Newspaper Page Text
THE SUN.
IIAKTWELL, 11A It I ol MY. UA.:
Wrtlui'MlNy, Aiikiml 23. IMHO.
AYERS & McGILL, Editors.
EIMTUItIAI. IIKKVITIKN.
Superior Court for Madison county
convenes on Monday September 6th.
Hooray for—for—for Hancock and
English ! Now call, us disorganizes
if Jou dure. , , j t t
A white mail naked and unknown,
was found deacftn the Chattahoochee
river in Milton last week.
We see it statecWnat Cobb is the
only county in the Blue Ridge circuit
with licensed bar-rooms. It certainly
is an elevated, dry ridge.
Jackson county, supports severs?
greenback clubs. They insist that
Emory Speer litis not proven as “green
backy " as he said he was.
We learn that in the Ninth District
Bell will challenge Speer for a joint
discussion. We holler—Hurrah for
the regular organized, hardshell, true
Democracy.
Artf.r, whom we stated, last week,
had been found guilty of murder in
Jackson county, is the first man upon
whom Judge Erwin has passed the sen
tence of death. m
*
The first bale of cotton at West
Point was sold on the 16th instant at
14 cents per pound. We are patiently
waiting to make announcement of the
first bale brought to Hartwell. Who’ll
bring it ?
It is getting to be very common for
new-born babes to be scattered around
over Atlanta without anything being
known of their parentage. The wick
edness carried on in that place is
enough to make the old boy himself
hide behind his mantle.
Malcom Johnson being interviewed
by a Constitution man, in speaking of
the late Agricultural Convention, lias
this to say of our town : “ Hartwell is
a beautiful place, and the people did
their best to render the members com
fortable and ‘ at home.’ ”
On this page will be found the letters
of acceptance of Gov. Colquitt and
ex-Senator Norwood. While The SuN
will not take any part in this fight, it
proposes to keep its readers posted as
to what is going on during the cam
paign.
■■ ’ "r —-
The propriety of holding a conven
tion to nominate a candidate in this
District for the State Senate is being
discussed to some extent. We do not
know the wishes of the people on this
subject, but it might be well enough
for someone to move in the matter in
order to ascertain.
From the estimates that are now
being made on the late census, it ap
pears that the South gains five mem
bers in Congress, while the North gains
only two. Owing to this fact the stal
warts are now howling. Just let ’em
howl. By-the-by, the Liberia and Kan
sas colored emigration schemes fail to
keep up with the birtli rate.
The Athens Banner, in speaking of
Mr. Speer’s speech in that place seve
ral days ago, says in the outset he pro
posed to conduct the campaign between
Mr. Bell and himself on the highest
plane of contest of gentlemen with
gentlemen; but unfortunately before
he had gotten half way through, he got
down far below his high position. Char
acteristic.
There is little being said about who
shall be the next Congress member
from this District; but we suppose the
voters have pbqut determined to let the
lion. Alexander H. Stephens die in
harness. It will hardly be necessary
to hold an election until after his death ;
but in order tq make it legal, we insist
upon his securing a warrantee deed to
the position.
Isn’t it funny to spe what gumps
some of the leading (?) papers in the
State are making of themselves about
Colquitt and Norwood. We have had
some experience in that line, but have
learned better sense. We find it best
where there is no fundamental principle
involved to stand with hands off and
eee the fight. Now, the first newspaper
cuss that rises up and says we haven’t
got sense enough to make choice be
tween the two aspirants will get his
mug mashed. And don t you forget it.
Ex-Senator Norwood addressed to
Gov. Colquitt a letter last week, ask
ing him to join him in a request to the
The Sun.
By AYERS & McGill.
VOL. IV—NO. 52.
State Democratic Executive Committee
of Georgia to issue a call to the Demo
crats to meet again in Convention to
nominate a candidate for Governor, in
order that the Democratic party might
again be united in feeling and action.
Among other patriotic sayings in Sen
ator Norwood’s letter, he had this to
say: “ Should you unite with me in
|,his last effort to preserve the party,
and to preveilt much acrimony and un
christian feeling will, no doubt,
grow out of this contest, 1 will prom
ise, without asking that or any other
condition of you, that my name shall
not go before the Convention.’’ Gov.
Colquitt absolutely declined to accept
his proposition.
