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TH E DAWSON WEEKLY JOURNAL
BT WESTON & COMBS.
{1,111)50 it MitcclUn |on vital
PURLISHKn EVERY TIIUUSDYA.
fEltJftS —Strictly in .htiancc
Three months $ 75
Hii months 1 26
One year 2 00
ADVERT! SING RATES
r
NO. SQUARES.
ONE MONTH.
TWO MONTHS.
f
| THREE u'tHS.
I j
| SIX MONTHS.
ONE YEA R.
mix. $ 300 | 5 00'$ 7 00 sl2 60 S2O 00
two 500 7 601 10 00 18
i
three 700 10 00 12 Oo 20 00 30 00
rOCR 9 00 12 00 15 00 25 00 40 00
i 10 00 18 00 25 00 40 OO 60 00
1 15 00 26 OO 1 35 00 60 Oo'llO 00
I ! !
) CiL. j 25 00 40 001 CO OOillO 00 [ 200 0
To •'—The money for ad
vertising considered due after first inser
tion.
Advertisements inserted at intervals to be
charged as new each insertion. .
Au additional charge of 10 per cent will
be made ou advertisements ordered to be in
serted on a particular page.
Advertisements under the head of “Spe
cial Notices" will be inserted for 15 cents
por line, for the first insertion, and 10 cents
per line for each subsequent insertion.
Advertisements in the “ Local Column,”
will be inserted at 25 cents per liue for the
first, and 20 cent-per Hue for each subse
quent insertion.
All communications or letters on business
intended for this office should be addressed
to “ The Dawson Journal ”
groteicual
Lyon, DeGralYeuriet! and Irviu.
Attorneys at Law,
mACO.K, . - - GEORGIA.
YIT ll<D give attention to professional bus
v T iness in the Macon, South western &
Patatila Circuits ; in the U S Courts, anSa~
vannah, and Atlanta, and by speci.l con
tract iu any part of the State.
F. M- HARPER
/ttipy ajid Colijipellor at LaVi,
o.iifsoa, o.t.
J. L. JANES.
Attorney At Law,
DAMSOW, GA.
CWOffice a t Court House.
Feb. 9-6 m.
DR. G. W. FARRAR
HAS located in this city, arid offers h ! s
Professional services to the public
Office next door to the “Journal Office,” on
Main Street, whero he can be found in the
day, unless professionally engaged, and at
night at his residence opposite the Baptist
church feb. 2-ts:
C. It. WOOTEN. L. C. HOYLE.
WOOTEN & HOYLE,
Attorneys* at Law,
/uirso.r, c./,
Jan 6-1 y.
K. J. WARREN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
- - - 0.1.
cTw7 WAR WICK,
Att'y at Law and Solicitor in Equity
SMITHVILLE, GA.
"ill practice in South Western and Pataula
circuits. Collections promptly remitted.
B- A. COLLIER. c. T. CHKVES.
towns house,
BROAD ST.,
-ALBAJSTY, GA
BY
B. A. COLLIER & CO. .
Supplies
O^TIZMiE.
I am now prepared to sell
BACON &. FLOUk
°u TIME, in lots and at such prices as will
Bo ' fail to please tbe planters.
Junels.ti. N. C. GREER.
McAFE E HOUSE,
At Smitbville, La.
PHE undersigned having fitted up the Me
i*■ Dee House at Smithville, takes pleasure
>n notifying the travelling public that, the
shove house is now in the “full tide” of suc
cessful administration by himself. He will
spare no expense to make it a First-Class
Motel. J/eals ready on the arrival of the
"* ln - W. M. McAFEE.
rs cTTy TAX NOTICE!
JV OTICE is hereby given that tie books
It i &re now °P en for 'b® receiving of Tax
Hums for the town of Dawson, and will be
AnV 01 ' 1 t * le * st September next.—
I those who fail or refuse to make a return
their taxable property within the incorpo
by the day above mentioned, will be
1 able taxed. By order of the Council.
T. W. LOYLESS, Clerk.
of* Georgia,
DEPA/tTMA'XT OF STATU,
Atlalta, Julv 6, 1871.
ORDERED:
By his i’xeellency, the Govcrnc, that his
reclamation of June Bth, 1871, offering a
eward of One Thousand Dollars, for the ap
prehension and delivery of Matthew Harris,
1 “ evidence to convict, to the Sheriff of
ackson county be, and the same is hereby,
evoked, and that the Secretary of State give
Public notice thereof.
Given under say hand snd seal of office.
. , PA VI/) G. CUTTING,
, m y 13, 41. Secretary of State
Dawson Business Directory,
Dry Goods ncrcliants,
P* I™'* 1 ™'* TUCKER, Dealers in
\J Dry Goods Clothing, Boolh and Shoes
Groceries &e. Also ageuts for some of the
most approv ’ and Fertilisers. Main Street.
