Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current, October 07, 1881, Image 1
J ACKSON HERALD.
ROBERT S. HOWARD,)
Editor and Publisher.
VOLUME I.
M:. 13. McGINTY,
ft&ovw S'Vs.y.'&'v, - - wwaws, e,^.,
(Below S. C. Dobbirand opposite A. S. Dorsey,)
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN ALL KINDS OF
Furniture, Coffins and Caskets.
1 have the largest stock of this kind ever brought to the city, and can undersell
any house in the South. Be sure to give me a call, and I will save you money. 1
also keep, at my store on Jackson Street, all sizes
Doors, Sash cfc Blinds,
And Builders Material of All Kinds.
M. B. McGINTY,
Sept 23 Broad Street, Athens, Ga.
£cgof Jltlecctiscmciits.
Administrator’s Sale.
VGRKEA BLE to an order of the Court
of Ordinary of Jackson county, Ga.,
obtained at the August term, 1881, I will
sell, on the lirst Tuesday in November
next, to the highest bidder, before the
Court House door in the town of Jeffer
son, Ga., within the legal hours of sale,
six-sevenths interest in the following pro
perty. belonging to the estate of Micager
Williamson, late of said county, deceased:
A tract of land, lying in said county, on
the waters of the Oconee river and little
Curry’s creek. . djoining lands of Sharpe,
Stephens, Boggs, Dowdy and others, con
taining four hundred acres, more or less,
divided about as follows : one hundred
acres of original first-class forest, about
one hundred acres of first-class river and
creek bottoms, of which about seventy
five acres arc in cultivation ; about one
hundred acres of upland in good state of
cultivation, balance in old held pines. On
said place there is a good two-story dwel
ling house, with live rooms, good kitchen,
smoke-house, cribs, &c., good orchards,
garden, and the premises are well ar
ranged and convenient. On said place
there are good stables and an excellent
two-story framed gin house. Said place
is convenient to churches and schools.
Also, at the same time and place, six
seventh interest in six acres of land, with
a good lirst-class merchants mills located
thereon. One set of com rocks and one
set of wheat rocks, with all of the neces
sary appurtenances for the proper run
ning of the same ; all in a good state of
repair. The mill house is two-> tory
framed, and is a first-class piece of work
and in good condition. Water wheels,
fcc., all in good repair. The stand is a
good one, and the mill enjoys a good repu
tation.
All of the above is first-class property,
and the lands cannot be surpassed for fer
tility in Jackson and adjoining counties,
and is located about six miles east of Jef
ferson and four miles from Nicholson, on
the North Eastern Rail Road.
The remaining one-seventh interest in
the above described property will be sold
at the same time and place, and upon the
same terms, by James Greer, Adminis
trator of Winney Williamson, deceased.
Also, thirteen shares of the capital
stock of the Jackson County Publishing
Company.
Sold for the purpose of paying the debts
of said deceased and for distribution.
Terms cash.
J. L. WILLIAMSON,
Adni’r of M. Williamson, dec’d.
Executor s Sale.
4 GRKEABLE to an older obtained
from the Court of Ordinary of .Jack
son county, at the August term, 1881, I
will sell, at public out-cry, to the highest
bidder, before the Court House door, in
the town of Jefferson, Ga., within the
legal hours of sale, on the lirst Tuesday
in November next, the following tracts of
land belonging to the estate of John S.
Hunter, late ot said county, deceased : A
tract of land, c ntaining two hundred and
twenty acres, more or less, lying on the
Jefferson and Harmony Grove road, two
miles from Jefferson, divided as follows :
about fifty or sixty acres of original forest,,
about sixty-five or seventy in good state
of cultivation, balance in old field pine.
<)n said place there is a good two-story,
framed,dwelling with eight rooms and all
of the necessary out-houscs, good orchard,
well and springs and the place is well im
proved. Also, a tract containing one
hundred and fifty acres, more or less, and
known as the Cherry “tract, adjoining
lands- of J. E. Randolph. HaHey land and
the John S. Hunter home tract, divided
about as follows : seventy-five acres of
original forest, the remainder in good stato
of cultivation. There is a good tenant
house on this trajet. Also, a tract con
taining thirty-live acres,, more or less,
known as the Lindsey tract,, adjoining
lands of I, S. Smith, J. S. Hunter home
place. Pittman and others, divided about
equally into-original forest and old field
pines.
