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KATES OF SUBSCRIPTION. One ropy one year, - - - - f2 00 One copy si x months, - - - 100 One copy three months, ... 50 CLUB HATES. Five copies one year, - - - - ?8 75 Ten copies one year, .... 15 00 Twenty copies one year, ... 25 00 Fifty copies one year, - 50 00 To he paid for invarriably in advance. All orders for the paper must be addressed to TIIE FItEE PItESS. 1 ’ I*o l ess ion a 1 Card s. B. B. TUU’I’E. J. K. NEEL. TRIPPE & NEEL, A. r r TO R NEYS-AT-LAW, CARTERSVILLE, GA. \T7ILL PRACTICE IN ALL THE COURTS, \ V noth State and Federal, except Bartow county criminal court. T. M. Neel alone will practice in said last mentioned court. Ollice in northeast comer of court house building. feb27 JNO. h. MOON. POUGLAS WIKIJS. MOON & WIKtE, A t t orneys-at-Law, ( A RTERSYILLE, GA. Office in Bank Block, over the I’ostofficc. feb‘27 ■ - ■ , . IV. T. WOFFORD, A T T O li IST K Y - A T - LA W, —ANI) — DEALER IN REAL ESTATE, ( ASS STATION, BARJFOW COUNTY, GA. G. S. TUMLIN, A r U r .U OBNKY -AT-L. AW. CARTERSYILLE, GA. PRACTICE TV ALL TTIE COURTS \V in Bartow county, the Superior Courts of the Cherokee Circuit, tne Supreme Court and the l nited states Court for the Northern District of Georgia, , decl9-4mos T. W. H. HARRIS, A T U O 11 IN’ E Y - A T - Ij A W , CARTBRSVILLE, GA. PRACTICES IN ALL THE COURTS OF P.artow and adjoining counties, and will faithfully attend to all business entrusted-to him. Office over postoffice. decs-ly It. W. MURPHEY, A T T O R NE Y-AT - LAW, C A RTERSYILLE, GA. OFFICE (up-stairs) in the briek building, cor ner of Main & Erwin streets. julylß. J. A. BAKER, A T T O UN Id Y - A T - L A W , C A RTERSYILLE, GA. YT.7ILL prneticein all flic courts of Bartow VV and adjoining counties. Prompt atten tion given to all business entrusted to his Care. Office in Bank Block over the post office. julylK. - , ■ . ' E. D. GRAHAM. A. M. FOUTE. GRAHAM & ROUTE, AT r r o R IST Id YB-AT- X* AW. CAREERSVILLE, GA. Practice in all the courts of Bartow county, the Superior Courts.-of North-west Georgia, and the Supreme-Courts at Atlanta. Office west skte public Square, up-stairs over W. W. Rich & Co’s. Store, second door south of l’ostollit'e . julyia. T. W. MILNER. J. W. HARRIS, JR. MILNEIt & HARRIS, ATT O 11 NEYS-A T -LAW, CARTBRSVILLE, GA. Office on West Main Street. julylS V. H. JOHNSON, Dentist, (Office over Stokely & Williams store.) Cartersviixe, Georgia. I WILL FIL, TEETH, EXTRACT TEETH, and put in teeth, or do any work in my line at prices to suit t lie times. warranted. Refer to my pat rons all over the county. ,-i H:-I5- lv. F. M. JOHNSON. JOHN T. OWEN, (At Sayre & Co.’s Drug Store,) CARTERSVILLK, GA. WILL sell Watches, Clocks and Jewelry. Spectacles, Silver and Silver-Plated Goods, and will sell them as cheap as they can he bought anywhere. Warranted to prove as represented. All work dime by me warranted t> give satisfaction. Give me a call. July IS. CHAS.' B. WILLINGHAM,;, Stenogrti-pHic Court Reporter. [ROME JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. | I MAKE A CLEAN RECORD OF CASES, taking down Hie testimony entire; also, ob jections of attorneys, rulings of the court, and ‘the charge of the court, without stopping the witness or otherwise delaying the Judicial pro ceedings. Charges very reasonable and satis faction guaranteed. r l' i*ave 1 orJs_Gruiide ! < 11EROKEE RAILROAD. On and after Monday, June 10, 1878, tlie train ou tliis Road will run daily as follows (Sunday excepted): GOING WEST. . Arrive. Leave. Cartersville 1:30 pm Stilesboro 2:15 pm 2:20 pm Taylorsville 2:45 p m 3:00 p m Rockmart 4:00 p m GOING EAST. Rockmart 6:00 a m Taylorsville 7:00 a m 7:15 a m Stilesboro 7:40 a in 7:45 a m Cartersville . . . . . . 8:35 am • WILLIAM Macrae, Sup’t. COOSA RIVER NAVIGATION. On and after Monday, November 30th, the fol lowing schedule will'be run by the Steamer MAGNOLIA: Leave Rome Monday 9 a m Arrive at Gadsden Tuesday 7 am Leave Gadsden Tuesday Bpm Arrive at Rome Wednesday 6pm Leave Rome Thursday 9am Arrive at Gadsden Friday 7am Leave Gadsden Friday 6pm - Arrive at Koine Saturday 6 p m J. M. ELLIOTT Gcn’l Sup’t. ROME RAILROAD COMPANY. On and after Sunday, June 3rd, trains on this Road will run as follows: DAY TRAIN—EVERY DAY. - Leave Rome 8":10 a m Arrive at Rome 12 ;00 m SATURDAY EVENING ACCOMMODATION. Leave Rome ~..*. 5:00 pm Arrive at Rome 8:00 pm WESTERN AND ATLANTIC R. R. The follow ing is the present passenger sched ule: NIGHT PASSENGER—UD^. Leave Atlanta . . . . . . . . . 2:45 pm Leave Cartersville 4:38 pm Leave Kingston U ....... . 5:04 pm Leave Dalton ............ 0:50 pm Arrive at Chattanooga . .... . 8:25 pin NIGHT PASSENGER—DOWN. Leave Chattanooga 5:15 pm Leave Dalton 7:05 pm Leave Kingston 8:34 p m Leave Cartersville ........ 9:00 pm Arrive at Atlanta . ,10:55 p m DAY PASSENGER—UP. Thrive Atlanta ... 0:25 am Leave Cartersville ........ 