1C Ka * \ R I>, Dealer in
AV Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Groceries
Uaraware, Crockery etc.
( TV. F. Dealer In Fancy andsta
, ~f e l lrv Goods, Main at., nest door to
J• W. Reddick's.
Grocery .Hercliaiils
B. H., Dealer ill Groceries and
Family suonlies generally, at YV. p
Orr’s old stand, under ‘Journal” Office
Mam st,
T D1 LIaSS, J, E. Grocer and Coni
A-i mission J/erchaut, Dealer in Bacon,
flour, Liquors, ke.
DEDDICK, J. Grocer dealer in Ba-
AV con, Flour, Lard, Tobacco, Ac.
UAUDIVARE.
T EE & BROTHER, Dealers in
* J Hardware. Iron and Steel, Wagon Tim
hers, and Plantation Tools. Also Manufac
turers of Tin Wate.Maui st., at J. B. Perry’s
old stand. 1
miDWn, AHDRRIV. Dealer
A-w in Dty Goods, Groceries, Hardware Cut
terly, Furniture, Ist door from the Hotel.
Druggists.
( • HEA'BHA’d, V. A., Druggist and
V/ /’hysiciafl. Will visit by day or night,
patients iu Town or Country—will prescrihe
for any and all the ilia that flesh is heir to.
Keeps a complete supply of Drugs and Med
icines. School Books and etaiionarv—Gar
den Seeds &r., &c. At his old .stand. The
Red Drug Store on Main St., TERJ/S Strict
ly Cash for all articles sold. Mouthly settle
ments for Professional .Services.
T ES, HR. .1, It., Dealer in
tl Drugs, Jfedicines, Oils, Paints, Dve
Stulls, Garden Seed, &c., Ac.
Livery Stable.
PRHCE, 1%. G. & .J. 14,, Sale,
I Feed and Livery /fable. Carriages,
Hacks, Buggies, Drays, Wagons, Harness
aud Mules for sale or hire. Homes boarded
at reasonable rates. Depot Street.
BE ICRSJIITII SHOIL
TFARF, RASDALL. Will make
v T and tepair Wagons, Buggies Plows,
Dickson Sweep, Shoeing horses, near Post
Office-. Always ready to do work good and
cheap Jan. 19 lv
ALL rill] GO !
FOR
PRESERVING FRUIT
FOR
WINTER USE.
I have and will keep on hand, until the sea
son is over, anv quantity of S/t’LF SEAL
ING GLAS.S FUUIjF CANS. Also, Self-seal
ing Tumlers for putting op Jellies. Now is
the time to make your Jellies, and preserve
vonr Fruit for VVintei use. ( all at my Store
Sou .i side of the .Public Square, next door
to Hotel, ana supply yourselves,
july 6 lm. A. .1. BALDWIN.
CHALYBEATE SPRINGS.
Merlwtrtlier Cos., Ga,
ffWIE undersigned having secured this de
J. lightful place, begs ta anuounco to the
public that it is in thorough repair, and will
be in perfect readiness for the reception of
guests on the Ist day of June.
To the old patrons of the “Chalybeate,” it
is needless of its merits. To othe's
we will state that the main spring is p>o
nounced by competent judges to be /lie
finest Chalybeate Soring in the United St/tcs
—issuing from the North side of /hue Mfiuu
tain, and discharging 8,600 gallons per tour.
It is rcmatkahle for the cures it has eff-sJted.
We have three other Springs—Sq/phur,
J/agnceia and Freestone—the whole embra
cing a mos r valuable combination of miner
al waters. The place i3 handsomely lighted
wi)h gas.
Every species of innocent amusement will
be piovidod, among which is a fine
SKATISG RISK,
Oue of the greatest attract ons, and one
that we think will give most pleasure, the is
large, new
Ladies’ Swimming Batli;
built in a beautiful sparkling stream, rushing
from the mountain. It is 75 feet long, 10
feet wide, and a depth to be regula’ed by the
bathers, well enclosed and provided with
plenty of dressing tootns.
A Beautiful, Level Drive
constructed, along the summit of the moun
tain, abounding in picturesque views, will af
ford pleasure to those who like that exercise.
A Livery N’labla on the place will he pie
pared to furnish fine hoists and carriages'
There will be a
Dine Baud of Music
la constant attendance.
A line of Hacks running regularly from
Geneva, aud direct transportat.ou to the
Springs from that poiut upon the arrival of
every train.
The Table will be stipblied with the best,
and the proprietor will exert himself to make
his guest comfortable and happy ; and in
view of the stringency of the times, he has
determined to reduce the price of board to
$35 00 per mouth. Washing done at rea
sonable and uniform la tee.
While every amusement will be provided
for those iu health, the kindest attention will
be paid to invalids.
