state, and it is the opinion of this committee that Mr. Murphy was not guilty of any illegal conduct or corrupt practices in the matter of the indorsement of the bonds of the Northeastern railroad company. While we do not believe that * any wrong has been done in this instance, and while thus exonerating his excellency, Governor Colquitt, and Mr. Murphy, we are of opinion that the independence of the departments ot the state government, and the purity of the pubuc service would be seriously threatened if it were tole rated, that an official or subordinate of one department should be permitted to practice before or mass influences upon the chief ol another department of the state government, with a view to in fluence his official conduct. Therefore, to avoid any wrong from such a practice, in the future, we suggest the propriety of such legislation on the subject as will prevent any officer of the state, or any person holding office by au thority of the state, from accepting a fee, or being employed to represent beiore the governor any matter or claim that the governor is required to pass upon. In closing their report, this committee submit all the testimony taken by them, and also submit the following resolution : Resolved, That the report of this com mittee be adopted as the sense of this general assembly. Albert H Cox, Jos. W. Preston, Chairman H. C. Chairman S. C. W. J. Northex, H. R. Casey, Arthur H. Gray, Jno. F. Troutman, Allen Fort, Samuel Hawkins, H. G. Wright, Isaac P. Tison. John 1. Hall. MINORITY REPORT. To the Senate and House of Represen tatives—The undersigned, members of the joint committee of the senate and house of representatives, appointed to in vestigate the conduct and motives of his exoellency, the governor, in placing the CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA, THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 19, 1878. 1 state’s indorsement on the bonds of the Northeastern railroad company, being unable to concur fully In all the conelu , ions arrived at by a majority of the com mittee, beg leave to submit the following I minority report: From* the very general nature of the embraced in the inquiries, which | i committee were by joint resolution in irueted to make, their investigation has necessarily taken a vide range, touch ing at times on occnVwhccs which,“when considered separately and apart from other facts developed by the committee, may not seem to bear any necessary re lation to the main purpose of the inquiry, and while recognizing the impossibility of opening at large, within the limits of a formal report, the various facts elicited in the course of the investigation; yet we deem it necessary to a proper under standing of the repoi t we have felt called on to make, that it should contain at least a brief outline of some of the more prom inent features of the testimony. In the month of October, 1874, the authorities of the Northeastern railroad company, for the first time, made formal applica tion to the then governor, to have the state’s indorsement placed on their bonds; this applicator was not success ful; Governor Smith ♦ ‘lining to deter mine at that time the question as to the right of the company to receive the in dorsement on the ground (among others) that the application had been premature ly made, and postponing the considera tion of the matter until such time as the condition of the work would authorize and require definite action at his hands. The claim of the company to receive the indorsement seems to have been brought to the governor’s attention several times afterwards, but in an informal way, and without definite result, until late in the fall of 1876, when he was notified by the officials of the company that the road had been completed and requested to appoint commissioners to examine into its condi tion, and report whether the terms im posed by the act granting the aid of the state had been complied with. The com missioners were appointed as requested, and soon thereafter reported to the gov ernor that forty miles of the road had been completed and equipped, and that there were no prior liens outstanding against the property of the company; it appeared, however, that to continuous section of twenty miles had been com pleted in the terms of the st.ite aid act, at the date of the passage of the repealing act of March, 1874. Soon after this re port was made, the attorney-general, Mr. Hammond, at the request of Gover nor Smith, furnished at official opinion as to the rights of the road to receive the state’s indorsemen; this opinion was ad verse to the right claimed by the compa ny, and the authorities of the road were promptly notified of its tenor. On being further importuned by them, the gover nor suggested, in view of the alleged “equities” underlying the claim, that the matter be brought before the legislature; and in this situation the claim of the rail road company stood