GOV. COLQUITT’S ACCEPTANCE.
—T—
Atlrrnm, Gn,\' August 12>-Messrs.
Philip L. Cohen, Randolph Itidgeley,
R. Jones, Willis A. Hawkins. F. M.
Longley, George M. Nolan, Samuel
Hall, David Buckofzer, Tyler M. Peo
ples, Committee —Gentlemen : I have
the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter notifying me that the State
Democratic Convention of Georgia has
selected me by a large majority as the
Democratic candidate for Governor in
the coming State election, and I hereby
signify my acceptance of the trust.
For the kind terms in which you have
couched your letter I beg to assure you
of my appreciation.
Entering upon the duties of the ex
ecutive office nearly four years ago in a
period ot general depression, I was con
scious of the unusual burden that I as
sumed, and I brought to the discharge
of duty an earnest desire that iny ad
ministration might bring material re
sults of benefit to the people of our be
loved state. In every act I have per
formed as a public servant since I have
filled the post I occupy, the interest
and honor of Georgia have been my
inspiration, and not to the extent of
“one poor scruple” have I betrayed or
slept over my trust.
It has been gratifying to me to see a
steady improvement in the individual
welfare, and in every phase of the pub
lic condition, and lain not insensible to
the compliment conveyed in your letter
that you accord to me credit for these
results to the full extent that an execu
tive may claim in our scheme of public
polity. Among the valuable results
wrought in these years are, au elevated
State credit, a diminished public debt,
a decreased rate of taxation, enlarged
sources of income, exaltation of the
State’s dignity abroad, and an abate
ment of sectional strife through Geor
gia’s influence. To these may be added
kindlier relations between the white and
colored races, due to a liberal spirit in
the encouragement of popular educa
tion and equal justice in the protection
of all races in every right of citizenship
to the fullest extent of executive au
thority.
I consider it the duty of all the patri
otic people belonging to either race to
encourage cordiality and kindness be
tween the races. It is especially the du
ty of the white race, having the advan
tages which they now possess in educa
tion and in the possession of property,
to see that full and impartial justice is
done to the colored race by every de
partment of the government.
I will say further, that the State gov
ernment should do all that can reason
ably be done to promote popular edu
cation, and that each race should par
ticipate equally and fairly in the distri
bution of all public moneys raised for
that purpose in proportion to the num
ber of children belonging to each, with-
in the ages which entitle them to the
benefits of education at public expense,
as provided by law.
I may mention as an evidence of in
creased prosperity that if the returns
from the one hundred counties heard
from by the Comptroller-General afford
a basis for judging, the wealth of Geor-
gia will allow an increase of fully ten
millions of dollars this single year.
It may not be inappropriate ia this
connection for me to say something on
the subject of our system of transporta
tion, as it is one that very materially ef
fects the interests of our fellow-citizens.
Much-complaint having been made in
reference to the inequalities and dis-
HARTWELL, GA., WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 20. 1881 V.
criraißKtiona fn our railroad qystfm, th
last General Assembly took up that
question, and after great deliberation
passed au act now upon our statute
book, a leading feature of which was
the establishment of railroad commission.
It was not to be expected that the com
missioners could in a short time so ad
just the whole railroad system in Geor
gia as to prevent all discriminations
and do justice alike to all the people
and to the railroad companies. I am
gratified to learn, however, that very
great progress has been made toward a
satisfactory solution of this whole ques
tion. I cannot doubt that the able and
intelligent gentlemen who have the mat
ter in charge as commissioners, will, du
ring the coming year, be able to harmo
nize the different conflicting elements,
and to so systematize the whole business
of transportation by rail in tho Stato as
to place it upon a just and equitable ba
sis. I trust that both the transportation
companies and the people will be con
tent to wait developments for a reason
able time until the problem has been
fairly solved. The people of the State
have the right to demand that their
freights be carried at the lowest figures
that will secure the stockholders who
have invested their money in railroad
enterprises reasonable and just divi
dends upon the investment.
While on this point I desire to re
mark further, that I am aware that con
siderable disquietude has been manifest
ed by our people in reference to our
great State property, the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, growing out of the
extensive combinations and consolida
tions of the railroad interests, and the
rapid changes which have been made in
the ownership of the different lines con
necting with our State system, and es
pecially with the Western and Atlantic
Railroad.