C. B. HOWARD, Proprietor.
TO BUILDERS.
Sealed Proposals
for building a JAIi in Terrell County will
be received at my office until Monday, the
7th day of August next, at which titn - said
proposals having been considered, a cont-act
will be made with the paity making the bid
most favorable to the interest of tbe county.
/drawings, specifications, &c., can be seen
at mv office. T. M. JOXE*,
july 13, 4t. Ordinary Terrell County.
NOTICE.
C'l fORGJF A- ft#ISE applies for exemp-
J tion of personalty and setting apart and
valuation of homestead, and I will pass upon
the same at 10 o’clock, a. in., 81st inst.
tne sam T. if. JONES, Ordinary.
july 20-?*
DAWSON, GA., TfIDiSDAI. JULY 27, 1871.
from the Atlanta New hJra.
letter
S rom HU Excel Governor
(Hillock, of Georgia, in Reply
lo llie Hon. .9<>iiii Scott, Unit,
‘‘•f Mute* Senator, Uiuiii-iniin
ot Joint Select Committee lo
■ iMinire into Hie Condition of
• lie Late f imu-rectionarv
States. 3
Room of Tin; Joint Select Committee
to Inquire into the Condition of
The Late Insteeectionaky States.
u vshington, D. C., May 2d, ls7l
® IE — 'Lhe Sub-Committee of tho
Joint Select Committee of Congress,
appointed to inquire into tlio condi
tion ol tho late insurrectionary States,
has adopted the following resolution :
' l n motion of Mr. Blair—
Ilf.solved, That the chairman be requested
to address letters to the Executive, or other
proper uffie rsol the Sltaea compreheu led in
the lesolutioD; authorising tba appointment
ot the Joint Select Committee, a.-king state
ments of the debts and ot the rates and-'
amounts ot taxation of said States, respect/
I'-ely, at the present time, and to furnish cor
les fcl the laws creating said debts, aud fiyS
Said rates of taxation ; also tequesting co7 es
of the election laws now iu force, and tp&s
which have been in force in said S ate/rc
speciivelv, since the adoption of the pefeent
coß.nitutions of said States, with suchAtber
effleial documents as the chairman shal/ueem
es-emia! to this investigation.
In pursuance of tho duty dt/olvod
upon me by this resolution, I jfspect
fully request that, so far as r/ates to
tho State of Georgia, tho sbiemeuts
and copies of laws therein if-ntioned
bo furnished as soon as con
veniently bo prepared. j
Under the last clauso of/no resolu- {
tion, I am requested to aK» procure, !
if it can bo furnished, abatement of j
tho amount of debts (/ the se\’eral
States at the time their/respeetive or- j
dinanees of secession \/io passed. In ■
this connection, (if it <Vn bo furnished,) |
I Yvould bo pleasecLao receive from
you a statement, gitlng tho amount,
rates, and subjects </ taxation in the
State of Georgia (uior to tho passage
of the ordinance if secession by said
State, (stating, infuses in which slaves
wero the subjeetpf taxation, their val
uation,) aud thf subjects of taxation
noYv, as well astho rates and amounts.
Respectfully, ' Juun Scott,
Chairman of Jhint Select Committee,
an/ of Sub-Committee, 6cc.
Ilis Excollemy, Rufus B. Bullock,
Goveino/ of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga.
Executive Department, I
/ State of Georgia, >
Atlanta, July 5, 1871. )
lion. Joh Scott, Chairman Joint Select
Committee to inquire into the condition
of tli late Insurrectionary States, Unit
ed Sjute-8 Senate, Washington, 1). C.,
Sir— Upon my return to the Capi
tol, a/ter an absence from the State, I
find u printed circular bearing date
from Lite room of your committee, May
-21, I*7 l, addressed to myself. In this
printed circular you incorporate a copy
of a resolution adopted by your eom
mittfo ou motion of General Frank
Bial', which reads as follows :
On motion of Mr. Blair—
Kxsolvxd, That the ebutrmau be requested
to mdress letters to the ii'xeculive, or other
piOper officeis of tbe States comprelieuded in
tb/ resolution authorizing the appointment ol
tie Joint, Select Committee, a.sLi ig s:a e ueuts
o' the debts and of the rates aud amounts ol
taxation of said Sia'es, respectively, at the
iresens lime, and to loruisb copies of thr
’ids creating said deb's and fixing said rates
of taxation; also rrques ing copies of the elec
tion l,iwß now in force, and those which have
been in force in said States, respectively,
since the adoption of the present Uonstcu
tion ot said States, with such other official
documents as the chairman shall deem essen
tial to this investigation.