All of said tracts of land arc Gonvcni
ently situated to schools, churches, Ac.*
and are well watered. So hi tor the pur
pose of paying the debts and for distribu
tion. Terms cash.
J. L. WILLIAMSON.
Executor of J. S. Hunter, dec’d.
Administrator’s Sale.
to an order of the Court
of Ordinary of Jackson county. Ga.,
will be sold, on'the first Tuesday in ‘No
vember, 1881, before the Court House
door in Jefferson, in said county, within
the legal hours of sale, the following lands,
to-wit: One hundred and sixty acres of
land, more or less, lying in said county,
in the. 242d District, G. M.. whereon F.
M. Holliday resided at the time of his
death. On said tract of land there is
about one hundred and twenty or thirty
acres in a good state of cultivation, the
remainder in old field and forest. On said
land there is a good framed dwelling, good
gin house and four or five tenant houses.
Also, at the same time and place, one
tract of land known as the Mary H. Hol
liday dower tract, adjoining lands of Long.
Dameron and the Oconee river on the
south, containing three hundred and sixty
acres, more or less. On said pljiee there
is seventy or eighty acres in a good state
of cultivation, of which there is about fif
teen or twenty acres of good bottom land,
remainder in old field and forest. On said
land there is an ordinary dwelling and out
buildings.
Said lands sold as the property of F. M.
Holliday, dec'd. for the purpose of distri
bution between the heirs of said deceased.
Terms cash.
C. F. HOLLIDAY, Adm’r.
Administrator’s Sale.
AGREEABLE to an order of the Court
of Ordinary of Jackson county, Ga.,
obtained at the regular term, on the first
Monday in April, 1881, I will sell, on the
first Tuesday in November, 18.81, to the
highest bidder, at public outcry, before
the Court House door in the town of Jef
ferson, Ga., the following described prop
erty, belonging to the estate of John A.
Long, late of said county, deceased, it be
ing the place on which the said -John A.
Long lived at the time of his death. Said
tract of land has been divided and survey
ed into live different parcels, and will be
sold separately, as follows :
Lot No. 1 contains sixty-seven acres,
more or less; about fifteen acres of un
cleared bottom land, balance in old field
pines, finely timbered. The whole tract
is first-class land.
LTt No. 2 contains, in all, one hundred
and thirteen and six-tenth acres, more or
less, divided as follows : about twenty
acres of rich bottom land in a high state of
cultivation, about forty acres of original
forest, finely timbered, balance in old
field and in cultivation.
Lot No. 3 contains, in all, ighty-eight
and a half acres, more or less, divided as
follows: about twenty acres of rich bot
tom land in a high state of cultivation,
about twenty-five acres of original forest
well timbered, the balance in old lield and
in cultivation.
Lot No. 4 contains one hundred and
seventeen acres, more or less, divided as
follows: about eighty acres in original
forest well timbered, two acres in cultiva
tion, balance in old field.
Lot No. 5 contains one hundred and
twenty-four acres, more or less, divided
as follows : about ninety acres in original
forest well timbered, balance in old lield
and in cultivation. There arc two settle
ments on this place ; houses in moderate
repair.
All ofthc above described land lies well,
and is considered to be of the best quality
of land in Jackson county. The route of
the Gainesville, Jefferson and Southern
railroad divides No. 5. All the lots can
be conveniently made accessible to the
neighboring roads. Sold to pay debts and
for the purpose of distribution. 'Terms
cash. T. H. NIBLACK, Adin’r.
Executor’s Sale.
AGREEABLY to an order from tiic
Court of Ordinary of Jackson county,
Ga., will be sold, before the Court House
door in Jefferson, in said county, within
the legal hours of sale, on the first Tues
day in November next, the land belonging
to the estate of William I). Smith, dec'd,
containing five hundred and eighty-eight
acres, more or less, lying on the waters of
Walnut creek, in said county. Sold in
two lots.
