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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