In pursuance of the foregoing reso
lution, you request that,'so far as re
lates to the State of Georgia, the state
ments and copies of laws therein men
tioned be furnished as soon as they cun
conveniently be prepared and forward
ed You also request, under the last
clause of the resolution, a statement
of tho amount, rates, and subjects of
taxation in the State of Georgia prior
to the passage of tho ordinance of se
cession, etc.
In responding to tlie request of the
Congressional Committee, as presented
in tlio circular referred to, 1 cannot
consent to establish a precedent for
tho future by recognizing the right of
Congress to in this manner interfere
with or inquire into matters which aro
solely within the control and subject
to tbe supervision of the representa
tives of the people of this State in Geu
eral Assembly met; nor can I forego
this opportunity of respectfully sug
gesting to the mover of the resolution
under which tlio circular is issued, and
to your honorable committee', that tho
State of Georgia, after much tribula
tion, bas complied with all the require
ments which were prescribed by Con
gress as preliminary to her ruadmis
sion into the Union. The fact of her
readmission has been made known to
our people, uot only through the de
claratory statues enacted by Congress,
but also in the recoption of our jSena
tors and Representatives into that
body. The State of Goorgia, there
fore", stands in the Union tho peer of
every other State, and information
touching her needs, her requirements,
or her condition, will bo made known
and presented to Congress by her
representatives in that body. 1 can
not admit that at this day there is any
thing in the fact of her “late insurrec
tionary condition” which would au
thorize the representatives of the peo
ple of other (States'in Congress to or
der proceedings towards her which
would not equally apply to the people
of the several States represented by
themselves.
While I would not permit partisan
political feeling to influence my official
action, I can but feel gratified to know
that in the position which 1 have indi
cated as to, the rights of this State in
her relations to the other States, I am
but repeating the views which have
been continuously set forth by the Re
publican party " its se\-erol general
conventions f'r4» tho time of its organ
ization until t/’ present duy, and am
sustaining th/P°*ition taken by tl a
Republican Arty in this State iu the
conventious/Uieh have been hold in
tho course/»f their efforts to socure
her rostory'on to the Un : on. A res
olution, iybptod at a convention of the
Repub Id* n party of Georgia, hehl in
thiscit/in March, 1869, during the
trials / reconstruction, roads as fol
lows /
11./h*t when the Reconstruction Aots of
Cong/ss shall have been lully complied with,
aud /‘orgiii shall bave been reeogniied as a
Siatfio the Union, we will demand fur her
evrf right now guv an tend to other States
iu Ze Union, and would deprecate any act
01/ongress looking to the control of the al
| |Vs of any one State, th-t would uot equal
l/»Dply to all th« > > ow.
!!/ lam aware ti. by an ingenuous
3 /togal construction it is assumed that
[the late amendments to tho Constitu
tion of the United States have so ex
tended tlio powers of Cougrojs that
o majority of its members, acting in
harmony with the Executive, have ab
solute control over all the functions
heretofore universally conceded to bo
such as purely appertain to tlio local
organization of tbe States. But, as
the Executive of one of the States, I
most positively dissent from this con
struction, and as a Republican, decline
to accept such an interpretation as be
iug approved by tbe Republican par
ty organization throughout the coun
try. Whatever may be tlio liuo-spuu
theories of legal gentlemen upon tho*
question of the powers delegated by
the late amendments, we may be fully
assured that tbe groat mass of the
American people regard them as sim
ply such measures as were necessary
to guarantee the abolition of slavery
and prohibit further attempts to de
stroy the Union ; to secure the pay
ment of the debt of the United States,
and to prevent the denial of civil and
political priviliges to citizens on ac
count of their race, color, of previous
condition of servitude. Any attempt
to go beyond this reasonable and well-'
established opinion of the people for
the purpose and in tho hopo of obtain
ing political power, no matter how well
devised may be the pretext, will meet
with a swift rebuke from an ovor
whelmimr majority of American citi
zens. Any political party that would
dare to resurrect aud vitaiizo the is
sues that were crushed into graves at
Appomatox and Greensboro, would
meet with like treatment from a largo
majority of tbe people of tho South as
well as North. No one in the South
would uoyv accept tho restoration of
slavery ; no ono seeks the repudiation
of tho United States debt. The State
of Georgia does not deny or abridge
the light of any citizen of tho United
States to vote ou account of race, col
or, nr previous condition of eorvitude ;
nor does this State deny to any person
within its jurisdiction tho equal pro
tection of the laws.
llow, in the face of these facts, can
wo justify action towards her that if
attempted against Now York or Mas
sachusetts would bo spurned by au in
dignant people ?