8:lC am Leave Kingston 8:43 am Leave* Dalton 10:20 am Arrive at Chattanooga 11:55 a in DAY PASSENGER—DOWN, Leave Chattanooga’ 7:10 am Leave Dalton 9:00 a m Leave Kingston 10:39 a m Leave Cartersville ,11:00 am Arrive at Atlanta . . 1:00 pm 0 ACCOMMODATION—;UF. Leave Atlanta 4:20 pm Arrive at CartersYillo * 6:35 pm CARTERSVILLE ACCOMMODATION—DOWN. Leave Cartersville 0:25 am Arrive at Atlanta 9:15 am -Ti THWII HW—lQ—u——aiUH F A Li M E ltW 9 lou will save money by buying your supplies at THE BARGAIN STORE. LITCHFIELD HOUSE, (Acwortli, Georgia.) E. L. LITCHFIELD, Proprietor. ( 10N VENIENTTO THE DEPOT, AND ITS x,' tables supplied with the very best Hie mark (*t ftfrorciH. T he Sheetings and Shirtings Can’t be beat iu prices at THE BARCAIN STORE. VOLUME I. SCROFULA CURED! The North Georgia Medical In stitute Discharges Another Sefhfula Patient! My litttle boy now four years of age was af flicted with the loathsome disease, Scrofula, w hich exhibited external symptoms at about six months of age. He became very weak, his skin presented a peculiar yellow appearance—had no appetite, became so very poor in Jlesh that he was really unpleasant to look at. Large swell ings appeared under liis right arm, and finally they broke and continually discharged the most fearfully offensive odor—almost unbearable —liis mother could hardly bear to wash and dress the deep-running §ores. After the disease had gone on for about a month, we called in our family physician, a man who bore the reputation of be ing a learned and skillful physician. After treating the case for a number of mouths, he told us that it would take two or three years to perform a cure. However, he continued to treat the child, but with no manner of benefit as we could see. Ipdeod, with the painful lancing and unpleasant internal medicines the poor little creature seemed to grow' more restless and a great deal weaker. About this time myself and wife came to the determination to change physicians, but were greatly troubled as we then knew of no one whom we could trust with more confidence than the one engaged. Happily, through the advice of a friend—one who deeply sympathized with us in our dire distress—we were directed to see aud consult Drs. Memmler & Johnson! who had established an Infirmary in Cartersville. Our consultation with those gentlemen resulted in our Yuming over to them the treatment of the little child, whom w r e deemed beyond the skill of any earthly physician; but our love for the dear child, who had gone through so much suffering, prompted us to leave nothing undone that prom ised the least relief. After thoroughly examin iuing their patient, Drs. Memmler & Johnson began treatment. We had given only three doses of tlieir medicine, w hen we noticed consid erable improvement, and every day thereafter improvement w'ent rapidly on. With nothing but internal remedies, no sore, no plasters, no lancing w r as resorted to by tlie above named gen tlemen. Simply their internal remedies, after hardly three months’ treatment have performed the cure which it w'as said required years to ac complish. And now, in conclusion, I invoke tlie richest blessings of the Great Physician—who looks over all things—to bless and prosper them, and to the afflicted world w'C feel that we could wish them no greater earthly blessing than to fall under the care and treatment of these gentlemen. If any desire to hear from me directly, they will ad dress me at Cartersville, Ga. Most respectfully, his NIMROD X IIOWREN, mark. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of February, 1879. j.'w. PRITCHETT, N. P. & J. P. ! tr-.'V All Chronic Diseases Cured and Surgical Operations Per formed at the North Georgia Medical Institute. . MEMMLER Sc JOHNSON, Proprietors. j CARTERSVILLE GA THE FREE PRESS. VEOETINE. Purifies the Blood, Reno vates and Invigorates the Whole System. ITS MEDICAL PROPERTIES ARE Alterative, Tonic, Solvent, and Diuretic. Vegetine RELIABLE EVIDENCE. Vegetine Mr. IT. It. Stevens: ’ | Dear Sir—l will most cheerfully Vegetine '• a, D my testimony to the great iium- H , ber you have already received in fa vor of your great and good medicine, / egetine, Vegetine, for I do not think enough can be said in its praise; for 1 was Vegetine troubled over thirty years with that dreadful disease Catarrh, and had Vecetine! 3nc b had coughing spells that it 8 : would seem as though 1 never could I breathe any more, and Vegetine has Vegetine cured me; aud I do feel to thank God all the time that there is so good a Vegetine medicine as Vegetine, and I also think it one of the best medicines for Vegetine cOU Khs, and weak, sinking feelings at 8 the stomach, and advise everybody to take the Vegetine, for I can assure Vegetine them it is one of the best medicines tliat'cver w r as. Vegetine Mrs. L. GORE, Cor. Magazine and Walnut Sts., Vegetine Cambridge, Mass. ' ■ GIVES vegetine Strength, Vegetine And Appetite. My daughter has received great 8 benefit from the use of Vegetine. Her declining health was a source of V egetine great anxiety to ail her friends. A few bottles of Vegetine restored her Vegetine health, strength aud appetite. I N. H.TILDEN. I Insnrance and Real Estate Agent, ' egenne No, 49 gearg jj u ilding, Boston, Mass. Vegetine CANNOT BE Vegetine E X Q ELL E D . Vegetine Charlestown, Mass. 11. R. Stevens: Vegetine Dear Sir— This is to certify that I have used your “Blood Preparation” v-.n-t.tii>.