when the official term of the present executive begun. The questions involved were of the gravest moment to the people of the state, as well as to the holders of the bonds; they had been widely discussed, and diversity of opinion existed respecting them, even among those best qualified for their de termination. The claim of the compa ny was brought before the legislature as had been suggested by- Governor Smith, and afterwards by Governor Colquitt, but at so late a period of the session, that an adjournment took place before any action was had in regard to it, and for some months the matter rested here. It ap pears that the Scofield rolling-mill com pany, doing business in Atlanta, and having large claims against the North eastern railroad company on account of iron furnished for the use of the road, had had transferred to it, as a security for the payment of these claims, bonds of the railroad company to a large amount, some of which had been used by r the authorities of the rolling-mill compa ny in negotiating loans from banks in Atlanta, Athens, and perhapt at other places; and in the spring of 1877, the rolling-mill company, for its own pro tection, and that of the banks, determin ed to urge anew on the governor the signing of the bonds, and, to this end, legal advice was secured. In the course of the efforts that followed, attention was called by the governor to the propriety of procuring the institution of proceed ings in the courts under the provisions of the repealing statute of March, 1874; this suggestion was immediately adopted, and an equity suit commenced in the su perior court of Clarke county in the name of a Mr. Morris, of Athens, with a view to having the right of the railroad com pany’ to receive the indorsement deter mined. This suit resulted adversely to the claim of indorsement, and the claim was carried to the supreme court, where the constitutionality of that section of the act of 1874, under which the suit was brought was denied, and the whole mat ter virtually relegated to the governor, who, though very strongly impressed with the “equities” of the case, and not withstanding the great concurrence of opinion among those whose advice and opinion were sought by him in favor of the right to indorsement, yet in view of the magnitude of the interests involved, felt that it would be the safer course to postpone action in the premises, and let the whole matter be determined by the legislature, and so advised the parties in terested; nor did he think of departing from this policy, until near the close of 1877, when it appearing that suits insti tuted by the creditors of the railroad company were about to culminate, and its entire property’ threatened to be sacri ficed under the executions that would fol low-, the governor believing that nothing less than immediate action on his part woulk save the company from impend ing ruin. After a most careful considera tion of all the questions involved, and in pursuance of the advice of some of the wisest and most prominet men in the state, on the 17th of January, 1878, pass ed an executive order for the signing of the bonds, and on ths 23d day of the same month, they were delivered to the au thorities of the railroad company’. As to the sufficiency’ in a legal point of view, of the conclusions on which this action of the governor was based, we do not deem it either necessary or proper to express an opinion, concurring as we do with a majority of the committee, that this is a matter uot included in the scope of the investigation that they were direct ed to make. It appears, further, that during the yeai of 1877, intimations were made to an official of the rolling-mill company, that for a sum of money- to be paid to an em ployee in the office of the state treasurer, the indorsement of the bonds could be procured. No arrangement or contract was then perfected, but early in January of the present year these negotiations were re-opened and a written contract was entered into between the official above referred to and the Citizen’s bank of this city r , in which it was stipulated that SB,OOO should be paid to Samuel B. Hoyt, if the governor of the state should, within ten days, pass an order for the in dorsement of the bonds, and the signing of the same should actually begin. On the 10th of January, by a supplemental contract, the time within w’hieh the or der for the signing of the bonds was to lie passed, was extended to twenty days; the order for the signing ot the bonds was passed on the 17th of January, and the money was paid to Mr. Hoyt for Mr. J. W. Murphy, then and now clerk in the treasurer’s office, on the 23d of January. The services rendered by Mr. Murphy, and for which he received the sum stated, consisted in procuring and >resenting to the governor the opinions, ifficial and professional, of ex-members of the legislature, and of prominent law yers, in Atlanta and elsewhere, and in