Let us rather adhere to tho original
and lasting foundation of republican
ism, so concisely aud so ably presented
by J effersrtn when ho says :
“it’qual out exact justice to all men, of
whats ever sta'e or persuasion, rc Ig 'ou* or
political; peace, commerce and honest friend
fliij) with nil nations—intargling alliances
with none ; The euppott of the S. ate Gov
ernments in all tbeir rights as the most com
petent administrations for our domestic cons
ceres and the surest I ulwutiis agiinst Anti-
Rcpuiioan tendencies; the preservation of
the G- neral Government in its whole con stis
lu ional vigor as the sheet anchor of our
peace at home and safety abroad; a jealous
car* of the right of election by 'h ■ people -
a mild and safe eo'rec'ive ot abuses, which
are lopp.-d by tbe sword of It volu'ion where
pcaceatile remedies are ur.providid ; abso
lute acquiescence in the decision of the ma.
jrriiy—the \i al principle of AN puplios, fiom
which there is no appeal but, to toice, the
vital principle and immediate parent of des
potism ; a well disciplined militia—our best
reliance in peace and for the first moments
of war, till regulars may relieve them; the
supremacy of the civil over the military au
thority ; ec moniy in the public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened ; the honest
payment ot our debts and sacicd preserve
lion of tbe public faith ; cneontugeineut ol
agriculture, and of comnince as its hand* ;
uiuid ; the diffusion of iufoimation, aud the
arraignment of all abuses ~e the bar of pub- I
lie leason ; freedom of religion, freedom of I
tbe press, freedom of person under tbe writ-1
of had bas court's ; and trial by jurl.-s impar
tially selected —these principles form the
bright constellation which has gone befote
us, and guided our steps through an age of
revelation and reformation. The wisdom of
our ages and the blood of our heroes have
been d-jvoted to their attainment. They
should be the creed of our politiesl faith—
the text of our civil instruction—the touch
stone by w hich to try the set vices of those
we trust ; aud should we wfander from them
in moments of error or alaim, let us hasten
to retrace our steps aud to regain the road j
which alone leads to p.ace, lib-rty a id safe- j
ty." _ |
I have ventured to say this much
that my official action, us the chief Ex
ecutive of ono of tho States in the
American Union, might not be misun-:
derstood, and my compliance with tho 1
request of your committee be used in 1
the future as a precedent against the
Stato; and also, that as far as any aetjof
mine might go, the Union Republican
party should not be held as indorsing
the extreme construction which is
sought to be given to the late amend
rnents to the Constitution.
By the active exertious of a
political clique, in op[>osition to the
present administration, aided and sup
ported by tho State Treasurer and a
powerful railroad corporation, which
seeks to strangle or absorb every oth
er railroad enterprise in the State, will
ful, nalicious, unfounded, and unfair
statements have been scattered broad
cast through the press, for the purpose
| of. injuring, to as grt ,t an extent as
i jiossible, the credit of the State, and
1 thereby prevent the marketing ol’ such
'of her securities as 1 have been au-
thorizod and instructed to issuo, and to
( render loss valuable tho State’s in
dorsement on bonds of railroad com
panies. For personal reasons, there
fore, I am gratified that an opportun
ity is given mo, by this request, to
3 make known, semi officially, tbe exact
( financial ooudition of this State.
I am advisod that the lion. Madi
' sou Bell, Comptroller-General of t his
State, has,in response to a similar cir-
I cular, given to your committee, in
| bulk, the statistical information called
for; and I shall therefore only recapi
tulate tho comparative figures, to ex
hibit the points of information which.
I understand your committee requires.
It is proper to st ate that under our
statutes tho Comptroller General is the
ollieial check upon all the other do- j
pertinents of the State, and that his of- |
fiee, together with that of the Secreta- I
ry of State, controls the records, the
ollieial proceedings, and the transac- ,
tion of the State’s affairs. Tho office
of Treasurer is only clerical, that otfi- ;
cial being simply tho custodian and j
dispursur of such money as may be
placod in his hands by the Governor
or from taxes collected through tho
Comptroller General.
The public debt of the State, as
shown by tho Comptroller Generals,
report for 1801, was $‘1,088,750. The j
public debt of tho State on the Ist
day ol July, 1868, a few weeks before j
the present administration cunio into !
olfieo, was $0,256,635 ; snowing an in- .
crease of debt between the close of the I
war aud the adoption of the present
Constitution, (tho State government,
during that time, being under the able
administration of Governor Jenkins,
founded upon President Johnson's
“proclamation,”) of $2,567,885.
Tlio oxpenses of that State govern
ment, us shown by tlio report of tlio
Comptroller General, are as lollows :
Get. 16, 1866, tooet 16,
1867 $2,689,363 85
Oet. 16,1867,t0 Aug. 10,
1861 271,145 56
, Making a total expenditure for tlio
twenty-two months of Gov. Jenkins’
administration of two million nine hun
dred aud sixty thousand livo hundred
and nine dollars and forty-one cents.