I have looked carefully into the lease
and to the act providing for the lease of
the Western and Atlantic Railroad,
and I find that all discriminations
against persons or corporations in this
State are positively forbidden by that
act. It will be my purpose to see that
this act is faithfully carried out iu letter
and spirit.
The Western and Atlantic Railroad is
a great public highway, connecting the
transportation lines between the coast
and the West, and it should be perpet
ually used as au open highway over
which every person and every railroad
company should have an equal right to
pass upon terms of perfect equality.
To carry out this object, it will be very
important that the State should retain
at all times the control of this great
highway in her own hands. I am,
therefore, opposed to the sale of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad, and
should not hesitate to withhold my
signature, as the Executive of Georgia,
from any act providing for the sale of
the road, or of any disposition of it that
puts it beyond the power of the State
to keep it open alike to the use of all
corporations and all citizens upon terms
of perfect equality.
While these remarks are probably not
elicited by your communication, they
relate to subjects of public interest so
momentous in their character that I
feel I am due no apology for having
made this public statement in reference
to my position and policy on these vital
issues.
Feeling grateful for the continued
manifestation of respect and confidence
of the people of Georgia, as shown bv
their endorsement in primary meetings,
and the action of the Democratic Con
vention, I take fresh courage for the
work that is before me, and as I feel
that I have been true to the interest of
Georgia in the past, I will not falter in
the discharge of duty in the future.
Very respectfully, your obedient ser
vant, Alfred 11. Colquitt.
Mr Goober was a gentleman who liv
ed in the Mormon country. He had but
one wife, and never thought of taking
any more till one day an cider tackled
him and told him solemnly it was his re
ligious duty to seal uuto himself several
others. Mr. Goober went home and
sadly informed his wife of what the el
der had said. Mrs. Goober said she
would have no objections provided the
elder would come around and argue the
Devoted to Hart County.
ber piously, Goober told the
elder, Riul the elder dropped annind.
He smiled sweetly as Mrs. Goober ad
vanced to meet him. But, alas! that
smile was his last —for a week or two.
The next thing he knew he was skipped
around tho room with his coat slit up
the back and his hat knocked into pi,
while Mrs. Goober whooped' him up
with a broomstick. He finally jumped
ut of £ke rqpm a sadder and wiser
man. Tim next time he saw Goober he
told him that he had had a celestial
revelation by which he (Goober) was re
lieved from the necessity of taking any
more wives. The ono he had (Mrs.
Goober) would count for almost a thous
and in the New Jerusalem.
NORWOOD’S ACCEPTANCE.
Atlanta, August 13, 1880—Messrs.
JosiahL. Warren, It. F. Lyons, IT. 11.
Carlton, P. W. Alexander, I). B. Har
rell, F. G. Wilkins, J. W. Staten, F.
M. Iraboden, 11. T. Hollis, George M.
McDowell, Walter R. Brown: Your
communication inviting me to be a can
didate before the people of Georgia for
the office of governor, is this day re
ceived.
Asa delegate to the late gubernato
rial convention, I earnestly desired and
hoped up to the last hour of its session,
that a nomination fcf - governor would
be mafic, which would, hfrrmpnlzc the
Colquitt and anti-Cofqfiiti Wingfe of the
democratic party. But the hope prov
ed illusive, and the people of Georgia
are now left without a nomiuec for that
high office.
My desire, as you know, was to issue
a call for another convention which
could silence all but I was
met by two objections, first the want of
authority, as the-democratic state exec
utive committee was the constituted
authority to call the people together,
and, .second, the want of time for con,
cert of action in all the counties. Your
decision, finally, was to act and request
some democrats to consent to be a can
didate in opposition to Governor Col
quitt and leave the question of another
convention of a choice between the two
candidates to the people.
No man in the state regrets more
than I, the position in which the peo
ple of this state are placed by the re
fusal of the majority in the late con
vention to nominate a man about whom
there w’ould have lieen no division or
discord. But the lamentable fact is
before us, and tho democratic party
must either meet in convention and heal
the breach by nominating a man who
would silence the discord in its ranks,
or the people must accept a candidate,
by whose acts fn his official capacity
and during the late canvass and the
late convention, the division in the
party lias been caused.