arguments made by himself and by Col. D. P. Hill, his attorney befqre the gover nor, urging the indorsement of the bonds. It further appears that during the pro gress of his efforts to procure the favora ble action of the governor, Mr. Murphy informed him that he was interested in he indorsement, hut it is shown by the testimony that neither the terms of Mur phy’s employment, nor the lact that a >e was to be paid to him, were known to the governor until after the indorsement was made and the bonds delivered. Whatever, then, may have been the mo tives that moved the parties to this con tract, to enter into it, it is absolutely- cer tain that neither its terms nor anything grow ing out of it could have in the least degree influenced the conduct of the gov ernor in indorsing the bonds; and we do, therefore, brand as a libel the insinua tion that the determination of Governor Colquitt to endorse the bonds was induced by any sinister influence or unworthy motive. jl>at underlying that mass of calumny md slander, which has lately assailed the .air name of the governor,* and the real iccason for the existence and currency >f the loose libels that have so alarmed ind grieved all good men, the testimony m this case discloses an evil too great to >e passed over without notice and con lemnation at our hands. As the guar lians of whatever concerns the salety of ;he government, and the purity of’the public service, it is our first duty to point out abuses that may seem to threaten either, to the end that they may be re moved and fresh securities provided against their recurrence, and it is to avoid the imputation of unfaithfulness in this respect, that w-e invite the attention of the general assembly to the evils that must flow- from the toleration of the prac tice among officials or employees of any department of the government, of exact ing fees, or receiving rewards, in con sideration of influencing, or attempting to influence, or pretending to influence the official conduct of other officials of the same, or of different departments of the government. This is certainly a matter of the gravest concern, and one most nearly affecting the integrity and independence of the several departments oi government. Nor can it be said that this abuse is not a proper subject for our animadversion, since it is out of its evil operation that the occasion for this in quiry- arose. It lies at the bottom of the ••whole matter.” It has banished mem bers of this body or weeks from their ap propriate places cf duty, and so hindered the public service; it has filled the pub lic mind with anxiety and alarm; it has furnished food for the w hole brood of malignant slanderers; and, worse than all, it has imperiled the peace, the in fluence, aye, even the reputation of one whose honorable fame is among the most precious of our public treasures; and, if permitted to go unrebuked, w-e may, un der its operations, see each department of the government converted into a “tolling house” for the exaction of unjust and un authorized fees. There is small reason to fear that the executive chamber itself will ever become the scene of corruption or extortion; but for its perfect protec tion it is, in our opinion, necessary that the precincts thereof, and the approach es thereto, be likewise preserved from all occasion for suspicion or scandal. This much we have, under a sense of duty, felt necessary to say- in explanation of the conclusions w-e have reached. If our conclusions be wrong, these errors have proceeded from no lack of pains on our part to know- what was. l ight. This pledge of rectitude we gave to this gen eral assembly when entering on the dis charge of the grave and delicate duties intrusted to us as members ot the com mittee; and this pledge we have endeav ored faithfully to redeem. And, to guard against the evils advert ed to herein, w-e respectfully- recommend the enactment of such legislation as will prevent the contracting for, or receiving, directly or indirectly, by any official or subordinate of any department of the state government, any fee or reward for in fluencing, or attempting to influence, the official conduct of the head of any other department. Respectfully submitted. Wm, M. Hammond, R. C. Humber. The general assembly by an almost un animous vote, there being only two dis senting members, who, both of them pro claimed their entire confidence in the governor, passed the following resolu tion, which makes his own vindication perfect: Whereas, On the second day of the present session of the general assembly his excellency, Governor Colquitt, de manded, as au act of justice to himself, and of momentous interest to the State of which he is the chief executive officer, investigation into his conduct and mo tives in reference to indorsing the bonds of the Northeastern railroad company, and, whereas, a joint committee of thir teen, after the most rigid and thorough