Tho expenditures of tho
present administration
from Aug. 11, 1868, to
tho first day of Janu
ary, 1869, wore $ 430,957 77
Same from January Ist,
1869, to January Ist,
1870 .. 1,857,835 98
Same from January Ist,
1870, to January Ist,
1871 1,470,-021 02
Making a total, up to
the first day of Janu
ary, 1871, a period of
twenty-nine months,
under the present ad
ministration, of $3,758,504 77
Thus showing that that, with double
the voting population, aud double tho
number of citizens entitled to tho care
and attention of tho State, its courts,
etc , anl for a period of time covering
great excitement and disorder, tho ex
penses of my administration have been
au average of nearly five thousand dol
lars per month less tliau those of my
predecessor, and this, too, notwith
standing the heavy expenses necessa
rily incurred by tlio numerous, and iu
fact almost continuous meetings of tho
General Assembly, made noeossary by
tbe hesitancy of Congress in acting up
on the question of the readuiissiou of
our State into tho Union.
Tho total valuation of property, as
returned by tho people of this Stato
for taxation in the year 1860, was—
Land $161,704,955
Slaves 802,684,855
City aud tutra property... 35,139,415
Money and solvent debts, 107,336,250
Merchandise 15,577,183
Shipping and tonnage 943,940
Stocks, manufactories,etc. 4,034,252
Household and kitchen
furniture 2,374,284
Other property uot men
tioned 42,427,295
Making a total of $672,292,447
Upon which the rate of taxation was
6J cents on ono hundred dollars
Taking from this total
valuation, amounting
to $072,292,417
The value of slaves 302,794 955
Aud we have, as tho total
valuation of tlio taxa
ble property of tho
State of Georgia in
1860, exclusive of the
estimated value o f
slaves, the amount 0f.5369,597,592
The return of the valuo of taxable 1
property iu this State for the year
1870, being tho last made, is—
Aggregate value of laud, 8 95,600,074
City and town property... 47,922,514
National hank shares... . 985,900
Money and solvent debts, 26,646,992
Merchandise 12,884,11 8
Shipping.... 214,775
Stocks and bonds 5,482 765
Cotton manufactories 2,975,498
Irou works, etc 658,026
Mining 33,140
Value of household and
kitchen furniture 1,519,857
Plantation aud mechau- 1
ical tools 162,859
Value of all other proper- '
ty 30,933,568
Making a total value of
all property of. $226,119,5^9
Upon which the rate of tax is four
tenth of oue per cent ,4-10 of lc.) 1
i It will bo observed that tho total re
turn of taxable property (exclusive oi
slaves) immediately alter tho war is
$143,478,073 less than tho return for
iB6O, just previous to the war, but
when wo tmtsider that tho whole do
iuostic and agricultural labor system
j was annihilated ; that our people Wero
dismayed, discouraged and paralyzed,
, it is not strange that this result should
appear. In fact it is remarkable that
| the lulling oir in values was not great
er. Under our statutes, tho valtio of
property as returned for taxation is
| fixed by tlio owner. Wo liavo no ar- ■
bitrary assessments, except in cases of
default. Under those circumstances 1
j the fact that there bus been a steady
increase in the value of property ro
} turned for 1868, 1869, and 1870 is
i very gratifying The return for 1869
| exceeds that tor 1863 by thirteen mil
| lion two hundred aud fifty six thous- 1
j and oue hundred and eight-six dollars, !
, and tho return for 1870 exceeds that j
of 1869 by twenty-one million seven '
hundred and seventy eight thousand
1 itiuo hundred and sixty-four dollars,
j Tho special tax on professions, polls, :
shows, liquors, etc., results in an aver- !
ago revenue of nearly $500,000 per
annum. Tho receipts from tlio State
Railroad, as provided by leaso. for :
twenty years, net thee hundred thous- i
and dollars per uunum.
Tho ordinance of secession was pas
ed on the 19th day ot January, 1861.
The debt of tho State, as por Comp
troller General’s report of that year,
was $3,688,750. Tho report of the
Comptroller General, after tho close of
the w ar—October 16, 1865—states the
debt at that time, of bonds issued and
autlto razed to he issued before tlio war,
to be $3,645,240 ; of this amount about
one million DOLL.vua were issued dur
ing tho war.
iu tho report of tho Comptroller
General to tho Provisional Governor
appointed by President Johnson, Oc
tober 16th, 1805, ho uses the follow
ing language.