Lot No. 1, containing three hundred jfnd
seventy-one acres. On said lot is a good
dwelling house, all nccossary out-build
ings, a good orchard and a good well. On
said lot there is about sixty acres in cul
tivation, twenty acres of it good bottom
land, sixty or seventy acres of original
forest, the remainder good old fields. .Sold
subject to the widow’s dower. The dow
er covers one hundred and twenty-six
acres.
Lot No.. 2 contains two hundred and
seventeen acres. On said lot there is
about thirty acres in cultivation, fifteen
acres of it good bottom land. On said lot
there is about lifty or sixty acres of origi
nal forest, the remainder good old fields.
All of said lands lying in one and a half
miles of the North Eastern Rail Road.
Terms cash. S. S. SMITH.
T. S. SHANKLE,
Executors.
Jackson Sheriff's Sale.
WILL be sold, before the Court House
door in Jefferson, Jackson county.,
Ga., on the first Tuesday in November,
1881, within the legal hours of sale, to the
highest' bidder, the following described
property, to-wit:
A tract of land lying, in said county,
containing twenty acres,.more or less, the
same being a part of the tract, of land on
which Matilda Sauls now lives, adjoining
lands of Noel Sims, R. J. Parks, and oth
ers. Levied on as the property ofG. W.
Sauls,, dec’d, to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from
the Justice’s Court of the 248th District,
G. M., in favor of D. R. Lyle vs. J. I.
Hudgins and G. AY. Sauls, principals, and
J. W. Reynolds, endorser, and now con
trolled by E. B. Jordan. Property point
ed out by E. lb Jordan, and levy made
and returned to me by J. T. Lancaster,
L. C. Written notice served upon the
tenant in possesssion, as the law directs.
T. A. McELHANNON, Sh’ff.
Jackson Sheriff’s Sale.
WILL be sold, before the Court House
door, in the town of Jefferson, Ga.,
to the highest bidder, within the legal
hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in No
vember next, the following property to
wit:
X tract of land, lying in Jackson coun
ty, on the writes of the South Oc nec
river, containing one hundred and ninety
acres, more or less, adjoining lands ol
Robert Shields, Levi Martin and others.
On said land there is about seventy-five
acres in good state of cultivation, about
forty acres of this is river and creek bot
toms. tire remainder is in original forest
and old field pines. On said land there is
a good dwelling and out-houscs and ten
ant houses, a good orchard and other im
provements, making a first-class farm.
Levied on as the property of -J. D. John
son, to satisfy a fi. fa. issued from the
Superior Oourt of Jackson county at the
August term, 1881, in favor of S. C.
Dobbs against J. D. Johnson. Property
pointed out by S. C. Dobbs, the plaintiff
m fi. fa. Written notice given to the ten
ant in possession as the law directs.
T. A. McELHANNON, SUTi'.
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY, GA., FRIDAY. OCTOBER 7, 1881.
Jackson Sheriff’s Sale.
WILL be sold, before the Court House
door in the town of Jefferson, Ga.,
within the legal hours of sale, on the first
Tuesday in November next, to the highest
bidder, the following described property,
to-wit :
A tract or parcel of land, lying in Jack
son county, containing one hundred and
twenty-three acres, more or less, situated
irwSanta Fe District and adjoining lands
of Andrew Stroud, col’d, James It. Thur
mond and others, it being a part of the
McDonald survey, sold by James E. Ran
dolph to James It. Thurmond. About
four or five acres on said place is in culti
vation, the balance is in original forest.
There is a small log cabin on said place.
Levied on as the property of Janies R.
Thurmond to satisfy a ti. fa. issued from
the Superior Court of Jackson county, at
the August term, IS7S, in favor of Jas. E.
Randolph vs. J. R. Thurmond, for the
purchase money of said land. Property
pointed out by J. E. Randolph, plaintiff
in fi. fa., and deed tiled in the Clerk’s of
fice of Jackson county, as the law directs.
Written notice given Jas. R. Thurmond,
the tenant in possession, in complyancc
with the law.
T. A. McELIIANNON, Sh’ff.
i Administrator’s Sale.
AGREEABLE to an order of the Court
of Ordinary of Jackson county, Ga..