> in my family for several years, and 8 think that, for Scrofula or Cankerous Humors or Rheumatic Affections, it Vegetine cannot be excelled; and, as a blood purifier or spring medicine, it is the Vegetine best thing I have ever used, aud 1 have used almost everything. I can Vesretine cheerfully recommond it to any one 8 in need of such a medicine. Yours respectfully, Vegetine MRS. a . a . DIXSMORE, No. 19 Russell Street. Vegetine -i IT IS A Vegetine VALUABLE REMEDY. Vegetine South Boston, Feb. 7, 1870. 8 Mr. Stevens: j Dear Sir—l have taken several V egetine | l)ott i eg o{ your vegetine, and am eon j vinced it is a valuable remedy for dys- Vegetine pepsin, kidney complaint, and general debility. I can heartily recommend Vegetine | it to all sufl'ering from the above com i plaints. Mrs Monroe Parker, Vegetine j 9b Athens Street. VEGETINE Prepared by H. R. STEVENS, BOSTON, MASS. "V E <jr E TINE Is Sold by all Druggists. Gtreat Bargains. J. A. ERWIN & SON ARE OFFERING AN ENTIRE NEW STOCK* OF FALL AND WINTER GOODS, FALL AND WINTER GOODS, CONSISTING OF Dry Goods, Clothing, Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Boots and Shoes, Crockery, &c., &c., Crockery, Ac., Sc c., AT EXTREMELY’ LOW PRICES AT EXTREMELY' LOW PRICES TO SUIT THE TIMES. TO SUIT THE TIMES. Call and Examine tlieir Goods and Prices Before Buying. J. A. Ell WIN & SON. Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 19th, 1878. Sugar Cured Hams, The very best Chicago brands cheap at THE BARCAIN STOREf. FLOUR ! FLOUR ! FLOUR ! JUST RECEIVED 30,000 Pounds Fancy and Choice family flour, Bought for Cash Before the Last Advance. Also a large lot of Choice AY Lite Corn, All of which I offer to the trade CHEAPER THAN. THE CHEAPEST. PARTIES WISHING TO BUY WILL FIND it to their interest to call and see me before purchasing elsewhere. fcb27-lm • A. KNIGHT. LECTURE TO YOUNG MEN. Just published in a sealed envelope. Price six cents. A lecture on the nature, treatment and radical cure of seminal weakness, or spermator rhea, induced by self-abuse involuntary emis sions, impoteney, nervous debility, and impedi ments to marriage generally: consumption, epi lepsy and fits; mental and physical incapacity, &c.—By ROBERT J. CULVER WELL, M.D., author of the “Green Book,” &c. The world-renowned author, in this admirable lecture, clearly proves from his own experience that the awful consequences of self-abuse may be effectually removed without mediciue, and without dangeepus surgical operations, bougies, instruments, rings or cordials; pointing out a mode of cure at once certain and effectual, by which every sufferer, no matter what his condi tion may be, may cure himself cheaply, private ly an<l radically. lecture will prove a lioon to thous ands and thousands. Sent, under seal, in a plain envelope, to any address, on receipt of six cents, or two postage stamps. Address the Publishers, THE CULVERWELL MEDICAL CO., 41 Ami Street, New York City. Post Office Box 4580. jnlylß. "CARTERSVILLE. GEORGIA, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 26, 1879. THE MADAME ROLAND OF GEORGIA. We have ever admired Madame Roland and other noble women of the French revolution and we honor Mrs. W. H. Felton, for while being a true mother, tender and loving, she has the brain and daring to combat and confuse those who not only attacked her husband but her self. We have given her letters. As to their charges we know nothing. They are alleged to be true. She was attacked first by “A. W. R.” in the Macon Tele graph and Messenger, who charged that some intimate of Dr. Felton had soleited radical aid of Senator Ferry to-help Fel ton in the seventh district. The commu nication clearly pointed to Mrs. Felton as the author who solicited this aid. It was so purposely aimed that the Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist demanded names. Mrs. Felton, like a true woman, wrote a letter to that journal avowing herself as the author, stating fully the object of .the communication to Ferry, which was to stop the radicrl movement against Felton. A friend at our elbow, a better democrat than any of those who find fault with Mrs. F., tells us that she and Senator Ferry were warm friends and they had rooms on the same floor in the same hotel in Washington. * Mrs. Felton had good reasons to believe tliis paragraph of “A. W. R.,” originated with Gen. Gordon. Several other wri ters state that it was well known in Washington that he was on the scent of this letter. For what purpose? To crush Felton ? Felton’s democracy is unques tioned. He has more brains than any member of the house from Georgia save Stephens. lie is listened to when he speaks by his fellow