7u riKjmiibc to flu* request of your Kx or Muncy
that / report also upon the public debt now due
that wuk created be lore the war* aud mnonut cre
ated h!nee tlio ordinance of tscce&fcion, the object
for which the anme was created, etc.* / h ive the
honor further to report that the uinouut of bondh
ietHuod before the war aud now unpaid, in svi,d;r
?«>0; the amount nuthorized to be issued before
the State (seceded, uiid low remaining unpaid, is
That your Excellency may better underatnnd
the matter, 1 will state that the item of #U#‘,ouo
of U per cent, oouda, due iu IWI. in the table
above, although uot tanued until t'edbruury, lMil,
alter tho ordinance of secession; yet the same was
authorized to be issued by net approved February
2?th, 1b66, authorizing bouda to pe Issued to jiay
the State s subscription to tho v/tluutlc and Guff
Kuilroud ; and these bonds were issued for that
put pose. wlgßiu, the item of S*&,UUO and SM*V
600, due iu I*jßl, iu the same tables, although not
issued until February, 1861. and ,Ifny, Ihoj, yet
they were authorized to be issued by nets up*
proved Nov 16th, miO, and l»eecuiber iOlh, lsnl.
Tlio act ol /November 16th, 1660, iu view of the
condition oi tile country, app. opriated $1,“CO,000
as a dfilitsiry Fund, “lor the purpose of placing
the State in a condition of di leuse,” and author*
i/.cd the issue of bonds of 600 dollars each, paya
ble tweuty years Trout date, bearing six per cent,
interest to meet the same, On the *st of Febru
ary, 1601, said bonds, to the amount of 867.600
dollars were prepared and ready for Issue. The
banks agreed to let the tState have the money for
Blv,i Hi dollars of the same, but thought six per
cent, too low. The Governor, however, agreed
to recommend the ensuing Legislature to allow
seven per cent. Consequently, on the 16th De
cember. 166:, un act was approved authorizing
the Governor to cancel all said bonds that were,
issued to the banks, aud to give them, iu lieu of
the same, bonds bearing seven per cent, iutcrest, I
which was douc on the Ist of May, 1802.
Bonds of the State wore authorized
and issued during the administration !
of my predecessor—Governor Jenk
ins—to tho amount of four million five
hundred thousand dollars, so that tho j
bonded debt of tlio State, upon my i
coming into office in 1868, was repre
sented by $6,544,500, und this was i
the amount January 1, 1871.
Under the authority granted by net
of tho Legislature, (pages 14 and 138 I
of tho laws of 1863, herewith inclosed,
und pages 4 and 5 of tho laws of 18- ;
70, ulso inclosed, authorizing the Gov- j
ernor to issue bonds of the (State to ro- !
deem bonds and coupons due, or when j
the satno shall have fallen due, until
otherwise ordoied by law, and lor
such othor ( urposes as tho General
Assembly may direct, and to borrow a
sufficient amount of money, on the
credit of ihe (State, on such terms as to
him shall seem best, to pay off tho i
members and officers of tho General j
Assembly,) currency bonds wore exe
cuted aud issued as collateral security
for temporary loans. These tempoia
ry loans have been met and provided i
for, aud the currency bonds cancelled, j
Those currency bonds were never iu-1
tended, and wero never offered, f r j
sale. Under the authority of an act
of tho General Assembly, authorizing
the Governor to issue bonds to pay tbe
interest on tlio pubiie debt, and to
meet bonds that have fallen duo, and
j us they fall duo, which covers bonds
issued before tho war, that have fallen
due siuco the war, aud will fall due ]
during this and tho next yoar, (page 4 i
of pamphlet laws, 1870, inclosed,) three j
millions of dollars of gold bonds Lave
been executed and registered, and |
have been, and will be, sold from time
to time, as it Las become, and may j
liereiftcr become, nece.-stry for tlio,
purposes authorized by law.
The contingent liability of the State ;
is represented by what is commonly !
known ns “State aid” to railroads,
although under the present Consitu
tion ol this State,' the policy of “State
aid,” which has been pursued in other
States, is entirely prohibited, and tlio '
Legislature is restricted to simply au
thorizing tho State indorsement for
the prompt payment of the interest;
and principal on the first mortgage '
bonds of certain ruilroad companies, 1
after the rouds have been constructed j
and aro iu operations lor sections of
ten aud twenty miles, ihe indorsement
not to exceed, iu any case, oue half of
tho cost of such road The State bas,
us a protection against such indorse- |
incut, a first lieu upon tho whole pro- ,
1 petty, with the right of immediate un- |
obstructed possession of th'o property
upon anv failure on the part of the
1 companies to meet their ifidorod obli
gations.
(In some of the other States, before
' and since the war, railroads have been
aided by the States becoming large
shareholders and paying for their
stock by the issue of State bonds, and
in this manner have hurthened their
people with a tii-Lt. As I have before
stated, everyihing of this is prohibited
by our Constitution.)
VOL. VI. — NO 21*
j This contingent liability has beoii
ineuixed, Under the circumstances
above set forth, upon the Macon and
Brunswick Railroad, now completed
and in operation betwoen Macon and
Brunswick, a distance of two hundred
miles, to tho extent of $13,000 per
mile. The total amourt, howover, of
the State’s indorsement upon the bonds
of this company is but $2,550,000.