I will sell, on the first Tuesday in No
vember next, before the Court House door
in the town of Jefferson, Ga., within the
legal hours of sale, to the highest bidder,
a one-seventh interest in the following
property : A tract of land, in said coun
ty, on the waters of the Oconee river and
little Curry's creek, known as the Micager
Williamson home place, containing four
hundred acres, more or less, adjoining
lands of Sharpe, Stephens and others. For
a more accurate description of said prop
erty, you are referred to the advertise
ment of James L. Williamson, Atlm’r of
M. Williamson, deceased, to be found in
this issue. Also, onc-scvcnth interest in
the tract of land containing six acres and
the merchants mills situated thereon, and
known as the Williamson mills. A more
accurate description of said mills will be
found in this paper, in an advertisement
of James L. Williamson, Administrator
ofM. Williamson, deceased.
The above described one-seventh inter
est in said property will be sold together
and at the same time with the six-seventh
interest owned by the late M. Williamson,
deceased.
Sold under the terms of the will of Win
ney Williamson, late of said county, de
ceased, and for the purpose of carrying
out the bequests in said w.ll. Terms cash.
JAMES GREER, Adin’r,
with the will annexed, of Winney Wil
liamson, deceased.
Executrix’s Sale.
4 GREEABLY to an order of the Court
t\. of Ordinary of Jackson county, Ga.,
granted at the September term, 1881, of
said court, will be sold to the highest bid
der, before the Court House door in Jef
ferson, on the first Tuesday in November,
1881, the house and lot on Sycamore
street, in Jefferson, known as the Harriet
A. Watson property. Said lot contains
three acres, more or'less; good garden,
horse lot and meadow. The dwelling
house is a good two-story framed building,
containing nine rooms; splendid out
houses, kitchen, lumber house, smoke
house, two-story stables; all framed build
ings. Sold as the property of Harriet A.
Watson, dec’d, for the purpose of paying
the debts of said deceased and for distri
bution among the legatees. Terms cash.
MARTHA J. WATSON,
Executrix Harriet Watson, dec’d.
Q.EORGIA, Jackson County.
Whereas, J. C. Wheeler, Administra
tor de bonis non, with will annexed, of
Daniel Wheeler, deceased, represents To
this Court, by his petition duly filed, that
he has fully and completely administered
said deceased’s estate, and is entitled to a
discharge from said administration—
This is to cite all
and creditors, to show cause, if any they
can, on the first Monday in December,
1881, at the . regular term of the Court of
Ordinary of said county, why Letters of
Dismission should not be granted the ap
plicant from said trust.
Given under nry official signature, this
August 81st. 1881.
H. W. DELL, Ord’y.
QEORGIT, Jackson County.
AVhereas, John I. Pittman and J. AV.
Strickland, Administrators of Cynthia
Parks, late of said county, dec'd, applies
in proper fohn for leave to sell the lands
belonging to the estate of said dec’d—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred
ami creditors, to show cause, if any, at
thp regular term of the Court of Ordinary
of-s&i'd county,, on the first Monday in No
vember, 1881, why said leave should not
be granted tlio applicants.
G iv.cn under my official signature, Sep
tember 29th,. 1881..
J H. AV. BELL, Ord'y.
A, Jackson. County.
Whereas, M, J. Dowdy,. Guardian of
John AV. and Joseph F. Dowdy, minors
of W. F. Dowdy, dec’d, applies to me in
proper form for leave to sell certain real
estate"!)elonging to said wards, situated
in Oglethorpe county, in said State—
This is to cite all concerned, * kindred
and creditors, to show cause, if any, on
the lirst Monday iri November,. 1881, at
the regular term of the Oourt of Ordinary
of said county, why said leave should not
be granted the applicant.
Given underlay official signature, Sep
tember 29th, 1881.
11. AV. BELL, Ord'y.
Jackson County.
Whereas. John W. Boggs applies to me
in proper form for Letters of Administra
tion on the estate of Ezekiel Boggs, late of
said county, dec’d—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred
and creditors, to show cause, if any, on
the first Monday in November, 1881, at
the regular term of the Court of Ordinary
of said county, why said Letters should
not be granted the applicant.
Given under my official signature, Sep
tember 2Sth, ISBI.