members. He is highly esteemed. He has been elected three times by a democratic constituency against the influence of former loyal leaguers, but now loud-mouthed demo crats, and that he had never voted in congress or made a speech which was not in advancement of pure democracy. He has never faltered or had a doubtful association. Then, what is the matter? Does Gen. Gordon want to crush him, to ruin his political aspiration for the gov ernorship, if he has any such, which we do not believe, or is he endeavoring to ruin Felton to help some one else ? Why Was Gen. Gordon so anxious for that let ter? Why should any scribe under his dictation insinuate charges against Mrs. Felton? She is one of the gifted wom en of which Georgia should be proud, as France is of Madame Roland, or De- Stael. She answered the insinuation in the same manner it was given—in the pub lic prints—and held up tlie would-be im maculate in charges that had been alleg ed against them. She is not the woman to take blows tamely. She feels the power of God-given intellect and strikes as publicly as she was stricken. To use a homely phase we “glory in her spunk.” She has won the fight. The politics w tlie seventh district are peculiar. The organized nominated Trammell for congress. Well—let that pass. He was forced to withdraw. Then they nominated Dabney. Felton, as a democrat, beat him by a small majority. He went to congress and made a brilliant platform. He Wanted to join the organ ized. He consulted Congressman, now Senator, Hill. The latter came hsme and advised with of the dem ocratic executive committee, who stated that a democratic convention would be called for tlie express purpose of de feating Felton. Hill told Felton. Would any man submit to such indignity ? Fel ton nor no other man would stand it. Fel ton would hove nothing more to do with packed conventions, and appealed to the people, and won over Dabney bv an over whelming majority, and beat Lester al most as badly. In the race with Les ter, Gen. Gordon appears upon the scene. He couldn’t attack Felton’s democratic record, hut gave independents fits, yet thousands of Felton’s supporters had fought bravely by the “gallant Gordon’s” side in battle, and followed him on the 12tli of May, when “Lee to the rear” was the battle cry of the white plumed knight of the Southern Navarre. Felton won. Not long ago a journal who now thinks everything Gen. Gordon doos divine was attacking him in long, bitter communi cations regarding his course in the elec toral commission. We thought him right, knew he was and advocated him and de fended his course the best we could. We wanted him United States senator and are glad he is there now. We have ev er thought him wrong in interfering in the seventh district. The leading demo crats here express the same opinion. They believe Felton a better democrat than Lester. The latter, contrary to all precedent, held to ajudgship while run ning for congress, and—hut that’s passed. Senator Gordon might as well have taken sides in this district where tw r o democrats were running. We do not “hanker” af ter independents, but we do when they have more brains and a truer democrat than the nominees. Senator Hill refus ed to go into the seventh district where two democrats were running. Why can’t our representatives live in peace and fight the enemy ? We doff our hat to Mrs. Felton. We do not think any scribe will dare attack her and not expect more than lie gives. She has defended herself from an attack we regretted to see made, for we know she is one of the noblest w omen, truest mothers and devoted wives in the land, and we honor anyone who defends them selves and loved ones from imputation and wrong.— Columbus Enquirer-Sun. NORTH GEORGIA MINERALS. The following is a catalogue of the commercial minerals of North Georgia, compiled in the Rome Courier, aqd shows the vast resources of the state in this sec tion : “l,gold claimed to be as good veins as California; 2, silver and galena com bined, S2O to S7O per ton : 3, copper, vir gin sulphuret, black oxide; 4, iron, mag netic foesiliferous red, short and needle ore, hemotite;s, yellow ochre, (can con vert it into Venetian red) 6, asbestus, us ed for lining safes and boilers, packing, belton and paint; 7, kaoline, for making crockery w are; 8, tripoli, for polishing and for other purposes; 9, pyrites of iron, for making copperas, and nitric acid; 10, garnets, to make'emery and sets for jew elry; 11, pyrites of copper, for making blue stone and sulphric acid; 12, nitrate of soda, principal ingredient for guano; 13, manganese, used for steel, bromine, clarifying glass and bleaching pow ders; 14, making pencils and stone polishing; 15, slate for roofing; 16, alum; 17, bituminous coal, no sulphur *in it, near Rome on the Coosa river, fields ten miles square; 18, the pearl oj v ster in the Coosa river, value S2O to SSO per ounce; 19, ising-glass in abundance, will square from 2 inches to 8 inches. All the min erals named above are in