examination, have unanimously vindicat ed his conduct in regard thereby, howev er difficult and differently expressed, the views of the majority and minority on minor points; and, whereas, the general assembly have not time without a pro longation of the session to examine the testimony accompanying said report with a view to adopt or reject said report: therefore, Resolved, That the postponement by the general assembly of action on the re port of the investigating committee is not to be construed as an expression that its confidence in the character of the gov ernor —a character exalted by his civil, military and private career is at all sha ken —but such postponement by the gen eral assembly is due to its own apprecia tion of the proprieties of judicial proceed ings which forbid judgments in any and all cases before the cases have been heard. Life is in living. The marble palace is not always the bower of love. Every kind word is a flower, which will beau tify our final home. Every good deed is an evergreen which will mark our last resting place. There is one single fact which one may oppose to all the wit and argument of infidelity—namely, that no man ever re pented of being a Christian on his death bed.—[Hannah More. Subscribe for The Fbee Press, and pay for it. THE BOXD COMPROMISE RAW. We give below the text in full of the general law passed by the present Legis lature, authorizing the issuing of new bonds by city and town corporations for the purpose of e<Bpromising their bond ed debts. The .following is the law: Ax Act to J&a*. mnuietpul au thorities of town ana cities to compro mise their bonded debt; to provide for the issue and exchange of new bonds for outstanding bonds and coupons; to provide for the establishment and man agement of a sinking fund for the re demption of such new bonds and cou pons and for other purposes. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the municipal authorities of any incorporated city or town of this Shite are authorized and empowered to compromise and settle their bonded debt in accordance with the provisions of this act: provided that this act shall not be so construed as to prejudice the rights of such creditors as may refuse to assent to such compromise. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted by the said authority, and it is hereby so en acted, That where there are outstanding bonds and coupons of any incorporated town or city of this State as aforesaid, whether the said outstanding bonds or coupons are due or to become due, it shall oe lawful for the municipal authorities of such town or city to issue bonds with coupons attached to be exchanged and to stand for and in the place of such out standing bonds and coupons; provided, always, that the new bonds so issued shall not exceed in amount the previously outstanding total bonded debt, with in terest thereon of such town or city. Sec; 3. Be it further enacted by the said authority, and it is hereby so en acted, That when the authorities of such town or city shall desire to avail them selves of the benefit of the provisions of this act, they are hereby authorized and empowered to pass any ordinance or or dinances to provide for the issuance and exchange of new bonds to stand in the place and stead of outstanding bonds and coupons and to determine the mode and metnod of such issuance and exchange and to fix the length of time such new bonds shall run and the rate of interest they shall bear. Such ordinance or or dinances shall have the force and effect of contracts between the said town or city and those who may receive or hold such new bonds so issued and exchanged. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted by said authority, and it is so enacted, That if any town or city availing itself of the provisions of this act, shall desire to pro vide a sinking fund for the redemption of such new bonds, it shall be lawful for the authorities of such town or city to pass all ordinances necessary for that purpose, and to create a commission for the management of said sinking fund, and for its proper use and application, which commission shall be composed of not less than three nor more tnan five free-holders of such town or city, and the ordinance or ordinances provided for said sinking fund, and said commission for its management and application and the mode of appointing said commission and prescribing its duties, shall have the force and effect of law, and shall be held and considered as part of the contract be tween such town or city and the accept ors and holders of such new bonds. Sec. 5. Be itenacted by said authority, and it is hereby so enacted by said au thority, and it is hereby so enacted, That ail laws and parts of laws conllicttng with the provisions of this act be, anu Lhe same are hereby repealed. A. O. Bacon, Speaker House Representatives. Herny R. Goetchius, Clerk House. Rufus E. Lester, President