11. AV. BELL, Ord’y.
To Debtors Creditors.
ALL persons having demands against
the estate of Sarah Booth, late of
*Jackson county, deceased, are hereby re
quired to present them, duly authentica
ted, for payment to the undersigned, and
those clue said estate arc"requested to
come forward and settle.
JOHN A. BOOTH.
sep 23 Adm’r of Sarah Booth.
FOR THE PEOPLE.
A Sketch of the Life of Chester A.
Arthur.
[Gath’s Sketch of President Arthur.]
The Baptist church is responsible
for Chester A. Arthur. His father was
one of those sterling old men who have
made the Baptist clergy missionaries
and civilizers. Almost as early as
there were Puritans in England there
where also Baptists. After much
persecution, the Baptists obtained
toleration under William of Orange.
In Scotland and the north of Ireland
many of the Calvinists adopted the
Baptist idea, and claimed that baptism
had even a higher cartlity antiquity
than Christianity. The Baptists arc
in general Calvinistic cougregational
ists, with the great central idea of
baptism as the leading bond of faith
and an indispensable rite. Like all
Calvinists the Baptists were early
advocates of colleges and of education.
If you can imagine a Scotch-Irish
Presbyterian, with all his other quali
ties intensified by the ardor of his
views on baptism, j ? ou can behold
General Arthur’s father. lie was
born and educated about Belfast,
Ireland, and came to Canada, and
thence, seeking newer fields and larger
congregations, crossed the American
line, and while settled a few miles east
of St. Albans, Vermont, General
Arthur was born in the township of
Fairfield.
Probably his father had to recross
the line to preach, and even to reside,
after the general's birth ; and this has
led to some notion that the vice-presi
dent was born in Canada, an idea
which I think is to be classed with
that of Wilkes Booth being still alive
and Mr. Stanton having out his throat.
It is not reasonable that a gentle
man aware of his disabilities should
take the oath as vice-president. Yet
it is sometimes hard for men of itiner
ant clerical parentage, born fifty years
ago, to be thoroughly accurate about
their birthplace. General Arthur’s
father probably lived in twenty dif
ferent towns, and preached in about
that number of churches, after the son
was born. The general drift of his
residence was down the east side of
Lake Champlain to the foot of the lake,
and then southern Vermont, around
the field of Bennington and over into
New York State, about in the quarter
of the Iloosac tunnel, and so on to
Troy, Albany and Schenectady.
The old man was called to the city
of New Y r ork a few years before the
war, and bad quite a good church here
called tire the Calvary liaptest. lie
was not only a minister but an author,
something of the style of Disraeli’s
father. AATule Hen Disraeli, the elder,
wrote the “ Curiosit’es of Literature,”
Rev. AVilliam Arthur wrote the “Origin
of Modern Names.”
About 1875 the old man died, be
holding his son collector of the port
of New York and considerable of a
man in the councils of the radical re
publican party. The benevolence,
warmth of character, and love of
knowledge in AVilliam Arthur are often
talked of by other clergymen and by
some politicians here.
It i9 probable that General Arthur’s
mother was a New England woman.
Her name indicates it both in the
prenom and the surname—Malvina
Stone. AVilliam and Melvin a Arthur
had a good, big yankee family, Gve
daughters and two sons. The second
son went into war, was a good officer
and is now major and paymaster in
the regular service. lie probably owes
to his brother his durable situation
in the service. Not much is known
about the daughters.
Chester A. Arthur has unquestion
ably been the center of the family for
the past twenty years, and has given
status, to his father, as well as bis
fathers children. As we shall see
further on, this son carried the Baptist
preachers stock into one of the oldest
families of Virginia,
Like most clergymen, William Ar
thur thought about the best he could
do for his children wa9 to educate
them. Preachers seldom acquire money
unless they marry it, and Chester Ar
thur was sent to Union college at
Schenectady, New York. Very little
is said about this institution nowadays,
though it still flourishes moderately,
and has a strong list of alumni. It
stands in the very middle of Schenec
tady.