abundance, and will yield a fair profit to those w T ho have capital to operate in them. “Col. E. J. Magruder has found a de posit of coal in Texas Valley, only ten miles from Rome.” MURDER OF COL. ALSTON. . Gath’s letter in the Washington Sunday Herald, March 16th, 1879. , . ~ . The murder of Col. Robert A. Alston, in the state capitol of Georgia, by a con vict contractor named Cox, has excited far more feeling than the newspapers would indicate. ‘ Alston was an affable, easy man, who quickly become acquaint ed, and always made an impression by the liberality of his and a certain practi cal way he had of enforcing, them. He had some of the defects of the Southern character, such as a reliance upon cour age, rather than right, a deference to the duelling code, etc., but he was growing more liberal and wiser all the time. He was in Morgan’s cavalry during tlie war, and in Basil Duke’s story of that organi zation his name is very conspicuous. He had never seen the book until I gave him a copy, which I purchased in Kentucky about one year ago. Everybody in Washington will remember him, a man rather below tlie middle size, but athletic and supple. lie had those wandering, poetical, gray eyes, which betoken so much of inner light and feeling, and are very often found in duellists. He was a pure man in his conversation and living, and I seldom enjoyed myself more than when he sat dow r n and told me some story of his campaigns. He went w ith Morgan to Cincinnati and captured in the environs of that city, hut had the tact and aplomb to secure his parole, which he presented at Burnside’s headquarters. Nevertheless, he w'as sent to the prison ers’ camp, out of which he finally wrote himself, addressing Burnside, Stanton, and others in such strong and courtly terms that the whole art of war gave way before him. At the close of the war he settled about Atlanta, and was instru mental in having a place in the country settled by prominent men, among them Senator Gordon. Alston, however, was by no means satifled with southern poli tics as it stands. He believed that Grant would be elected president in 1880, and wished it so happen; he also had a no tion that the next congress would he or ganized by the independents and repub licans acting together. The crowning glory of his life, more notable than any of his performances in the field of battle, was to save the scars and dismal deaths of 1,100 convicts of Georgia of whom 1,000 were negroes. They were let out to a set of political contractors, the State not even reserving the right of supervis ion over them. Made to dig ditches and work in unhealthy spots, they died like rotten sheep. Alston procured the sta tistics of convict disease, and made a great speech in the Georgia legislature, which gained him the eternal hatred of the penitentiary boards, and I have little doubt myself that the contractors for that labor had him murdered. There is no relevancy or straightforwardness in the story of how r he was butchered, except on the ground that he was in the w'ay of gain. 1 have no idea that his murderer will be hung; that murderer is protected by too many distinguished men. After Alston was killed l observed in the Phil adelphia Press that he had written a let ter to the New York Tribune taking ground against some statement of mine concerning the Georgia social code. I never saw that letter, and therefore have nothing to offer to counteract it. I pos sess, however, several letters from Mr. Alston. One w r as written to me about two months before his death. He had spoken very freely to me, at Willard’s hotel, about the evils of Georgia, and the next day a lot of people from that State took him to task for his free speech. He w rote to me asking that I would he dis creet in what I had to print. “You must remember,” he said, “that all the success I can attain will be by the help of public sentiment in Georgia. If I embitter the people there I will lose all that I expect to do for the poor. Sena tor Gordon is my neighbor and intimate friend. 4te has desired for some time to give up his portion of the contract sys tem.” It is very unfortunate that such a bril liant young fellow should have been mur dered in the mere execution of a business task. Are we to he told, heneeforw'ard, that life is as safe in the south as here, when such murders can happen in the highest places in a state ? What did the governor of Georgia mean by sending for the murderer to advise him not to shoot Mr. Alston when he ought to have sent two policemen with locust clubs and a warrant? The south will never grow' nor be resuscitated w'hile there is no re spect for life there and while brave and pure endeavor is recompensed with a bullet through the temples. SPEER’S POLITICAL STATUS. Tlie Georgia Congressman Proclaims Himself a Democrat. The Post followed one pf the bell hoys of the National Hotel, Saturday night, and w'as ushered into the private parlor of Hon. Emory Speer, member elect of the house from the ninth Georgia