Senate. Wit, A. Harris, Secretary Senate. Approved Dec. 11, 1878. Alfred H. Colquitt, Governor. COTTON. Memphis, Dec. 10. —The Memphis cot ton exchange report for November, which embraces the districts of West Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Ar kansas and North Alabama, shows the following aggregate of replies: The weather for November—Seventeen report never better; eighty-five very fa vorable; one hundred more favorable than last year. Crop picking—The cotton crop is re ported as being from seventy-five to one hundred per cent, gathered, averaging eighty-five, per cent, harvested. Pick ing will be consummated by the sth to the 50th of December, averaging the 14th. Yield of the crop—Thirty-seven re port a greater yield than last year, eigh teen about the same; forty-seven less av eraging five per cent, less than last year. Crop marketing—The crop is variously reported at from eight to seventy-five per cent, having been sent to market at the close of November, averaging forty per cent. Miscellaneous —Sixty-six complain of serious damage by draught during the months of July, August and Septem ber causing serious shedding of fruit and premature ripening. Nineteen report much damage by rains, causing excessive growth of the plant and light fruitage. Much damage is reported by ravages of the boll worm. Seventeen report the season as having been a good average or better for all crops. Labor—Eeighty-eight report laborers working well and general morale good. Fourteen report them working moderate ly well: eleven that the morale of iaborers is not good. Democracy is only organization in Georgia, outside the independent move ment. It covers Bullockism. It covers lobbying. It covers fraudulent railroad bonds. It covers convict corporations. It covers Northeastern bonds and Mr. Murphy. It covers anything, O Lord, that belongs to organization. The pecu liar aspects around Atlanta are impossi ble for Jeffersonian Democracy, but that Bastard growth that came in with Bul lock, and grows apace with latter admin istrations, is a sort of Democracy that the people do not like, and do not intend to cover up with a secret investigation. From this time, henceforth, black shall be black, and white white, in our Dem ocratic dictionary. We are for princi ples, not men. A public official may keep his hands clean if he wants our suf frages. When he louches pitch we will show the people the defilement. We take no secret investigation in our De mocracy.—Rome Tribune. The upstart that rose to a point of or der after sitting down on the aggressive end of a pin was assured by the chair that the point was well taken. There is no use in Talmage running down clubs when every paper in the land is crying, “Now is the time to get up cfluba.” NUMBER 23. THE SUGAR XI.ADE. The Kid Glove Importers *nd the Frojms od Change In Duties. New York, Dec. 10.—A conference was held, yesterday, betv eeri Gen. Ap praiser Ketchum and the kid glove im porters, in obedience tain tractions from the treasury department, to obtain the views of importers on the proposed sub stitution of a specific for an ad valorem duty on kid gloves. Gen. Ketchum said that the meeting had been called to see whether the leather glove importers could agree upon specific duties, the gov ernment favoring any duties which would return to it a revenue equal to that now received from ad valorem duties. Some importers advocated a specific duty as the surest way to prevent a repetition of the present duty without regard to value would eutirely stop the importation of low priced glove-s, and if adopted it would deprive the government of much reve nue. A vote on the question, “Would you oppose a specific duty of $4 a dozen all around without regard to size or ma terial ?” showed 14 importers in the affir mative and sin the negative. Eleven importers were opposed to a specific du ty of $3 and eight were in favor of it. Nine importers opposed a specific duty of .$2.50 all around, and ten favored it. A proposed duty of $4 a dozen all around was opposed by five importers and four teen favored it. Ten were opposed to a mixed duty, nine in favor, and one de clined to vote. Eleven dissented from a proposition for a duty of $1.50 a dozen and an ad valorem duty of twenty per cent, and nine favored it. The vote against discrimination in duties between gloves of different lengths was unani mous. A second vote on a specific duty of $2 a dozen received only two negative votes. Gen. Ketchum stated that he would report the result of the conference to Washington, together with some views of his own. The sugar trade, at the meeting to-day, pronounced emphatically against Secre tary Sherman’s proposed change in the mode of collecting duties on that article as in the highest degree unjust and im practicable. Instead of decreasing the temptation to fraud they believe it will have just the contrary effect, and if any change at all is to be made in the