Schenectady, a few miles west of
Troy aud Albany, and south of
Saratoga, is one of the early Dutch
settlements of New Y"ork, and after
the revolution General Schuyler start
ed the formation of a college there. It
was chartered by the “ Regents of the
University” (of whom Wbi f elaw Reid
is now one) near the elose of Washing
ton's administration. It was a Cal
vinistic college, and its first two presi
dents were John Blair Smith, of Hump
den-Sidney, Virginia, and Jonathan
Edwards, son of the metaphysician.
Finally that remarkable man, Eliphalet
Nott, the son of poor parents in Con
necticut, was called to Union college
when lie was only thirty-one years
old.
Dr. Nott was a preacher at Cherry
Nalley, New York, and in the Presby
terian church at Albany. When
Alexander Hamilton was killed Dr.
Knott delivered a powerful eulogy
upon him from the pulpit, and an
attack on dueling. As soon as Nott
took charge of Union college he ap
plied a business head to making it rich,
and among his investments was the
purchase of what is now a city oppo
site Manhattan island at Hunter’s
point. The New York Potter family,
of whom Clarkson Potter is the most
distinguished, is descended from Dr.
Nott, and the original Potter was one
of Nutt’s professors at Union.
Under this eccentric, yet luminous
man, Arthur received his education and
graduated in 1849. He immediately
took up Dr. Nott’s old calling, and
went to teaching school in Vermont.
With about five hundred dollars he
started for New York, where Erastus
D. Culver, a congressman who had just
lost his seat, had a law office, and with
him Arthur began to study law. Ar
thur soon concluded to go west and
establish himself in some satisfactory
town, and he picked a j'oung man
named Gardiner to be his law partner.
They looked at several towns in
growing parts of the west, but thought
their opportunities would not be so
good as if they came back to the city
of New York. Arthur was good look
ing, and he became acquainted with
the widow and daughter of Lieutenant
Herndon, of the American navy,
Virginia people.
William Lewis Herndon had been
drowned in 1857, at the ago of forty
four, on the ship Central America,
which he commanded. He was born
in the town where General Washing
ton’s mother died, and in the vicinity
of which Washington was raised,
Fredericksburg, and was the brother
in-law of Lieutenant Maury, the
Virginia rebel and scientific man.
Herndon explored the Amazon river,
and had a high reputation, when the
Central America sunk coming from
Havana to New York, with 324 passen
gers and nearly one hundred sailors
and $2,000,000 in gold treasure.
Herndon was cool as a May morning,
and when the few who survived saw
the ship go down he was standing on
the wheel-house, some say, with a cigar
between his teeth, issuing orders. For
many years, or until the rebellion
broke out, he was the popular hero of
the United States. The Herndon
family is one of the best in Virginia.
By Miss Herndon, whom he married,
General Arthur has a son, full}’ grown.
Ilis wife died only about one year
before he became vice-president. Al
though a stalwart republican in almost
every sense, General Arthur, through
his wife, has the best southern con
nections. He ought to be a national
president.
It has been said, with good reason,
that General Arthur compelled the
concessions, on the street railroad cars,
for colored people to ride.
The Fourth Avenue street railroad,
New York, which belongs to the
Harlem steam railroad company, un
dertook one day to put a black woman
off. It was done with violence, and
she applied to Arthur, who brought
suit and got a verdict of SSOO against
the company. The next day after this
verdict an order was posted up in the
cars allowing colored people to ride.
Previously, throughout the immense
length of New York island, only one
railroad allowed black people to be
passengers, and then only in particular
cars.
William 11. Seward, in 1839, was
concerned in his first slave case, that
which turned his attention to the
politics of anti-slavery. A requisition
from Virginia was made upon Go
vernor Leonard in that year for three
colored seamen who had concealed a
slave in their vessel, and brought the
slave to New York. The slave had
been surrendered ; the ignoble blood
hounds now demanded his fellow
negroes and friends. The recorder of
New York city would not honor the
requisition of the 6mall Virginia
Pharaoh. This chap then impudently
called on the governor of New York
to override the recorder and judge in
the law. Seward made the grand argu
ment that requisitions, under the
| American constitution, must be made
for real crimes against civilization, not
crimes made arbitrary by a petty
portion of mankind, such as rescuing
a brother from slavery. No Virginian
could pursue the human race after de
claring a portion of it in dereliction. A
debt prisoner could not be pursued into
New York from Pennsylvania. Why,
then, should a slave-deliverer be
pursued into New York from Virginia.