district. As the Post took the extended hand of Mr. Speer, it studied him for a moment, and the conclusion was promptly reached that he wofild make his mark before his term expired. He was reminded that his democracy had been questioned, and that the greenbackers had claimed him. “Have you any objection to stating your politics?” asked the Post. “None w hatever. I am glad of the opportunity to do so. lam a democrat of the straightest sect. I organized the first democratic club in my district after the war, and Governor Smith, the first democratic governor after reconstruction, appointed me solicitor of our judicial dis trict as a recognition of my services to the democracy. Because I antagonized w hat I considered a corrupt ring in the district my democracy was questioned. The party organization was controlled by illiberal politicians, and every conven tion was made up of the same men. They were determined that I should not enjoy any political preferment, and I antago nized them. I announced myself a can didate, a right that every citizen enjoys. I represent the largest democratic dis trict in Georgia; it gave Tilden 15,000 majority against Hayes, and I knew r my candidacy w'ould not endanger democrat ic success. In my speeches to the largest republican audiences, I told them that my democracy was of the strictest sort. I proclaimed my politics every time I spoke. I had to fight eleven out of fif teen newspapers in the district, eighteen stump orators, including General Gor don, and Senator Hill wrote a letter ad vising democrats to vote against me. Yet I w r as elected in a district containing 15,- 000 democratic majority, and that alone ought to be proof enough of my party faith. Certainly these democrats would not have elected me had there been any doubt of my democracy.” “The greenbackers here claimed you,” suggested the Post. * “They had no right to. They w rote to me, but I never unsw r ered their letters. I am a democrat, was elected as a demo crat and will act with my party in the organization of the house.” + ♦ If you are in love, constitute yourself a “Teller compiittee” of one, and settle the business. SENATOR GORDON. His Explanation as Reported by the Washington Post. Senator Gordon’s explanation of his connection with the so-called convict lease is very explicit, and would seem to exculpate him from any blame in the premises, as well as free from him much criticism to which he has been subjected in this connection. He told our reporter from his sick bed at Willard’s last night, that the law under which the convicts are leased or hired was passed in 1876, very soon after which, after due and legal ad vertisement, he, in company with four other gentlemen, contracted to pay the state $25,000 per annum for the use of its convict labor. The immediate occasion for the passage of this law, as he explained it at some length, was a desire to relieve the tax payers from the burden of an unreinu nerative and exhaustively extravagant penal system, and at the same time to provide the 1,200 or more convicts in the penitentiary with improved sanitary sur roundings. In short, it appears that Georgia simply followed the example of other states wherein the experiment of convict labor has been tried. But very soon after Gen. Gordon had signed the contract he discovered his inability, in view of his congressional duties, to su perintend its execution in person, and as early as November, 1876, he wrote to Governor Smith to be released from his obligations under it. In December of that year Gov. S. re plied, refusing to comply with that re quest, although the contract had not yet been entered upon by any of the parties in interest. Being under bond for its faithful execution, the senator was com pelled to make the best terms he could, and in the course of events Captain E. S. Cox, the man who killed Alston, was re commended to him by Alston himself as a proper person to become a sub-contracr tor, and one who would exercise a care ful and honorable personal supervision over the business intrusted to him. This was all long before the scandals which have since obtained currency regarding the treatment of the convict laborers, none of which, by the way, have ever at tached to the plantation or convict camp under Gen. Gordon’s contract. The result of Alston’s recommendation of Cox was that Gen. Gordon sub-let his contract to him; that is, he rented his own plantation to Cox for a term of years, under proper and legal pledges that all the stipulations existing in the contract should be carried out by Cox to the letter. After this, and since Gov. Colquitt’s term began, Gen. Gordon made renewed efforts to obtain a release from the obli gations of the agreement in question, but without success. Finally, having made some preliminary arrangements to dis pose of all his interests in the contract, subject to ratification by the legislature at its coming regular session, next July, he asked Colonel Alston, who was going to Atlanta, to manage