This contingent liability has ulso beoii
upon that portion of the Alabama &
Chattanooga Railroad running through
this Stato a distance of 24 3-10 miles,
to the extout of SB,OOO por mile, tho
total amount of the State’s indorse*
1 incut being $191,000.
| The only other roacls which havd
organized aud secured tho necessary
amounts of cash subscription, and
have constructed tho necessary num
ber of miles to ontitlo them to Indorse
ment, are the South Georgia and
Florida, from Albany to the Florida
line, which is entitled to an indorse
ment of SB,OOO per mile; the Bruns
wick and Albany Railroad, running
from Brunswick to the Alabama line,
which is entitled to $19,000 por mild
indorsement upon gold bonds; thd
Cherokee Railroad, running from Car
torsville to the Alabama line, which is
entitled to an indorsement of $12,500
! per mile, aud the Atlanta aud Rich
mond Air Line Railroad, from Allan*
ta to the South Carolina line, which is
! entitled to an indorsement of $12,000
por mile.
The South Georgia &
Florida Railroad,
when completed to
the Florida hue,
will be 73 miles in
length, with a total
indorsement of.i.* $ 584,000
Tho Brunswick & Al
bany Railroad, when
completed to Eufuu
la, will bo 242 miles
iu length, with a to
tal indorsement 0f... 8,030,000
The Cherokee Railroad,
when completed to the
Alabama line, will bo
74 miles in length,
with a total indorse
ment of. 587,5 00
’When all the railroads, which have
up to this time placed themselves in a
condition to bo entitled to tho
indorsement of the State, shall
have been completed the total contin
gent liability of the SlatO will bo $7,-
545,900.
The statutes authorizing these and
other railroads to receive the .S’tute’a
indorsement, under tho restrictions
that 1 have explained, were passed by
a large majority of the General As
sembly. This question has never been
a political one hero; the bills Word
I voted for by Democrats and Republi
cans, and are almost unanimously Up*
! proved by tho people of thd State,
j The small minority in tho Legislature
I opposed to the policy wore about
J equally divided between tho two po
litical parties.
The only exceptions to the general
rule aro in tho case of the BtunsWlck
Sc Albany, Macon & Augusta, and At
lanta & Richmond Air-Lino Railroads.
The Brunswick & Albany Railroad
Company was organized by northern
capital before the war, and had con
structed some sixty miles of railway
from Brunswick, west. During the
war, as is alleged, the iron from this
road was taken up by tho then Stato
authorities and placed upon the At
lantic & Gulf Railroad, in which thd
•State was aud is a largo stockholder,
anil upon tho Western & Atlantic
| Railroad, belonging exclusively to tlio
! State. This company reorganized .
I siuco the war, having rebuilt over ono
I hundred miles of their road, proposed
| as a settlement of their claims against
* the Stat*, a plan which was accepted
! by the Legislature, whereby the com
! pany deposits with the State SIO,OOI/
i per mile of seven por cent, second
I mortgage gold bonds having twouty
-1 five years to ntn, and receives from
the State SB,OOO per mile of seven
per cent gold bonds of the State front
time to time as the rood is construct
ed. As tlio Brunswick & Albany
Railroad Company pay 7 per cent, to
the State Treasury upon 810,0'H) per
mile, the interest paid by the. Stato out
her bonds to tho amount of $8,009
per mile is provided for, and tho sur
plus forms a sinking fund which pro
vi les for the redemption of the bonds
at maturity. When the Brunswick &
Albady Railroad shall have boen com
pleted to Eafaula, the total amount of
State bonds received by it will be
$1,880,000 and tho State debt proper
will then be increased by that amount
secured as above stated.
The Macon & Augusta Railroad
was authorized to receive iiu indorse
ment from tho State at the ratios ten
thousand dollars por ufilo ; but, after
having completed some thirty miles
of their road, the Company found
themselves able to negotiate their
' Bonds tor a larger amount por wilo
than the State'was authorized to en
dorse for, ami has therefore never ap
plied for the State’s indorsement.
That road is now iu full aud suceoss
. ful operation between Augusta and
Macon.
The Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line'
. Railroad, which is entitled, as I have
! before stated, to an indorsement of
isl 2 ,000 per mile upon the completion
of the first tweuty miles of that road,
| received the indorsement of the Stato
jwp oi its bonds for $240,000. The
•work Baring thus been thus success
fully inaugurated, the company found
themselves able to negotiate their lii -t
mortgage securities for a much larger
amount jver mile than tho State mi Y>r
the statue would imlotrso for, and :Le
earn pa fly has, thereiew, returned to*
the State tho bonds bcauiug her iu-*
t {('outinrtlon second