AH that Virginia did bv pursuing the
case with her sprigs of lawyer poli
ticians was to make Seward a great
personage. He retired awhile from
office, only to become, after reappear
ing, a phenomenon.
General Arthur’s connection with
the Lemmon case, in 1857, was very
much like Seward’s position eighteen
years earlier. It involved the right of
masters to ship slaves from border
States through the free port of New
Y ork. Ho was the associate of William
M. Evarts, opposing Charles O'Conor
for the slave- shipper. But I will not
dwell on this case.
His semi-political connections as a
lawyer had passed out of the public
mind when Chester A. Arthur became
involved in a dispute with the admin
istration of Hayes and Sherman. Yet
Arthur's political record was by no
means short or scanty. lie was not
exactly a founder of the republican
party in New York, but was one of the
younger men who assisted to form it.
In 1854, when the Nebraska policy
of Pierce’s administration became un
popular, the beaten wings in New York
State, led by Seward, Weed and Grce
le} T ANARUS, called an anti-Nebraska conven
tion at Saratoga, which adjourned to
Auburn, Seward’s home, where, after
a debate, it was concluded to retain
the whig machine, but to be ready for
anew party movement. The conse
quence was the election of Myron 11.
Clark to be governor and Ilcnry J.
Raymond lieutenant-governor. Clark
succeeded Horatio Seymour’s first term
in 1855.
The next 3 T ear, while the whigs still
struggled to keep their organization,
two conventions met at Syracuse, one
made up of anti-Nebraska democrats,
and presided over by Reuben E.
Fenton, the other straight out republi
can, led by John A. Kiug and Edwin
I). Morgan. It was here that Arthur
took position under Morgan, like him
self a native of New Eagland. The
Morgan republicans were beaten. Mr.
King became governor, however, in
1857, and two years afterward Morgan
was elected. There have since been
three republican governors in New
York, Fenton, Dix and Cornell, and
four democratic governors, Seymour,
Hoffman, Tllden and Robinson.
Edwin D. Morgan, without having
literary, o-r speaking abilities, was a
level-headed man, of a rather phleg
matic temperament, perfectly sincere
in his views against slavery and in
favor of the union, if necessary by war.
lie was a dealer in groceries, produce,
sugar, etc., and had made consider
able money, but his most important
enterprise was in consolidating the
New York Central railroad, which
gave him a bias toward Albany. When
elected governor he called on various
young men to make ready for the
threatened war between the sections.
Arthur had been in the State militia,
an important feature of New York
State institutions. The militia here is
well kept up, and is under rigid State
supervision. Morgan successfully
made Arthur cngincer-in-cbief, in
spector general, and finally quarter
master general. During the war New
York raised an enormous army, such
as would do credit to a very large
nation. Arthur transacted the pur
chasing business of the State to an
enormous amount of money without
incurring any scandal, and came out
of the office not much ahead. It is
said that he refused every present sent
to him, whether of military clothing,
saddles, horses or trifles. Yet he did
make money at the close, when large
numbers of war claims were put in the
bands of Arthur & Gardiner. This
firm also became celebrated for the
speed with which it could draft and
put through legislative bills at Albany
or Washington.
It is said that Tom Murphy, after-
ward collector of the port, drew Ar
thur into politics, by having the city
government, in Tammany times, make
Arthur counsel to the tax commis
sioners. In turn Arthur assisted to
make Murphy a State senator. After
Grant reached the presidency he put
Murphy into the place of collector of
the port, whereupon there was loud
opposite followed by Murphy’s rcsig-
S TERMS, $1.50 PER ANNUM.
} SI.OO for Six Months.
nation, and, at Murphy’s
Grant then made Arthur collector of
tl o port, much to the surprise of the
people, who in general knew little
about him.
For the next ten years, however, the
constant investigations of the custom
house and the huge business it did for
the country made Arthur a marked
man. When lie was removed by
Hayes strong petitions were prepared
in protest. But General Merritt toolc
the place and held it until the recent
confirmation of Robertson.