the affair for him. His instructions to Alston were simple and plainly to transfer his obligations in the premises to any responsible person who would be acceptable to the state au thorities, and who would reimburse him for his outlay of money under the con tract up to the present date. The senator further explained that he had no ex cuses or apologies to make for his (ap pearance in the attitude of a contractor. “It makes no difference,” he said, “whether I went into it upon solicitation or nt; I went into it, and shall not shirk any responsibility arising from it. I am on record as a critic of the law, for I wrote to the governor pointing out its defects, a fact which effectually disproves the charge made against me that I have been opposed to an investigation into its operation. I believe in the system for the principle involved in the law, and I know .that its operation has been benefi cial to the state, even under its very im perfect provisions or requirements. The truth is, the tales about the cupidity of contractors and the mistreatment of pris oners have been exaggerated. They (the prisoners) were the victims of epidemics in one or two of the camps; not in my camp, however, and I feel justified in claiming exemption from adverse criti cism under the circumstances.” THINGS IN DIXIE. Hon. Jefferson Davis is a grandfather —little girl. North Carolina has 378 cities, towns and villages. Fifty horses are training at the Lex ington, Ky., race course. Bonded debt of Montgomery county, Alabama, $61,135.10. Real estate in Lake City, Florida, in better demand than for years past. Cattle dying with dry murrain in many parts of Lamar county, Alabama. A hunting party slaughtered thirty eight alligators in the Ocklawaha, Fla. There are 160 cadets on the roll of the university of Alabama. The average attendance at the Raleigh, North Carolina, graded school is 450. There are twelve hundred miles of rail road in the state of North Carolina com pleted. Some 26,000 people arrived at Lead ville in one week. Six hundred went from Little Rock. North Carolina has nineteen railroads that are either wholly or partly within her borders. The number of newspapers in North Carolina is 90, or nearly an average of one to each county. Extensive beds of gypsum have been recently discovered in Fentress county, Kentucky. No more cock fighting in Charlotte. An ordinance now passed imposes a pen alty of $25 for each and every offense. Charles Howard, one of New Orleans’s wealthiest men, says that city has been injured by the yellow fever to the extent of $100,000,000. ' Rev. D. M. Breaker has been expelled from the Masonic lodge, Loudon, Tenn., on account of his crookedness in South Carolina last summer, says the Herald. A firm in Dallas, Texas, proposes to invest SIOO,OOO in a barbed wire factory, provider! the citizens will take stock to the amount of $20,000. The Sunday law just made by the North Carolina legislature provides against the leading of freights and the running of trains on the Sabbath between sunrise and sundown. It does not apply to mail trains. An account is given of the visit of Em peror William to Field Marshal Yon Roon, when the latter lay dying. The Emperor arrived unexpectedly, and Yon Roon, who immediately recognized his sovereign, pressed his hand between both his own, and exclaimed, “Majesty! what pleasure!” The Emperor replied, “I have many reasons for being grateful to you,” and then, with tears in his eyes, took a touching leave of his faithful ser vitor. RATES 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; 0 months, $7 50; 1 rear, *lO. Fourth column, 1 month, *7 50; 3 months,* 15; 6 months, *25; 1 year, *4O. Half columns, 1 month, *ls; 3 months, *■!•>; 6 months, *4O; 1 year, *OO. One column, 1 month, *2O; 3 months, *4O; 6 months, *6O; 1 year, *IOO. Address all orders to The Free Press. NUMBER 37. SENATE COMMITTEES. Privileges and Elections Messrs. Saulsbury, chairman; Hill (Ga.), Ker nan, Bailey, Houston, Vance, Cameron (Wig.), Hoar, Ingalls. Foreign relations Messrs. Eaton, chairman; Johnston, Morgen, Hill (Ga.), Pendleton, Hamlin, Conklmg, Kirkwood, Carpentej. Finance—Messrs. Bayard, chairman; Kernan, Wallace, Voorhees, Beck, Mor rill, Ferry, Jopes (Nev.), Allison. District of Columbia—Messrs. Harris, chairman; Whyte, Withers, Butler, Vance, Ingalls, Rollins, Dawes, McMil lan. Patents—Messrs. Kernan, chairman; Coke, Slater, Call, Booth, Hoar, Platt. Public. Buildings and Grounds —Messrs. Jones, of Florida, chairman; Saulsbury, Vest, Dawes, Morrill. Territories —Messrs. Garland, chair man; Butler, Vest, Slater, Saunders, Kellogg, Logan. 