In reply to your request I will say,
that had I not been a delegate in the
late convention, and had I not taken
so active a part in maintaining what I
conceive to be the rights of the people
—their right to vote for whom they
please ; their right to freedom of speech ;
their right to rule themselves and to
choose their ruler from the whole state ;
their right to judge of the fitness or un
fitness of a candidate, and to carry out
their convictions of duty; I should
from considerations of great personal
moment, decline to be a candidate.
But it is urged that the logical sequence
is forme to continue to labor in a good
cause and prosecute it to completion.
I consider the cause worthy of the am
bition and patriotism of any Georgian.
The issues involved in this contest are
of great moment to the state, and to
every citizen of it. Their effects will
reach beyond and affect l’or good or evil,
the lives of men in the state now in the
vigor of youth. In assuming this can
didacy I have no motive or purpose or
ambition beyond serving my state and
in endeavoring to instill into the minds
of the young men of my state who will
soon wear the robes of office, the im
portant truth that the same circumspec
tion and avoidance even “of the ap
pearance of evil ” which should mark
their footsteps in private life. If suc
cessful in this alone my reward will be
full.
In conclusion, it is proper that I
should state the policy I shall adopt
should the people of the state call me
81.50 Per Annum.
WHOLE NO. 208.
to discharge the duties of governor.
As education is tho source and support
of good government, and as no |>eople
can be truly great and free who are ig
norant, I should favor a liberal provis
ion for the education of the children of
both races.
I shall oppose, the sale of tho West
ern and Atlantic railroad, as well as
any attempt that might bo made by any
persons or corporations within or be
yond the Htatete get such control of it
as wordd enablo them to use it to the
detriment of the citizens or the corpor
ations of this state.
I shall endeavor in all official action
to foster the kindred relations between
the white and colored races.
I shall advise such legislation as will
impartially protect tho just results of
capital and labor.
In the matter of transportation, I
shall seek to establish the equitable
means which imposes no unjust burdens
ou the shipper and secures to the car
rier a fair and reasonable return on the
capital invested in his road or other
means of transportation.
I shall endeavor in every way to pre
vent the repetition of the cruelties
growing out of the convict system of
the state, which, in 1878 and 1871),
were brought to light and caused a chill
of horror in every human breast. Any
system which works such cruelty and
mortality must he radically wrong and
should be corrected.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for tho
confidence in mo implied by your re
quest, I remain very truly, your fellow
citizen, T. M. Norwood.
MR. NORWOOD’S FIRST SPEECH.
Ex-Senator Norwood opened the cam
paign at the State House in Atlanta,
on the night of' the 16th instant.
Judging of it impartially, we pronounce
it an able effort. He l*andled Govern
or Colquitt’s administration with gloves
oir. Quite humorous were his compli
ments to the Atlanta Constitution,
which run in this way :
“ Now, fellow-citizers, before I be
gin to discuss the merits of that ad
ministration and its demerits, allow me
to say a word about myself. Being a
candidate as a matter of course I must
receive shafts as well as give them,
and before 1 was announced tlieso l’ar
thian or rather poisoned arrows began
to pour in upon me. The first were
sent by the Constitution. They rat
tled upon me yesterday in pretty lively
style. They said about me I think—
for no man knows what is coming from
that quarter —about all they had to say.
But if they did not and there is any
representative of that paper in this
hall or in the galleries, I desire when I
get through answering the charges al
ready made that he will rise and state
anything else he knows. [Great ap
plause.] That is a wonderfully in
ventive institution, [Applause] and
hence I say I do not know what is com
ing next. They have certain depart
ments of work divided off there among
themselves. How many editors they
have Ido not know. But one thing is
sure, if you want to pin any one thing
down on one of them you will find al
most fifty of them responsible, but no
body really responsible for it. [Ap
plause.] Mr. Hemphill attends to the
financial department, and does that
very well. My friend Evan Howell goes
around firing olf blank cartridges, and
every now and then you will find him
standing on the street corner like a
quaker gun trying to scare people
[Great and continued applause] while
MR. GRADY FURNISHES THE
FACTS. [Continued applause, laugh
ter and cheers.] It is not the good
fortune of any one living in this age
to ever have seen creative power at
work. This world was created long
before wo were brought upon the earth.