In the mean time Arthur, who had
developed into a pretty bright politi
cian, and had got complete control of
the Conkling machine in New York,-
became the regular engineer of the re
publican campaigns. It was he who
decided to support Cooper, democrat,
for mayor. Ilis office was in the Fifth 1
Avenue hotel, and nearly ali the
moneys to be spent for the election*
passed through his hands. The mer
chants generally had confidence in*
him. His manner was rather fine, yet'
sweet. He was always fair to look
upon, with a pair of rich black eyes,'
in which lay a refined smile. A healthy
color was in. his checks, betokening -
good living, and lie wore a pretty dress, -
which became him. Not originally a
man of strong powers, his graces arc '
such that when he has done a thing
for a certain time lie shows skill and’
perfectness in it. lie became a politi
cian slowly, and seldom presumed
until he knew the business, and then 1
ho could be severe if necessary, lie '
had to say “ no” often, and cut off the
head of many a friend. If there is
anything he will be perfect in when ho '
takes the presidency it will be making,
appointments and removals.
Arthur is a republican politician in !
his views, but a democratic politician ?
in his ways. lie would regulate a
party on the Jacksonian plan, of dis
cipline from the top. Under Morgan s
he saw a rich, self-seeking and rather
timid man, who, after he had reached 1
the highest position in the State, had'
not the art to maintain himself, and >
was easily beaten by Fenton for the
Senate. Being the beneficiary of Fen
ton’s discomfiture, Arthur, of course, •
allied himself to General Grant, and
through Grant to Conkling. He pos
sesses in a high degree the receptive, •
docile qualities of character necessary
to get along with Conkling. That
phlegm and stolid conceit Governor-'
Cornell possesses is foreign to Ar
thur's nature. There is a great deal 1
that is still boyish, generous and pret
ty about Arthur. lie has been accus- -
tomed, however, to behavior rather-'
than to formulating principles. He is -
an intense republican, and believes •
that to let go of the organization in ‘
the slightest respect is to invite dis
aster to the party, He thinks Conk
ling to be a man of the largest pow
ers, both of mind and will. Conkling,
however, did his best to keep Arthur
from accepting the nomination for-
Vice-President, which has turned out
to be Conkling’s only salvation in the
time of despair. General Arthur
might, therefore, begin to consider
himself a wiser politician Ilian Conk
ling.
Although the nomination of Arthur ‘
was not well received in New York,.
because he was considered to be rath
er a city politician than a statesman,.
yet it no doubt did strengthen the
ticket in this quarter, lie was seen >
every day conducting the campaign
in this State, and to some extent •
throughout the country, working me
thodically and with altered habits, and >
many men were induced to contribute
in New York by the sight of this rath- ■
cr cheery-faced gentleman going to his
office like another man to a bank,,
morning after morning.
Arthur lias made two mistakes since '
he became Vice-President. The first
was to endeavor to elect Crowley sen
ator against the Governor’s friend
Platt, in which he was beaten. The:
next was the attempt to put Conkling:
back in the senate after he resigned,,
where he was also beaten. These two *
failures ought to have an instructive
influence upon the Vice-President. It
is current belief that they have affect
ed his confidence to the extent that he •
will seek out some Conkling, or other
man of power, to advise with if greater,
duties should devolve upon him.
At the present time, while waiting
for the fate of Garfield, I have but lit
tle doubt but that the Vice-President
is informing himself on the concerns
of his future office, perhaps readings
up the story of previous Vice-Presi
dents who have succeeded to the su
preme position.
As Arthur is the first public man’
from New York City who lias ever been
President, or a presidential expectant,
it would seem that ho ought to strive
to make his administration worthy of
a metropolitan-minded man. The
country parts have supplied nearly all
our chief magistrates, the Adams fam
ily, perhaps, excepted. Few men have
ever reached the presidency with such
general acquaintance as Chester A.
Arthur, and unless American states
manship has become the,monopoly of
a few persons he ought to be able to
know where to choose. What he does
know about public opinion is a conun
drum. He has certainly s'uffered con
siderably from public opinion hereto
fore, though it remains to be seen
whether he will take it as a teacher or.
•a3 an intruder.
NUMBER :S3.