'Railroads—Messrs. Ransom, chairman; Lamar, Eaton, Grover, Williams, Pendle ton, Jones, Dawes, Teller, Saunders, Windom. Printing—Messrs. Whyte, chairman; Ransom, Anthony. Library—Messrs. Voorhees, chairman ; Ranso l, Edmunds. Rules —Messrs. Morgan, chairman; Cockrell, Blaine. Engrossed Bills Messrs. Conkling chairman; Jones (Nev.) Withers. Enrolled Bills—Messrs. Vance, chair man; Call, Rollins. On Improvement of Mississippi River and its Tributaries Messrs. Lamar, chairman; Cockrell, Harris, Jonas, Blaine and Kellogg. Mines and Mining—Messrs. Hereford, chairman; Gordon, McDonald, Farley, Cameron (Pa.), Plumb, Hill (Col.) Revision of Laws —Messrs. Wallace, chairman; Kernan, Davis (111.), Hoar, McMillan. Education and Labor—Messrs..Bailey, chairman; Gordon, Maxey, Randolph, Burnsides, Morrill, Bruce, Sharon. Civil Service and Retrenchment Messrs. Butler, chairman; Whyte, Beck, Walker, Teller, Chandler, Rollins. To Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate—Messrs. Hill, (Ga.), chairman; Davis, (W. Va.), Jones (Nev.) Transportation Routes to the Seaboard —Messrs. Beck, chairman; Johnston, Voorhees, Hampton, Cameron, (Wis.), Cameron, (Pa.), Windom. To Examine Several Branches of C ivil Service—Messrs. Vest, chairman; Eaton, Gordon, Logan, Hamlin. Appropriations—Messrs. Davis, (W. Va.), chairman; Withers, Beck, Wallace, Eaton, Windom, Allison, Blaine, Booth. Commerce—Messrs. Gordon, chairman; Ransom, Randolph, Hereford, Coke, Conkling, McMillan, Jones, (Nev.), Chandler. Manufactures—Messrs. Grover, chair man; McPherson, Williams, Rollins, Dawes. Agriculture—Messrs. Johnston, chair mon; Davis (W. Va.), Hampton, Slater, Paddock, Sharon, Hoar. Military Affairs—Messrs. McPherson, chairman; Whyte, Jones (Fla.). Vance, Farley, Anthony, Blaine, Cameron (Pa.) Chandler. Judiciary—Messrs. Thurman, chair man; McDonald, Bayard, Garland, La mar, Davis, (HI.), Edmunds, Conkling, Carpenter. Postoffices and Post-roads Messrs. Maxey, chairman; Saulsbury, Bailey, Houston, Farley, Groomes, Ferry, Ham lin, Kirkwood. Public Lands Messrs. McDonald, chairman; Jones (Fla.), Grover Mc- Pherson, Walker, Plumb, Paddock, Booth, Hill (Col.) Private Land Claims—Messrs. Ed mund, chairman; Allison, Windom, Da vis (111.), Jones. Indian Affairs —Messrs. Coke, chair man; Pendleton, Walker, Slater, Wil liams, Allison, Ingalls, Saunders, Logan. Pensions—Messrs. Withers, chairman; McPherson, Groome, Cali, Farley, In galls, Kellogg, Platt. Revolutionary Claims—Messrs. An thony, chair main; Daw r es, McMillan, Jones (Fla.), Hill (Ga.) Claims—Messrs. Cockrell, chairman; Hereford, Harris, Groome, Houston, McMillan, Cameron (Wis.), Teller, Hoar. THE NEW GOLD COIN STELLA. Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, member of the house from Georgia, has prepared a bill, which be will introduce as soon as congress meets, for the coinage of anew gold piece, worth four hundred cents, of the metric system, which he entitles “stella.” The value of this coin ap proximates more uniformly to the gold coin of the metric system in European countries than our five dollar gold pieces. The committee on coins, weights and measures of the last house favored the adoption of the stella. Mr. Stephens has apparently accepted the metric system wholly fo f our coinage in place of the troy system of weights, and his commit tee adopted the idea of a goloid coin, as patented by Dr. W. W. Hubbell, of Philadelphia. Of the dollar of this alloy coin metal which has recently been coin ed at the Philadelphia mint, the commit tee says: “It is the first metric dollar of full standard intrinsic value struck in the world, and fulfills all the require ments for standard coinage of dollars, halves, quarters and dimes of metric measure and in accord with United States coinage value.” Anew twenty metric gold dollar was shown to me by Mr. Ste phens. It is one of the most beautiful cpins probably ever executed. It has upon it the devices as found upon our present coins, with the addition of the words, “Deo est gloria.”— Capital. Washington, March 20.—The caucus of tfce democratic senators this morning nominated Colonel John C. Burch, of Tennessee, to be secretary of the senate. A result was reached on the fifth ballot when Mr. Burch received twenty-four votes; Harvey Watterson (Kentucky), thirteen; Ex - Congressman Stenger (Pennsylvania), one; Ex-Congressman Franklin (Missouri), twenty. Mr. Wat terson received nineteen votes on the first and second ballots and thus came within two votes of obtaining the nomi nation, there being forty senators pres ent at the caucus. The complete vote on the first ballot was: Watterson, 19; Burch, 6; Ex : Senator Dennis, 6; Frank lin, 2; Stenger, 1; Ex-Congressman Waddell (N. C.), 3; Professor McMahon (West Virginia), 2; Purcell, (N. Y.), 1, total 40. The only democratic senators absent were General Gordon, who is ill, and General Hampton who lias not yet arrived from South Carolina. After all the expenses of the recent international walking match were paid, the following amounts were distributed to the contestants: Rowell, $21,500; Ennis, $12,300; llarriman, $8,500; O’Leary, SI,OOO. The total receipts for the week were $54,607.15. The amount of money wagered at Kelly. & Bliss’ pool-rooms was $117,000, and at other betting houses in Wall street $83,000. Walter, Harriman’s backer, won $12,000, and Sir John Astly, $25,000.