Hut whenever you see Henry Grady
drop that prognathous jaw of his and
look about on space you see the active
work of creation going on. [Applause]
And you see something created out of
nothing. [Great applause.] And facts
come trooping unto him as rapidly as
imagination can play. Now, gentle
tlemen, you may expect, this being the
character of that paper, and I give you
but a feeble presentation of it, [Ap
plause] that something else will be
saitl and fnwj- already been said about
me. But If Mr. Grady's imagination
ha 9 produced any more facts I desire
him to present them now. If ho has
none I desire him to forever hold his
peace, but I will endeavor to mset auy
clinrges lie may have as they rise.” [A
voice—ho has none, Mr. Norwood]
Oh, j’cs, my friends, you do not read
the Constitution, bnt remember, fellow
citizens, that these are facts put forth
to show that I am not fit for the offleo
of Governor.”
MISCEGENATION!
■ ' n 1 * ", i
Chrmlitn fiiilnr.
The N. Y. Independent, speaking of
tho ostracism practiced by the Cauca
sian on the Negro in all parts of the
United States, and more ospiceally, as
ho declares, in tho Northern States,
says:
“ We hope for the time to* come
“ speedily when even m the closest and
“ holiest bonds of matrimony the last
“ vestige of this lingering ostracism
“ shall vanish. Even now wo pledge
‘‘ourselves to tho Christian equality
” not yet accepted by our people, and
“ will advance it in every way in our
“ power.”
l’erhaps the editor of the Indepen
dent is a bachelor, or a widower. If so,
doubtless he could persuade some ne
gro woinan to be Ins wife, and if this
is “ in his power," supposing him to be
a single lulh, he seems to bo “pledged”
to do it. If be is a married man, we
doubt whether his present wife is pleas
ed with the prospect that her successor
and the step-mother of her children is
to be a black woman ; still it Is )H>ssi
blc that her sentiments may be in ac
cord with those of her husband ; and,
in that case, she would not object to
having a negro woinan as her succes
sor ; and if she should become a wid
ow, supposing her views to agree with
those of her husband, his successor
would be a negro, and the half broth
ers of his children would he mulattocs.
Perhaps the editor of the Indepen
dent lias grown daughters. If so, it is
“ in his power ” to encourage the atten
tions of negroes to these young ladies
witli a view to Ukv “ closest and holiest
bonds of matrimony and his pledge
os above given by himself, would seem
to require that ho should do it. Per
haps he has grown sons; if so, it
would seem that he ought to encourage
them to pay their addresses to negro
women, as this would certainly (on his
theory) aid in causing “the last vestige,”
etc., to vanish. Perhaps he has un
married sisters or brothers ; if so, lie,
of course, would not object to their
forming the “ closest and holiest ” rc
tionships with negroes. Perhaps his
mother is a widow ; if so ho, of course,
would not object to having awicgro for
a step-father. If one negro marriage
in the family would be acceptable, why
not all ? In that case every member
of the editor’s family would ho identi
fied with the negro race. And why
not, so far, at least, as he is concerned ?
What could be his objection ?
We have by no means taken it for
granted that the family and kindred of
the editor of the Independent would
accept the conditions proposed to them ;
on general principles we suppose they
would not; but we think they can
scarcely censure us for simply unfold
ing and spreading out the thought more
succinctly expressed by the editor him
self.
Suppose all the white people in the
world were to adopt the views of the
Independent, and do “ all in their pow
er ” to cause the “ last vestige of the
ostracism,” “ even in the closest and
holiest bonds of matrimony ” to “van
ish then if there were negro men and
women enough to furnish each of us
with a partner, and if their consent
could be bad, the white race in the next
generation would disappear from the
earth ; so, too, would the negro race ;
and botli would be superseded by a
race of mulattoes. Would this be a
desirable result ?
Reduced to the form of resolutions,
the programme of the Independent
would seem to us to be as follows:
'Resolved, Ist. That Providenceerred
in giving the negro race a place in this
world.
Resolved, 2d. That Providence erred
in giving the white race a place in this
world.
Resolved. 3d. That we will rectify
these errors of Providence by amalga
mating these two races, so that neither
shall hereafter exist.
All errors spring up in the neighbor
hood of some truth; they grow round
about it, and for the most part derive
their strength for such contiguity.