tariff’, they think it should be so' trained as to avoid discrimination against any qualities of raw sugar, whether of high or low grade, and that will conform as near as practicable to any ad valorem duty. DEATH OF TOSS LOUISE W. KING. Augusta Chron. and Con.] About midnight on Saturday last the soul of Louise W. King returned to the God who gave it. She had come back from the North with a severe cold, which became serious, and finally ter minated her existenee in this world. Her years were few, but her good works many. She was as beautiful in person as she was gifted in intellect. A more serene or angelic spirit never inhabited a tenement of clay, and yet her virtues were eminently practical, always man ifested for the exaltation of the human race, and as her zeal was unflagging, her life-work was noble to the last. She was the founder and patroness of the Widow’s Home in this city, and also of the Society for the Prevention of Cruel ty to Animals. It was very charming to see her on errands of mercy, and as. she loved whatever God ha 1 created, it was her mission and delight to show others the necessity and importance of such affection. Her labors in this field were distinguished and cordially recog nized every where in tins country, as well as in Great Britain. Though Lou ise King had such surroundings of wealth that her days might have been spent in lolly, or fashion, none of these things did she become subject to so that her grand career as a useful woman could be in the least, obstructed. She sought the highest social life to which she was entitled and always an orna ment. But the brute creation received at her hands the tenderest care, and to the unfortunate of her fellow beings she was ever considerate, charitable and gen orous. A higher ideal, or purer pur pose, or more earnest person, we have never encountered among “the-daughters of music,” and when there came upo her a great silence that men cali.“Death” it was the extinguishment, so far as this sphere is concerned, of a character that is as rare as it is memorable. Well indeed may the very heavens have wept when tail was pressed upon her holy relics for from us has gone the flower of the flock. It is well for her, no doubt, and it will be well for us if we become as worthy of a higher life— And if we grieve, ior this is human too, We grieve no longer than thy days were few, Nor that thou hast escaped tne tears add woe, The deaths on deaths the living undergo. THE FORMATION OF FROST. New Orleans Picayune. We take pleasure in publishing the fol lowing note from the United Stales Sig nal officer at this port, on the subject of formation of frost at relatively high tem peratures : To the Editor of the Picayune: fin re ply to your inquiry of “How can frost be formed at a temperature of 48 degrees?” I have the honor to say tha frost w ill form at any time when the temperature of the “dew point” falls below' 32 de grees Fahrenheit. The “dew point” is the 'emperature at which the moisture of the air is con densed ; it may be found by cooling a vessel or any article until the moisture of the air is condensed on it, and then tak ing tne temperature of the a.tide at the moment this disposition begins, which is the dew r point. When the air is saturated with moist ure, or the relative humidity is one hun dred, then frost will not form at a tem perature above thirty-two degrees Fah renheit ; but the more dry the air is, that is the less moisture it contains, the less the temperature will have to fail to form frost. For example: Suppose the tempera ture of the air to be 48 degrees; suppose the tempereture of the wet bulb to be 40 degrees; which will give a relative hu midity of 43 per cent., and the “comple ment of the “dew' point” will be 16.8 de grees, which, subtracted from the tem perature of the air, 48 degrees, will give 31.2 degrees for the dew point, and frost will be under tin $e circum stances ,* which is often the ca-ie here. Very resp’lly, your ob’t servant, W. L r . Simons, Serg’t Sig. Corps, L T . S. A. “Have you cologne?” asked she. “No ma’am,” replied the and uggist; “I have no scents at all.” She said he didn’t look as though he had. A friendship that makes the least noise is very often the most useful: for which reason a prudent friend should be pre ferred to a zealous one. “Masterly inactivity” was first alluded to by Isaiah, when ho said (jooc.. 7) “Their strength is tto sit still.” BATES OF ADVERTISING. Advertisements will be inserted at the rates of One Dollar per inch for the first insertion, and Fifty Cents for each additional insertion. CONTRACT RATES. One inch, 1 month, $2 50 ; 8 months, $5; § months, $7 50; 1 year, $lO. Fourth column, l month, $7 50 ; 8 months, sls; 6 months, $25; 1 year, $36. Half columns, 1 month, sl6; 3 months, $25; 6 months, S4O; 1 year, S6O. One column, 1 month, $25; 3 months, S4O; 6 months, s*>o; 1 year, SIOO. Address all orders to The Free Press.